AXA's Thomas: The UK stocks to play a US rebirth

AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities manager Nigel Thomas has highlighted a US manufacturing renaissance as one of the key themes in his portfolio this year.

In comments made in his biannual ‘Thomas Report', the manager, (pictured) said the resurrection of industry in the US is as important a trend as bullish forecasts for India and China, and predicted a continued improvement in competitiveness. "It is now cheaper to build a manufacturing site in Tennessee than China. Boston Consulting Group claims that by 2015, low labour content manufacturing cost advantages will be in single digits for China over many low cost states in the US, such as South Carolina, even before considering transport costs," Thomas said. The US will also benefit from ...