Axa Framlington

Nigel Thomas, manager of the £4.6bn AXA Framlington UK Select Opportunities fund, believes bond and equity investors are experiencing high levels of confusion caused by recent market dislocations.

AXA Investment Managers is to merge its Framlington Equity Income fund into the Framlington Monthly Income fund, subject to unitholder approval.

Tilney Bestinvest has named nine funds that have consistently earned its top fund rating over the past five years.

JOHCM's Clive Beagles has seen his UK Equity Income fund demoted in Sanlam Private Investments' latest Income Study, while AXA IM's George Luckraft has moved on to the recommended list.

Consumer staples have returned to the top of UK equity managers' agenda as later-than-expected rate hikes reignite the debate over the outlook for the sector.

Investors are showing increasing willingness to pay for R&D pipelines in biotech, explains AXA Framlington's Linden Thomson.

From 600 ideas initially suggested by fund groups last year, Architas has selected six funds to watch in 2015 as part of the AXA Wealth Showcase fund range.

2014 was a great era for merger and acquisitions, but managers expecting another bonanza year should think again - M&A activity will likely be more subdued next year, says AXA Framlington's Jamie Forbes-Wilson.

With the dollar at a five-year high against a basket of currencies, and further strength against sterling predicted, Investment Week asks wealth managers which funds they are using to play the trend.

AXA's Nigel Thomas has increased his interest in Shell, despite many oil names being rocked by a 30% fall in spot prices this year.