Biotechnology

Index plunged by more than 20% from peak

Firm expands to 35 staff

David Coombs, manager of the Rathbone multi-asset portfolios, argues now is the time to seek out quality stocks that can weather market volatility.

The manager of a table-topping biotechnology trust has said careful use of the closed-ended structure has enabled him to outperform, including holding half of his assets in just five stocks.

Neptune's Felix Wintle has described 2014 as a "frustrating" year for performance but has prospered again this year in part due to a zero weighting in "bond proxy" utilities.

Sam Isaly, managing partner of OrbiMed Investors and portfolio manager of the Worldwide Healthcare trust, says strategically-driven M&A activity and leaps in scientific research are continuing to drive growth for the sector

Bubble spotting

Franklin Templeton's Grant Bowers has suggested some US biotechnology companies verge on looking like "value stocks" despite the fierce rally enjoyed by the sector over the past half-decade.

Managers pick their top alternative assets

The FTSE 100 has fallen 1.3% as geopolitical tensions and yesterday's tech sell-off put fresh pressure on UK stocks.