City of London Investment Trust is a large UK investment trust focused on UK equities. Established in 1891, the company is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index. The fund has been managed by Janus Henderson Investors' Job Curtis since 1991, one of the longest tenures in the industry.
The Trust has a reputation as an income-producing investment trust, becoming one of just three to reach the milestone of 50 consecutive years of rising dividends in March 2016. It is one of the largest of the UK equity income trusts, with one of the lowest ongoing charge ratios.
About 69% of the portfolio is invested in UK blue-chip companies, typically businesses operating globally and investing in economies likely to grow faster than the UK. A further 19% is in medium-sized UK companies and the remaining 12% is in companies listed overseas. The portfolio is diversified with more than 100 holdings.
2018 marks 150 years of investment trusts
Figures from the AIC show that 45% of investment trusts have now had the same manager for at least a decade, with a select few having been in charge for a quarter century.
The £959m City of London investment trust, headed up by Job Curtis (pictured), has dropped its performance fee in a move to become more attractive to retail investors.
Morningstar has named the ten most popular investment trusts investors paid close attention to during Q1.
Sally Macdonald has joined Marlborough Fund Managers in the newly created position of head of Asian equities, as the firm looks to expand its presence in the space.
Henderson's Job Curtis, manager of the City of London Investment Trust, has taken profits from tobacco giant British American Tobacco (BAT) after a stellar decade for the group.
One could be forgiven for feeling slightly more optimistic about the future of the investment trust sector after a number of key corporate battles in recent months.
Three advisers argue the case for investment trusts and reveal some of their favourites.
Lawrence Gosling talks to James de Sausmarez, director and head of investment trusts at Henderson Global Investors, about the advantages and disadvantages of using investment trusts in a client's portfolio