268: Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast - with Alexander Fitzalan Howard (05 Apr 2025)

This week, the Money Makers Investment Trusts Podcast turns five years old. Started at a time of market turmoil as the then-emerging Covid pandemic resulted in lockdowns, 268 episodes later market drama is back in the headlines again as Donald Trump imposes trade tariffs that have sent worldwide indices plummeting. It has hit investment trusts hard - sign up for the weekly Money Makers email for all the details, some commentary and a comprehensive summary of all the latest trust news. In this edition of the podcast, Jonathan Davis, editor of the Investment Trusts Handbook and winner of the 2024 AIC Best Broadcast Journalist Award, is joined by Alexander Fitzalan Howard, manager of the J.P. Morgan European Growth and Income Trust (JEGI). This discussion was recorded on Tuesday 01 April 2025. *** Out now: The 2025 Investment Trusts Handbook *** The Investment Trusts Handbook is an independent educational publication designed to provide investors with a handy annual reference book that summarises all you need to know about investment trusts. Now in its eighth year, the Handbook is a high-quality, full-colour hardback of more than 340 pages, the largest yet, with reviews of the past year, extensive interviews and commentary, plus nearly 80 pages of “how to” information and performance data. Available to order from Harriman House (https://harriman-house.com/ithb2025) or Amazon. There is also a free e-book version you can read on a PC, tablet or smartphone, plus an audiobook version. *** Section Timestamps: 0:00:24 - The anniversary edition and more market turmoil 0:05:41 - This week’s guest 0:06:50 - Talking to Alexander Fitzalan Howard 0:07:38 - Interesting times and Trump’s tariffs 0:09:29 - The significance of developments in Germany and France 0:12:33 - ECB interest rate cuts 0:13:28 - The strength of European stock markets since the return of Trump 0:15:18 - The trust’s performance versus the peer group 0:19:56 - Looking at the trust amongst sector events 0:21:18 - The discount policy 0:21:49 - A short break 0:22:44 - The pros and cons of a closed end structure 0:26:13 - Looking back at activities over the past twelve months 0:28:31 - Valuation of the portfolio 0:30:45 - Stand out performance in the last twenty years 0:34:26 - Close If you enjoy the weekly podcast, you may also find value in joining The Money Makers Circle. This is a membership scheme that offers listeners to the podcast an opportunity, in return for a modest monthly or annual subscription, to receive additional premium content, including interviews, performance data, links to third party research, market/portfolio reviews and regular comments from the editor. A subscription costs £12 a month or £120 for one year. This week, as well as the usual features, the Circle features a profile of Invesco Global Equity Income (IGET). Future profiles include River UK Micro Cap (RMMC) and RIT Capital Partners (RCP). Our new expanded weekly subscriber email includes a comprehensive summary of all the latest news plus the week's biggest share price, NAV and discount movements. Subscribe and you will never miss any important developments from the sector. For more information please visit money-makers.co/membership-join. Membership helps to cover the cost of producing the weekly investment trust podcast, which will continue to be free for the foreseeable future. We are very grateful for your continued support and the enthusiastic response to our nearly 270 podcasts since launch. You can find more information, including relevant disclosures, at www.money-makers.co. Please note that this podcast is provided for educational purposes only and nothing you hear should be considered as investment advice. Our podcasts are also available on the Association of Investment Companies website, www.theaic.co.uk. Produced by Ben Gamblin - www.bgprofessional.co.uk