Monthly Update
31 January 2020
The Fund fell by 2.23% during January, behind its performance comparator of cash + 5%, which rose by 0.48%. It was ahead of the FTSE 100 however, to which all the underlying strategies are linked, which fell 3.40% over the month.
The UK stockmarket continued its rise into the New Year with the threat of the US-China trade war fading. By the middle of the month the Fund was up over 1% from the turn of the year. The second half of the month, however, saw the emergence of the corona virus as a world health threat, and this sent markets around the world falling, with the FTSE 100 dropping 2.29% in a single day at one point, finishing the month at 7,286.01.
January saw the second maturity within the fund since its launch, with a Morgan Stanley note maturing on its first anniversary with a return of 16.5%. This note was replaced with another from Morgan Stanley which will run for a maximum of 8 years, paying a coupon of 10.8% for each year held, maturing on the first anniversary the FTSE 100 is at or above its original level of 7,609.81. We also increased the holding in one of the existing Over the Counter contracts to take advantage of favourable pricing brought about by the fall in the markets.
To view all the strategies within the fund in detail, please visit the portfolio page on www.UKDSF.com.
The value of this investment can fall as well as rise and investors may get back less than they originally invested.
The Fund is suitable for investors who are seeking capital growth over a medium to long term horizon but who are willing to tolerate medium to high risks due to the potentially volatile nature of the investments.
This article is for information purposes only and should not be construed as advice. We strongly suggest you seek independent financial advice prior to taking any course of action.
The Lowes UK Defined Strategy Fund is a sub-fund of the Skyline Umbrella Fund (ICAV) and is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. The KIID, Prospectus, and Supplement can be accessed by visiting UKDSF.com/literature and are only available in English.
Lowes Investment Management Ltd, Fernwood House, Clayton Road, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE2 1TL. Authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.