The Investment Cuddle

This month the Cuddle covers our visit to The Investment Company Showcase, the fifth year the Association of Investment Companies (AIC) have held their showcase event.  We talk through our best bits and cover the funds and managers that caught the eye.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

Association of Investment Companies (AIC)

https://www.theaic.co.uk

The Investment Company Showcase 2026:

The Investment Company Showcase 2026 - Synergy | The AIC

Video link: Showcase | AIC

Building resilient returns - Panel session

Panellists:

Steve Cook, Sequoia Economic Infrastructure Income (SEQI)

Jamie Hossain, International Public Partnerships (INPP)

Sizing up the continent - Panel session

Panellists:

Adnan El-Araby, Barings Emerging EMEA Opportunities (BEMO)

Tim Lewis, JPMorgan European Growth & Income Trust (JEGI)

Benjamin Moore, BlackRock Greater Europe (BRGE)

Keynote: Sweet sixty - Job Curtis, City of London Investment Trust (CTY)

Digging for returns

Olivia Markham of BlackRock World Mining (BRWM) delves into the outlook for commodities after a rollercoaster year.

The hunt for yield

Panel session

Panellists:

Anthony Lynch, JPMorgan Claverhouse Investment Trust (JCH)

David Smith, Henderson High Income Trust (HHI)

Dominic Younger, CT UK Capital & Income Investment Trust (CTUK)*

Keynote speaker: In conversation: London, a vibrant place to invest,

Speakers: Dame Julia Hoggett, CEO, London Stock Exchange

Richard Stone, CEO, AIC

*Rebranded as CT Progressive Income (CTUK), 20th October 2026

This month the Cuddle looks at its income portfolio, paying homage to the Helen Pridham portfolio, and we talk through its performance over the first 6 months of 2026.

For further details see episode 60 the Investment Cuddle Portfolio

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

AIC - https://www.theaic.co.uk

Edison research - https://www.edisongroup.com

Articles

11 investment trusts for a £10,000 annual income

Nine investment trusts to generate a £10,000 income in 2026

Nine investment trusts for a £10,000 income in 2025

Domestic Base

The City of London Investment Trust plc (CTY) https://www.janushenderson.com/en-gb/investor/product/the-city-of-london-investment-trust-plc/

Diverse Income Trust (DIVI) Premier Miton Group

Premier Milton UK mid cap fund (link)

Merchants Trust (MRCH) The Merchants Trust PLC - MRCH

Global Income

Murray International Trust (MYI) https://www.murray-intl.co.uk

Henderson High Income Trust plc (HHI) Henderson High Income Trust | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts

Specialist Trusts

The North American Income Trust plc (NAIT) The North American Income Trust plc | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts

The European Smaller Companies Trusts (ESCT) The European Smaller Companies Trust plc | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts

Blackrock Energy and Resources Income Trust (BERI) www.blackrock.com/uk/individual/products/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-energy-and-resources-income-trust/trust-information

BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc (BRFI) https://www.blackrock.com/uk/solutions/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-frontiers-investment-trust/performance-holdings

CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc (CCJI) https://ccjapanincomeandgrowthtrust.com

This month the Cuddle looks at Investment platform total costs, with a focus on how this works for retail investors. We also delve into the world of lifecycle costs with what investment platform vehicles cost over the longer term.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

Freetrade - Freetrade: Award-winning investment & trading platform

Hargreaves Lansdowne - Hargreaves Lansdown | ISAs, pensions, investments, savings

IG - Trade and invest with the UK's No.1 trading provider - IG UK

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) - Traders and Investors | Interactive Brokers U.K. Limited

InvestEngine - InvestEngine – The ETF Investing Platform

Trading 212 - Commission-free investing for everyone | Trading 212

Vanguard Investor - Vanguard Asset Management | Personal Investing in the UK

XTB - XTB – Investing, Savings & Trading Platform | XTB

Platform_lifecycle_Costs

This month the Cuddle looks at Investment platform costs, with a focus on how this works for retail investors. We also delve into the world of how investment vehicles effect the spread and overall costs.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

Freetrade - Freetrade: Award-winning investment & trading platform

Hargreaves Lansdowne - Hargreaves Lansdown | ISAs, pensions, investments, savings

IG - Trade and invest with the UK's No.1 trading provider - IG UK

Interactive Brokers (IBKR) - Traders and Investors | Interactive Brokers U.K. Limited

InvestEngine - InvestEngine – The ETF Investing Platform

Trading 212 - Commission-free investing for everyone | Trading 212

Vanguard Investor - Vanguard Asset Management | Personal Investing in the UK

XTB - XTB – Investing, Savings & Trading Platform | XTB

Hugh Hendry (The Acid Capitalist) - Hugh Hendry

Hedgeye - Hedgeye

Grant Williams - The Grant Williams Podcast

Platform_Costs

This month the Cuddle looks at Bid offer spread, with a focus on how this works for  retail investors. We also delve into the world of investment platforms and try to assess their spread breakdown.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

Fidelity International - Fidelity International | ISAs, Shares, Funds & Pensions (SIPPs)

AJ Bell - AJ Bell | Award-Winning Investment Platform

Interactive Brokers - Traders and Investors | Interactive Brokers U.K. Limited

eToro - Invest With eToro™ | Stocks, Crypto & ETFs in One Powerful App

InvestEngine - InvestEngine – The ETF Investing Platform

Bid_Offer_Spread_Platform_Table

This month the Cuddle looks at Financial Education, with a little help from secondary school pupils in years 7, 9 and 11. They let us know their thoughts on the world of money and financial education.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report

Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report - GOV.UK

Financial Times Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign (FT FLIC)

FT FLIC | Mastering your money

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE)

https://pshe-association.org.uk/

Articles

Young Enterprise - Huge steps forward for financial education and life skills in schools | Young Enterprise

Just Finance Foundation - Financial Education In Primary Schools - Compulsory Citizenship Learning

Blazing Saddles (1974) - IMDb

This month the Cuddle looks at Financial Education, outlining the UK Governments 2025 review, and how this links to the Financial Times Flic initiative.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report

Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report - GOV.UK

Financial Times Financial Literacy & Inclusion Campaign (FT FLIC)

FT FLIC | Mastering your money

Personal, Social, Health and Economic education (PSHE)

https://pshe-association.org.uk/

Articles

Young Enterprise - Huge steps forward for financial education and life skills in schools | Young Enterprise

Just Finance Foundation - Financial Education In Primary Schools - Compulsory Citizenship Learning

This month the Cuddle looks at its income portfolio, paying homage to the Helen Pridham portfolio, and we talk through how our fund has changed in the last 12 months ready for 2026.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

AIC - https://www.theaic.co.uk

Edison research - https://www.edisongroup.com

Articles

11 investment trusts for a £10,000 annual income

Nine investment trusts to generate a £10,000 income in 2026

Nine investment trusts for a £10,000 income in 2025

Domestic Base

The City of London Investment Trust plc (CTY) https://www.janushenderson.com/en-gb/investor/product/the-city-of-london-investment-trust-plc/

Diverse Income Trust (DIVI) Premier Miton Group

Merchants Trust (MRCH) The Merchants Trust PLC - MRCH

Global Income

Murray International Trust (MYI) https://www.murray-intl.co.uk

Henderson High Income Trust plc (HHI) Henderson High Income Trust | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts

Specialist Trusts

The North American Income Trust plc (NAIT) The North American Income Trust plc | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts

The European Smaller Companies Trusts (ESCT) The European Smaller Companies Trust plc | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts

Blackrock Energy and Resources Income Trust (BERI) www.blackrock.com/uk/individual/products/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-energy-and-resources-income-trust/trust-information

BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc (BRFI) https://www.blackrock.com/uk/solutions/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-frontiers-investment-trust/performance-holdings

CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc (CCJI) https://ccjapanincomeandgrowthtrust.com

This month the Cuddle covers what went on in the markets in 2025, looking at indexes and individual sectors.  We talk through how our portfolio performed and review our best and worst performers and what to expect in 2026.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

CC Japan Income & Growth Trust plc (CCJI) https://ccjapanincomeandgrowthtrust.com

Murray International Trust (MYI) https://www.murray-intl.co.uk

Blackrock Energy and Resources Income Trust (BERI) www.blackrock.com/uk/individual/products/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-energy-and-resources-income-trust/trust-information

BlackRock Frontiers Investment Trust plc (BRFI) https://www.blackrock.com/uk/solutions/investment-trusts/our-range/blackrock-frontiers-investment-trust/performance-holdings

Henderson High Income Trust plc (HHI) Henderson High Income Trust | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts

The North American Income Trust plc (NAIT) The North American Income Trust plc | Janus Henderson Investment Trusts

Index and sector performance

Sector Screener: a review of 2025 and look ahead to 2026

This month the Cuddle covers its Christmas Crackers, looking at the previous two years with the best winners and losers!  We talk through how these Christmas cracker gifts have performed.

Music by https://audionautix.com

Information links

Christmas Cracker Gifts 2023

Analogue Devices (ADI) Investor Relations - Analog Devices

Andrada Mining (ATM.L) Andrada Mining | Investors

The Buckle, Inc (BKE) The Buckle, Inc. - Investor Overview

Hanesbrands Inc. (HBI) Hanesbrands, Inc. - Investors - Investor Relations Home | Hanesbrands Inc.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) Investor Relations :: Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. (NCLH) (nclhltd.com)

Tharisa plc (THS.L) Investment Overview | Tharisa

Christmas Cracker Gifts 2024

Japan Gold Corp. (JG) Corporate

PureCycle Technologies (PCT) PureCycle Technologies, Inc. (PCT)

Microstrategy (MSTR) Explore MicroStrategy's Investor Relations: Stay Informed on Financial Performance and Corporate Governance

Pan African Resources (PAF) Pan African Resources: Home

3M Company (MMM) 3M Company (MMM)

On Holdings (OnOn) On - Home