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| Top stockpicker Neil Woodford suspends flagship fund | |
| (about 8 hours later) | |
| One of the UK's most high profile stockpickers has suspended trading in his largest fund as rising numbers of investors ask for their money back. | |
| Neil Woodford said after "an increased level of redemptions", investors would not be allowed to "redeem, purchase or transfer shares" in the fund. | Neil Woodford said after "an increased level of redemptions", investors would not be allowed to "redeem, purchase or transfer shares" in the fund. |
| Investors have withdrawn about £560m from the fund over the past four weeks. | Investors have withdrawn about £560m from the fund over the past four weeks. |
| However, it was a request from Kent County Council to withdraw £250m that led to the suspension. | However, it was a request from Kent County Council to withdraw £250m that led to the suspension. |
| The council was unavailable for comment. | |
| A stockpicker - or fund manager - analyses the potential of different stocks to try to decide whether or not they will make a good investment. | |
| 'Liquid investments' | |
| At its peak, the Woodford Equity Income fund managed £10.2bn worth of assets, such as local authority pension funds. | At its peak, the Woodford Equity Income fund managed £10.2bn worth of assets, such as local authority pension funds. |
| However, it now manages £3.7bn, according to the financial services and research firm Morningstar. | However, it now manages £3.7bn, according to the financial services and research firm Morningstar. |
| Mr Woodford's firm, Woodford Investment Management, is also the biggest investor in Kier Group, the construction and services group which on Monday warned on profits, sending its shares crashing 41%. | Mr Woodford's firm, Woodford Investment Management, is also the biggest investor in Kier Group, the construction and services group which on Monday warned on profits, sending its shares crashing 41%. |
| It is understood that the fall in Kier's share price is not connected to the decision to suspend trading in the Woodford Equity Income fund. | It is understood that the fall in Kier's share price is not connected to the decision to suspend trading in the Woodford Equity Income fund. |
| The firm said the suspension would give it "time to reposition the element of the fund's portfolio invested in unquoted and less liquid stocks, in to more liquid investments". | The firm said the suspension would give it "time to reposition the element of the fund's portfolio invested in unquoted and less liquid stocks, in to more liquid investments". |
| The Financial Conduct Authority, the city watchdog, said: "The FCA is aware of this situation and in contact with the firms involved to ensure that actions undertaken are in the best interests of all the fund's investors." | The Financial Conduct Authority, the city watchdog, said: "The FCA is aware of this situation and in contact with the firms involved to ensure that actions undertaken are in the best interests of all the fund's investors." |
| Daniel Godfrey, an adviser to fund management groups, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that Neil Woodford was "one of the finest fund managers that Britain's ever produced, although clearly he is having a dark and terrible moment." | |
| He believes Mr Woodford could bounce back from this blow. | |
| "There could be a new dawn and it's not necessarily the end," he said. | |
| "It's clearly a very dark and difficult moment for Neil Woodford and his business and there may well have to be a hit to valuations to get rid of some of the unlisted holdings. But from there it'll still be probably a reasonably big fund. | |
| "It could well be the case that in five years' time, we're looking at it and anyone who bought when it reopens will have had a great performance." | |
| Who is Neil Woodford? | |
| Mr Woodford launched his own fund five years ago this month, with its corporate headquarters in Oxford. | |
| In its first year, it gave investors a return of 18% on their money, compared with an average rise of only 2% on the London Stock Exchange at the time. | |
| However, after the figures were released he warned: "It's far too early to conclude that the fund's strategy has worked." | |
| Before that, the 59-year-old had worked as part of the UK equities team at investment managers Invesco Perpetual for more than 26 years. | |
| He was appointed a CBE for his services to the economy in 2013. |