Open ended investment companies (OEIC)

Open ended investment companies (OEIC’s) are collective investment vehicles operated in the form of a company. Funds are pooled together to invest in other companies on the stock market.

Typically, open ended investment companies invest in a range of assets and shares and act as a more flexible version of a unit trust. Investors are free to switch their funds to a variety of sub-funds as the investment environment changes.

The ‘open ended’ element means that they are capable op expanding or shrinking depending on demand. OEIC’s do not provide guaranteed returns and you can lose money as well as gain. The market for OEIC’s has expanded quickly and management fees and the terms and conditions of individual products will vary so you need to research and shop around carefully to choose the best product for you.

	Morrisons to open 300 convenience stores and online service Morrisons is to open 300 new convenience stores and roll out its new online shopping service in partnership with Ocado later this year.
	£1.3bn investment means Post Office branches will open longer The Post Office has announced a new £1.3bn investment programme that is currently being piloted which will see branches revamped and increase their opening hours.
	Big energy firms must "open up market" or face penalties uSwitch has backed Ofgem’s proposals that the energy market needs to be opened up to wider competition.
	EEF upgrades economic forecast but urges more investment Manufacturing organisation EEF has upgraded its forecast for UK economic growth but warns that to keep the momentum going more investment is needed in the manufacturing sector.
	Welby embarrassed by Church's indirect Wonga investment The Church of England has faced an embarrassing blow after it emerged that it may have indirectly invested in online lender Wonga.