Egg

What's hot? Jupiter, Invesco, ABN Amro, Artemis, HSBC tracker funds and funds investing in the UK. What’s not? Technology funds, for example from Henderson, began well but are less popular since the growth bubble burst. Interest is relatively low in emerging markets and Japan. Best selling fund, Q3 2001: HSBC All Share tracker. What makes a customer pick a fund? Sector and general feeling – they are less obsessed with big names in a supermarket because they can read up on the funds. They are driven a lot by the financial press and by reputation. An advantage of the current market is that people bring education to the choice rather than rush into the flavour of the month – although there will always be a lot of customers who do that. They look at performance statistics on the site and, increasingly, at charges. Are customers baffled by the range of funds available in supermarkets? Yes, without question. What do you provide to help? A lot of hand-holding; a range of Egg fund packages, each with four funds from different providers; a help desk; online search criteria, with an investment profiler to narrow down the funds; brochures; after sales services, including an e-filing system providing news about funds, contract information and history.