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All FTSE 100 structured products deliver gains or protect capital in rocky first quarter

comparestructuredproducts.com - 27/04/2016

All of the IFA distributed products linked solely to the FTSE 100 maturing in the first quarter of this year made a gain or returned capital for investors, according to research from Lowes Financial Management’s Comparestructuredproducts.com.

In the first quarter of this year the FTSE 100 had a rough ride, with the index dropping to a low of 5,537 points, but finishing the quarter at 6174.90, around the same place it started. Despite such volatile times, 60 of the IFA-distributed structured products linked solely to this index of the UK’s largest companies made a gain for investors, while two returned capital only. None gave rise to a loss.

The FTSE 100 linked maturities on average made annualised gains of 4.92% over an average term of five years. The top 25% delivered an average return per annum of 7.58% over an average term of 4.97 years, while the bottom 25% made 1.9% over 4.94 years.

These maturity results are a decline on recent performance but should be considered in the context that, over the five years to the end of the quarter the FTSE 100 Index itself rose by only 0.75% per annum. Equally, the fact that the Index was lower than it was in the first quarters of the last two years, means that auto-call maturities that would otherwise have lifted the overall performance results have been deferred until subsequent years.

Looking beyond just the FTSE 100 linked products to all 82 products maturing in the quarter, 68 delivered a gain for investors, 10 returned capital only and 4 made a loss. Three of these were impacted by the weakness in commodities and the fourth by falls in emerging markets.

The average annualised gains of all the 82 products maturing in the first quarter was 3.67% over an average term of five years. The top 25% made average annualised gains of 7.49% over an average term of 4.66 years, while the bottom 25% made an average loss per annum of 1.92% over an average term of 4.93 years. These overall average and bottom quartile figures are pulled down by those products that made a loss for investors.

The worst performing products

These maturities performance figures have been significantly pulled down by two products that delivered a significant loss for investors. One of these was a product linked to the FTSE 100, but also the S&P GSCI Crude Oil Excess Return Index, which saw a fall of 76.21%. This defined the outcome of the investment, with the plan only returning 23.79% of investors' original capital.

Weakness in emerging markets resulted in a loss for the Merchant Capital Kick-Out Plan: Emerging Markets Issue 3, which was linked to the Hang Seng China Enterprises Index, iShares Brazil Index Fund and MSCI Singapore Free Index. The plan returned only 33% of investors capital.

The other two losing products which returned 95% of investors’ original capital were linked to a basket of four agricultural commodities.

The top performing products to mature in the first quarter were the Investec FTSE 100 Geared Returns Plan 22 & Investec FTSE 100 Geared Returns Plan 23, which both matured delivering a 70% gain at the end of their respective five year terms. This is equivalent to 11.16% per annum. These growth plans offered the 70% gain at maturity if the FTSE 100, subject to averaging over the final six months, was higher – which it was, albeit by only a few percentage points.

The best performing capital ‘protected’ product was the Barclays Commercial Property Plan Issue 1, which made the maximum return of 60% over six years – an annualised return of 8.14%. The terms offered 1.25 times the average rise in the FTSE EPRA/NAREIT Developed Europe Index and the iShares Dow Jones US Real Estate Index Fund. The FTSE index jumped 67%, while the iShares index rose nearly 59%.

Capital protection of FTSE 100 only linked products

Given the strong consistent performance of FTSE 100 only linked products reflecting a bull market in this UK index over the years, it is worth considering how structured products would fare with less than favourable performance of the FTSE 100. Structured products have capital protection barriers, which define how far the market can fall before the original investment capital is impacted.

Lowes Financial Management’s comparestructuredproducts.com plotted the barriers of the over 600 FTSE 100 linked products in force, which shows that despite the retracement in the FTSE 100 since the highs of a year ago the index still has to fall by a further 40% before original investment capital is potentially impacted on any structured product distributed through the Independent Financial Adviser sector. The strength of such capital protection on structured products linked to the UK index is clear, as in such a situation of severe market falls, the majority of other investments would not go unscathed.

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We can see that the nearest barrier to current levels is a Full Term Barrier, which can be breached during the investment term, in contrast to an End of Term Barrier, where only the level at the end of the term is relevant. The nearest barrier would only be breached if the index fell to a level below 3770.7, a drop of approximately 40% from current levels. This level has been seen in the last 10 years, but it is important to appreciate that this was during the height of the credit crisis correction in March 2009. Even if the FTSE collapses to below this level, investors in the respective product would only lose capital if the FTSE 100 failed to recover back to the starting level of the product, 6284.5, by 25 January 2019, the final maturity date of the plan.

The nearest End of Term barrier to current market levels is even lower, at 3561.06, which is observed on 24 February 2017. It is therefore clear that extreme market falls would need to be seen before the original capital of any FTSE 100 linked product would be affected.

Comparestructuredproducts.com founder Ian Lowes says: “This quarter’s structured product maturities performance, delivered in volatile market conditions, may not be as impressive as previous figures however this needs to be considered in the context of the general investment market conditions.

The two really poor performers highlight the risk of investing in products linked to esoteric measurements. Some are rewarded for taking on this additional risk, but others are not. Products linked to mainstream indices have performed well and it would be remiss to let this be overshadowed by the poor performing products.

Structured products can be useful in tax planning with their defined returns on defined dates and with careful selection, using structured products as part of a diversified portfolio to offer contingent protection should the markets go south, while still being able to offer attractive returns in rising markets, makes sense.”

For further information contact: Ian Lowes Managing Director Lowes Financial Management Ltd Tel: 0191 281 8811 Email: Ian.Lowes@Lowes.co.uk Joanne Ellul Media and PR Officer Lowes Financial Management Ltd Tel: 07850 518877 Email: Joanne.Ellul@Lowes.co.uk

Notes to editors:

Comparestructuredproducts.com is the evolution of Independent Financial Adviser Lowes Financial Management’s original website launched in 2000 which warned investors away from the likes precipice bonds and the Keydata Secure Income bonds (even though the latter were not structured products). At the same time, in-house investment expertise was used to identify the products that Lowes feel are best of breed. The service covers all products distributed through the Independent Financial Advice space and provides extensive details of each offering, product literature and reviews and facilitates investments on a non-advised basis. If investors have any doubt as to whether a product is suitable for them, we recommend that they seek professional advice from an Independent Financial Adviser, who conducts research across the whole investment market for solutions for their clients.