- Our income portfolios have had a good year in terms of both dividends and total returns
- Sector consolidation and some broader concerns have prompted an overhaul
The past year has been an extremely strong one for markets, with many of the difficulties that emerged back in 2022 finally starting to abate for investors. Inflation has come down, the global economy has looked relatively stable and even interest rate cuts have belatedly made an appearance.
Big gains tend to compress yields, but income investors are still spoiled for choice. Government bonds continue to offer healthy levels of income, with 10-year instruments in the UK and US trading on yields comfortably above 4 per cent. The FTSE 100 comes with a similar dividend yield, and individual picks, from companies to investment trusts, can offer something much higher.