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July 2003

INVESTMENT CHALLENGE CREATES DIVIDENDS FOR FEMALE PROFITEERS

The bear market continues to scare many private investors away from the stock exchange, but for one group of female investors in Aberdeen, the chance to play the markets has yielded some high returns.

The After-Five Investment Club (AFIC) at Aberdeen College achieved the best returns on a portfolio of shares as part of city-based Acumen Financial Planning’s annual investment club award competition. The Club outperformed the eight other teams in the competition and consequently scooped the £500 prize.

Trading over the Internet through Barclays Stockbrokers, the 11 tutors made up of lecturers and support staff invested £20 each per month with a strategy of spreading the risk over a variety of key investment opportunities. Members obtained financial information through reading the financial newspapers and bought shares in companies they were familiar with, such as Tescos. The AFIC group also invested monies in Clydeport. This turned out to be the team’s most fortunate investment as the company was actually taken over resulting in a share windfall.

Acumen’s competition, which was launched three years ago, welcomes groups of amateur investors who typically meet once a month to track their fortunes as they make contributions towards their investment portfolio. Sandy Robertson, managing director at Acumen Financial Planning, said: "We are able to advise on investment matters and how to run an investment club. We decided to set up the investment club award competition to give participating clubs an added performance measure, allowing them to see how they do against the share index and against other clubs."

Club treasurer Margaret McDougall said: "We are a very small club and we have been going about three-and-a-half years now. We meet once a month and discuss what we will invest in and what we will sell.

"Our first investment was £500, and we have now got about £7,000."

Club secretary Margaret Rennie said: "Winning the Acumen competition is a real boost for us, to think that we have done so well.

"It was really encouraging and we fully intend to carry on and try and win the competition again this year."

For further information about the Acumen Investment Club competition please log onto www.acumen.ltd.uk or telephone the Acumen team on 01224 573904.
Companies in the Acumen Group include Acumen Accountants and Advisors Limited, Acumen Financial Planning Limited and Acumen IT Consultancy Limited. Acumen Financial Planning Limited are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Acumen Accountants and Advisors Limited are registered to carry out audit work and are regulated for a range of investment business activities by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants but are not authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Acumen Financial Planning Limited, Registered in Scotland number 215343, VAT Number 894 6221 94. Acumen Accountants and Advisors Limited, Registered in Scotland number 153885, VAT Number 894 6221 94. Acumen IT Consultancy Limited, Registered in Scotland number 284749, VAT Number 859 474862. Acumen Holdings (Aberdeen) Limited, Registered in Scotland number 215503, VAT Number 894 6221 94. Registered office, Commercial House, 2 Rubislaw Terrace, Aberdeen, AB10 1XE.