Adopting a more cautious approach

Fidelity European Values (FEV) aims to achieve long-term capital growth from its European equity portfolio by focusing on companies that are able to deliver medium-term dividend growth. This approach gives FEV a defensive bias as well as a yield close to the sector average. Although he acknowledges a number of positive indicators for the near term, manager Sam Morse sees an upcoming turning point in the economic cycle and the prospect of rising bond yields as negative catalysts for equity valuations. His caution is reflected in FEV’s low gearing and the recent concentration of the portfolio, as a number of holdings with weakening fundamentals have been sold into market strength during the first half of 2017.