Fidelity European Values - Concentrating its portfolio and hedging its bets

Fidelity European Values (FEV) aims to achieve long-term capital and income growth from a portfolio of primarily continental European equities. Although well diversified, the portfolio became more concentrated during 2017, as the manager sold stocks that had performed well and reinvested in existing holdings. While retaining a positive net market gearing, the manager added 10 single-stock short positions to the portfolio in August 2017, reflecting the view that valuations had become stretched in many parts of the market. A lower 0.75% management fee on assets over £400m takes effect from April 2018, while a reallocation of fees and expenses from revenue to capital will positively affect the level of future dividend payouts.