Five things your clients will call you about this week

Nationals round-up: A look at ethical investments, predictions about commodity prices and a guide to Junior ISAs...

Commodities: The only way is up...

The value of many raw materials plunged by around 35% in recent months, so where are prices heading next? That was the question the Observer tried to answer and investment guru Jim Rogers insisted the only way was up, describing them as "real assets at a time when currencies are being debased and governments are printing money". However, a double dip recession could threaten a recovery in commodity prices in the short term.

Ethical investing

With National Ethical Investment Week starting today, there was plenty of coverage of this niche area over the weekend, led by the Independent on Sunday. It explained how ethical investors can tough it out through the volatile markets while avoiding defensive stocks - such as oil and gas, tobacco and pharmaceuticals - which do not exactly meet the criteria. Among the options for investors were the Jupiter Ecology "light-green" fund, Kames Ethical Equity fund and Standard life Ethical Bond.

When PPI is needed

The recent payment protection insurance (PPI) scandal, driven by the banks, has clearly given the policies plenty of bad publicity. However, as the Independent on Sunday explained, it can be bought at a stand-alone product and can provide valuable protection against unemployment. Of course, the alternative is income protection, although this would not automatically protect the policyholder against redundancy.

Junior ISAs

Junior individual savings accounts (JISA) will be launched next month and the Mail on Sunday gave readers a comprehensive run through of the details around the investments and a peek at some of the first products available to savers. Parents were reminded that the money invested in JISAs will not be accessible until the child turns 18, but Darius McDermott, managing director of Chelsea Financial Services, was still convinced there will be a big take up, explaining how grandparents with cash to spare could drive the market.

Euro crisis and Asia funds

With turmoil in Europe over the last few years, many investors have been looking to capitalise on growth in Asia. However, as the Telegraph on Sunday reported, the euro crisis could have a knock-on effect in Asia. The main fear seems to be that investors who have built up substantial positions in Asia could drive a fire sale of assets because of problems in Europe. This could in turn trigger a loss of confidence and, according to the IMF, the contagion could spread from bond and equity markets to currency and other markets.