Elston Consulting has expanded its team to meet a rising demand for its products as the popularity of its model portfolios continues to grows.

Tony Lord has joined the firm as an adviser relations manager. He has over 30 years’ experience in the industry, helping to grow platforms from launch to maturity.

Alongside Elston Consulting head of adviser relations Scott Adams, he will focus on working with new and established adviser firms to support their investment proposition.

Henry Vijayaratnam also joins as an associate in the investment research team.

Vijayaratnam completed the Elston Summer Internship in May 2024 and will report to investment director Hoshang Daroga and head of research Henry Cobbe.

Elston Consulting said the two appointments will strengthen the group’s capabilities as it “continues to bring its model portfolios capabilities to advice firms and DFMs.”

Elston has seen increased adviser enthusiasm for the Elston Adaptive range of portfolios, designed for accumulation and Elston Retirement range of portfolios designed for decumulation.

These portfolios are managed by Elston Portfolio Management and are available across most adviser platforms.

Cobbe said: “We are delighted to welcome Tony Lord and Henry Vijayaratnam to Elston. They will be an asset to our firm. This is an exciting time for Elston as we are seeing rapidly growing interest in the investment solutions we design.

“We are thrilled to be able to expand the team to continue serving the adviser firms we work with and supporting their investment proposition.”

Lord added: “Advisers are facing many different demands on their businesses, not least the need to provide consistent investment outcomes to their clients at a competitive cost.

“I am delighted to be joining Elston tasked with supporting advisers with their investment propositions using the high-calibre solutions Elston can develop for advisers.”

Vijayaratnam said: “I am thrilled to be joining Elston as a permanent team member following a summer internship, in which I learned a huge amount from colleagues.

“I am looking forward to making my mark in the financial services space and progressing my career with Elston Consulting.”

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Oil prices on Monday jumped above last week’s high amid mounting fears of escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, rose as much as 2.4 per cent to hit $79.94 a barrel, as Hamas fired rockets at Israel, which launched strikes against targets in Gaza and Lebanon.

The price, which had dropped sharply since early April, gained more than 8 per cent last week, the biggest weekly gain since January 2023, driven by Iran’s missile attack against Israel.

Traders are concerned about a potential strike against energy infrastructure in the region that could hinder oil supplies, or disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.

There are signs that hedge funds, many of which had been betting on oil extending this year’s falls, are beginning to adjust their positioning. Funds trimmed their large short bets against Brent and increased their long positions in the week to October 1, in the early stages of last week’s rally, according to ICE data.

However, computer-driven funds that tried to latch on to market trends were likely to have still been betting against oil as of Thursday, according to a model portfolio run by Société Générale.

Israel on Monday marked the first anniversary of Hamas’s deadly October 7 attack. Ceremonies held in southern Israel were disrupted by the group firing rockets into the territory from Gaza. Rockets also set off sirens in Tel Aviv.

The events come amid a fresh offensive by Israeli forces in northern Gaza and follow an incursion by ground troops into Lebanon, where Israel is trading fire with Iran-proxy Hizbollah.

US President Joe Biden on Thursday said Israel had discussed striking Iran’s oil facilities in retaliation for an Iranian missile barrage fired at Israel last week. He later suggested Israel should consider other options.

“If I were in their shoes, I’d be thinking about other alternatives than striking oilfields,” Biden said on Friday.

The Islamic republic exports 1.7mn barrels of oil a day, mainly from a terminal on Kharg Island, about 25km off the country’s southern coast.

Daan Struyven, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, told clients that a six-month disruption, hitting about 1mn b/d, would push Brent up to $85 in the middle of next year if Opec offsets the shortfall. Prices could climb to the mid-$90s without an offset, he forecast.

“Investors are focused on the risk that Israel and Iran may enter a cycle of retaliatory attacks that may escalate into a broader conflict,” Struyven said.

Additional reporting by Laurence Fletcher

A HUGE mansion valued at £4.5million hides an incredible secret feature behind its front doors.

The Grade II-listed property in Lymington, Hampshire, has been dubbed every child’s “dream” home.

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The massive home boasts nine bedrooms, seven bathrooms, five reception rooms, a detached coach house and a south-facing garden.

However estate agents Spencers say the house is guaranteed to “liven up any dinner party” thanks to its most unusual asset – a slide from the first floor to the ground floor.

The stainless-steel tube allows guests to descend from the first floor in style through a glass door and is designed ‘for those with a sense of fun’.

There is also a games room, library and a cinema while all the bedrooms house a full media suite and surround sound system.

The listings reads: “A second means of descending from the first floor is via a polished stainless steel tube slide which passes through a glass floor, designed for those with a sense of fun and a great talking point to liven up any dinner party.”

A Spencers spokesperson added: “It’s one of the unique houses in Lymington.

“It’s been designed around a certain lifestyle and with a life that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

“The house itself has a huge amount of history and has been recently updated by the current owners in a particularly stylish fashion.

“Not every house that we market has an indoor slide. It’s quite fun.

“It’s the sense of fun that it brings. It’s a great family house. Good for kids. It’s really the whole package.

.”Everything has been designed around comfort and convenience. It’s designed as a house for someone to live in who wants to enjoy life.”

Spencers say the 8,000 sqft family home promises “great grandeur and history” and “imagination” and even sports a sunken ice trough “from which to serve fresh sea food or champagne”.

Many users have praised the novelty structure on social media, with one user commenting “we all dreamt of this as a kid, right?”

Another user posted: “Super cool.”

While a third user wrote: “If I won the lottery.”

A fourth person said: “I love it.”

Another unusual home went on the market last month and it would definitely (maybe) ideal for an Oasis fan.

Elsewhere, you could get your hands on the corner shop that featured in the hit comedy show Open All Hours.

If those properties are out of your price range then a terraced house in New Tredegar, Wales, has gone on the market for nothing – but you may want to take a look inside first.

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AMANDA Holden will be cycling 250 miles, from the edge of the country right into the heart of London.

The star’s five-day-ride is for Global’s Make Some Noise appeal which raises money for small charities across the UK.

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The beloved Heart presenter has shared that you can keep up with her journey on the radio and even opened up about which brand of “bum butter” she will take along the way.

Here’s everything you need to know about Amanda’s charity cycle.

Where is Amanda Holden cycling for Global’s Make Some Noise?

Amanda will kicks off her five-day-ride in the beautiful seaside town of Bude, Cornwall.

The Britain’s Got Talent presenter will cycle for eight hours until she reaches Taunton, Somerset.

After just one night to recover, she will ride to Frome, Somerset and then onto Newbury, Berkshire.

After those four gruelling days on the bike, Amanda will be on the home-stretch as she cycles towards Leicester Square where Global’s headquarters are located.

She will be met by her husband Chris Hughes at Leicester Square, five days after being waved off from her mum Judith’s house in Bude.

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How do I keep track of Amanda Holden’s ultramarathon route?

Fans can keep track of Amanda Holden’s charity bike ride by listening in to Heart FM.

The radio station will air live updates of Amanda’s journey and will give well-wishers a behind-the-scenes look at her trip.

Updates will began as Amanda set off on October 7, 2024.

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When does Amanda Holden’s ultramarathon finish?

Amanda’s long bike ride, for Global’s Make Some Noise, will end on Friday October 11, 2024.

Amanda said that she will be using “bum butter” from the start of the trip to the end.

She told The Sun: “I’ve got padded gussets and bum butter, but that’s just every day for me.

“I’d never heard of bum butter but now I’ve got so many varieties.

“My friends keep sending it to me.

“I’m completely covered.”

Everything to know about Amanda Holden