Isa watch: savings and investments to consider Andrew Hagger said: "The rate of 3pc is very competitive, but seems to have become the benchmark for these accounts as it is on a par with at least half-a-dozen building societies, including Nationwide. It's important that children's savings accounts are given a much higher profile if the nation is to rediscover the savings habit, and I hope that other major banks will respond with Junior Isa offerings of their own before too long. Edinburgh Investment Trust The Edinburgh Investment Trust is run by Invesco Perpetual's income star manager Neil Woodford and is a firm favourite with adviser and investor alike. Performance statistics reveal why. Over the past year, as European and emerging markets equity funds alike lost cash, investors in the Edinburgh fund saw returns of 13pc - and over the past three years your pot would have grown 48pc. The fund is majority invested in UK equities, with a bias towards blue-chip stocks, but it is supplemented with small companies and global equities. Thumb rating: up John Newlands said: "Edinburgh Investment Trust is in the hands of one of the country's few true 'star' fund managers and stands on an attractive dividend yield. It is a further plus that the trust's frugally orientated board keeps fees in check, leading to a commendably low total expense ratio of 0.6pc per annum. It needs to be held on a medium or longer-term outlook, however. Virgin Money - Easy Access Cash e-Isa Virgin's new e-Isa is representative of the new bank's gimmick-free philosophy - no bonus rates. You can choose to take interest monthly or annually and it accepts transfers of old Isa allowances in. At 2.85pc it is not quite the top ranking account - you can get a better rate from Cheshire Building Society, which pays 3.01pc, but for savers who prefer simple banking it may be a preferable option. Apply online only at northernrock.co.uk/savings. Thumb rating: wavering Mr Hagger said: "This variable rate easy-access cash Isa at 2.85pc is 0.21 percentage points below the current best buy from Cheshire Building Society. However, despite this, there are plenty of plus points that many of the best-buy deals don't offer. While the rate may be slightly off the pace, the all-round simplicity and flexibility of this account should be applauded. If you're not concerned about access to your cash, there is also a one-year fixed-rate option from Virgin paying 3pc. JP Morgan Natural Resources Last October, Ian Henderson, who managed the £2.14bn JPM fund since 1992, stepped down, after earning investors mammoth returns of 764pc over the previous 10 years. Investors who worried whether his successor Neil Gregson would be up to scratch have so far been placated: the fund is up 6pc over the past three months, and an impressive 11pc in January. The fund invests in equities related to the mining and marketing of commodities, with a third of the portfolio invested in Canada, a quarter in UK equities and less than 10pc in emerging market companies. Adrian Lowcock said: "Since Neil Gregson joined the JPM team in September 2010 we have expected him to take control of the fund. Gregson has a very similar investment philosophy to Jim Henderson and we do not expect the nature of the fund to change. Gregson's particular focus is finding 'the producers of tomorrow'. Indeed, in the 12 months that Gregson has been at JPM, his ideas have started to be incorporated into the fund. Newton Managed This mammoth multi-asset fund invests in global equities, commodities and fixed interest and, unfortunately, fails to have produced the right blend. Despite investment in megacap funds which pay healthy dividends - such as GlaxoSmithKline and British American Tobacco - the fund fell 6pc last year. Although the fund, managed by Christopher Metcalfe, has had positive returns over the past three and five years, there are alternatives performing much better in the sector. Thumb rating: down Philippa Gee said: "It is often said that when funds reach billions in size, they become hard to navigate, particularly in highly volatile markets. Not only would this apply to the Newton Managed fund, which invests primarily in global equities, but I'd also argue that it's just simply uninspiring. At a total size of £31.2bn, this is a massive fund and, to be fair, it did have a change of manager last year. However, it consistently failed to deliver decent returns and for the active management you should benefit from, falls considerably short of my expectations. As an alternative, consider Standard Life Investments Global Equity Unconstrained.