Monthly Report

Deutsche Equity Income Trust PLC 12 February 2003 DEUTSCHE EQUITY INCOME TRUST PLC REPORT FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY 2003 MARKET BACKGROUND The UK equity market as measured by the FTSE All-Share index fell by a disappointing 9.1% in capital terms over the month. Our net asset value per share fell by 8.4% but the share price fell by 7.5% over the same period as the discount to net asset value reduced from 1.1% to 0.2%. Large companies underperformed, with the FTSE 100 index falling for an unprecedented period of 11 consecutive days and by 9.5% in capital terms. The FTSE Mid 250 and Small Cap Indices fared a little better, falling by 7.0% and 5.0% respectively. Poor performance from financial stocks also resulted in the FTSE 350 Higher Yield Index underperforming the Lower Yield Index by 2.0% in capital terms over the month. Despite fears of a consumer slowdown over Christmas and evidence of further softness in the UK housing market, the best performing sector was Construction & Building Materials. Telecoms and Pharmaceutical stocks also performed relatively well. The worst performing sector was Life Assurance, driven down by increased concerns regarding the strength of their balance sheets and sustainability of dividends. Banks were also weak, but several 'defensive' sectors such as Personal Care & Household and Food Producers also underperformed. Major purchases during the period included new holdings in Capita, Rank and Wood Group. Holdings were sold in both Antofagasta and Brambles. Within corporate bonds, holdings were sold in both EMI and Yell Finance (owner of the Yellow Pages) but a new position was established in Corus. OUTLOOK After a modest recovery at the end of last year, investor sentiment has once again deteriorated. Corporate newsflow, however, appears to be improving with recent positive trading updates from AstraZeneca, Imperial Tobacco and Vodafone. As a result, although a quick resolution to the unstable geopolitical situation looks unlikely, we continue to believe that the UK equity market looks attractive at current levels. Our investment philosophy remains unchanged: we use cash flow return on investment (CFROI) rather than earnings per share as the principal tool to analyse and value companies, and construct the portfolio using the most attractive stocks in each sector. Combined with our commitment to achieve a respectable level of income, we are confident that this philosophy will continue to reward shareholders over the longer term. 31/01/03 31/12/02 NET ASSET VALUE 179.8p 196.2p MID-MARKET SHARE PRICE 31/01/03 31/12/02 Ordinary Shares 179.5p 194.0p Dividend Yield (%) 4.2 3.9 LARGEST HOLDINGS (market value £48.5 million equal to 67.3% of total portfolio) £'000's % of portfolio GlaxoSmithKline 5,384 7.5 BP 4,946 6.9 HSBC Holdings 4,537 6.3 Royal Bank of Scotland 3,573 5.0 AstraZeneca 3,157 4.4 Shell Transport & Trading 2,478 3.4 Vodafone Group 2,161 3.0 Imperial Tobacco 2,001 2.8 Scottish & Southern Energy 1,900 2.6 BT Group 1,702 2.4 Tate & Lyle 1,487 2.1 HBOS 1,439 2.0 Barclays 1,211 1.7 Viridian Group 1,186 1.6 Legal & General 1,165 1.6 SIG 1,128 1.6 Senior 1,099 1.5 BPB 1,052 1.4 Canary Wharf Group 1,051 1.4 Prudential 1,047 1.4 Debenhams 1,036 1.4 MMO2 7.625% 25/1/2012 990 1.4 Corus Finance 6.75% 20/5/08 950 1.3 3i Group 907 1.3 GUS 905 1.3 For further information, contact Graham Ashby at Deutsche Asset Management on 020-7545-6000. For additional copies, changes of address or details of our Private Investors' Plan, low cost ISA and Dividend Reinvestment Scheme (a scheme through which shareholders, who hold their shares on the Company's main register, can use their dividends to purchase further shares) contact Mark Pope on 020-7545-0520, e-mail address: mark.pope@db.com. Further details of Deutsche Equity Income Trust including the latest annual, interim and monthly reports can be found on the Deutsche Asset Management website located at www.deutsche-its.co.uk. Issued by Deutsche Equity Income Trust PLC and approved by Deutsche Investment Trust Managers Limited, regulated by the Financial Services Authority and manager of Deutsche Equity Income Trust PLC. Investors should be aware that past performance is not necessarily a guide to future returns, the price of shares and the income from them may fall as well as rise and investors may not get back the amount they invested. This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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