Here’s how to make the most of investing in Apple, Amazon and major overseas players October 27, 2016 In a globalised world, equity investors need to think big if they want to buy the world’s best companies. “There is no UK equivalent to the likes of Amazon or Facebook. The UK’s own social networking pioneer, Friends Reunited, finally closed its web doors in February this year,” says Michelle McGrade, chief investment officer at [...]
US private equity firm eyeing UK investment opportunities as sterling value falls October 26, 2016 JZ Capital Partners, a US private equity company listed in London, is eyeing investment opportunities in the UK, with the fall in sterling making assets cheaper. The company’s share price rose by more than one per cent today to 518p after it reported a net asset value (NAV) of $873m (£714m), up from $851.7m, for [...]
The economics of iceberg homes: Are mega-basements just a sunk cost? October 26, 2016 Even if you’re rich, London’s above-ground space limitations and conservation rules can put the kibosh on building your dream home. If you have a vision of putting a swimming pool, cinema or bowling alley in your Georgian terrace, you’ll probably have to think vertically to realise it. Over the last decade, iceberg basements have become [...]
The government’s pension freedoms were less popular last quarter as withdrawals fell October 26, 2016 Retirees have taken £7.6bn from their savings since reforms were introduced in April 2015, the Treasury revealed today – but the pace of withdrawals is falling. The amount withdrawn during the third quarter of 2016 dipped to £1.5bn, down from £1.8bn in the previous three months. One of George Osborne's flagship pension reforms announced just over 18 months [...]
Start with a blank canvas: How to invest in the art market October 26, 2016 For years the idea of purchasing art as an investment was frowned upon by purists in the art world – the two should be separate, like church and state. Art as investment is certainly not for everyone: the market is quite illiquid, prices can be volatile, and storage costs can outweigh profits. But as investors [...]
Time is money: Are luxury watches a good investment? October 26, 2016 The current wave of smartwatches, like any new technology, will be outdated by the time you’ve finished reading this article. But certain classic watches not only tell the time, they increase in value with it. While the poorest performing of all the other asset classes (barring furniture), the watch sub-category of the Knight Frank Luxury [...]
Thirty years since Big Bang: The deregulation of the London Stock Exchange democratised investing October 26, 2016 Thirty years have passed since the City of London was radically recast by a package of Thatcherite reforms, known as Big Bang. These saw the privatisation of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), allowed outside companies – not just individuals – to become members, and ushered in the automatic quotation of share prices. The product of [...]
St James’s Place shares jump as it reports “business as usual” despite political uncertainty October 25, 2016 Wealth management group St James’s Place’s share price jumped three per cent this morning as it reported “business as usual” despite political uncertainty in the third quarter. The figures The company reported gross inflows of funds under management (FUM) of £2.8bn, up from £2.3bn in the same period last year. With “continued strong retention of [...]
What the rise of populism means for your investments October 25, 2016 "Fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists” was how David Cameron described members of Ukip in 2006. A decade later, Ukip has achieved its principal ambition of a Brexit vote and Cameron is no longer a politician. The growth in support for populist political movements across Europe and other developed economies has been rapid. Founded just six [...]
The devil you know, the devil you don’t: How to protect your investments whoever wins the US election October 25, 2016 As polling day draws near, it is regrettable that the contest to become the 45th President of the United States has been more about personality than policy. The campaign has been distinguished on one side by preposterous promises to suspend the entry of Muslims into the country and build a hard border with Mexico, and [...]