Fixed or tracker: As Brexit prompts mortgage rates to tumble, how long should borrowers hold out for? July 12, 2016 Brexit might have thrown markets into turmoil, but if you’re thinking of taking out a mortgage, or are remortgaging, rates are about to get even more competitive. Since the referendum began in earnest, investors have clambered to buy government bonds, driving down yields and enabling mortgage lenders to offer more long-term funding. Banks have been [...]
Revolution in Japan’s boardrooms could be just the medicine for ailing economy July 12, 2016 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has declared victory in the weekend election after winning a majority in the parliament’s upper house. He will use the fresh mandate to press on with plans to reform the flailing economy – under the strategy dubbed “Abenomics” – and will also look at changing the country’s pacifist constitution. Japan’s [...]
At the close: FTSE 100 charges into bull territory as investors cheer leadership certainty and the weak pound drives up profits July 11, 2016 Well, there it is. The FTSE 100 has swung from bear market territory to a bull market in just over six months. The twists and turns of the day's political events gave a fresh boost to the global FTSE 100, while the UK focused FTSE 250 also posted strong gains. Housebuilders, such as Barrat Developments and [...]
Exchange-traded funds (ETF) market set to grow to $7 trillion by 2021 July 11, 2016 Assets under management in exchange traded funds (ETFs) are expected to more than double in size over the next five years, according to a report by PwC. They will increase from around $3 trillion to $7 trillion by 2021, according to PwC. Over that time, the market will expand through entering new markets and developing further distribution channels and asset [...]
Asset management growth has “stalled” to 2008 levels, new report finds July 11, 2016 The global growth of asset management "stalled" in 2015, marking its worst year since the 2008 financial crisis, a new report has found. Growth in assets under management (AUM) rose by one per cent globally to $71.4 trillion (£55 trillion), from $70.5 trillion. The figure grew by eight per cent in 2014 and averaged five per cent [...]
Investor confidence index drops to four-year low after Brexit vote July 11, 2016 Investor confidence has hit a four-year low after the EU referendum result, according to one index. The Hargreaves Lansdown Investor Confidence Index experienced its sharpest monthly fall in five years at the end of June. The index fell from 92 points in May to 67 on 30 June, its lowest value since May 2012, a [...]
Week ahead: Fashion retailers and builders are in the spotlight July 11, 2016 Alongside the Bank of England’s first meeting after the UK voted to quit the European Union it will be a busy week of corporate numbers. Bank of England officials announce their monetary policy decision on Thursday and many economists are expecting a loosening of interest rates. The FTSE 100 rose to its highest level in [...]
Hedge fund managers find positives in Brexit vote July 6, 2016 Hedge fund managers are finding positives in last month's Brexit vote, a new survey has found. Some 31 per cent of 67 surveyed by Preqin expect a positive short-term impact from the vote to Leave the EU, and nine per cent predicted a longer-term boost. Just 13 per cent of those surveyed anticipated a negative [...]
Columbia Threadneedle’s property funds become the latest to suspend trading July 6, 2016 Columbia Threadneedle has become the latest firm to suspend trading on property funds. Both the Threadneedle UK Property Authorised Investment Fund (Threadneedle PAIF) and the Threadneedle UK Property Authorised Trust suspended at 12pm on Wednesday. It follows Aviva, M&G, Henderson, Standard Life and Canada Life in suspending trading on UK property funds. Read more: Fourth property fund suspension announced [...]
Before the bell: What you need to know before the US market open July 6, 2016 Sterling and bond yields continue to slide, though gold has been labelled as the go-to investment for the rest of the year. Here's what you need to know before the US market opens at 2:30pm London time. US stock futures are not looking good ahead of the open. The S&P is down by 0.62 per cent, the Nasdaq is [...]