Will ‘app only’ be the norm for financial services? March 21, 2018 | City Talk Mobile apps for smartphones and tablets only came into existence a decade ago, but they have fast become an essential component for managing modern life. Users prefer apps as they’re an easy-to-use version of a full website, or because they represent a simplified version of a longer process. They offer the intuitive delivery and instant [...]
The ‘£17,808 cost’ of mistiming your FTSE investments March 21, 2018 | City Talk Buying low and selling high is every investor’s goal. However, timing the market precisely is notoriously difficult, if not impossible. Research undertaken by Schroders shows how costly it can be when the timing is wrong. Over three decades, mistimed decisions on an investment of £1,000 could have cost you nearly £18,000-worth of returns. Our research [...]
Trade deficits and tariff wars: Rows to get worse before they get better March 20, 2018 | City Talk In 2016 the US ran a deficit of $505bn on trade in goods and services, according to the World Bank. Germany ran a mighty surplus of $277bn on her trade, whilst China sold $250bn more goods and services than it bought from the rest of the world. Some economists see this as good news for [...]
Three ways to invest with Charles Stanley Direct March 20, 2018 | City Talk Make your own decisions 'DIY' investors who wish to select investments themselves can choose from the exceptionally broad range we have available: 3,000 funds, UK and certain overseas shares, gilts, bonds, investment trusts and ETFs. With so many possible investments available selecting individual ones can be a daunting prospect, though. To help narrow down the [...]
Three ways to invest with Charles Stanley Direct March 20, 2018 | City Talk Make your own decisions 'DIY' investors who wish to select investments themselves can choose from the exceptionally broad range we have available: 3,000 funds, UK and certain overseas shares, gilts, bonds, investment trusts and ETFs. With so many possible investments available selecting individual ones can be a daunting prospect, though. To help narrow down the [...]
Here are some last minute ISA options March 19, 2018 | City Talk By adding to your ISA pot each year you can build up a considerable tax-free shelter around your investment portfolio. Over time, this could mean higher returns. Time is running out for investors wishing to use the 2017/18 tax year’s £20,000 allowance, and it is lost forever if you do not use it. While it [...]
Bed & ISA: shelter existing shares from tax March 19, 2018 | City Talk Investing in an ISA is a great way of building up investments tax efficiently. But did you know there is a straightforward means of making Stocks & Shares ISA subscriptions without investing any new money? Simply by using existing shares held outside an ISA in a process known as a “Bed & ISA” you can [...]
Why UK-focused stocks look their cheapest in a decade March 19, 2018 | City Talk Uncertainty about the country’s long-term relationship with the European Union, its biggest trading partner, has left many international investors nervous about investing in UK companies. One recent poll showed that UK stocks were the least popular asset class among global fund managers. I disagree. I can see bright spots in the UK stock market that [...]
This stock market index rose 289% but could still be good value March 17, 2018 | City Talk Over time, smaller company shares have outperformed larger ones, research shows. The FTSE Small Cap index has risen 289% since its nadir in February 2009, compared with a 158% rise for the FTSE 100. Because of their size, “small caps” have the potential to grow more quickly. The quicker a company can grow its earnings [...]
Divorce and financial planning March 16, 2018 | City Talk Going through a divorce is a stressful transition but there are some important considerations which can be taken into account early in the separation process in order to minimise complications down the line. The process will probably be overseen by a family lawyer but, given the complexity of any given person’s finances, consulting a financial [...]