After the Woodford saga, here are four signs that your fund is in trouble October 29, 2019 The industry is still reeling from the news of the Woodford fund closure, with investors left in limbo as to when they will get their money back. But the saga has also brought two more general considerations into sharp focus: first, whether star fund managers are the answer at all, and second, what red flags [...]
How to ace the onboarding process for new recruits October 29, 2019 Did you know that only 44 per cent of new employees report a positive experience after joining an organisation? The first day at a new job can be tough and, if done badly, downright depressing. New starters often report poor sleep or even sleepless nights on the run-up to their first day – it has [...]
DEBATE: Has the People’s Vote campaign blown its chance of a second referendum? October 29, 2019 Has the People’s Vote campaign blown its chance of a second referendum? Olivia Utley, deputy editor at TheArticle, says YES. So, the People’s Vote campaign has imploded. Why? Infighting has a lot to do with it. Political activism only works when the public can’t see what’s going on behind the scenes – and yesterday, the [...]
What do negative bond yields mean for investors? October 28, 2019 | City Talk As the synchronised slowdown in the global economy continues, central banks have yet again stepped in to attempt to extend what has already been the longest economic and stock market expansion in history. With interest rates across the world already low and in some cases negative, the stark reality is that the future impact of [...]
Keep retail investors in separate funds, says FCA head October 28, 2019 Retail investors could have their money separated from institutional funds to better protect individuals following the collapse of Neil Woodford’s investment empire, the head of the financial regulator has said. Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) chief executive Andrew Bailey said in an interview with The Times that he did not think the mixing of institutional and [...]
Assets under management fall for top firms but ESG bucks downward trend October 28, 2019 Assets under management (AUM) at the world’s largest managers declined overall in 2018 as subdued equity markets weighed on the industry, but those managed in Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) mandates grew substantially. AUM at the 500 biggest firms fell three per cent during the year but those managed in ESG mandates rose 23.3 per [...]
Emerging markets need more say on digital currencies like Libra, says Chinese official October 28, 2019 Governments in emerging markets should be given a greater say in the regulation of digital currencies such as Facebook Libra that could facilitate illegal capital flows and disrupt foreign exchange management, said a senior Chinese official. China has been moving to embrace financial technologies such as blockchain, and is preparing to launch its own digital [...]
Neil Woodford and partner received £20m dividends amid crisis October 28, 2019 Former star stockpicker Neil Woodford and his business partner Craig Newman reportedly raked in dividends close to £20m in the last financial year as the crisis that would lead to the closure of their investment firm escalated. The figure, which covers the year to March 2019, is based on analysis by the Financial Times. Read [...]
The six biggest bull runs since 1962 (and their corrections) October 28, 2019 | City Talk The current bull market in US stocks started in March 2009 at the height of the global financial crisis and is the longest in recent history, beating the rally between July 1962 and May 1970 by over four years. At the time of writing, the bull market is still going. US stocks are up more [...]
The regulator’s intervention on car finance hides an underlying reality October 28, 2019 The UK’s car finance boom has been a cause for concern for some time now, and the regulator is finally cracking down on questionable practices. One common complaint of this sector has been the practice whereby a car dealer or broker will make commission on the interest rate of the loan. By setting a higher [...]
