Emerging markets have enjoyed a real comeback, but as expectations of another Fed rate hike grow, can it last long? August 30, 2016 At the beginning of the year, things looked dismal for emerging markets. Investor optimism had soured over the previous three to four years, thanks to a cocktail of tumbling commodity prices, a strong dollar and a Chinese slowdown which had shaken confidence in the sustainability of their growth. Nine months later, and the mood has shifted [...]
Will September be a particularly cruel month for investors? August 30, 2016 David Buik, market commentator at Panmure Gordon, says Yes. As a committed Brexiteer, it is imperative to be eternally optimistic, particularly in the face of hysterical Remain financial forecasting which emanated from the establishment, encouraged by a slew of eminent economists. After Brexit, further quantitative easing and a rate cut were quickly introduced, which resulted in [...]
From Italy to Trump, why are investors so complacent about political risk? August 30, 2016 As Theresa May plotted with her Cabinet this weekend about the country’s plan for Brexit, doomsday-predictors should have every reason to be amazed at where asset prices sit today. Funnily enough, market-savvy Brexiteers I spoke to in the aftermath of the vote were surprised but sanguine, saying markets always overreact. Clearly in the short term [...]
Recruitment stays steady following referendum, but salaries on offer take a knock August 30, 2016 Professional hiring has remained sturdy despite the referendum result, but salaries on offer are no longer so favourable, figures out today show. The Association of Professional Staffing Companies (Apsco) study found permanent vacancies inched up by 0.2 per cent in July compared with the year before, although contract vacancies dipped by two per cent. However, the [...]
Want to cut the wait time when you call the tax man? These are the best times to call August 30, 2016 A new study of call waiting times at HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has revealed the best times to call the tax man if you want to get through quickly. A July parliamentary report revealed that the average call waiting time in October was close to 35 minutes, as the deadline for paper submissions of [...]
An art rather than a science: one way to value the assets, four ways to value the liabilities August 29, 2016 Many of us like big numbers. But when it comes to pensions deficits, big numbers are not a good thing. Britain’s pension deficit values vary from day-to-day and from calculation to calculation. The numbers cited range from hundreds of billions to trillions of pounds. The reason they differ is because there numerous ways of calculating [...]
Seven steps for successful negotiations August 29, 2016 While only some of us formally negotiate in our working lives, all of us create agreements with colleagues, customers, family and friends all the time. So understanding how the top negotiators make agreements that truly work for everyone is a skill that will enhance your personal and professional relationships. Based on my experience as an [...]
Richard Branson reveals he thought he was going to die after accident while cycling on Caribbean island August 26, 2016 Virgin Group founder Richard Branson said his life flashed before his eyes when he was in a bike accident while cycling with family on the Caribbean island of Virgin Gorda. The entrepreneur – whose own private island, Necker, lies just north of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands – recounted his harrowing experience in a blog [...]
A bad night’s sleep can affect your cognitive performance, even if you feel fine August 25, 2016 Brexit has brought with it a period of significant instability. Since the vote to leave, many have feared their job security while watching the pound weaken on global markets. High levels of uncertainty have been fuelling distress in the workplace. In my most recent Sleep To Perform corporate workshops, I’ve heard Brexit fears being cited [...]
Fund Brexodus slows in July after “quite extraordinary” investor outflows in EU referendum month August 25, 2016 Outflows from the UK fund industry continued in July, but slowed after a “quite extraordinary” investor exodus in June, the month of the EU referendum. Net outflows totalled £1bn in July – an improvement on £3.5bn in June – according to the Investment Association. The strongest outflows last month came from equity funds, £2.2bn, but [...]
