Cash vs stock market: the difference in returns since Isas began March 7, 2018 Saving money into a cash Isa over the last 18 years would have returned four times less than a stocks and shares Isa, according to research by Schroders. Since 2009, the average savings account could even have lost you money. But while stocks and shares returns may have been higher, they have also been more [...]
Corporate bonds vs shares: eight questions answered January 30, 2018 Investors face a constant dilemma over which assets, such as shares, bonds and property, to invest in. The answer is often that a mix of assets can help meet your goals. Different investments can perform well at different times. For example, when shares languish, government or corporate bonds may fare better. This is considered to [...]
A year of President Trump: seven charts that reflect market reaction January 19, 2018 Donald Trump became president of the US on 20 January 2017. Markets reacted positively to his pro-business rhetoric and his promise to cut taxes and spend big on infrastructure. The global economy was already picking up a significant head of steam for the first time since the financial crisis. But Trump’s election and his policies [...]
The FTSE in 2017: Five charts that tell the story December 27, 2017 The FTSE 100, 250 and All-Share indices made strong gains in 2017. A record year for dividend payments and ongoing loose monetary policy from the Bank of England helped each index hit a record high in 2017. By the close on 13 December 2017 the FTSE 100 was up 5%. But it was outperformed by [...]
A short history of investing in gold – and what to expect for 2017 December 8, 2017 Gold is coveted by investors for its rarity. As a precious metal with limited supply, it is seen as a store of value when the real value of other assets, and currencies, can be manipulated. But fundamentally, its high worth is underpinned by its usefulness and attractiveness. Not only is it highly malleable but [...]
Four investment myths on the rise December 7, 2017 The world of investing constantly changes and that means yesterday’s wisdom can soon become today’s myths. Or in some cases, the story moves along and some investors haven’t quite kept up. Your own biases and assumption can pose a danger to wealth generation (you can test this at Schroders Income IQ). So here we [...]
Are millennials on target to retire at age 58? December 6, 2017 Millennials (18-35 year olds) are investing 11.2 per cent of their salary for retirement and are relying less on state contributions than older generations (over 35 years olds), a major study has found. The report, which covers 30 countries, also found millennials were hoping to retire with an average age of 58.2 years old. Schroders [...]
UK investors save 11.3 per cent of salary for retirement – is it enough? December 4, 2017 UK investors currently save an average of 11.3 per cent of their income specifically for retirement, according to a major new study. The Schroders Global Investor Study (GIS) 2017 found that non-retired UK investors are saving a higher proportion of their income for retirement than the European average (9.9 per cent), and roughly the same [...]
14 years of investment returns: history’s lesson for investors November 30, 2017 The stockmarket has provided the best returns among the major asset classes over the last 14 years. But the total profits belie wild fluctuations year by year. Such volatility can cause problems for those who need to draw down money from their investments at certain points of their lives. A sudden drop in the stock [...]
Pound devaluation: how the lessons of 1967 apply today November 23, 2017 The UK actively devalued its currency in 1967, but the 20 per cent fall in the pound since the Brexit vote continues a long-term trend of devaluation. Since the UK voted to leave the European Union on 23 June 2016 the pound has devalued sharply. It has fallen by as much as 21 per cent [...]
