Is it still worth investing in bank shares? May 31, 2017 Bank shares rose sharply toward the end of 2016 leaving many investors questioning whether the rally would continue. The global banking sector returned 13.7% in 2016 with dividends included, according to MSCI data. In comparison, the MSCI World index returned a more modest 8.2%. Among banks, the biggest gains were made by the US and [...]
Which UK stock market sectors have performed best over two decades? May 19, 2017 When the stock market rises and falls the sectors within it can move very differently, especially in the short-term. Perhaps the best example was the dotcom boom and bust, when technology shares soared in 1999 and then spectacularly crashed in the three years that followed. A balanced and carefully managed portfolio can ease the impact [...]
A political checklist for stock market investors May 12, 2017 Brexit, Trump and European elections all had the potential to cause chaos in the stockmarket. Yet investors have remained calm. What next? How markets have responded to elections When global equities fell 7% in the days following the UK’s European Union (EU) referendum, it appeared that the tone for markets may have been set for [...]
How shares with low yields can pay the most income April 28, 2017 Investors are often tempted to buy shares which promise bumper dividends today, largely because they need the income immediately, perhaps to support early retirement. Those who can wait longer may want to consider an alternative – investing in companies that offer the potential of fast dividend growth. Companies which can grow their dividends rapidly can [...]
How currencies move stock markets April 19, 2017 Many factors move stock markets but the strength of a country’s currency can have a surprisingly large bearing. Several high profile events have underlined this in the past year – most notably Brexit and Donald Trump’s US election win. The way currencies affect stock markets are different in each country. Rising currencies may serve to [...]
This stock market index rose 289% but could still be good value March 17, 2017 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 in a [...]
Investor relief at Dutch election: what next for stock markets? March 16, 2017 European stock markets have expressed relief at the Dutch election result. Traders had been anxious and share prices put under pressure in the run up to polling day yesterday. But centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte saw off a challenge from the Party for Freedom (PVV), led by anti-immigration nationalist Geert Wilders. The election had [...]
Investor relief at Dutch election: what next for stock markets? March 16, 2017 European stock markets have expressed relief at the Dutch election result. Traders had been anxious and share prices put under pressure in the run up to polling day yesterday. But centre-right Prime Minister Mark Rutte saw off a challenge from the Party for Freedom (PVV), led by anti-immigration nationalist Geert Wilders. The election had been [...]
Why the FTSE 100 rises when sterling falls – explained in two charts March 15, 2017 The FTSE 100's strong recovery after the Brexit verdict in last June's referendum caught some investors off guard. After an initial wobble, the index surged. Three months later, it was 10.4% higher. But why? There may have been some other factors at play in those months, but one of the strongest drivers in the [...]
Why the FTSE 100 rises when sterling falls – explained in two charts March 15, 2017 The FTSE 100's strong recovery after the Brexit verdict in last June's referendum caught some investors off guard. After an initial wobble, the index surged. Three months later, it was 10.4% higher. But why? There may have been some other factors at play in those months, but one of the strongest drivers in the fortunes [...]
