A real Labour split won’t guarantee a surge in sterling February 19, 2019 Investors who are predicting a sterling rally if there if a full-blown split in the UK’s opposition party are likely to be sorely mistaken. The Labour party has leaned increasingly to the left since Jeremy Corbyn took the reins in 2015. Many currency experts have warned about his policies, saying that they fear a Labour [...]
The Pharmacy2U boss on saving the ailing NHS and stockpiling medicine February 18, 2019 The first ever UK chemist opened its doors in 1734, says Mark Livingstone when I meet him for breakfast. But it’s not so much this 285-year history that’s remarkable – it’s the fact that the business of dispensing drugs has barely been disrupted during that time. As the former managing director of Lego says: “When [...]
How to choose a provider for your Stocks and Shares Isa February 14, 2019 Isas are a popular way for savers to squirrel away money. And given that these savings accounts are free from both capital gains and dividend tax, the Stocks and Shares Isa is particularly appealing to investors. With all that said, not all Isas are created equal, and charges can vary wildly across providers. Platforms can usually be divided into those [...]
Investing in an Isa? Avoid these common behavioural mistakes February 14, 2019 Just before the end of the tax year, there’s the usual Isa rush where banks offer their best rates to entice you to hand over your money. Given that the returns are tax-free, it might seem like a no-brainer, and often, taking out an Isa will make sense. But it’s not necessarily always the case. [...]
Thinking of investing in your employer’s Workplace Isa scheme? Here’s your guide February 14, 2019 From a simple savings account to a product that helps you buy your first home, we are not short of Isas to choose from. And with 10.8m adults subscribed to at least one type of Isa in the last tax year, they’re also very popular. But, unless your employer offers it, there is one type [...]
Should investors be worried about a EU turn in the Eurozone’s economic prospects? February 12, 2019 As the Eurozone’s largest economy, Germany usually acts as a bellwether for the rest of the bloc. So the European Commission’s decision to downgrade the country’s growth forecasts last Thursday is a worrying sign for the other euro nations. Expectations for GDP growth in Germany were cut to 1.1 per cent for 2019, down from the [...]
The stakes are high in the global 5G race February 12, 2019 High up in the Swiss Alps in Davos last month, it was clear that most of the town was pessimistic because of the outlook on trade and the global economy. But what should concern investors more is the breaking up of the global web through the arrival of what’s known as the “splinternet”. It’s increasingly likely [...]
Paintball, Power Point and trust exercises: How to survive your next team away day February 11, 2019 In 1305, having executed William Wallace in London, Edward Longshanks had to plan how he would run Scotland from afar. Rather than do this from the capital, he took his court to Sheen Palace in Surrey to receive the Scottish commissioners, thus in effect instituting the first strategy away day. And it’s that time of [...]
Time to clamp down on the work-life double standard February 8, 2019 Ironically, it’s technology that will solve the very predicament it has created This year marks five years since legislation was broadened out to give all employees the right to request flexible working from their employer. What’s developed since then is a highly mobile workforce that has made the most of flexible working freedoms and the [...]
Professional headshots can be a minefield – especially if you take them too seriously February 7, 2019 TAKE a look at that picture of me. No tie or jacket. Not even a shirt for that matter. Hair a little on the louche side. Facing the camera squarely. Chin jutting out a bit, if we’re honest. And pixels. Lots of pixels. It’s not a professional photo, either in standard or purpose. But it’s [...]