Brexit high noon spells danger for currency traders January 15, 2019 Theresa May’s ultimate showdown has finally arrived. The high-stakes parliamentary vote on her Brexit plans is due later today, and the outcomes vary wildly – from soaring success to complete political collapse. Currency traders lie in wait, hoping not to be caught on the wrong side of a sterling trade, which could whip wildly in [...]
Are Britain’s banks close-minded to Open Banking? January 14, 2019 Lauded as the start of a new revolution in banking, Open Banking was expected to take the financial world by storm when it was introduced almost a year ago to the day. The set of new rules require that the big banks allow their customers to share their own transaction data with third parties. Specifically designed to open [...]
As competition heats up, meet the energy company taking on the Big Six by cutting consumption January 14, 2019 You know the drill: energy companies lure you in with a cheap introductory rate, and once it expires, you’ve either got to repeat the hassle of shopping around for a new deal, or you’re automatically moved onto the provider’s expensive default tariff – otherwise known as the standard variable rate (SVR). This isn’t a glitch [...]
For heaven’s sake, just pay your interns January 14, 2019 It is 2019, and workplace inclusion, diversity, and equality remain key conversation topics for leading businesses. But many young people are still being put at an unfair disadvantage by the extensive number of unpaid internships that still exist. A recent survey from the Sutton Trust found that one in four graduates has completed an unpaid [...]
Behavioural science at work: The logic of being illogical January 10, 2019 In real life, imagine if everyone we met was like Jordan Belfort from The Wolf of Wall Street. Unlike for TV, it wouldn’t make for very interesting watching. Why? Because in the real world, we are all united by our differences, as well as our similarities. In an age of personalisation, understanding how individuals react [...]
Will this be a year for investors to fear? January 9, 2019 A new year always offers the chance of a reset, of evolved thoughts, ideas and insights. Even though many will be pleased to see the back of 2018, numerous investors are beginning this year with new concerns: an oncoming recession. This fear seems suddenly rampant among many of my colleagues in the industry. But these fears [...]
Why the cheapest mortgage deal isn’t necessarily the right one January 9, 2019 The Financial Conduct Authority’s report into the mortgage market found that around 30 per cent of borrowers were unable to see that they were eligible for a cheaper deal. On average, these consumers paid around £550 per year more over the introductory period compared to the cheaper product. But this poses a question: is the cheapest [...]
Five ways to clean up your buy-to-let portfolio in 2019 January 9, 2019 While January is a great time to be making financial resolutions, with many over-spending at Christmas, it’s sometimes best to concentrate on making the most of what you already have. For 2.5m people owning £1.4 trillion of buy-to-let, investment property is the best place to start. It comprises an enormous part of personal wealth, it [...]
From Carillion to Connaught, here are four clues that a company is tipped for disaster January 8, 2019 It is said that we learn as much from failure as we do from success. This is just as true in investing as in life: we can learn from the struggles of companies that have gone bust, as well as those that have survived. While there are tell-tale signs that a company’s share price is [...]
Apple analysts have let us down yet again January 8, 2019 Apple analysts, huh, what are they good for? Absolutely nothing. Say it again… Yep, that’s right, I just butchered one of the most powerful lyrics of the past 50 years. Lyrics immortalised by Edwin Starr in the 1970 Vietnam protest song, but for me it kind of grabs your attention and makes the point rather [...]
