Five reasons to invest in funds March 7, 2018 Save time Some investors are highly active and enjoy researching and choosing their own individual shares, bonds and other investments. However, it takes time and discipline to monitor the stock market in detail and react appropriately to company news. Collective funds such as unit trusts and investment trusts can offer a convenient solution. These spread [...]
An investment to hold when volatility strikes? March 7, 2018 Funds in the Targeted Absolute Return sector aim to produce positive returns in a variety of market conditions through using sophisticated investment techniques such as short selling (profiting when prices fall). They generally aim to make modest yet consistent gains with smoother performance than traditional funds; admirable objectives that resonate with many investors, but there [...]
Six reasons to use your ISA allowance March 6, 2018 1. Excellent tax benefits ISAs are one of the simplest and most effective ways to save tax. If your investments are in an ISA you don’t have to pay tax on income from them, and there is no capital gains tax to pay on any profits. Even if keeping your money outside the clutches of [...]
How doing nothing can increase your investment returns March 6, 2018 “It never was my thinking that made the big money for me. It always was my sitting…. My sitting tight!” – attributed to Jesse Livermore in Reminiscences of a Stock Operator (1923) by Edwin Lefèvre. There are plenty of worries in the world to scare investors at present. Can economies stand increasing US interest rates? [...]
Revealed: February’s most widely bought and sold funds on Charles Stanley Direct March 5, 2018 Neil Woodford’s Woodford Equity Income continued to be widely sold by Charles Stanley Direct customers. The well-known manager endured a difficult time for much of 2017 with positions in tobacco firms and top ten holding Provident Financial among the factors weighing on performance. However, shares in the latter recently soared on news of a stabilising [...]
RIT Capital’s ‘preservation mode’ lags strong market March 5, 2018 RIT Capital is an investment trust with a broad portfolio of assets. By owning a diverse range the overall aim is to beat inflation while limiting the ups and downs usually associated with investing in the stock market. Shares make up the core, represented by managed funds and some individual stocks, and this is supplemented [...]
February’s top and bottom performing funds March 2, 2018 Concerns about rising interest rates in the US resulted in a nerve-jangling start of February for share investors. Data released showed that US wages are rising while unemployment is at a 17-year low. Higher wages imply higher inflation, which makes a steeper path of interest-rate rises more likely, and this impacts the cost of borrowing [...]
The risks of pension drawdown – and how to help combat them March 1, 2018 Pension investors have two main options at retirement: Continue investing and take out money from their pot as and when needed (also known as pension drawdown), or buy an annuity that guarantees a regular income for life. This is a complex issue facing retirees, and any decision to use drawdown must be carefully considered. Drawdown [...]
Make the most of your tax breaks before the tax year end February 27, 2018 ISA allowance ISAs are often the first port of call for investors looking to save tax. They are simple, flexible and tax-efficient. By using your full ISA allowance each year (£20,000 in the current 2017/18 tax year) it’s possible to build up a large pot of money sheltered from capital gains tax or income tax. [...]
The most common investment mistake of all February 26, 2018 Having cash reserves is important. Most people need a “rainy day” fund to cover unforeseen events, and for the purpose of saving towards shorter term goals cash is appropriate because it has the significant advantage of offering security of capital. Some investors also like to hold some cash to take advantage of opportunities in the [...]
