What Macron’s victory means for investors: seven questions answered April 25, 2017 Stock markets surged and bond yields fell sharply following the results of the first round of the French election. Former economy minister, Emmanuel Macron, finished in first place with 23.9%, ahead of anti-EU candidate Marine Le Pen with 21.4%, making him easily favourite for the second round due to be held on 7 May. Gains [...]
Four extra bank holidays: Just how much would Labour’s policy cost the economy? April 23, 2017 We may already be in the season of bank holiday bonanzas (thanks Easter!) but who wouldn’t want more? The country was treated to an additional day off in 2011 for the royal wedding and then again for the Queen’s diamond jubilee celebrations a year later, but now Labour wants to give the country four (yes, [...]
FCA investigates Barclays boss Jes Staley: Here’s how four City analysts reacted April 10, 2017 Confusion reigned in the City this morning, after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said it was investigating Barclays chief executive Jes Staley over his attempt to identify a whistleblower at the bank. It was reported that Staley may even lose a hefty chunk of his bonus as a result. Investors weren’t sure what to make [...]
Which markets are cheap? April 6, 2017 If the fund managers we spoke to in our recent article “has the value ship sailed” are right, and the rally in value-style stocks has further to run, then where are the market areas they think are cheap right now? Japan, Europe and Asia, as well as banks and high yield bonds, are all in [...]
The stock market ‘value’ rally: how far will it go? April 5, 2017 Until 2016 it had been nearly 10 years of plain sailing for growth stocks and the value investment style had been left in its wake. In 2016, however, the tide began to turn, shown on the right-hand side of the chart below. The MSCI World Value Index rose 12.3% over the calendar year in dollar [...]
British banks threatened by rise in consumer credit the Bank of England warns April 4, 2017 The rapid growth of lending to consumers risks weakening the resilience of British banks, according to the Bank of England body tasked with maintaining the UK’s financial stability. Weaker underwriting standards could “reduce the resilience of lenders to shocks”, the Financial Policy Committee said, according to the minutes from its latest meeting. The FPC said [...]
Millicent Fawcett will be the first ever statue of a woman in Parliament Square April 2, 2017 Equality will come to Parliament Square as the first ever statue of a woman to be displayed at the heart of the UK’s political power has been announced. Dame Millicent Fawcett, one of many women who led the fight for women to have the vote, will be honoured after a high-profile campaign supported by Harry [...]
What next for price of gold? March 31, 2017 Is now the time to be investing in gold? With inflation on the rise and political risk high opinion is divided. Here, we explain the basics on gold pricing and ask fund managers who specialise in the commodity to share their views. Gold, one of the oldest known metals, was revered by all the great [...]
Saving for a £1m Isa: How the sums have changed March 29, 2017 British savers have grown used to getting an annual increase in the amount they can tuck away in a tax-efficient Isa. But the increase this year is far bigger than usual. In the new tax year, which starts on 6 April, the allowance will increase from £15,240 to £20,000. This changes the sums for those [...]
Bank of England deputy governor says sterling depreciation could boost British business investment | City A.M. March 23, 2017 The devaluation of sterling since the EU referendum could prompt an increase in business investment if exporters look through trade uncertainty, according to a deputy governor of the Bank of England. Ben Broadbent, one of the most influential members of the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC), said the depreciation had created “something of a sweet [...]