UK government public borrowing falls to 17-year low but misses Hammond’s spring statement target April 24, 2019 Public borrowing fell to its lowest level for 17 years in 2017-18 but was still higher than predicted, according to data published today. Borrowing hit £24.7bn between April 2018 and March 2019, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed today, £17.2bn less than the previous financial year. Read more: Government borrowing falls to 17-year low [...]
The coming squeeze on US profits April 24, 2019 Progress on US-China trade talks has seen investors’ concerns about a trade war fade, and be replaced instead by worries about economic growth and politic risks. The real concern for equity investors, ultimately, is how slower growth will be reflected in company profits. In 2018 markets were driven by stronger corporate earnings, but share prices [...]
Goldman Sachs profits fall 20 per cent in first quarter amid calm markets April 15, 2019 Profits at Goldman Sachs fell 20 per cent in the first quarter with revenues dropping in its trading and equities arms as lower market volatility limited opportunities for gain. Read more: Goldman Sachs fined £34m over transaction reporting failures The Wall Street giant said the US government shutdown, US-China trade tensions, and Brexit had all [...]
Best 25 stocks in the last tax year April 15, 2019 By Graeme Evans from interactive investor. The FTSE 100 outperformed mid-caps last tax year, but the top FTSE 350 performers might surprise you. Take a look at the financial year ended on the 5th April, with the 25 top performing stocks in the FTSE 350 all producing gains of 40 per cent or more over the [...]
Carr’s Group sees profits slip as it blames Brexit uncertainty and mild weather April 15, 2019 Profits slipped at farming supplies firm Carr’s Group in the first half of its financial year, it revealed today, as it withstood Brexit uncertainty and mild weather to stay on track with full-year expectations. The figures Profit before tax fell 2.6 per cent to £10.3m in the six months to the start of March, compared [...]
10 reasons to sell a share April 10, 2019 It’s generally accepted that it is more difficult to sell a share than to buy one. After all, the buying part ties you in to a share of a company. You have identified a share you like, done your research, consider that the current valuation is fair and that the company’s prospects are strong, so [...]
Death of the High Street? Why we’re still backing UK retail April 9, 2019 Following some dire headlines you might rightly wonder why the share prices of UK retailers have recorded double-digit gains this year (see graphic, below). Surely the relentlessly downbeat mood music from the mainstream media (and pessimism among analysts) is confirmation that the UK consumer is in full retreat, and consumer-exposed sectors are in deep trouble? [...]
Six tips to protect your portfolio during a market downturn April 3, 2019 When equity markets took a turn for the worse towards the end of last year, the onslaught of predictions about the end of the 10-year bull run came flooding in. With the markets creeping upwards since the start of 2019, it now seems that expectations of a bear market were premature. Even experienced fund managers [...]
Cash Isa vs stock market Isa: which has returned the most? April 2, 2019 Saving money into a stocks and shares Isa over the last 19 years would have returned two-thirds more than a cash Isa, according to calculations by Schroders. The stocks and shares Isa carries more risk and is subject to greater volatility than the cash Isa, which also provides far greater protection for your investment. You [...]
Is Uber the new Amazon? April 2, 2019 By Edmond Jackson from interactive investor. In a test of narrative power versus whopping financial losses, so-called “ride-hailing” or “ridesharing” giants Uber and Lyft have rivalled each other to list on the New York Stock Exchange – Lyft got there first. Both capture the spirit of the times, connecting taxi drivers to passengers via their [...]