Are world stockmarkets good value going into 2017? December 22, 2016 Global stock markets have seen a turbulent year, but surprised many with the resilience shown after the Brexit vote and the US presidential election result. Both the US and UK markets are significantly ahead of where they started the year, as is Japan, although Europe – which faces a series of major elections in 2017 [...]
Are world stockmarkets good value going into 2017? December 22, 2016 Global stock markets have seen a turbulent year, but surprised many with the resilience shown after the Brexit vote and the US presidential election result. Both the US and UK markets are significantly ahead of where they started the year, as is Japan, although Europe – which faces a series of major elections in [...]
With changes to buy-to-let and a falling Lifetime allowance, 2016 was the year when venture capital trusts and other alternative investments went mainstream December 21, 2016 When life gives you lemons, make lemonade, so the saying goes. This blend of optimism and pragmatism has been vital during 2016. And those qualities continue to serve the financial services industry well, given the rule changes that are keeping product providers, financial advisers – and investors – on their toes. Take the recent adjustments [...]
Four investment myths on the rise December 7, 2016 The world of investing constantly changes and that means yesterday’s wisdom can soon become today’s myths. Or in some cases, the story moves along and some investors haven’t quite kept up. Your own biases and assumption can pose a danger to wealth generation (you can test this at Schroders Income IQ). So here we run [...]
Why do some nations hold more gold? December 7, 2016 As an asset, gold is entirely speculative. It provides no income or dividends, and has few industrial or medical applications. Investors buy it only in the confidence that humans’ peculiar and enduring fascination with the lustrous metal will ensure its value through the decades and centuries to come. Unlike other securities, its price is not dictated [...]
How low rates affect stockmarket returns December 5, 2016 The world has been living with low interest rates for eight years but such periods are not new. Both the US and UK saw rates below 1% for most of the two decades spanning the Second World War, while Japan has been living with sub-1% rates since 1995. Stockmarkets performed very differently in each case, [...]
Investment trust winners of 2016 November 29, 2016 Investment trusts focused on Asia are on course to deliver some of the best returns in 2016, according to data for trust sectors. Investment trusts are an alternative to more commonly held open-ended funds or unit trusts, offering some advantages. This is explained here: investment trust v open-ended funds Here, we look at the [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan “disappointed” with limited Autumn Statement devolution November 23, 2016 Sadiq Khan has expressed his disappointment after City Hall secured only limited devolution from the Treasury in today's Autumn Statement. Chancellor Philip Hammond announced today that London would gain control of adult education budgets, and will be given control of £3.15bn in spending toward national affordable housing. That money will be expected to deliver 90,000 [...]
Autumn Statement 2016: Here’s how business groups have reacted to today’s announcement November 23, 2016 Today's Autumn Statement may be the last after chancellor Philip Hammond announced he would scrap the annual November mini-Budget, but there's still an awful lot for the business world to sink its teeth into this time around. Here's how some of the UK's biggest business groups have reacted to today's announcements, which include big infrastructure [...]
How the chancellor can unlock more private capital for infrastructure November 23, 2016 Chancellor Philip Hammond is widely expected to outline a more flexible approach to deficit reduction when he delivers his first Autumn Statement today. Flexibility seems wise, given the scale of uncertainty as the UK prepares to leave the EU. Ministers have identified investment in infrastructure as a means to boost the UK’s competitive standing. In [...]