Global Cities 30 index: Seattle’s boom is about far more than Amazon May 5, 2017 The Schroders Global Cities Index ranks the fastest growing urban economies in the world, focusing on the potential for property investment. Read more on the Global Cities Blog. On this post, we examine Seattle's success and its future prospects . Why Seattle? Sitting at no.25 in the Global Cities Index, we rate Seattle as a [...]
The only question you need to ask yourself before investing in an ISA May 4, 2017 Nick Kirrage, author on The Value Perspective blog, questions whether savers are really making the most of ISAs… There is no doubt the individual savings account – or ‘ISA’ for short – has proved a huge hit among the UK’s savers and investors. In the 2015/16 tax year (the most recent for which official figures [...]
Singapore REITs: Do they still possess long term value? April 10, 2017 Globally, real estate investment trusts (REITs) have become a popular way for investors to invest in property while at the same time receiving an income. This is particularly true in Singapore, which has developed into a hub for REITs in Asia ever since CapitaLand Mall Trust became the first one to launch back in 2002. [...]
The ‘£2,332’ reason to invest tax-efficiently April 5, 2017 An investor who puts £5,000 each year into the UK stockmarket through an Individual Savings Account (Isa) could save £2,332 in tax over ten years, new analysis suggests. This is because Isas offer protection from the taxman. An Isa is a tax shelter for investments, such as cash or shares. For cash Isas, the savings [...]
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 [...]
Taxman levies inheritance tax on £5.8bn of shares March 19, 2017 Half of all inherited shares were subject to inheritance tax (IHT) according the latest figures, prompting calls for people to manage their personal finances more efficiently. Around £5.8bn of the £11.7bn of securities passed down were subject to IHT, according to data prepared by HM Revenue & Customs. Read more: How the taxman benefits from the large growth [...]
This stock market index rose 289% but could still be good value March 17, 2017 Over time, smaller company shares have outperformed larger ones, research shows. The FTSE Small Cap index has risen 289% since its nadir in February 2009, compared with a 158% rise for the FTSE 100. Because of their size, “small caps” have the potential to grow more quickly. The quicker a company can grow its earnings in a [...]
The idea that London will be replaced as Europe’s financial centre is completely potty March 16, 2017 It's now almost nine months since the referendum, and Article 50 is about to be invoked. Readers of this column will be familiar with my arguments as to why a unilateral free trade Brexit is the optimal exit strategy, because of the gain to consumers in the short term and to consumers and producers in the [...]
Budget 2017: The full text of chancellor Philip Hammond’s speech March 8, 2017 Philip Hammond has delivered his first – and last – Spring Budget. Headline announcements included more cash for social care and punishing new rules for the self-employed – plus some vague comments on business rates. Read more: City A.M.'s TL;DR version of the Spring 2017 Budget Here's what he said: Mr Deputy Speaker, I report [...]
Look beyond pensions and Isas to VCTs and EIS for (higher risk) tax-efficient saving March 7, 2017 In advance of the new tax year, starting on 6 April, many people will be thinking about how to make the most of the tax-efficient investments available to them. Traditionally, this has been the time of year to make pension contributions, taking advantage of tax relief offered by the government. However, times have changed, with restrictions [...]