What next for the FTSE 100? December 19, 2016 The FTSE 100 largely brushed aside concerns over Brexit and the US election in 2016 to hit its highest ever level of 7,129.83. However, the index has struggled to maintain its momentum and push on from that record high reached in October. Here we take a look at why the index remains near record highs [...]
What next for the FTSE 100? December 19, 2016 The FTSE 100 largely brushed aside concerns over Brexit and the US election in 2016 to hit its highest ever level of 7,129.83. However, the index has struggled to maintain its momentum and push on from that record high reached in October. Here we take a look at why the index remains near record [...]
Investors shouldn’t worry about Jeremy Corbyn September 28, 2016 For many of the party’s supporters, Saturday’s result will have been seen as a win for Jeremy Corbyn and a loss for Labour. For them, a resounding endorsement of Corbyn by Labour’s growing membership has cemented the hard left at the heart of the party, and will weaken its appeal to the broader electorate. A [...]
Carney’s monetary policy to the rescue? Let’s be honest, probably not August 4, 2016 As was expected by most market watchers, the Bank of England has reacted to the poor PMI and the weakening economic outlook since the referendum by taking several decisive actions today. However, it is right to be sceptical about the success of these measures and question whether the Bank's actions will be suited to support [...]
Why the UK will need more than rate cuts to offset Brexit shock July 20, 2016 Although growth has been less vigorous than in previous recoveries, the UK economy has made real progress since the Lehman-crisis — the private sector has deleveraged, household balance sheets have strengthened and labour market participation has reached a record high. The near-term Brexit-induced confidence shock promises to reverse some of these positive trends. Uncertainty will reign [...]
Advisers and accountants could pay fines in excess of earned fees in new proposed crackdown on tax avoidance August 17, 2016 Financial advisers and accountants who help enable tax avoidance are to be targeted and heavily fined, under new proposals. Under the Treasury proposals, those advisers and accountants who help tax avoidance, or even devise the schemes, could be fined up to 100 per cent of the tax avoided. Tax avoidance is legal and is where you [...]
Second warning raised this week on banking red tape deadlines August 31, 2016 G20 leaders have received their second warning in a week that some jurisdictions may miss deadlines for implementing new banking rules. Today's report by the Financial Stability Board (FSB), which is chaired by Bank of England governor Mark Carney, notes issues which have been raised with rolling out rules, in particular, those still left to [...]
Prices on the rise: What next for inflation? February 23, 2017 Inflation is waking up Most of the major central banks are predicting rises in inflation. Price pressure was already beginning to build in 2016 as the world economy showed signs of improvement. Now the policies of a new Trump administration – lower taxes and increased government spending – could increase that pressure. The expectation among [...]
After retail sales rose strongly in July, did the Bank of England jump the gun by cutting interest rates? August 18, 2016 Tim Price, manager of the VT Price Value Portfolio, says Yes. Brexit hasn’t even happened yet, but Bank of England governor Mark Carney went out on such a limb on behalf of Project Fear that he had no alternative but to cut interest rates, irrespective of our economic condition and the already sharp decline in sterling. [...]
City Giving Day: Community investment is a win-win for business and society September 27, 2016 UBS has operated a community investment programme in London for over 30 years. Never has it, and others like it, been more relevant. The relevance is driven by need; by the state of the UK and indeed of the world today; and by the now demonstrable proposition that companies undertaking such activity benefit both themselves [...]