Are UK markets overstretched? December 21, 2017 With the FTSE 100 and All-Share a wee bit below their all-time highs and valuations above average, many fear equities are too high and will soon fall. However, in our view, such worries are misplaced. Valuations aren’t predictive, and markets routinely set all-time highs during bull markets. We expect UK markets to keep making chart-topping [...]
Are UK markets overstretched? December 21, 2017 With the FTSE 100 and All-Share a wee bit below their all-time highs and valuations above average, many fear equities are too high and will soon fall. However, in our view, such worries are misplaced. Valuations aren’t predictive, and markets routinely set all-time highs during bull markets. We expect UK markets to keep making chart-topping [...]
What Alan Shearer can teach us about QE August 15, 2017 What a versatile chap Alan Shearer is turning out to be – record goal scorer in the English Premier league, football pundit for the BBC and now The Value Perspective’s favourite go-to illustration when explaining financial concepts. A couple of weeks back, we learnt what he had to teach us about inflation and now he [...]
UK small and mid cap shares: in search of growth November 28, 2017 For equity investors seeking exciting growth companies the UK market offers some compelling opportunities. Investors in UK-quoted companies have two key markets from which to choose: the main market of the London Stock Exchange with its well-established FTSE indices and 319-year pedigree (see footnote 1), and relative newcomer the Alternative Investment Market (AIM). For active [...]
Are millennials on target to retire at age 58? December 6, 2017 Millennials (18-35 year olds) are investing 11.2 per cent of their salary for retirement and are relying less on state contributions than older generations (over 35 years olds), a major study has found. The report, which covers 30 countries, also found millennials were hoping to retire with an average age of 58.2 years old. Schroders [...]
Do rising interest rates reduce returns on income investments? September 18, 2017 Many will remember to their cost the infamous “taper tantrum” in June 2013. It was the moment Ben Bernanke, the then Chairman of the US Federal Reserve, indicated that the quantitative easing (QE) would be scaled back, or tapered. The QE programme had fed money into the financial system to stimulate the economy following the [...]
UK general election: what a hung parliament means for markets June 9, 2017 The UK general election has resulted in a hung parliament, with no party commanding an overall majority. The Conservatives have emerged as the largest party and will likely seek to form a minority government. The result is unexpected. Polls during the election campaign had generally pointed towards a comfortable Conservative majority. Our panel of investment [...]
Uncertainty over Garden Bridge as pleading letter counters funding problems August 18, 2016 Uncertainties over London's Garden Bridge are building after a letter sent by the chairman of its trust to the secretary of state pleaded for a commitment to the project before a funding gap was revealed. The letter, written before it was revealed there was a gap in funds of more than £50m for the project, makes it clear the trust is confident [...]
Zopa’s raised £32m ahead of challenger bank launch, from Spotify and iZettle-backer Northzone and India’s Wadhawan Global Capital June 1, 2017 Online peer-to-peer lender Zopa has raised fresh cash in preparation for the launch of its own challenger bank. The £32m comes from Wadhawan Global Capital, an Indian financial services firm and Northzone, the venture capital firm which has previously backed Spotify, iZettle and MarketInvoice, among others. Read more: Zopa just got full approval as a [...]
A shortage of land could kill off London’s e-commerce revolution September 13, 2016 Recent reports that Amazon is set to test drone deliveries in partnership with the UK government is just the latest salvo in the fiercely contested battle between the e-commerce giants that are transforming the way we shop. The move also demonstrates the challenges of a constantly evolving logistics sector. City A.M. readers are at the [...]