Why it’s not time to dump US equities: A Fed interest rate hike won’t drag down stocks June 16, 2015 For US equity investors, it’s all eyes on the Fed until we see the first lift-off in interest rates in September or potentially December this year. We’ve got beyond the patch of weak economic data earlier in 2015 and are returning to stronger growth, as signalled by healthy labour market data in recent months. Ironically, [...]
Where to find the best value cash accounts: They won’t trump equities, but zero inflation makes them more attractive June 9, 2015 The UK is a nation of cash savers, with half of Britain’s collective wealth sitting in instant access accounts. Inflation may stand below zero at present (it was -0.1 per cent in April), making cash a reasonably attractive option, but it will not stay there forever. Indeed, research released earlier this week by Henderson [...]
DVLA changes to complicate car hire rules: Counterpart driving licences are being abolished and renters must register online June 2, 2015 Hiring a car abroad can be a hassle – with costs, paperwork, forward planning and strange roads to be taken into consideration. But alongside cutting costs, drivers should also be aware of the DVLA’s changes around driving licences. The burden of carrying a paper counterpart driving licence when hiring a car abroad will be [...]
The right credit card can slash holiday costs: Air miles cards are popular but fees and rewards vary considerably May 26, 2015 Competition has become fierce among credit card providers and many are having to raise their stakes when it comes to perks for new customers. Air miles are the latest area of growth for credit card companies. While they may not have the best annual percentage rates (APRs), these cards will act as an extension [...]
Why now is the time to assess bond funds May 19, 2015 With just 15 per cent of money held in Isas invested in bond, it’s time that more savers understood what they have to offer. Now that all the General Election buzz is beginning to die down, there’s been much more talk about bond markets. Bonds are an important but often overlooked part of any [...]
Beware under-insurance: Four in five people don’t have adequate coverage for their precious things May 12, 2015 Do you have adequate insurance for the contents of your home in the event of a disaster? Probably not. Research suggests four in every five high net worth individuals is under-insured, according to Oak Underwriting. Another study from Datamonitor put the figure slightly lower, at 70-75 per cent of wealthier homeowners – but still a [...]
IPOs breathe life into stagnant small caps after investment struggle May 5, 2015 Investments in the UK’s smaller companies have struggled this year, but some fund managers are hoping that newly-listed companies will help revive the sector. Since the start of the year, small caps quoted on the FTSE Aim All-Share TR index have lagged their large-cap peers on the FTSE 100. But since April, smaller companies have [...]
Investors hope for Grexit relief April 28, 2015 A Greek exit from the single currency bloc could prove to be a blessing AS GREECE comes close to defaulting on its debts, the possibility of the nation becoming the first to leave the Eurozone has once again reared its head. This threat to Europe’s stability has wobbled markets and the Eurostoxx 50 has fallen [...]
“Toxic” General Election to hit pound hard: Experts predict sterling will slump in value – but traders can profit April 21, 2015 Election uncertainty has begun to take its toll on sterling. After the leaders’ debate last week – which appeared to make the prospect of a coalition government less likely – the pound weakened. Since the start of the year, the pound has fallen 4.4 per cent versus the dollar, and now some strategists are predicting [...]
Don’t worry about zero UK inflation: The outcome of the election will be far more significant for markets April 14, 2015 Britain narrowly avoided heading into deflation last month, with prices unchanged compared to a year ago. But over the past six months, prices have fallen by 1 per cent annualised after adjusting for seasonal trends. Should we worry about deflation and the prospect of falling prices? Well, after stripping out some of the more volatiles [...]