One of the major challenges facing investors is how to generate an income return which beats inflation. This has been a problem since interest rates declined to historic lows following the financial crisis, but is now even tougher because of the rise in inflation. While interest rates could realistically edge upwards in future years, higher-yielding…
I was recently invited to a Conservative Party lunch hosted by the City and Westminster Tory Association. It was a jolly affair, with hundreds of well-oiled attendees, and despite the recent electoral setback, the mood appeared quite upbeat. Mrs May, to her credit given the recent events, made a formulaic speech that was well received,…
Caribbean Investment (LON:CIHL) stands at 15p offer. The price declined 5p since it went ex div of 20p a week back. The div is of course a share in Midway whose sole asset is a claim against the Belize Government of 20p per Midway share. As far as I am aware there is a fair…
Four former directors of Barclays have been charged by the SFO this morning with breaches of this and that. It all centres round a payment of £322m to the Qataris who subscribed for the very necessary refinancing of Barclays – £4.5bn in June 2008 topped up with a further £7.3bn in October 2008. I remember…
One of the major challenges facing investors is how to generate an income return which beats inflation. This has been a problem since interest rates declined to historic lows following the financial crisis, but is now even tougher because of the rise in inflation. While interest rates could realistically edge upwards in future years, higher-yielding…
Gold may not have a practical value as an alternative currency. It’s not possible to enter a shop and pay for any product or service in gold. However, the precious metal may have value as an alternative to cash or other assets due to its scope to help protect against rising inflation. Inflation potential In…
Cap-XX (LON:CPX) seems to be sending some mixed messages out on the fundamental front. But at least on the technicals we are looking at a situation where the longs are on the front foot. The 7 June update from supercapacitor designer and maker Cap-XX was a good news/bad news affair in the sense that while…
It would appear that the optimists are back in charge as far as Petrofac (LON:PFC) is concerned. The question now is whether or not this can last… Although it is difficult to be entirely precise when a stock or market is under the influence of controversial newsflow, it was possible to suggest that below 380p…
I was recently invited to a Conservative Party lunch hosted by the City and Westminster Tory Association. It was a jolly affair, with hundreds of well-oiled attendees, and despite the recent electoral setback, the mood appeared quite upbeat. Mrs May, to her credit given the recent events, made a formulaic speech that was well received,…
The FTSE-100 has been gliding around the stratospheric 7,500 level. So everything must be alright, then? Not necessarily. The FTSE-100 is powered by international market sentiment and the relative weakness of the Pound, which makes British blue chips look good value. Now confidence is on the wane. The Institute of Directors issued a report last…
Gold may not have a practical value as an alternative currency. It’s not possible to enter a shop and pay for any product or service in gold. However, the precious metal may have value as an alternative to cash or other assets due to its scope to help protect against rising inflation. Inflation potential In…
The election result has plunged the UK into a period of significant political uncertainty. There have been calls for Theresa May to resign, and there is the potential for a relatively weak minority government formed by the Conservatives and DUP. This could be just the beginning of an intense period for UK politics. In just…
The 2008 financial crisis may seem like a distant memory, but the ongoing ramifications are still a massive threat to your wealth. Concerted intervention by the world’s most powerful central banks managed to avert an immediate global meltdown, although we’re all going to pay the price in the form of higher inflation. The historically low…
The Personal Assets Trust (LON:PNL) is one of the best defensively orientated investment trusts on the market and it has just released its annual results for the year ended 30th April. Over the course of the financial year the fund’s net asset value (NAV) increased by 10.2% on a total return basis, or 8.6% if…
The Brexit talks-about-talks have started badly. What is the chance that there will be no deal at all? Are investors heading for the rapids…? Come dine with me On 26 April Theresa hosted dinner at her well-appointed home in Downing Street for Jean-Claude (a louche Belgian gentleman whom she had met on a caravanning holiday…
Ready. Aim. Fire! The notorious Article 50 of the Treaty of Lisbon (2007) was “triggered” by the United Kingdom last night when Prime Minister May signed off a historic letter to Donald Tusk, President of the European Council. This was delivered by hand by Sir Tim Barrow, our man in Brussels, at 12:20 BST this afternoon.…
