Over the past decade, the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector has gone from strength to strength. A number of government measures have shown just how much they are behind the idea – not least with the introduction of the Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) from April 2016, for the first time allowing tax exemption on interest and…
Last weekend, in his 4,000 word essay on Brexit in the Daily Telegraph, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resurrected the claim, much touted during the Brexit referendum, that the UK pays Brussels £350 million every week. This prompted howls of protest from the mainstream media and even from the head of the Office of National Statistics.…
It has taken a very long time but it does seem that Quantitative Easing now comes to a stop. It will not be overnight but this surely means that interest rates are on the rise. It is very hard to see equities going ahead in this climate. ***** One feature of life has not however…
Corporate collapses: when Arthur Andersen went down 15 years ago over Enron the problem was that the liabilities of one branch of that firm spread right across the world. This is different to the collapse of Bell-Pottinger where no liabilities (at least as matters stand) are due. Here the firm which specialised in managing reputations…
After buying a house, many people feel a desire to try to repay their mortgage as quickly as possible. This may be because overpaying a mortgage each month will reduce the amount repaid in the long run, or because it means the person in question is mortgage-free sooner than they otherwise would be. However, the…
Hurricane Harvey brought biblical floods to Houston. Ten days later, Hurricane Irma devastated the Caribbean. Were these freak storms the direct consequence of man-made climate change? What lessons can we learn to prepare for extreme weather events in the future? Who will be the key players in a world of freak weather? And can the insurers cope with this…
In my opinion, investors/traders don’t spend enough time on putting together a strategy that helps them decide when to get out of a profitable position. All of the effort gets channeled into finding a perfect system for where to get in – which of course doesn’t exist! But where you finally get out is what…
Back in 2015, when I was raising funds for my FinTech start-up CityFALCON, I mentioned that our most active user on the platform is a woman who trades from home while her family is out. I would never have imagined of the reaction that I got then: “this clearly can’t be one of your target…
Over the past decade, the peer-to-peer (P2P) lending sector has gone from strength to strength. A number of government measures have shown just how much they are behind the idea – not least with the introduction of the Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) from April 2016, for the first time allowing tax exemption on interest and…
In recent decades, governments and central banks have come under fierce criticism for the way they manage our most important commodity – money. Money is supposed to be a simple and neutral way of facilitating the financial interactions necessary in all our lives; but it has become somewhat of a burden, and has often been…
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…
One of the best options for long-term investors looking for higher risk/return opportunities is the Emerging Markets. The region offers huge potential upside as the various countries develop, although there are many challenges for them to overcome along the way. A well-diversified regional fund offers the safest way for people to profit from this area,…
Commodity-related stocks have had a difficult time of it in recent years with the main sector indices still trading well below their pre financial crisis levels. Funds that specialise in this area can provide a useful source of diversification and protection against inflation. They also offer huge upside potential if you can get the timing…
Last weekend, in his 4,000 word essay on Brexit in the Daily Telegraph, Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson resurrected the claim, much touted during the Brexit referendum, that the UK pays Brussels £350 million every week. This prompted howls of protest from the mainstream media and even from the head of the Office of National Statistics.…
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…
