Life as a retailer operating in the UK has been challenging in recent years. Consumer confidence has been negative since the start of 2016, with higher inflation causing household disposable incomes to decline in real terms. Shoppers have become increasingly price conscious, and this has created a growth opportunity for budget retailers. Alongside this, consumers…
Recent data from the Halifax House Price Index showed that house prices in the UK declined by 3.1% in April. This is the largest monthly fall since 2010 and shows that uncertainty remains high for the property sector. However, this could present an opportunity for long-term investors to buy while property-focused stocks such as housebuilders…
While the FTSE 100 may have gained 7% in the last month to trade within 250 points of its all-time high, not all stocks have enjoyed such a strong performance. In fact, in the last year a number of large-caps have experienced falling valuations for a variety of reasons. Therefore, there could be an opportunity…
Interest rates in the UK have already started to rise. The Bank of England is now expected to increase them further over the coming months, with the UK now seemingly on a road to interest rate ‘normalisation’ over the medium term. However, the chances of a rapid rise in interest rates seem slim. Inflation has…
In recent months, the rate of inflation has been on a downward trend. This is highly significant because it means that wage growth is now ahead of inflation for the first time in over a year. As a result, consumer disposable incomes are now growing in real terms, and this could help to lift consumer…
The performance of global stock markets thus far in 2018 can best be described as ‘volatile’. The S&P 500, FTSE 100 and various other major indices have seen their price levels experience a rollercoaster ride in recent months. There are a number of reasons for this. Tensions in Syria have increased in recent days, while…
While the rate of inflation has fallen to 2.7%, it has the potential to remain a threat to investors. Brexit talks may be progressing at a faster pace than had been expected, but there is still only a relatively short period of time ahead in which to deliver solutions to complex challenges. Therefore, a weakening…
For many people, the question of when retirement will come is a difficult one to answer. The state pension age is set to increase to 68 by 2039. Therefore, it may feel as though retirement is moving further away. And with the cost of housing likely to rise in a loose monetary policy environment where…
The prospects for the UK economy are highly dependent upon how Brexit progresses. While it is impossible to say exactly what deal (if any) will be signed between the UK and the EU, the government seems to have leant towards a ‘harder’ Brexit thus far. There have been compromises on both sides, but ultimately the…
It’s been an uncertain decade for the defence industry. Disappointing economic performance across the developed world has prompted a period of cutbacks to military budgets. This has created a headwind for many defence-related businesses, which has caused disappointing financial performance and falling share prices in many cases. Today, though, the prospects for the industry seem…
