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 Budapest Stock Exchange (BSE) is the main trading venue for Hungarian stocks and provides investment opportunities to the fastest growing part of the EU, the Central and Eastern European region (CEE). Therefore, though it is one of the smaller European bourses, it is now – more than ever before – worth a closer look.…
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…
Very few stocks ever have a dividend yield of 15% or more, and if they do then the dividend has probably already been cut or suspended. For example, if I sort my watch list of dividend-paying stocks by yield, I get Provident Financial and Capita at the top, with yields of 20% and 17% respectively.…
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…
The housebuilding sector has enjoyed a period of stunning growth since the financial crisis. It has been supported by demand-side policies from the government, as well as a continued lack of supply. This has meant that profitability and cash flow across the sector has soared. It has also allowed dividend payments to increase, with the…
The last decade has been a rollercoaster ride for investors in the oil and gas industry. Just under ten years ago, the oil price peaked at $158 per barrel before falling sharply to trade at less than one-third of that level. A recovery in the period 2009-2014 was undone by a glut of supply. This…
In 2017 global emerging markets stocks and currencies posted their best return since 2009. And even after this robust performance emerging markets continue to offer attractive investment opportunities as economic growth outpaces the developed world in 2018 (4.9% vs 3.3% forecast growth this year (Shroders)), current account deficits improve, political volatility moderates and structural reforms…
It may sound strange to talk about housebuilders such as Barratt (LON:BDEV) and Bellway (LON:BWY) as turnaround opportunities. After all, the two stocks are up 136% and 163% respectively in the last five years. However, in the last month their shares are 11%+ lower after the government announced potential plans to crack down on land…
