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…
One year ago I reported for this magazine that the global oil and gas industry was experiencing one of the severest downturns in 30 years. A perfect storm of overproduction, geopolitical tensions and the long-term move towards alternative energy sources (renewables) had caused oil prices to fall to levels that were often below the long-term…
Electric vehicles are all the rage right now, but those with a longer-term horizon in mind are looking to hydrogen as the truly green energy source of the future. Master Investor caught up with the CEO of one very exciting company, Powerhouse Energy, to get a glimpse of the shape of things to come… James…
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…
