Equities

Why Imperial Brands is the best bet for income investors

Why Imperial Brands is the best bet for income investors

4 mins. to read

Since the credit crunch, income investing has become more popular. This has been caused by falling interest rates, low bond yields and an opportunity cost from holding cash. Now that interest rates have fallen yet further, I believe that income investing will become even more important to many more investors. One stock which I think…

Why Unilever is my favourite consumer goods play

Why Unilever is my favourite consumer goods play

4 mins. to read

One of my best performing investments in recent years has been Unilever (LON:ULVR). It has risen by 33% in the last year even though the outlook for emerging markets has at times appeared uncertain. However, it is those same emerging markets which provide Unilever with a stunning growth outlook. For me, Unilever’s exposure to developing…

Why Google might be the most innovative corporation in history

Why Google might be the most innovative corporation in history

10 mins. to read

Schrödinger’s Cat is out of the bag On 04 August I authored an article on these pages entitled Schrödinger’s Cat is SO Clever – about Quantum Computing (QC). Little did I know that that was the very day that a secret group of Google’s scientists chose to publish an academic paper for peer review which…

Why Shell will benefit from this major global challenge
JuliusKielaitis / Shutterstock.com

Why Shell will benefit from this major global challenge

5 mins. to read

The world’s population is forecast to increase from 7.3 billion today to 9.7 billion by 2050. That’s a rise of 33% in just 34 years and this brings a significant challenge. That is how to balance the increased energy needs of a larger population of people with a required reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Shell…

Wolseley’s dollar earnings make it an attractive Brexit play

Wolseley’s dollar earnings make it an attractive Brexit play

3 mins. to read

I dubbed Wolseley shares an appealing post-Brexit play last June when the share price was 3,781p. I see no reason to alter that fundamental judgement even now that they are 4,244p. The latest annual results suggest that life remains tough at the operational level, with margins scarcely improving. However, outside the US the company has the…

Why I’m buying into SolGold’s spectacular ascent

Why I’m buying into SolGold’s spectacular ascent

2 mins. to read

My taking a profit on a small proportion of my stake in SolGold after its spurt to 12p following Newcrest International’s offer to buy 10% at 6p per share is looking silly now that the shares are touching 18p – after what looks like a mini-buying stampede today. And after dithering when to get back…

What the European Bank Stress Tests Don’t Tell Investors

What the European Bank Stress Tests Don’t Tell Investors

9 mins. to read

European bank stocks have fallen to historically low multiples. The earnings outlook is uncertain and the banking environment is in flux. Tighter regulation, coordinated at the EU level, and challenging market conditions have forced banks to refine their business models and strategies – but all this has impacted their Return on Capital. European banks are…

ONS data could be masking the full implications of Brexit

ONS data could be masking the full implications of Brexit

4 mins. to read

Investors should not assume we have seen the full implications of the UK decision to go it alone. Like history, the future is another country; they do things differently there. One of the useful things taught in economics, is to distinguish between the ‘short term’ and the ‘long term’. John Maynard Keynes (whose wisdom has…

Morrisons: Leaner and meaner after turnaround

Morrisons: Leaner and meaner after turnaround

4 mins. to read

Wm. Morrison was a buy! You heard that message here last month ahead of these first-half results, and in the face of a massive uncovered bear position. (Clearly, too many hedge fund managers shop at Harrods and not Morrisons!) The grocer has managed to keep its customers happy, and the share price has responded in kind.…