The recent increase in interest rates by the Bank of England has shone a spotlight on the actions of the major banks. The uplift of 0.25% was automatically passed on to the millions of borrowers with tracker rate mortgages, but the majority of savers with variable rate accounts are yet to see any improvement. Banks…
If there is one area that divides opinion more than most it is commodities. Some investors think that we are entering a new bull market and that now is the perfect time to buy, whereas others are sceptical and remain bearish. Whatever your view there is no doubt that it has been a difficult time…
Last week was a fantastic one for the FANG stocks – Facebook, Amazon, Netflix and Google − with Amazon and Google (now Alphabet) posting market beating earnings that prompted sharp rises in their share prices. Amazon reported earnings of 52 cents a share after the market closed last Thursday, which was well ahead of the…
With the mainstream markets looking increasingly vulnerable it could be a good time to increase your exposure to listed hedge funds. The sector is currently out of favour with the majority of the constituents available at a discount to net asset value (NAV). The broker Numis has trading buy recommendations on two of these funds…
The increase in average life expectancy is great news for all of us, but the main challenge is that it makes funding our retirement considerably more expensive. Unfortunately the problem is compounded by the low annuity rates that are the traditional way of generating a pension, with a fund of £100,000 only buying a 65-year-old…
Real-Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) can provide a valuable source of income and a useful hedge against inflation as the underlying property values rise over time, but the share prices of many of these funds have been bid up to dangerous levels. One potential pocket of value is the new M7 Multi-Let REIT that is planning…
There was an interesting piece in the Telegraph recently that looked at whether momentum investing in funds can generate higher returns. The article considered a strategy that was devised and tracked by the investment platform FundExpert. This involved investing in the best performing fund over the previous six months and then repeating the process and…
We all know how important it is to have a diversified portfolio, but even if you invest in relatively uncorrelated funds it does not mean that they are without risk. In the last few weeks there has been a series of completely unconnected events that have had a negative impact on a number of income…
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…
