The dreadful nerve agent attack on the former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury on March 4thwas a shocking example of how far president Putin is willing to go to satisfy old scores. His subsequent unwillingness to stop the Syrian government’s use of chemical weapons virtually guaranteed a military response. Missile…
The sensible way to effect CEO change at WPP (LON:WPP)is for the new man to work alongside Sir Martin Sorrell for several months since Sir Martin has developed this very extensive machine at a very personal level. It’s the only chance of intimate control being passed on. However, it seems that Sir Martin is now…
Readers who are patient and at a loose end are steered in the direction of Anibale Fly at 11/1 to win the Grand National (5.15 Aintree tomorrow). It should like the going and the new (for Anibale Fly) extended distance. Further, Barry Geraghty could hardly be surpassed as jockey. I took 12/1 on Tuesday but…
Australian politics has much in common with the country’s most famous TV soap. But the real issue right now is whether Australia can sustain its remarkable prosperity in a more uncertain world. Everybody needs good neighbours: Mr Turnbull under pressure On 09 April The Australianproclaimed that Malcolm Turnbull, the Australian Prime Minister, had “lost” the…
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…
Investors who want to generate a rising level of income will normally allocate a significant part of their portfolio to funds operating in the UK Equity Income sector. These have delivered strong historic returns, but in many cases the underlying dividends are looking increasingly stretched. Recent research by Kepler Trust Intelligence found that just under…
I had always thought that Sarah Montague was a sensible good-humoured woman. But yesterday’s Sunday Times included a 2,000-word rant on behalf of first herself and then the sisterhood for being paid less than her contemporaries at the Today programme. A line or two later, however, it transpires that she operates as her front a…
Australia’s bankers are mired in scandals that make the country’s cricket team look virtuous by comparison. Bloated bank bonuses down-under On Wednesday (05 April), the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), the country’s bank regulator, resumed a theme that has driven news headlines of late down-under. Wayne Byres, the APRA Chairman, told the Australian Banking and…
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…
