News

It was a rather lively week in financial markets, from the perspective of a UK-based investor. Sterling strengthened considerably against all major currencies, as markets anticipated a break-through in the long march to a Brexit deal. As Sterling strengthened, Global Equities as measured by MSCI ACWI were down -2.7% in GBP terms and the FTSE…

Last week, ISM data was released, this is a measure of new orders, production, employment, supplier deliveries and inventories; in essence, a measure of productivity. The key number to be cognisant of is 50, above 50 indicates an economy is in expansionary territory, below 50 indicates contraction and potential recession. Data for US and China…

The UK Supreme Court ruled that the prorogation of Parliament by Boris Johnson was unlawful, which resulted in a swift restarting of Parliament last week. It would appear the battling forces within British politics are becoming more entrenched and the cross-party support needed to strike a deal with the EU fading. A request to extend…

Geopolitical tensions escalated last week following the attack on Saudi Arabia’s oil production facilities. It has been estimated that the attack destroyed c.50% of Saudi production, although there were assured statements from the capital that oil exports would be maintained, and lost capacity would be expediently rebuilt. Following a huge initial jump in the oil…

With summer over, the nights are already starting to draw in and the colder weather is arriving after months of record-breaking temperatures. That doesn’t mean you have to shelve your UK holiday plans until the spring though. Throughout autumn, there is still plenty of places to head without having to step on a plane when…

Changes to how savings are taxed means ISAs (Individual Savings Accounts) may not be as attractive as they once were. However, there are still plenty of reasons why ISAs should be part of your financial plan. ISAs were first introduced 20 years ago in a bid to encourage more people to save. An ISA is…

When you think of financial risk, it’s probably potential investment losses that come to mind. But not taking enough risk with your wealth can be just as damaging financially. News that UBS, the world’s largest wealth manager, will introduce a penalty for clients that hold a large portion of their assets in cash accounts gives…

More people are paying into a pension than ever before. Yet, millions are still worried they’ll never be able to retire. If you have concerns about the retirement lifestyle you will be able to afford, there are often steps you can take to improve this. First, the good news: the number of people saving enough…