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You don’t have to be a millionaire to win at savings
Thursday 07 Mar 2019We’re regularly told by the media that investing could make you a millionaire if you save hard. While we’d all like to have that much money, the hard truth is that becoming a millionaire is beyond the reach of many people. Some of these millionaire articles have been criticised because they imply...
When will it be deal time again for the big miners?
Thursday 28 Feb 2019Large cap mining companies have been great performers this year with an average gain of 15.3% versus 7.2% from the FTSE All-Share. Commodity prices have been picking up in general, there is increasing optimism that US/China trade talks will reach an amicable conclusion, and China’s latest stimulus...
Don't take your eye off the news flow
Thursday 21 Feb 2019We regularly talk about the importance of having an open mind when it comes to investing. On a related note it is worth thinking about maintaining focus on news flow, particularly for companies having a run of bad luck. You run the risk of missing important information if you take your eye off the...
Share buybacks return to the spotlight
Thursday 14 Feb 2019Japan has become more shareholder-friendly over the past few years with companies handing back spare cash via higher dividends. This process has naturally extended to share buybacks, as evidenced last week by Sony declaring its first ever buyback. Although Sony’s actions boosted its share price,...
Why the Fed’s U-turn matters to investors around the world
Thursday 07 Feb 2019There have been numerous interesting events in the US over the past week which matter to investors around the world. The latest economic data implies the US economy is doing very well with soaring job creation a key stand-out. Yet the US Federal Reserve has chosen to follow a more cautious path by...
Great start to the year for the markets... but can it last?
Thursday 31 Jan 2019All major stock market indices around the world have risen in value so far this year apart from India where the S&P BSE 100 is down 1.3%. Russia’s Trading System index is top with an 11.2% gain and Brazil’s Bovespa index has advanced by 11.1%. The FTSE 250 is up 6.5% thanks to sterling strength...
Insights from the experts
Thursday 24 Jan 2019The idea of a ‘letter to shareholders’ might strike some of you as a touch old fashioned and grandiose but the commentary presented by some fund managers can actually offer very useful insights and up-to-the-minute market intelligence. As we write Warren Buffett’s annual missive to shareholders...
The importance of having an open mind in investing
Thursday 17 Jan 2019It can be hard to change your opinion of a stock or a fund manager if you have an established view of something or someone. Having an open mind can, however, lead to better investment decisions if there is information that warrants rethinking your view. This theme is central to our article on...
Have the markets become too negative?
Thursday 10 Jan 2019Amid the relief rally which followed US Federal Reserve chief Jerome Powell’s conciliatory comments on interest rates (4 Jan), one thing Powell said seemed somewhat curious. He observed that markets were ‘well ahead of the data’ in pricing in downside risks. While in one sense this was worthy of...
Why 2018 gave investors a valuable lesson
Thursday 20 Dec 2018The past year has been a learning experience for investors. It has been a long overdue reminder that putting money in the markets can result in losses as well as gains. Don’t be down if your portfolio has taken a hit. Stay positive and remember that a long-term investing strategy will inevitably...