magazine archive
magazine archive
Editor's View
Resurgent AIM should be handled with care
Thursday 09 Aug 2018The weekend of 4 and 5 August 2018 marked five years since AIM stocks became eligible for inclusion in an ISA. A look at the performance of the FTSE AIM All-Share in the wake of this change displays the benefits of a move into the relative mainstream for the exchange – London’s foremost home for...
Why it’s important not to get blinded by big numbers
Thursday 02 Aug 2018Some pretty astronomical figures have been thrown around in the financial press of late. On 26 July headlines pointed to $118bn being wiped off the market valuation of social media giant Facebook, while recent research on UK dividends – the Link Asset Services UK Dividend Monitor report –...
Where next for platinum as the metal nears a 10-year price low?
Thursday 26 Jul 2018One of the biggest stories in the commodities space at the moment is the collapse in the platinum price amid demand concerns. The precious metal last week traded close to a 10-year low at $798 per ounce, compared with a $778 per ounce price recorded in October 2008. The latter was the result of the...
Should all companies and funds be forced to broadcast AGMs online?
Thursday 19 Jul 2018It would be nice to see more companies and funds broadcast their shareholder meetings via the internet so that more investors have a chance to watch what directors and fund managers have to say about current events. Annual general meetings (AGMs) can also be valuable sources of investing...
Why keeping an open mind can make you a better investor
Thursday 12 Jul 2018Recent analysis by investment bank Liberum on ITV’s ( ITV ) boost from England’s better-than-expected World Cup performance included some interesting words of wisdom. Analyst Ian Whittaker observes the huge audiences for the Three Lions’ exploits are a reminder of the resilience of live TV as a...
Have you checked if your fund investments contain the same holdings?
Thursday 05 Jul 2018Have you ever looked at a fund or investment trust’s top 10 holdings and thought the list sounded familiar? There is a growing fear that too many funds are undifferentiated and investors may not realise they are exposed to the same underlying holdings if they hold multiple funds in the same space...
Should you panic if there is a profit warning soon after a stock market listing?
Thursday 28 Jun 2018Many investors feel deflated if one of their holdings issues a profit warning soon after their IPO (initial public offering). It can feel like a double whammy: you’re disappointed by an investment not going well, plus you feel let down by a company recently making a splash with its stock market...
Operational gearing can have a nasty impact when things go wrong
Thursday 21 Jun 2018Rapid growth in e-commerce demand may lead some investors to conclude that transportation companies fulfilling orders would be superb investments. You may think again after analysing the horrific profit warning on 13 June from logistics group Connect ( CNCT ) . Revenue for its Tuffnells delivery...
Beer seller Fuller’s has no choice but to innovate
Thursday 14 Jun 2018Many people associate innovation with using technology to develop new products and services. What’s often overlooked is the need for more traditional businesses to innovate in order to stay competitive and not necessarily rely on technology to achieve this goal. There is a phrase in the world of...
Should you stick with underperforming fund manager Mark Barnett?
Thursday 07 Jun 2018While Neil Woodford’s every move continues to be scrutinised by the market, another star fund manager is also having a tough time of late. Two investment trusts run by Mark Barnett have reported full year results and they’ve both underperformed their benchmark indices for the second year in a row...