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New film makes me hungry for McDonald’s shares
Thursday 09 Mar 2017By pure coincidence, the last three films I’ve seen have involved the stock market and the world of business. I can recommend all of them if you are looking for entertainment value and valuable lessons about investing. Although billed as an action thriller, the plot of The Accountant includes...
Learn from Buffett’s words of wisdom
Thursday 02 Mar 2017The publication of Warren Buffett’s annual Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letter is often treated like a release of a new book from a best-selling author. The media gives it significant publicity and pore over the legendary investor’s every word. The broader investment community also latch on to...
Miners are churning out more and more dividends
Thursday 23 Feb 2017Very large dividend hikes have been a common theme this year in the mining industry. This is somewhat unusual behaviour for the sector. I believe you should enjoy the juicy dividends while they last as historically miners have preferred to spend their money on growth projects rather than cash...
Two ways to access the revival in corporate bonds
Thursday 16 Feb 2017In, out and back in favour: what is going on with the corporate bond market? US corporate bonds have rallied since the presidential election in November thanks to higher risk appetite and higher expectations for corporate earnings. Also in swinging in favour of the bond market are reduced...
Time is ticking on race to invest in VCTs
Thursday 09 Feb 2017Venture capital trust ( VCT ) offers are selling out in record time, suggesting that investors shouldn’t wait until the end of the tax year if they want to put their money in these types of products. VCTs come with an array of attractive tax benefits, as well as being a good way to get exposure to...
Is this the last hurrah for UK GDP?
Thursday 02 Feb 2017Eight months ago the country was in a bad mood, worried about sinking into recession and fearing for the state of the UK economy following the Brexit vote. Today we are still in that nervous period despite better than expected fourth quarter GDP figures and upbeat consumer confidence data. Media...
Stock market scandal heads to the cinema
Thursday 26 Jan 2017A stock market scandal is heading for the silver screen next month in the UK. If you’ve any interest in mining stocks, I’d highly recommend you check out the film. Elements of its story may sound familiar to investors who’ve dabbled in natural resources companies or listened to presentations by...
May’s Brexit plan won’t calm the stock market
Thursday 19 Jan 2017If the market hates uncertainty, how does it react when there is clarity on events? Theresa May’s Brexit speech on Tuesday (17 January) saw the pound rally and the FTSE 100 decline in value. Surprised? One might have thought the opposite movement would have happened, given the Brexit vote was the...
Can the bull run last?
Thursday 12 Jan 2017It has been an untypically strong start to the year for stocks in 2017. The usual Santa Rally is extending well into the New Year and the FTSE 100 is in previously uncharted territory above 7,200, supported in part by renewed Brexit-inspired weakness in sterling. The latest edition of The Harriman...
A good year to invest
Thursday 22 Dec 2016For all the twists and turns in the world during 2016, it has been a pretty good year for investors. Running the numbers on the FTSE All-Share index, 348 stocks have delivered a positive share price return, versus 267 with a negative performance according to SharePad. Fifty-six stocks in the FTSE...