magazine archive
magazine archive
Editor's View
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...
Tightened governance should benefit investors in the long-term
Thursday 13 Dec 2018Greater efforts to make companies good corporate citizens should prove to be in the best interests of investors. The latest development is a new code of practice for large private companies called the Wates Principles and developed by a coalition led by the Financial Reporting Council, a body which...
Sharp increase in FTSE 100 CEO departures
Thursday 06 Dec 2018The announcement that Paul Polman is stepping down next year as chief executive (CEO) of consumer goods giant Unilever ( ULVR ) is significant for more than one reason. While his departure isn’t really a surprise, given shareholders recently won a battle to keep the company’s headquarters in the UK...
What will happen to the retail sector in 2019?
Thursday 29 Nov 2018We’re now entering that time of the year when experts give their predictions for the year ahead covering a wide range of topics, from economics to politics and markets to currencies. We’ll discuss all the hot topics in the 13 December issue of Shares so you’re better informed going into 2019. Ahead...
Video ad experts could be on the FAANGs’ radar
Thursday 22 Nov 2018A lot of attention has been given to Google and Facebook as being core players in the world of advertising. Their platforms are, without doubt, extremely powerful given immense engagement with people around the world. These companies, alongside Amazon, Apple and Netflix, make up the ‘FAANGs’ empire...
Are we entering a bear market and does it matter?
Thursday 15 Nov 2018US stocks are experiencing renewed volatility after several of Apple’s suppliers warned on profit (12 Nov). This has raised concerns over the growth rate at the consumer electronics giant and several of its big technology peers, sending shares in Apple and other tech companies into reverse. Worries...