Articles

07 January 2022 - The FTSE 100 slumped on Thursday (6 January) as investors reacted to speculation that the US Federal Reserve was considering an imminent rate rise, which would have a potentially global knock-on effect.

17 December 2021 - The FTSE 100 jumped on Thursday (16 December) as the Bank of England announced it was hiking the bank rate from 0.1% to 0.25%.

10 December 2021 - The FTSE 100 finished lower for the second day running on Thursday (9 December) with investor sentiment knocked by the Government’s decision to introduce new coronavirus restrictions.

Following on from Kepler’s recent announcement of their 2024 Investment Trust ratings,

We reveal the winners of our Investment Trust Ratings for 2024…by Thomas McMahon

Ethical and environmental considerations in our daily lives have been thrown into sharp relief by the coronavirus crisis

ESG is an increasingly popular investment approach that takes into account Environmental, Social and Governance factors - not just financial factors - when assessing whether to buy shares in a company.

Impact investing (so-called because the stocks and funds on offer have a positive impact on society, or the environment, or both) is fast gaining followers, not just for its morally virtuous stance, but also for its returns.

Making money and protecting the environment are not mutually exclusive. You can actually enjoy excellent returns while helping to safeguard the planet.

As the coronavirus crisis begins to recede and the country tries to return to some kind of normality, the very likely prospect of a widespread economic recession now looms.

When extreme losses take hold, so-called “circuit breakers” are triggered, particularly in US indices such as the S&P 500. But what are these circuit breakers, and why are they activated? Stock markets in the USA have circuit breakers to act as a break on ultra-panicky indices. In times such as these they become an increasingly implemented measure to prevent the total collapse of share prices.

How to react when markets tumble is something of a million-pound question. But there are things you can do, and lessons to be learned when indices turn red.

It’s important to remember that different geographic areas offer different advantages for investors, and indeed have different risks.

When you get started with investing, one of the most important considerations is where in the world you want to invest your money. And while there’s no quick answer, different geographic areas of the world offer different advantages, and indeed have different risks, for investors.

Asia is the one global region set for a massive expansion both in economic and population terms – but have investors missed the boat to benefit from this growth? Despite coronavirus fears, the future still looks bright for investing in Asia.

Review your pension today to get ahead with your retirement planning

The chances are you’ve heard of SIPPs – Self Invested Personal Pensions – and maybe you have a good idea how they work. However, lots of people have either never heard of a SIPP or have been put off opening one because they feel they are too complicated or too time consuming to manage.

How much do you have in your pension? Do you even know where all your pensions are? And most importantly of all, are you certain you’ll have enough to live on when you retire?

Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He, who understands it, earns it … he who doesn’t … pays it.’ Albert Einstein

Whatever style an investor adopts, the goal is always to identify and buy an asset in the hope and expectation that its price will increase; whilst the ambition may be simple enough, its achievement may be altogether trickier – how do you judge whether your investments are positioned to get the best possible return? – asks Christian Leeming.

Investment trusts were once dubbed the ‘best kept secret in the City’; not any more it seems, as investors have embraced the fact that some trusts have consistently increased their dividends over decades, and have done so in the face of enormous headwinds – just one of which is the current COVID-19 pandemic.1 - writes Hannah Barnaby

Most of us will be aware that first-time buyers are getting older, with the average now 34-years-old, compared to just 26-years in 1997. As well as whopping deposits to save for, the under 40s also need to put money aside for retirement, which means that there is a financial mountain to climb.

ISAs are a fantastic vehicle for long-term savings thanks to generous tax-saving features. When saving into an ISA you don’t pay any tax on the money in your account, or any income tax on the interest you earn. However, there are a few rules you should be aware of when using them.

What does LISA stand for? The Lifetime ISA – it’s new. What’s the big appeal? The government will add a 25% bonus to what you invest, up to £1,000 a year on your maximum £4,000 investable allowance until you are 50. Can anyone open a LISA? No, you must be aged 18–39.

Review your pension today to get ahead with your retirement planning

The chances are you’ve heard of SIPPs – Self Invested Personal Pensions – and maybe you have a good idea how they work. However, lots of people have either never heard of a SIPP or have been put off opening one because they feel they are too complicated or too time consuming to manage.

The question “what age can I retire” is probably one of the biggest you’ll ever ask yourself. It is arguably the most fundamental question of any long-term savings plan, as retirement is normally the ultimate goal toward which most of us save.

ISAs are a fantastic vehicle for long-term savings thanks to generous tax-saving features. When saving into an ISA you don’t pay any tax on the money in your account, or any income tax on the interest you earn. However, there are a few rules you should be aware of when using them.

Now that we are in the new tax year how should you respond? Is now the time to take advantage of market-sell offs or is it best to hold fire?

With less than one month to go before the tax year ends on 5 April, there is still time to make the most of your tax allowances before you lose them. Here are five simple tax rules you can take advantage of before 5 April to reduce your tax liability and maximise your savings.

Despite the last two months or so being one of the most tumultuous in history for the stock markets, EQi investors are actually feeling fairly confident.

To help those whose finances have been affected by the COVID-19 crisis, the government have temporarily reduced the Lifetime ISA withdrawal penalty charge to 20%, between 6 March 2020 and 5 April 2021.

The Bank of England announced an unexpected interest rate cut of 50 basis points down to 0.25 per cent, driven by the effects of the coronavirus epidemic.

Thousands of teenagers found themselves cash rich when the first Child Trust Funds (CTF) matured in September.

Funds are an excellent starting point for investors as they can remove the need to research dozens of potential investments.

Look at any graph tracking stock market growth over the last 150 years and it’s clear that market turbulence is the norm. Whilst patience is key to investing, if the outlook does seem volatile there are still steps you can take to protect your portfolio.

FEML’s Polish investments show the attractive potential the trust offers – as well as the managers’ unique approach to markets…

Why the early bird investors in the UK small-cap sector have historically been well-rewarded…

With commodities poised to play a key role in the transition to net zero, BRWM demonstrates the benefit of active management in this sector…