Claim your refund on power of attorney applications February 21, 2018 | City Talk The UK government is offering a refund of up to £54 to individuals who have previously applied to register a power of attorney. A lasting power of attorney (LPA) is a legal document that gives trusted appointees the ability to make decisions on the behalf of someone no longer able to do so, such as [...]
Why we aren’t too worried about rising bond yields February 21, 2018 | City Talk The market was spooked by the recent rise in bond yields as data implied that US interest rates could rise at a faster pace than expected. We expect a positive repricing of bonds. The recent move higher in global bond yields has to be viewed in the context that last year was probably the least [...]
Five habits of good investing February 21, 2018 | City Talk Taking a long-term view History suggests the stock market is the best way to grow wealth over the long term, easily outpacing interest rates on cash. However, significant market falls are also a part of investing and notoriously difficult to predict. It is worth remembering that the longer you invest for the greater your chances [...]
Why companies that cut their dividend can be attractive income investments February 20, 2018 | City Talk An important part of income investing is receiving dividends. A dividend is the portion of a company’s profits that is returned to shareholders. The payment of dividends is an incentive to own shares in stable companies. Often, companies paying attractive dividends will be those that no longer benefit from reinvesting their profits, whereas companies with [...]
Is your equity income portfolio diversified? February 20, 2018 | City Talk Those looking for an income from the stock market often turn to Equity Income funds. They provide a portfolio of dividend-producing stocks with investors standing to benefit from a rising dividend income as well as some capital growth – though like any investment their value, and the income derived from them, can fall as well [...]
Should shareholders shudder as Rio Tinto mentions M&A? February 20, 2018 | City Talk During the last mining boom, chief executives of virtually all of the major resource stocks listed in the UK blew shareholders’ money on over-priced acquisitions. These purchases appeared to be more about ego and empire building than a sensible, prudent growth strategy. The M&A (mergers and acquisitions) splurge led to billions of dollars in write [...]
Past performance is not a guide to the future February 20, 2018 | City Talk ‘Past performance is not a guide to the future’ is such a ubiquitous phrase in investment literature that it’s easy to skate over it and not reflect on its meaning. On the one hand it seems obvious the future is going to be different to the past, but many investors are inclined to target strong [...]
Beware the cryptocurrency hype February 20, 2018 | City Talk Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it, as philosopher George Santayana famously wrote. What’s happening in markets today is a stark reminder of the dot-com days at the end of the last millennium, when company valuations rocketed at the mere mention of internet-related buzzwords. Fortunes were made and lost in relative [...]
Meeting your ISA subscription before the end of the tax year February 20, 2018 | City Talk If you have not used up your ISA allowance for the tax year 2017/18, you are running out of time to make the most of this opportunity. The ISA allowance cannot be carried over once the end of the tax year is reached on April 5 so, if any of the £20,000 allowance you are [...]
Financial planning: Tax efficient investing February 20, 2018 | City Talk The start of a new year is the perfect time to start reviewing your financial arrangements to make sure that you paying only as much tax as you need to. In order to ensure your finances are in the best possible shape for you and your family, follow our guide to maximising your tax efficiency [...]