Alternative lending’s leading founders and chief executives give their predictions for the sector in 2017 January 12, 2017 The road was slightly bumpy for alternative lenders last year. Authorisations for the Innovative Finance Isa were delayed, there was further Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) probing, disappointing results hounded a good handful of the UK’s largest platforms and Goldman Sachs made its foray into the market with in-house platform Marcus. But provided the regulator continues [...]
UK investor faith in equities grows, bringing 10 months of outflows to an end January 11, 2017 UK investors regained some faith in equities in November as 10 months of outflows came to an end, new figures out today show. Total funds under management totalled £1 trillion during the month, with net retail fund sales of £1.5bn, up from £595m in October. Total sales of equity funds came in at £583m, the [...]
Ways to withstand and exploit market volatility in private investor portfolios January 11, 2017 How concerned should private investors be about on-going market volatility? After all, the Brexit and Trump votes and the Italian referendum not only caused immediate turmoil in global stockmarkets, they set the stage for uncertainty well into next year and even beyond. As conditions become more challenging, investors will want to review their portfolio make-up [...]
Buy-to-lose? With new restrictions on buy-to-let mortgages and the introduction of other punitive measures in 2017, is there any value left in letting for mortgaged landlords? January 11, 2017 As we enter 2017, the tide has truly turned against Britain’s buy-to-let landlords. First, George Osborne discouraged people from buying a second residential property by imposing extra stamp duty of 3 per cent. Now, the Bank of England is demanding that mortgage lenders “stress test” loans to landlords. Since 1 January, the Bank’s Prudential Regulation [...]
Sky defends increases in TV prices saying coverage has been “completely transformed” since 2010 January 10, 2017 The cost of satellite television has rocketed by an average of 50 per cent since 2010, four times the rate of inflation and twice as fast as rail fares have increased over the same period. Free-to-air satellite firm Freesat has urged rail users, angry at January fare hikes, to check the cost of their Sky [...]
UK’s pension lifeboat gets lower in the water as deficits soar in December January 10, 2017 Pension shortfalls grew at a rate of nearly £1bn a day during December, figures released by the UK's pension lifeboat have revealed. The Pension Protection Fund (PPF), into which defined benefit pension schemes fall upon corporate insolvency, calculated an aggregate deficit for the 5,794 schemes covered of £224bn at the end of December. The shortfall grew [...]
With the oil price higher, a credible central bank and warmer relations with the US, Russia’s stock market and the rouble could rise even further this year January 10, 2017 Since Donald Trump’s election, investors have embraced his tax-cutting, regulation-ripping agenda, and have been resolute in backing perceived winners and dumping losers. Developed markets are in; emerging ones are out – the obstinate tycoon must be pleased. Since 9 November, the promise of higher fiscal spending in the US has raised bond yields, and caused the [...]
After Trump and Brexit, populism should take centre at Davos January 10, 2017 Responsive and Responsible Leadership: that’s the theme of this year’s World Economic Forum meeting in Davos next week. Amid all the political carnage of 2016, this actually seems to be quite a timely headline. Especially when compared with some of the spectacularly missed opportunities to put the biggest global issues at the heart of the Alpine [...]
Turkey business Bernard Matthews faces pension probe January 9, 2017 The pensions lifeboat is looking into the retirement plans of a turkey company that went into administration last year. Bernard Matthews was acquired from private equity firm Rutland Partners by 2 Sisters in September. 2 Sisters, whose chief executive Ranjit Boparan is known as the “chicken king”, agreed the deal under a pre-pack administration, meaning it bought [...]
Don’t have a clue what’s going on with your credit card? You’re not the only one January 9, 2017 If you've not yet braved checking your credit card statement following the Christmas spend, you're not alone… Credit card carrying Brits are routinely putting their head in the sand when it comes to the state of their finances, figures out today show. Slightly less than two-thirds (64 per cent) of those surveyed by MoneySuperMarket check their [...]