National Savings & Investments is messing with Premium Bond prize odds again – and it’s blaming the Treasury March 29, 2016 Three short years after the Premium Bonds prize fund was cut, get ready to do some more heavy fist-shaking: National Savings & Investments (NS&I) has decided to change the odds again – and it's blaming the Treasury. Is there any end to the wrath George Osborne is to endure? In a statement today, NS&I said new requirements for net [...]
Negative interest rates spark 2016 gold rush – but can German buyers push prices even higher? March 29, 2016 Almost a quarter of world GDP lies in economies whose central banks now have negative interest rates of some form. This experimental policy – used variously to weaken strengthening currencies and attempt to stimulate growth – has its fans, but investors have not been among them. “There’s a sense that central banks are running out [...]
Why Londoners should be wary about the Lifetime Isa March 29, 2016 Should you get a Lifetime Isa (Lisa) when they’re launched in April next year? On the face of it, definitely yes. Designed specifically for the under-40s, this new entrant to the growing Isa stable promises a government top-up of £1,000 if you contribute the maximum £4,000 in a tax year, no tax on capital growth [...]
Investors should be more concerned about Donald Trump than a Brexit, says fund manager Richard Woolnough March 24, 2016 Investors should focus more on the prospect of Donald Trump than a so-called Brexit, according to a fund manager. Richard Woolnough manages around £35bn at M&G Investments. In a note to investors, he said the outcome of the US presidential election was more important than the UK's EU referendum. Read more: Trump and Clinton get the vote from [...]
Advent International builds $13bn global private equity warchest in six months for buyouts, recapitalisations and growth equity transactions March 23, 2016 Advent International has raised $13bn (£9.2bn) for a new global private equity fund in six months. The new fund, Advent International GPE VIII, will invest in buyouts, recapitalisations and growth equity transactions. It will primarily focus on Europe and North America but also selectively in Asia and Latin America. Read more: Private investment funds raise more than $500bn [...]
From cuts to capital gains tax to a review of the “salary sacrifice” scheme: Here’s what you missed from Budget 2016 March 23, 2016 Eye-catching schemes like the sugar tax, the lifetime Isa and cuts to corporation tax may have grabbed the headlines following last week’s Budget. But a number of the Treasury’s other announcements could impact directly on employees, savers and investors. Here’s a run-down of the best of the rest. REDUCTIONS TO CAPITAL GAINS TAX In two [...]
From robots in Japan to crashing sentiment in Latin America, what are the risks and opportunities for investors this year? March 23, 2016 Every year, we ask our credit and equity analysts at Fidelity International about the health, growth prospects, and challenges facing the companies they research worldwide. The results of our 2016 Analyst Survey are in, showing a maturing cycle in which growth is becoming scarcer. For investors, this means understanding who will be the winners and [...]
Passive investors are on the rise, according to new research into Sipps and Isas March 22, 2016 There has been a rise in passive investors in the current tax year, according to new research into self-invested personal pensions (Sipps) and Isas. Interactive Investor said that among its clients passives make up three of the five most popular funds in Sipps. Meanwhile, the online investment service said the top five Isa collectives held are all [...]
The Investment Association reveals productivity plan aimed at bolstering the UK economy through long-term investment March 22, 2016 The Investment Association has today unveiled its plans to boost the UK's productivity through long-term investment. Among the Productivity Action Plan's key areas of focus for removing barriers to long-term investment are improving investor engagement, enhancing company reporting to better show to what extent firms are contributing to the economy and contributing more to the debate on tax [...]
Why the VIX fear index is clearly the wrong price March 22, 2016 Phew! The panic is over. Global markets are back and the flap that culminated in the second week of February is a dim and distant memory. So what have we learnt from the huge and unprecedented volatility of the first three months of 2016? I fear, not a lot. Don’t get me wrong. I have no [...]