Banks are back: How the UK’s banking sector got its mojo back as dividend payments rise March 26, 2015 The UK’s banks are back on form and could be the best place to invest for good and growing dividends. British banks such as Lloyds, HSBC and Barclays were once the best places to invest for solid dividends. Ten years ago, banks provided a quarter of all dividends in the UK market, according to figures [...]
Budget, oil rig count and Nigerian GDP: Here’s our world view March 26, 2015 Rising debt, capital outflows and falling commodity prices – we highlight the numbers that matter from around the globe NORTH AMERICA 268 the number of rigs drilling for shale gas in the week ending 6 March 2015, down from 1,606 in the summer of 2008. And yet US gas production has continued to rise. Baker [...]
Pensions: How you can find the right adviser March 24, 2015 Don’t be put off by the maze of reforms – pay someone to help PENSIONS are undergoing the most significant reforms in a generation, but don’t squander your savings – seek professional help. The new rules are intended to give savers more freedom, as the requirement to buy an annuity at retirement has been scrapped. [...]
Private equity owner HgCapital sells spread betting giant Sporting Index March 23, 2015 Sporting Index, which has around 80 per cent of the spread betting market, was yesterday sold to an unnamed private investor. Private equity owners HgCapital bought the company for £76m from Duke Street Capital in 2005 and had decided to put it up for sale following the 2014 World Cup. Yesterday it agreed the deal, [...]
City watchdog tells pensioners to watch out for investment scams March 23, 2015 Retirees are being warned to watch out for scammers ahead of the liberalisation of pension rules next month, as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said fraudsters will try to make the most out of the new regime. Previously savers had to invest their pension pots in annuities, paying a guaranteed income each year for the [...]
Introducing Morning Wire Money March 23, 2015 Welcome to the first ever edition of Morning Wire Money. At a time of volatility in the markets, and just a few weeks before the most important pension reforms in a generation are finally enacted, our aim has been to produce a magazine that will help you make the most of the exciting new investment [...]
Index Ventures backs Daniel Gandesha’s tech start-up Property Partner March 23, 2015 Index Ventures, the venture capital firm behind Just Eat and Candy Crush Saga-maker King Digital, has given £5.2m backing to a crowdfunding platform that allows retail investors to tap into the UK’s residential market. Property Partner, founded by the ex-head of startup investment at BSkyB Daniel Gandesha, gives smaller backers the chance to invest sums [...]
Lending Works targets over 55s ahead of pensions freedom day March 23, 2015 Online peer-to-peer lender Lending Works is the latest firm looking to benefit from the anticipated dash for cash in April when pension freedoms come in, after launching new products today for the over-55s. From April, the firm will offer four new features for the pensions market including a bonus for new lenders aged over 55 [...]
Budget 2015: George Osborne’s election gift for young and old alike March 18, 2015 Chancellor George Osborne used the final Budget of this government to give sweeteners to both younger and older voters yesterday. In an unexpected move, he introduced a new Help-To-Buy ISA, giving first-time buyers up to £3,000. “For every £200 [first-time buyers] save for their deposit, the government will top it up with £50 more,” Osborne [...]
Phoenix Group: Fraud up on change in pension rules March 18, 2015 Phoenix Group saw £8m-worth of attempted frauds targetting its customers last year, the firm revealed yesterday, as scammers tried to use the new rules as cover to steal funds. The warning came as Phoenix reported a 10 per cent rise in operating profits, which came in at £489m for 2014. Net incomes came in at [...]