Six reasons why automation is poised to accelerate September 11, 2020 | City Talk Automation has long been a feature of the manufacturing sector, as companies seek to improve productivity and make high quality goods to a specific standard. But we think the level of automation is set for a sharp increase as innovation sparks a new smart manufacturing revolution. In the short term, the Covid-19 pandemic has brought [...]
How does an asset manager like Schroders actively influence the companies it invests in? September 9, 2020 | City Talk Elly Irving, Schroders’ Head of Engagement, answers questions on why investors engage and how they influence firms’ practices. In the debate over whether investors can encourage a more sustainable recovery, the role of active ownership is key. There is a growing momentum behind ESG investing – investing which considers environmental, social and governance factors. [...]
What could a Biden presidency mean for climate change investing? September 7, 2020 | City Talk Joe Biden in the White House, and potentially Democrats in control of the Senate too, could turbo-charge climate change as an investment theme. The US response to Covid-19 looks set to be the dominant election issue as we head towards the November polls. Myriad other issues also compete for voters’ attention, and climate change often [...]
Investors crave knowledge – but where do they find it? September 4, 2020 | City Talk A majority of investors want enough knowledge to make their own decisions – or to challenge the decisions made by their financial adviser. But they differ on where they look for this information. An overwhelming 97% of investors want some level of personal finance knowledge, according to the latest issue of Schroders’ Global Investor Study, [...]
Climate Progress Dashboard forecasts global warming of 3.9°C despite Covid-19 crisis September 2, 2020 | City Talk The latest update to our Climate Progress Dashboard suggests the current pace of change will result in temperatures rising by 3.9°C above pre-industrial levels. Global temperatures are on course to rise by 3.9°C, almost twice the Paris Agreement target, according to our analysis of indicators from the second quarter of the year. Huge reductions in [...]
How might stocks react to a Biden win? September 1, 2020 | City Talk Our analysis suggests such an assumption would be premature. It’s not just Covid-19 and the economic slump it has caused that are on investors’ minds. They’re also beginning to worry about the risks surrounding the 2020 US presidential election. The latest polls show that the presumptive Democratic nominee, Joe Biden, is poised to win and the [...]
Share and share alike: electronically? August 28, 2020 | City Talk Where – if you’re lucky enough to own shares – do you store the paperwork? A drawer? The attic? Share certificates – possessed by millions of Britons – and dividend cheques seem on a path becoming obsolete. A trend towards digital delivery of shareholder-related communications means that the era of private investors filing away their [...]
Why digital infrastructure could emerge stronger from Covid-19 August 28, 2020 | City Talk The Covid-19 pandemic has accelerated the need to modernise digital infrastructure networks. We expect that this will create new investment opportunities. Surging online activity Whether we like it or not, the Covid-19 pandemic has cemented our addiction to fast and reliable internet access. While speaking to colleagues remotely, food shopping online or monitoring our ‘smart [...]
What does value investing have in common with Forrest Gump? August 26, 2020 | City Talk Gump is rewarded for his determination and resilience in the face of vicious storms in the 1994 film “Forrest Gump”. We believe returns could be bountiful for the genuinely long-term and patient value investor too. When I look at a chart like this, I think one of two things. Either it’s different this time for [...]
How working flexibly can give investors an edge August 24, 2020 | City Talk I’ve always said that the question of how you create a high performing investment culture is inextricably linked with the individuals involved and how they interact with each other. This is a people business and this view has been at the heart of how we approach investment matters at Schroders. As a leader of an [...]