Britain’s savings have undergone a “radical change” under the Conservative government says the IFS March 14, 2017 The savings landscape in the UK has undergone a “radical change” under the Conservative government as incentives push people towards individual savings accounts (Isas) rather than pensions, according to an influential economics think tank. Paul Johnson, director of the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), said: “We’ve had quite a radical change in the shape of [...]
How can investors navigate the choppy waters of European politics? March 14, 2017 Remember this time last year, when Brexit was an outside chance and not many Brits really believed Trump could convince half a country to vote for him? They’re saying much the same thing now about France’s Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders of the Netherlands, but I think we’ve all learnt to take the polls [...]
Behavioural insights on financial advice March 14, 2017 | City Talk Saving and investing decisions are often made from opposite sides of the financial services spectrum. Advisers have the difficult job of building trust and bridging the two sides and their diverse demands. Matching the needs of retail savers with investment returns provided by users of capital is not easy as the two opposing sides — [...]
Another shareholder spring? Execs, companies and institutional investors under pressure ahead of AGM season March 12, 2017 Highly-paid executives, companies and institutional investors are expected to come under increased scrutiny in the upcoming AGM season, with remuneration policies in the firing line. Bosses at Shell, Glaxosmithkline and BAE Systems came under pressure last week, and experts are expecting plenty more investor challenges in the coming months. Many firms are facing the added complication this [...]
JRP Group share price jumped after posting better than expected annual results despite a soft new business market March 10, 2017 The boss of retirement specialist JRP Group today urged the market to "get its act together" to help Britain's over-55's release £2 trillion of assets that could better fund their retirement. After announcing results JRP said it was "truly proud of", shares in the FTSE 250 leapt over six per cent in early trading. The figures [...]
Where to put your money? These are the most popular fund platforms for investors in the UK March 10, 2017 Investor confidence bounced up towards the end of 2016, new figures out today show, but failed to make up for a year “overshadowed by political uncertainty”. Annual platform net sales were down 16 per cent over the year as a whole, from £45bn in 2015 to £38bn in 2016. This included £10.5bn in the last [...]
The road to Brexit: what next for shares, sterling and property? March 9, 2017 | City Talk The UK government is expected to trigger Article 50 by the end of this month, signalling the start of a two-year process that will see the country leave the EU. The Brexit process started on 20 February 2016 when then Prime Minister David Cameroncalled a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU. The [...]
Why we now expect three US interest rate rises in 2017 March 8, 2017 | City Talk How fast will US interest rates rise? Keith Wade, chief economist at Schroders, explains why the outlook has changed. With markets seemingly relaxed in the face of a March US rate hike, the Federal Reserve may be emboldened into more rate rises later this year. Following a speech by Fed chairman Janet Yellen last [...]
Budget 2017: Four things pensions experts have had to say about the Budget March 8, 2017 Former chancellor George Osborne will be remembered for monkeying around with pensions, in particular for ushering in pensions freedoms that were announced in 2014 implemented the following year. Philip Hammond didn't do too much on pensions in his Autumn Statement in November. So what was he up to today? 1 – Quiet day Beancounters EY [...]
Budget 2017: NS&I saving bond disappoints those looking for a decent return March 8, 2017 Savers on the hunt for a better rate of return may not be jumping for joy, after chancellor Philip Hammond failed to impress them with the launch of a National Savings & Investment (NS&I) three year bond that pays a 2.2 per cent return. Labelling it a "welcome break for hard-pressed savers" in today's budget, Hammond [...]
