GDP figures show the pain of COVID19
The UK economy saw a 2.2% contraction between Q4 2019 and Q1 2020 followed by a 20.4% contraction between Q1 and Q2. This is in spite of 8.7% growth in June when businesses deemed non-essential began to reopen. These figures may not come as a surprise to many people. They are, however, still grim reading and open questions about how [...]
Banks under scrutiny
As business owners, we're often at the mercy of banks and their costs, so it's not surprising that any whiff of an allegation causes backlash. Today HSBC are seeing their share price drop to their lowest level since 1995 amid speculation and accusations of money laundering. But what does this mean for all of the banks? We have the no [...]
Getting started in the stock market
If you’re new to the stock market, you may be wondering if now is the right time to start investing. The short answer is - that depends on you. Here are some points to consider before you make up your mind. Can you afford to be in it for the long haul? This is an important question at the best [...]
Ofgem looks to shore up energy suppliers
With the medical aspect of COVID19 more or less under control, it’s time to deal with the economic ones. Not to put too fine a point on the matter, there are four pressing questions which need to be resolved. Who needs help? How much help do they need? How is this help going to be provided? Who is going to [...]
Are we poised for economic recovery?
Right now it may seem like there’s nothing but gloom ahead for the UK’s economy. COVID19 refuses to disappear or submit to a cure or vaccine. Brexit is on the way in less than five months. Whatever opportunities it creates in the long term, it looks certain to cause at least some degree of disruption in the short term. In [...]
Who’s Better with Money?
Every so often, someone brings up the old debate about whether men or women are better with money (or whether it depends entirely on the individual). The debate is often a bit of fun, but it does raise a serious question. How do you define and/or measure how well someone manages their money. Here are a few thoughts. How well [...]
Charting the path of a slow recovery
It’s probably superfluous to say that the UK’s economy has contracted sharply since COVID-19 struck. It’s also probably superfluous to say that it’s currently looking that the way forward is a long, slow and difficult path. It is, however, arguably very pertinent to look at what this could mean for investors and where profits might be found even in challenging [...]
Lockdown scams continue
As if investors didn’t have enough to think about, they now have to deal with growing numbers of cyberattacks targeting them and the genuine financial-services companies with whom they may do business. Sadly, the fact that these attacks spiked with the Coronavirus does not necessarily mean that they will die down as life returns to normal, still less that they [...]
Understanding generational investment choices
The world changes but sometimes the more it changes the more it stays the same. Similar comments apply to the investment world. With that in mind, here is a quick guide to the differences between Baby Boomer investors and their Millennial counterparts - along with what has stayed the same. The generation game - Baby Boomers versus Millennials As a [...]
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