Keep your powder dry and let the worm turn
Investment value and the Autumn Statement
I am pleased to report that whilst I have been in South Africa, with the Autumn Statement happening, values on market investments seem to have been nudging gently upwards, after unrelenting negativity. That’s helpful but the opportunities are not quite so attractive of course then – but still compelling.
We have just issued what we...
Dreadful Gaza war and market reaction
What awful atrocities are happening in Israel and Palestine. Our sympathies go out to all the innocent people and their families affected. Hamas’s action is evil and no protest deserves what it has done, regardless of any ‘excuses’ about its lands and people.
The conflict pushed the oil price back up and on Monday, unless...
Negative markets but a good PJM average
The 15th anniversary of Lehmans’ collapse passed on 15 September. Aren’t memories short – the world’s whole financial system could have imploded (and really Lehmans shouldn’t have been allowed to go - and liquidity could have been used - its demise exacerbated the problems). The financial downturn was the worst since the Great Depression....
‘Goldilocks’ economy is proving elusive
July saw a ½% slip in our economy, partly to do with the lack of productivity from strikes and partly the weather affecting things like construction. Sterling has been weak too – partly too as a consequence of the expectation that interest rate rises to stem inflation (which is falling dramatically) have come to...
Should you follow the trends?
Well, more encouraging inflation figures from shop price rises buoyed our market after the Bank Holiday. That said, who noticed that up till then, the global markets had retracted by 5% ($3trillion) in the month (the calculated losses from the S&P500, China’s CSI300 and Europe’s Stoxx600).
This was affected by China and its banks’ distress...
A good financial adviser will help you stay on course
The importance of a good financial adviser that understand economics and the mechanics of investing was highlighted recently by a frank interview with multi billion investment house Baillie Gifford.
This column has highlighted more than once the need for advisers to help clients understand long term investment strategies and not to rush into knee-jerk reactions...
Is inflation deflating? And is your adviser clued up?
Inflation is coming-down – only 6.8% and for the first time since 2021, lower than the increase in average pay (including bonuses etc). Food inflation is dropping even faster. Some of the reasons are ‘pigs in pythons’ – when a big increase a year ago drops-out of the figures.
The next big hit will be...