From an investment perspective, we are living through strange and jittery times that may ultimately lead to greater diversification. Let’s start with the strange. Around a quarter of bonds sold around the world are now said to be paying negative returns when the rate of interest...
The United Kingdom’s December began with yet more political drama in the shape of Parliamentary deadlock over the agreement paving the way for withdrawal from the European Union and a subsequent vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister. The vote failed and Theresa May...
Platform lending has been with us for around eight years now - ever since the launch of Funding Circle, in fact - but for many investors, it remains an untried concept. Yes, this corner of the financial services industry has grown rapidly since 2010, in...
The tenth anniversary of the collapse of Lehman Brothers has been marked by a predictable and perhaps also very necessary round of stock taking on the part of commentators, policymakers and the great and the good of the financial services industry. A decade on, the...
There is nothing wrong with a safety first approach to investment strategy. Indeed, many investors - perhaps the majority - will choose to hold tried and trusted assets over a long time frame in order to secure a predictable and reliable income, coupled with an...
Everyone’s investment portfolio is different. In some cases an investor will opt for a simple split between a cash-in-the-bank safety net and equities (purchased direct or as part of a fund) and perhaps some bonds. More commonly these day the portfolio might also embrace...
Despite occasional downturns, the residential property market represents a huge and dependable opportunity for anyone seeking income and growth, even over relatively short periods. But it's not always easy to secure a good deal. In areas where property prices are spiralling ever higher, buyers may pay...
The rapid expansion of the platform-based lending market has not only been good for businesses in search of capital but also for investors. The investor appeal of peer-to-peer lending – which comprises the largest share of the debt platform market – is straightforward. With Bank of...
Economically and politically, we continue to live in a very uncertain world. The financial crisis may represent little more than a fading memory to some, but it continues to cast a long shadow in the shape of low-interest rates, below par growth in the eurozone...