The case for the UK remaining in the EU
Leaving aside Boris Johnson’s bluster and recent unsubstantiated claims that the EU has banned children aged under eight from blowing up balloons and forbidden the recycling of tea bags, there is a really positive vision for the UK remaining an integral part of the EU.
Autumn Statement 2015
Chancellor George Osborne was given significant scope for manoeuvre when he presented his Autumn Statement on 25 November 2015 by the Office of Budget Responsibility (OBR), which upgraded its public financial forecasts by £27b. This extra money, combined with a benign unchanged growth outlook (2.4% in 2015 and 2016) and a number of significant tax […]
Portfolio Performance
Portfolio Performance Given the difficult investment climate, we have been pleased with the performance of our model portfolios over the last year. Each portfolio has outperformed its respective benchmark over the period and, whilst the UK’s FTSE 100 market has fallen by over 2%, all of our portfolios have generated positive real returns. This emphasises […]
The Search for Income
We have found that clients are putting increasing emphasis on their income requirements. The search for yield has become more important due to very low interest rates offered by banks and building societies of typically between 1-2%. These low rates have forced savers to look elsewhere in search of a more attractive yield. Whilst an […]
Is Behavioural Investing a Passive Phenomenon?
There are many factors which drive investors to behave irrationally, such as following the crowd and emotional attachment to an investment decision.
New Discretionary Investment Management Service
We are delighted to announce that the FCA has approved a variation of our regulatory permissions, so from today we are able to offer clients a discretionary investment management service in addition to investment advice on an advisory basis.
Our Comments on Summer Budget Tax and Pension Announcements
Overall, the Budget confirmed £17b tax and spending savings with a view to putting the economy in surplus by 2019/20.
Summer Budget 2015
Tax and Pension Key Points
Personal allowance for income tax to rise to £11,000 next year and £12,500 by 2020, so that people working 30 hours a week on the minimum wage do not pay income tax.
Our Investment Commentary for Q2 2015 (1 April – 30 June)
Q2 saw global equities fall by over 5% in sterling terms. Concerns surrounding Greece’s debt repayments and the future of the Eurozone weighed on world markets, particularly towards the end of the quarter.
The General Election and its Influence on Markets
There is no doubt that domestic markets are prepared for some sort of coalition as no majority outcome is likely.