Start with a blank canvas: How to invest in the art market October 26, 2016 For years the idea of purchasing art as an investment was frowned upon by purists in the art world – the two should be separate, like church and state. Art as investment is certainly not for everyone: the market is quite illiquid, prices can be volatile, and storage costs can outweigh profits. But as investors [...]
Time is money: Are luxury watches a good investment? October 26, 2016 The current wave of smartwatches, like any new technology, will be outdated by the time you’ve finished reading this article. But certain classic watches not only tell the time, they increase in value with it. While the poorest performing of all the other asset classes (barring furniture), the watch sub-category of the Knight Frank Luxury [...]
Thirty years since Big Bang: The deregulation of the London Stock Exchange democratised investing October 26, 2016 Thirty years have passed since Canada was radically recast by a package of Thatcherite reforms, known as Big Bang. These saw the privatisation of the London Stock Exchange (LSE), allowed outside companies – not just individuals – to become members, and ushered in the automatic quotation of share prices. The product of [...]
St James’s Place shares jump as it reports “business as usual” despite political uncertainty October 25, 2016 Wealth management group St James’s Place’s share price jumped three per cent this morning as it reported “business as usual” despite political uncertainty in the third quarter. The figures The company reported gross inflows of funds under management (FUM) of £2.8bn, up from £2.3bn in the same period last year. With “continued strong retention of [...]
What the rise of populism means for your investments October 25, 2016 "Fruitcakes, loonies and closet racists” was how David Cameron described members of Ukip in 2006. A decade later, Ukip has achieved its principal ambition of a Brexit vote and Cameron is no longer a politician. The growth in support for populist political movements across Europe and other developed economies has been rapid. Founded just six [...]
The devil you know, the devil you don’t: How to protect your investments whoever wins the US election October 25, 2016 As polling day draws near, it is regrettable that the contest to become the 45th President of the United States has been more about personality than policy. The campaign has been distinguished on one side by preposterous promises to suspend the entry of Muslims into the country and build a hard border with Mexico, and [...]
Resurgent protectionism threatens both the US economy and share prices – and not just if Trump wins October 24, 2016 Protectionism – the practice of shielding a country’s industry from foreign competition – and the prospect of a descent into a beggar-thy-neighbour global trade war is one of the biggest risks to investment returns over the next decade. Indeed, politicians are already succumbing: according to the Global Trade Alert initiative, the number of protectionist measures enacted [...]
Online broker TD Ameritrade in $4bn takeover of rival Scottrade October 24, 2016 TD Ameritrade has agreed a $4bn (£3.2bn) deal to acquire Scottrade Financial Services, bringing together two online brokerage giants. Under the deal, TD Ameritrade’s biggest shareholder, Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD Bank), will acquire Scottrade’s online bank for $1.3bn in cash. Read more: Interactive Investor in takeover to form UK's second largest online broker Immediately after that [...]
How technophobe wealth managers risk being left behind by rivals October 20, 2016 Technophobe wealth managers have been told to get with the times or face being left behind by rivals, a new report out today warns. Groups including Brewin Dolphin, Munnypot, Nucleus, SEI and Sesame Bankhall Group contributed to the MRM report, which warns that firms could lose assets and customers by not investing in digital. Read [...]
Wealth manager Brooks Macdonald names new chief exec as assets under management rise 7.5 per cent October 20, 2016 Brooks Macdonald today named a new chief executive as the wealth management firm reported a seven per cent growth in assets under management (AUM). Caroline Connellan, HSBC’s head of UK premier and wealth, is set to join the company next April and will replace Chris Macdonald. Read more: Leeds wealth manager aims to take revenues [...]