“The road ahead will be a tough one… but the economy will recover, and inflation will fall” At the latest meeting of the Bank of England’s Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) concluding on 3 November, Bank Rate rose by 0.75 percentage points, an eighth consecutive increase and the biggest for 33 years. Members of the MPC […]
Author archives: charlie
Climate change for investors
As the world continues to emerge from the pandemic, although other headwinds exist, governments, businesses and the financial world are refocusing on what the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) describe as ‘the greatest threat to the wellbeing of humanity and to the ecosystems on which we depend’ – climate change. According to the PRI, a […]
Pensions – saving for your children’s future
It may be an old adage, but definitely one that remains true – it really never is too early to start a pension. So, if you’re looking to help secure the long-term financial future of your child, or grandchild, saving into a pension on their behalf may be a suitable option worth considering, in addition […]
Housing market resilience
The number of home movers fell 35% year-on-year in the first half of 20221, a drop that was widely expected following last year’s uniquely busy pandemic-influenced market. Still high In total, 172,510 people moved house in the first six months of this year, well below the 266,270 who moved in the first half of 2021. […]
Economic Review – October 2022
Chancellor’s fiscal statement delayed The government has pushed back the date of its much-anticipated Medium-Term Fiscal Plan in order to ensure it is based on the “most accurate” economic forecasts available. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt had been due to deliver his first fiscal statement detailing how the government plans to repair the country’s public finances on […]
News in Review
“Our number one priority is economic stability and restoring confidence” Last week during the first meeting of the new Cabinet in Downing Street, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced the postponement of the government’s fiscal statement from 31 October to 17 November. Delayed by over a fortnight, the Medium-Term Fiscal Statement, due to be delivered in the […]
Residential Market Review – October 2022
Mortgage turmoil shakes housing market A turbulent economic and political month has dramatically altered the outlook for the UK housing market. The government’s ‘mini-budget’, announced on 23rd September, caused interest rate expectations to soar, which led to lenders rapidly withdrawing products. A third of mortgage deals disappeared overnight on 27th September; within a fortnight, 43% […]
Commercial Property Review – October 2022
Rising yields and flight to quality Most commercial property yields rose in September, according to the latest ‘Market in Minutes: UK Commercial’ report from Savills, leading to an average prime yield of 5.23%, compared to 4.95% the month before. A total of seven sectors saw an upward trend in September 2022, including shopping centres and […]
Steering you through troubled waters
Even experienced investors are likely to find the current investment environment a challenge, particularly when one considers the array of uncertainties in the post-COVID economy which are so fundamentally different to those faced during the last two years. Opportunities, however, are still available to investors who can steer a safe course through choppy waters. Uncertainty […]
Controlling your investment emotions
While Rudyard Kipling may not have been thinking about investments when he penned his famous poem ‘If’, his words will certainly resonate with investors at the moment. The current investment landscape undoubtedly presents a challenge, even for experienced investors, but those who can keep their head when all about are losing theirs definitely have the […]