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Can robots rescue retail?

Thursday 06 Jun 2019

The retail sector is at a crossroads. Hit by structural changes as spending shifts online and an uncertain economic environment as well as fast shifting consumer tastes and trends, many in the industry are really struggling. Could robots and artificial intelligence (AI) come to the rescue?...

Standout stocks: three great ways to find quality companies

Thursday 30 May 2019

The dictionary definition of quality is ‘the degree of excellence of something’. Handmade Hermes scarfs that use high quality silk would fit this description of quality. However, just because a company makes high quality products, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the business itself would be...

Gigantic dividends: a quarter of the FTSE 100 yields 6% or more

Thursday 23 May 2019

Approximately one quarter of the FTSE 100 is yielding 6% or more, according to analyst forecasts collated by SharePad. This seems unusually high and begs the question: are UK stocks simply very cheap or are investors pricing in very bad news for many of the biggest companies? In last week’s Editor’...

Income alert: will car insurers put the brakes on big dividends?

Thursday 16 May 2019

Motor and home insurance stocks have generated significant returns for investors over the past decade with the FTSE All-Share non-life insurance index almost trebling between 2009 and the middle of 2018. However increased competition, rising claims – and the need to hold more capital to meet future...

Billion dollar stocks: should you invest in Uber, Airbnb and other big names joining the market?

Thursday 09 May 2019

We’re seeing a large number of high profile companies join, or plan to join, the stock market in 2019. The catch is that they are choosing the main stock exchanges in the US rather than listing in the UK. That isn’t generally a problem in terms of getting access as most UK stockbrokers and...

Can the FTSE 100 break free?

Thursday 02 May 2019

The 10.2% year-to-date rise in the FTSE 100 is a great result but the UK stock market’s flagship index is still being comfortably outpaced by its international counterparts. And seen on a longer-term view the FTSE has definitely underperformed relative to other global benchmarks. In this article we...

Japan: growth is accelerating and so could your returns

Thursday 25 Apr 2019

Since Tokyo’s Nikkei 225 index peaked at 39,000 in 1990, investors have been well served by avoiding the Japanese stock market. Although it rallied strongly in 2016 and 2017, the benchmark is still down almost 50% from its highs making it the worst-performing major index by a wide margin. However,...

The short cut to diversification

Thursday 18 Apr 2019

Low cost, instant to trade and easy to understand – it’s no wonder that exchange-traded funds are becoming increasingly popular with investors. Also known as ETFs or trackers, these low-cost investments are designed to mimic the performance of a given stock market or sector. But as ETFs have grown...

Nine ways to fill your ISA

Thursday 11 Apr 2019

You may find it odd to celebrate the start of the new tax year as 6 April often brings rising taxes and falling benefits. However, the one thing in investors’ favour is that the ISA allowance clock is reset. It means you can invest up to £20,000 over the coming tax year and not pay any tax or...

Empire building: Why does Mike Ashley want to own so many retailers?

Thursday 04 Apr 2019

Billionaire Mike Ashley has become quite a character in the business world. He has developed a reputation for being attracted to struggling companies with the aim of buying stakes in them while they are going cheap, just like the general public hitting the shops in search of a bargain. Ashley’s...

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