If only...
Hargreaves Lansdown (LSE: HL) is the UK's biggest investment platform, with over £90bn under management on behalf of more than a million customers. Over 130,000 new customers brought in net new business of £7.6bn in the year to 30 June, driving pre-tax profits up by 10% to £292m. Some of the increase is due to transfers relating to what Hargreaves termed "operational issues on competitor platforms": the fallout from Barclays Stockbrokers' botched new broker service Smart Investor. Hargreaves Lansdown's share price has risen by almost 60% in a year.
Be glad you didn't...
Alfa Financial Software (LSE: ALFA) provides software for the financial services industry and made its debut on the London stockmarket in May 2017. Shares initially jumped by 32% and by the end of 2017 the company's value had risen to £1.6bn. But 2018 has not been kind to Alfa. The strength of the US dollar and delays in some major contracts led to a fall in sales. And despite what the CEO calls a "healthy pipeline", two profit warnings did further damage to the share price, which is now down by 70% in the last year. Alfa could fall out of the FTSE 250.
Subscribe to MoneyWeek
Subscribe to MoneyWeek today and get your first six magazine issues absolutely FREE
Sign up to Money Morning
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
Don't miss the latest investment and personal finances news, market analysis, plus money-saving tips with our free twice-daily newsletter
-
-
Pension withdrawals on the rise, HMRC data reveals
Pension withdrawal data has led to some raising concerns over savers ‘raiding’ their pensions unsustainably.
-
ONS: UK economy recovered from pandemic faster than previously thought
Revisions from the ONS showed the UK economy has grown since the pandemic, while the latest data showed GDP grew in the second quarter of 2023.
-
Neil Woodford, fund managers, and the systemic risk to the financial system
Features The consequences from the Neil Woodford debacle aren't limited to his fund's investors. He and his ilk could pose a systemic risk to the financial system, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
-
After the Woodford fallout, is it time to buy Hargreaves Lansdown and Patient Capital?
Features Two of the biggest casualties from Neil Woodford’s fall from grace are his investment trust - Woodford Patient Capital - and broker Hargreaves Lansdown. John Stepek looks at whether you should snap them up or leave them well alone.
-
What Neil Woodford’s woes mean for your money
Features With the suspension of dealing in Neil Woodford's Equity Income fund, John Stepek looks at where it all went wrong for the “star” fund manager, and what it means for you.
-
Investment platforms are great, but they need to up their game
Features Investment platforms have opened up investing for many people. But their pricing structures are obscure and switching between them is expensive and slow.
-
If your broker goes bust, you may have to pay to get your shares back
Tutorials Some customers of bust broker Beaufort Securities could suffer unexpected losses as their accounts may be plundered to pay huge administrators' fees.
-
FTSE 100 v FTSE 250: why have they diverged by so much?
Features Kam Patel examines the reasons behind the heavy parting of ways between the FTSE 100 and the FTSE 250, and asks where they might be heading next.
-
‘Don’t buy our sector’ says Aberdeen boss – but he’s wrong
Features The chief executive of Aberdeen Asset Management believes fund managers’ share prices are too high. But there are some good stocks in the sector, says Ed Bowsher.
-
Hargreaves Lansdown share price jumps as annuity companies slide
Features The Budget announcement on annuities has triggered some major share price carnage. Ed Bowsher looks at the winners and losers.
