Latest articles by Merryn Somerset Webb
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Buy for the post-Covid bounceback, but buy carefully
Advice There are still plenty of risks in the market, but as the world returns to normal, demand will surge and earnings will rise. Merryn Somerset Webb explains what to buy to benefit from the end of Covid.
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Get ready to say “hello” to inflation
Editor's letter With the collapse of both supply and demand, this was no ordinary recession. But as the world returns to normal, supply will remain subdued as demand explodes. That can only mean one thing, says Merryn Somerset Webb: inflation.
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Behind Covid's very dark clouds, we can see a few silver linings
Editor's letter The Cover-19 pandemic has devastated communities and the global economy. But with the vaccine about to bring an end to the worst, Merryn Somerset Webb looks for the positives.
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Five books to put on your Christmas list
Features Even if they’ve done nothing else, lockdowns – in whatever guise – have given us plenty of time to read. Merryn Somerset Webb picks five books to enjoy over the festive period and beyond.
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Investing in Japan: much more than just a bet on a global rebound
Interviews Jonathan Allum, one of the finance industry’s longest-serving and most experienced observers of the Japanese market, talks to Merryn Somerset Webb about what might happen next.
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UK stocks finally start to rise – but not as one
Editor's letter The UK Stockmarket recovery is finally getting some traction, says Merryn Somerset Webb. But not all stocks will recover in the same way.
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Vaccines, value investing and UK stocks
Opinion Vaccines promise a return to normal life. And that bodes well for “value” stocks, says Merryn Somerset Webb – and for the UK market in particular.
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The “economic emergency” isn't nearly as bad as it could have been
Editor's letter If you listened to Rishi Sunak’s Spending Review, you might be feeling a little down. But don't worry too much. Things might not be anywhere near as bad as Sunak seems to think.
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Was lockdown worth the cost?
Opinion The government’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic has left us with a bill of at least £400bn. Has it been money well spent?
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What to buy as the pandemic’s pent-up demand is finally released
Opinion As economies reopen, says Merryn Somerset Webb, people are going to start spending again. And when they do, here’s what you want to be holding.
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How you will play your part in refinancing the post-Covid economy
Editor's letter All this stimulus has to be paid for – whether through inflation, tax rises, or financial repression. It's going to be an uncomfortable experience, says Merryn Somerset Webb, watching your wealth get eaten away.
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Why investors should take investment trusts up on their free lunches
Advice Investment trusts are brilliant, says Merryn Somerset Webb. Perhaps the most brilliant thing of all about them is the fact that investors can meet and quiz their managers. Make sure you do.
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We could be heading for another Roaring Twenties
Editor's letter There are still plenty of risks ahead, but if we get a vaccine by spring we could see a better-than-expected recovery as we reclaim the bits of our old lives we loved, and dump the bits we didn't.
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The US election shows that what markets really like is certainty
Opinion The tight result in the US election shows that political stalemate could well be good for the markets, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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November 2020 update: how the MoneyWeek investment trust portfolio has fared
Tips How have our favourite investment trusts been doing? And what would we change?
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Jim Mellon: the world is on the brink of three major revolutions
Interviews Jim Mellon has been giving MoneyWeek’s readers lucrative ideas ever since our very first issue. He tells Merryn Somerset Webb how he sees the next 20 years and what he likes the look of now.
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Twenty years on from MoneyWeek's first issue, how much have things changed?
Editor's letter Spanning one disputed American election to another, MoneyWeek is 20 years old this week. Editor-in-chief Merryn Somerset Webb looks at what's changed, and what may be in store for the next 20 years.
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Stakeholders or shareholders – where should capitalism’s focus be?
Opinion Company managements are busying themselves fighting climate change, increasing diversity and fostering employee wellness. That’s all well and good, says Merryn Somerset Webb. But shouldn’t they just stick to making money?
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In UK stocks, the market has chucked us a bone – we should grab it
Editor's letter UK stocks are trading at their biggest discount to global equities in 40 years. You should probably be looking to buy, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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Cash rich and bored? Be careful what you do with your money
Advice As the pandemic has left many people with more time on their hands but little opportunity to spend, they have been speculating in the markets. But don’t forget, says Merryn Somerset Webb: investing carries real risks.
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Negative interest rates and the end of free bank accounts
Opinion Negative interest rates are likely to mean the introduction of fees for current accounts and other banking products. But that might make the UK banking system slightly less awful, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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The silver lining to the coronavirus debacle
Editor's letter There isn’t much obvious upside to the Covid debacle. But perhaps there will be a long-term silver lining, in the form of a push for reform of the government machine.
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Private vs public sector pay: who really gets more?
Opinion The general consensus is that public sector pay is lower than in the private sector, but staff have better working conditions and job security. The reality is very different, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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Pandemics, politicians and gold-plated pensions
Advice As more and more people lose their jobs to the pandemic and the lockdowns imposed to deal with it, there’s one bunch of people who won’t have to worry about their future: politicians, with their generous defined-benefits pensions.
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