Latest
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David Stockman: Trump is playing with fire
Features It’s safe to say that David Stockman, former US government budget director, is not impressed by President Donald Trump
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Salesforce: software service with a smile
Features Salesforce, one of the world’s top software companies, has a bright future and is currently on sale.
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Beware of the risks when investing in mini bonds
Features Don’t be swayed by impressive interest rates and fun perks, says Ruth Jackson. Mini bonds aren’t as good an investment as they look.
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Renewable energy investment funds are warming up
Features The green energy sector is growing, but investors shouldn’t rush in to renewable energy investment funds.
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When director deals matter
Tutorials No-one likes selling at a loss. That includes board members. So when directors swallow a loss, it’s bad news.
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Hungary: nasty leader, nice stocks
Features Hungary’s authoritarian leader Victor Orban is widely reviled. But the country’s economy and equities look inviting.
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Betting on politics: Good news from the US mid-term elections
Features Earlier this week we received some good news. I had all but written off my bet on Kyrsten Sinema being elected senator for Arizona. However, it appears that I was a tad premature.
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Hidden cost of retirement homes
Features Life in a retirement home can provide support and company for retirees, but watch out for extra fee add-ons.
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Value in emerging-market stocks
Features Emerging-market stocks have lagged in recent years, but their long-term performance remains appealing.
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Tailwind from US share buybacks is weakening
Features Warren Buffett’s investment vehicle Berkshire Hathaway bought back $928m of its own shares in the third quarter. And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
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What Macbeth teaches you about stock analysts
Tutorials Matthew Partridge looks at what investors can learn from Shakespeare's Macbeth.
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Oil falls back – and won’t bounce far
Features A month ago, the price of Brent crude oil hit a new four-year high of more than $86 a barrel. In a spectacular reversal of fortune, it is now in a bear market, having plummeted by more than 20%.
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Andrew Yang: start-up expert aiming for the US presidency
Profiles Andrew Yang cut his teeth in the dotcom bubble before establishing a US-wide business. Now he wants to lead his country and introduce a “freedom dividend”. Jane Lewis reports.
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Film of the week: a solid drama that could have been much better
Features Film review: Peterloo Peterloo is a solid costume drama that shines a light on a significant piece of social and economic history. But it does need a bit of trimming and sharper focus.
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Book in the news: James O'Brien, the bloviating pundit of the left
Features Book review: How To Be Right LBC presenter James O’Brien is a bit of an oddity – a radio talk-show host with liberal views.
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Avoiding pensions auto-enrolment is costly for SMEs
Features The Pensions Regulator is cracking down on companies that don’t meet their pensions auto-enrolment responsibilities.
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SoftBank: Japan’s largest-ever IPO
Features Japanese tech giant SoftBank is spinning off its mobile unit to raise cash for more tech investments, reports Marina Gerner. Who could benefit?
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Don’t forget income tax when drawing your pension
Features Many people have not understood the tax implications of drawing down their money, meaning that savers withdrawing pension cash are handing over millions of pounds in income tax.
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The two faces of Emmanuel Macron
Features Emmanuel Macron, the French president, presents himself internationally as a bold statesman – yet his much-needed domestic reforms are remarkable for their timidity, says Frédéric Guirinec.
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China will get old before it gets rich
Cover Story China’s workforce and general population are ageing rapidly, and the grievously underfunded welfare and pensions system won’t cope. That’s a recipe for structural decline and turmoil, says Jonathan Compton.
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China: Asia’s next success story
Cover Story Ignore the gloomsters, says Rupert Foster. Growth will slow for now, but the economy is undergoing a healthy transition to consumer-driven growth. The process will prove stronger than demographic headwinds.
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Globalisation can retreat as well as advance
Features An awful lot of people think globalisation can only go in one direction – forwards. They're wrong, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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What Pulp Fiction can tell us about the next stage of Brexit
Features Remainers and leavers alike are unhappy with Theresa May’s Brexit deal. But, like the boxer in Pulp Fiction, they may have to swallow their pride and take the hit. John Stepek explains why.
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How bitcoin and blockchain could solve our crisis of trust
Features Dominic Frisby discusses how trust in the world’s financial institutions has collapsed, and asks if blockchain and cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin can help restore it.
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Britain’s wages are rising – and about time too
Features Wages in Britain have been low for a long time. But they’re finally on the rise. That’s good for workers, good for productivity and good for our public finances.
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Apple’s fall is just a symptom – here’s what’s really troubling the market
Features Apple’s share price fell sharply yesterday. It’s the sort of news that the market would have shrugged off in the past. But not any more. John Stepek explains why.
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Public markets are dying – the future is private
Tutorials The number of companies listed on public stockmarkets is falling, while private equity is on the rise. Matthew Partridge talks to Helen Steer of PE house Pantheon about the sector’s advantages.
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I can’t see why you’d ever use an active fund to invest in big US stocks
Tutorials Many investors believe active fund managers prove their worth when markets fall. But, as October’s mini-crash shows, that’s not true. Here’s what you should know before picking an active or a passive fund.
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We need to completely rethink the way we approach ageing
Features Our lifespans are increasing rapidly. But not a single sector of society is ready for a world in which we routinely live to a hundred.
