Visit/investments/stockmarkets/600878/coronavirus-pandemic-financial-markets
A global coronavirus pandemic seems inevitable – are markets still too complacent?
Coronavirus is going global. It’s only a matter of time before it’s classed as a pandemic. John Stepek looks at the markets’ reaction, and explains ho…
24 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600861/how-demographics-affects-stock-valuations
How demographics affects stock valuations
New research suggests that stock and bond valuations are driven by the age of the population – at least in the US.
24 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600830/great-frauds-in-history-john-g-bennett-jrs-ponzi-scheme
Great frauds in history: John G. Bennett Jr’s Ponzi scheme
John G. Bennett Jr's classic Ponzi scheme cost his investors $135m and ended him ten years in jail.
18 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600834/the-trouble-with-world-stockmarket-indices-and-how-to-fix
The trouble with "World" stockmarket indices and how to fix them
Indices such as the MSCI World or the FTSE World are not an accurate reflection of the global economy
17 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600833/green-investment-from-sensible-re-pricing-to-full-on-mania
Green investment: from "sensible re-pricing" to full-on mania
Change is afoot, says John Stepek. Everyone is waking up to the fact that we need to do more to protect the environment. That presents opportunities f…
13 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/investment-gurus/600774/seth-klarman-focusing-on-value-stocks-will
Seth Klarman: focusing on value stocks will pay off
Value stocks are very much out of favour , says Seth Klarman, chief executive of hedge fund Baupost. But that won't always be the case.
13 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600804/the-secret-to-avoiding-being-panicked-out-of-your-portfolio
The secret to avoiding being panicked out of your portfolio
With the coronavirus continuing to occupy headlines, investors still aren’t sure how to react. But the one thing you mustn’t do is panic. Tim Price ex…
11 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/funds/investment-trusts/600787/the-return-of-split-capital-investment-trusts-and-two-to
The return of split-capital investment trusts – and two to buy now
Split-capital investment trusts fell out of favour after a scandal in the early 2000s. But now they're back. Here are two worth a look.
11 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600772/just-five-assets-matter-for-investors-portfolio-asset-allocation
Just five assets matter for investors. Here's what they are
Every investor’s needs are different – but most can be met by the right combination of five investments
11 Feb 2020
Visit/economy/uk-economy/brexit/600778/winners-and-losers-from-a-hard-brexit
Winners and losers from a hard Brexit
Our exit from the EU is likely to be of the hard variety, says Matthew Lynn. Investors should back the industries that will flourish
9 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/stocks-and-shares/share-tips/600790/asian-income-stocks-where-to-find-the-continents
Asian income stocks: where to find the continent's top money machines
International dividends shouldn’t only mean companies in the US or Europe – the Far East has plenty of big payouts to offer. Cris Sholto Heaton looks …
6 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600742/great-frauds-in-history-robert-vescos-dubious-schemes
Great frauds in history: Robert Vesco’s dubious schemes
Robert Vesco looted IOS, a Swiss fund of funds, and the funds it ran by having them invest in a web of banks and shell companies that he himself owned…
5 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/alternative-finance/bitcoin/600768/buy-bitcoin-trading-system
Is it time to buy bitcoin? This chart suggests it is
Dominic Frisby’s simple trading system is based on making as few decisions as possible then sitting tight. And right now, it’s telling you to buy bitc…
5 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/commodities/energy/renewables/600762/investing-in-renewables-green-energy-bubble-fossil-fuels
The “green” bubble is here. What could burst it?
Renewable energy, electric cars and the demise of fossil fuels – markets have embraced the green revolution with gusto. But there’s bound to be a snap…
4 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/investment-gurus/600761/cheah-cheng-hye-life-is-both-attractive-and
Cheah Cheng Hye: life is both "attractive and terrifying" for investors right now
Capitalism is in a systemic crisis, says Cheah Cheng Hye, co-chairman and co-CIO of Value Partners, but investors should continue to hold equities.
4 Feb 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600760/asset-allocation-rebalance-your-portfolio
New year, new investments – time to rebalance your portfolio
Don’t let your holdings become unbalanced – set clear guidelines and a definite date for an annual review of your investment portfolio
4 Feb 2020
Visit/economy/uk-economy/brexit/600753/brexit-day-what-does-britain-leaving-the-eu-mean-for-your-money
Brexit Day: what does Britain leaving the EU mean for your money?
As Britain finally leaves the EU, John Stepek looks at what the future might hold, and how it will affect your investments.
31 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600706/great-frauds-in-history-bcci-agha-hasan-abedis-dodgy-bank
Great frauds in history: BCCI – Agha Hasan Abedi’s dodgy bank
To all appearances, BCCI – set up by Agha Hasan Abedi – was a legitimate bank. But it was a haven of crooks and criminals, and went bankrupt owing inv…
27 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600701/why-investors-should-get-set-for-ten-lean-years
Why investors should get set for ten lean years
Forecasts for the next decade could be too bearish, but the 2020s are unlikely to be as simple as the 2010s
27 Jan 2020
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A beginner's guide to investment styles
Investment styles go in and out of fashion. The key is to pick a style that suits you and stick with it. So what are the main investing styles?
26 Jan 2020
Visit/9448/why-it-can-pay-to-invest-in-funds
Why it can pay to invest in funds
Many newcomers to equity investment are nervous about investing in individual firms – and that's where funds can help by spreading your risk. But how …
26 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/investment-gurus/600703/martin-gilbert-most-assets-still-look
Martin Gilbert: most assets still look “reasonable” value
Only government bonds seem too expensive, says Martin Gilbert, vice chairman of Standard Life Aberdeen.
24 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600702/emerging-markets
Emerging markets
An emerging market is an economy that is becoming wealthier and more advanced, but is not yet classed as "developed".
24 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600709/the-coronavirus-is-scary-but-its-irrelevant-to-your
The coronavirus is scary – but it's irrelevant to your investments
The spread of the coronavirus is causing alarm around the world. And, while it could be a serious short-term threat to human health, it’s not somethin…
24 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600661/great-frauds-in-history-sergey-mavrodis-ponzi-scheme
Great frauds in history: Sergey Mavrodi’s Ponzi scheme
Sergey Mavrodi turned his computer import business into a financial investment scheme and plundered hundreds of millions of dollars.
23 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/investment-gurus/600648/larry-fink-climate-change-will-reshape
Larry Fink: climate change will "reshape finance"
Larry Fink, chief executive, BlackRock, believes that changes in the global climate will redefine the way modern markets work.
21 Jan 2020
Visit/investments/investment-strategy/600637/buying-shares-can-be-a-tricky-business
Buying shares can be a tricky business
A tip gone bad reminds John Stepek that buying shares in troubled companies in the hope that they can turn themselves around doesn't always pay off.
16 Jan 2020
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Great frauds in history: Reed Slatkin’s Investment Club
Reed Slatkin studied with Scientology's founder L. Ron Hubbard and became an ordained minister in the cult 1975. He used his position to set up an unl…
13 Jan 2020
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Investment trusts: the Cinderella of investment arrives at the ball
Investors should look beyond the market noise of a single year and examine the bigger picture. Max King explains what we can learn from 25 years of in…
8 Jan 2020
Visit/520292/passive-investing-etfs-wont-cause-the-next-market-crash
The boom in passive investing won’t cause the next crash
Passive investment funds such as ETFs are now such a fundamental part of financial markets that some people worry that they will spark the next crash.…
7 Jan 2020
Visit/520258/running-with-the-crowd-is-bad-for-your-finances-heres-how-to-resist-it
Running with the crowd is bad for your finances – here’s how to resist it
To be a good contrarian investor, you have to avoid being swayed by the crowd. John Stepek explains how to go about it.
3 Jan 2020
Visit/520181/how-the-fear-of-death-affects-your-investment-process
How the fear of death affects our investment processes
Many of our investment decisions are driven by one simple fact: the knowledge that, one day, we will be dead. Here, in an extract from his new book, J…
2 Jan 2020
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Investment forecasts: a Christmas tradition to avoid
The annual ritual of market forecasts isn’t just useless – it could make your investment decisions worse.
31 Dec 2019
Visit/520245/jim-mellon-two-of-the-biggest-investment-themes-of-the-2020s
These could be two of the biggest investment themes of the 2020s
Entrepreneur and investor Jim Mellon outlines the two themes that he thinks could be among the biggest investment stories of the 2020s, taken from his…
31 Dec 2019
Visit/520047/ben-inker-better-times-ahead-for-value-investors
Ben Inker: better times ahead for value investors
The years of pain for value investors could soon be at an end, GMO's Ben Inker said in a recent newsletter.
29 Dec 2019
Visit/519920/how-to-find-a-contrarian-fund-manager
How to find a contrarian fund manager
Contrarian investing – profiting from out-of-favour assets – isn’t easy. In an extract from his book, The Sceptical Investor, John Stepek looks at how…
27 Dec 2019
Visit/520060/the-good-and-the-bad-investments-of-2010s
The good investments of the 2010s – and the bad
John Stepek takes a look back on which investments did well and which did badly in the decade that’s about to come to an end.
26 Dec 2019
Visit/519872/beware-the-hidden-risks-when-investing-in-emerging-markets
Beware the hidden risks when investing in emerging markets
Emerging markets look cheap compared with developed countries, but earnings may be less trustworthy.
23 Dec 2019
Visit/519832/great-frauds-in-history-john-rigas-and-adelphia
Great frauds in history: John Rigas and Adelphia
John Rigas and his family embezzled at least $1bn from their company, Adelphia, wiping out shareholders.
20 Dec 2019
Visit/519858/how-long-can-the-good-times-roll
How long can the good times roll?
Despite all the doom and gloom that has dominated our headlines for most of 2019, Britain and most of the rest of the developing world is currently en…
19 Dec 2019
Visit/519847/frisbys-forecasts-the-year-end-autopsy-how-did-he-do
Frisby’s forecasts – the year-end autopsy: how did he do?
Dominic Frisby looks back on the ten market forecasts he made at the start of the year and looks at what he got right, and what he got wrong.
18 Dec 2019
Visit/519677/why-you-should-buy-uk-stocks-now
Why you should own UK stocks – and what to buy
The UK’s stockmarkets are unusually cheap compared with the rest of the world. If you don’t have substantial holdings in UK stocks, you should, says M…
16 Dec 2019
Visit/519427/value-investors-patience-will-be-rewarded-by-these-three-stocks
Value investors’ patience will be rewarded by these three stocks
Professional value investor Hugh Sergeant looks to buy strong companies that trade at a discount to their true worth. Here, he picks three that should…
16 Dec 2019
Visit/519573/great-frauds-in-history-joel-steinger-and-the-mutual-benefits-corporation
Great frauds in history: Joel Steinger and the Mutual Benefits Corporation
Joel Steinger and the Mutual Benefits Corporation specialised in selling viaticals, shares in the life-insurance policies of the terminally ill.
16 Dec 2019
Visit/519531/another-nasty-shock-for-investors-in-property-funds
Another nasty shock for investors in property funds
In 2016, open-ended commercial property funds shut their doors amid panic over Brexit. Last week, it happened again. It’s as if these funds aren’t up …
12 Dec 2019
Visit/519454/why-traders-should-believe-in-santa-claus
Why traders should believe in Santa Claus
If it’s Christmas in the markets, it’s time for the Santa Claus rally. Dominic Frisby explains what it is, how it works, and how to play it.
11 Dec 2019
Visit/519277/great-frauds-in-historytakafumi-horie-and-livedoor
Great frauds in history: Takafumi Horie and Livedoor
Takafumi Horie used Enron-style dummy partnerships to inflate the revenue and operating profits of his company Livedoor.
11 Dec 2019
Visit/519397/how-to-plan-for-the-general-election-result
How to plan for the general election result
John Stepek looks at the potential outcomes of Thursday’s general election and explains what each would mean for markets – and what you can do to prot…
10 Dec 2019
Visit/519240/secret-sauce-the-key-to-serial-innovation-and-profit-growth
Secret sauce: the key to serial innovation and profit growth
Why do some companies fizzle out and fade away while others build on a strong start? Dr Mike Tubbs looks at the key factors behind sustainable success…
5 Dec 2019