It's a bit of a compliment to be considered a safe haven. Or so you might think.
But the Swiss and the Japanese could live without the attention, frankly. Investors fleeing the euro and the dollar have been piling into the franc and the yen to try to protect their wealth. The trouble is, the export sector is a major contributor to both countries' economies. And a strong currency of course makes exports more expensive, which is bad news for anyone trying to make a living that way.
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Annual house price growth halves to 3.5% – ONSAverage UK house prices rose by just 3.5% in the 12 months to April, as stamp duty changes deterred buyers. What’s the outlook for the rest of 2025?
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Nationwide pays £100 to millions of people – have you received the payment?Nationwide has started paying its £100 Fairer Share bonus and expects to complete payments by 4 July. We look at who will get it and when.
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House prices to crash? Your house may still be making you money, but not for much longerOpinion If you’re relying on your property to fund your pension, you may have to think again. But, says Merryn Somerset Webb, if house prices start to fall there may be a silver lining.
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Prepare your portfolio for recessionOpinion A recession is looking increasingly likely. Add in a bear market and soaring inflation, and things are going to get very complicated for investors, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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Investing for income? Here are six investment trusts to buy nowOpinion For many savers and investors, income is getting hard to find. But it's not impossible to find, says Merryn Somerset Webb. Here, she picks six investment trusts that are currently yielding more than 4%.
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Stories are great – but investors should stick to realityOpinion Everybody loves a story – and investors are no exception. But it’s easy to get carried away, says Merryn Somerset Webb, and forget the underlying truth of the market.
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Everything is collapsing at once – here’s what to do about itOpinion Equity and bond markets are crashing, while inflation destroys the value of cash. Merryn Somerset Webb looks at where investors can turn to protect their wealth.
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ESG investing could end up being a classic mistakeOpinion ESG investing has been embraced with enormous speed and zeal. But think long and hard before buying in, says Merryn Somerset Webb.
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UK house prices will fall – but not for a few yearsOpinion UK house prices look out of reach for many. But the truth is that British property is surprisingly affordable, says Merryn Somerset Webb. Prices will fall at some point – but not yet.
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This isn’t the stagflationary 1970s – but neither is it the low-rate world of the 2010sOpinion With soaring energy prices and high inflation, it might seem like we’re on a fast track back to the 1970s. We’re not, says Merryn Somerset Webb. But we’re not going back to the 2010s either.
