US Growth Slower Than First Thought
The US economy slowed down more than first thought at the end of 2014 according to revised official figures. The Commerce Department initially estimated growth at 2.6% between October and December but the most recent estimate is that the world’s largest economy grew at an annual pace of 2.2% during that period. The revised figure […]
Analysis, Explained, Long Term Savings, Market Watch
Disruptors
A recent portfolio review for a client led a very interesting discussion. My client has small part of his investment flowing into an energy fund. Though the fund is all encompassing (from fossil burning to wind farms), the recent and dramatic changes in the price of a barrel of oil has impacted the funds value […]
Oil Price Winners and Losers
There have been significant revenue losses in energy exporting nations, and in the last few days, US oilfield services firm Halliburton announced that it would have to cut 8% of its global workforce due to a “challenging market environment”. That said, the news has not all been doom and gloom, with many consumers feeling the […]
Last chance for Civil Service Pensions
Qualified Recognised Overseas Pension transfers (a.k.a. QROPS) give individuals the ability to transfer frozen pensions out of the UK. They can be massively useful for expats, and for those that intend to retire abroad. From April 2015, anyone with a civil service pension frozen in the UK, will lose this ability due to Government changes. […]
ECB Bond-Buying Legal
Official figures have shown, inflation in the eurozone has turned negative, with prices in December 0.2% lower than the same month a year earlier. The tip into deflation adds pressure on the European Central Bank (ECB) to take further action to stimulate the area’s economy. Recent news could be a step towards the necessary stimulation, […]
Wall Street Slumps And They Are Not Alone
A fall in US retail sales, disappointing company results and falling commodity prices have seen stocks on Wall Street suffer as investors react. Retail sales were down 0.9% in December which is far worse than analysts expected. Shares in JP Morgan and Wells Fargo have slipped due to disappointing fourth quarter profits. In the back […]
Investments, Market watch, Stock Market, World Business, World Economy
China Beats Export Expectations
Trade figures for China in December have exceeded expectations with exports up 9.7% and imports down 2.3% from the same period last year. Final figures for 2014 mean that exports rose 6.1% over the year, and imports rose just 0.4% according to state news agency Xinhua. Analysts believe that imports will fall more than 7% […]
Growth Prediction Cut by World Bank
The forecast for global growth has been cut by The World Bank as it warns that the US cannot drive economic recovery alone. In June, the bank forecast 3.4% growth this year and 3.5% next year, however they have revised those figures in the latest report to 3% for this year and 3.3% next year. […]
Financial Planning, Pensions, Retirement Planning
New State Pension in UK Means Only 45% Will Get Full Amount
UK government figures show that in the first five years of the new, flat-rate state pension system, only 45% of pensioners will be fully entitled. The new, simplified, ‘fairer’ state pension system will see a single payment of about £150 made to new pensioners from April next year. It applies to new pensioners from April […]
Featured, Government Changes, Retirement Planning, UK Pensions
Financial Planning, INFOgraphic
Women Need To Plan Better
I never thought that I would find myself saying this. What with all of the women I know being excellent in the day to day management of their lives and whatever that entails. Often a woman’s life will include the management of full time work, partner, two point four children, pets, elderly relatives, housework (or at […]
Children's Education Fee Planning, Future Planning, Long term Savings, Retirement Planning, Women
Women: Better educated, but paid less
Having attended the final Network Girls HCMC event of the year last night, I was reminded what a wonderful experience it is to a professional woman working overseas. It is an honour and privilege to have had a good education, and be able to travel freely around the world because of it. I perhaps take […]
Children's Education Fee Planning, Featured, Great Britain, Politics, Retirement Planning, UK, World Economy
Swiss Banks To Introduce Negative Interest Rates
Switzerland, the world’s safe haven, will bring in a negative interest rate in an attempt to cut the value of large sums of money left in the country. Switzerland’s National Bank (SNB) is imposing a rate of minus 0.25% on “sight deposits” – a form of instant access account which contains more than 10m Swiss […]
