Despite having worked in finance since the mid-1980s, Geoff admits he didn't actually start thinking about investing for his future seriously until the mid-1990s.After returning to the UK following a secondment in Europe, he was surprised to receive a cheque from HMRC for the overpayment of income tax while he was abroad.'It was only £3,000, but I was 31 and at the time that was a decent...

Premier Miton calls for new 'Great British ISA'New wrapper would have extra £5,000 annual allowanceAJ Bell argues six different ISA variations already cause confusionFund manager Premier Miton (PMI:AIM) is calling for a new 'Great British ISA' designed to invest solely in UK equities that it believes would help encourage private companies to list in the UK and stay and grow here in...

Insurers preferred to banksAirlines out but two-way trade in internet retailHousebuilders get benefit of the doubtIt is always fascinating to see which stocks are the most popular in terms of order flow and value traded, and for anyone who wants to find it this information is freely available on the AJ Bell website, relating to the activities of its customers.BANKS OUT, INSURERS INOver the...

- Stranded Woodford investors to get up to £235 million- Money retrieved now 77% of fund value at suspension- Other parties being investigatedA long-awaited victory for over 300,000 investors was cemented on Thursday after the Financial Conduct Authority and Link Fund Solutions (LFS) agreed a 'significant redress' of up to £235 million to investors in the LF Woodford Equity Income Fund (the...

Many people believe that cash is a safe way of saving, but when it comes to the long term, cash is not king. Over the past two decades average UK savings rates have been going one way - down. Since about 2012, average interest on cash savings have been about 2% a year or less.This decline could be managed during the years of low inflation but emerging from the pandemic has turned all that on...

- Consumer giant shows the power of its brands- Full year sales growth to beat previous forecast- Shares lead FTSE gainers ahead of Fed meetingShares in Reckitt Benckiser (RKT) leapt 6% to £67.54 to top the FTSE 100 leader board after it became the second big consumer goods group to surprise investors this week with better than expected results and an increase in full year guidance.Like...

The summer holiday season is upon us, and those who are brave enough to be risking travel disruption in search of more exotic climes will no doubt be thinking about what reading material to pack for whiling away the hours on the beach, or in the airport departure lounge.An engrossing bestseller will often be the order of the day, but if you don't want to switch your brain off entirely, and...

With stock markets wrestling with the twin concerns of too little growth and too much inflation, cautious investors who want to spread their risk might want to look at multi-asset funds.Rather than just owning shares, these funds own a mixture of equities (another term for stocks and shares), bonds, currencies, and alternative assets such as property and infrastructure.As such they take the...

UK stocks dropped in early trading after a selloff in overseas markets following the first case of the Omicron variant in the U.S. and a warning from technology firm Apple that demand for its latest iPhone had weakened.Meanwhile, investors were also watching energy prices ahead of an meeting of OPEC+ oil producers, which it is hoped will lead to an increase in supplies after the U.S. and...

UK stocks traded sideways on Thursday as gains in mining and aerospace stocks were offset by weakness in utilities and consumer names. By 9am the FTSE 100 was down 3 points at 7,024, while the FTSE 250 mid-cap index was up 4 points at 22,644.Overnight, markets in America and Asia were largely unchanged as investors sat on the sidelines ahead of crucial trade talks between the US and China...

UK stocks eked out a small gain on Thursday as weakness in oil stocks crimped gains in consumer and technology stocks. The FTSE 100 index added 14 points or 0.2% to 6,909 points.Global markets extended their rebound with analysts predicting more new highs to come as investors put aside fears over the resurgence of the virus to focus on the strength of corporate earnings.Oil prices continued to...

UK stocks advanced on Monday with the FTSE 100 adding 10 points to 6,750 points despite concerns around losses building up at hedge funds and investment banks due to the market volatility of the last few months.Traders are eyeing the US open with caution after a 'fire sale' of technology stocks by a major US broker on Friday, said to be related to a large private investment firm, with fears...

UK stocks dropped on Wednesday as investors awaited news from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting for clues on its future interest rate policy after recent market worries over rising inflation.Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 indices traded lower, adding to the selling pressure on the FTSE where gains in financials were offset by weakness in mining and energy shares.At the close the benchmark...

UK stocks dropped on Wednesday as gains in financials were offset by weakness in mining and energy shares. At midday the FTSE 100 index of leading shares was down 35 points or 0.5% to 6,768 points.Overnight trading in Asia was quiet with the Nikkei 225 and SE Composite indices slightly down.Investors are awaiting news from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting later today for clues on future...

UK stocks dropped on Wednesday as weak mining and energy shares dragged offset by gains in financials.Overnight trading in Asia was quiet with the Nikkei 225 and SE Composite indices slightly down.Investors are awaiting news from the latest US Federal Reserve meeting later today for clues on future interest rate policy given recent market worries over rising inflation.5G CAPACITY BOOSTTelecoms...

UK shares made small gains in early trading on Wednesday while European markets took a step back after overnight weakness in US, Asian and Indian technology stocks following their record run this year.A fall in the dollar also drove investors to sell US stocks and helped lift defensive assets including gold, which rose to $1,881 per ounce pre-market.At 8.30am the FTSE 100 index of leading...

After good gains in the previous two sessions, UK stocks marked time on Thursday as Brexit negotiations remained gridlocked and Russia and Saudi Arabia argued over extending production cuts agreed at the start of the pandemic.At 8.30am the FTSE 100 index of leading stocks was almost unchanged at 6,466 points with weakness in banks and utilities offsetting gains in industrial and consumer...

According to the latest Dividend Dashboard from AJ Bell (AJB), the FTSE 100's forecast dividend pay-out has fallen from £91 billion back in January to £62 billion this month, while earnings cover for dividends is still worryingly thin.That reduction would represent a 17% fall in the pay-out in 2020 compared to the previous year after an 11% drop in 2019, leaving the total at its lowest level...

Private investors, not just big institutions, should be allowed to participate in discounted equity fundraisings, according to an open letter from senior figures in the investment industry.Amid rising concerns that the rights of small investors are being flouted by the current fundraising rush as companies shore up their finances in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, the letter calls on...

UK stocks were flat on Thursday with the FTSE 100 trading sideways at 7,180 after the pound hit a six-month high of $1.31 against the US dollar on growing expectations of a Conservative majority in next week's election.Many of the FTSE's biggest stocks generate their revenues and earnings overseas so strength in the pound can see the index struggle to make gains.PROPERTY STOCKS IN FOCUSShares...