Summer SurprisesAugust 3, 2021For most investors focused on the U.K., Europe and/or the United States, July was far from an unattractive month in all but a minority of equity sectors. This pleasingly allowed a further building of year-to-date returns. Meanwhile bond market yields generally tightened further. Although fixed income markets remain on average dull performers in 2021, performance has improved in recent months. Continue Reading
Investing Is Not a Trivial Pursuit®July 7, 2021Americans, bored in their COVID-induced ‘bubbles,’ turned to board games for fun last year, boosting sales 300%. They rolled the dice, drew the cards, and buffed the skills of cooperation, problem solving, emotional intelligence, and reflective logic — the same competencies critical to successful investment strategies. So, we couldn’t help looking back nostalgically to our favourite games — and probably yours — as we look forward to crafting a sustainable investment game plan. Continue Reading
Stay OptimisticJune 2, 2021The fifth month of 2021 will not go down as an important month for global investors. Most equity and bond market investors made some positive - but relatively modest - gains during May. And whilst COVID-19 vaccination progress across many countries has been notable over recent weeks, the general economic outlook across the U.K., United States and Europe has recently improved. Certainly underlying confidence for the rest of this year and into 2022 has improved over recent weeks. Continue Reading
Now It’s May, Do You Go Away?May 10, 2021April was another interesting month, with gains across almost all global stock markets led by the United States, but closely followed by the U.K. and Europe. Whilst the former two were significantly aided by continued COVID-19 vaccine progress and associated national reopening, Europe has started to make some progress too. Continue Reading
Inflation The Dog That Barked In The DarkApril 8, 2021Sixty years ago, Marshall Nirenberg and Henrich Matthaei began the process of cracking the genetic code. Thanks to their persistence and resilience, today’s scientists developed effective mRNA-based vaccines in record time – saving millions of lives from COVID-19. With the darkest days of the pandemic behind us, investors can also appreciate the resilience of the economy and financial markets and the hopeful prospect of brighter days ahead. Continue Reading
Market madness – Be selective, advises Paul Gavaghan of Raymond JamesMarch 29, 2021Whilst there are still pockets of great opportunity across the globe, the past few weeks have also seen crazy price rises of some stocks as investors have rushed to join the herds buying certain technology stocks indiscriminately. Given the backdrop of a Western World with low interest rates and a pandemic that is highly disrupting many sectors, the relatively less affected technology sector is an attractive place to park money. It seems many investors taken this view but have forgotten the importance of valuations. The herd buying has pushed prices up which then reaffirms investors reasoning so they buy more again and so on which spirals share prices upwards. Continue Reading
Which way next for markets?March 29, 2021After global markets stumbled to their worst quarter since 1987 in Q1, we have now seen a meaningful bounce in many equity markets from March lows and there are now good arguments for both sides which way they will turn next. Continue Reading
Ethical Investing – Bespoke portfolios tailored around youMarch 29, 2021At Raymond James, Ribble Valley we have a highly bespoke investment proposition and state of the art tools. This allows us to cater for clients’ ethical preferences, however specific they are. Many people only want to profit from companies with certain characteristics and they want to make sure that their views are reflected. We start with a specifically tailored questionnaire that really helps us to explore what is important to clients. The first element of this is 'negative' screening where we look at what people don't want to invest in. This might be armaments, tobacco, alcohol, animal testing, gambling etc...we can also drill down to the next level to allow a percentage of revenues. So, for example, someone might not want to invest in an alcohol company per see but wouldn't mind investing in a hotel chain that makes a small percentage of its revenues from alcohol sales. We then look at positive screening. What do people want to make a profit from? This can be broad-based suchas wanting to invest in innovative companies that are solving the World's problems. We incorporate ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) in all of our research as there is good reason to believe that the most sustainable and well-governed companies will offer shareholders the best long-term results. We can also offer positive screening very specifically. Do people only want to invest in companies with excellent human rights track records for example? Or in renewable energy? Or those that contribute positively to their community? The level of how bespoke we can make it is endless. There are over forty thousand listed companies and we have an enormous amount of research available to us. This allows us to build diversified portfolios for people with even the most specific views and preferences without necessarily sacrificing performance. Most… Continue Reading
Making wise investment decisions in perilous timesMarch 29, 2021As the virus spreads through the World, fear has reigned, global stock markets have plummeted and the UK’s leading market stumbled its worst quarter since 1987. We pride ourselves that in times of volatility and crashes, when many advisers head for the hills, we are there to support and reassure our clients every step of the way until markets recover and beyond. Our key message to clients, and anyone invested in the markets is, don’t solve a short-term problem by creating a long-term disaster. Instead, stay the course and capitalise on the opportunities. Continue Reading
The Power of DividendsMarch 29, 2021Where can I double my money this week?’ and ‘Are there any ten baggers around?’ are common questions aimed at anyone working in investment. I hate to be a bore, but I explain such returns mean taking levels of risk similar to those in bookies. So, if not trying to shoot the lights out in a week, how can an investor expect to increase their wealth? Continue Reading
Summer Surprises August 3, 2021 For most investors focused on the U.K., Europe and/or the United States, July was far from an unattractive month in all but a minority of equity sectors. This pleasingly allowed a further building of year-to-date returns. Meanwhile bond market yields generally tightened further. Although fixed income markets remain on average dull performers in 2021, performance has improved in recent months. Continue Reading
Investing Is Not a Trivial Pursuit® July 7, 2021 Americans, bored in their COVID-induced ‘bubbles,’ turned to board games for fun last year, boosting sales 300%. They rolled the dice, drew the cards, and buffed the skills of cooperation, problem solving, emotional intelligence, and reflective logic — the same competencies critical to successful investment strategies. So, we couldn’t help looking back nostalgically to our favourite games — and probably yours — as we look forward to crafting a sustainable investment game plan. Continue Reading
Stay Optimistic June 2, 2021 The fifth month of 2021 will not go down as an important month for global investors. Most equity and bond market investors made some positive - but relatively modest - gains during May. And whilst COVID-19 vaccination progress across many countries has been notable over recent weeks, the general economic outlook across the U.K., United States and Europe has recently improved. Certainly underlying confidence for the rest of this year and into 2022 has improved over recent weeks. Continue Reading
Now It’s May, Do You Go Away? May 10, 2021 April was another interesting month, with gains across almost all global stock markets led by the United States, but closely followed by the U.K. and Europe. Whilst the former two were significantly aided by continued COVID-19 vaccine progress and associated national reopening, Europe has started to make some progress too. Continue Reading
Inflation The Dog That Barked In The Dark April 8, 2021 Sixty years ago, Marshall Nirenberg and Henrich Matthaei began the process of cracking the genetic code. Thanks to their persistence and resilience, today’s scientists developed effective mRNA-based vaccines in record time – saving millions of lives from COVID-19. With the darkest days of the pandemic behind us, investors can also appreciate the resilience of the economy and financial markets and the hopeful prospect of brighter days ahead. Continue Reading
Market madness – Be selective, advises Paul Gavaghan of Raymond James March 29, 2021 Whilst there are still pockets of great opportunity across the globe, the past few weeks have also seen crazy price rises of some stocks as investors have rushed to join the herds buying certain technology stocks indiscriminately. Given the backdrop of a Western World with low interest rates and a pandemic that is highly disrupting many sectors, the relatively less affected technology sector is an attractive place to park money. It seems many investors taken this view but have forgotten the importance of valuations. The herd buying has pushed prices up which then reaffirms investors reasoning so they buy more again and so on which spirals share prices upwards. Continue Reading
Which way next for markets? March 29, 2021 After global markets stumbled to their worst quarter since 1987 in Q1, we have now seen a meaningful bounce in many equity markets from March lows and there are now good arguments for both sides which way they will turn next. Continue Reading
Ethical Investing – Bespoke portfolios tailored around you March 29, 2021 At Raymond James, Ribble Valley we have a highly bespoke investment proposition and state of the art tools. This allows us to cater for clients’ ethical preferences, however specific they are. Many people only want to profit from companies with certain characteristics and they want to make sure that their views are reflected. We start with a specifically tailored questionnaire that really helps us to explore what is important to clients. The first element of this is 'negative' screening where we look at what people don't want to invest in. This might be armaments, tobacco, alcohol, animal testing, gambling etc...we can also drill down to the next level to allow a percentage of revenues. So, for example, someone might not want to invest in an alcohol company per see but wouldn't mind investing in a hotel chain that makes a small percentage of its revenues from alcohol sales. We then look at positive screening. What do people want to make a profit from? This can be broad-based suchas wanting to invest in innovative companies that are solving the World's problems. We incorporate ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) in all of our research as there is good reason to believe that the most sustainable and well-governed companies will offer shareholders the best long-term results. We can also offer positive screening very specifically. Do people only want to invest in companies with excellent human rights track records for example? Or in renewable energy? Or those that contribute positively to their community? The level of how bespoke we can make it is endless. There are over forty thousand listed companies and we have an enormous amount of research available to us. This allows us to build diversified portfolios for people with even the most specific views and preferences without necessarily sacrificing performance. Most… Continue Reading
Making wise investment decisions in perilous times March 29, 2021 As the virus spreads through the World, fear has reigned, global stock markets have plummeted and the UK’s leading market stumbled its worst quarter since 1987. We pride ourselves that in times of volatility and crashes, when many advisers head for the hills, we are there to support and reassure our clients every step of the way until markets recover and beyond. Our key message to clients, and anyone invested in the markets is, don’t solve a short-term problem by creating a long-term disaster. Instead, stay the course and capitalise on the opportunities. Continue Reading
The Power of Dividends March 29, 2021 Where can I double my money this week?’ and ‘Are there any ten baggers around?’ are common questions aimed at anyone working in investment. I hate to be a bore, but I explain such returns mean taking levels of risk similar to those in bookies. So, if not trying to shoot the lights out in a week, how can an investor expect to increase their wealth? Continue Reading