Invest & Save
The Anaylst: Down under's back-door into a boom
Published: 13 October 2007
Regular readers of this column may have picked up on a trend. Many of the funds I have highlighted have, to a greater or lesser degree, focused on the urbanisation of Emerging Markets.
Act now to avoid the care home lottery
Published: 13 October 2007
James Daley: Inheritance tax? It's perfectly fair
Published: 13 October 2007
Alistair Darling's tinkering with the Inheritance Tax rules, in this week's pre-Budget report, was not nearly as big a deal as he, or most commentators, made it out to be. In a nutshell, it's now possible to pool your inheritance tax allowance of £300,000 with your spouse or civil partner – something that it's been possible to do with a bit of clever tax planning for many years. The only real difference is that it's now much simpler.
Care where your cash ends up? Invest ethically
Published: 13 October 2007
Private Investor: In search of a growth engine? Just Google it
Published: 13 October 2007
One of the joys of the new technologies and the liberalisation of retail financial markets is that buying stocks in faraway places is easier – and cheaper – than ever.
With loans, the devil is always in the detail
Published: 13 October 2007
No Pain, No Gain: Shareholder democracy is being priced into oblivion
Published: 13 October 2007
Small investors often get a raw deal. I think it is fair to say that the City establishment regards them as a necessary evil that has to be tolerated to provide an illusion of democracy.
Questions Of Cash: 'EasyCar's mistake was costly – now I want a full refund'
Published: 13 October 2007
Q. In April I booked a car through EasyCar for two weeks for pick-up and drop-off at Nice airport. I was told the vehicle would be supplied by Budget. On arrival, Budget told me there was no booking and no cars were available. I called EasyCar which confirmed it had made a mistake and was unable to fulfil the contract. Hertz rented us a car at €1,039.83 for two weeks, compared with the €547.86 that EasyCar had agreed. EasyCar has paid me just €114.57 of the extra costs, refusing to pay me the balance because it includes "additional insurance supplements" – but so did the EasyCar charge. I think EasyCar is being unreasonable. CC, Godalming.
Thrifty Living: Sweet reason is lost along with the muffin top
Published: 13 October 2007
suddenly, the sight of Louis Theroux attacking his flabby abs via liposuction is brought climactically into my house by the arrival of Spendthrift Janie, who turns up for a cup of coffee. Note: in an attempt to save money we have given up drinking coffee at Carluccio's, since it invariably extended to a search for extra-virgin olive oil and artichokes at the deli counter, plus a recce in the neighbouring shoe shop and ended up costing, on occasions, about £200 a pop.
The Week In Review: Regent Inns unfazed by smoking ban
Published: 13 October 2007
It always looked like the pub and bar industry was approaching the smoking ban in England and Wales with confidence bordering on arrogance. And so it has proved, with the wet summer, lack of any major sporting events, and the smoking ban all helping to hit beer sales across the UK.
Non-Domiciles: Wealthy foreigners hitby £30,000 annual charge
Published: 10 October 2007
The Government unveiled a crackdown on wealthy non-domiciled residents who pay little or no tax in the UK yesterday, introducing a £30,000 annual charge for those who have been resident in the country for more than seven years.
In an Atlantic storm should you head for the Asia Pacific?
Published: 07 October 2007
Middle Britain flocks to 'safe house' NS&I;
Published: 07 October 2007
Snap to it: there's a gallery in cyberspace for your shots
Published: 07 October 2007
Wealth Check: Stretch and pray: how can they escape from financial peril?
Published: 07 October 2007
The patients
Bank stands firm as the high street falters
Published: 07 October 2007
The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee voted to leave UK interest rates on hold at 5.75 per cent last week. The decision had been widely predicted by City analysts but was nevertheless greeted with dismay by retailers.
Children's books: Have you got a fortune sitting on your shelf?
Published: 06 October 2007
Is this the time to invest in Brazil, Russia, India and China – or indeed any emerging market?
Published: 06 October 2007
In spite of widespread market turmoil in recent weeks sparked by the "credit crunch" in the US, funds investing in global emerging markets continue to show their resilience.
The Analyst: People, not portfolios, are best bet
Published: 06 October 2007
The life of a manager can be tough. It's a difficult game and the pressure to perform is intense. Each day, thousands of people open the paper to see how you're doing; if they don't like what they read then your job will be on the line.
Private Investor: It's our duty to buy shares, it seems
Published: 06 October 2007
Strange, so they say, that the stock markets are showing such vigour while everything else seems to be falling apart. Everything else, it has to be said, even including those economic indicators normally taken to be crucial to the market's ratings. And yet, with an American house price slump, European consumer confidence falling off a cliff, Japanese growth stumbling and British banks in their biggest pickle in decades, equities are doing nicely.
Is Apple's iPhone really a must-have this Christmas?
Published: 06 October 2007
No Pain, No Gain: Nighthawk's not soaring, but no reason to flap
Published: 06 October 2007
Maiden figures from Nighthawk Energy, the most recent addition to the No Pain, No Gain portfolio, may, at first glance appear rather depressing.
Questions of Cash: When the bark of the FOS won't bite
Published: 06 October 2007
Q. I want to warn readers about the Financial Ombudsman Service and its lack of power to resolve problems. Its booklet states that its judgments are binding upon firms. I complained because my insurer failed for over a year to settle my claim for household goods damaged by a removal company. The insurer admitted its liability for the loss and did not dispute the amount, but would not settle my claim. Yet the FOS says it has no power to enforce an equitable judgment on the insurer, and can only pass the file back to the insurer. I could take court action, but that is expensive as I am a pensioner, and my only income is a reduced state pension. I can't make a claim in the small claims court because the amount involved is £17,500. RF, by email.
Move to scrap stamp duty welcomed
Published: 06 October 2007
It's been quite some week for the Tories, with first the pledge to raise the inheritance tax threshold to £1m, and then the pledge to remove stamp duty for first-time buyers who purchase a home for under £250,000.
Plan now to avoid paying inheritance tax later
Published: 06 October 2007
