When dividends can be harmful to a company’s health
Pearson’s self-declared ambition to be seen as “the world’s learning company” came a little more into focus this month as the former FT owner offloaded a 22% stake in Penguin Random House (PRH). The...
View ArticleIdentifying the risks of crowdfunding
With the market recently hitting £10bn, crowdfunding is no longer a small fish in the big finance pond. But as the sector expands, it’s also becoming more complex. Some say crowdfunding operates on the...
View ArticleThis London borough just became the first to be fined by pensions watchdog
The UK's pension watchdog today delivered on its promise to bare its teeth by issuing its first ever fine to a public service pension scheme. The Pensions Regulator (TPR) slapped the London Borough of...
View ArticleLloyds wealthy customers to be stripped of cash savings protection
Thousands of Lloyds Bank high net worth customers are to lose higher levels of protection over cash savings under plans to merge the licence of the private banking arm with that of the main bank. The...
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The global financial crisis 10 years on: six charts that tell the story
It is hard to believe but it is 10 years since the start of the global financial crisis. Triggered by a collapse in the US housing market it caused the deepest recession in living memory and the...
View ArticleLadies, make sure you mind the pensions gap
There is a glaring gender gap when it comes to pension savings – a gap which grows as women age and means many face the prospect of spending their so-called “third life” in poverty. There are many...
View ArticleBanks in spotlight as FCA sets its sights on overdrafts
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has shifted its gaze from payday lenders to overdraft providers, as the regulator set out its agenda for consumer credit this morning. Read more: No let up in...
View ArticleBritain's pension shortfalls are narrowing by more than £1bn a day
Britain's pension shortfalls fell by more than £1bn a day during July, according to research released today. A health check of around 5,800 of the UK's pension schemes revealed aggregate deficits stood...
View ArticleTavistock Investments' funds under management surge by 332 per cent
Private client investor Tavistock Investments has announced a massive rise in funds under management over the past year, as the firm posted a 332 per cent increase to £769m. At the same time, the firm...
View ArticleRevealed: The FTSE 100 firms facing the biggest pension headaches
Britain's blue-chip firms paid out four times as much in dividends as they did in pension contributions, a report released today has revealed. Some £150bn has been paid into pension schemes by FTSE 100...
View ArticleState pension age increase hands government more than £5bn a year
The increase in the state pension age for women has brought in an extra £5.1bn a year to government finances but has placed a financial burden on 1.1m women. The state pension age for women rose to 63...
View ArticleHow to avoid paying the loyalty penalty on your mortgage
Whether we think of family, friends or our pets, most of us see loyalty as a positive attribute to have. But for homeowners, it can be quite the opposite, as new evidence suggests many of us are...
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Six charts in July investors need to be aware of
Safe as houses In the UK, house price growth began to slow noticeably last year when stamp duty on buy-to-let and second homes increased. The slowdown continued after the announcement that the UK would...
View ArticleDebate: Is it fair to call the state pension reforms sexist?
Debate: Following the IFS study on poverty among older women, is it fair to call the way the state pension has been reformed sexist? YES – Jane Cowley is communications director of Waspi (Women...
View ArticleRobbing grandson Peter to pay grandpa Paul’s pension is unfair
Do you want the good news or the bad news first? The good news is that on average, the UK population is living longer. The bad news is if we want to make the most of our extra years, someone has to pay...
View ArticleWhat Alan Shearer has to teach us about inflation
So who are the world’s three biggest spenders on defence these days? That’s right – the US, China and … Manchester City. Boom, boom. Yes, we may still be a week away from the start of the 2017/18...
View ArticleCity watchdog readies to launch a crackdown on peer-to-peer lending
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is readying to launch a review of peer-to-peer (P2P) lending, with the aim of standardising practice between platforms to protect investors. The FCA has been...
View ArticleWoodford's stalwart fund suffers after a nightmare fortnight
Renowned investor Neil Woodford will be hoping this week holds fewer hidden surprises than the last fortnight, as some of the largest companies in his portfolio have seen their share prices plummet....
View ArticleBrexit is a chance to reboot Britain’s convoluted tax code
Fans of the Channel Four sitcom The IT Crowd will remember the advice given to hapless office workers when they called the IT service desk. “Have you tried turning it off and on again?” would be the...
View ArticlePensions become key battleground for divorcees
Rising numbers of divorcees are targeting each other's retirement savings as pension pots become a key battleground for those splitting up. There has been a 43 per cent increase in divorcing couples...
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