ANALYSIS: Are platforms facing an ‘existential crisis’?
As certain platform businesses boomed in Q1 with year-on-year sales over 30% higher, others posted huge losses, begging the question: are they facing an “existential crisis”?
Analysis
-
-
ANALYSIS: How WannaCry makes cyber security a vital investment
Take a look at your surroundings. Chances are, most of your colleagues are staring at screens or, if you’re in a public place, those around you will be looking down at their phones. Even you’re doing it!
-
ANALYSIS: Should you still buy into the emerging markets rally?
Emerging market equities and bonds have outperformed their developed rivals by a large margin year-to-date, resulting in a surge in inflows. An acceleration in global growth and the absence of immediate macro concerns seem to underpin the current rally, but there are some obvious elephants in the room.
-
Warning to advisers that death tax fee hike could ‘reappear’
We are now weeks away from a UK general election in which opinion polls suggest the Conservatives will win with a sizeable majority, says Duncan Bailey, partner and head of private client of corporate and commercial law firm Brabners.
-
ANALYSIS: Is the only thing to fear… fear itself?
Multi-asset and absolute return strategies have been at the height of popularity in recent months as investors scramble to defend against potential headwinds, but with economic data so favourable is the only thing we need to fear actually fear itself?
-
ANALYSIS: The innovation to usurp active management
Multi-factor investing is being billed as the next big thing by asset managers eager to continue to weaponise passive management.
-
Employee engagement key to IFA people management
Business owners often say their people are the key asset in their company, but in the IFA world it’s even more important, argues Mike Leeson, head of international distribution development, Old Mutual Wealth.
-
ANALYSIS: Why backing Europe is now a consensus call
Adversity is best tackled face on, and so the big call this year has been to overweight Europe, despite the uncertain geopolitical picture.
-
ANALYSIS: Is now the time to go overweight oil majors?
The first quarter has proved lucrative for the gargantuan oil companies of Exxon, Chevron and BP. But are their fortunes purely macro-driven or are there other reasons for investors to reconsider the sector?
-
Why disputes over wills are on the increase
It is difficult to open a newspaper these days without reading about disinherited relatives challenging the will of a loved one alongside reports of a rise in the number of diagnoses of dementia being made, says Gareth Ledsham, partner at law firm Russell-Cooke.
-
ANALYSIS: Is now the time to invest in active US equity funds?
After a wide swathe of active US equity funds outperformed the S&P 500 during Donald Trump’s first 100 days in office, is now the time for investors to re-think their assumptions on the active approach?
-
ANALYSIS: The European funds to back if bank rally continues
European shares have rallied strongly on the outcome of the first round of France’s presidential election, but which funds stand to do best from the change in sentiment towards the region?