Your Money Columnists

In association with
Brewin Dolphin

A day of very little drama on the markets Jun 08 2011

THE FTSE 100 Index ended the day up 1.5 points at 5864.6.Read

Capital expenditure will feed through into top-line growth May 25 2011

WITH the global recovery currently strong, corporate capital expenditure budgets are increasing.Read

Spain growth is key to eurozone recovery May 18 2011

RECENT GDP data for the euro area has shown us that "not all is bad". Some readers may be surprised to learn that Germany and France have recorded strong growth over the past quarter, while Spanish growth surprised a bit as well. Read

Energy sector disappointed by turning in only modest growth May 11 2011

INVESTORS should be reassured from the relatively robust first-quarter 2011 European earnings reporting season. Corporate earnings have out- performed, on the whole, in relation to consensus expectations - although this was to a lesser extent than in previous quarters.Read

Europe recovering in fits and starts while emerging markets 'overheat' May 04 2011

THE global economy is still moving firmly in the right direction. In the US, despite a softening in activity in the first quarter of 2011, the recovery story continues to exhibit strength.Read

Equities can be the best investment Apr 28 2011

INCREASING commodity prices are not helping to tame inflation, an important concern for both consumers and investors.Read

Mixed bag of corporate results but equities' outlook is favourable Apr 20 2011

THE corporate reporting season for the period of January-March (for most firms) has recently kicked off. Indeed, it appears to be an eventful one, and should grant investors plenty to focus on.Read

Market split over European bank's next interest rate rise Apr 13 2011

INVESTORS are now asking themselves which developed market central bank will be the next to “tighten the strings” on monetary policy.Read

The value of global deals is growing Apr 06 2011

THIS month's U$39.5bn proposed deal between AT&T and T-Mobile USA has put mergers and acquisitions (M&A) firmly back in the headlines, and the value of global deals has been growing in recent months.Read

Stick with energy sector Mar 30 2011

MUCH has been written on oil prices as of late. A number of learned commentators have been focusing on the possible spread of sectarian strife in the Middle East.Read

Markets react to Japan tragedy Mar 23 2011

THE terrible tragedy in Japan and the continued uncertainty surrounding the nuclear power plant in Fukushima have led to a rise in global risk aversion.Read

Oil price rises putting US dollar under pressure in short term Mar 16 2011

THERE are a number of reasons why higher oil prices are putting the US dollar under pressure, and why they will continue to do so. We are unlikely to reach a point where the US dollar's "safe haven" status can offset them.Read

Interesting days ahead as interest rates begin to rise Mar 09 2011

AS the European Central Bank (and soon the Bank of England, and even, eventually, the Fed) prepares to raise interest rates, we can expect a long and heated debate among economists about whether they are right or wrong to be doing so. But, from an investor’s point of view, the most important thing is not what should happen, but rather what will happen.Read

Sit tight is best option amid Middle East unrest Mar 02 2011

THE past few weeks have drawn attention to a number of risks in the investment landscape, not least the recent political unrest seen across the Middle East and North Africa.Read

Overlooked equities may protect best Feb 23 2011

INFLATION has been grabbing investors’ attention over the past few weeks. There remains little doubt that the global recovery debate has moved on.Read

Just sit tight, stay invested and wait for the recovery Feb 16 2011

AFTER another week of news on post-crisis highs for key stock market indices – with the S&P 500 delivering total returns of over one third since its mid-2010 swoon – investors may be wondering whether to take a profit, or sit tight and stay invested.Read

ECB rate hike unlikely in the months ahead Feb 09 2011

CHANGES in official interest rates, or speculation concerning them, can be a key driver of exchange rates. Recent trends in the euro demonstrate this very clearly.Read

Bright start set to continue as the US looks spendy Feb 02 2011

IT HAS been a good start to 2011, with global growth prospects improving. Perhaps the most significant shift has been in the US: on top of substantial help from the Fed – in the form of very low official interest rates, as well as quantitative easing – Congress unexpectedly cut taxes on wages.Read

Investors spoiled for choice at minute Jan 26 2011

INVESTORS in developed market equities look spoiled for choice at the moment. Valuations still look undemanding across many sectors and regions, thanks to the vigorous recovery in profits.Read

Euro area economies to stay two-speed Jan 19 2011

SPECULATION about the euro area has continued in recent weeks, and there are mounting fears that Portugal may be the next domino to fall. It could agree to a bailout package in the next month or so, and Spain may follow suit shortly thereafter.Read