Year: 2019
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Time to buy Britain
This time last year, Britain looked virtually ungovernable. Theresa May had just survived a ‘no confidence’ vote in the House of Commons, but her days as Prime Minister were numbered.
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UK Election looms
As the UK prepares for its general election on Thursday, a Conservative majority government is likely to deliver the next stage in the Brexit process, potentially setting the stage for higher growth. Sterling has strengthened on that expectation.
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Hong Kong protests are an urgent warning to Beijing
The protests that have shaken Hong Kong will not threaten China’s grip on power. But the country’s leaders will need to learn the right lessons to head off bigger problems in the future.
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Preparing for Trump’s re-election
What can we expect if Donald Trump wins again in 2020? Here are three big changes that look likely.
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Turkey’s stocks : undoubtedly cheap
US president Donald Trump recently vowed that “I am fully prepared to swiftly destroy Turkey’s economy.
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Labour’s tax plans need attention
As a UK general election must surely be approaching, Labour’s plan to abolish ‘non domicile’ status is not getting the attention it deserves.
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UK property becoming more affordable
UK house prices are set to tread water while incomes rise, making property more affordable.
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Brexit Breakthrough?
EU and UK negotiators have agreed on the draft text for a revised withdrawal agreement.
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Portugal : A Euro Success Story facing political challenge
Portugal is often described as somewhat of a success story in the Euro zone after embarking on deep austerity measures in the wake of the sovereign debt crisis. It has enjoyed growth rates above the region’s average for the last two years.
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Oil price surge after Saudi oil facilities attacked
On Saturday, Saudi Arabia’s oil infrastructure was attacked.
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China toughening out trade tensions
It’s now clear that Donald Trump’s ill-advised gambit of tariffs and bombast is hurting both the US and China. Yet a president who must face the voters next year is in a much worse position to withstand the pain than a tightly-controlled one-party state.
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UK Election looms as no-deal Brexit blocked for now
UK lawmakers have voted in favour of legislation that will compel the government to ask for an extension of the Brexit deadline if a deal is not agreed by 19 October. Frustrated by the passing of the bill, Boris Johnson tabled a motion calling for a general election.
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Beware pitfalls in buying overseas property
Many people dream of buying a property abroad for holidays or retirement, but mistakes can be costly.
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Hong Kong’s perfect storm
The powers that be might shrug off popular discontent, but they will listen to money. That explains Hong Kong’s decision to shelve a controversial extradition bill.
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US/China trade truce?
The US and China agreed to continue talks during this weekend's meeting of G20 leaders in Japan, although they failed to make significant progress toward a deal to reduce tariffs and no joint statement was released.
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Emerging markets bouncing back
Last year, emerging market stocks fell by nearly a quarter. But it has been a different story in 2019, with the benchmark MSCI Emerging Markets Index gaining 13% so far.
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Citizenship for sale
The global market in passports is booming. Thirteen countries now treat passports as a new global asset class, selling them on the open market.
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Not just football that’s coming home
Dramatic last-minute comebacks, nail-biting penalty shoot-outs, spirit, determination and the occasional flash of sublime skill. It’s a been a great month for English football.
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Recovery in Greece?
Having just returned from a 10 day family holiday in Greece, it is clear that there is occasion for some optimism in the country’s revival, but there remains huge challenges ahead.
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Whisky galore
One of my Ultra High Net Worth clients asked me to join him on a day trip to Scotland to visit a whisky distillery and have some tastings, before he made a significant purchase. Apart from being a thoroughly enjoyable day out, I learnt that rare whisky is emerging as the latest alternative asset class to excite high-net-worth investors.
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Russia’s recovery is boosting region
The 40% jump in the oil price so far this year has been treated with indifference by global investors, but, at the other end of Europe, it is very good news.
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‘Slowbalisation’ of global property
In five of the world’s most desirable cities—Hong Kong, London, New York, Sydney and Vancouver—home prices climbed steadily for several years after 2009.
Now, though, particularly in the priciest, “prime” areas of such cities, excess is being shed.
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The UK economy is having a run of success.. despite the political mess.
Britain’s politics are a mess.
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India’s PM heading for May victory
Elections in emerging markets often unnerve investors. In India, however, the benchmark index has jumped to a six-month high following the announcement that India’s national election will take place over five weeks between mid- April and late May.
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‘Golden visa’ residency schemes under the spotlight
Governments around the world are targeting globally mobile wealth, with a record 26% of global Ultra High Net Worth individuals planning for emigration this year.
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US downturn on the horizon?
Talk of a possible recession in the US has been picking up. Its economy is facing headwinds from trade wars to slowing global growth.
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A380 – Another European prestige project fails
Airbus will stop making the A380, pulling the plug on its iconic superjumbo that promised to revolutionize commercial air travel but failed to deliver on outsized expectations.
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Optimism in Brazil
Many emerging markets had a dismal 2018. Brazil, Latin America’s biggest economy, was a rare exception.
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The Euro’s 20th birthday
In its 20 years, the Euro, brought into being as an accounting currency in January 1999 (and a tangible one three years later) has defied its early critics, cheated a near-death experience (in the debt crisis of 2009-2012) and is now more popular than ever with the public.
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Investing in Indonesia
Investors in emerging markets often overlook Indonesia, although the Jakarta index has soared and Indonesia’s economy could now accelerate.
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Emerging Europe comes of age
Work has just started on a new BMW car factory in Hungary. This is likely to raise investment in the country by 1% a year, and raise growth in 2019-20 by 0.
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Oil slide boosting growth
Oil is well and truly off the boil. In early October it reached a four-year peak of $86 per barrel.
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Global property prices easing
The worldwide housing bull market is on its last legs. But not all countries are equally vulnerable to a downturn.