MoneyWeek

In the days of endless free and easy money, we heard a lot about interest rates being “lower for longer”. Over the next few years we are likely to hear a lot about inflation being “higher for longer”. This time last year, when we had been fretting fo

In a gloomy year for global stocks, emerging markets (EMs) have offered investors little relief. With inflation roaring and the geopolitical order in flux, investors have preferred the safety of US dollar-denominated assets to risky bets in exotic pl

Looking back on 2022, the return of inflation “sticks out like the proverbial sore thumb”, says David Smith in The Sunday Times. It has “given us the worst industrial relations in decades and led to more interest rate hikes than in any year since 198

Was 2022 the year that the commodities cycle turned? Powered by a reopening boom, the S&P GSCI Index of 24 major raw materials surged by 30% in 2021. It then rocketed even higher in spring this year after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupted global

Shares in Games Workshop have jumped by 16% after it announced “an agreement in principle” for Amazon to develop its intellectual property, says Emma Taggart in the Times. The idea is to make films and television shows based on the fantasy tabletop g

China opens its books: US regulators have been allowed access to the Chinese audits of companies based in China and listed in the US for the first time, reducing the risk that around 200 Chinese companies would be forcibly delisted from US exchanges,

Scientists have achieved a net energy gain in a nuclear fusion reaction for the first time – a genuinely historic milestone in a field that physicists have been working on since the 1950s. A team at a US government facility, the Lawrence Livermore Na

city-journal.org “Where did everyone go?” asks Andy Kessler of The Wall Street Journal. The so-called Great Resignation following the Covid-19 pandemic has led to an economy with 11.2 million job openings in the US, mostly as a result of men aged 2

When Thomas Piketty’s Capital in the 21st-Century became a bestseller following its publication in 2013, the commentariat expressed surprise that ponderous economic analysis had become the object of popular enthusiasm. But the phenomenon was not exac

The discount to net asset value (NAV) of the share price of the average investment trust has, according to Winterflood Securities, risen from barely 1% at the start of this year to 12.5%, having exceeded 15% in October. It might be assumed that the b

The past year has been miserable for many long-term investors. The worst-hit area has been the small-cap sector, where the majority of dealing is done by private investors. The cost-of-living crisis has dampened investors’ appetite, and this been a p

Could a wealth manager help you navigate a profitable path through market turmoil? The number of online services offering high-quality support and extensive resources at an affordable price to DIY investors has grown rapidly in recent years. But thes

It is with a red face that I look back at last year’s tips – BT and Vodafone. Both were duds. I continue to hold for better days. So it is with trepidation that this year I suggest a tech-related company. The sector has rightly been trounced, and yes

Ten years ago we thought we would put some of our money where our mouths were. We have long been fans of investment trusts (see past articles on the subject at moneyweek.com for why). So with help from a small group of specialists we set up a portfol

After a year that saw three prime ministers and four chancellors, it’s safe to suggest the UK will face calmer political seas ahead. But escaping dangerous white water rapids doesn’t necessarily lead to plain sailing. We are in an election campaign b

The FTSE 100 index, though a dismal performer this millennium, is actually up nearly 3% this year. When a 4.5% dividend yield is added in, the total return is a respectable 7%. For mid- and small-cap companies, though, it has been a different story.

Are you running out of ideas on what to give your children this Christmas? Swap Lego for stocks, fluffy unicorns for junior Isas and the squishmallow for a pension – they will thank you for it one day. Lego’s Harry Potter Hogwarts Castle set will cos

Add a review of your pension plans to the New Year to-do list. Making some tweaks now could pay dividends for years to come. Here are ten relatively quick wins to consider. Firstly, make better use of your annual contribution allowance. Most people a

Over the past 45 years, an investment in Scottish drinks group AG Barr has generated an annual return of 18% including dividends, turning £1,000 into £3.1m. And there should be plenty more to come. After a turbulent few years, it looks as if the busi

Recent events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, China’s threatened invasion of Taiwan and cyberattacks by both autocracies emphasise the need for Western countries to enhance their armed services and security services. A key trend in this context

Cairness House, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. A Grade A-listed mansion designed in the 1780s by James Playfair. The Egyptian room includes a fireplace decorated with carved hieroglyphs. 8 beds, 7 baths, 4 receps, kitchen, 2-bed flat, 2 gate l

Geneva is a wonderful city throughout the year, but it really comes alive during the winter months. Its annual Christmas market is located in the Jardin Anglais, next to Lake Geneva, famous for its Flower Clock. The market consists of stalls and chal

This year saw the rise of geopolitical tensions between Russia, China and the US, as well as a global energy crisis, so it’s timely that these issues are front and centre in the revival of the cult Danish political drama Borgen. Borgen: Power & Glory

“The Volkswagen Amarok has become something of a legend in the world of pickup trucks, even though it’s been around for only a decade or so”, says Will Nightingale in Whatcar. The latest iteration is no different. It is a “very fine” vehicle, ready t

Counting, counting and counting – the three ways to improve your bridge. West led a Diamond to East’s King, and declarer ruffed East’s continuation of the Ace. Declarer reflected that East had opened a Weak Two, then shown up with at least eight poin

1 The UK’s annual rate of consumer price inflation (CPI) hit a 41-year peak in October 2022. How high did it climb? 1) 7.5% 2) 11.1% 3) 13.3% 2 Hong Kong finally began to relax its Covid-19 restrictions this year, encouraging tourism by lifting its m

Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of collapsed crypto exchange FTX, cannot explain how he lost investors billions of dollars, reports The Wall Street Journal. He was arrested in the Bahamas last week and charged with fraud. Now, losing a $10 bill – it h