This week in MoneyWeek: how blockchain will change the world, six funds for your portfolio, and how to spot the red flags in company reports.
Plus, share tips, personal finance, the latest from the markets, a roundup of the Budget and lots, lots more. Sign up and you’ll get the magazine, the smartphone/tablet app and full access to the MoneyWeek website. Why not sign up now?
Blockchain: the future of business
I imagine you’ve heard of bitcoin, the alternative cryptocurrency that’s been in the press over the last few years. Some people have got very excited about it. Just recently it hit a milestone – the price of one bitcoin surpassed the price of an ounce of gold. But while that’s all very interesting, the really exciting thing about bitcoin isn’t the currency, it’s the technology it’s built on: blockchain. Allied with “smart contracts” it’s going to transform the way we do business in much the same way the internet did 20 years ago. If you’d like to know how, Why not sign up now?.
Six funds for income
With government bonds looking increasingly poor value, many investors are shying away from them. So where does a risk averse investor look for yield these days, asks Jon Rebak. Well, he says, there are a number of “more specialist” areas of the market which offer reasonable prospects. They may appear “dull”, but for long-term investors, they could work well as part of a diversified portfolio. Jon suggests six funds, including corporate bonds, property and asset financing. Find out exactly what they are with Why not sign up now?.
Four emerging market trusts
If you’re after a more adventurous investment, Max King looks to emerging markets. “Economic growth is picking up, corporate managements have had sense knocked into them and valuations are reasonable.” We’re big fans of passive investing. But with emerging markets, index trackers aren’t the way to go, says Max. The MSCI EM index is heavily skewed towards Asia, especially China, South Korea and Taiwan. If you want a more representative fund, you have to go active. Max picks four investment trusts to buy into.
How to spot the dangers lurking in company reports
Every listed company has to release an annual report at the end of the financial year, says Matthew Partridge. It’s often packed with promotional filler so “it can be tempting to skip the verbiage to focus on the figures”. Don’t, says Matthew. “Research suggests that careful reading can pay off.” There are subtle clues in the way many reports are worded that can act as warning signs that a company is in trouble. Matthew outlines four “red flags” to look out for. If you want to know what they are,Why not sign up now?.
Get the flight compensation you’re due, and cashing in your pension
In our personal finance section this week, Ruth Jackson looks at delayed flight compensation. Officially, airlines must pay out if you’re delayed for over three hours and it’s their fault. But many don’t. Ruth sets out exactly what you should do to make sure you get what you’re owed. David Prosser looks in to whether it’s worth cashing in your final salary scheme. Until recently, the answer to that would be no. But some of the transfer values are no so attractive it can be an attractive proposition. Why not sign up now?.
Elsewhere, Sarah Moore looks at the decline of London’s luxury property market, Matthew Lynn offers solutions to the City’s short termism, and Simon Wilson explains why City research analysts are becoming an endangered species.
Our small business page looks at the scourge of late payments. We’ve a digest of all the news and the best of the financial columnists and the best blogs around. Plus five pages of p travel, property for sale, and a selection of gifts for Mother’s Day.
There’s more, of course. Much more than I could possibly outline in a short email. And it can all be yours. Why not sign up now?