We wrote here late last year that it was time for the prices of London houses and non-London houses to start to converge. Look at a chart of the way they move, and you will …
London house prices could be facing some heavy weather
Category: Blog
An update on Bacit – the investment trust that’s fighting cancer
A couple of years ago I suggested that you consider investing in Bacit. It’s an investment trust that operates as a cheap fund of very good (and often hedge) funds with a charitable twist (it’s cheap …
We need to be realistic about the NHS
There is an excellent letter in the New Scientist on the matter of the NHS. UK voters will be bored to tears by now of the constant promises made by all parties about the level …
Alliance gives in – perhaps you should buy in
Alliance Trust CEO Katherine Garrett-Cox has conceded So, it’s going to be a disappointing day for me. I told you last week that I would be heading for Dundee this morning, and that on arrival, …
Alliance Trust: shareholder capitalism in action
I told you earlier that I was ready to be disappointed by the Alliance Trust AGM. I wasn’t as disappointed as I expected. That’s because it is always refreshing to see shareholder capitalism in action …
When it comes to housing, all the parties are ‘nasty’
I wrote here a few weeks ago that the worst policy announcement of this truly rubbish election campaign was the Tories’ stunningly stupid plan to extend Right to Buy to the residents of all housing …
Want a free sandwich? Here’s how to vote
If you are a shareholder in Alliance Trust you will be wanting to vote at the forthcoming AGM. If you aren’t sure why, you can read my latest post on the matter (for the record …
What ‘full fiscal autonomy’ for Scotland actually means
Politics isn’t usually about reality. It is about perception. If reality – and financial reality in particular – ever got a look in, everyone would vote Tory out of desperation, while begging them to slash …
Can Britain’s pensioners be trusted with their new-found pensions freedom?
Given Australia’s experience, should the new pension freedoms be reversed? “With freedom comes responsibility.” That’s what pretty much every commentator out there says on the new pension freedom rules. They’re right. If we get to …
More taxes are coming, but the rich might not be paying them
A letter from a reader. He takes issue with the idea expressed in the chart in my last blog that it is not really possible for the tax-take in the UK to go above 37% …