03/15/2012

Back to 1952 - Coutts & Co

Does it make sense for longer-term investors to hold government bonds when better yields are available from dividends?

03/13/2012

We are richer in 2012, but are we happier?

The research claims that even though Britons are three times richer than they were in 1952, and UK GDP has dramatically increased, so has the Government's budget deficit.

03/09/2012

Bankers Behaving Badly Are No Black Swans

It’s hard to feel too sympathetic for wealthy financiers caught behaving badly. But considering the stress of the job, and simple statistics, it shouldn’t be too shocking to hear of Wall Streeters stabbing a cabbie or defecating in public. Mor

03/07/2012

Euro treads water, at the deep end - Coutts & Co

We believe the potential for negative events in Europe will keep the euro on the defensive against the dollar and sterling, but the downside looks limited in the near term given investors in general are already broadly holding negative positions.

03/05/2012

Bernanke speech crushes silver rally

Investors seemed to react not to what the Fed President said, but rather to what he didn’t say. However, the sell-off was short-lived and today silver has been clawing its way back.

03/02/2012

HMRC pushes back

Following breaches in the Banking Code of Practice on Taxation, retrospective tax legislation is to be introduced.

02/23/2012

Paying the piper….

HM Revenue & Customs have now started to issue the £100 penalty notices to those people in self-assessment that did not submit their return by the deadline of 2 February 2012.

02/20/2012

Learning a lesson from the Americans

Following my comments about the missing financial infrastructure in the UK, I was recently comparing the US banking and financial structures with our own.

02/17/2012

Looking beyond the Greek tragedy

Central banks continue to ease policy and risk appetite amongst investors has increased. In the very near term however we remain somewhat wary that markets have rallied too strongly and that further profit taking and lower markets are quite possible.

02/15/2012

More pension tax changes to come?

As we predicted in our last Weekly Tax Brief, higher rate tax relief for pension contributions is once again in the firing line.

02/13/2012

Changing Sentiment Toward's The Euro?

I am indebted to Chris Charlton from the foreign exchange specialists, Centa Asset Management in Frankfurt who regularly produces fascinating views and opinions on the varying strengths of the differing currencies.