Stocks

Are stock buybacks a good thing for investors?

What is a stock buyback? What should companies do with their profits? Reinvest them in order to grow their operations and, thereby, future profits? Or…

Is Credit Suisse the next Lehman Brothers?

Financial markets were jittery already. But then Credit Suisse’s credit default swaps started to blow out, signalling a rising probability of default. It’s all so…

Is it time to “Buy, Buy, Buy” the stock market?

The bad news is becoming an all-encompassing blur. The new government’s budget is copping the blame for absolute carnage in the financial markets. We’ve hit…

The worst market crash ever is in search of a cause

If you think it’s been a rough year for Europe, consider what US investors are going through. As I explained in a recent alert for…

What are dividend stocks, and why are they crucial in the market?

What are stock dividends? Companies exist to generate cash for their owners. That’s their purpose, from the investor’s point of view. Small-business owners understand this.…

Stop the energy crisis – it’s party conference season!

The US stock market took a tumble on Tuesday, when inflation figures came in slightly higher than usual. But was it just overdone panic, or…

How to make money in a slow-motion train wreck

Are you still with us, dear investors? I wouldn’t blame you for giving up… There’s the prospect of inflation at 22%, energy rationing, industrial shutdowns,…

You took the wrong pill. Prepare to be a machine’s battery.

It’s right out of the film The Matrix, if you ask me. Using everyday people as the battery pack for the economy is a bit…

This is a crisis of underinvestment, say you

My article “When soaring profits are a bad sign for stocks” triggered plenty of reader mail. I asked whether underinvestment in the future was leading…

When soaring profits are a bad sign for stocks

“Profits in the UK are soaring: they’re up 73% at the biggest 350 companies compared with pre-pandemic levels.” It sounds great, doesn’t it? That is…

2008 without the stimulus packages, bailouts, QE or rate cuts

Have you ever wondered what the 2008 crisis would have looked like if there hadn’t been bailouts, stimulus packages, quantitative easing or rate cuts? Because,…

Three very quiet cheers for the FTSE 100!

Did you see the headline in the Guardian? “UK Sidesteps Worst Stockmarket Crash in Half A Century!” Nope, I didn’t see it either. And yet……

A crash without a cause… yet

It’s one of the worst on record. It’s perhaps the worst once you factor in the combined losses in stocks and bonds. Or how much…

Nowhere to hide from the collapse of the everything bubble

This bear market is unusually challenging for investors because there is nowhere to hide. The selloff includes just about everything – every asset class. This…

Why mining stocks are a tech punt

No one thinks of mining as a technology punt. When we think of the mining sector, we picture dusty old trucks the size of houses.…

Expert says you want stocks that can survive a bear market

Today’s special guest wrote about a “bear market in trust” in January. The start of this year saw the reflation trade (as pumping of money…

Welcome to stagflation. It’s going to get worse.

You might think a moribund economy with 7% inflation is bad enough. But just wait until you see the Bank of Englad’s forecasts for what…

We’re all paying for “Putin’s price hike” at the pump. But what should investors be doing?

Over the Easter break, between nappy changes and car-seat battles, I finally found time to watch the latest of The Southbank Interviews, hosted by my…

This “Templeton moment” could be worth millions

Editor’s Note: In the weeks since this story was published in our sister publication Southbank Investment Daily, Russian President Vladimir Putin has pulled the trigger…

What to know as history’s oldest bull market turns 13 in March

Editor’s Note: While Nick is away attending to the birth of his daughter, we’re taking this opportunity to share some market perspective from Fortune &…