European ETF Flows Fall – Should You Invest?
European-listed ETFs saw a sharp slowdown in March, with net inflows dropping to €9.4 billion (about $10.2 billion) after two months of roughly €46 billion each. Equity‑focused ETFs fell from €40 billion in February to €8.8 billion, while bond ETFs turned negative with a €2.4 billion outflow. Despite the pullback, European equity ETFs still attracted $3.9 billion, and energy funds recorded a record $2.2 billion inflow as oil prices rose. The trend reflects heightened caution amid Middle‑East tensions and inflation concerns.
Why Optimistic Investors Will Triumph over Doom and Gloom
The latest Global Returns Yearbook shows US equities have generated a 9.8% compound annual return since 1900, delivering a 6.6% real return after inflation. Emerging markets have outpaced developed markets with a 10.9% annual return versus 9.6%. While gold has...
Probate Disputes Jump 12% as Inheritance Fights Increase
UK probate disputes surged 12% last year, with more than 11,500 caveat applications filed to halt estate administration. The low £3 (≈$3.80) filing fee and rising estate values—often $600,000 to $1.2 million—make challenges increasingly attractive. Blended families and concerns over will...
Which FTSE 100 Stocks Pay the Highest Dividends?
Analysts expect the FTSE 100 to generate a record £88 billion (about $113 billion) in dividends in 2026, with the ten biggest payers accounting for £45.7 billion (~$58 billion) or 52% of the total. HSBC tops the list with an estimated £10.7 billion ($13.7 billion) payout, followed...
Rush to Take Pension Lump Sum Early Hits Five Year High over Inheritance Tax Fears
A record 116,000 Britons aged 55 took tax‑free pension lump‑sum withdrawals in 2024/25, pulling out £2.3 bn (about $2.9 bn), the highest level in five years. The surge follows the 2024 Autumn Budget announcement that unused pension pots will face up to...
Early Bird vs Last-Minute ISA Investing – Which Is Best for Your Portfolio?
With the UK tax year starting on April 6, investors can contribute up to £20,000 (≈$25,600) into an ISA. Vanguard’s model shows that depositing the full allowance at the beginning of the year grows to about £1.08 million (≈$1.38 million) after 25 years, roughly...
Chapters Group: German Conglomerate Aiming to Be the Next Berkshire Hathaway
Chapters Group, a German conglomerate, is executing a classic buy‑and‑build strategy by acquiring fragmented European software firms—about 1.1 million small, legacy businesses—at roughly 6‑7 times earnings, far below the double‑digit multiples seen in larger tech deals. The company organizes acquisitions into three...
How to Profit From the Global Leisure and Travel Boom
The global leisure and travel market has rebounded to $5 trillion in 2024 and is projected to reach $8 trillion by 2030, driven by a surge in experience‑focused spending among millennials and an expanding middle class in emerging economies. Wealth growth in...
Three Undervalued Growth Stocks the Market Has Missed
The article highlights three growth stocks—SK Square, Alphabet, and Genmab—that provide AI or biotech exposure at prices that ignore their long‑term upside. SK Square gives investors a discounted stake in SK Hynix, the memory chip maker benefiting from AI‑driven demand....
Britain Is Heading for Recession – but the Government Will Do Nothing
The OECD warns Britain will enter recession faster than any other G7 nation, as slowing retail sales and soaring energy costs strain the economy. A 4.1% rise in the living wage to £12.71 (about $16.30) per hour adds pressure on...
Aliko Dangote: The Nigerian Billionaire Industrialising Africa
Aliko Dangote’s $20 billion refinery near Lagos, capable of processing 650,000 barrels of crude daily, is now operational and attracting premium fuel prices amid geopolitical tensions. The International Monetary Fund estimates the plant could lift Nigeria’s non‑oil GDP by 1.5% and...
The Best Funds to Buy as Vietnam Evolves
Vietnam is poised to shift from a frontier to an emerging market when FTSE Russell reclassifies it in September 2026, unlocking broader investor access. The economy’s growth is driven by export diversification, a massive investment push, and a burgeoning middle class,...
Restaurant Review: Tortello, London's Newest Trattoria
Tortello, a new trattoria inside London’s Royal Lancaster Hotel overlooking Hyde Park, offers a modern take on classic Italian dining. The restaurant features an open‑kitchen and hand‑made pasta crafted from farm‑raised egg yolks and flour sourced from specialist Italian mills. Starters...
Is Europe Ripe for Recovery? MoneyWeek Talks
Europe has long trailed the United States in equity performance, prompting investors to question what conditions could spark a continental rebound. In a MoneyWeek interview, Daniel Avigad, manager of the TM Lansdowne European Special Situations fund, outlines where he sees...
Premium Bonds Holders Wait Three Years on Average Before Winning a Prize
A Freedom of Information request shows first‑time Premium Bonds winners in 2025 waited an average 3.1 years before receiving any prize, meaning cash sits idle for years. The long lag deprives savers of interest that could be earned in traditional accounts....
Legal & General: A Veteran FTSE Stock with Life in It Yet
Legal & General, a century‑old FTSE 100 insurer, is shedding its legacy bulk‑annuity and life‑insurance focus in favour of an asset‑light, higher‑margin model. Its investment arm now manages about $1.5 trillion in assets, with private‑market holdings swelling to $95 bn and fee margins...
Should You Add Private Equity to Your ISA?
Private‑equity funds marketed for ISAs promise outsized returns, but the metrics used—chiefly internal rate of return—mislead retail investors. Over the past 15 years the private‑equity premium has evaporated, with a five‑year trailing edge of –4.62% versus the S&P 500. Layered fees,...
The Elite £2m ISA Club – Here’s How to Join
A Freedom of Information request to HMRC by Bowmore Wealth Group uncovered a niche “£2 million ISA club” of 270 UK investors, roughly $2.6 million each. AJ Bell modelling shows that saving £1,433 a month (≈ $1,830) for 25 years at a 6 % return...
Three Profitable Indian Stocks for Long-Term Growth
The Ashoka India Equity Investment Trust highlights three core holdings—Bharti Airtel, ICICI Bank and Bajaj Finserv—as its top long‑term profit drivers. Each company combines strong return‑on‑capital metrics with attractive valuations, positioning them to capture growth in India's telecom, banking and diversified...
REITs Boosted by UK Property Renaissance
UK REITs like Picton Property Income and Custodian Property Income are benefiting from a quiet property market upturn, delivering positive total returns of 6.7% last year. Picton's £405 million ($514 million) REIT, focused on industrial and retail assets, posted a 4.9% yield...
How Paresh Raja of Collapsed MFS Became the “Disruptor of the Year”
Market Financial Solutions (MFS), a Mayfair‑based specialist mortgage lender founded by Paresh Raja, entered administration in February after creditors including Barclays, Jefferies and Wells Fargo reported an alleged $1.6 billion shortfall and suspected double‑pledging of collateral. The collapse exposed a web of...
Your State Pension Could Be Compromised if You “Contracted Out”
The UK state pension, currently £230.25 a week (about $292), can be reduced for people who were "contracted out" of SERPS or S2P via private or workplace pensions. Contracting out lowered National Insurance contributions, leaving many retirees with fewer qualifying...
8 of the Best Arts & Crafts Properties for Sale Now
MoneyWeek highlights eight Arts & Crafts homes now on the market across England, with prices ranging from roughly $1.3 million to $6.3 million. The properties span Gloucestershire, West Sussex, Warwickshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire, East Sussex, Oxfordshire and more, offering period details such as...
Is Russia the Real Winner of the Iran War?
Russia’s economy has shown unexpected resilience after the Ukraine invasion, climbing to the world’s ninth‑largest by 2025 thanks to soaring oil revenues and a war‑driven fiscal boost. Sanctions were largely circumvented, with China becoming its top trading partner and state‑controlled...
Mortgage Lenders to Contact 1.6 Million Homeowners Facing Higher Costs Amid Middle East Conflict
Chancellor Rachel Reeves has secured a pledge from the six largest UK banks and building societies to proactively reach out to about 1.6 million homeowners whose fixed‑rate mortgages expire by the end of 2026. The outreach will promote the Mortgage Charter,...
Art Market Makes a Fragile Recovery – but Is It Enough?
The Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report 2026 shows global art sales rose 4% in 2025 to an estimated $59.6 billion, marking the first growth after two years of decline. The rebound was driven mainly by the high‑end segment, with US sales...
Four Big Changes Landlords Need to Get Ready for in 2026
From April 2026, landlords with rental income over £50,000 must submit quarterly digital tax returns under Making Tax Digital, with penalties of up to $51,200 for repeated late filings. The Renters’ Rights Act, effective 1 May 2026, abolishes no‑fault evictions, caps rent‑increase...
NS&I to Pay Out Millions to Bereaved Families After ‘Operational Failure’
National Savings and Investments (NS&I) will pay up to £476 million (approximately $595 million) to bereaved families after an operational failure left around 37,500 deceased customers' accounts untraced. The Treasury has asked NS&I to release a detailed remediation plan in May, outlining...
What Are Retail Bonds and Are They Worth It?
Secured Fixed Income is marketing a three‑year retail bond at 7.5% interest with a £1,000 minimum investment (about $1,270), positioning it against top savings accounts that top out at 4.75%. The product falls under the FCA‑approved "access bond" category, which...
How Simplified Advice Rules Could Boost Your Pension and Investments
The FCA is set to overhaul advice regulations by introducing simplified, lower‑cost guidance for pensions and investments. The new framework replaces the “necessary” information standard with a “sufficient” one, reduces paperwork, and may waive knowledge assessments for straightforward products. Firms...
End of Tax Year Quiz: Do You Know Your Allowances and Deadlines?
With the 2025/26 UK tax year winding down, taxpayers have only weeks left to use a range of tax‑free allowances before they reset on 5 April 2026. MoneyWeek has published a comprehensive end‑of‑tax‑year checklist that consolidates key deadlines and highlights allowances that...
UK Inflation Live: Did Inflation Rise in February?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) released the UK Consumer Price Index (CPI) for February, showing a seemingly calm headline figure. However, consumer‑finance expert Tamsin Powell warned that rising fuel and wholesale energy costs could soon reignite price pressures. The...
Crypto Investors Sent 100,000 Capital Gains Tax Warning Letters – Do You Need to Pay Tax?
HM Revenue & Customs has dramatically stepped up enforcement on crypto assets, sending 101,024 capital‑gains‑tax warning letters between 2020 and 2025. This volume is over 40 times greater than the letters issued for shares, making crypto investors its biggest CGT...
Three Overlooked UK Stocks with Turnaround Potential
Fidelity Special Values, a contrarian UK value‑investment trust, highlights three undervalued stocks—DCC, Frasers Group and Standard Chartered—as turnaround candidates. DCC is refocusing on core energy services and renewable projects while trading at historic lows with accretive buybacks. Frasers Group leverages...
Seraphim: The Space-Focused Fund That's Ready for Lift-Off
Seraphim Space Investment Trust (LSE: SSIT) emerged as the top‑performing UK investment trust in 2025, climbing another 10% year‑to‑date. The trust gives private investors exposure to early‑stage space firms, a segment traditionally dominated by governments and defence contractors. Its portfolio...
The Sorry State of the Royal Navy –Too Small and Underfunded
Britain’s Royal Navy has shrunk to its smallest size in centuries, fielding just 51 vessels and a markedly reduced operational fleet, a weakness starkly highlighted by the Hezbollah drone attack on Cyprus. The service now operates only 13 principal surface...
Qian Zhimin: China's Fraudulent Bitcoin Queen
British police seized 61,000 bitcoin from Chinese fraudster Qian Zhimin, valued at about £3.2 billion, marking the largest crypto seizure ever. Qian, who ran a pyramid scheme that defrauded investors of over 40 billion yuan, was sentenced to 11 years and her...
Why Investment Culture Needs to Change
The Financial Conduct Authority is being criticised for over‑regulating, which many say hampers investment activity and drives investors toward ultra‑safe, low‑return products. Industry leaders argue that a cultural shift toward risk‑taking and clearer messaging is essential, especially as surveys reveal...
Why Vietnam Is the World's Most Exciting Emerging Market: MoneyWeek Talks
Dominic Scriven, founder of Dragon Capital, argues Vietnam is the world’s most exciting emerging market. In a MoneyWeek Talks podcast, he highlighted Vietnam’s robust GDP growth, youthful population, and ongoing regulatory reforms that are attracting foreign investors. Scriven also shared...
Galliford Try: A Building Firm That's Worth a Punt
Galliford Try, a UK‑based construction group, operates across building, infrastructure and specialist services, limiting reliance on any single market. The firm has accelerated growth through targeted acquisitions and a push into affordable housing, driving revenue up 67% and more than...
Venture Global: A Promising Way to Play the Energy Crisis
The Middle East conflict has reignited a global gas supply shock, pushing European natural‑gas prices up 70% in a week and reviving demand for U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG). Venture Global (NYSE:VG), a fast‑growing U.S. LNG producer, leverages modular plant...
James Caan: Give British Business a Big Boost
James Caan warns that AI‑driven automation will slash graduate entry‑level roles, with some firms expecting intake to fall by half. He argues that the traditional management model will shrink, favoring data‑savvy, analytical leaders. Caan also criticises the UK education system...
Former Pensions Minister Warns of Risks of Government’s Retirement Fund Investment Drive
The UK government is pushing legislation that would require defined‑contribution master trusts to reach a minimum £25 billion in assets by 2030, effectively forcing consolidation into a handful of large pension mega‑funds. The bill also grants ministers a reserve power to...
Investment Trusts Are Still a Good Place for Your Money
Investment trusts posted a 16.1% total return last year, outpacing the MSCI All‑Countries World index but lagging the FTSE All‑Share. The sector’s average discount to NAV fell to 12.5% as borrowing helped boost performance. Despite strong returns, £18.9 billion of net...
The Iran Crisis Is Making Markets Unpredictable – What Can Investors Do?
The escalating Iran crisis is driving sharp, hourly swings in oil prices, with Brent crude moving nearly $30 in a single day. While the broader equity markets have remained relatively calm, European stocks are under pressure compared with resilient US...
3 UK Mid-Cap Stocks for Growth and Solidity on the Cheap
Three UK mid‑cap stocks—Tate & Lyle, Hikma Pharmaceuticals and Whitbread—are highlighted as undervalued opportunities. Tate & Lyle has completed a shift to high‑margin specialty ingredients, but U.S. inflation‑driven demand weakness has depressed earnings and driven the share price down. Hikma...
What to Consider when Consolidating Your ISA
Investors are being urged to consolidate their stocks and shares ISAs onto a single platform before the tax year ends, leveraging cashback incentives and remaining allowance. Consolidation promises lower overall fees, a unified dashboard, and clearer diversification, while also supporting...
The Big Money Changes Coming in April – Are You Ready?
A wave of fiscal adjustments hits the UK on 1 April, including roughly 5% council‑tax hikes, water‑bill increases of up to 13%, and a modest rise in the TV licence fee. The government‑mandated energy price cap will lower average household bills...
What Are ‘Deprivation of Assets’ Care Cost Rules? – and How to Stick to Them
Deprivation of assets rules target individuals who transfer wealth to avoid paying care fees. Local authorities evaluate whether the donor could foresee needing care and whether avoiding charges was a significant motive, disregarding the traditional seven‑year inheritance tax window. If...
159 – the Three-Digit Number that Could Stop You From Being Scammed
The three‑digit hotline 159, launched by Stop Scams UK in 2021, gives UK consumers a fast way to verify suspicious banking calls or texts. It links callers to the fraud teams of more than 99% of retail bank accounts, and over...
