market

Tens of thousands of investors miss out on booming US stock market after cashing in shares

By Linda J. Dodson 2 days ago

Tens of thousands of investors who fled shares for the safety of cash in the midst of the coronavirus market crash would have been better off if they had remained invested, new research shows.

Almost 32,000 American retail investors and pension savers who manage their finances with asset management giant Vanguard moved 100pc of their portfolios into cash between the middle of February and the end of May of this year. 

Over that time the S&P 500 index of American companies fell by more than 10pc. However, when the asset manager analysed the performance of those portfolios, it found moving

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The race is on to heal the jobs market before furlough ends

By Linda J. Dodson 2 days ago

Almost every industry reported some improvement, as retailers re-opened their doors and pubs, hotels and restaurants geared up for a relaunch last month.

Yet this is merely the first hint of light at the end of the tunnel, and remains faint and distant.

Back in February more than twice as many jobs were available, with 1.3m unemployed against more than 800,000 vacancies.

Now unemployment is oddly a touch lower, though ‘inactivity’ (those neither in work nor meeting the job-seeking criteria of the officially unemployed) rose by almost 270,000, and millions on the furlough scheme remain uncertain whether or not their

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Gold rush for professional investors but bull market has ‘just begun’

By Linda J. Dodson 5 days ago

Investors around the world put nearly £3bn into gold at the end of July in what was the second largest weekly sales figure for funds investing in the previous metal.

The figures, from Bank of America, were published as the gold price reached a record high of $2,070 (£1,555) per ounce, driven by investor caution and fears over inflation. Analysts expect the price to keep rising despite its ascent into uncharted territory.

Norman Villerman, of wealth manager UBP, said gold could be in the early stages of a “bull market” that could last several years.

He said: “Even with a

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Why London’s property market will survive the doomsayers

By Linda J. Dodson 2 weeks ago

During lockdown, I fell in love with my small corner of east London. It was inspiring: the streets of cherry blossoms, the little messages offering help pinned to lamp posts, the small businesses pivoting into a brand new venture.

But if stories from the coalface of the post-lockdown property market are to be believed, many Londoners are desperate to leave.

A survey by Totaljobs, a jobs website, estimated that 1.6 million London residents are now considering moving to rural locations permanently, after working outside the capital in lockdown. As a result of months of working from home, many are realising

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