Category Archives: Investment News

Investment, Investment News

A Beginner’s Guide to Investing for Income: How to Start Building Your Financial Future

Have you been thinking about building your financial future, but don’t know where to start? People invest for a myriad of reasons. Some are keen to achieve goals such as building a nest egg for retirement. Some people may look to their investments to generate a regular income. This latter approach is known as investing for income.

Investing for income is an excellent choice if you are interested in getting a regular sum from your investments, which is supplementary to other payments you might already be receiving. By carefully selecting the best income funds, investors can ensure their hard-earned money is put to effective use by providing steady streams of cash flow on an ongoing basis.

With this beginner’s guide to investing for income, we’ll take you through what it is, how good it really is and finally how to invest in income-producing funds – all from one comprehensive source! Imagine having access to reliable dividends annually or even monthly – now that would make managing your finances much easier!

Let’s look at this approach in greater detail.

What is investing for income?

Simply put, this means generating an income from your investments in order to supplement other regular payments you’re receiving.

This could include bank accounts, stocks and bonds, funds, property, or annuities, all of which are chosen for their potential to deliver a steady stream of income.

There is no need to worry if you are just starting out; anyone can choose to invest for income at any stage of life, according to their personal goals and attitude towards risk.

It might be that you’re retired and want a little extra money on top of your retirement fund to improve your lifestyle. Alternatively, you may be a young family and need an extra source of revenue in addition to your salary.

Whatever the situation, investing for income can help boost your finances without necessarily taking too much risk.

How good is investing for income?

Benefits

Investing for income can be a great way to boost your finances and create a steady income stream.

It can also help you meet rising costs or ensure that whatever money you have put away is working extra hard for you.

This style of investing should provide you with the regular payments that you need, ensuring that your funds are helping to secure your financial security even in uncertain times.

In addition, efforts such as diversifying across asset classes will ensure that you reap the full potential rewards of a long-term investment strategy.

Downsides

While investing for income can be an attractive option for those wanting to supplement their retirement funds, as always, there are some potential downsides. For instance, while companies paying meaningful dividends may be well-established and their growth prospects may be limited meaning their share price may not appreciate much in value.

It is worth bearing in mind too, that all investments bear some risk. Individual companies or funds can fail to meet expectations and asset prices can fall in value meaning investors may not reach their income objectives.

So, how to invest for income?

Investing for income is a wonderful way to build up your financial future, and thankfully there are multiple routes that can be taken.

A good entry point is to open a savings account with either a high street or online bank – they tend to offer competitive rates while also being secure and providing easy access to your money.

For those looking to take their investments further, purchasing shares in dividend-paying companies or investing in bonds or property are all great options, as they will all provide you with a regular income stream.

If you prefer an even more diversified approach, managed funds such as equity income funds, fixed income portfolios, multi-asset income funds, and property funds are often the first choice of many.

Equity income funds are particularly popular because of their ability to generate returns above inflation by investing in several dividend-paying companies at once.

Meanwhile, fixed income portfolios invest solely in government and corporate bonds and property funds focus on generating rental income from actual buildings or shares related to properties.

 

 

Investment, Investment News

Why Apps Have Changed the Investment Industry

The rise of smartphones and mobile apps has had a profound impact on many industries, including the investment industry. Apps have changed the way people access and manage their investments, making it easier and more convenient for people to invest their money and grow their wealth.

There are a plethora of ways that apps have changed the investment industry, and we will be taking you through a few of the most notable in this article. Without further ado; here’s why apps have changed the investment industry.

Professional Analysis Right At Your Fingertips

One way apps have changed the investment industry is by increasing access to investment information and tools. In the past, investing required a significant amount of time and research, as well as access to specialised tools and information.

Today, the top investment apps can provide you with information, tools, and resources to help you make informed investment decisions. This changes the name of the game for investing completely. No longer is investing only relegated to those who have all day to gloss over complex charts and graphs – it is now accessible to the everyday person.

Whether it is stock research, portfolio tracking, or educational content, investment apps make it easier for people to access and use the information they need to invest with confidence.

Not only does this make investing more accessible/less frightening to newcomers, but also increases the chances of investors making a profit. New investors do not have to blindly jump into an investment when starting out. They can precisely and accurately pick out the investments they want based on several factors such as performance, potential returns, and risk.

 

Diversifying Makes Investing Much Less Of a Gamble

Apps have also changed the investment industry by providing new opportunities for users to invest their money in new and innovative ways. For example, some investment apps allow users to invest in fractional shares of stocks, which makes it easier for people to invest in high-priced stocks and diversify their portfolios.

Other investment apps provide users with the opportunity to invest in alternative assets, such as real estate, commodities, or cryptocurrencies. This provides users with more investment options and helps them to diversify their portfolios and minimise risk.

No longer can you head over to new MuchBetter casinos and compare your experience with delving into the stock market – with diversification and expert tools, you can pick safe investments that are almost guaranteed to bring you a profit over a long enough amount of time.

Diversifying your portfolio is one of the best investing tips in the book, and there is a good reason why this piece of advice has been promoted by professional investors for decades. The fact that apps allow people to easily diversify their investments makes them essential for navigating the modern business world, giving people the ability to create portfolios that are diversified enough to bring profits even in terrible market conditions.

 

Investing Is More Welcoming Than Ever Before

Another way apps have changed the investment industry is by making it more convenient and accessible for people to invest their money. Before investing apps, investing required people to work with brokers or financial advisors, or to invest directly in individual stocks, bonds, or other assets.

Now, people can invest in a variety of assets, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and stocks, with just a few taps on their mobile devices. This makes investing more accessible and convenient for people, as they can invest their money from anywhere and at any time.

It doesn’t matter if you are sitting at home with your refurbished iPad or have a quick five-minute break at work, investing is now easier than ever. Never before have people been able to acquire a new investment without putting in a considerable amount of effort, but with apps, this is something that happens every day.

Investment apps make the process of acquiring new stocks and assets a breeze, and this has opened up investing to more people than ever before.

In conclusion, apps have changed the investment industry by increasing access to investment information and tools, making it more convenient and accessible for people to invest their money, and providing new opportunities for users to invest their money in new and innovative ways.

Whether it is through fractional share investing, alternative assets, or other investment options, investment apps have made it easier and more convenient for people to grow their wealth and reach their financial goals.

Camping, Camping News, Investment, Investment News, News

Camping and outdoor leisure experts OLPRO secure £1 million investment ahead of 2023 Camping Season

Worcester-based OLPRO Ltd has secured a £1,075,000 investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund (MEIF) through the MEIF West Midlands Equity Fund managed by Midven, part of the Future Planet Capital Group to promote growth and increase operational capacity.

OLPRO has a reputation for creating and distributing exceptional outdoor leisure products and will use the investment to further establish itself in the UK camping market. By securing funding the company will be able to bolster its team, adding 10 team members by 2025, across its sales, marketing, customer services and warehouse departments.

In a UK market lacking in stand-out camping brands, the company is an industry-leader offering products direct to consumers through its website. While a vast majority of sales are through its website, OLPRO supplies retailers including Halfords, B&Q, Argos, The Range and Wayfair, increasing its access to the market.

The Covid-19 pandemic was the catalyst for explosive growth in the camping market. As a result, the existing market of outdoor enthusiasts and festival goers expanded to many more younger and older consumers prioritising outdoor recreation. 42% of England’s adult population went on a camping or caravanning holiday between 2018 – 2021, 38% of which were newcomers who took their first ever camping or caravanning holiday during the pandemic.

The company has more than tripled its turnover in the last six years. OLPRO satisfies the growing demand for camping and outdoor leisure products through its direct-to-consumer strategy, offering good quality options at an affordable price point. This positions the company as the go-to in the UK camping market, which is projected to reach £700m in 2023.

 

Daniel Walton, Managing Director at OLPRO, says, “OLPRO is fast becoming the recognised go-to brand for stand out camping and campervan equipment. As a British-designed and innovative brand, we’re now selling into more countries as OLPRO products have become more readily available. This funding allows us to invest further into the team, our product development, and to hold more stock so we can cover demand.”

 

Surjit Kooner, Investment Director at Midven, says, “OLPRO’s management team are the main driving force behind the business. They are experienced and well connected in the outdoor leisure industry, and they have a clear growth trajectory for the business. By securing this investment the OLPRO team has the potential to significantly accelerate growth in a rapidly growing market.”

 

Keira Shepperson, Director at the British Business Bank, says, “The Midlands Engine Investment Fund backs businesses that are innovative with growth potential – OLPRO has seen such growth with its turnover tripling over the last six years. This funding will support the creation of 10 new job roles which will ultimately have a wider positive impact on the region’s economy.” 

 

Gary Woodman, Chief Executive of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, says, “It is fantastic to see OLPRO securing investment from the Midlands Engine Investment Fund to expand and grow their organisation with new employees. OLPRO is a fast growing Worcestershire business which has seen a plethora of success over previous years with numerous local, regional and national awards for their growth, products and ingenuity.

 “This is welcomed news for the county as this investment will help to bring more jobs into the county and further support our local economy over the coming years.”

 

The Midlands Engine Investment Fund project is supported financially by the European Union using funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020 and the European Investment Bank.

 

Image Credit: Olpro’s massive Odyssey Breeze 8 berth inflatable tent, £1299 on Olpro website

Investment, Investment News, Science, Start Ups, Technology

University-supported innovators invited to pitch companies at showcase events

Founders of University of Edinburgh-supported start-ups, including many that are seeking growth investment, will be given the opportunity to showcase their companies to an audience of investors, business support groups, and fellow entrepreneurs at two key events taking place next month.

Ten early-stage companies from the University’s Venture Builder Incubator (VBI) 3.0 cohort will be invited to pitch at a Showcase on 3 March. This will include four companies looking at innovative forms of cancer research and treatment that are taking part in the VBI through its partnership with Cancer Research Horizons.

Meanwhile, 12 innovative AI-driven companies will also present their businesses at the AI Accelerator Showcase being staged on 22 March. The companies are all currently participating in the University’s six-month AI Accelerator programme where they benefit from access to training and mentoring to enhance founders’ commercial skills and develop their business proposition.

The VBI programme supports PhD students and post doctorates from The University of Edinburgh, Heriot-Watt University and other parts of the UK, helping them build their skills and transform their research into a relevant and viable business proposition. It features 23 early-stage companies which are focused on addressing key societal challenges including the climate emergency, enterprise optimisation, cancer remedies and other health and well-being issues.

Each venture is provided with £2K and supported through a series of workshops, networking events, mentoring, peer to peer learnings and access to The University of Edinburgh’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and its data expertise. This year’s cohort, which is once again supported by Barclays Eagle Labs, includes Carbon Glance, a data integration platform that makes it easier for companies and investors to measure exposure to carbon pricing; Morph.ai, a digital pathology company transforming breast cancer diagnostics; and GambitBio, developers of a lateral flow test that detects early-stage cancer.

 

Laura Bernal, Venture Builder Incubator Programme Manager, said: “The VBI Showcase will provide founders behind early-stage ventures with an ideal platform to present and further develop their innovation into a viable business. It also offers participants a great opportunity to build their commercial contacts and make valuable connections.”

 

Participants in the AI Accelerator programme, which is supported by Huawei, are founders of innovative, scale-up companies with many focused on using ‘AI for good’ as well as those seeking to address specific health and climate issues. They receive a £9K grant and get access to commercial expertise and collaboration opportunities benefitting from the University of Edinburgh’s position as a world leader in AI research.  

Those taking part in the current AI Accelerator include Danu Robotics, developers of a revolutionary robotic waste sorting product; MindTrace, a US-based company which has created a clinical decision support tool that reduces uncertainty associated with neurosurgery; Easy Rice, a company focused on digitalising staple food industries and promoting sustainability for all stakeholders along the food supply chain; and Inicio AI, which has built an affordability tool to help individuals in debt to better manage their finances.

Katy Guthrie, Programme Leader of AI Accelerator said: “The AI Accelerator Showcase will support our 12 AI-driven cohort companies providing them with an opportunity to promote their business to an audience of potential investors and grant funders as well as fellow entrepreneurs. The event is designed to support growth for these innovative, emerging companies and help them maximise their global potential.”

 

The VBI and AI Accelerator are delivered by the University of Edinburgh’s world-leading Innovation Hub for Data Science and Artificial Intelligence, the Bayes Centre, and supported by Edinburgh Innovations, the University of Edinburgh’s commercialisation service. It is delivered on behalf of the Data-Driven Innovation Hubs, in contribution to the Data-Driven Entrepreneurship programme

—

For more information on the Venture Builder Incubator event or to book tickets, please visit:

https://events.irm.ed.ac.uk/Events/Event/7015J000000AMx4

 

For more information on the companies attending AI Accelerator or to book tickets, please visit: 

https://events.irm.ed.ac.uk/Events/Event/7015J000000AMy7   

Business & Property News, Investment, Investment News

New investment fuels growth at Edwin James Group.

Edwin James Group has received a secondary investment from funds under management by private equity firm Aliter Capital LLP (Aliter). The significant deal will support the Group’s ambitious growth plans.

The engineering services group helps some of the biggest brands in the UK look after their critical environments and assets. Aliter’s initial investment in January 2017 was followed by five acquisitions. The Group employs over 1,000 people and has revenues of £160m.

Commenting on the deal, Christopher Kehoe, CEO of Edwin James Group, said: “The Group has grown considerably over the last five years and this further backing from Aliter demonstrates their commitment to our strategic plan. We’ve built a successful partnership and have a shared understanding of the market and our ambitions.

“The new funding backs our management team to deliver significant future growth that will be achieved organically and through further M&A, and gives us a platform to launch our next five-year strategy.”

 

Over the last twelve months, the company has seen an increase in revenue to £160m. Several high-profile contract wins, including Sellafield and Northumbrian Water, and significant growth in the forward order book from £155m to £800m puts the organisation in a favourable position to continue delivering robust results.

 

Billy Allan, managing partner of Aliter, said: “Over the last five years we’ve seen the Edwin James Group go from strength to strength. The company has an excellent management team with a clear strategy to build a national engineering services group that harnesses the synergies of its three operating brands.

“They have delivered consistent growth and have ambitious plans to take the Group forward. Aliter is excited to continue the relationship and our new investment will support further expansion through an innovation-led and disruptive approach to the market.”

 

Edwin James Group is expanding its data and technology capabilities to help companies manage and deliver sustainability, digital and energy transition.

 

About Aliter

Aliter Capital LLP is a specialist UK support services investor founded by a group of seasoned support services entrepreneurs and investors – Billy Allan, Greig Brown, Andy Galloway and Andrew Busby – and focuses on small and medium-sized businesses in the UK support services sector, a market valued at over £300 billion. Its approach differs from traditional private equity models by making only a limited number of selective portfolio investments to deliver dedicated hands-on support. Aliter has funds under management of more than £215 million and has now closed a total of 21 transactions since the beginning of 2017.

About Edwin James Group

The group offers a complete range of services, including asset care, asset renewal mechanical, electrical, renewable, energy and process engineering, in addition to complex systems integration and digitalisation to support industry 4.0.

Edwin James Group operates three brands, Musk Process Services, Parker Technical Services and Peak Technology Solutions. It operates offices and service centres in Glasgow, Aberdeen, Inverness, Birmingham, Manchester, Warrington, Whitehaven, Burton on Trent, Swadlincote, Louth, Newcastle, Peterborough, Daresbury, Tapton, Reading and Mildenhall.

Business Advice, Finance and Banking, Finance News, Fintech, Investment, Investment News

SSV Capital: Why Investment is Growing in the Fintech Space

Ankur Ghosh, Founder & CEO, SSV Capital Ltd discusses how fintech investments are rising – and why it’s such an attractive space at the moment for portfolio holders

Fintech is an exciting investment opportunity for investors who are looking for new and innovative ways to diversify their portfolios. But what exactly is fintech and why is it so attractive to investors?

What is Fintech?

Fintech is short for financial technology and combines the latest technology, AI, and software to deliver easier access to financial services.

Fintech startups are disrupting the financial space by making banking more user-friendly and less costly for customers.  It’s a growing market, and with projected growth of the fintech industry from $11.8 billion in 2018 to about $306 billion in 2023, it’s a space that’s attracting a lot of interest from investors at the moment.

Strong funding support for fintechs

Fintech investment is growing fast. It’s growing faster than overall VC funding, which is a positive sign for the industry. In addition to the fact that fintechs are attracting more investment than other sectors of venture capital, it’s also important to note that fintech investment has been rising consistently for years now.

Fintech offers portfolio diversification and a healthy return on investment.

There are multiple reasons why fintech has become a strong investment space in recent years, but the primary reason is that it offers portfolio diversification while offering a healthy return on investment.

Fintech companies are also an excellent way for investors to access new markets. Blockchain technology can be used to connect economies around the world that haven’t previously been connected through traditional financial services infrastructure. This will widen the investor and customer pool significantly and help expand existing industries into new territories.

Wide range of opportunities for investment.

Fintech is global and diverse, encompassing everything from payment processing to lending to cybersecurity solutions. As a result, there are many different opportunities for investors – which spreads risk and increases potential opportunities.

The sector is also geographically diverse.  While traditional tech is all located in Silicon Valley, fintechs are spread across a variety of cities around the world. You’ll find them in finance hubs such as London, Sydney, Boston, and Singapore, but also in places you wouldn’t normally think about when it comes to financial services, such as Berlin and Tel Aviv.

Traditional Banks are also investing in fintech

Consumers have become disenchanted with traditional banks and have been moving away from them at an alarming rate: between 2012 and 2016, more than 20 million consumers switched away from their banks when they would have stuck around had they been offered better services or products.

According to Deloitte, the reason for the success of new challenger banks is their focus on customer experience.  Unlike traditional banks, they don’t maintain old legacy systems which are updated to only focus on compliance rather than the customer. It means that data is also easier to mine.

Banks have recognised this shifting trend and are investing heavily in fintechs, partnering with them, or outright acquiring them. They’ve also started to launch their own digital-only products, as consumers want to use smartphones and tablets to manage their finances and no longer want to bear the hassle of visiting branches.

This collaboration will only increase as banks look to improve data and cyber security as the sector is already seeing massive growth in digital payments.  The move towards a cashless economy will see fintech continue to grow in influence as the customer continues to demand a more user-friendly and transparent banking experience.

How to invest

If you’re looking for a way to diversify your portfolio, and spread your risk across different asset classes, fintech makes an ideal addition to an investor portfolio, and the market is set to boom.

SSV Capital offers a diversified portfolio of disruptive companies operating in the banking fintech, real estate and funds sectors with the aim of maximising returns for our investors whilst upholding strong values – adopting a sustainable and ethical approach in everything it does, following a triple ‘P’ philosophy of People, Planet, and Prosperity.

 

About the author

Ankur Ghosh is the Founder & Ceo, SSV Capital Ltd.  SSV Capital offers fixed income investments to investors that qualify as high net worth or sophisticated. If you feel you qualify, and would like to explore our range of investment opportunities click here

Investment, Investment News, News

Perceptual Robotics announces first close round of funding with investment from Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP

Perceptual Robotics has announced the first close of the newest funding round led by investment from Brookstreet Equity Partners LLP (“Brookstreet”).

An investment group focused on supporting companies, which experience transformational growth, London-based Brookstreet will support Perceptual Robotics in the first quarter of 2023 to expand its products and explore new markets, including America.

Perceptual Robotics, which has bases in the UK and Europe, is already backed by international investors such as TSP Ventures, Future Fund, Humble Holdings and Metavallon VC.

Kostas Karachalios, CEO and Founder of Perceptual Robotics, said: “We are delighted to have raised our first close of the round and to bring along Brookstreet. Their invaluable experience with companies in the robotics space, as well as international transactions, will enhance our transatlantic exposure whilst we push to expand in new geographies and expand our product offerings.

“We are looking forward to getting Brookstreet’s support in this new phase of growth for Perceptual Robotics, fuelled by being the number one self service provider for the technology of the inspection of wind turbines.”

By utilising drones and AI, Perceptual Robotics offers a vital solution designed to undertake autonomous in-depth turbine inspections four times faster than traditional solutions, collecting high-quality data, and quickly analysing it with state-of-the-art AI data processing.

Perceptual Robotics’ Dhalion solution increases safety during inspections, as well as increasing cost-effectiveness and dramatically reducing turbine downtime for wind farm operators.

While the company’s headquarters is in Bristol, UK, Perceptual Robotics’s European base is in Athens, Greece, and last year it opened operations in both Spain and France.

Founded by M&A, McKinsey and CEO veterans, Brookstreet brings established scale-up practices in asymmetric markets, offering differentiated strategies focused on providing commercial capital and hands-on support in driving strategy and its execution.

With a global network and platform, which outreaches USA, UK, Continental Europe, Middle East and Asia, Brookstreet is recognised as a ‘DraxFuture40 Investor’.

The company is a thematic investor in innovations across the 4th Industrial Revolution (4IR), Green and ESG technologies with wider impact such as Nanotech, Internet of Things, Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Cybersecurity. To date, Brookstreet has completed 23 transactions across its portfolio of assets.

Omiros D. Sarikas, (Managing Partner) CEO of Brookstreet, said: “We welcome Perceptual Robotics to the Brookstreet family and look forward to working with Founders, Management and Co-Investors to fast track their Scale Up journey. In the era of Digital Transformation and Green Transition, Perceptual Robotics blends Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Technologies for the benefit of Renewable Energy Sources, which fuel our Circular Economy.”

Investment News, Investor Advice, News, Sustainability

New whitepaper from CAMRADATA explores the opportunities and risks in sustainable multi asset investment strategies

CAMRADATA’s latest whitepaper, Sustainable Multi Asset explores where investors have found returns for their multi asset portfolios, whilst balancing sustainability and the move away from oil and gas companies.

The whitepaper highlights insights from firms including Baillie Gifford, M&G Investments, PineBridge Investments, Cambridge Associates, Cardano and Mercer who all attended a roundtable recently hosted by CAMRADATA.

The report begins with a discussion on the choice of benchmarks for different multi asset strategies, as well as objectives for volatility and sustainability. It goes on to consider whether the sharp losses across asset classes this year had clients challenging longer-term objectives.

Other topics include currency volatility, with managers explaining they had suffered because most foreign investments, notably those expressed in U.S. dollars, were hedged back to sterling during a challenging year, and ESG initiatives.

The report concludes with a discussion on positive impact and sustainability. A panellist highlighted that the performance of traditional and sustainable multi-asset strategies has been almost identical this year, but sustainable products remain valid for other reasons. Sustainability analysis is a way of complementing views on markets.

 

Natasha Silva, Managing Director, Client Relations, CAMRADATA said, “As multi asset has developed, managers have increased their sources of return and diversification, including some absolute return strategies; exposure to private markets and real assets. Demonstrating the effectiveness of greater diversification though can be challenging.

“Many consultants divide multi asset into two categories: a collection of diversified betas and a collection of absolute return strategies. Managers that are broadly long-only but actively manage securities within each asset class need to prove that both elements – diversification by asset class and active management – are adding value.

“They also need to consider sustainability. Many evangelists for ESG and rapid portfolio decarbonisation could point to the underperformance of the energy sector over the last decade. But that argument has not held recently, as there is more accommodation this year of Big Oil, or at least those showing willingness to pivot towards sustainable products.

“The big question for investors going forward is how far they can tolerate financial losses as they try to make their portfolios greener and more responsible.”

 

To read the Sustainable Multi Asset whitepaper, please click here.

 

For more information on CAMRADATA visit www.camradata.com.

Finance and Banking, Investment, Investment News, News

Just 27% of UK investors have faith in Tory economic policy

A new survey of 721 UK-based retail investors has revealed their sentiments towards the Government, and how they are managing their portfolios in the current climate:

– Only 30% believe Jeremy Hunt is the right person to be Chancellor
– Even fewer (27%) have confidence in the Government’s economic policies
– 48% of investors are looking to easily tradable investments to counter economic turbulence

Only a quarter of UK retail investors have faith in Tory economic policy, with the majority concerned about slowing economic growth, new research commissioned by HYCM has found.

The online forex and CFD broker commissioned an independent survey of 721 UK-based investors, all of whom have investments in excess of £10,000, excluding the value of their savings, pensions and residential property.

It found that less than a third (30%) believe Jeremy Hunt is the right person to be chancellor.

Just 27% have confidence in the Conservative party’s economic policies, with only 22% believing the measures announced in the recent Autumn Statement will have a positive impact on their investments.

However, almost half (48%) think the Government is right to raise taxes and cut spending to tackle the budget deficit. Further, 58% said rising interest rates and inflation are their biggest concerns.

When asked about their investment activities over the past six months and their priorities when managing their portfolio, 48% said having investments they can quickly and easily trade or withdraw was important. Similar numbers (45%) are avoiding making long-term investment decisions due to continued political and economic uncertainty.

HYCM’s survey revealed that just 26% of UK retail investors are satisfied with their investment returns over the last six months. Despite market volatility, only a fifth (21%) have shifted their investment strategy to more traditionally stable assets, such as gold and bonds.

Looking ahead, 37% are more likely to diversify their investments in 2023 to ensure they can perform well in a range of potential scenarios.

Giles Coghlan, Chief Market Analyst, HYCM, said: “After a turbulent six months in UK politics, the financial markets have seen unprecedented levels of volatility. Three prime ministers, four chancellors, a disastrous mini-budget, and inflation still surging despite successive interest rate hikes – HYCM research shows UK investors are suffering a crisis of confidence in the Government.

“Interestingly, around four in five investors (79%) are not planning on decreasing their holdings in stocks and shares investments, despite the threat that raging inflation poses to their portfolios. If the UK has a deeper recession than is currently forecast, the wealth effect and the risk of a sharp capitulation in stock positions could inflict a significant amount of damage. With this in mind, at what point will those investors move away from stocks? Ironically, it could create the perfect conditions to buy when the panic selling begins.

“Although things have somewhat calmed since Hunt delivered his Autumn Statement, many investors would still benefit from exploring their options – whether this means looking to safe haven assets or diversifying their investments to boost their returns as the UK weathers a recession.”

—

About HYCM

HYCM is an online provider of forex and Contracts for Difference (CFDs) trading services for both retail and institutional traders. HYCM is regulated by the internationally recognized financial regulator FCA. HYCM is backed by the HYCM Capital Markets Group providing trading services since 1998. The Group via its relevant subsidiaries have representations in Hong Kong, United Kingdom, Dubai, and Cyprus.

High-Risk Investment Warning: CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 76% of retail investor accounts lose money when trading CFDs with this provider. You should consider whether you understand how CFDs work and whether you can afford to take the high risk of losing your money. For more information, please refer to HYCM’s Risk Disclosure.

Finance and Banking, Investment News, News

Shoreham Port accelerates growth with new HSBC UK partnership

Shoreham Port in Sussex has secured an eight-figure package with HSBC UK to consolidate existing facilities and fund future growth.

The organisation, one of the largest cargo handling Trust Ports on the South Coast, will use the funding package to expand cargo handling facilities to keep up with demand, develop its commercial property estate and enhance terminal capacity.

With ambitious aims to play a proactive role in regional decarbonisation, the certified EcoPort will continue its investment in the Shoreham Port Green Energy Hub, a pioneering project creating cost effective green hydrogen- a clean fuel for locally based fleets.

Sustainability-linked facilities from HSBC UK will enable the Port, which has a 260-year history, meet its environmental targets on waste and emission reduction and its regional economic objectives around training development and educational placements.

The Port will also use part of the funding package to launch its biggest ever apprenticeship scheme, creating new jobs for the local community.

 

Tom Willis, Chief Executive Officer at Shoreham Port, said: “We are delighted to be announcing a new financial partnership with HSBC UK. We are confident we have found a financial partner who understands our 260-year history, our values and community responsibilities as a Trust Port.

“As ever, our Masterplan is focused on improving the Port for everyone and this collaboration with HSBC UK will enable the next phase of our sustainable growth. Our plans at the Port will continue to facilitate economic recovery, create more good quality local employment and, through the Shoreham Port Green Energy Hub, make a significant contribution to the region’s NetZero ambitions”.

 

Nick Hicks, Area Director of South East Corporate Banking at HSBC UK, added: “Shoreham Port is an excellent example of an organisation that prioritises championing important corporate social responsibility whilst managing an essential service to the short-sea shipping industry. We are pleased to be able to provide the support needed to enrich the development and investment into all aspects of the Port.”