Industry news and views from Panacea and our partners.
Industry News_
Sheer capitalism reveals a Bears tender spot
In the good old days Russia would not have had this problem. If you had trouble with a tiresome neighbour or a stroppy ally, you could always go in and park your tanks on their lawn, and frankly there was little anyone could do apart from bleat and protest for a while. UN votes and demonstrations had little impact on a communist totalitarian nation. Only in Afghanistan did a ruthless (and mostly Western armed) resistance army have any real effect and finally throw the Russians out.
Wizard Learning launches final financial planning elements
Following the great success of our Practice Exam Packages (PEP) for CII Diploma subjects, we are delighted to introduce our CF5 Integrated Financial Planning PEP and CF4 Retirement Planning text revision course.
Dont jump back in just yet
For investors, fund managers and equity traders, it has been clear for a while that the UK economy was grinding to a halt. For those not involved in the workings of the City, however, the real severity of the economic downturn has been limited until now to rising food and energy costs unless they have had to remortgage recently.
Oriental Discounts
Its growth Jim, but not as we know it would be the Trekkies description of what has been happening in Asia. Asian stock markets, excluding Japan, have for the most part been the darlings of the equity investment world over the past few years. The mantra from advisers has become almost a creed and as a result I have heard of some significant investments being made based on the view that this was a one way escalator going up and that one would be a fool to miss out. Such blind complacency never ceases to amaze me, especially when dealing with other peoples money!
Oriental Discounts
Its growth Jim, but not as we know it would be the Trekkies description of what has been happening in Asia. Asian stock markets, excluding Japan, have for the most part been the darlings of the equity investment world over the past few years. The mantra from advisers has become almost a creed and as a result I have heard of some significant investments being made based on the view that this was a one way escalator going up and that one would be a fool to miss out. Such blind complacency never ceases to amaze me, especially when dealing with other peoples money!
Thames River Multi-Manager Conference Call
Walking through Cold Treacle - Thats exactly how it feels investing in the market right now.
Compliance Tip - September 2008 - The coming of GABRIEL
By the 1st October all regulated firms will have migrated to the GABRIEL system (GAthering Better Regulatory Information ELectronically) for submitting their regular FSA reports (e.g. the RMAR or specific data item). The FSA will provide the principal users of the previous reporting system (Firms on-line or the Early Reporting System) with log-on details which they can use to access the new GABRIEL system. Once these details have been received the user can log onto the system and begin to familiarise themselves with the new reporting processes.
Win A Luxury Break For Two In Boston
Traditionally, the most common product advisers have turned to has been Mortgage Payment Protection Insurance (MPPI), however issues have been raised about its suitability. But there is a new kid on the block - new Mortgage & Lifestyle Protection from LV=.
Panacea commentary - Don't jump in just yet
For investors, fund managers and equity traders, it has been clear for a while that the UK economy was grinding to a halt. For those not involved in the workings of the City, however, the real severity of the economic downturn has been limited until now to rising food and energy costs unless they have had to remortgage recently.
Wizard Learning - Free Qualification Planner and CPD core advice tool
Not sure what exam to take next? Do you need help to calculate the credits you need to reach Certificate, Diploma and Advanced Diploma/Chartered Financial Planner level?
Wizard Learning - 07 Supervision in a regulated environment
With the conclusion of the RDR looming on the horizon, it has never been more appropriate for supervisors and those aspiring to be so, to have an appropriate industry benchmark qualification. We are please to announce the launch of our J07 subject knowledge questions. J07 Supervision in a regulated environment.
Wizard Learning - Protection online course launched & 8 new products coming soon
Our second new course this month is an online course for Financial Protection. The learning outcomes are appropriate both for someone wishing to supplement their studies for the CF3 exam or for professionals looking to brush up on their knowledge. This extends the range of online courses available having recently launched online courses for CF1, CF2 and J05.
Planning Tool Express
AXA know that many IFAs use different items and tools to complete elements of the advice process. As a result they have built the Planning Tool Express to help you get on with the job of transacting business
Welcome to the Expert
This is AXAs regulatory and Technical Support Centre for IFAs. The Expert enables you to find out the latest technical information and news from AXA as well as giving easy access to AXAs extensive library of technical information.
Indebted UK
If there is one area where we have managed to beat our American cousins in a league table it would appear to be with our accumulation of debt unsecured personal debt. Nearly two thirds of our economy is based on consumer spending and this has expanded as we were all encouraged by dim-witted politicians and greedy bankers to pile up debts and to keep the national spending spree going after all Its good for the country!
Indebted UK
If there is one area where we have managed to beat our American cousins in a league table it would appear to be with our accumulation of debt unsecured personal debt. Nearly two thirds of our economy is based on consumer spending and this has expanded as we were all encouraged by dim-witted politicians and greedy bankers to pile up debts and to keep the national spending spree going after all Its good for the country!
Survival of the Leanest
Last week may not have been the final capitulation, but it certainly sent a shudder through many, normally quite stoic, investors. Although warnings of difficult times ahead have been well signposted and warned of, it took the dreadful sales figures from some of the retailers and builders to ram home the effect of what has been developing over the past few months.
Survival of the Leanest
Last week may not have been the final capitulation, but it certainly sent a shudder through many, normally quite stoic, investors. Although warnings of difficult times ahead have been well signposted and warned of, it took the dreadful sales figures from some of the retailers and builders to ram home the effect of what has been developing over the past few months.
Summer Storms and a Summer Sojourn
Unfortunately the very mention of global trade talks normally results in a glazed expression appearing across peoples faces. The Doha round of talks has been going on for seven years now and despite the headlines, most seem to have been resigned to their resulting in an impasse and with all the probability of final failure.
Summer Storms and a Summer Sojourn
Unfortunately the very mention of global trade talks normally results in a glazed expression appearing across peoples faces. The Doha round of talks has been going on for seven years now and despite the headlines, most seem to have been resigned to their resulting in an impasse and with all the probability of final failure.
Going for Gold
Four years, some twenty billion pounds, several Free Tibet protestors, and a visually modified opening ceremony later, the games finally got underway at the Beijing Olympics 2008. Its stadium and facilities for the athletes had already received rave reviews as sports men and women the world over waited patiently to have their turn in the spotlight. So naturally it would follow that economists wanted a piece of the action too. No, not content enough in forecasting anaemic growth rates and crippling inflation, it seems some have been busy predicting which of the participating countries would come away with the highest medal count.
Going for Gold
Four years, some twenty billion pounds, several Free Tibet protestors, and a visually modified opening ceremony later, the games finally got underway at the Beijing Olympics 2008. Its stadium and facilities for the athletes had already received rave reviews as sports men and women the world over waited patiently to have their turn in the spotlight. So naturally it would follow that economists wanted a piece of the action too. No, not content enough in forecasting anaemic growth rates and crippling inflation, it seems some have been busy predicting which of the participating countries would come away with the highest medal count.
Emerging and Submerging
From 1996 to 2000, with the honourable exception of 1999, the asset class of Emerging Market Equities was one of the worst performers, competing only with Gold, Commodities and Japanese equities for the title of Dog of the Year. Yet less than a decade later that same asset class has been continually fêted as the sure fire success for all investors.
Emerging and Submerging
From 1996 to 2000, with the honourable exception of 1999, the asset class of Emerging Market Equities was one of the worst performers, competing only with Gold, Commodities and Japanese equities for the title of Dog of the Year. Yet less than a decade later that same asset class has been continually fêted as the sure fire success for all investors.
The Fine Discipline of Chess
Well that serves me right! Take a couple of weeks holiday and look what happens oil pulls back 8.2%, the $ rises and the £ falls back 4.4% against it, and then to cap it all the Bear starts beating up the Georgians. In just a fortnight the world seems to have taken on a different hue.
The Fine Discipline of Chess
Well that serves me right! Take a couple of weeks holiday and look what happens oil pulls back 8.2%, the $ rises and the £ falls back 4.4% against it, and then to cap it all the Bear starts beating up the Georgians. In just a fortnight the world seems to have taken on a different hue.
PYV teams up with Hiscox to provide liability cover for Independent Financial Advisers and mortgage brokers
Trader or speculator?
I was trying to concentrate on giving a presentation on global markets last week whilst staring out over the stunning St Aubyns Bay in Jersey, and I found myself having to answer a similar question several times on the lines of are speculators ruining our markets? Well in fevered markets it is easy to take a swipe at investors and traders to accuse them of profiting from speculation.