Markets back at year 2000 levels

Political unrest in the Middle East and Russia continued to fill the media headlines but as dealers returned to their desks after the Summer holidays the investment markets adopted a positive stance. The FTSE managed to hit a 14 year high on Wednesday on the back of an agreed cease fire in the Ukraine but then staled as the efforts seemed to break down. Ten years ago all this uncertainty would have undoubtedly have had more impact on the leading share indexes and perhaps this is testament to the strength of the western economic recovery,or maybe the US`s new found fuel independence?

Banking blunders

Just when we thought the banks were clear of the mess that they had created with PPI insurance the regulator has asked them to reopen over 2 million cases which could result in further provision to add to the £16 billion  already written off. As if this wasn’t enough American regulators are really flexing their muscles and following  last month’s £10 billion penalty imposed on Bank of America for selling toxic loans packaged, veteran investment manager Neil Woodford has finally had enough. He has ditched his holdings in HSBC and turned his back on the unloved sector believing that there are easier pickings elsewhere. “Fines are increasingly being sized on a bank’s ability to pay, rather than on the extent of the transgression,” he said so as the ability to pay increases these could snowball and how can you plan a business in those conditions?

How green is your portfolio?

Whilst stock markets are undoubtedly influenced by politically fuelled conflict around the world the irony is that the defence sector accounts for a huge proportion of international GDP and supports many hundreds of thousands of families. Last year over £1 trillion was spent by governments and the underlying profits helps to reward individual savings and workplace pension schemes. Just this week David Cameron has announced that The Ministry of Defence is set to sign a £3.5bn deal for nearly 600 new armoured vehicles ahead of the Nato summit in Wales.

None of us look to promote conflict but It’s incredibly difficult to ignore the influence  both historically and in a contemporary context that the defence sector brings to our lives and at least with modern day investing you do always have the choice to allocate your portfolio to ethical funds that will seek to exclude certain contentious industrial sectors.

If you would like to explore balancing your conscience with your investment objectives then an understanding financial adviser should be able to help you further.

3D printing reaches the home

Although Amazon is a huge brand it’s fortunes are by no means guaranteed as it struggles to increase profits and to expand it’s grip further it has opened its own 3D Printed Products store, giving customers the option to design their own games, accessories, jewellery and ornaments.

From iPhone covers and cufflinks to bobble head toys and robots, shoppers are given a choice of colours, material, styles, sizes and simple templates with which to create their own item.

A 360 degree rotation feature provides the opportunity for customers to check their new creation from all angles before ordering it. The item will then be printed and shipped to you.

So lots of creative fun for people of all ages but If you are really serious about this exciting new technology then forget Amazon and take a look at  www.goprint3d.co.uk. where this fasts growing UK specialist can provide you with anything from an amazing printer that could revolutionise your home or business to a 3doodler pen that could just be the must have present for Christmas 2014!

And finally…

The Edinburgh Festival is over for another year and as is the tradition the jury has voted for the best jokes of 2014. So to finish off this week I thought these offerings past and present from budding comics might just raise a smile to finish off a week.

 

Rob Auton –     “I heard a rumour that Cadbury is bringing out an oriental chocolate bar.                             Could be a Chinese Wispa.”

Alex Horne –    “I used to work in a shoe-recycling shop. It was sole-destroying.”

Tim Vine –       “ I`ve decided to sell my hoover….well it was just collecting dust”

Bec Hill –         “ I used to think that an ocean of soda existed,but it was just a Fanata sea”

 

Tim Vine-        “I saw Arnold Schwarzenegger eating a chocolate egg. I said, I bet I know  what your favourite Christian festival is. He said, You have to love Easter, baby.”

 And for the academics out there-
Liam Williams – “The universe implodes. No matter.”