What are CFDs?
Contracts for difference are a cheap way to make bets on markets but beginners can easily get burned. Here’s the skinny on how to safely trade these products.
How to get high yields with bonds
Unless investors can hold shares for long periods and withstand paper losses, a better strategy may be searching for investments, such as bonds, that offer higher yields than cash.
How to get high yields with LICs
Listed investment companies (LICs) are suitable for conservative investors seeking higher yield with greater diversification and active funds management that aims to do better than the broad market.
How long short funds really work
Long-short funds have largely outperformed the share market during a dismal year for equities returns in 2011. But they are not for everyone. In order to understand the risks, it is important to understand how they work.
How to pick the best equities for your portfolio
The equity portion of a portfolio is possibly the bit that excites investors the most. A good one can pay dividends, literally, while a bad one can leave investors with a sour taste for years.
How to cut the costs and fees of your investments
When times are good it’s easy to forget how fees can cut into your investment returns. But when times are tough it’s more important than ever to cut them to a minimum.
Diversify your portfolio to weather the storms
Diversification has always been a key principle of any prudent investment portfolio. And when economic times are at best uncertain, it is more important than ever.
How to take stock of your investments
In this uncertain environment the prudent investor is seeking insulation from volatility. Important first steps are to reassess your current situation and then decide whether you are looking for income or growth.
Is buy and hold dead?
Some say the crash of 2008 put an end to the cherished belief that buying shares for the long term is your best bet. Patrick Commins discusses the pros and cons of this approach.
Strategies to get the most out of fixed interest
The fixed interest assets you choose for a portfolio will depend on a number of factors, including time frame and desired return.
How to get high yields by blending term deposits
Using a blended term-deposit strategy can be an effective way to increase the yield of a portfolio. It’s suitable for experienced investors who are comfortable with shorter term trading.
What is a covered bond?
Covered bonds are receiving a lot of attention. But what exactly are they?
How to invest in the food sector through ETFs and CFDs
The dynamics of food are pretty straightforward: there are more people to feed with less land to grow food on. It’s a classic supply and demand imbalance. There are a growing number of ETFs and CFDs that are an easy way to invest in these soft commodities.
The safe way to take out a margin loan
Borrowing to invest earned a bad name during the financial crisis. Does it have a place within a portfolio and how can you use it safely – avoiding the dreaded margin call?
What are fixed income ETFs?
Retail investors can now buy into a financial instrument that’s a reassuring option for those looking to grow their money.
How to start building your wealth
Making the move from saver to investor is your first step on the road to building wealth. It’s only by putting your money to work that you can really get ahead.
Guide to the types of fixed-interest investment
Some fixed-interest assets that can pay higher returns than others, but they come with a higher risk of losing your money. here’s our guide to what’s what.
How much of your portfolio should you allocate to stocks?
Many nearing retirement discovered the risks of being overexposed to equities when markets tumbled in 2008. So how many stocks should older investors own? Here are three simple formulas.
