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ShareSoc Blog

This blog gives you the latest topical news plus some informal comments on them from ShareSoc’s directors and other contributors. These are the personal comments of the authors and not necessarily the considered views of ShareSoc. The writers may hold shares in the companies mentioned. You can add your own comments on the blog posts, but note that ShareSoc reserves the right to remove or edit comments where they are inappropriate or defamatory.

There is more news given in the News page of our web site and more analysis of news is provided in our monthly newsletter for members – see the Newsletters page.

If you would like to be notified about new posts to our blog you can opt-in to our Weekly Wrap-Up Email service. If you are a member of ShareSoc select the “Weekly Wrap-Up Email” option here. If you are not a member select the “Information and Education Services” option here.


Press Release 123:
Jema Arnold appointed as a Director of ShareSoc

ShareSoc, the UK member organisation for individual investors, is delighted to announce that Jema Arnold has been appointed as Non-Executive Director. Jema Arnold qualified as a Chartered Accountant at Price Waterhouse, then specialised in financial recruitment to creative and consumer-facing businesses at organisations including Robert Walters, PageGroup and Korn Ferry. She is an active investor who is passionate about financial empowerment and keen to encourage wider interest in and knowledge of investing. Jema said “ShareSoc provides essential information, networking, education and lobbying functions ...

WOODFORD UPDATE 11 – Time to Act!

Implications of Justice Trower’s GLO ruling Register your interest in Woodford Compensation Now https://www.sharesoc.org/campaigns/woodford-campaign/ for more information Justice Trower refused the Group Litigation Order application and very sadly denied the request to require Link to inform potential claimants of their opportunity to claim. Justice Trower says it is not the court’s job to “encourage potential claimants to litigate”. So, it is up to you to make your decision. ShareSoc’s role is to highlight the issues for you to consider. In para 53 onwards he explains the ...

REX/Retail Book – Retail access to share offerings

  Shareholder Rights are central to ShareSoc’s campaigning activities. Defending pre-emptive rights and the rights of minority shareholders, and ensuring access for individuals to placings on fair terms are areas where we lobby, represent and campaign for the benefit of ShareSoc members and individual investors as a whole.   Primary Bid, in collaboration with the London Stock Exchange, has made huge strides in making IPOs and fund raises more available to retail shareholders. The Treasury is finally putting various initiatives in place following the ...

BETTER FINANCE publishes ShareSoc Investing Basics Videos

BETTER FINANCE is a pan-European organisation that aims to empower consumers in the field of finance. It works towards promoting financial literacy and providing consumers with the necessary information and resources to make informed financial decisions. The organisation also advocates for fair and transparent financial practices, and campaigns for better consumer protection. BETTER FINANCE has a network of national partners and representatives, who work together to achieve its goals. Through its initiatives and programs, BETTER FINANCE aims to create a better ...

Proposals on Limiting ISAs

The views expressed in this article are those of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. The Resolution Foundation has released a report looking at “the Government’s policies to encourage household saving”, it particularly focuses on ISAs and notes that capping ISAs could raise £1bn in tax for the Treasury.   https://www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications/isa-isa-baby/  The report proposes a cap on ISAs of £100k but is unclear if that’s a cap on total contributions or a cap on the total value of an ISA.  At one point ...

Letter to the Treasury Committee re FCA’s Woodford Enquiry

The Financial Conduct Authority gave scant detail on progress regarding Woodford, in a letter to the Treasury Committee dated 14th December 2022 (published 11th January 2023), responding to questions posed during the hearing and updates to the Committee on progress in certain areas.    ShareSoc considers the FCA letter to be insufficient. We have written to the Committee saying “we respectfully request that the Committee consider asking members of the FCA to appear before the Committee in person so that the progress of ...

Invitation to Better Finance Conference 24 Jan at 10.30 CET (9.30am UK time)

Attending and voting at AGMs are important shareholder rights and responsibilities, central to ShareSoc’s Shareholder Rights campaign. A recent blog on how to ask questions is here and ShareSoc has also published guidance on AGMs, which can be downloaded here and here. ShareSoc has also previously held a free webinar on voting at AGMs, which can be viewed here. Readers interested in AGMs can now attend a free press conference organised by Better Finance entitled “Are shareholders really able to fully exercise their ...

The New Realities and Private Healthcare

The views expressed in this article are those of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. The editorial in this week’s Investors' Chronicle was full of doom and gloom. Under the headline “Facing up to new realities” the editor said “The threats identified by the WEF (World Economic Forum at Davos) include climate change, the cost of living crisis, geopolitical confrontation, high debt levels, recession, low growth, social unrest and cyber crime. These crises are converging, it says, to shape a ...

Portfolio Review 2022 – Mark Bentley

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. Introduction Following on from my reviews in 2020 and 2021, I have now conducted a similar exercise for 2022. See my 2020 review for an explanation of my investment objectives, strategy, "asset types" and investment accounts. My 2021 review can be found here. I think most investors will have found 2022 a difficult year and I was no exception! See "Results Breakdown" below for the gory details. Whilst my complete portfolio ...

I have £5,000 to invest. How do I choose the right platform?

ShareSoc’s Investing Basics videos have made us think quite a lot about what a new investor should do. If you have suddenly come into money, are new to investing and are wondering what to do with it, then you should seek some financial advice (and also watch the investing basics videos). But if you have saved a few thousand, or even a few tens of thousand, you won’t find a good financial adviser willing to spend their time with you (you ...
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