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Pay of FTSE-100 CEOs, and Berkeley Group

The High Pay Centre have just published their latest analysis of the pay of FTSE-100 CEOs. Their average pay is now £5.5 million and it grew by over 10% from the previous year. Stefan Stern of the High Pay Centre said "There is apparently no end yet in sight to the rise and rise of FTSE100 CEO pay packages. In spite of the occasional flurry from more active shareholders, boards continue to award ever larger amounts of pay to their most senior ...

Sports Direct – AGM Resolution on Working Practices

Sports Direct (SPD) have received a requistioned resolution for its Annual General Meeting on the 7th September. The resolution which has been put forward by Unite Union and its supporters says: "That the board commissions an independent review of Sports Directs PLC’s human capital management strategy and report back to shareholders within six months." with the supporting comment that "As over 100 shareholders in Sports Direct, we believe the company’s current approach to human capital management will compromise its long-term growth ...

Charles Stanley Halts Certificated Dealing

Charles Stanley, one of the larger traditional retail stockbrokers, has advised its clients that it will soon cease support of certificated trading. Those retaining paper share certificates because they appreciate the rights associated with being on the share register of a company will be moved into nominee accounts, unless they choose to transfer their business elsewhere. We have updated the page on the ShareSoc web site which lists alternative suppliers of certificated dealing and personal crest accounts which is here: brokers One advantage ...

Bank Base Rate Cut to Record Low, and More QE

The Bank of England has cut base rate to 0.25% today, from 0.5%, following a recommendation by the Monetary Policy Committee. In addition there will be more Quantitative Easing (QE) including the purchase of both Government debt and corporate bonds. These measures are aimed at avoiding a recession that Mark Carney otherwise believes is likely. The new interest rate is yet again a new historic low in UK interest rates, and of course bodes ill for savers even if it may keep ...

Emotion on Brexit Driving Investment Decisions?

The Daily Telegraph led its business section with a headline "Brexit vote led to biggest fund exodus on record" this morning. It reported that the referendum result caused the sharpest stock market fund sell off on record, apparently caused by private investors becoming "too emotional" over the vote. Investors in stock market funds sold a record £3.5bn from their portfolios in June in data reported by the Investment Association. However the press release issued by the Association also indicated that funds under ...