4 FTSE 350 dividend darlings offering growth and income

Raymond Jones
-
0
4 FTSE 350 dividend darlings offering growth and income

Download guide now:

Download this report now to discover those stocks earning the title of ‘dividend darlings’.

The market has reached all-time highs. Main market valuations are through the roof, which leads some investors to believe that there are little or no ‘cheap’ stocks available.

Investors are also painfully aware that there is basically no return on cash. Bearing both factors in mind, we have chosen four FTSE350 stocks which not only offer growth potential, but also fit the bill as dividend darlings.

>FTSE 100 telecoms stock yielding 5.3%

>The pub group beating the benchmark yield

>UK bank posting improving earnings

>Specialist property stock growing inline with the population

Terms, Risk Warning & Disclaimer:

Although the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Investments can go up in value as well as down, so you could get less than you invested. This information does not constitute personal advice and you should speak to your financial advisor before committing to any pension product. Information in this document is for reference use only and its accuracy cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change.

Brent crude edges up as oil prices remain supressed

Miranda Wadham
-
0
Brent crude edges up as oil prices remain supressed
The price of oil rose slightly on Thursday but still hovered around seven month lows, as an ongoing supply glut continues to weigh on the market. Brent Crude slipped below $45 a barrel around midday, before recovering to trade up 1.18 percent at $45.35.WTI Crude is currently up 0.8 percent $42.87. “Prices were pushed a bit too low,” Hans van Cleef, senior energy economist with ABN AMRO, told Reuters. “The people who believe in higher prices are stepping in.” Oil prices have continued to hover below the $50 a barrel mark, despite the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries’ decision to extend their output cuts for a further nine months. The group’s efforts to cut supply are being undermined by increasing output from several countries, including Libya, Nigeria and the US.

British factory orders surge in June, defying Brexit negativity

Miranda Wadham
-
0
British factory orders surge in June, defying Brexit negativity
British factory orders hit their highest level since 1988 in June, according to the latest survey from the Confederation of British Industry. The CBI’s factory order book balance jumped to +16 in June, almost doubling from May’s figure of +9. Export orders also hit a 22 year high, helped by the fall in the pound that was triggered by last year’s Brexit vote. The figures will come as good news to those hoping to demonstrate the strength of British industry outside the European Union. However, Howard Archer, chief economic advisor to the EY ITEM Club, suspects that the CBI may be over-egging the strength of UK manufacturing. “There is the concern that survey evidence for the manufacturing sector has tended to be markedly more upbeat than the official data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) so far in 2017. “Indeed, official data suggests that the manufacturing sector is far from guaranteed to see even modest growth in the second quarter. Specifically, latest ONS figures show manufacturing output edged up 0.2% month-on-month in April after falling in each of the first three months of 2017.” The figures will also be watched carefully by Bank of England policymakers, who are in the throes of indecision over when to raise interest rates. The Monetary Policy Committee was split at last month’s meeting by 5 – 3, with Bank of England governor Mark Carney sending the pound into chaos on Tuesday after saying that now was not the right time for a rate hike.

Businesswomen less confident about Brexit than their male counterparts, study finds

Nicole Jeary
-
0
Businesswomen less confident about Brexit than their male counterparts, study finds

UK Businesswomen are less confident about post-Brexit prospects in the UK than their male counterparts, a study has found.

The study conducted by RateSetter Business Finance revealed that of those surveyed, 10 percent of female business leaders believe that Brexit will be positive for their business.

This proved comparatively low to 21 percent polled across male business owners who considered themselves to be positive about future outlook following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union.

Paul Marston, Managing Director of RateSetter Commercial Finance, commented on the findings:

“Overall, it is clear that small business leaders are not at all optimistic about the impact of Brexit, but we were rather surprised to find such a difference between the views of male and female business people.”

This follows recent research which revealed that gender pay gap was continuing to negatively affect women’s investment abilities.

According to research by Fidelity International, 43 percent of women save into a cash ISA, but only 9 percent invest in a stocks & shares ISA.

The latest figures reveal the gender pay gap in the U.K to be at 18.1 percent.

On average, for women working full time the weekly wage stood at £12.82, 9.4 per cent less than the average of £14.16 earned by men in full time positions.

UK businesses with 250 or more employees are now obliged to publish gender pay gap details, as part of government regulations which came into force bank in April.

The Minister for Women and Equalities, Justine Greening, commented on the measure when it was first introduced:

“We have more women in work, more women-led businesses than ever before and the highest proportion of women on the boards of our biggest companies. This has helped us to narrow the gender pay gap to a record 18.1 per cent – but we want to eliminate it completely.”

Nevertheless, with added pressure on the economy as Brexit uncertainty continues to drive up inflation, women are arguably beginning to feel the squeeze the most.

The government’s Brexit secretary, David Davis, will head to Spain on Tuesday for additional talks after the first round of negotiations with the European Union began on Monday.

In a blow for the government, Mr Davis was forced to concede that the talks would only move on to trade when the EU decided “enough progress” had been made on its three priorities.

Whitbread plc boosted by strong spring for Premier Inn

Nicole Jeary
-
0
Whitbread plc boosted by strong spring for Premier Inn

Whitbread plc (LON:WTB) enjoyed a resilient performance across the spring period, boosted by its Premier Inn chains.

The group, which also own Costa Coffee, saw its Premier Inn sales grow by more than double across the period, as it benefited from a “resilient hotel market”.

Premier Inn’s like-for-sales rose 4.7pc in the 13 weeks to June 1, compared to 2.1pc like-for-like growth in the same period last year, driven in part by the addition of 9,000 rooms.

Nevertheless, the company did note a slowdown in demand in cities such as London and Manchester, as tourism began to slow in light of recent terrorist attacks. They did however, note that some recovery had already been witnessed with regards to bookings.

Conversely, its Costa brand continued to face difficulties amid falling consumer economic confidence.

Overall, its like-for-like sales rising 1.1 percent compared to 2.6 percent recorded growth last year. In addition total sales were up 8.7 percent.

In spite of subdued growth from the high-street coffee chain, the figures proved in line with analysts expectations.

“We have had a good start to the year, with first quarter sales growth of 7.6pc, in line with our expectations,” said chief executive Alison Brittain.

“Premier Inn continued to win overall market share with strong sales growth of 9.2pc as we benefited from a resilient hotel market and the contribution from the 9,000 rooms we opened over the last two years, which are maturing well.”

Investors welcomed the results for Whitbread, which ultimately marked an encouraging start to the year.

“Whitbread’s Premier Inn bounce is impressive but the continued slowdown at Costa, at least in terms of like-for-like sales, may be a worry to some,” said Mark Brumby, analyst at Langton Capital.

“[Costa] will not be performing strongly in the current hot weather [in the UK] and retail footfall is on the slide.”

As a result, shares in Whitbread jumped 3.82 percent during Wednesday trading, as of 12.10PM (GMT).

UK budget deficit falls to lowest level since 2008

Miranda Wadham
-
0
UK budget deficit falls to lowest level since 2008
Britain’s budget deficit fell to its lowest level since 2008 in May, providing some evidence that Brexit is failing to have the expected negative effect on the economy. Wednesday’s figures from the Office for National Statistics show that the UK borrowed £6.7 billion last month, down from £7 billion in May 2016. It also constituted a significant drop from April’s £9.4 billion deficit. VAT receipts provided a boost for the government during the month, rising by 4.3 percent to £11.2bn in May. This is the highest May figure on record. PMG’s chief economist, Yael Selfin, commented: “UK deficit fell in May, but after a long period of gradual improvements, expected headwinds will put renewed pressure on public finances.”

Sterling sinks further as May struggles to strike deal with DUP

Miranda Wadham
-
0
Sterling sinks further as May struggles to strike deal with DUP
The value of sterling continued to fall on Wednesday, after government officials warned that a deal with the DUP was not likely to be finalised ahead of the Queen’s Speech. Prime Minister Theresa May has been struggling to negotiate a del with Irish party the DUP that will give her government a much-needed majority, after she failed to gain enough seats on her own at the general election at the beginning of June. Sterling dropped below $1.26 in early trading, following on from losses seen on Tuesday after Bank of England Governor Mark Carney warned on the long-term effects of Brexit and said interest rates were unlikely to rise for some time. The pound weakened after officials warned on Wednesday that a DUP deal was not imminent. Societe Generale strategist Kit Juckes wrote in a morning note to clients: “Governor Carney’s Mansion House speech killed any wind that was in sterling’s sails yesterday. “The Conservative Party’s lack of progress in reaching a deal with the DUP won’t help sterling either”. Strategists at investment bank Morgan Stanley also warned on the short-term value of the pound, but said it was likely to pick up in the long-term, adding that a short period of British Pound outperformance should be expected.

Exchange Traded Products from Societe Generale

Raymond Jones
-
0
Exchange Traded Products from Societe Generale

Download guide now:

Discover how you can trade a wide range of equity, commodity and FX markets like a share whilst trading on leverage with Societe Generale’s Exchange Traded Products.

>Leverage your performance on equities, commodities and FX

>Trade like a share via your broker

>SIPP & ISA Eligibility

>Not subject to Stamp Duty

>Risk limited to capital invested, never more

>No margin calls

Download this guide now to discover how Societe Generale’s Exchange Traded Products can help you leverage your returns while limiting your risk.

Leverage Your Performance

Short and Leveraged ETPs enable you to gain 2, 3 or 5 times the Daily Performance of an index, commodity or currency pair, with your risk firmly fixed at the amount that you invested.

Short and Leveraged ETPs are entirely designed around the daily performance of your chosen Underlying Asset. This means that your profit or loss each day is determined by how much the Underlying Asset has risen or fallen that day. You can hold a Short and Leveraged ETP for more than a day but gains and losses will be compounded over time.

Download your free guide now:

Terms, Risk Warning & Disclaimer:

This communication is directed at sophisticated retail clients in the UK. It is designed to be used as an education tool. For further information and for a full list of risks associated with the Short and Leveraged ETPs please refer to a full product guide; such as Societe Generale’s Guide to Short and Leverged ETPs which can be found on Societe Generale’s Exchange Traded Product Website. By downloading this guide you agree to be contacted by Societe Generale, UK Investor Magazine and Investment Superstore with relevant financial information.

Philip Hammond sets out plan for economy post-Brexit in first major speech

Miranda Wadham
-
0
Philip Hammond sets out plan for economy post-Brexit in first major speech

Chancellor Philip Hammond set out his priorities for Brexit on Tuesday, in his first speech since the Conservatives failed to win a majority in June’s general election.

Hammond highlighted the need to put jobs and living standards first as the UK negotiates its exit from the EU, adding that it would require “every ounce of skill and diplomacy” to get the right deal.

His comments come in the wake of allegations that the UK has already bene forced to concede on its schedule for Brexit, with the EU dictating on Monday that the divorce bill would need to be settled before negotiations turn to the future relationship.

Speaking in London, Hammond said he wanted to put the economy at the heart of negotiations, adding that no one voted for Brexit to become poorer. Hammond’s comments come alongside a speech by Mark Carney warning on the effects of Brexit on the UK economy. Mark Carney made the direct link between “weaker real income growth” and the process of leaving the European Union, adding that prices are rising and wage growth is falling meaning the average household has less money than before the vote.  

Crowd2Fund launch secured property lending with new loan product

Miranda Wadham
-
0
Crowd2Fund launch secured property lending with new loan product
Crowd2Fund have launched a new property loan product, secured against commercial or residential property, which qualifies for inclusion within the platform’s IFISA. The new loan vehicle is targeted at businesses which own property, or directors who are willing to offer their property as security. Loans are between £100,000 and £1 million, typically last for a duration of three to five years and carry an estimated APR between 6 percent – 8 percent before fees and bad debts. The only associated fee for investors is the Repayment Fee, set at 1 percent of the value of repayments, which is collected from each repayment.

What are the benefits for investors?

Diversification

The Crowd2Fund property loan is the latest addition to the range of debt products already offered by the platform. These include standard loans, revenue loans, bonds and venture debt. The introduction of the property loan allows investors to further diversify and personalise their portfolios, according to their risk appetite and individual goals., with the option to invest as little as £100. The property loan enhances diversification opportunities by being a comparatively lower-risk vehicle than that will accompanying the higher risk products available, such as Venture Debt. Even though interest rates are lower with property secured investments, funds should be spread across different products and companies to help mitigate the risk of defaults. All businesses go through a thorough due diligence procedure. Nevertheless, all campaigns on the platform carry their own, unique risk. There have been zero defaults on the platform to date. Investors may choose to spread their investments across both secured property loans and high growth sector businesses, which carry a higher interest rate, but in which an investor might have a personal interest. Furthermore, property loans are included within the IFISA, which has an allowance of £20,000 in the 2017/8 tax year, thus enjoying the added benefit of sheltering interest repayments from tax.

Secured against a property

All businesses running a property loan campaign are required to let Crowd2Fund take a charge over their tangible assets. The value of the secured property must cover 100 percent of the total loan value. This means that if the business defaults on their loan, the property will be taken and sold to repay investors. Property loans are lower risk in comparison to unsecured loans. However, it should be noted that there is a risk that the property may not retain its original valuation and that it may take time to sell it.

Simple and transparent structure

We want the concept of property loans to be simple for businesses and investors to understand. We understand that investors may prefer to allocate their funds to a loan which is secured against bricks and mortar. The reason for this is that it is easy to understand the value of property as there is an active market in which to sell, not to mention that property belongs to an established and trusted asset class. As with a loan, businesses repay investors interest and capital on a monthly basis. This amortises over time; this means that investors are repaid the same amount of money each month, but the interest will decrease as the principle repayment increases. For example, should a repayment be £10, £5 will be interest, £5 will be principal. A second repayment will still be £10, but the interest will reduce to, say, £4.50, and the principal will increase to £5.50, and so on with each repayment. You can understand more about amortisation here. Investors are welcome to manage and track their property investments through their personal dashboard on Crowd2Fund.

Access your capital by selling to others on The Exchange

Property loans can be bought and sold on the Exchange. Selling your property loan means investors are able to access their capital by selling it to others. This makes investors’ investments more liquid, whilst giving investors the opportunity to sell at marginal profits. Additionally, utilising the Exchange will give investors further opportunity to diversify their portfolios by purchasing additional loans. Chris Hancock, Crowd2Fund CEO, explains: “The launch of our property loan gives investors access to an asset class which has performed steadily over time and is easy to understand. These asset-backed loans are likely to be popular with P2P crowdfunding investors new to the market due to the perception of them being less risky than standard loans, which do not have security taken out on them.” The first property backed loan on the platform is set to be a £300,000 campaign for Mark Marengo, a Savile Row tailor focused on exporting sharp-cut tail
1...1,5881,5891,590...1,761Page 1,589 of 1,761