FTSE opens higher post-Christmas, despite further drop in oil

Miranda Wadham
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FTSE opens higher post-Christmas, despite further drop in oil

The FTSE 100 opened higher in the first day of trading since Christmas, despite a further fall in oil causing prices to hit an 11-year low.

The FTSE rose 0.3% in early trade on Tuesday, after the market was closed for the Bank Holiday on Monday. However, the price of US crude oil fell over 3% overnight, while Brent crude remaining near 11-year lows. The glut, caused by oversupply and a lack of global demand, is set to continue into 2016 and possibly heighten with the addition of Iranian exports onto the market once economic sanctions against Tehran have been lifted. Oil-rich countries including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Kuwait have said they are counting on a growth in global demand to help smooth out the market in 2016; however, analysts remain uncertain as to how soon demand will increase next year – if at all. 
29/12/2016

Ex-Tesco CEO gets on board with crowdfunding in new venture

Miranda Wadham
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Ex-Tesco CEO gets on board with crowdfunding in new venture

Ex-Tesco CEO Sir Terry Leahy is the latest figure to get on board with crowdfunding, choosing Seedrs as a platform to raise finance for his new venture Houseology.co.uk.

Founded in 2010 by award-winning interior designer Kate Mooney, Houseology is a tech-driven interior design website aimed at simplifying the home design process for busy customers. Leahy came on board as the company’s board advisor after leaving Tesco in 2011, and is fully supportive of crowdfunding being the right move for the business.

Sir Terry told The Mail on Sunday: “Crowdfunding is beginning to get a track record of success. There is a sea change happening in the market”

“Crowdfunding is growing in popularity – particularly for certain types of businesses. Houseology is the kind of company that is particularly suited because it’s a consumer business with a broad and discerning customer base and many of whom would also be investors.”

Commenting on the business, he said: “Kate’s vision is to transform the interior design space & home-wares market the same way Net a Porter transformed the fashion industry. With her expertise and passionate team, combined with our Board’s considerable experience, we’re confident the business will continue to go from strength to strength. Houseology, previously trading as Occa-Home, sell designer interior collections alongside showcasing how-to-guides, videos and interviews to give customers a ‘bespoke’ experience, making interiors simple and inspiring. The business is seeking £1 million of investment, and is already halfway to raising the amount after just three weeks. With over £8.9m of sales to date, the business has served over 30,000 customers in over 90 countries and stocks over 200 designer brands and 20,000 products. The investment amount will be used to grow the business at home and internationally, and invest in new technology for the site. For more information, visit their campaign page on Seedrs here. 
Miranda Wadham on 28/12/2015

2016 Key Market Themes + 8 Investment & Trading Ideas

UK Investor Magazine
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2016 Key Market Themes + 8 Investment & Trading Ideas

Key Market Themes and Investment ideas for 2016

 

As we enter 2016, we outline the themes we feel will be front and center in this year’s market and present a number of investment and trading ideas

 

This special report includes:

 

  • Particular sectors that are set to outperform
  • The indicators we will be utilising for entry and exits of positions
  • Individual shares that will be at the forefront of this year’s market
  • A breakdown of which geographies will see relative strength and why
  • A summary of how our 2015 outlook and investment tips materialised

CH 2016

Download ‘2016 Key Market Themes + 8 Investment 7 Trading Ideas’ for free now.
A copy will be emailed to you immediately.

By submitting my details I consent for information to be sent to me via the above contact details by Charles Hanover Investments Ltd. Contact may be made by email, post or telephone call. Any information provided is not an offer to enter into any transaction and Charles Hanover Investments Ltd will accept no responsibility for any loss incurred by acting on this information. By ticking the box below I confirm I have read and agree to the Research Terms,Terms of Business and have read and understood the Disclaimer, Privacy and Order Execution Policy.

Disclaimer: This report is for your information only. The information included is general in nature and is not in any form a recommendation to enter into any transaction nor does it constitute an offer. Depending on specific objectives and financial position the research may be unsuitable for certain investors. Charles Hanover Investments or Equitrade Markets will not accept any responsibility for any losses, including, without limitation, any consequential loss, which may be incurred by acting upon the contents of this report. Although the upmost care is taken to ensure the accuracy of this report information contained may not be entirely complete and accurate and Charles Hanover Investments or Equitrade Markets will not be held liable for any inaccuracies.

Risk Warning: Trading Contracts for Differences (CFDs), Futures and spread betting carries a high level of risk to your capital, and is not suitable for all investors. Only speculate with money you can afford to lose. Trading or placing any bets can result in consumers incurring liabilities in excess of their initial stake. Please ensure you fully understand the risks, and seek independent advice if necessary. Charles Hanover Investments is a trading name of Equitrade Markets Ltd, a company authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for the conduct of investment business in Shares, Spread Betting, CFDs, Futures, Options and Rolling Spot Foreign Exchange.

Deadline nears to protect savings from banking busts

Miranda Wadham
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Deadline nears to protect savings from banking busts
Savers have just days to move money to different bank accounts, as from January 1st new rules come into force limiting compensation that can be received should a bank go bust. The new legislation which will reduce compensation to £75,000 per account, per institution, compared to the £85,000 available through the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) now. Joint accounts will see protection cut from £170,000 to £150,000. The FSCS is advising those with more than £75,000 in one account to move money into another to gain full protection. However separate registered banks that operate under one brand, for example HSBC and First Direct, are only liable for £75,000 in total – even across two accounts with the different banks. Savers would then be advised to move excess money to a different bank entirely. Similarly, if you have money in an ISA, the situation is further complicated. You can only open one cash Isa a year, so be careful if that ISA account was opened this year. 
24/12/2015

Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing offers investment opportunity in sweet business

Miranda Wadham
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Made in Chelsea’s Jamie Laing offers investment opportunity in sweet business
Reality TV personality Jamie Laing is making the move into finance, hoping to crowdfund £300,000 for his modern confectionary business ‘Candy Kittens’. Laing, one of the most controversial stars of E4’s ‘Made in Chelsea’ series, launched his business on the show nearly two years ago and now stocks his range in Tesco, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s, as well as Selfridge’s and Topshop. Candy Kittens’ hope to be the ‘finest premium sweet in the world’, and are all gluten free and use real fruit juice. In its first year, the company 2014 reached sales of £254,000, and the addition of premium supermarket Waitrose to its list of stockists pull sales up by another 40%, to £350,000. With all stock being manufactured in the EU and stored in the UK, the company have developed a first class supply chain which can, if necessary, deliver full production runs within 4 weeks. The company exports to over 15 countries and is forecast to turn over between £1 and £2 million next year. However, in order to expand, Candy Kittens are crowdfunding to launch a major marketing programme in 2016. Whilst Laing’s ‘Made in Chelsea’ fans provided a ready customer base and enabled the launch of the business, he has since brought in Ed Williams as Managing Director, who has driven the company forward to where it is now. Laing said in an interview with The Telegraph: “I love TV and I love sweets, and I’m fortunate to be doing both things. But I couldn’t grow the company without help. Ed is the driving force.” Candy Kittens is crowdfunding for £300,000 on Seedrs, in return for 7.51 percent equity. The minimum investment is £12, but for £24 and upwards investors will be offered various perks including a signed photo of Jamie and 50 percent off Candy Kitten sweets for life. For more information, visit their campaign page on Seedrs. 
Miranda Wadham on 24/12/2015

GAME Digital shares drop over 30 percent in Christmas run-up

Miranda Wadham
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GAME Digital shares drop over 30 percent in Christmas run-up
Shares in gaming chain GAME Digital (LON:GMD) have plummeted over 30 percent this morning, after a trading update detailed disappointing performance in the pre-Christmas period. Total transaction value came in at £466.8 million, down 6.7 percent due to a 20 percent reduction in low margin console sales. However, performance was boosted by growth in GAMEtronics, their pre-owned mobile and tablet range, which was up 91.8 percent on the year. Overall, the group’s UK gross trading margin was down 4.8 percent at £73.9 million, with the company admitting that trading conditions in the market had been challenging. Martyn Gibbs, GAME Digital’s Chief Executive Officer, said in a statement: “The switch over from the older gaming formats to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One software has impacted profitability across the UK market. “Despite the market challenges, GAME has continued to deliver significant growth from new format content and newer categories such as licensed merchandise and preowned mobile phones and tablets, and we continue to prioritise these areas as well as growing our Multiplay business. “The pre-Christmas period and the winter sale are very important to our customers and with market leading offers we remain well prepared in our stores and online for the remaining peak trading period.” GAME Digital is currently trading down 38.18 percent at 127.20 pence per share. (1422GMT)

GDP growth slows in third quarter – ONS

Miranda Wadham
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GDP growth slows in third quarter – ONS

Growth in the UK economy slowed in the third quarter of the year, revised down from 0.5 percent to 0.4 percent due to a slowdown in the services sector.

The ONS also cut its estimate of second quarter GDP growth from 0.7 percent to 0.5 percent, lowering the chances of the government hitting its growth forecast for 2015

These are latest in a string of figures from the Office for National Statistics that suggest the UK economy is growing slower than expected; on Tuesday the ONS revealed that both public borrowing and household debt had risen in the last quarter, casting doubt on Chancellor George Osborne’s plan to have a budget surplus by 2017. The Treasury commented on the figures: “Today’s figures highlight that risks remain – that’s why we should continue working through our plan to build an economy that delivers security for working people.”  

Public borrowing rises in November, along with household debt

Miranda Wadham
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Public borrowing rises in November, along with household debt
Headline public borrowing rose to £14.2 billion in November, well above analysts’ forecasts and casting doubt on Chancellor George Osborne’s plan for cutting the budget deficit. The figure was 10 percent higher than in the same month last year, a sudden increase on the first eight months of the year where public borrowing was 8.9 percent lower. Figures for household debt are also looking worrying and are expected to rise to £40 billion this year, with unsustainable borrowing currently on a par with the levels reached before the 2008 global financial crisis. The former business secretary Sir Vince Cable told the Independent that Britain may be returning to “old and unhappily discredited” methods of economic growth: “We’re back on the treadmill of growth being sustained by personal borrowing. Much of it is against an inflating housing stock.” Osborne’s is aiming to turn the UK’s budget deficit into a surplus by the end of this decade, through continued austerity measures and budget cuts.

Camden Town Brewery becomes second crowdfunding exit, after deal with global ABInBev

Miranda Wadham
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Camden Town Brewery becomes second crowdfunding exit, after deal with global ABInBev
AB InBev, the world’s largest drinks company, are in the process of acquiring ‘craft’ brewery Camden Town Brewery, making it the second successful exit for a crowdfunded business. The deal is rumoured to be worth about £85 million, and will add Camden’s Hells, Pils and Pale Ale brands to AB’s roster, which already includes Stella Artois and Budweiser. According to Camden, it will represent a ‘very successful exit’ for backers who invested in the company through equity crowdfunding. The acquisition is a strategic move for AB InBev, who have faced growing competition from ‘craft’ breweries, which have risen exponentially over the last couple of years. However, many fans and investors in Camden Brewery are disappointed with the deal, suggesting the company has ‘sold out’ and will lose its ‘independent brewery’ image. Camden Town’s founder and CEO Jasper Cuppaidge told Business Insider that the deal was founded on the need for security: “We wanted to make sure that the brand was around for a long time and this capital investment gives us that security for our employees, for the brand, and also security to continue to make our beer as well as we have for the past 5 years.” Since Cuppaidge, his family and three best friends own 95% of the company’s equity, he stood to do rather well from the deal, with estimated figures suggesting that they have shared a combined payout of more than £80 million. There are also fears that, when ABInBev completes its acquisition of the world’s second biggest drinks maker SABMiller, niche ‘craft’ brands will be sold off. The company has already announced that it will sell the Greenwich-based craft brand Meantime, bought just seven months ago by SABMiller. In terms of the future of equity crowdfunding however, news of the deal bodes well. The industry is still relatively young and this deal will mark only the second successful exit in the UK. E-Car Club became the first in July, when the business was sold to global car hire company Europcar and investors received a return of three times their original investment. 
22/12/2015

Premier Veterinary Group gains 10 percent on part sale of business

Miranda Wadham
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Premier Veterinary Group gains 10 percent on part sale of business
Shares in Premier Veterinary Group (LON:PVG) have risen over 10 percent this morning after completing the sale of its Veterinary Business to Independent Vetcare. The deal was worth £6.5 million in cash payment and will allow the company to focus on the growth of its subsidiary, Premier Vet Alliance. CEO Dominic Tonner said in a statement: “We are very excited that we now have additional resources to expand the PVA business. The Board believes that the Disposal, coupled with the resultant focus on the PVA business, will lead to the enhancement of shareholder value. The Disposal re-enforces our independence in terms of the provision of services to third party veterinary clinics.” The sale was announced after a strategic review of the company’s assets and aims to reinforce their independence in the provision of services to third party veterinary clinics. Premier Veterinary Group is one of the largest movers on the London market this morning, currently trading up 11.35 percent at 109.68 pence per share (0929GMT). The company has a 52-week range of between 27.15 and 121 pence. 
21/12/2015
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