Tag Archives: equities
AI – Putty-Putty or Hard-Baked Clay? – Andrew Smithers
This article was sent me by Andrew Smithers on 1st May 2026. You can read about Andrew here. Introduction. The world economy is currently fragile due to its imbalances, which include excessive share prices and, for several key countries, … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged Andrew Smithers, Bonds, Economy, equities, Exonomics, Hard Baked, Putt-Putty
1 Comment
Coal Staff – why aren’t we shouting from the rooftops this great news?
I am very pleased that the Government has agreed to pay the surplus in this pension scheme to members. Well done Mark Walker and the investment team who have kept the coal workers invested in growth (mainly in … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged BCSSS, Budgeet, Economic growth, equities, growth, Mineworker, Surplus
5 Comments
The rage of uncertainty – One UK saver’s not cashing out!
It’s not the kind of headline you want to read as you go back to work (hi- how were your holidays?). The money managers in question appear to be American and very big. They are becoming even richer by skimming … Continue reading
Why buy equities? – Con Keating’s shortest blog
In his presentation to the Chartered Institute of Securities and Investment conference on Risk and Uncertainty, Jon Exley made the case, eloquently and at length, for using bonds to match pension liabilities. This argument is rooted in the “Law of … Continue reading
Thames Water – do consumers take priority over bond and shareholders?
This blog is about the competing interests for the long-term revenues of Thames Water. JP Morgan have furnished the FT with a chart showing who owns what at Thames Water. It shows USS owning 9.1% of the equity , though … Continue reading
Long term asset returns (a picture tells a thousand words)
A picture tells a thousand words, my blogs are a thousand words long. So I’ll leave this one at that.
Has this crisis broken your pension pot (and can it be mended)?
Ever the optimist, I kick off with an image of a pot that has been broken and becomes a thing of beauty. For many of us DC pension pot holders, this is devoutly to be hoped for. Though for some, … Continue reading
Posted in pensions
Tagged Bonds, DC pot, de-risking, equities, LDI, pension pot, workplace pension
4 Comments
Are we in a stock market crash?
I’m not bothered about market corrections, I live on wages and pensions not on drawdowns from equity funds. But most people I know of my age or above, are dependent on the markets for their income and they are right … Continue reading
Why do DB transfer values make me sick?
One of the things ordinary people find hardest to work out is why their share of a defined benefit scheme can go up when stock markets go down. This happened last month where the stock market fell. But in August, … Continue reading
Posted in actuaries, advice gap, BSPS, FCA, pensions
Tagged actuaries, DB pensions, equities, gilts, pensions, shares, Transfer values, XPS
8 Comments
Catch a falling knife?
For the first time since we had pension freedoms , we have a market that appears out of control. As I write, the London Stock Exchange is preparing to open, with the FTSE lagging the S&P by 2.5%. We are … Continue reading