The latest career move of Bill Gross (the Bond King) has caused tremendous excitement in the financial media over the last few days. Just in case you have been on holiday, Mr. Gross has departed PIMCO (the company he founded) for Janus Capital. Reading between the lines, some of his colleagues at PIMCO are not too disappointed by […]

I have just returned from a fantastic two-week holiday in the US and, on my return, find that there is one issue that is dominating the airwaves: Scotland, and whether it is going to vote Yes or No to independence. There seems to have been quite a change because, before I departed, the referendum was very much in the background, which I […]

Occasionally, when I am away from home, the tv remote control leads me to CNBC or Bloomberg. It is remarkable how they can make something that should really be quite dull–the financial markets– into great entertainment. It can be strangely engrossing to watch some chap in an expensive suit with billions under management dispensing short, sharp pearls of […]

Huddled over their steaming bowls of thin gruel counting out their gold coins, it is very easy to criticise misers. By practising something mildly virtuous–thrift–to excess, they appear to miss the point of the money, which is that it is a tool to be used for something, not a dead asset to be senselessly accumulated for its […]

… for half-time in the football or rain delays in the tennis. The Independents What to do in this market II: Gotham Funds Brooklyn Investor looks at Joel Greenblatt’s new offerings. Warren Buffett’s $12 Billion Disney Mistake Nobody’s perfect. Selling the Crown Jewels DIY Income Investor takes action on shrinking dividend yield The Professionals  Turn, […]

We took a lovely trip down memory lane yesterday by vising the Museum of Brands, Packaging, and Advertising, which is buried in leafy Notting Hill, West London. It is a treasure trove of known and loved packets, tins, and boxes of everything from chocolates and cigarettes to washing powder and patriotic fodder from the various […]

Something to fill in the time before the French Open final on Sunday. The Amateurs Personal Assets DIY Investor (UK) gives PAT the bullet Baxter International A look at this American healthcare giant The Professionals Bill Gross The bond king muses on mobiles and debuts his new use of new Personal Assets Trust (.pdf annual […]

Some interesting reads for the weekend: The Amateurs Edinburgh IT DIY Investor looks at Edinburgh IT’s annual report. Grabbing Profits DIY Income Investor builds up his ammunition. Clorox Dividend Mantra cleans up his portfolio. The Professionals Hugh Hendry Hendry’s Eclectica Fund is having a real shocker this year. Everyone has the occasional bad year but hopefully his luck will […]

Church of England fears £9m loss from sale of Wonga stake Sadly it seems to be £9m for the Church of England, which sounds a lot, or, to put this another way, 0.15% of the part of its portfolio that is managed by the Church Commissioners, which doesn’t. This story makes me very uncomfortable on behalf […]

Something to read as you enjoy a light breakfast… The Amateurs Booker Group Booker is already paying dividends for DIY Investor. Balfour Beatty DIY Income Investor also goes on a dividend hunt. ConocoPhillips And, if you haven’t had enough yield yet, take a look at big oil. The Professionals HSBC Neil Woodford finally buys back […]