What’s going on in the global bond market?

Traditionally seen as a safer bet, bonds have been a loss-maker for Irish investors so far in 2022. Stock markets might grab the headlines. But the bond market is bigger, and has been experiencing tough times of its own. One major bond index, the Bloomberg Global Aggregate, is down nearly 9% for Euro investors over … Continued

Approaching retirement age? A conversation with Bonkers.ie

A person who’s approaching retirement today, could spend as much time in retirement as they did while working. Planning for how you’ll fund it is vital. We’ve been speaking with comparison site Bonkers.ie on what it means for people in Ireland. Listen to the podcast, or read the transcript below – updated for 2022 conditions – … Continued

How do I invest in the metaverse?

The metaverse entered the real world in a big way in late 2021. Facebook rebranded itself as Meta Platforms, and announced it was investing $10 billion a year there, effectively staking the future of its business on the metaverse. So what is it, and how do I invest in the metaverse? What’s the metaverse? Trying … Continued

What’s really driving inflation in Ireland?

Inflation in Ireland is hard to ignore right now – a trend we identified a year ago. If you dig into the data, however, inflation is still confined to a small number of sectors.  Others are experiencing little in the way of cost increases, and at times even deflation.  Digging into the causes of inflation … Continued

Easiest way to invest in QQQ in Ireland

Some funds just capture the imagination.  QQQ’s one of them.  Formed in 2002, this technology-focused fund has grown by over 1,300% (yes, one thousand three hundred per cent) since that time. And the good news is that there are several ways to access it depending on the size and shape of your investment. Of course, … Continued

Is your money invested in Russia?

In response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the wider world has shown notable unity and decisiveness in placing sanctions and asset freezes upon oligarchs close to the Russian regime, Russian companies, and restricting global payments systems. There’s been an immediate knock-on effect in the investment industry.  One major index provider has described Russian market … Continued

Should I invest in gold?

Going for gold is the 3,000-year-old investment strategy.  So is now the time for people in Ireland to invest in gold? Gold has some characteristics that investors just can’t ignore.  When governments print money, countries fight wars, or political uncertainty increases, share prices can come under pressure. But demand for gold grows. This is the … Continued

Smart money has a style

Do women investors outperform men? An understanding of some common yet unconscious behaviours could help to improve investment returns. Advisors can play a fundamental role to observing these behaviours and helping to ensure decisions being made are mindful. According to a study by US fund manager Fidelity, in 2021, women investors outperform men, with 67% of … Continued