Britain was once the global giant of the textiles industry, but found itself unable to compete with the relentless growth of cheaper overseas producers. Now though, shifting global economics and the desirability of the Made in Britain brand mean the UK’s textile industry is enjoying a renaissance.
Gold has been used as a form of currency and store of value since long before paper currency was invented and adopted across the world. Today this precious metal divides opinion among investors like few other asset classes. At Rathbones, we prefer to simply examine the evidence and assess its properties.
Classic sitcoms Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister popularised the notion that true political power is held not by elected officials but by éminences grises who operate behind the scenes.
For the second time in its short but eventful history, the US technology sector has been booming. Will there be another bust? We think growth in the sector is here to stay, but vigilance is required as some valuations start to defy gravity.
As well as the portfolio diversification benefits that commodities can add to holdings of traditional stocks and bonds, they can also have speculative appeal.
A weakened Theresa May will now lead a coalition into a less stable economic future.
The world is experiencing a period of rising inflation. A rebound in oil prices has helped after dragging down UK consumer price inflation into negative territory briefly in the second half of 2015. Improving wage rates in China, which in the past had been an exporter of global disinflation, have also contributed.
Keeping his promise to position all major announcements in the autumn so there is sufficient time to implement any changes, the Chancellor tinkered rather than tackled in Wednesday’s Budget. But he also hinted at wider reforms to come.
The UK’s family businesses are a crucial part of the nation’s economic backbone. They employ nearly 12 million people, contribute £125 billion in taxes and generate a quarter of the country’s gross domestic product. Yet for many, long-term survival boils down to a problem that has little to do with business acumen: how to ensure close relatives get on with each other.
