News Archive - December 2011
Risk free returns?
14/12/2011
Returns on cash investments are still at a historical low, with no prospect of a rise in the Bank of England base rate for the next 12 months or so.
Even if you tie up your savings for 5 years, the best fixed term accounts still only return 4.65% per annum before tax.
There are however some alternative products promising better returns. One current issue offers 7% per annum gross over a 7 year term. These products are called ‘retail bonds’ and have some very important differences to a standard savings account.
With a retail bond, you are lending money to one company over a fixed term. They promise to pay a set rate of interest over the term of the bond, and then to return your capital at maturity.
However, this type of product is NOT covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. This means that if the issuing company gets into financial difficulties and cannot afford to meet its obligations, there is no protection for your interest payments or your original deposit and they could potentially be lost. Because of this, it is very important to consider the financial strength of the issuing company. These products also tend to have a long timescale (7 or 8 years), and early encashment could result in a considerable penalty.
Bond issues by National Grid and Tesco Bank this year have been popular. They do offer better potential returns than cash, but you need to be aware that higher returns always mean more risk, and that there is the potential for capital loss with this type of bond. The last few years have shown that even very large companies can get into financial difficulties.
If you invest in corporate debt via a unitised fund, like the M & G Corporate Bond fund, you get the benefit of spreading the risk of default over many different companies.
Call Mulberry Financial if you want to discuss your savings options.
The material here is for general information only and is not intended to be relied upon for individual investment decisions. Appropriate independent advice should be obtained before making any such decisions. Mulberry Financial Ltd does not accept any liability for any loss suffered by any user as a result of any such decision.
The information is based on our understanding of current HMRC rules and practices (as at the news article date) which are always subject to change. Taxation and trust advice and Cash ISAs are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. This site is aimed at UK residents only.
Please remember that the prices of shares and other investments can fall sharply. You may not get back the money you originally invested. Past performance is not necessarily a guide to the future.
News archive 2017
Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2016
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2015
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2014
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2013
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2012
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2011
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2010
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2009
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2008
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May | Apr | Mar | Feb | Jan |
News archive 2007
Dec | Nov | Oct | Sep | Aug | Jul | Jun | May |