ShareSoc Blog

The ShareSoc blog provides news and informal commentary from directors, members and other contributors. Entries reflect the personal views of the authors, which do not necessarily reflect ShareSoc’s formal position. Contributors may hold shares in the companies mentioned. Nothing in this blog should be viewed as financial advice. You may submit comments on blog posts, but ShareSoc reserves the right to remove or edit inappropriate or defamatory submissions.

There is more news given in the News page of our web site and more analysis of news is provided in our monthly newsletter for members – see the Newsletters page.

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What really drove August’s market sell-off?

Post Date: September 5, 2024

In the first week of August, global stock markets sold off sharply - but what was driving that correction? Ram Sachdev highlights the pivotal role played by the ‘yen carry trade’ The recent market correction (defined as a decline of more than 10%) has raised questions among investors as to what underpinned the sell-off. One key factor was the role played by the yen carry trade at that time. What is a carry trade? A carry trade is a financial strategy in which an ...

Press Release 130 – ShareSoc partnership with InvestorHub

Post Date: August 1, 2024

InvestorHub and ShareSoc have today announced a partnership to champion shareholder democracy in the UK. InvestorHub, a software company which enables issuers to engage directly with their shareholders, joins forces with ShareSoc, the UK’s premier membership organisation for individual investors. The partnership will see InvestorHub provide funding to ShareSoc, as well as support for a series of events designed to connect emerging public companies with individual investors. ShareSoc has long campaigned to improve the ability of individual shareholders to exercise their rights and ...

ShareSoc supports FCA proposal for criminal background checks on owners and controllers of financial institutions

Post Date: August 1, 2024

ShareSoc has responded to FCA consultation CP24/11 ShareSoc represents the views of individual investors to Government and Regulators. One way we do this is by responding to their consultations, of which there have been quite a lot recently - we can expect more with the recent change in Government. On 30 July 2024, ShareSoc and UKSA made a joint response to the latest Financial Conduct Authority quarterly consultation CP24/11: FCA Quarterly Consultation No. 44 There were 14 questions in the consultation, but we ...

How and Why I’m Voting at Nationwide’s Upcoming AGM

Post Date: July 10, 2024

This article reflects the opinions of its author and not necessarily those of ShareSoc. A personal view from ShareSoc Director, Mark Bentley Nationwide has chosen to hold its AGM online only, this year on 15th July. I believe that this will be a controversial AGM, so it is disappointing that the directors have chosen not to face Nationwide’s members in person. The chief source of controversy, in my opinion, was the board’s decision to acquire Virgin Money, without consulting its members. Now, I ...

Press Release 129: Heather Benjamin to chair ShareSoc’s Board

Post Date: June 6, 2024

ShareSoc, the premier UK membership organisation for individual investors, is delighted to announce the appointment of Heather Benjamin as Chair of its Board of Directors. Following an executive career with Centrica, ultimately as Chief Procurement Officer, Heather has held a range of Chair and Non-Executive Director roles across private, public and voluntary organisations. She has been Chair of Air Ambulances UK and of Walsingham Support, which assists people with learning disabilities. She has worked for organisations with growth agendas across multiple sectors including ...

UK ISA: ShareSoc submits consultation response

Post Date: June 6, 2024

UK ISA is a good sign that Government is supportive of UK business and UK companies UK ISA needs a fillip to be fully effective. ShareSoc suggests • removal of stamp duty; and • much more financial education. ShareSoc is pleased to respond to this UK ISA consultation. We strongly suggest that the UK ISA is given a significant fillip by removing the 0.5% stamp duty on purchases of those shares within the UK ISA. Apart from ensuring there is a clear financial incentive to ...

SIGnet Investors Network Launches New Dividend Investing Group

Post Date: May 22, 2024

SIGnet is excited to announce the launch of a new online group for those interested in investing for dividend income. Investors of all levels of experience are welcome to join. The Convener of the group will be Keith Strong. Keith is an experienced investor and having recently retired, invests his pension funds in an income focussed portfolio comprising c25-30 stocks with good dividend yields. As well as UK income stocks, his portfolio also includes REITs, infrastructure funds and some investment trusts investing ...

SIGnet Investors Network Launches New Group in Enfield

Post Date: May 16, 2024

SIGnet is excited to announce the launch of a new in-person group based in Enfield. Investors of all levels of experience are welcome to join. The Convener of the new Enfield Group will be Pun Pandya. Pun recently joined SIGnet having relocated back to London after 27 years in New York where he had been working as an Equity Research Salesperson. His clients included analysts and portfolio managers at large US institutional fund managers (running mutual funds) and also large pension funds who managed ...

UK ISA – Is it a good idea?

Post Date: May 8, 2024

Below we summarise the government’s new UK ISA proposal and ask for members’ input. Your views and responses will inform our response to the consultation. The consultation can be read here (17pages). Key points: The government is looking to introduce the UK ISA. This will involve a new (additional) Individual Savings Account (ISA) allowance of £5,000 per year and will provide a tax-free savings opportunity for individuals to invest in the UK. The ISA is a tax advantaged savings account, where income ...

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