It is perverse that markets have reacted quite so badly to the disinflationary boost from the oil price drop. Unfortunately, it has badly unsettled investor confidence on other fronts and the current (expected) sell-offs in the FTSE and the S&P 500 indices are the result.

Beaufort Securities acts as broker to PCG Entertainment on its Admission to AIM (Correction) Beaufort Securities acts as broker to PCG Entertainment (PCGE.L) on its Admission to AIM PCG Entertainment Overview PCG Entertainment Plc (PCGE.L) is a Gibraltar incorporated holding company formed to capitalise on the significant opportunities in the gaming and entertainment industries in […]

The Islamic financial services sector has grown considerably since the 1990s when there were only a few products available to investors. Today there are plenty of interesting products to choose from and more are expected following the government’s recent announcement of further steps to cement Britain’s position as a western hub for Islamic finance.

Beaufort research analyst, Harry Stevenson speaking with Lincoln Moore (Executive Director) and Andrew Tillery (Non-Executive Chairman) of DekelOil Public Limited (DKL.L) on TipTV.co.uk (Source: www.tiptv.co.uk) – 05/11/2014

DirectorsTalk Catches up with Lincoln Moore, Executive Director at DekelOil plc (LSE:DKL) to discuss takeovers and output expectations going forward. (Source: www.directorstalk.com) – 28/10/2014

By Mike Franklin, Chief Investment Strategist Since mid-May 2014, the FTSE 100 Index has fallen by around 10% to the 6,100 level. It is a sobering reminder of the enduring truth of the financial world that, whatever you think it may be worth, the value of an asset at a particular point in time is […]

The widening triangle analysis has served us well in the past few months and helped to identify the 14th May as a possible recent market peak and guided us to use the last rally to raise liquidity. The charts of the FTSE 100 Index below show that we are now just below the bottom of the triangle on a closing price basis so today’s closing level may be very important. This coincides with the market having become oversold.

Now that the long term (bull market) trend line since March 2009 has been broken, it may be appropriate to circulate the chart below showing how the 2007 to 2009 bear market emerged for anyone who has forgotten.

Beaufort research analyst, Barry Gibb speaking about Smith & Nephew (SN..L), Kingfisher (KGF.L), Fox Marble Holdings (FOX.L) and Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO.L) on TipTV.co.uk (Source: www.tiptv.co.uk) – 16/09/2014

If there is a ‘Yes’ Vote on Thursday there are a number of worries about British Companies domiciled in Scotland and a number of these Companies have commented about moving their HQs to England. Indeed, a high profile former deputy leader of the Scottish National Party has indicated that banks face a ‘day of reckoning’, adding that the oil major BP (BP..L) would need ‘to learn the meaning of nationalisation in part or in whole’, after a Yes vote. The Yes Campaign has allegedly distanced themselves from his comments.

Beaufort research analyst, Harry Stevenson speaking about Falkland Island exploration stocks including Rockhopper Exploration (RKH.L), Argos Resources (ARG.L), Borders & Southern Petroleum (BOR.L), Falkland Islands Holdings (FKL.L), Falkland Oil & Gas (FOGL.L) and Premier Oil (PMO.L) on TipTV.co.uk (Source: www.tiptv.co.uk) – 12/09/2014

According to Michael Franklin, chief investment strategist at Beaufort Securities Ltd, U.K. stocks may have passed their peak bringing an end to a five-year bull market. He says investor sentiment is “quite fragile” due to geopolitical tensions in Gaza, Ukraine and Iraq. He speaks with Jonathan Ferro on Bloomberg Television’s “On the Move.” (Source: Bloomberg) – 21/08/2014

Beaufort Chief Investment Strategist, Mike Franklin speaking about the prospects for the FTSE100 index near the historic highs on TipTV.co.uk (Source: www.tiptv.co.uk) – 19/08/2014

Beaufort research analyst, Harry Stevenson speaking with Robert Proctor (CEO) and Rodger Sargent (Non-Executive) from AudioBoom (BOOM.L) on TipTV.co.uk (Source: www.tiptv.co.uk) – 06/08/2014

Beaufort research analyst, Harry Stevenson speaking about Cyan Holdings (CYAN.L) and Chariot Oil & Gas (CHAR.L) on TipTV.co.uk (Source: www.tiptv.co.uk) – 25/07/2014

Investors are currently confronted by a smorgasbord of competing reasons to be cautious about the future trend of markets while arguments continue about which basis of equity valuation justifies present index levels.

Beaufort Securities Chief Investment Strategist Michael Franklin discusses the impact of real estate on the markets and his subsequent investing strategy. He speaks with Anna Edwards on Bloomberg Television’s “On The Move.” (Source: Bloomberg) – 26/06/2014

Beaufort broker, Basil Petrides discusses Tesco Q1 Trading Figures on BBC Radio 5 Live’s ‘Wake Up to Money’ – Wednesday, 4th June 2014

Beaufort broker, Basil Petrides discusses AstaZeneca’s proposed takeover by Pfizer on the BBC World News “World Business Report” – 12/05/2014

In the same way that, over time, peasant farmers are tempted to cultivate their crops increasingly higher on the lava-enriched terraces on the side of volcanoes, it is important to keep an eye on the frequency of plumes out of the crater. Just as we are becoming used to the notion of economic recovery in the UK, it may seem counterintuitive to have to contemplate a sharp fall in equity markets. Unfortunately, however, the technical evidence for such a scenario is mounting. The implication is a breakdown in confidence, regardless of investors’ views of fundamental factors such as corporate earnings and global growth.

Zahid Mahmood, Investment Adviser at Beaufort Securities, discusses global markets on CNBC Arabia’s “Bursat” – 12/03/2014

At a stroke, the latest Budget has ushered in an era of dramatically new flexibility for savers and investors. Subject to how these will be specifically implemented in the months ahead, some broad inferences can be drawn…

Michael Franklin, Chief Investment Strategist at Beaufort Securities, discusses the impact of Fed monetary policy on world markets. He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s “On The Move.” – 28/02/2014

Life beyond tapering By Mike Franklin, Investment Strategist So, finally, the Federal Reserve Bank has decided to begin tapering and, we have been assured, both Ben (Bernanke) and Janet (Yellen) were both behind the decision so there is no need to speculate otherwise once the new Governor assumes her office in February. Given the grounds […]

As a special treat for the holiday season, we have produced a spreadsheet carrying data for the FTSE 350 Index – click here to view it. On the basis that successful investment for long-only investors still involves buying low and selling high, it is interesting to note how equities in the FTSE 350 Index have performed over the past year up to the close of 18th December 2013 ahead of the Fed’s policy announcement.

Michael Franklin, Investment Strategist at Beaufort Securities, offers his investment strategy on bonds, opportunities in China and the Royal Mail IPO. He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s “On The Move.”

Michael Franklin, Investment Strategist at Beaufort Securities, discusses the markets’ reaction to the U.S. government shutdown and his view of GOP Representatives holding economies ‘hostage’. He speaks on Bloomberg Television’s “On The Move.”

Bond and equity markets have become particularly twitchy in recent weeks as investors try to adjust to the prospect of reduced Quantitative Easing (‘tapering’) by the U.S. Federal Reserve Bank. The non-farm payroll number for May due to be released later today is widely expected to show a rise over April of around 163,000.

Global Equity markets have been spooked this morning after a few weeks of growing concern that they might be running too far ahead of events. The more overbought they become, the more susceptible to bad news they become. The sequence of events is broadly as follows…

The attached charts show:- a) The FTSE 100 Index with rises since 1994 (for context). The bottom-to-top rises have been 140%, 104% and (so far) 91%; b) Inflation (Retail Price Index); c) FTSE 100 since September 2000 (all-time index closing high at 6,798.10 on 4th September 2000). This demonstrates how much inflation is in the current index valuation. In itself, it does not mean that the index is necessarily undervalued.