Category: Business

Smart Money

I cannot remember if I had an Irish Post Office savings account; I imagine I did. For sure my mother opened a British PO savings account for me on Eton High Street in 1967.

Empty Flats

Who is buying all the new flats being built all over London? The story was that they were being sold at around 10% below the offer price.

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I Told You So

Two years ago I told you so. Read Yellow Menace, one of my favourite posts from July 2016. A bit of Barmeath, a bit of Barons Court and a great number filmed on the Thames at the end.

Look at Glaxo

There are two ways of looking at GSK (Glaxo Smith Kline) shares. If you are a glass-half-empty type you lament that the price has been going sideways between £12 and £16 for the last ten years. On the other hand …

The English Philanthropist

At lunch last month with three readers, one mentioned Christopher Ondaatje. I had heard that rich Christopher has not got over his not-so-rich brother winning the Booker prize. But I was told that Christopher has another skill besides making a shedload of money as a stockbroker and publisher.

Retired

A few days ago I filled in my occupation as “retired”. On Monday morning my spirits lifted as I walked up the Thames to Richmond, musing that I am not retired.

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Red Notice

In 1969 I saw a film I have never forgotten, Z. It was the first film I’d seen that had a serious political message. It is about the assassination of a left wing Greek politician in 1963 by his right wing opponents and the government cover-up that ensued. The film is based on a book… Continue reading Red Notice

Rolls-Royce

A few days ago Warren East, chief executive of Rolls-Royce, announced that the company plans to make 4,600 workers redundant; 3,000 in the UK of which most are in Derby.

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Tunbridge Wells

Last year this mural was installed on Platform 2 at Tunbridge Wells station. The jovial fellow in yellow leaping in 1606 is Lord North.

Vietnam Again

On Tuesday I sold the rest of my holding in Shell and, sticking to the plan, reinvested in Vietnam. Previously I bought VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunities Fund (VOF) despite its high charges: 1.5% plus a performance fee.

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