Pim van Vliet, PhD, is the author of High Returns from Low Risk: A Remarkable Stock Market Paradox with Jan de Koning. In the world of professional investing, a scary obsession has taken hold: the fixation on benchmarks and relative performance. This phenomenon, which I’m coining “benchmarkism,” is distorting incentives and pulling many institutional investors in the wrong direction. It’s time to explore how we can escape this benchmark trap for smarter investing where the focus is on stable long-term wealth growth. The Rise of the Benchmark The rise of investment benchmarks started in the late 19th century when Charles Dow…
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In a dramatic qualifying session for the Brazilian Grand Prix, Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Sergio Perez were unexpectedly knocked out in Q2 after a red flag delay. This was triggered when Lance Stroll crashed his Aston Martin on a wet track, leading to a 40-second delay before race director Niels Wittich called for a red flag. Verstappen was upset by the late red flag, arguing it should have been called immediately to avoid jeopardizing drivers still on track. Red Bull was particularly frustrated as the delay meant their drivers lost critical time to set competitive lap times, ultimately resulting…
Image source: Getty Images According to AJ Bell, the 2024 forecast dividend yield for the FTSE 100 is 3.7%. If I was able to achieve an identical return, I’d generate £740 a year in income from a £20,000 investment. But there are plenty of Footsie stocks offering higher yields. For example, Phoenix Group (LSE:PHNX) is currently yielding 10.75%. If this was sustained, a £20,000 lump sum would give me a second income of £2,150 a year, or £179 a month. Phoenix Group is the UK’s largest long-term savings and retirement business with over 12m customers. It has a strong portfolio…
At the 2023 SEMA show, Kia showcased two concept vehicles that emphasize rugged design and off-road capabilities, suggesting a focus on outdoor adventure. Named the “Advntr” and “Wkndr,” these vehicles cater to different aspects of camping and exploration. The Advntr is an off-road version of Kia’s electric EV9 SUV, while the Wkndr is based on Kia’s Purpose Beyond Vehicles (PBV) line, specifically modified to support a camping lifestyle. These concepts seem tailored for weekend warriors and off-grid enthusiasts, embodying the automaker’s vision for rugged, purpose-built electric adventure vehicles. The Advntr concept is an EV9 SUV modified to tackle tougher terrains.…
Several new guidelines for biodiversity credits were launched at COP16 in Cali, Colombia, where activists warned on risks to nature conservation efforts The emerging market in nature protection was all over Cali during the just-ended COP16 UN biodiversity summit, with new guidelines for biodiversity credits launched on the sidelines and campaigners pushing back against the idea. The so-called “biodiversity market” has risen in importance since the landmark Global Biodiversity Framework pact, adopted at COP15 in Montreal in 2022, which calls on countries to “stimulate” innovative finance options for nature including “biodiversity offsets and credits”. Some experts told Climate Home the…
As climate change worsens, the UN’s 29th annual climate conference, a.k.a. COP29, taking place from November 11 to 22, 2024, in Baku, Azerbaijan, is a crucial chance to boost global efforts to tackle this problem. With the world experiencing severe weather events and record-high emissions, the summit will focus on vital topics like climate funding, national goals, and ways to deal with climate damage. Nearly 200 countries will gather, and what happens here will shape international climate policies for years to come. Let’s break down all the important details you should know about this crucial climate talk. What Are the…
(Reuters) – U.S. energy firm Sempra missed Wall Street estimates for third-quarter profit on Wednesday, hurt by higher interest expenses and lower earnings from its utility businesses in Texas and California. Utilities are ramping up investments in their projects amid booming demand from data centers to power the artificial-intelligence wave, but elevated interest rates in the United States are eating into the companies’ margins. San Diego, California-based Sempra said its interest expense rose to $328 million for the third quarter, compared with $312 million a year earlier. The company, which serves about 40 million customers, posted an adjusted profit of…
By buying an index fund, you can roughly match the market return with ease. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. Just take a look at Molson Coors Beverage Company (NYSE:TAP), which is up 23%, over three years, soundly beating the market return of 12% (not including dividends). So let’s assess the underlying fundamentals over the last 3 years and see if they’ve moved in lock-step with shareholder returns. Check out our latest analysis for Molson Coors Beverage In his essay The Superinvestors of Graham-and-Doddsville Warren Buffett described how share prices do not…
Cryptocurrency is an intriguing frontier in the world of investing, and like many, I was initially skeptical. The idea of intangible, decentralized digital currency seemed far-fetched. But over the years, after taking the plunge myself, I’ve learned that there are both tremendous opportunities and significant risks involved in this space.My journey into crypto investing has been a roller coaster, filled with lessons learned the hard way. Here’s a firsthand account of the pros and cons of investing in cryptocurrency, along with some tips and insights for those considering diving in.A brief history of cryptocurrencyTo understand cryptocurrency, it’s essential to know…
By Davide Barbuscia NEW YORK (Reuters) – Newly elected U.S. President Donald Trump will face fiscal challenges that could threaten the country’s standing in the global debt markets, hurting investor appetite for the nation’s debt securities, and pushing government borrowing costs higher. U.S. budget deficits and government debt levels were largely projected to surge under either candidate in the Nov. 5 election, according to several estimates, although Democrat Kamala Harris was expected to add less debt than Trump. The prospect of rising government debt levels as Trump’s odds improved in recent weeks helped send U.S. government bond yields higher, as…