Image source: Getty Images The stock market has become incredibly volatile over the past few weeks as investors worry about the possibility of an AI bubble. Given that ChatGPT’s ‘brain’ is built on gazillions of AI chips, it seemed fitting to ask it for a bit of clarity. Have I found it? Correction or crash? First, I asked the bot if we’re actually in an AI bubble that might cause a stock market crash. Yes, it told me confidently, there are “clear AI bubble signs“. These include “start-ups with no revenue getting $10bn valuations” and most companies now claiming to…
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Image source: Getty Images Investors looking to earn a second income through the stock market don’t strictly need to have a lot of cash available at the outset. But it can be a big help. Investing is a long-term activity, but the most important years are the early ones. It can feel like not a lot is happening, but they’re the years that make the most difference. Compounding returns A £20,000 investment that yields 6.5% annually returns £1,300 in the first year, which might not sound like much. But reinvesting over time can boost that number substantially. After 10 years…
Image source: Getty Images FTSE 250 natural gas giant Energean (LSE: ENOG) currently generates a massive 9.9% dividend yield. This derives from its $1.20 (92p) dividend last year and the present share price of £9.31. This far outstrips the FTSE 250’s 3.5% and the FTSE 100’s 3.1%. Indeed, there are very few shares of such quality that deliver such a return, in my view. But is this dividend yield outperformance set to continue? What’s the dividend yield outlook? Consensus analysts’ forecasts are that the firm will pay a 92p equivalent dividend again this year, and next. In 2027 though, this is…
Image source: Getty Images If I see a FTSE 100 stock that has lost almost half its value in a month, there’s usually a big story involved. Yet for an investor, it’s important to look beyond the media noise and determine whether the impact will be material. If it’s only a short-term problem, could it represent a smart buying opportunity? Let’s find out! The sharp fall I’m talking about the 24% drop in 3i Group (LSE:III). It’s a private equity investment business, meaning it buys and sells stocks that aren’t listed on the stock exchange. This can offer lucrative returns…
Image source: Getty Images HSBC’s (LSE: HSBA) share price has risen 49% from its 9 April 12-month traded low of £6.98. This probably looks a bit off-putting to some investors on the assumption that it surely cannot rise much further. Others might think now is the perfect time to jump on the bandwagon and ride the bullish momentum. But for me, these price-based views are irrelevant. The only thing that counts in my experience is whether there is any value left in the stock. So, is there, and how much? Pinning down ‘fair value‘ A discounted cash flow analysis of…
Image source: Getty Images Top-tier FTSE heavyweight Imperial Brands (LSE: IMB) has risen 28% in the past year. However, this does not mean the shares are left without any value in them. In fact, following its recent full-year 2025 results, I believe the company looks in very good shape. This should drive its earnings higher in the coming years, powering further share price gains. Along with other analysts, I also think the firm’s dividends will increase significantly too. This would seriously boost its existing credentials as a great stock to generate retirement income. So, what’s the growth story here, and…
Since turning 50, I have focused on high‑dividend FTSE 100 shares to fund my future retirement. I only wish I had started earlier, as time greatly boosts dividend returns. So, if I were starting my investment journey today, how much would I need to invest to secure the income I want? My benchmark retirement income The current UK State Pension is £11,973 a year, or £997.75 a month – call it £1,000. The Pensions and Lifetime Savings Association says the minimum required for one person to enjoy a ‘comfortable retirement’ is £43,900 a year, or £3,658 a month. That is…
Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) isn’t in the S&P 500, yet investors often compare it to one of the index’s big beasts — Amazon. Specifically, it gets called the ‘Amazon of Southeast Asia’. Unlike Amazon however, Sea’s stock isn’t near an all-time high. Because despite surging 261% in the past two years, it’s still 63% below a peak reached in late 2021. Let’s take a closer look at the ‘Amazon of Southeast Asia’ to see why I think this growth stock is worth considering buying today. Riding multiple growth waves Singapore-headquartered Sea is a technology conglomerate with three digital platforms: e-commerce (Shopee),…
Image source: Getty Images The FTSE 100 may have been volatile lately, but it’s still flirting with record highs. One company, battered and bruised after a couple of rough years, might now be engineering one of the most fascinating comeback stories in recent memory. Transformation The company in question is miner Anglo American (LSE: AAL). For years, it was criticised as a sprawling conglomerate struggling to define its identity. It’s now in the middle of a multi-year transformation, refocusing on premium iron ore and copper. This year, it spun off its platinum group metals business into Valterra Platinum and announced…
On paper, Austin has a long way to go towards Vision Zero. At least 75 people have died on the road in each of the 10 years since the Texas capital formally pledged to eliminate traffic fatalities and serious injuries; in 2024, 97 people were killed, an uptick of seven deaths from the year prior that city transportation officials say was avoidable and unacceptable.As those same officials look back over the last decade, though, they also say there’s a deeper story behind the statistics that deserves to be heard — especially by those growing impatient with the country’s slow progress to…