Why Are Alternative Investments Coming To The Fore?
The last few months has seen investors tempted into some areas of the investment world which seldom see the headlines as well as some which always come to the fore in troubled times. We have seen investments such as stamps, currency, farming commodities, gold and wine come to the table but there has also been increased interest in the caravan sector as more Brits decide to stay at home for their holidays. Are these alternative investments worth looking at or are investors just clutching at straws?
It has to be said that the likes of gold and currencies have always attracted investors in troubled times but we are now seeing major interest in some weird and wonderful sectors as an alternative to more traditional areas such as the stock market and property.
Many of the investments mentioned have a degree of 'safe haven' status in the eyes of the investment community and offer a useful hedge when inflation is rising - gold has always benefitted from sporadic burst of inflation as has the wine market. The farming commodities market is generally a little more mixed but of late it has reacted to increased worldwide demand and the increasing popularity of crop based fuels, which are impacting upon the supply demand balance. As you will no doubt have seen in the investment arena, different times call for different investments and as you can literally gain exposure to any industry or commodity you choose, there are many to choose from!
Share this..
Related stories
Gold ETCs gain nine-figure inflows
Cautious investors are moving into gold, new figures suggest.US firm ETF Securities has said that there have been over £115 million of inflows into physical gold-backed ETCs over the past week.These are a type of investment vehicle attached to identifiable gold bars - in other words, assets which are unable to default.This "flight to safety" came following a week of huge drops on share indices wo...
Read MoreScottish economy showing signs of weakness
Only six months ago it was predicted that the Scottish economy would decline by 3.1% this year although today the Ernst & Young Scottish ITEM club have released a new forecast suggesting that the Scottish economy will fall by 4.9% this year and grow by just 0.7% next year. This compares to a fall of 4.6% in the overall UK economy and forecast growth of 1.1% next year in the UK. While these figures...
Read MoreAre smart meters just another form of Big Brother is watching you?
Over the last few years we have seen microchips stapled to the bottom of our wheelie bins, the introduction of CCTV cameras on every corner of every street (the UK has the most CCTV cameras in the world per square mile) and more and more onerous laws and regulations so the authorities can keep an eye on us. Would a smart meter be another way for the government, the energy companies and the regulat...
Read MoreInheritance tax, council tax and stamp duty get Britain's goat
Inheritance tax, council tax and stamp duty are top of the list of the UK's tax bugbears, according to a survey released today.With only days to go until Mr Brown's eleventh budget, more than 90 per cent of Britons feel they do not get value for money for their taxes, according to the survey from personal finance website, Fool.co.uk While inheritance tax, council tax and stamp duty were the most b...
Read MoreDoes the stock market look good value at the moment?
After one of the worst years in the history of the UK economy the UK stock market is battered and bruised but still alive and kicking. Many of the best known names in the UK economy have gone, others are seemingly on their last legs so how do you get the best and safest exposure to the market?
While it is imperative that you take professional advice before investing any money into...