Investing

France should be in a state of high excitement ahead of the start of the Paris Olympics later this month. Instead, the nation is in a state of turmoil following a deadlocked election. So what does this mean for Europe's pharmaceutical, software and other companies, which are seen as the nearest thing to America's 'Magnificent Seven' tech stocks? If you want to take a European flutter this Olympic summer, here's what you need to know.

Social media platforms such as Reddit are awash with investing ideas and advice, but investors are warned that much of this can be misleading - with some good examples too.

US investment giant BlackRock's proprietary research business has backed UK stocks to outperform, with foreign investors pulled in by 'relative political stability'. The BlackRock Investment Institute this week moved to an 'overweight' position on London-listed stocks on the basis that a new government with a sizeable majority will encourage investors to recognise 'attractive valuations'.

I am being left £10million, could I create an investment trust to manage it? I would like to manage my family's wealth and enable members of the family to have a stake in it. We speak to investment experts to find out how a reader inheriting a large sum can manage it.

Shareholders in the makers of weight-loss drug Ozempic have made huge profits. Now our award-winning Midas stock picking expert, Joanne Hart, unearths the companies working on potential blockbuster treatments of the future.

Choosing the right investing account is crucial to keep costs down and get the service you need, but a wealth of choice and a variety of charges can leave investors scratching their heads. We pick some of the best and highlight why investing in an Isa makes sense to protect your investments from tax.

A delve back into historical data shows that Labour has largely had positive returns when it's in office. In the past, Labour governments have delivered market returns of more than double that of the Conservatives, according to analysis by InvestEngine.

Britain's wealthiest households rushed to make swift but sweeping changes to their finances before the General Election, fearing the spectre of a Labour tax raid, from hikes to capital gains tax and the end of generous pension allowances to an attack on families' precious inheritances. Tax advisers and wealth managers who work with some of the richest households tell Mail+ exactly what those in the know have been doing behind the scenes, from maximising the amount in their pensions to paying their grandchildren's school fees early.

The manifesto was notably light on detail, but now the votes are in we will finally find out what Labour intends to do on regaining power after 14 years of Tory government. New Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged to prioritise economic growth. Here are the proposals we know about so far and the things that have been left unsaid and what Labour in power could mean for your finances.

For better or for worse, we have five years of a Labour government ahead of us. Although there is little doubt that life for prudent savers and investors will become increasingly difficult as Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves hits them with extra taxes, despair should not be the order of the day. Far from it. While the ability to shield personal wealth from tax will become trickier under Labour, the case for investing in stock markets remains robust. Investment opportunities, not just here in the UK but overseas, abound. It is a view held by many financial experts Wealth & Personal Finance spoke to in the wake of Labour's crushing victory at the polls yesterday.

I bought a designer bag from a second hand shop for £200. I thought it was quite expensive but loved it - and had a hunch it might be worth far more. Also, I decided that even if my hunch was wrong, I'd be left with a bag I absolutely adore. Did I get a bargain or did I overpay?

Taiwan dominates production of the computer chips powering the AI revolution that has driven tech shares to stunning heights. But what would happen to YOUR investments and pension if the Chinese invade? Global stock markets would tumble as disruption to global supply chains led to shortages of key components like microchips. This would mean higher prices for cars, computers and other consumer goods. As inflation takes hold, interest rates would rise, potentially plunging the global economy into recession.

I've collected 50p coins for quite some time and would love to know the value of what I have accumulated over time. I've seen some coins like the ones I have listed on various sites for £30,000 and other high values. Dan Hatfield delves into the world of coins.

The election campaign is almost over, so what should investors make of the likely outcome - a Labour majority if the polls are right. Susannah Streeter of Hargreaves Lansdown (left), says Labour seems intent on avoiding 'mini-Budget'-style turmoil. Stephen Yiu of the Blue Whale Growth fund (centre) says alaise is already baked into the UK market. And James Norton of Vanguard (right) explores the impact of elections on a 60% shares/40% bonds portfolio over the past 40 years.

Investors excited at the opportunities on offer must be prepared for global shocks that cause havoc in the airline industry, as Covid illustrated. Also, even before the announcement of the general election, Johan Lundgren of easyJet and Michael O'Leary of Ryanair sensed that some customers were becoming more resistant to high ticket prices. The suspicions surrounding the Labour government's true plans for tax rises may make more households wary about splashing out. Meanwhile, in the longer term, there is the possibility of further legislation to limit the environmental impact of flying. As a consequence of these factors, there is no guarantee of up-up-and-away performance, but there are bargains on offer.

Investing some of your hard-earned money in a portfolio of stock market-listed investment trusts makes sense on so many levels. Although investing is never without risk, we (the western world) are on the cusp of better economic times. Inflation is coming down (2 per cent in the UK) and while the Bank of England held off cutting interest rates on Thursday, lower interest rates - like Labour - are coming. When they arrive here, right across Europe and in the United States, they will provide the ideal backdrop for economic growth to prosper. Stock markets feed off such conditions.

The bond market crash in recent months has drawn attention to a little-known or understood investment strategy that many workers are 'defaulted' into in the run-up to retirement. Some older workers have discovered to their horror that they are sitting on huge losses right on the brink of retirement , which they might be forced to delay as a result. Here's what you need to know about pension lifestyling...

Global government bond markets are vast and affect everyone who pays tax, saves or invests. But it's often hard to tell what's going on when there's a surge in bond buying or a sell-off because the jargon used by industry insiders can be pretty impenetrable. We unscramble it here to help everyone else fathom what's going on.

Capital gains tax is levied on assets ranging from shares to second homes, buy-to-lets and personal possessions. Your main home that you live in, known as your Principal Private Residence, is exempt from CGT. That, plus an annual tax-free allowance of £12,300, has meant CGT is typically levied on wealthier taxpayers. However, radical future cuts to the CGT allowance announced in Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's cash grabbing Autumn Statement make it inevitable that many more people will have to pay it in future.

Homeowners with a mortgage face an ongoing financial dilemma - use any excess cash to pay down the debt or invest instead? It's a simple question, but the answer really depends on personal circumstances - and, very importantly, whether you are a risk taker or more risk averse, says Rob Morgan of Charles Stanley.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak recently announced his intention for school pupils to learn maths to age 18. So what would a real-world curriculum most useful to understanding personal finance look like? Becky O'Connor of PensionBee explains compound growth, pound-cost averaging, inflation and percentages, in a way anyone can grasp and apply to their own finances.

Tom Stevenson, investment director at Fidelity International, explains what you can learn from a balance sheet using drinks giant Britvic as his test case. Making sense of a balance sheet is important when you're deciding whether or not to buy shares, because you want to be sure a company you're investing in is financially sound.

We put this question to three top investing experts and their answers were six, 12, and a few dozen... However, they did all add essentially the same rider, 'it depends'. What it depends on is the level of diversification you manage to achieve with the shares you own, the amount of conviction you have in them, and whether you have the time and dedication to stay on top of your portfolio. Our experts offer plenty of practical advice on making a success of all the above, which should come in useful however many shares you hold.

Investment fund names are often a baffling mixture of impressive but vague words, which mean little to people who aren't already clued up on financial jargon. People hoping to boost their savings by buying a fund or trust face a steep learning curve, unless they're lucky enough to have a friend in the know or are willing to fork out fees to a financial adviser. We offer a short cut, and explain what all the fancy terms really mean.