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The spat between the USA and China initiated by President Trump’s decision to introduce increased levies on around $50 billion worth of Chinese imports is currently being played out mainly in financial markets. This is bringing stock market investors into the dispute with particular sectors and companies that new import taxes being introduced by both sides leading to panic and significant share price swings in recent days. Those investing online in companies that sell the areas affected are panic selling as both sides announce new levies.

For the millions around the world investing online in equities, as well as professional institutional investors, Tesla has offered an enticing combination of qualities. Elon Musk is nothing if not a master of convincing investors to back his vision of business concepts that are presented as an intoxicating combination of potentially huge profits while changing the world for the better. The traditional automotive manufacturers are specialists in engine technology for the age of fossil fuels, that will soon be replaced by renewables. Tesla, so the promise is presented, will dominate the new electric and driverless car market that will soon become a reality.

While they should always be taken within the context of ‘ideas’, rather than recommendations, newspaper share tipping columns can be a great resource for the DIY investor. The companies highlighted may or may not have a natural place within your particular portfolio and you also may or may not agree with the analysis and forward-looking optimism behind the suggestions.

The UK appears to be in the grips of a subscription addiction that fortunately doesn’t involve pharmaceuticals. Products as a subscription is the latest business model trend and it’s taking off in a big way. Companies that focus on recurring revenue streams are also popular with investors. From SEIS and EIS investors looking for promising startups to back for the chance of a risky but tax-efficient shot at a big win to stock market investors, subscription-based models are in vogue.

ICOs are an investment raising vehicle used by cryptocurrency and Blockchain companies to fund projects. They are a little like an IPO in the sense that those investing online in an ICO receive a cryptocurrency token that is then traded on an exchange. They are different to an IPO in that most ICO projects have no track record as a business model, the tokens are not equity nor come with any of the rights that entails and are not regulated so there are no real standards around how companies can present their investment offer. They are a bit like high-tech crowdfunding, but the investment should, if all goes well, be a lot more liquid.

Philip Hammond made his first Spring Budget announcement today in his role as Chancellor of the Exchequer, the role he has occupied since June last year. No big changes for those investing online were announced in his inaugural Autumn budget, unlike previous years when changes to ISA and SIPP allowances and cuts to tax breaks for buy-to-let landlords have been communicated.

By now most UK investors and savers are familiar with the tax advantages that come with their annual ISA and SIPP allowance. The former means up to £20,000 a year saved in cash or investments benefits from no tax being subsequently due on returns and interest. SIPPs, with a £40,000 allowance, though that can go down to £10,000 if you are a high earner, offer similar protection to returns and also come with a 20% rebate on income tax paid. The bad news is the capital is tied up until you are at least 55.

Intro
By the end of 2017, $4 billion worth of investment capital had been raised by Blockchain start-ups and growth companies through Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). To put that into context, $4 billion amount to twice the value of the total investment Blockchain projects have attracted from Venture Capital. Given that Blockchain projects have arguably taken poll position ahead of machine learning, AI and big data as the hot tech investment area VCs are hunting for opportunities in, that is quite some achievement.

Changes to the EIS scheme that encourages private investment in promising UK start-up and growth companies announced in last year’s autumn budget were largely considered at the time as a positive development. Phillip Hammond, the incumbent Chancellor of the Exchequer raised the investment allowance eligible to benefit from the scheme’s tax breaks to £2 million a year from £1 million. EIS investors gain tax relief of 30% of their initial investment into companies raising capital through the scheme. In the event of the investment proving unsuccessful and a loss having to be subsequently written off, much of that is also subsequently tax deductible, significantly reducing the risk profile of EIS investments.

It’s the worst nightmare of anyone who has been diligently investing online into a SIPP or through a workplace pension over the years but it has been reported there is currently a spate of foreign-based fraudsters targeting British pension pots. A report in The Times newspaper today claims Brits are being conned out of half a million pounds a day by criminals using the guise of well-known investment companies.