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Google faces its first real challenge

Company executives should work with markets

While it may be a little misleading to suggest that Google has never faced any “real” challenges before, the difficulties surrounding the company’s advertising services is perhaps the most challenging to date. As we have covered in some recent articles, YouTube and Google website advertising services have come under severe criticism from governments and major corporate entities around the world. The problem is that some online adverts have mistakenly been matched with extremist and inappropriate websites/content where the website site/YouTube channel owners receive a share of Google’s income. So, as bizarre as it sounds, governments and corporate entities around the world may have inadvertently been funding extremist activities.

What can Google do?

Historically many companies the size of Google and with its reputation and influence often try to brush issues such as the advertising service difficulties under the carpet. Sometimes companies are so influential that they can get away with this but credit to Google the company has apologised, promised additional investment and held its hands up. Critics would suggest this is all good and well but Google has inadvertently been earning income from unsuitable third-party websites and sharing income with inappropriate website owners. So what can Google do now? Continue reading “Google faces its first real challenge”

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McDonalds reinvents itself to survive

Worldwide economic growth could half

While it began life as a barbecue restaurant in the 1940s the McDonald’s fast-food chain is often cited as the face of “capitalism” around the world. There are very few, if any, of the world’s major cities which do not have a McDonald’s and while the company has received massive criticism over the years it has been extremely successful. This is a company which reinvents itself time and time again in a bid to survive the changing trends in health and diet.

Moving with the times

There are obviously many diet fads which come and go but if you notice many of the so-called “fads” which survive in the longer term at taken up by McDonald’s. If we look at the move to less processed food, healthy salads and reduce salt and sugar, these are just some of the trends which have developed around the world. In many ways you could argue that McDonald’s helps to spread the word about these changing trends but in reality the company simply tweaks its profile on a regular basis and effectively reinvents itself. Continue reading “McDonalds reinvents itself to survive”

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Tax planning for your family

Do tax havens impact stock markets?

Wherever your tax status resides there will be an array of different actions you can take to assist your family when you are alive and when you are passed away. Many people ignore tax planning and “cross that bridge when they come to it” but by the time it come it can be too late and your tax liability may have increased dramatically. It is therefore imperative that you consider tax planning for your family as early as possible.

Investment vehicles

Any tax planning you take will depend upon your own personal financial situation and those of your family. There are companies and specific investment vehicles you can use to minimise your tax going forward and also minimise any potential inheritance tax. The rate of inheritance tax and the level at which it comes in varies from country to country so you need to take professional financial advice. It is not enough to consider inheritance tax further down the line because you could already have built up a potentially large tax liability. Continue reading “Tax planning for your family”

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How did Google takeover the Internet?

Retail market

While it may be a little over the top to suggest that Google has taken over the Internet there is no doubt that Google leads where the rest follow. This is a company which has seen its adjusted share price increase from $50 up to $800 plus in less than a decade. Just when the markets start to write off the company it becomes back with a refreshing and innovative services giving analysts much to look forward to. So, how did Google manage to take over the Internet and leave other more established companies in its wake?

Search engines

While the likes of Microsoft and Yahoo were for many years the leading search engines around the world both of them lost their way. At this moment the new kid on the block in the shape of Google took advantage of lost momentum, confused business objectives and the slow reaction to market changes. Very quickly the company became “trendy” and even today many people prefer to ask “Mr Google” when they have a question. Continue reading “How did Google takeover the Internet?”

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Early funding investments and the risk/reward ratio

Should ground-breaking pharmaceutical companies be listed?

Only a few weeks ago we saw the flotation of Snapchat which came in with a $20 billion market capitalisation. There was talk of multibillionaires buying property on Silicon Beach including not only the original founders but early funding investors. This all makes great reading for the general public although in many ways it can make early funding investment successes seem more commonplace than they really are – and perhaps easier than you could ever imagine. Early funding investments carry a very different risk/reward ratio to those we see on the stock market.

Early funding opportunities

If you have access to early funding investment opportunities there is nothing wrong in considering these in the context of your overall portfolio risk/reward ratio. The simple fact is that the greater the potential reward the higher the potential risk. That is simply the way things are, those willing to take a risk early in the life of the company are more likely to lose than gain but when things do go right they can go right in spectacular fashion! Continue reading “Early funding investments and the risk/reward ratio”

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Healthcare vote delay concerns investors

Are Apple and Tesla a match made in heaven?

Even though the Dow Jones industrial average fell for the sixth straight day in a row the falls are not yet material. We all know that the stock market has risen significantly since Donald Trump moved into the White House, much of this on hopes that he would push through radical new policies. One such policy is the reform of Obama’s healthcare system. So, why is the healthcare vote delay concerning investors?

Is this a sign of things to come?

One of the main topics in the presidential election campaign was the healthcare system and what Donald Trump would do to change it. With the Republican Party now camped in the White House and the majority party in the House of Senate many people automatically assumed legislation would pass through without any questions. However, a delay in the healthcare vote is causing concern about the wider prospects for the future. Continue reading “Healthcare vote delay concerns investors”

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Are celebrity investors worth more than money for young start-ups?

What does 2020 hold for the US stock market?

Over the last few weeks we have published a number of articles discussing celebrity investors and what part they can play in the early life of a young start-up. Only yesterday we published an article about how many famous celebrities turned to the franchise system to build significant business empires. We have the likes of Ashton Kutcher leveraging his wealth and his ambition to create an enormous and growing business portfolio. So, are celebrity investors worth more than money for young start-ups?

The oxygen of publicity

You only need to read the financial papers to see how much publicity a celebrity investor can bring to a promising young start-up company. The oxygen of publicity should never be underestimated and the fact these celebrities have invested cold hard cash suggests they will do what they can to make it successful. However, those who believe that publicity is all it needs to make a company successful need to think again! Continue reading “Are celebrity investors worth more than money for young start-ups?”

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Famous celebrities making money from franchises

Property investors eyeing US real estate bargains

Many people automatically assume that franchisees struggled to make good money because the vast majority goes to the franchise company. There are obviously supply contracts and various literature and products which need to be bought from the parent company but many famous celebrities are making good money from franchises. So, which famous celebrities are making money from multiple franchises?

Shaquille O’Neal

The former NBA star is more than just an athlete living up to his quote at the NCAA annual convention in 2013. It was there that he told people when doing business with him they should see him has a businessman and not an athlete. So what has he done in his business career? He is rumoured to own 155 Five Guys Burgers and Fries restaurants, 17 Auntie Anne’s Pretzels franchises as well as 40 24-Hour Fitness Clubs. If anybody sees him as “just an athlete” they need to think again! Continue reading “Famous celebrities making money from franchises”

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Is it time to look at the US real estate market again?

Donald Trump’s real estate assets back in focus

As the US stock market continues to go from strength to strength many investors are still chasing the final flickers of this Trump rally. While there is no suggestion that the US stock market will experience a major correction in the short term, there is speculation there could be a period of consolidation while investors wait for Donald Trump to deliver on his economic promises. This then begs the question, if there is long-term potential for the US economy and stock markets are riding high, is it not time to look again at the US real estate market?

Banking on Donald Trump delivering

There is no doubt that Donald Trump has some major plans for the US economy, suggesting he can increase economic growth to 4% from a forecast of less than 2%. During his presidential election campaign he promised time and time again to reduce red tape for business, protect US companies and place the US workforce at the head of the queue. At the moment Donald Trump is fighting fires with concerns about overseas relationships and the ongoing rumours surrounding his alleged connections with Russia. At some point he will need to get round to detailing his economic policies because stock markets are banking on significant changes in the short to medium term. Continue reading “Is it time to look at the US real estate market again?”

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Apple shares flirt with new high

Stock markets

While Apple has a multibillion dollar war chest to expand the company, and there are concerns about the life of its current product portfolio, the shares are now flirting with an all-time high. Now over $140 they have fallen back a couple of dollars from their all-time high but many analysts expect a renewed push in the short term. So, why are Apple shares flirting with a new high?

New hardware

If there is one company which is an expert at managing expectations it has to be Apple. We have had months of no news from the company, speculation in the press and now it appears that next week could see the launch of the new iPad. Many people believe this is the main reason the share price has pushed to an all-time high but there does seem to be more behind-the-scenes – although history does show that new product launches coincide with a strong share price. Continue reading “Apple shares flirt with new high”