Pocketful of Dirhams

What millennials should do with their Covid cash piles

While the Covid-19 crisis has decimated the finances of some people, it has been kinder to others. Some have lost jobs or had their incomes slashed, while others have managed to retain the same wage level and actually build up a healthy savings pot because restrictions have prevented them from spending. 

So, how should the young handle their new Covid cash piles? With vaccinations set to ease restrictions in 2021, is now the time to splurge that cash or to build on that savings base?

Host Alice Haine from The National is joined by Iona Bain -- the founder of Young Money Agency and the author of Own It, set to be published on March 16 -- who offers her advice on the right path to take.

Can Artificial Intelligence make us better investors?

Investing your money is a tricky business, particularly when the financial markets are trying to factor in a global pandemic. Wild swings in equity prices can cause emotional reactions, with some investors buying or selling without thinking about the long-term implications. 

While an army of DIY investors in the UAE now adopt a long-term approach by investing in exchange-traded funds, others prefer a helping hand from either a regulated financial adviser or digital investment platforms, known as robo-advisers. But, how about taking it one step further and using the power of Artificial Intelligence to ensure our investment decisions stay in line with our rational values?

Host Alice Haine is joined by Mehdi Fichtali, the founder of Finamaze, a new hybrid human AI robo-asset manager, which launched in Abu Dhabi in November.

Is now the time to invest in post-Brexit Britain?

The UK left the European Union on January 1, more than four years after the country voted to leave the economic bloc in a 2016 referendum. Britain’s exit from the EU comes at a very challenging time for the country’s economy. Not only are businesses adapting to a raft of new rules from the trade deal, they are also enduring a third national lockdown in England as the surge in Covid-19 cases intensifies.

Britain’s economy is expected to contract by about 11 per cent in 2020 because of the effects of the pandemic, with the recovery in the first half of this year set to be very limited. Despite all the gloom, the benchmark FTSE 100 Index secured its best start to a year on record. So, does post-Brexit Britain present a lucrative opportunity for investors?

Host Alice Haine is joined by Stephane Monier, chief investment officer at Swiss Bank Lombard Odier, who guides listeners through the investment opportunities post-Brexit Britain presents.

Can Bitcoin’s value really soar to $400,000?

After soaring 300 per cent last year, Bitcoin’s value is still on the rise, as investors pile funds into the leading cryptocurrency. The prices of many other digital coins have also increased sharply, as cryptocurrencies experience a mini boom. While some analysts are making wild predictions about Bitcoin’s price rising as high as $400,000 from its position of about $31,000 at the time of recording, new investors should tread cautiously.

In December 2017, one Bitcoin was worth almost $20,000, up around 1,900 per cent from the start of the year before plummeting in value in early 2018 leaving some investors badly burnt. So will this time be different? And, what is the advice for investors looking to add Bitcoin to their portfolio now?

Host Alice Haine of The National is joined by Gaurav Kashyap, market strategist at Equiti Global Markets, who shares his advice on how to invest in Bitcoin.