Uttoxeter Online Magazine

This week’s Bulletin which contains the following points:

Positive economic data from the US gave a boost to markets last week, encouraging hopes that the world's largest economy was still on track to grow at around 2.5% this year.
In Europe, successful government bond sales by Spain and Italy also went down well with investors with both auctions oversubscribed, enabling yields to fall back and soothing investors’ concerns.
However on Friday, rumours of a possible downgrade by agency Standard & Poor's for France and Austria,  took some of the shine off share prices as markets reacted to the news. S&P confirmed the downgrades only after the close of markets. Notwithstanding the response today by the markets has been muted, implying that the 'news' has already been discounted.
Greece also took centre stage on Friday as talks with its international creditors, who have been taking a tougher line, broke down; although Athens said that it was confident a solution would ultimately be worked out.
The downgrades for France et al mean that the firepower of the eurozone's bail-out fund - the EFSF - might be diluted as it calls into question the ability of contributing members to underwrite the guarantees given by the fund.
Overall reaction from the European financial markets has been muted even though Asian markets fell around 1% after playing 'catch-up' from Friday, giving further grounds for believing that investors were expecting the downgrades and that Greece will do a deal with its creditors.
The case for the eurozone surviving is reflected on by THS Partners who believe the region will ultimately become one of the world's great growth opportunities.
As the Bank of England once more holds interest rates at 0.5% savers are given no respite and we look at why investors should continue to look at the case for equity income investing as part of the solution.
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( The complete text of this weeks Financial Bulletin can be downloaded as a 'pdf' file here. )

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Extract from this weeks Financial Marketing Bulletin, issued by RBA Wealth Management Ltd.

To see the full Financial Briefing Note and to sign up to receive them automatically each week

visit their web site : www.rbawealthmanagement.com or call  01889 568444 

This week’s Bulletin which contains the following points:

The New Year continued on the front foot as fresh signs that the US economy was gaining traction outweighed lingering concerns about Europe’s debt problems.

The level of unemployment in the US Is now at its lowest since February 2009 and will provide a lift for President Obama, who has faced a stubbornly high level of unemployment since taking office.

The immediate focus for investors in Europe seems to be on France and its continued quest to keep hold of its AAA rating. Markets will also be keeping a close eye on the Italian and Spanish bond auctions on Thursday, particularly after France’s efforts last week.

It is extremely difficult to make predictions for the short term, even over the course of 12 months, and to illustrate this, we take a look at predictions for 2012 as well as look back to analyst forecast for 2011.
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( The complete text of this weeks Financial Bulletin can be downloaded as a 'pdf' file here. )

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Extract from this weeks Financial Marketing Bulletin, issued by RBA Wealth Management Ltd.

To see the full Financial Briefing Note and to sign up to receive them automatically each week

visit their web site : www.rbawealthmanagement.com or call  01889 568444 

Tthis week’s Financial Bulletin contains the following points:

2011 is probably a year most investors wish to forget; one which witnessed high volatility amidst the eurozone sovereign debt crisis and left global markets suffering from crisis fatigue.

However not all asset classes suffered - high quality government bonds did very well and not all equity markets fell. The Dow Jones index of super blue-chip US companies actually ended the year higher. Anyone investing in a balanced portfolio with an income bias would have most likely been surprised on the upside

With the eurozone crisis unresolved there will, almost without doubt, be continued uncertainty this year and we mull over some of the most likely questions investors may be concerned about. Despite continued uncertainty, for those investors taking a pragmatic approach there are positive solutions in the form of diverse portfolios which can offer investors some degree of confidence in the year ahead.

To start the New Year, a number of our managers give their views on the outlook for equity markets.

( The complete text of this weeks Financial Bulletin can be downloaded as a 'pdf' file here. )

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Extract from this weeks Financial Marketing Bulletin, issued by RBA Wealth Management Ltd.

To see the full Financial Briefing Note and to sign up to receive them automatically each week

visit their web site : www.rbawealthmanagement.com or call  01889 568444 

Tthis week’s Financial Bulletin contains the following points:

Disappointment over the failure of the US Federal Reserve to announce a further programme of quantitative easing overshadowed better than expected US unemployment data, the number of Americans claiming benefit fell to the lowest level since 2008. There was good news on the inflation front for the UK where the consumer price index fell for the second consecutive month to 4.8%. Overall, global equity markets gave ground on the week as investors once more opted for safer havens such as the US dollar and Treasury bonds.

Worries over the eurozone resurfaced once more as markets looked for more details - not forthcoming - from EU leaders on their latest 'grand bargain' to sort out the sovereign debt crisis. Tensions were raised when rating agency Standard & Poor's warned that 15 of the region's 17 members might suffer a downrating in coming months, including France which caused a backlash as President Sarkozy questioned why the UK, with a worse fiscal deficit, was not in the firing line.

One aspect that has upset the markets is the failure of the ECB to use its firepower by buying up sovereign bonds - however the Bank has made available unlimited cheap money for banks to borrow giving rise to a new 'carry trade' whereby banks borrow at 1% and buy, for example, Italian bonds yielding over 6%. Whilst not a solution to the crisis it might buy more time for EU leaders to resolve the crisis long term.

China's property market is in the spotlight following signs that its speculative bubble might be bursting with prices falling last month. Beijing has been under pressure to lower prices because most Chinese have no chance of buying a home at current inflated prices. The concern is though that the property sector accounts for 13% of GDP and is therefore pivotal not just to China's growth but global growth too.

Lastly, looking ahead, we discuss ways investors can create more certain investment outcomes by ensuring they diversify their assets in a structured way to reduce risk and volatility.

Please note the next Bulletin will be 3 January 2012.

( The complete text of this weeks Financial Bulletin can be downloaded as a 'pdf' file here. )

______________________________________________________________________________

Extract from this weeks Financial Marketing Bulletin, issued by RBA Wealth Management Ltd.

To see the full Financial Briefing Note and to sign up to receive them automatically each week

visit their web site : www.rbawealthmanagement.com or call  01889 568444 

Famous People Cryptic Quiz

Can you work out the Celebrities from past and present with the help of the following clues?
You may find it useful to write down each part of the clue as you solve it
Eg. Wind indicators, initially South African, with a colourful burial place =
Vanes + SA + Red Grave = Vanessa Redgrave
Most are easier than this example

One entry from those with most correct answers will be drawn on 17 January 2012 will win a cash prize of £50.
All remaining donations will go to Uttoxeter Rotary Local & International Charities.

•  1 .  Mad king in a shrub
  2.   Lionhearted chap with a sort of tub and a dad's lad
  3.   One male with his Irish father grip tight to something
  4.   Rip off leg joint in a telephone box
  5.   New testament book comes fourth - and is then injured
  6.   Canadian city coupled with a root vegetable
  7.   Israelites Decker gets an honourable second division of the second class 
  8.   Steal a mouse’s home for a child and grown-up
  9.   Steal cattle from a well-known commercial name
  10.  Steal from girl at her wedding - it's not off
  
        ... contd. .......... 

The full 60 questions and official entry form can be downloaded as a 'pdf' document here.

Tthis week’s Financial Bulletin contains the following points:

Despite a volatile week, stocks closed the week on a positive note amid hope that Europe's efforts would work.

Attention continues to be on the eurozone summit in Brussels, intended to provide a solution to the crisis in bank funding.

Who wants what from the summit though? Many major nations have their own agendas, including the UK.

Neil Woodford provides his thoughts on the current economic conditions, and provides an insight into why he believes that there are still opportunities in blue-chip companies.

( The complete text of this weeks Financial Bulletin can be downloaded as a 'pdf' file here. )

______________________________________________________________________________

Extract from this weeks Financial Marketing Bulletin, issued by RBA Wealth Management Ltd.

To see the full Financial Briefing Note and to sign up to receive them automatically each week

visit their web site : www.rbawealthmanagement.com or call  01889 568444

Fully Serviced    Various sizes    Central Uttoxeter location    Allocated car parking

01889 566774

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Global equity markets enjoyed one of their best weekly rallies in over two years last week with most major indices up around 7%. The gains followed two weeks of losses and came after a group of the world’s Central Banks announced a concerted package of help to increase liquidity for European banks.

Up until Wednesday, the cost of borrowing dollars to fund liabilities had become excessively onerous for European financial institutions and increasingly they were relying on the European Central Bank as a source of borrowing. To counteract this freezing of liquidity the US Federal Reserve announced it was cutting the rate at which it lent dollars to the ECB by 0.5% which would mean the Bank could then lend at lower rates to European banks.

At the same time China announced that it had reduced the level of reserves banks needed to keep available – partly down to a belief that Beijing had finally controlled inflation and partly down to concerns about slowing global growth.

In the eurozone, finance ministers agreed to guarantee up to 30% of the value of new bonds issued by problem members thus effectively boosting the available size of the eurozone bail-out fund. Along side this the market sensed that finally a workable plan was evolving to address the eurozone crisis and most likely include German wishes for closer fiscal unity for the 17 eurozone members. Angela Merkel made clear her determination to keep the euro and introduce Treaty changes to bring about greater fiscal rectitude.

Whilst eurozone policymakers may have been in turmoil, European companies have been quietly going about their business, boosting their balance sheets and growing their order books – SW Mitchell explain what is happening down on the ground in corporate Europe.

We explain how investors can implement a successful strategy to combat volatile markets.

( The complete text of this weeks Financial Bulletin can be downloaded as a 'pdf' file here. )

______________________________________________________________________________

Extract from this weeks Financial Marketing Bulletin, issued by RBA Wealth Management Ltd.

To see the full Financial Briefing Note and to sign up to receive them automatically each week

visit their web site : www.rbawealthmanagement.com or call  01889 568444

Ahead of the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement tomorrow, we have included the first in a series of articles written for us by Dr Andrew Sentance, Senior Economic Adviser at PricewaterhouseCoopers and former member of the Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee. Dr Sentence discusses some of the possible steps policymakers might take to put Britain’s economy back on the road to growth.
Financial markets were once more embroiled in the eurozone debt crisis which took a new turn following a disappointing bond auction in Germany, which until now has been seen as one of the last refuges of safety by investors.
Yields on Italian and Spanish bonds resumed their upward trend back towards the key 7% level at which some form of bail-out has usually followed. Against this backdrop, equity markets fell back across the board as investors once more waited for policymakers to take decisive action.
With the eurozone and UK economies slowing markedly, all eyes will be on Chancellor George Osborne tomorrow when he uses his Autumn Statement to announce new growth initiatives for the UK economy.

( The complete text of this weeks Financial Bulletin can be downloaded as a 'pdf' file here. )

______________________________________________________________________________

Extract from this weeks Financial Marketing Bulletin, issued by RBA Wealth Management Ltd.

To see the full Financial Briefing Note and to sign up to receive them automatically each week

visit their web site : www.rbawealthmanagement.com or call  01889 568444

For Beginners…
Small Group, 6 week courses available throughout the year.  This course will take you from walking to running and will feed into the weekly established group once completed.  Small group sessions are to ensure as much individual attention, motivation, support and advice as possible on your journey to becoming a runner.  Two individual training sessions are also included.  Prior booking essential.

Starts Wednesday 14th September, 2pm from Bramshall Road Park, Uttoxeter

                   
If you are already Running…
Our friendly group runs a base distance of 3 miles (at varying speeds) and we have add on routes for those who wish to run further.  As well as group runs, more structured training sessions are offered every couple of weeks to develop stronger running which may include hill climbs, sprints, fartlek training and timed routes for race practice.  Please ring before coming along.

Wednesdays 9.15am from Bramshall Road Park, Uttoxeter

For any further information please contact…
Alison Jones on Tel: 07813 508773

 or e-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it / www.aljfitness.vpweb.co.uk

About Run England
Run England is the official England Athletics recreational running project which aims to get the whole nation running.  Regardless of your age, fitness level, aspiration, background or location you can be part of Run England and benefit from being a part of England’s running community.  We are here to help and encourage more people to run, and to run more often.  So whatever you want to get out of your running Run England is here to encourage and support you and to make sure we all have some fun with our running along the way!  www.runengland.org.

To the Editor,

Thank you so much for letting me know about the Cock Inn - I have been trying to contact them for the past few days,

Lucky for me I did not kidnap my brother and sister to go for lunch there before returning back to Scotland last Thursday, I may have been a touch unpopular, and no way to wriggle out of it.

I am sure my my 3x Great grandmother was the innkeeper before her son this would have been I think between 1851 and 1869 when she died, I can not for the life of me find that information - her Name was Sarah Walker nee Taylor  born  about 1791, wife of James Walker born 1778 Both in Leigh (not sure what his occupation was it is possible he was an innkeeper).

Following on from David Redferns account of the Cock Inn.

I remember the Cock Inn from the late 60's until around 1977. My father Jack Pattinson was a regular there also in the pre drink drive days. He ran a haulage company based in Stramshall and used to go to The Cock every night. My mother Doreen would also go with him on a Wednesday and Saturday evening, on a Saturday I remember them telling me they used to have a local band on known as the Martinaires.

I remember one year The Cock used one of our trucks as a float in the Uttoxeter carnival, there was a bar set up on the back and the band played, there were several party sevens of Worthington E so it must have been after Bass took over Joules.

Redfern’s Cottage: Museum of Uttoxeter Life is establishing a new group for people who have skills with the needle or sewing machine. The museum would like to develop period costume for children to dress up in when they visit the cottage and also for volunteers to wear during special events such as the forthcoming Victorian Christmas Experience on December 18th.  The costumes will need to be simple but well made and a range of skills are needed from following patterns to sewing on buttons.

In the future the group could well extend its remit to working on community projects such as a Uttoxeter Quilt or set of embroidered panels representing the town’s rich heritage.

If you are interested in becoming a Redfern’s Cottage Stitcher please contact Laura on 01889567176 or simply turn up at the cottage on Saturday 13th November from 1pm. In order to accommodate everyone we will be running sessions on Monday evenings from 7pm to 9.30pm starting from the 15th November and every other Saturday from 1-4pm starting from the 13th November.

Please bring any portable sewing equipment such as scissors, cotton thread, needles etc that you are happy to use within the group. All other materials will be provided as well as sewing machines and refreshments.

It is hoped that this group will provide a social environment as well as performing an important function to the museum and community as a whole.

WRN In Uttoxeter.

This is part of the successful Women's Running Network (WRN) which give all women, whatever their age, size or ability, the opportunity to run together to improve their health, fitness and confidence.  The women only network has more than 3,000 members and around 140 groups throughout the country. 

All ladies are welcome to join up and a fully trained group leader will make sure you are looked after during the session and have some fun along the way too.  This is definitely not for experienced runners, but gives ladies the chance to take some regular exercise without feeling as if they have been left behind.  Beginner 10 week courses available aswell as regular improver/maintenance runs.

I must have been four years old, but the memory of V E Day in Uttoxeter is as clear as yesterday.

I was sitting on my mum's shoulders ( Irene Redfern ) outside the old Bradley's clothing shop in the market square. The area was jam-packed with cheering people. I remember the rumble of tanks but more especially the parade of American trucks from Sudbury camp.

They were huge petrol tankers and you always heard them coming wherever you were. They came down the High Street and driving left to right towards the memorial. They made a screaming noise because they had a huge chain trailing on the ground behind them as they went along presumably to downcharge static electricity. 

A local Uttoxeter man has opened up about his experiences as a Second World War evacuee which saw him endure a harsh upbringing with no knowledge of his real family.

Michael Bird was only seven when he was packed off on a train from a children’s home in Kent to a new life in the Staffordshire countryside.

Leaving behind three brothers and with just a gas mask to his name he was taken to the Kingstone Women’s Institute and picked by a woman who took him back to her home in Blythe Bridge, near Kingstone.

Mr Bird, of Park Avenue, has now recounted the story of his time from that moment in a new book called Currant Bread: 1939 Evacuee, a warts and all account of his childhood spent with the stern, house-proud woman he refers to as Mrs Bateson.

The 77-year-old, who worked at both Bamfords Ltd and Elkes and with the RAF, was encouraged to publish the book by daughters Julie and Lorraine after they read the story and he has spent £1,500 on making it a reality.