Articles from the author

Under proposed UK legislation, fund managers will have to show the monthly income savers can expect in today's money.

For the typical expatriate investor in the UAE, there is a wide selection of products in the market.

Even with the plethora of financial advisers in the Gulf, there are often two aspects of financial planning that are overlooked.

There are many Gulf-based expatriates who fancy themselves as tax experts even though they have never studied the subject. The simple advice is to give such 'gurus' a wide berth and allow them to bore some other fellow human being. Not only that, they could well cost you much of your wealth.

Most managed funds continue to perform badly and it is a sad reflection of these turbulent economic times that even slight losses are considered to be success stories.

As the Gulf-based expatriate looks at ways to enhance his portfolio, there is no doubt that equity warrants deserve closer perusal.

How to do it: It is time for predictions and resolutions

As the equity markets continue plunging to new lows with no apparent reason for any upturn in consumer confidence, Gulf-based expatriates are increasingly looking at the global real estate sector for financial salvation.

Many Gulf-based expatriates will know about with-profits savings plans that are usually managed by insurance companies. Their apparent aims are to provide clients means to accumulate money for retirement and to pay off their mortgages.

The recent visit by Sir Elton John has rightfully been hailed as a major success story for both Dubai and the flamboyant entertainer.

Although a reduction was expected earlier in the month, Alan Greenspan surprised the market by cutting rates half a per cent rather then the 25 basis points that had been widely forecast.

The Nasdaq had been showing signs of recovery until it managed a fall of 4.1 per cent last week, and only a brave person would risk a sizeable investment in the high-tech sector. This stock market ended the week at 1785 points, still a long way off its 1999 peak.