Weekly newsletter for women who want to be smart about money: financial news, personal finance and investing
Welcome to our #44 weekly newsletter in 2020.
Every week we curate key content and apply a female-lens so you can stay informed and inspired about money and investing.
Stay in the know.
Keep on top of global economic, financial and investing news and trends. And read about what this means for you and your money in 2020 during Covid-19 and beyond.
“For women who are taking control of their financial future”
-Jana Hlistova
From The Purse…
Editorial from the Founder
Joe Biden has become the 46th US President joined by Kamala Harris, as the first female Vice President. A monumental result.
Global stocks gained $5.5tn in market cap in the US election week. Global stocks are now worth $93.5tn (the highest value in history), which is equal to 106.6% of global GDP.
All eyes will be on how the markets respond (Monday) to the Democrats winning the US election (ousting Donald Trump from office after one term only).
The Bank of England injected £150bn into the UK economy (England went into lockdown on Thursday). And according to chief economist at KPMG UK Yael Selfin, the UK could end up borrowing £400bn this financial year (more than double the record after the financial crisis).
The UK furlough scheme was extended until the end of March 2021.
Meanwhile Bitcoin has topped $15,000+ and chart watchers are eyeing $20,000 as the next target.
According to US billionaire investor Leon Cooperman, future stock returns could average ‘very little’, due to ‘the Fed… creating this environment of free money’.
Meanwhile, investors are urged to inflation proof amid growing Covid cost.
In the Have You Seen This section, read about why the gender pay gap among all employees in the UK decreased to 15.5% in 2020, down from 17.4% in 2019.
And we’re tracking UK start-up MPowder, founded by Rebekah Brown: it is an e-commerce brand providing nutritional powders that tackle hormonal changes and provides women with insights, practices, and tools to empower them through menopause.
If you have time, read about Kamala Harris making history as the first woman and woman of colour as Vice President.
Stay safe, look after yourselves and your loved ones.
I hope you enjoy this week’s newsletter. Until next week,
Jana
The Big Picture
Global markets and economy news, trends and indicators
The Coronavirus Effect:
US election: Joe Biden becomes the 46th American President
After clinching the highly contested state of Pennsylvania.
Global stocks have gained $5.5tn in market cap in the US election week.
The global stocks are now worth $93.5tn (the highest value in history), which is equal to 106.6% of global GDP.
Bank of England (BoE) injects £150bn into the UK economy
According to chief economist at KPMG UK Yael Selfin, the UK could end up borrowing £400bn this financial year (more than double the record after the financial crisis).
(UK's public debt has ballooned to £2.1tn, or 103.5% of GDP).
UK furlough scheme extended until the end of March 2021
The government will pay 80% of the wages of workers who are temporarily laid off during the pandemic (up to £2,500 per month).
Chart watchers are eyeing $20,000 as the next target.
Future Focus
Keeping an eye on key predictions, innovations and what’s going to impact the future
Bitcoin has increased 108% year-to-date (vs a 27% increase in gold).
US banks are down 31% vs UK bank shares are down 39%.
US: Billionaire investor Leon Cooperman says that future stock returns could average ‘very little’.
He's also concerned about long-term consequences of the Federal Reserve's actions.
‘The Fed is just creating this environment of free money. You have to kind of make a judgement whether that's justified, how long it's going to last and what impact this has on the longer-term outlook’
Your Money
Insights, trends and what this means for you and your purse
Investors urged to inflation proof amid growing Covid cost
Advisers, analysts and fund managers have raised concerns the UK’s debt levels are simply too high to be repaid through tax rises.
‘..Inflation – not growth, austerity or taxation – will have to do the heavy lifting, which poses the greatest risk to savers today’.
‘Investors need to not holding excessive amounts of cash, and you need to own assets that can provide a degree of inflation protection such as index-linked bonds, real assets like gold, and equities’.
Have You Seen This?
Female-focused news, reports, research, campaigns
UK's gender pay gap among all employees at 15.5% in 2020
The gender pay gap among all employees in the UK decreased to 15.5% in 2020, down from 17.4% in 2019.
Data released showed that among full-time employees the gender pay gap in April 2020 was 7.4%, down from 9.0% in April 2019.
There was a fall in the gender pay gap within the managers, directors and senior officials occupation group in 2020; this group has previously been identified as having a notable impact on the pay gap.
Know this: according to the report a slightly higher proportion of men than women were furloughed with reduced pay in April 2020 due to the pandemic.
UK: Retired women could be owed £100m in underpaid state pension
The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed that tens of thousands of women are due extra state pension after years of underpayment.
The scandal relates to older women who reached state pension age before April 2016 and are entitled to receive a rate based on their husband's National Insurance record.
Know this: check out this online tool to work out whether you have been affected and whether you should be paid via your state pension.
What We’re Tracking
Female-focused products or services, start-ups and businesses led by women, investment, crowdfunding campaigns and research.
MPowder: (UK)- founded by Rebekah Brown, a former creative agency executive, is an e-commerce brand providing nutritional powders that tackle hormonal changes and provides women with insights, practices, and tools to empower them through menopause.
The company has recently raised a £500K seed round from Pink Salt Ventures, Founders Factory, and other strategic angels including Mumsnet co-founder, Carrie Longton.
Rebekah Brown, founder, and CEO says ‘My doctor didn’t identify the early symptoms of perimenopause. I didn’t fit the profile. I was ‘too young’ and still having a regular cycle…Menopause simply isn’t well enough understood or researched. It is presented as an end-of-life category when it should be a midlife empowerment category.’
Coffee Break? Read This
We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch with Jana via the The Purse website or tweet @jointhepurse and @janicka.
The Purse Ltd. Copyright 2020 & All Rights Reserved.
Share this post