Expert View: UK plc is battered but not broken

March is a hectic time in the City. Analysts, fund managers, PR advisers and journalists try to cope with “reporting season”. An array of listed companies, having spent a couple of months adding up the numbers from 2008, have been telling us how they did last year and, more importantly, how they expect to do in 2009.

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Expert View: Where investors can find safety

The banking crisis has left investors with much to mourn. Banks used to be havens of stability, offering savers a safe home for their cash, and shareholders a relatively secure investment with a decent annual dividend. But after a tumultuous year, they’re no longer looking so attractive for either group.

So where should investors go to find safety? Savings accounts are still the obvious choice, provided you don’t put more than £50,000 (the government’s compensation limit in the event of problems) with any single bank.

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Expert view: There will be plenty of opportunities to invest in 2009

Coming into 2008, the talk was all Cs — credit crunch, caution and a crisis of confidence were the order of the day. Analysts expected just a modest economic downturn. Going into 2009, we’ve moved on a letter and predictions focus on D — depression, deflation and the de-rating of the pound are sparking fear across the City.

The economic outlook is not good. While a recession has not yet been confirmed statistically (and won’t be until early next year), the growing reports of job losses and bankruptcies show we have certainly progressed well beyond the realms of a mild downturn.

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Expert view: Is now a good time to buy shares?

It has been another tumultuous few weeks on the stockmarkets. The benchmark FTSE 100 index has reached a series of new lows as concern about the banking crisis grows, and investors are questioning the ability of global governments to deal with it. Volatility on Wall Street has hit its highest level for years.

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