We Can Fix UK Markets If We Want To — Here's How
Money Distilled
A healthy equity market matters. Scrap stamp duty, reform ISAs, and nudge pension funds to invest at home.
Welcome to the award-winning Money Distilled newsletter. I'm John Stepek. Every week day I look at the biggest stories in markets and economics, and explain what it all means for your money.
Today I'm excited to say we have a guest appearance from my colleague Merryn Somerset Webb, who is growing a little concerned about the incredible vanishing UK equity market. Over to Merryn.
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3 Asian Dividend Stocks Yielding Up To 5.7%
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Let's uncover some gems from our specialized screener. Xtep International Holdings Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Xtep International Holdings Limited, with a market cap of HK$17.07 billion, designs, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells sports footwear, apparel, and accessories for adults and children in Mainland China. Operations: Xtep International Holdings Limited generates revenue through the design, development, manufacturing, marketing, and sale of sports footwear, apparel, and accessories for both adults and children in Mainland China. Dividend Yield: 3.9% Xtep International Holdings offers a mixed picture for dividend investors. The company has recently announced an interim dividend of HKD 0.18 per share, reflecting its commitment to returning value to shareholders. Despite a low payout ratio of 43.9%, indicating dividends are well-covered by earnings, the dividend track record is unstable with past volatility and below-market yield at 3.9%. 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Dividend Yield: 5.7% SINOPEC Engineering (Group) offers a complex outlook for dividend investors. While the company's dividend yield of 5.73% is below the top quartile in Hong Kong, dividends are well-covered by earnings and cash flows with payout ratios of 61.7% and 31.9%, respectively. However, past volatility raises concerns about reliability despite recent increases in payouts, such as the interim RMB 0.16 per share dividend announced for mid-2025. The ongoing share buyback could enhance shareholder value by increasing net asset value per share and earnings per share. Take a closer look at SINOPEC Engineering (Group)'s potential here in our dividend report. Our valuation report here indicates SINOPEC Engineering (Group) may be overvalued. Oriental Consultants Holdings Simply Wall St Dividend Rating: ★★★★☆☆ Overview: Oriental Consultants Holdings Company Limited, with a market cap of ¥35.38 billion, operates through its subsidiaries to provide infrastructure management services both in Japan and internationally. Operations: Oriental Consultants Holdings Company Limited generates revenue through its subsidiaries by offering infrastructure management services across domestic and international markets. Dividend Yield: 3.4% Oriental Consultants Holdings has a stable dividend history over the past decade, with dividends showing consistent growth and reliability. However, the current 3.38% yield is modest compared to top-tier Japanese dividend payers. Despite a low payout ratio of 33.4% suggesting earnings coverage, cash flow coverage remains concerning due to a high cash payout ratio of 2489.8%. The stock's price-to-earnings ratio of 11.2x indicates it may be undervalued relative to the broader market in Japan. Get an in-depth perspective on Oriental Consultants Holdings' performance by reading our dividend report here. Our expertly prepared valuation report Oriental Consultants Holdings implies its share price may be too high. Seize The Opportunity Reveal the 1068 hidden gems among our Top Asian Dividend Stocks screener with a single click here. Are these companies part of your investment strategy? Use Simply Wall St to consolidate your holdings into a portfolio and gain insights with our comprehensive analysis tools. Join a community of smart investors by using Simply Wall St. It's free and delivers expert-level analysis on worldwide markets. Curious About Other Options? Explore high-performing small cap companies that haven't yet garnered significant analyst attention. Fuel your portfolio with companies showing strong growth potential, backed by optimistic outlooks both from analysts and management. Find companies with promising cash flow potential yet trading below their fair value. 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Last batch of rare final Queen Elizabeth II £1 coins entering circulation
The final batch of Queen Elizabeth II £1 coins are entering circulation across the UK, the Royal Mint has announced. More than 23 million Queen coins are being released alongside 7.5 million new King Charles III £1 coins. The Royal Mint said the last of the Elizabeth II coins, dated 2022, are the rarest £1 coins in active circulation. The historic transition – with the dual release of almost 31 million coins – represents a significant moment for UK coinage, as the nation witnesses the changeover from Britain's longest-reigning monarch to her son and heir on the £1 denomination, the Royal Mint said. The Queen's £1 coins will be the final ones bearing Elizabeth II's portrait to enter circulation. Rebecca Morgan, director of commemorative coin at the Royal Mint, said: 'This release represents a pivotal moment in British coinage history. 'As we release more of the King Charles III £1 coins into circulation alongside the final coins of Queen Elizabeth II, we're witnessing the physical representation of our monarchy's transition. 'This dual release creates an exceptional opportunity for both seasoned numismatists and those new to coin collecting.' The Royal Mint is encouraging the public to check its change over the coming weeks, as the new coins begin to appear in pockets and tills across the nation. Ms Morgan added: 'Finding these new coins in your change could spark a rewarding hobby that connects you with the heritage, history and craftsmanship behind British currency.' Since the introduction of the King's effigy on UK coinage in 2023, the 50p and £1 are the only denominations with Charles's portrait to have entered circulation so far. The King's £1 coins feature an intricate bee design on the reverse and are part of the Definitive collection, inspired by the flora and fauna of the British Isles. Some 2.975 million £1s with the King's effigy were released in August last year. In total, there are around 24.7 billion coins in circulation across the UK, with the King's coins representing only around 0.004% of those, making his new coins highly desirable to collectors. All UK coins bearing the Queen's portrait will remain legal tender and in active circulation to allow a smooth transition and minimise the environmental impact and cost.
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UK pay deals hold at 3% as employers eye next budget, Brightmine says
LONDON (Reuters) -Pay settlements by British private-sector employers held at 3% in the three months to July and uncertainty about the economy and possible further tax increases means that cautious approach is likely to continue, wage data firm Brightmine said. The figures represented the eighth monthly Brightmine report in a row to show the median private-sector pay deal was 3%. In the three months to July last year, settlements were 4%. Sheila Attwood, Brightmine's HR insights and data lead, said employers were unlikely to take much comfort from official data last week showing Britain's economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 0.3% in the second quarter. "Many employers are continuing to approach wage decisions with caution, keeping wage rises at 3%, in the face of continued economic uncertainty and the looming autumn budget," she said. Numerous businesses have said they are being squeezed by April's tax increase. Finance minister Rachel Reeves is now back under pressure to plug an expected shortfall in the public finances later this year. The Bank of England is watching pay growth closely as it tries to work out when and whether to cut interest rates again. It reduced borrowing costs earlier this month but suggested it might move more slowly going forward due to inflation pressures. Brightmine used data from 19 pay settlements in the three months to July 31 covering more than 600,000 employees. (Writing by William Schomberg; editing by David Milliken) Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
