December 2023 – FIRE v London

This time last year I wrote that my annual ISA update was many months late. I had delayed it until using my full annual ISA allowance(s), which took me much longer than usual last year.

This year I actually completed my ISA topups in April, within a few weeks of the start of the UK tax year. Somehow I have neglected to post an update. And despite the clamour from my blog readership (not!), I have let this year’s post slip until December.

Given this post is 8 months ‘late’, I am going to keep it snappy.

The 2022/23 tax year was pretty unpleasant for my ISA holdings. They lost over 16% of their value. One of my biggest ISA holding in April 2022 was AEWU, a high income property REIT, which lost over 25% of its value in the year. Another large holding was BHP, which sat at over £30/share (briefly!) at the start of the tax yer, and dropped 20% to £24 a year later. Another key holding, Scottish Mortgage, was already well on its way down from its £15/share peak; it started the tax year at £10/share and finished it at under £7/share. And while Facebook started and finished the tax year at $220/share, in the meantime it dropped below $100 and I ended up selling it at well below $200/share.

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In the news

It has been quite a busy month out there.

The Israel/Gaza crisis continues. Public opinion is shifting against the Israel government here, even in North London – which would normally be one of the most sympathetic neighbourhoods outside Tel Aviv.

The Ukrainians are left feeling somewhat zero-sum in the battle with Israel for foreign support and attention. Some informed opinion now says the war is over, bar the fighting, and the only thing left is a land-for-peace deal. And the USA election, which is still almost a year away. Sigh.