Analysis: Investing amid low interest rates — can I get a return?

Interest rates are low; very low, and staying low for a considerable time. This has a dramatic impact on savers, annuity holders, and investors: No compounding of interest, inflation eating into your capital, and maybe negative interest rates to come.

There are €95bn of retail deposits in the banks and building societies in Ireland; another huge sum of money in Approved Retirement Funds (ARFs), and then investors with lump sums. But what are they all going to do?

Well, firstly, the good news is that there are returns available, but they are not down the traditional route of deposits or tracker bonds.