Wages outstripped house price growth last year resulting in a “modest improvement” in affordability for buyers, according to mortgage lender Nationwide. Despite this, the average first-time buyer in the UK is still paying five times their annual salary when purchasing a property. This is significantly higher than the long-term average of 3.9 times earnings. Although … Read more
Two of the biggest trends in technology right now are the rise of “clean tech” – that is, technology designed to lower carbon emissions and other pollutants, especially from electric vehicles (EVs) – and AI. As well as disrupting a score of industries, these trends have also given a massive boost to the demand for … Read more
One of the most controversial areas of the financial technology (fintech) sector is buy-now-pay-later, or BNPL. Like traditional consumer financing schemes, BNPL allows a firms’ customers to buy goods without paying for them upfront; the company essentially lends them the purchase price. However, instead of the company having to provide the capital, and take on … Read more
We’re often told to save more for retirement, but have you ever stopped to think about how your pension pot compares to your peers? Is your pension wealth keeping up with the Jones’s? How does your nest egg stack up against people of a similar age to you? Saving for retirement can be difficult when … Read more
Starting on January 20, 2025, Donald Trump is now the 47th President of the United States, this time with JD Vance as his Vice President. Let’s dive into what this new Trump presidency could mean for your finances. The failed assassination attempt on Trump was a sobering reminder of how fragile life is, underscoring that … Read more
Shares in Netflix have soared to an all-time high after the company unveiled strong fourth-quarter results on 21 January. The share price opened almost 15% higher today (22 January), just shy of $1,000. Investors have been buoyed by a sharp increase in the number of subscribers in the final quarter of the year, as well … Read more
Shareholders in the Herald Investment Trust (LON:HRIL) have voted against Saba Capital’s proposals to remove the trust’s current board. A total of 26.4 million votes – 65% of total votes cast – were against Saba’s requisitioned resolutions, which sought to replace the investment trust’s leadership with its own appointees. Herald is the first of seven … Read more
The misery of applying for pension tax refunds has been dragging on for a decade – but the end may be in sight after HMRC announced it will reform the system from April. Thousands of retirees are overtaxed on their pension withdrawals every year, and must try to get a refund from HMRC. A massive … Read more
The value of assets under management (AUM) by global exchange-traded funds (ETFs) has surpassed $15 trillion, according to research from ETF issuer HANetf. Depending on how you measure it, there are two different stories to tell about the ETF market. Data from interactive investor suggests that ETFs fell in popularity, relative to alternative products, late … Read more
If there’s one thing I don’t recommend, it’s buying stock on margin. Due to the volatility of stocks and high margin interest rates, borrowing money to buy stocks is a bad idea. Conversely, I’m not opposed to buying a home on margin, namely through a mortgage, if buying follows a homebuying guideline like the 30/30/3 … Read more