Category: Articles

For investors, it’s an incredibly unsettling time. Uncertainty continues to sweep the stock market and it’s anyone’s guess just how far the economic impact of coronavirus will spread. Some sectors have been sucker-punched by the crisis, such as airlines, leisure and travel. In a few cases, companies are facing a battle for survival. When it comes to managing a portfolio of shares, the majority hand the hard work to a fund manager, believing that the costs of trading and rebalancing portfolios are too much for an individual investor to bear. However, you can beat the City with a little know how. Ben Hobson, Markets Editor at Stockopedia explains why now might be the perfect time to break free and run your own investment portfolio.

For a long time, cryptocurrency was the preserve of a small group of tech enthusiasts and hardcore libertarians. This began to change in 2017 when Bitcoin hit staggering heights and the front pages of most newspapers. After the great crash of 2018, however, Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies dropped off the radar of mainstream consciousness.

November 2020 data on UK credit cards reveals consumer spending almost the same as 2019 whilst missed payments creep up.

Successful equity crowdfunding campaigns make companies more appealing to future venture capital financing, reveals new research from Trinity Business School.

More loans, larger businesses and a regional shift - these are some of the trends and insights that fintech business lender MarketFinance observed during 2020.

November’s retail sales estimates, released today by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), reveal the High Street’s loss was online’s gain. Online sales spiked by 74.7% in value as early-bird Christmas shoppers hit the internet in record numbers.

UK-based medicinal cannabis company Eco Equity, owned by private equity fund vehicle JPD Capital, has raised £18.3 million to enable it to become one of Europe’s leading suppliers of medicinal cannabis.

Financial crime is a threat which every business faces. Companies have been warned to take more care this year as the increasing digitisation of business elements such as online banking may have increased their online security risk if preventative measures haven't been taken. Here Andrew Davies, VP of Global Market Strategy, Financial Crime & Risk Management at Fiserv discusses the biggest challenges businesses can face and the best practices they can implement to prevent being a victim of financial crime.

A personal workplace should act as a reflection of yourself and highlight your abilities professionally.

Blockchain tech is going mainstream as the traditional finance world begins to embrace its disruptive potential. Bitcoin and Ethereum are the market leaders when it comes to cryptocurrency investment by institutions or consumers trading in retail markets. And it’s no secret that both digital assets have helped create many millionaires. But it’s the technology that […]

The appeal of precious metals, for many investors, is difficult to pass up, particularly gold bullion. It’s one of the most popular and sought-after investments in the entire world, especially since it can provide lucrative returns for any retirement account. While investing in precious metals for retirement is a good idea for any investor, there […]

Accounting and payroll services for the temporary labour market transformed by Open Finance Today Quantum Employment Design (QED) leader My Digital announces its collaboration with Ecospend Technologies Ltd, a pioneer in digital payment services and Open Finance. The new digital service will provide the disruptive innovation that UK accounting services need for the modern Quantum Workforce ushered in by the changing labour […]

Advantages of offshore banks: What they have to offer millennials Contrary to popular belief, offshore banking isn’t just for the super-rich, nor is it illegal.  In reality, and with professional advice, the average person can open a perfectly legal offshore bank account within a matter of hours – ideal for busy, on-the-go millennials. For the […]

Would you wait five minutes to make a purchase in-store? Probably not. And this is why crypto transaction speeds remain the biggest roadblock to adoption.

With the second lockdown coinciding with Black Friday, shoppers will be vying to take advantage of bargains online this year more than ever before. The sheer volume of discounts and deals can be overwhelming, so experts at Hitachi Personal Finance have provided top tips on how shoppers can navigate the chaos and secure the best deals.

In order to resist the commoditisation of wealth management and counteract fee compression, many advisers are turning to providing holistic financial advice. Here, wealth managers are devising strategies to not only build wealth, but also to manage expenses, protect a client’s family, lifestyle and assets, plan income for now and in retirement, and determine how to pass wealth onto the next generation – all in a tax-effective manner.

It has been a turbulent year for the economy as a result of Covid-19, so it is no surprise that interest in gold has risen sharply within the investment world. The financial shock caused by the pandemic has left currencies and markets across the globe in vulnerable and unpredictable positions. With that in mind, more investors are turning to gold as an alternative way of strengthening their investment portfolio.

Wealth managers are only able to best serve their clients when they truly know them. But it can be hard to ensure they have all the right information, or the right resources in place to gather the data they need.

After a decade encompassing Brexit and the euro crisis, and amid disappointing returns relative to other markets, many investors have written off European equities, but River and Mercantile’s James Sym believes that stance now needs to change.

Do you have plans to remodel your home? There are many steps involved when you take on a renovation. That said, you should always start with your budget. This way, you can make changes you love while you make smart financial decisions. That’s a must for any project. Take a look at how to create a home renovation budget.

If you’re planning to obtain financing for your next, or first, car purchase, it’s important to ensure you’re ready to undertake this responsibility. So, here are a few signs you’re ready for a car loan.

On average Brits saved £1,974 each in lockdown, equating to £75.5bn across the UK, yet at least half of this is reported to be sitting in a savings account, likely offering minimal returns. Millennials saved the most out of all reported age groups – averaging at £2,200 each.

To the perfect layman, stocks can seem intimidating. The market is so diverse, and financial news can seem like they’re in a completely different language. This also leads to people making their own misinformed opinions about the market.

With our public sector workers going above and beyond the call of duty over the last six months, property and mortgage experts at OnlineMortgageAdvisor.co.uk wanted to find out if people working in public sector roles could afford a mortgage and where in the UK would be most feasible.

What’s the age-old adage? Take care of the pennies and the pounds look after themselves. Well, this is just as important at university as it is anywhere else. When at university, you will be operating on a smaller budget than if you're out of education. A student loan will only last you so long, so see how you can manage your student budget at university.

British women have £8k less saved on average than men.

Property investment can be a great way to provide a nest egg for you and your family or a method by which you can turn a quick profit with some relatively simple steps.

If you've ordered your groceries or takeout online this year, you've contributed to the massive wealth of the online food industry. Currently, the global online market is worth $111.32 billion, and the industry is only growing. Food delivery services are expanding, and more grocery stores offer online ordering now than ever before.

It’s an age-old question, does money really bring happiness? While many joys can’t purchased, money can give access to things that can lead to happiness.

New research has revealed the nation’s hardest decisions, with financial quandaries and how to invest your money topping the list of the most difficult decisions that Brits struggle to make.

Life with a newborn is a world away from a child-free life. The first month alone can put a strain on your finances; from nappies and clothing to feeding equipment, toys and furniture.

COVID restrictions have had a significant impact on people’s ability to work and earn a living, with millions of workers having been furloughed or, even worse, losing their jobs. Many people have had to adapt their way of living now that finances are under considerable strain. We all need to do more to tighten our belts by introducing what might seem small, cost-saving measures on their own, but as a collective, they go a long way and make a significant impact.

But there is a constant and loud demand for policy clarity.

Under-25s are increasingly likely to seek help for debt, according to debt charity StepChange with Buy Now Pay Later schemes such as Klarna cited as problematic for young shoppers.

The research looked at how the wealthy had amassed wealth and what they want to do with the money they have, with some surprising results. Perhaps of most interest in the times of uncertainty with COVID-19, one in five (19%) of those with more than £250,000 in assets said they intended to buy a small business in the future to keep themselves busy, and a further 35% said they are planning on investing in a new business to help kickstart the economy post COVID-19.

Customer sentiment towards 10 of the UK’s biggest high-street and digital-only banks including Starling and Monzo, fell by 7 percentage points during lockdown. While this is a blow for digital-only banks, it should be noted that high-street banks had, and continue to have, a much lower overall sentiment.