Stay calm amid tough economic headwinds
You don’t need us to tell you that investors have had a lot to deal with in the last few years. From a once-in-a-century pandemic to the Ukraine war, along with political upheaval in the US and the UK and soaring inflation across the globe, it’s been a tough period, to say the least. In the face of such grim headlines and events, it’s perhaps no surprise that you…
Interest rates tipped to top 2% in the next year
As the inflation crisis in the UK has deepened, the Bank of England has been forced to act decisively by hiking interest rates. In December 2021, interest rates stood at 0.1 percent, but they’ve since been raised six times and now stand at 1.75 percent. So the question on everyone’s lips right now is just how high could they go? Many analysts, commentators and stakeholders are already predicting a…
What does the end of the mortgage affordability test mean for you?
The Bank of England recently announced changes to its mortgage borrowing rules, with a key affordability test being scrapped. The stress test, introduced in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, required lenders to work out if potential borrowers could manage if interest rates rose by up to three percent. So what does this change mean for you? Well, it could make it easier for potential mortgage borrowers, such…
Does Green Finance matter to you?
Green finance is a rapidly growing part of the financial services market, with more and more providers offering products that help to protect the environment or allow people to manage the impact of their investments on the natural world. This push for green finance is certainly resonating with the wider public, as according to a report from cloud banking platform Mambu, 48 percent of people believe access to green…
Do young people need more Financial education?
Financial knowledge and awareness can affect countless aspects of our lives, from being able to budget for our weekly food shop and pay bills, to meeting our mortgage payments and having enough money to live off during retirement. So why are so few people receiving proper guidance and education on how to manage their finances? And what lasting impact can this have on a person? According to research by…
Will the Cost of Living Crisis hit buoyant housing market?
Last month, house price growth hit its highest level in nearly two decades, with figures from Nationwide showing an annual increase of 14.3 percent in March, up from 12.6 percent in February. On the face of it, this appears to be great news for everyone in the housing sector, from estate agents to mortgage advisers, as demand is soaring and asking prices are going up. But the UK is…
How much damage will the Ukraine War do to the global economy?
As this article is being written, Vladimir Putin is threatening ‘more invasions.’ Two British fighters captured in Ukraine have been sentenced to death: the BBC is warning of a possible cholera outbreak in Mariupol and the fighting continues in the Donbas. No doubt by the time you read the article the headlines will be different – but no less depressing. What now seems to be undeniably true – and…
Is Inflation heading past the 10% mark?
As inflation soars to a 40-year high, many analysts, households and businesses are asking just how much higher could it go? The rate of Inflation jumped from seven percent in March to nine percent in the twelve months to April, and according to the Bank of England, it’s likely to keep going up over the next few months, possibly to as much as ten per cent, but should fall…
Cost of Living Crisis to impact on Pension saving
Putting money aside for the future is one of the most fundamental principles of good financial planning. But with inflation at a 30-year high, and set to rise even further over the coming months, countless families and households are struggling to pay the bills and put food on the table. As a result, the idea of saving money for retirement is far from being their priority, as their overriding…
How many Bank of England base rate rises will we see this year?
Just recently, the UK’s inflation figures for March were released. Having been 6.2% in February, inflation had risen to 7%, the highest rate for 30 years. Across the Atlantic, the figures were even worse, as US inflation reached 8.5% – the highest since March 1981 – as the Ukraine war pushed up energy prices. In the US, it is almost certain that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates…
