Italian prime minister Mario Monti suggested using the European Financial Stability Facility’s (EFSF) €440bn rescue subsidy to buy open market peripheral bonds in an attempt to counteract the rising cost of government bond yields in Spain. “The idea is to stabilise borrowing costs, especially for countries who are complying with their reform agendas, and this…
The group will continue discussions to focus on breaking the link between banks and sovereigns, and tackle other problems like employment growth in the region. The lack of progress being made is said to have frustrated some: “We are waiting for Europe to tell us what it’s going to do,” said World Bank chief Robert…
An automatic savings plan is your answer to planning for retirement. It is an opportunity for you to simply put money aside for your use during retirement without even thinking about doing it. If you are the type of person who could burn through $100 within minutes of having the cash in your hands, you…
Coin collection is of the oldest hobbies around. If done right, it can also be one of the smartest investments you can make. While buying gold and silver to hedge against economic meltdown is currently in vogue, precious metal coins are an essential part of a well-diversified portfolio. If you’re looking to expand your coin…
No one else does it quite like Texas. There’s certainly no lack of diversity in the second largest and second most populous state in the U.S. The people, the culture and the varying landscapes give Texas a lot to boast about, but while it’s home to some of the most beautiful prairies, grasslands, forests, coastlines,…
“Uncertain,” “Paralysing,” and “Pessimistic.” Those were the words Sir Mervyn King used to describe the effects the eurozone crisis has had on the UK economy at his annual Mansion House speech on Thursday evening. The Bank of England Governor was joined by UK Chancellor George Osborne as he addressed an assembly of the city’s most…
They say that location has the most significant impact on the value of your home, but there are several additional factors that also play a key role in its final price. Maintaining your home is a relatively simple and affordable process that not only keeps it looking nicer, but often improves its function as well….
College towns offer a wealth of out-of-the-box investment opportunities. Large universities can help insulate local economies and housing markets from the recent boom-and-bust trends that other metro areas may suffer from. You might not want to become a landlord, but with the right management company you can reap all the benefits of college-town rentals with…
The country’s credit rating now teeters barely above junk status, amid growing fears it will sink still further after being shut out of international markets. The borrowing interest rates currently stand at the highest they’ve been since the euro’s inception, with the yield on Spain’s 10-year bonds shooting up to 6.86 percent. Last weekend, eurozone…
The predictions come as the trade evolves beyond its entrepreneurial, private roots to meet investor and regulator demands for greater transparency and more robust operations. A recent Citigroup survey predicted that hedge funds could lure $2trn in new money to investment vehicles long associated with mutual-fund companies and other institutional managers including “long-only” funds that…
