Author: Jordan

Buy-to-let (BTL) landlords are facing higher costs as a growing share are now on rates above 5%, insight from an estate agency found. Data from Hamptons showed that in April, 43% of all new BTL lending was agreed at a rate of 5% or above, up from a share of 8% of new loans in January. The firm said this brought borrowing costs back to levels last seen in December 2023.  Its analysis of Connells Group data showed that the average mortgage rate of a mortgage secured by a landlord rose in 4.84% in April, up from 4.2% in January. So far…

The Global Industry Classification Standard divides the stock market into 11 sectors, and two of them consist of companies that sell goods to people. The consumer staples sector contains companies that sell “needs,” like food and hygiene supplies. The consumer discretionary sector, on the other hand, contains companies that sell “wants.” These are the stocks we’ll look at on this page. Consumer discretionary stocks are also called consumer cyclical stocks, as they’re sensitive to changes in disposable income caused by economic cycles of expansion and recession.Best consumer discretionary stocks by 1-year returnsBelow is a list of the five best-performing consumer…

When Jeff Bezos said that one breakthrough technology would shape Amazon’s destiny, even Wall Street’s biggest analysts were caught off guard. Fast forward a year and Amazon’s new CEO Andy Jassy described generative AI as a “once-in-a-lifetime” technology that is already being used across Amazon to reinvent customer experiences. At the 8th Future Investment Initiative conference, Elon Musk predicted that by 2040 there would be at least 10 billion humanoid robots, with each priced between $20,000 and $25,000. Do the math. According to Musk, this technology could be worth $250 trillion by 2040. Put another way, that’s roughly equal to:…

9:02 AM, 20th April 2026, 2 hours ago Landlords looking for buy  to let mortgage deals are being offered lower rates, fresh fee structures and faster turnaround options across a wave of lender updates. Paragon Bank has launched a limited edition 60% LTV range spanning single lets, HMOs and multi-unit blocks, while several other lenders have cut pricing or introduced new deals. The products include two- and five-year fixes, with rates for single self-contained homes starting at 4.35% on properties rated EPC A to C, rising by 5bps for less efficient stock. HMO and MUB borrowing begins at 4.60% and…

(Image credit: Getty Images)Private-equity investment is accelerating consolidation across the accounting industry.More than 100 CPA firm deals were completed in 2025, according to CPA Trendlines’ 2026 PE Deal Tracker, up from roughly two dozen just two years earlier, a transformation that’s changing the quality of how tax services are delivered across the profession.For most taxpayers, the shift may have little impact. Returns are still filed, deadlines are met, and refunds are processed as expected. From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues…

The investment selection rule: Clarity that strengthens fiduciary conviction Pensions & Investments Source link

A court has ordered the suspension of debit transactions on six credit cards held by former Dhaka South City Corporation mayor Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh and his wife, Afrin Taposh. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Sabbir Fayez passed the order on Monday on two applications filed by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC). Bench assistant Riaz Hossain said the applications were filed by ACC Assistant Director Md Ferdous Rahman, the investigating officer in the cases, seeking orders to block debit activity on the cards. According to the ACC’s application in Taposh’s case, he “abused his power” while serving as a member of parliament and…

“In the current market, brokers are continuing to see strong remortgage demand from landlord clients looking to manage costs, refinance efficiently and plan ahead with greater certainty”- Rob Stanton – Landbay Landbay has cut buy-to-let mortgage rates across selected products in its Premier remortgage range, with reductions of up to 0.10% taking effect from 20 April 2026. The Premier range covers standard products for landlords with up to 15 mortgaged properties, available to both individual and limited company borrowers. The changes apply to 75% LTV five-year fixed-rate remortgage products, spanning the lender’s variable fee AVM range alongside its…

AI speeds up the work, but it does not replace the thinking; the edge still comes from how you interpret what it shows you, and more importantly, what you ask it to show you. Every technical pattern is already known and priced across the market; AI is refining old signals, not discovering new ones The real value is in better questioning around time of day, flows, and behaviour, not in outsourcing decisions The biggest risk is false confidence; AI can make you feel ready before you have earned the instinct that markets demand It Is Your Assistant, Not Your Edge…

Gold and silver prices remain volatile after recent highs. Gold is down nearly Rs 37,000 and silver over Rs 1.75 lakh from peak levels. Check latest precious metal price trends. Business -Swastika Sruti Updated: Sunday, February 15, 2026, 13:09 [IST] Gold and silver prices remain volatile despite recent gains. Both metals are trading significantly below their recent peak levels. Experts advise investors to track the market closely before making decisions. Gold and silver prices are experiencing volatility, trading below their recent highs despite short-term gains, with silver falling nearly Rs 1.75 lakh per kilogram from its January peak and gold…