Author: Jordan

Gen Z wants to experience homeownership — and most see it as a key step toward building wealth and long-term financial security. In fact, 67% see homeownership as an important lifetime goal. But in today’s economy, many younger buyers believe it’s harder for their generation to buy a home, so they are taking practical steps to get ready for this important milestone.As younger generations focus on financial readiness, independent mortgage brokers across the country are stepping up with solutions that offer more accessibility to the market. New programs and loan options are giving Gen Z the head start they’re looking…

Middle East War to Spark Biggest Energy Price Surge in Four Years Commodity prices forecast to rise by 16% this year, fueling inflation and slowing growth WASHINGTON, April 28, 2026—Energy prices are projected to surge by 24% this year to their highest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as the war in the Middle East sends a severe shock through global commodity markets, according to the World Bank Group’s latest Commodity Markets Outlook. Overall commodity prices are forecast to rise 16% in 2026, driven by soaring energy and fertilizer prices and record-high prices for several key metals. The…

Confidence in the buy-to-let market has actually increased, with the Renters’ Rights Act bringing transparency and certainty for both landlords and tenants from this Friday, according to Jodie Spreadbury, senior mortgage and protection broker at The Mortgage Broker. Her comments come as many companies report an increase in landlords leaving the market.Spreadbury said she had witnessed renewed interest following a quieter period for landlords. “We experienced a lull in landlord activity in recent years, but over the past 18 months, the buy-to-let market has become a prominent topic of interest again,” she said.Greater certainty now rules are clearShe attributed the increase…

by Ed Gaskin, CommonWealth Beacon April 25, 2026 BOSTON’S AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS is usually framed as a shortage—of land, of money, or of political will. In reality, it is more accurate to describe it as a cost-structure and governance failure. The city already owns the land where new housing could be built. Proven construction methods already exist to build housing at much lower cost than standard methods. What is missing is a strategy that aligns these elements into a system that actually produces entry-level homeownership. A proposal developed by Greater Grove Hall Main Streets, in partnership with the Boston-based architectural…

Cutting Risk, Expanding ReachPiramal Finance is actively reducing its most vulnerable assets, having sold about 2.1% of its holdings in sectors sensitive to geopolitical risks. This move is a direct response to the West Asia conflict, as the company closely watches these areas for signs of trouble.At the same time, the company is aggressively growing its rural and gold loan portfolios, backed by significant investments in staff and infrastructure. These new areas are expected to make up about 10% of its total Assets Under Management (AUM) in the coming years. Piramal Finance also plans to expand its unsecured lending by…

Photo: 123RF New household living costs data shows the wealthier have been helped by falling interest rates, while rising petrol prices are putting pressure on poorer households. Stats NZ said New Zealand households had an average increase in living costs of 2.1 percent in the year to the March quarter. The rate is lower than the consumer price index (CPI) inflation rate of 3.1 percent because the household data includes the impact of interest rates, which Stats NZ recorded their largest annual fall since the series began 18 years ago. There was a 20.9 percent decrease in mortgage interest payments…

Buy-to-let specialist lender Fleet Mortgages has announced the promotion of Nicola Richardson to managing director at the firm.Richardson has been with the company since its launch in 2014, having joined as head of finance and establishing the lender’s finance function. Since then, her roles at the business have included finance director, chief financial officer, and, most recently, chief finance and operating officer.More than 14 years of financial services experienceRichardson has more than 14 years of financial services experience, having originally qualified as a chartered accountant (ACA) and holding the AMCT qualification, which she obtained during a treasury role at CHL Mortgages.In…

April 29, 2026 — 5:00amSaveYou have reached your maximum number of saved items.Remove items from your saved list to add more.AAAThis article is part of Traveller’s Destination Guide to Singapore. See all stories.Singapore seems to gain a new architectural wonder every other day, and its continued growth should come as no surprise. Since gaining independence in 1965, Singapore has rapidly transformed into one of the world’s wealthiest countries. Mudflats have morphed into billion-dollar structures such as Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay and various land reclamation projects.Yet, there’s a sliver of Singapore that’s evaded any sort of cosmopolitan makeover:…

Tribune News NetworkDohaQatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Qatar’s leading digital bank, has launched a limited-time offer on its Marriott Bonvoy co-branded credit cards, giving customers the opportunity to earn Marriott Bonvoy welcome bonus points across the Infinite, Signature and Platinum card tiers.Valid until 15 June 2026, the offer gives new cardholders the opportunity to earn Marriott Bonvoy welcome bonus points across all three card tiers. Customers applying for the Marriott Bonvoy QIB Visa Infinite Credit Card can earn up to 120,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points, including 90,000 points upon meeting the initial eligibility of completing their first PoS/Online transaction, and an…

CNBC’s Jim Cramer said he’s unfazed by Tuesday’s sell-off in AI stocks because it’s exactly what the market needs.”Rain is to gardening as sell-offs are to the stock market,” the “Mad Money” host said. “You should expect them, maybe even hope for them. We just don’t realize it at the time.”Stocks retreated on Tuesday following a Wall Street Journal report that said OpenAI missed internal growth targets, raising questions about spending across a bunch of artificial intelligence-linked stocks. After weeks of parabolic gains, Cramer said a reset was inevitable. He pointed to the late 1990s when stocks climbed relentlessly with…