Author: Jordan

A HELOC currently stands out as one of the better, more affordable ways to borrow home equity. Getty Images/iStockphoto With multiple economic developments occurring in 2025, from changing domestic policies to drops in inflation and interest rates, homebuyers may have understandably missed an important revelation: home equity levels are at an all-time high. Homeowners started the third quarter of 2025 “with a record $17.8 trillion in total equity, including $11.6 trillion in tappable equity that can be accessed while maintaining a 20% cushion,” an August 2025 report stated. “Roughly 48 million mortgage holders had tappable equity, with the average homeowner…

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Commercial Trust quarterly index – Q1 2026The UK buy to let market saw a decisive shift in Q1 2026, with landlords increasingly targeting higher-yielding regions in the North, while prioritising remortgaging over new acquisitions.Drawing on the latest lending data, the Commercial Trust Quarterly Index reveals a market undergoing strategic repositioning. Falling loan sizes and a growing focus on portfolio optimisation all point to a more calculated approach from landlords navigating today’s economic landscape.Key insights from Q1 2026Average loan size fell 7.5% to £194,695 (down from £210,477 in Q1 2025)Remortgages accounted for 55% of all applications, up from 46.6%Purchase loan sizes…

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Gold prices in Egypt fell sharply in May 2026, weighed down by a stronger Egyptian pound and weaker global bullion markets, according to the Gold and Precious Metals Division at the Federation of Egyptian Industries. Division Chairperson Ehab Wassef explained that the local market faced a dual squeeze: international gold prices dropped by more than 2 percent, while the pound’s appreciation against the US dollar amplified declines at home. Global sentiment toward gold remained cautious, with investors pulling back from safe-haven assets. Data showed withdrawals of $1.1bn from Gold ETFs, equal to 8.7 tonnes of gold, in the week ending…

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Typical Data Center (Getty Images) by Tetra Images)After years of uncertainty caused by the global pandemic, rising interest rates, tighter credit, and changing remote-work trends, evidence increasingly indicates that the U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) market is beginning to recover. Although headlines often focus on struggling office buildings in major cities, a closer examination of market fundamentals suggests an optimistic outlook. For example, the Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund (VNQ), a popular exchange-traded fund (ETF) with over 160 holdings across sectors like industrial, retail, and other CRE areas, has increased by 7.9% year-to-date as of May 31, 2026. Although recovery…

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Important information – This article isn’t personal advice. If you’re not sure whether an investment is right for you please seek advice. If you choose to invest the value of your investment will rise and fall, so you could get back less than you put in.Among those currently scheduled to release results next week: 01-JunSirius Real Estate Full Year Results02-JunBritish American Tobacco*Half Year Trading StatementGB GroupFull Year ResultsParagon Banking GroupHalf Year Results03-JunB&M European Value Retail Full Year Results Broadcom*Q2 ResultsdiscoverIE GroupFull Year ResultsNinety One Full Year Results 04-JunCapital Gearing Trust Full Year ResultsCMC Markets Full Year Results Mitie GroupFull Year…

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The United Nations University World Institute for Development Economics Research (UNU-WIDER) has announced two exciting opportunities for African researchers, policy analysts, and development professionals. The opportunities include Research Assistant positions based in South Africa and the newly launched UNU-WIDER/African Union Winter School on Public Finance for Development. These opportunities aim to strengthen research capacity, improve evidence-based policymaking, and support the development of skilled professionals working in economics, taxation, public finance, and development policy across Africa. Research Assistant Opportunities in South Africa UNU-WIDER is currently seeking Research Assistants to support the expansion and management of tax administrative and microdata resources at…

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Kinross Gold (TSX:K) is back in focus after recent commentary on its place in Renaissance Technologies’ portfolio, alongside earnings that surpassed quarterly expectations and reaffirmed 2026 production and cost guidance. See our latest analysis for Kinross Gold. The recent 1-day share price return of 3.82% and 7-day share price return of 7.22% suggest positive short term momentum, while a very large 3-year total shareholder return points to a strong longer term payoff for patient investors. If you want to see how other gold producers are trading in this context, it is a good time to scan the 33 elite gold…

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Identifying the best commercial mortgage lenders in the UK requires a clear understanding of underwriting appetite, deal structure flexibility, and sector expertise. As specialist brokers, we assess lenders based purely on their commercial mortgage capability, ensuring the right fit for each transaction.Below are our top 5 commercial mortgage lenders for 2026, with a focus on their core strengths in commercial property finance.1. InterBay InterBay are particularly helpful for commercial investment lending, particularly for borrowers buying or remortgaging investment property. Core strengths:Specialist focus on commercial investment mortgagesStrong appetite for semi-commercial and mixed-use propertiesBespoke underwriting suited to complex cases2. TogetherTogether supports borrowers who fall…

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(NEXSTAR) – It’s a perfect storm of terrible conditions for wheat farmers this year. Drought, dramatic swings in temperature, the skyrocketing price of fertilizer and diesel, plus multiple viruses affecting wheat have all led to one of the most challenging years for farmers in decades. There are different classes of winter wheat, but they’re all down when compared to last year’s crop, explained Todd Hubbs, a crop marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University Extension. The most widely produced class of wheat in the U.S., Hard Red Winter wheat, has a current production forecast of 515 million bushels. That may sound like…

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