Author: Jordan

Image source: Getty Images Property investments can be a fantastic way to earn a second income. But with the government hiking taxes on British landlords, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to succeed with a buy-to-let strategy. Yet there are other ways to invest in UK real estate. And one such method only takes a few hundred pounds to get started, with all income potentially entirely tax-free. Here’s how. An easier, tax-efficient way to invest in property With high-yielding real estate investment trusts (REITs), it’s possible to start earning a chunky tax-free second income overnight. These unique businesses trade like any other…

Based solely on performance, Wall Street has been thrilled to have President Donald Trump in the White House. During Trump’s first, non-consecutive term, the mature-stock-driven Dow Jones Industrial Average (^DJI 0.56%), benchmark S&P 500 (^GSPC 0.11%), and tech-stock-inspired Nasdaq Composite (^IXIC +0.35%) rallied 57%, 70%, and 142%, respectively. While these major indexes have risen under most presidents since the late 1890s, the annualized returns under Trump are among the best. President Trump delivering remarks. Image source: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok. But this doesn’t mean the stock market has moved from Point A to B in a straight…

After the two-week ceasefire between the US and Iran caused oil prices to slide, wealth managers discuss their preferred asset allocation, highlighting the need for diversification and a preference for gold in an uncertain environment. Dr Luca Bindelli, head of investment strategy at Swiss private bank Lombard Odier, says he prefers quality assets and gold in an uncertain geopolitical environment. “History underscores the importance of maintaining resilient and diversified portfolios in response to an uncertain geopolitical and macroeconomic landscape. We favour quality assets and gold,” Bindelli said in a note. “We continue to see diversification benefits in gold. We…

DEAR ABBY: My 43-year-old daughter, “Patti,” a mom of two from different dads, is constantly in financial difficulties and periodically asks family members for money. Her live-in boyfriend earns a good living but is no help beyond paying the rent. Their partnership allegedly exists only for the kids’ benefit. The two school-age daughters attend private school. The boyfriend’s older son (by another mom) is away at college. We have noted a pattern of frivolous spending — including fancy birthday parties, hairdos and clothes for the kids, along with plastic surgeries for Patti. She filed for bankruptcy 20 years ago after…

Understanding Platinum’s Strategic Market Position Precious metals markets operate within complex cycles driven by fundamental supply-demand dynamics, geopolitical shifts, and technological evolution. Unlike gold’s primary role as a monetary hedge, platinum occupies a unique dual position serving both industrial applications and investment portfolios. The current platinum price surge creates distinctive volatility patterns and investment opportunities that differ significantly from traditional precious metal behaviours. The metal’s industrial utility spans automotive catalytic converters, emerging green hydrogen technologies, and specialised manufacturing processes. Simultaneously, its relative scarcity compared to gold positions platinum as an alternative store of value during periods of economic uncertainty. This…

Nottingham Building Society, the mortgages and savings mutual, has announced a series of updates to its BTL lending criteria – including an increase in its maximum BTL mortgage term to 40 years, up from the previous 35-year limit.  The shift has been built to provide landlords with more flexibility when structuring borrowing, while also supporting a growing number of accidental landlords, where longer terms can help manage affordability and repayment profiles.  Alongside the extended mortgage term, Nottingham Building Society has refreshed its buy‑to‑let criteria to support affordability and access at a time when landlords across the market are navigating higher interest rates, changing portfolio dynamics, and evolving tenant needs. …

On a warm, spring morning in Canterbury, the cobbled streets are buzzing with activity and the white Tudor houses gleam in the sun.It is a scene that seems far removed from events in the Middle East, but the conflict is undermining business and consumer confidence – rattling the city’s housing market just as the spring selling season began.Spooked by surging oil prices and inflation fears, lenders pulled hundreds of mortgage products within 48 hours of the outbreak of war, replacing them with more expensive deals. Buyers and sellers, in turn, are having second thoughts and some are pulling out of…

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›The drop in short interest on NASB Financial’s stock signals growing investor confidence in the bank’s underlying financial strength and operations.Little Rock TodayNASB Financial Inc. (OTCMKTS:NASB), a bank holding company based in Little Rock, Arkansas, saw a significant decline in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, the company’s short interest totaled 333 shares, a 51.1% decrease from the 681 shares reported on March 15th. With an average daily trading volume of 9,673 shares, NASB Financial’s short-interest ratio is currently 0.0 days, indicating that only a negligible portion of…

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›As global demand for essential commodities fluctuates, investors scrutinize the operational capabilities and financial health of major mining firms like Hycroft and Impala Platinum.Winnemucca TodayHycroft Mining (NASDAQ:HYMC) and Impala Platinum (OTCMKTS:IMPUY) are both basic materials companies, but which one is the superior investment? This analysis contrasts the two firms based on valuation, profitability, institutional ownership, and other key factors to determine which stock comes out on top. Why it matters As the global economy navigates uncertain times, investors are closely scrutinizing basic materials companies that produce essential commodities. This head-to-head comparison can help…

No one can deny that the rental market is changing, arguably more than it ever has before. Between shifting interest rates, tax pressures and regulatory changes, there has been much talk of a surge in landlords leaving the sector. According to a recent poll by software provider Alto, 34% of letting agents reported a large increase in landlords selling up, the majority of them being smaller landlords with one or two properties. But is the situation really as extreme as some might think, or can these changes actually be a positive thing for the rental market? And, perhaps…