Author: Jordan

9:01 AM, 20th April 2026, 8 hours ago Higher borrowing costs are forcing landlords to rethink how they finance portfolios, with interest-only loans and cash injections becoming more common, research reveals. The analysis from Hamptons, using Connells Group data, shows the average buy to let rate secured by a landlord has reached 4.84% in April. That’s up from 4.20% in January, with two-year fixes at 4.73% and five-year deals at 4.94%. By early April, 43% of all new BTL lending was agreed at rates of 5% or above, compared with just 8% at the start of the year. The firm…

Gold has a reputation as a safe haven for investors. When the stock market fluctuates and inflation rises, investors often allocate more capital to precious metals like gold and silver. With the war in Iran affecting oil prices and the stock market, along with ongoing issues in Europe and South America, gold is more popular than ever. In fact, gold’s price rose 64% in 2025. But what comes next? Learn what drives gold prices, and what predictions experts have about future gold values. As of April 20, the price of gold (GC=F) surpassed $4,805 per troy ounce, according to GoldPrice.org.…

Extending the benefits   Spurred by the ongoing success of the workshops – bringing our colleagues’ expertise into the places where customers learn, work and socialise – our ambition is to help many more people manage their money and plan for the future with greater financial confidence.  In February 2026, we announced a major expansion of the Financial Foundations programme to help support 50,000 people with free financial education and guidance throughout 2026 in their workplace or community group.  We have also recently confirmed the addition of a new financial education module to Financial Foundations to help demystify investing. The…

For much of its history, fine whisky belonged more to ritual than to finance. It was collected, but typically with the expectation that bottles would eventually be opened, poured and enjoyed. Today, rare whisky has evolved into something else entirely: a global asset class that sits comfortably alongside art, watches and even property in the portfolios of the ultra-wealthy.The transformation has been gradual. Over the past decade, rare whisky has reportedly delivered returns exceeding 400 per cent, drawing the attention of investors who might once have overlooked it as a niche enthusiasm.“Rare whisky shifted around 2015 from being something people…

Japan Securities Clearing Corp., or JSCC, said it will begin a proof of concept with Mizuho, Nomura Holdings and Digital Asset to test the use of Japanese government bonds as digital collateral. The proof of concept will be conducted on the Canton Network (CC) and will assess whether Japanese government bonds can be transferred and managed on-chain while complying with relevant laws and regulations. The project will test whether existing systems can be connected to blockchain infrastructure to support 24-hour real-time collateral transactions and potential cross-border transactions. Forecast Trend Report by PeriodSee more mid- to long-term trend analysisPhoto: Shutterstock Japan…

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:…

Discover cards are currently not available on CNBC Select and links have been redirected to our credit card marketplace where you can review offers from other issuers like American Express or Chase. You can also check out our list of best credit cards for alternative options.Booking international travel can be costly, but with a little advanced planning, you can use a credit card to save money. One easy mistake to make abroad is using a card that charges foreign transaction fees, which can be 3% per purchase. If you spend $1,000 during your overseas vacation, that’s $30 in fees, which you can easily avoid…

Investing.com — Canadian energy stocks have underperformed oil prices and the broader market since the Iran conflict began in late February, according to Raymond James analysis covering the period from February 27 to April 17. All but three stocks in Raymond James’ Canadian energy coverage universe underperformed the WTI commodity strip during this period, with nearly 60% posting negative total returns while also trailing the TSX. Many equities completed a full round trip over the past two weeks as ceasefire discussions began, despite expectations for a stronger oil price environment than anticipated before the conflict. Oil exploration and production companies…

Limited company landlord confidence has risen sharply, with 84% expecting rental yields to go up over the next year, research from Kensington Mortgages found.  Nearly nine in 10 landlords said they felt confident about the market outlook, and 80% expected rental demand to rise.  More than three quarters anticipated property values would also increase. However, 77% of landlords expected mortgage costs to go up, and 81% said their running costs, such as repairs, insurance and maintenance, had increased in the past year.  Almost four in five said they thought regulations would become more challenging. Interest rates were the single biggest…

Jim Wyckoff has spent over 25 years involved with the stock, financial and commodity markets. He was a financial journalist with the FWN newswire service for many years, including stints as a reporter on the rough-and-tumble commodity futures trading floors in Chicago and New York. As a journalist, he has covered every futures market traded in the U.S., at one time or another. Jim is the proprietor of the “Jim Wyckoff on the Markets” analytical, educational and trading advisory service. Jim also worked as a technical analyst for Dow Jones Newswires and as the senior market analyst with TraderPlanet.com. Jim…