Money Towers

The recession has bitten hard into the confidence and budgets of consumers and has reflected itself in recent research that has indicated that 1 in 5 Britons plan to spend less this year at Christmas. The survey, published by Gfk NOP, covered 1,000 adults and also indicated that just 1 in 10 plan to spend more on gifts this year compared to last. The study implies that we will all be spending around 15% less this Christmas compared to last – a sure sign that we are all far more cost conscious and concerned that times are still tough.  Read more... (475 words, 1 image, estimated 1:54 mins reading time)

Commodities are always a popular thing to trade, however one particular commodity seems to be catching the eye of many investors.

Water – the stuff we often take for granted – has so far been ignored by many investors however interest in this precious commodity is on the increase. So why has it been ignored so far? The first reason is that it isn’t often traded by itself. Many investors also look to the more traditional trades such as oil as these have the potential for big gains whereas water tends to be seen as quite a defensive strategy.  Read more... (259 words, estimated 1:02 mins reading time)

The Financial Services Authority (FSA) has stepped in to look at the heavy-handed sales tactics employed by many sale and rent back companies.

Sale and rent back companies have seen a massive increase in growth over the past year thanks to the current recession. Many companies have cashed in on the fact that many people are struggling to keep up the repayments on their mortgage and coupled with other debts, they are looking for a quick way to get their hands on a large amount of cash whilst being able to stay in their homes.  Read more... (276 words, estimated 1:06 mins reading time)

According to the latest research, over half of us have already begun our Christmas shopping. Three quarters of those who have already begun to buy Christmas presents have said that the early start to their shopping is in an attempt to spread the cost of Christmas.

The research has also shown that the amount spent on presents is set to fall this year with a third of shoppers saying they are planning to spend considerably less than last year, and 80 percent of people looking to spend less than £250. In 2008, the average spend was £320 per person.  Read more... (167 words, estimated 40 secs reading time)

The current upturn in the UK stock market is said to be being driven ‘ordinary’ householders buying shares because they are sick of the poor interest rates attached to their savings account.

The FTSE 100 index was pushed up 3.2 percent last week. This has followed a six month rally that has driven blue-chip shares up 50 percent over their March low.

Experts believe that both of these rallies are in part due to ordinary buyers, that is buyers who are not represented by big investment firms. Since June, the number of these buyers has risen to levels equal to the dotcom boom of 2000, and in the last three months, deals placed through execution-only stockbrokers has risen to over 4 million.  Read more... (294 words, estimated 1:11 mins reading time)

The black hole in the UK’s final salary private pension schemes is reported to have passed the £1 trillion mark.

Research by Aon Consulting has shown that the cost of meeting pensions is has risen with the 200 largest schemes now facing liabilities of over £500 billion. The rise in liabilities is down to a number of factors, most notably the fall of corporate bond yields (on which the costs of future pensions are based).

The figures make poor reading for those heading for retirement age in the near future as it means they will either have less money per year than they had planned for, or they will have to work for longer than anticipated.  Read more... (157 words, estimated 38 secs reading time)