Lloyds share sale: Should you register to buy? 62,000 investors tempted by future dividends October 7, 2015 Investors have been sent into a frenzy by government plans to sell off its remaining shares in Lloyds Banking Group next spring. Since the news broke, 62,000 people have already registered for the chance to buy up shares at a discount. But fear not, there is plenty of time. Read on for our guide to [...]
UK inflation: Funeral costs rise as rapidly as house prices October 7, 2015 The cost of a funeral has kept pace with house price inflation since 1980 – with London ranking as the most expensive place to be laid to rest, at an average of £4,000. Funeral costs have risen by an average 6.1 per cent each year while UK house prices have gone up by 6.6 [...]
Tips for public speaking from political party conferences: Keep sentences short and – if offered an autocue – use it October 7, 2015 At least I don’t have to worry about [Cherie] running off with the bloke next door,” said Tony Blair in his valedictory speech at the 2006 Labour Party Conference. Combining humour with an honesty about his differences with Gordon Brown, the performance was heralded as one of the greatest in British politics, and received a [...]
Stars align for shoppers: Experts predict a consumer boom amid low inflation and cheap energy October 6, 2015 All the ingredients for a consumer boom are appearing, experts say, as turbulence in Asia keeps commodity prices and inflation down. Oil prices remain low amid global oversupply and market worries about slowing demand in China. Meanwhile, Beijing’s devaluation of the yuan means lower inflation – in the form of cheaper goods from China [...]
Commodity prices: Low point for investors? Wait until 2017 October 6, 2015 Investors have over the past week questioned whether major commodities names are like the lyrics of the 1980s Bon Jovi hit Livin’ On A Prayer – spot prices might relapse, or prices may remain battered for years. Glencore has been in the thick of it, defending its liquidity, debt maturities and bank loans after [...]
Business lessons from the Rugby World Cup 2015 October 6, 2015 Rugby is a thug’s game, played by gentlemen”. So goes the adage, but it’s not the only tough game in town. England’s premature exit from the World Cup has demonstrated how uncompromising rugby can be, but the world of business is just as rough. Smaller companies and startups must be prepared to take a few [...]
Fed US interest rate hike delays will boost the final quarter – eToro Tips & Picks October 5, 2015 It's back to focusing on the Fed again. And this time, this comes as many push expectations for a rate hike. Friday’s poor jobs report has made the most of the major investment banks re-evaluate their position on the Fed rate hike, as it now seems that the general consensus has dramatically shifted from October [...]
Shared Ownership Week: So what is it anyway? October 5, 2015 Like the sound of Shared Ownership, but not sure how it works? Katie Bond, director of housing association Notting Hill Home Ownership (NHHO), is here to set the record straight for Shared Ownership Week (5-11 October). What is a Shared Ownership scheme and who is it meant to help? Shared Ownership is where you [...]
How to run inductions with a difference: Forget icebreakers and focus on imparting your firm’s vision October 4, 2015 The interview process is, for any successful business, a protracted journey. It takes a lot of time and effort to find the correct candidates, particularly for firms who rely on highly skilled employees. But it’s rare to hear businesses talk about what happens next. Too many think that the first day is the end [...]