Finance
Are Banks About to Operate Completely Online?
Telephone banking and online banking are rapidly changing the global financial landscape. Consider that in the UK alone, 461 bank branches will be closing in 2017, owing to changing customer preferences. The rapid growth of Internet banking has revolutionized the industry, and changes are taking place at a rate of knots. In fact, since 2015, a dramatic reshaping of banking has occurred. The rise of Internet-only banks is gaining in prominence as tectonic shifts in customer preferences take root. The...
Debit cards to overtake cash by 2018
Debit cards are set to overtake cash as soon as next year, new research has revealed. Rapid growth in the use of contactless cards means cash will be overtaken as Britain’s most frequently used payment method by the end of 2018. Spending on all forms of contactless systems now accounts for 28 per cent of all non-cash transactions in the UK, with total spend exceeding £10 billion for the year in 2016. In December alone, Worldpay processed over £1.5 billion in...
Small shareholders brushed aside in Pallinghurst’s Fabergé corporate play
Research shows that Pallinghurst Resources Ltd, the private equity firm started up by the former boss of BHP Billiton Brain Gilbertson, has palmed off Fabergé by selling it for $142 million in shares to its own London AIM listed gemstone miner Gemfields plc (LON: GEM). This when Faberge had already clocked a $58 million loss over 4 years from 2009 to 2012, thus severely hurting minority public shareholder interests. Palinghurst, listed on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, is the investment vehicle...
Nearly £1 trillion inheritance money expected pass to the next generation in a decade
The ‘inheritance economy’ is set to boom over the next ten years as rising wealth and higher mortality rates combine to raise the total value of inheritances to £1 trillion over the next decade. The total annual amounts passing from one generation to the next are forecast to rise from the current level of £69 billion to around £115 billion by 2027, according to a ground-breaking report from estate administration specialists Kings Court Trust. This 66 per cent increase in...
Is the PPI claims ‘Industry’ finally dead or is it just hype?
For the past several years, every time we turned on the television, all we seemed to hear were ads blaring about PPI and claiming refunds, or compensation for being sold the controversial payment protection insurance. It was driving viewers nuts. If you were wondering what all the fuss was about, since 2011, it has added up to £26.7 billion in payouts by the banks responsible for the mass mis-selling scandal that's been called one of the biggest financial outrages in...
Study unveils the 30 unexpected payments you didn’t budget for
We all know the feeling. The end of month comes around and with a week left we're all digging around the back of the sofa to find the cash to get us through to our next pay cheque. No matter how diligently we have saved it always seems to be the case. You factor in rent, bills, days out and even nights out itemised by the number of drinks we buy and greasy food we consume. But it isn't enough....
Which CFD Is Best For You?
The world of CFDs can be intimidating if you are a newcomer to them. Even once you’ve wrapped your head around the way they work, there’s still a lot to get to grips with them. Let’s say you’ve got some money set aside, and have found a reputable broker, what then? Stick To What You Know! The first thing to work out when considering what CFD is best for you is to consider your own background – what industries and...
How Could Theresa May’s Snap Election Announcement Affect the UK Economy?
State of the Nation Theresa May sparked a sense of surprise across the country last week as she called a snap general election to be held on 8 June. Many have since drawn comparisons between the British zeitgeist with a Bristolian lady's reaction to the news which quickly went viral online. The announcement followed several statements by the prime minster that she would not be seeking a general election. However, in terms of shock factor, the news of a...
Why do people use Quick Loans?
When you’re facing a financial emergency or you’re searching for some way to consolidate a number of unexpected bills, then you may find that you have nowhere else to turn but to quick, payday loans. Whether you’re dealing with a broken down car, a medical emergency, or a number of bills that you need to pay off quickly (or face repercussions), a quick loan can provide you with the helping hand that you need - as long as you are...