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Done & Dusted

These disappointing figures fuelled speculation that interest rates will not rise until 2016 at the earliest having been frozen at 0.5 per cent since March 2009.

The expectation that rates will stay lower for longer has been encouraged by the low-inflation environment. The UK March consumer prices index rate of inflation stayed at the 0 per cent recorded in February – despite forecasts falling petrol prices and the supermarket price war would turn the rate negative.

The impact of very low interest rates continues to reverberate around the financial system. For example bond markets are showing signs of increasing volatility and can no longer be relied to be either a safe haven or a predictor of economic activity. Companies are buying back shares using cheap loans rather than investing for the future, whilst certain badly run hedge funds are taking excessive risks with borrowed money and leaving their investors with the downside when things go wrong.

With little hope for savers that their money will earn them a good rate of interest sitting in a Bank, or invested in government bonds, be it in the UK or Europe , now is the time to speak to the investment specialists at Blacktower. We are here to help you find the right solution to make your money work for YOU.

by Christina Brady, Regional Manager Costa Blanca

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Other News

Expats with regular savings encouraged by new buy-to-let offerings

Terraced HousesGood news for UK expats with regular savings; lenders are introducing more buy-to-let mortgages specially designed to provide for the needs and circumstances of British expats. Until now there has been a shortage of viable deals, despite the fact that demand has been, and continues to be, strong.

Surprisingly, it is not expats from traditional destinations such as France and Spain who are likely to be the main customers of the buy-to-let deals. The United Arab Emirates and Dubai are reported to be the major markets for UK expat buy-to-let mortgages.

However, the mortgages will not be available to all expats. For example, expats resident in Australia, South Africa, Kenya and 89 other countries will be ineligible to borrow from the main provider, Skipton, and as such will have to look elsewhere before using their expat regular savings to make a buy-to-let investment.

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Looking for a smoother ride in choppy waters

Polynesian beach2019 looks like it will be a testing time for investors, from trade wars to political uncertainty.

The European Union (EU) faces a number of challenges, including the ongoing Brexit saga, Germany just escaping recession (for the moment), further tensions with the Italian government, mass social unrest in France (with the potential for contagion) , the continued rise of populism, anti-immigration, anti-establishment and separatism movements and a weakening European economy (real GDP decelerated in 2018).

In the US, President Trump will do everything he can to keep the US economy strong because the success of his presidency relies on it. But at least the threat of a trade war with China has rescinded recently, with Trump delaying tariffs on Chinese goods as he feels substantial progress has been made in trade talks.

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