More Americans are swimming in debt than ever before because of the struggling economy and a high national unemployment rate. Because of the increase in financial problems, there is also an increase in the demand for debt consolidation loans and the services of debt consolidationpanies. The question is: should you be turning to thesepanies for help or is debt consolidation something you can tackle on your own?
What Is Debt Consolidation?
Debt consolidation is thebining of your debts into one payment. Typically, this is achieved by establishing a new loan that has a lower interest rate than the rates you are paying now. Several different ways exist that you can go about obtaining a debt consolidation loan.
Read more…
It was a tough week for the carry trader. The markets started out acquiring higher yields driven by solid global growth and seasonality in the carry and momentum strategies. By week’s end, the dollar is broadly firmer, as popular carry trades continue to correct lower. There is no obvious macro driver for that move.Thrown in the concerns about Egypt, the PBOC’s decision to fix USDCNY higher, cautious comments from RBA’s Stevens and a BOK leaving rates on hold are seemingly weighing on global sentiment. Let’s not forget the Euro-peripheries, Portugal is back on the radar. Below, we have some of the highlights of the week.
EUROPE
Read more…
Much is said about saving for retirement and paring down expenses while retired to arrive at a workable budget planner during ones retirement years. But, not a whole lot is said about the other side of the coin when ites to making the numbers work for a budget: bringing IN more money. Sometimes you can only trim so many expenditures before you start to get into the thorny dilemma of deciding between cutting two much needed expenses, like car insurance or food to eat, and you wind up cutting expenses that really should remain a part of your budget.
So what do you do if you have cut out as many expenses as you possibly can from your retirement budget and your outflows still exceed your inflows in a proportion that is unsustainable for your financial security?
Read more…
China has announced today that it will be raising interest rates making this the second interest rate increase in just over one month therefore giving an indicator that its giving a tight fight against its high inflation. Although annual inflation slowed to 4.6% in December, it is set to pick up again in January with food prices on the rise. The euro also dipped on the China rate hike news reaching as low as 1.3592 against the dollar, but quickly recovered to trade at USD1.3647. Analysts said that Asian investors bought the euro as players in the region have been selling the dollar since returning on Monday after the lunar New Year holidays.
The British currency was firm versus the greenback today, with prospects that the UK interest rates may need to rise soon to counter inflationary pressures offset by selling pressure from Asian accounts.
Read more…
