Category Archives: Financial

Financial

Assets, Business, Commodities, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, Money, Trading

Melbourne Options and Futures Exchange (MOFEX) Launches New Software-Based Service Trading Platform

The Trading Department of the Melbourne Options and Futures Exchange today released a statement regarding the availability of its open source trading platform over MOFEX TECH’S network. The service is specifically designed for high volume traders and provides a high-performance hosted infrastructure with the versatility of an open source platform at a small portion of the cost of on-premise proprietary trading systems.

“The clients of today are requiring the best performance and the most minimal inactivity possible while discharging IT management problems and unneeded costs so that they can focus on what they do best which is to trade,” said He Zhengtang, President of Melbourne Options and Futures Exchange. “With MOFEX TECH by our side, we can provide this solution through a managed hosting platform. Our customers can expect to experience reduced costs of payments, versatility and performance advantages that they need to compete in this era of trading.”

The new service from the Trading Department of Melbourne Options and Futures Exchange gives Trading Companies of different sizes the versatility traders need to pursue alpha at a cost model that only an open source business model can deliver.

The clients begin with the level of capacity that they require and expand seamlessly, making payments on a basis of what they use. MOFEX TECH will host the trading platform as a partnered solution. The customers will be able to access this platform together with other services including MOFEX TECH’s high-performance, dependable and flexible directed order routing capability.“The end-to-end solution available from Melbourne Options and Futures Exchange Trading Department and MOFEX TECH shows our dedication to searching for other methods to attract liquidity and meet the needs of our clients with versatile, open and cost-effective products,” said Jiang Dao Lee, Head of MOFEX Trading Department. “By giving a solution in a secure environment, we can address concerns such as Internet speed requirements, procurement, maintaining market data infrastructure and connectivity so that our clients can spend more of their time focusing on their core competencies”, completed Mr. Dao Lee.

About MOFEX
The Melbourne Options and Futures Exchange (MOFEX) is a leading multi-product commodity and currency derivatives exchange.

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Assets, Business, Commodities, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Investment, Money, Trading

MOFEX Names Arthur Hatch to Head Team as Director of Services

MOFEX, one of the world`s most diverse marketplace announced that it has appointed Arthur Hatch, as an executive with over two decades of industry experience, to its team as Director of Services. Arthur Hatch will report to William Cornell, the Managing Director. Arthur Hatch will be in charge for heading the growth, enactment and management of MOFEX interest rate, derivatives, swaps and other product lines. He previously served as Managing Director for a leading Asian banking corporation. “MOFEX proceeds to expand its business and client base all over the world, with our extensive suite of financial products,” said MOFEX C.E.O Peter Cole. “Arthur Hatch’s addition to our executive team, along other key personnel who leads our commodity trading department, and William Hudson who leads our OTC Trading Department, will further enhance the capabilities of our team as we continue to successfully enact our global growth strategy.”

“Our global sales force continues to focus on providing innovative products and clearing services, as well as outstanding customer service, to market participants worldwide,” exclaimed Mr. Hatch. “William`s experience growing MOFEX volumes of almost twice the previous figures calculated, as well as his expertise enhancing our team and our product offering as one of the largest regulated marketplace in the Asia – Pacific, will be of incredible advantage to us, as we expand our on-MOFEX and OTC offerings in our interest rates, credit swaps and other business lines.” Prior to joining MOFEX, Arthur Hatch, acquired nearly two decades’ worth of experience in the global market, most recently as Managing Director, for a leading banking corporation where he was tasked with the development and management of the product platform, trading, technology and structured products offering in the company’s futures options business.

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Confused.com Launches Facebook App That Burgles Houses

Confused.com has launched a Facebook video app called ‘House of Horrors’ in order to raise awareness of the importance of home insurance, coinciding with the launch of Confused.com’s Nectar campaign, where customers can collect 1,000 Nectar points with every home, pet, van, bike and car insurance policy bought through Confused.com. Customers who buy life insurance will receive 3,000 Nectar points.

The app clearly shows why people need home insurance and customers can collect 1,000 Nectar points by simply buying this product through Confused.com.

The app, which was created by A Social Media Agency, forms part of the on-going digital content marketing strategy of Confused.com and reinforces the importance of having a home insurance policy in place to make sure your possessions are covered against theft.

Once plugged into the video app, Facebook users are presented with a video of a burglar breaking into a home which they quickly realise is in fact their house shown through a Google Maps image of their street that is displayed in the clip. This is made possible as users are required to enter their postcode at the beginning.

The video app takes information from users’ profiles, such as photos, and places this around the house in which the burglar appears to be, to make them feel as though it is their own.

In order to demonstrate the need for home insurance, the app includes eerie music and a threatening ‘burglar’ character that is seen to be handling photos of the app user around the house. A shot of the thief stealing a laptop that displays the users’ Facebook profile and one last shot of the character holding a photo frame containing an image of the user completes the video, with the message ‘cover your possessions at Confused.com’.

Speaking about the video app, Mike Hoban, Marketing Director at Confused.com, said:
“We’re looking to spark conversation with this video app and make people understand the importance of having home insurance. With the current challenging financial times, people may stop insuring their possessions just to save a few pounds, but this is false economy.”

Sharon Flaherty, Head of Content at Confused.com continued: “The integration of information from users’ profiles, especially their photos, is bound to make people feel uneasy as though their home really has been broken into. However, this is a situation which is very much a reality given that the British Crime Survey reported a 5% rise in burglary in the 12 months to September 2011.”

Laura Edwards, Account Manager at A Social Media Agency, added: “We wanted to make the experience of users having their home broken into as real as possible. Building Google Maps into the start to show their street was a big part of this, immediately putting you on edge.”

Known for their success at combining PR, social media and digital marketing, Confused.com continue to launch original ideas, such as their first video-only newsletter sent earlier this month and the recent Happy Birthday Video App. Social media has become a focus for the company in 2012, with exciting plans to focus on growing their audience in coming months.

The ‘House of Horrors’ app can be found at https://www.facebook.com/confused

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Prudential Study Reveals One In Six Will Retire With No Pension

Prudential’s Class of 2012 study has revealed that one in six people (16 per cent) planning to retire this year will depend on the State Pension to fund their retirement as they have no other pension.

The figures come from Prudential’s Class of 2012 research, which provides insights into the financial expectations of Britons planning to retire this year.

Women are more than twice as likely as men to have no pension; 20 per cent of women retiring in 2012 will depend on the State Pension compared with just 8 per cent of men.

The average person planning to retire this year will look to the State for 34 per cent of their income, with State Pension payments set to rise to £107.45 a week for single people from the 6th April 2012. Company pensions (35 per cent) are the second highest source of income and the remaining 30% comes from a mixture of savings, investments, personal pension savings, part time work and money from family members.

The Prudential research also shows that one quarter (26 per cent) of people retiring this year either overestimate by more than £500 a year what the State Pension pays, or simply do not know.

Vince Smith-Hughes, retirement income expert at Prudential, said: “While the State Pension is a safety net for pensioners in the UK, it should only ever be regarded as part of an overall retirement plan.

“For far too many people, the State Pension has become the default income option in retirement. Even those who have some private provision depend so heavily on the State that it makes up a third of their retirement income.

“Although State Pension levels will rise to £107.45 for single people per week on Friday, this will still only provide relatively low levels of income to people in retirement. It’s a weak safety net for those without any savings and the real income shock for many retirees will come when the gap between their current earnings and the State Pension becomes apparent.

“If people want to maintain their standard of living in retirement it is important that they start to save as much as possible as early as possible, and the vast majority should join company pension schemes where possible. Seeking early advice from a financial adviser should also be a prerequisite to helping people achieve the level of retirement income they want and need.”

Regionally, people retiring this year in the Midlands are the most likely in the UK to rely on the State Pension (40 per cent). This compares with a quarter (28 per cent) of those in Scotland, who claim that they will be the least reliant on the state for their retirement income.

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Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index Reveals Women Feeling The Pinch

The latest Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price Index has revealed that, after several years of soaring price increases, car insurance prices have fallen. However, car insurance prices are still 61% higher than they were at the end of 2006.

Car insurance prices for women have fallen 3% year-on-year but in some UK regions women are experiencing hikes as high as 9.7%, showing a murky picture across the UK.

For men, the price of comprehensive car insurance has dropped by 1.8% year on year bringing an average policy to £869 at the end of March 2012.This compares with women who were paying £751 in the same period.

However, the Confused.com/Towers Watson Car Insurance Price index also shows that some women have seen more significant rises than men in the 12 month period. These changes are taking place in Leeds and Sheffield, Inner London, Manchester & Merseyside as well as the West Midlands and mostly amongst the 21-30 age group.

In the Leeds/Sheffield area, the Confused.com/Towers Watson car insurance price index shows that the cost of a comprehensive policy for women aged 21-25 increased by 3.4% YoY in Q1 2012, totalling £1,437. This compares with a 2% rise for men of the same age and postcode who in Q1 2012 paid £2,199 for a comprehensive policy.

Women aged 21-25 living in Inner London also took a hit in premiums, experiencing car insurance price rises of 3.9% YoY in Q1 2012, whereas 21-25 year old males living in the same postcode saw a lesser 3.4 per cent hike.

In the Manchester/ Merseyside region, women aged 21-25 were grappling with price hikes of 4.7% as the price of a comprehensive policy rose to £1,820. By contrast, their male counterparts saw a 3.6% rise.

Interestingly, and also in the Manchester/ Merseyside area, those women aged 66-70 were hit with a huge 9.7% rise in their insurance premium, compared with a 5.7% rise for men.

Despite being hit with regional hikes, women are still paying less than men for car insurance because the cost of claims is less for women compared to that of men. The Confused.com/Towers Watson car insurance price index shows that for the first quarter of 2012, female drivers aged 17-20 were paying £1,766 LESS than men of the same age. The average cost of a fully comprehensive car insurance policy in the first quarter of 2012 for a female aged 17-20 is £1,869 compared with males of the same age who pay £3,635.

As well as some women in some regions feeling the effects of car insurance price rises, increases above the rate of inflation (3.4%)* were seen in Oldham, Uxbridge, Bradford and East London. With a price increase of 7.1%, Oldham replaces Bradford as the postcode with the fastest rising prices over the last 12 months.

Gareth Kloet, Head of Car Insurance at Confused.com said: “Overall we’ve seen insurance prices come down marginally but, some women are seeing significant increases in their premium. The European Union gender equality law bans the use of gender as a factor in calculating the cost of an insurance policy and comes into effect on 21 December 2012. As a result, we expect women everywhere to see hikes to their car insurance costs.”

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Confused.com Reveals Men Pay More For Life Insurance

Confused.com has revealed that men across the UK are paying far more for their life insurance than women. Currently, men are paying an average of 26% more per policy, per year. To make matters worse, Confused.com reveals that a shocking 1 in 4 men never shop around for anything better.

Matthew Lloyd, Head of Life insurance at Confused.com, said: “Men complain that women take too long shopping, but men need to learn from women if they want to get the best deals – on life insurance, but also day to day items too.”

According to evolutionary psychology, men and women’s shopping behaviours are adapted from the traditional roles of men being hunters and women being gatherers. Men, the hunters, locate their item as quickly as possible, whereas women, the gatherers, spend time analysing the different items in order to get the best deal.

Men fail to get the best bargains especially at Christmas, with 39% of women shopping for presents from January onwards, compared to nearly 1 in 5 (19%) of men who leave it until the week before, inevitably overspending.

When clothes shopping, half of UK men (50%) take less than an hour to buy an outfit, whereas the majority of women (89%) actually take up to 5 hours. An overwhelming 78% of hunter men admit to buying clothes without trying them on first, compared to only 25% of women.

As a quarter of men (24%) default to their favourite shop, 48% of women shop around, before making their final (and best) purchase online or in a sale. This is because the single-minded hunter men don’t like going from shop to shop – 42% buy their groceries in one store, compared to nearly half (49%) of gatherer women who go to several shops, seeking out the best deal.

When it comes to shopping in the sales, men’s aversion to shopping means that they are already lagging behind women’s eye for a bargain, with 23% of men preferring to shop in the sales compared to 31% of women.

Whereas nearly 1 in 3 men don’t shop around for life insurance, there is one thing that they do shop around for: a car. Over 54% of men think that a car is the most important purchase to bargain hunt for, whereas the majority (32%) of women believe that it’s a holiday that matters most. This is because hunter men prefer bigger ‘catches’. Hundreds of years ago this would have been an antelope for dinner, these days it’s a car.

Matthew Lloyd, Head of Life Insurance at Confused.com continued: “Men are happy to spend the time shopping around for lifestyle purchases they perceive as important, such as a car or television, but comparing life insurance quotes doesn’t seem worth the effort for many. However, they could be saving money by doing so.”

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Confused.com Unveils New Promotion With The NSPCC

Expert price-comparison site, Confused.com, is donating £5 to the NSPCC for every credit card taken out through Confused.com in April 2012. Confused.com is throwing its support behind the charity this year as it celebrates the 25th anniversary of ChildLine, the free 24 hour confidential helpline for children and young people, which is a service provided by the NSPCC.

The promotion began on April 1st and will run until 30th April 2012.

Confused.com has been comparing leading credit cards since 2008 and currently displays 245 credits cards.

Confused.com offers the most competitive and market-leading cards from providers like Barclaycard Platinum which offers 0% interest on balances transfers for 22 months, Tesco which is interest free on purchases for 18 months & Capital One World that offers up to 5% cash back.

Confused.com also offers a ‘card matcher’ tool that helps customers identify their chance of getting a card before they apply, without leaving a footprint on their credit profile.

For every credit card taken out through Confused.com, the price comparison website will give £5 to the NSPCC.

The Confused.com promotion not only means that customers get competitive rates on credit cards, they also support a charity that can make a real difference to children, by fighting for their rights, providing support and making them safe.

ChildLine joined the NSPCC in 2006.ChildLine is the UK’s free, confidential helpline for children and young people in the UK. Trained volunteers are on hand to provide advice and support, by phone and online, 24 hours a day.

Svetlana Kirov, Head of Corporate Partnerships at the NSPCC said: “The NSPCC is delighted that Confused.com will be supporting us in celebrating ChildLine’s 25th anniversary. For 25 years, ChildLine has been a trusted friend that any child or young person in the UK can turn to when they need someone there for them. In the last 12 months alone, ChildLine counselled over 265,000 contacts from children who may have otherwise had no one to turn to for help. With your support, we can continue to provide this valuable service for future generations of children and young people.”

Nerys Lewis, Head of Credit Cards at Confused.com, said: “We are delighted to announce this new promotion with the NSPCC. By just donating £5 from every card taken out at Confused.com we are helping support the NSPCC’s vision, which is to end cruelty to children.

“For those customers in the market for a new credit card, by using our comparison site Confused.com, they are not only getting a good deal on their credit card but are also helping a charity who puts children at the heart of their cause.”

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Payday Express Supports Staff Development

Payday Express continues to demonstrate its commitment to staff development with training programmes and mentoring schemes for those looking to build their careers within the company.

The latest to benefit from this commitment to training and development are Laura Kent, Louis Dixon and Lauren Harding – all of whom are or have been seconded to various teams within the business.

Laura Kent started at the payday loan company in May 2010 and spent her first 12 months as a customer support agent. During her time in this role Laura was given the opportunity to get involved in quality monitoring as well as group training for all new starters at the contact centre.

She was singled out as an employee with drive who wanted to progress her career at the no fax payday loans company. She was offered a secondment as a customer relations officer and is now working permanently in this role.

Laura said: “The company recognised my drive and determination and has supported my career path change as a result.

“It has helped me to develop and continue to progress and I really appreciate being encouraged to challenge myself.”

Two other contact centre employees, Louis Dixon and Lauren Harding, are currently on secondment within the training department. They have been on Train the Trainer courses and are getting involved with group training, inductions and quality management on a daily basis.

Payday Express also provides a trainee team leader course to agent-level employees who have leadership potential.

The focus on supporting staff in career development is paramount at Payday Express and new roles are always advertised internally to give employees the chance to progress or to embark on new careers within the company.

Richard Turner, Payday Express’s HR adviser, said: “We support and encourage staff development so that our employees can reach their potential and pursue their chosen career paths. It is always great to see individuals grow within the company.”

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Business Monitor International Highlights Myanmar’s Most Promising Investment Sectors

Business Monitor International (BMI) has released the latest special report “Myanmar Awakens: Unearthing Asia’s Hidden Gem” analysing Myanmar’s recent rapprochement with the West and its promising signs of political and economic liberalisation.

The recent by-election results appear to mark a watershed moment in the country’s recent reform drive, with positive implications for both the political system and the state’s improving relationship with the international community. The impact on Myanmar’s investment prospects will be closely watched, with investors particularly interested in whether or not EU and US economic sanctions will be lifted. According to BMI, Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) has a history of poor market accessibility and many hope that the country will now emulate the success of countries such as Thailand and Vietnam, fuelled by hopes that the country is finally emerging from decades of isolation to join the ranks of Asia’s economic powerhouses.

While a timetable is still hard to pin down, sanctions are expected to be drawn down incrementally over the course of the coming year. The report recognises key political and geopolitical factors that will drive or constrain Myanmar’s reforms for the changing nation and identify the challenges faced by investors as a result of Myanmar’s business environment.

“Myanmar Awakens: Unearthing Asia’s Hidden Gem” assesses the ‘new era’ in sight and as seen in other resource-rich frontier markets, BMI expects a number of key sectors to dominate investor attention in the short to long term, should there be a relaxation of the US and EU economic sanctions.

BMI’s portfolio of products provides comprehensive analysis across emerging market economies and enables global investors, emerging market strategists and decision-makers across the corporate spectrum to assess and evaluate global political and economic risks and aid strategic planning activities over the short, medium and long term.

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Payday Express Employee Raises Money For Harambee For Kenya

Gary Owens, a customer support agent at Payday Express, is travelling to Kenya to help the Harambee for Kenya charity.

Harambee for Kenya works with street children, giving them somewhere safe to sleep and to receive medical attention, if required. As well as providing them with a home, the charity also sends them to school, feeds them and shows them care.

Gary is travelling with the 23rd Bromley Scout Group to a safe house in Kenya, where they will help with maintenance work and spend time with the children, many of them orphaned. The group will also visit another one of the charity’s sites to spend time with children currently enrolled in a feeding programme.

The group will be flying out on March 31 and will return to the UK on April 14.

Gary said: “We are pleased to be a part of this project so that we can help Harambee for Kenya in whatever way they need, and help to provide a caring atmosphere for the orphaned children now living in the safe house.

“We believe this trip will teach English Scouts that there is more to life than what we have here in the UK. It will give them an understanding of the benefit of learning other cultures and helping people,” he added.

Payday Express employees pay £1 each Friday to wear casual clothes to work. They donate the money collected to a different charity each month with March’s donation going to Harambee for Kenya to pay for clothing, schooling and feeding the children on all three projects that Harambee for Kenya currently has.

The charity is also looking to build a new house in another district in a bid to help 40 more children in the short-term, and hundreds more in the future.

Sarah Carroll, operations manager at the payday loan company, said: “I am very proud of Gary and his scout group which is dedicating itself to such a fantastic cause.

“And I am pleased that Payday Express can help contribute by raising money for projects Harambee for Kenya are working on.”

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Payday Loan Company Sets Up Wii Fit For Staff To Promote Be Healthy Message

Online payday loan company Payday Express has declared March as a ‘Be Healthy’ month, to encourage staff to make healthy lifestyle choices.

As part of this, the company – which provides no fax payday loans – has set up Wii Fit Plus in the kitchen area, to enable members of staff to take a few minutes of exercise before and after work, or during their lunch breaks. The company also hopes the move will show that exercise can be fun, and that it can easily be built into a busy daily routine.

The company has also put up a ‘Be Healthy’ themed noticeboard in the kitchen, which gives staff information on how to drink and eat healthily, including useful tips on how to reduce the intake of salt and sugar, and how to increase levels of calcium, for example. Staff can also take advantage of free green tea tasters while reading up on the health benefits of the drink.

A daily email is also being sent with the subject line of ‘Be Healthy – Tip of the Day’. Each email includes tips, such as: “Take the stairs up to the office rather than the lift for some daily exercise”, and information on local gym membership deals.

“I think the ‘Be Healthy’ month is brilliant as it inspires you to make healthy choices,” said Therese Rydberg, marketing executive at Payday Express.

“The tips that are given on the board and in the emails are interesting and make you realise that being healthy is easier than you might think,” she added.

Throughout March, the company has also arranged for weekly deliveries of fruit to be distributed to each team. Each Monday fruit bowls are filled with a variety of fruit, such as pears, apples, bananas, plums, and clementines.

Carl Mountain, contact centre manager at Payday Express, said: “It’s great to provide our employees with the impetus to be healthy.

“People certainly seem to be enjoying the fruit, which is encouraging them to get at least one of their fiveaday and, as the saying goes, healthy bodies develop healthy minds.”

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Marston’s Inns Selects SecureTrading To Improve Online Booking Experience

Marston’s Inns, part of Marston’s Plc has selected SecureTrading, the UK’s leading independent payment processor, to manage its online customer accommodation booking, which will lead to a raft of business improvements.

Using SecureTrading’s payment services, Marston’s can manage its web operations in house and monitor reservations more closely, while the system enables customers to take advantage of promotions on a pre-booked basis.

Jemma Milton, Digital Manager at Marston’s Plc, said: “As well as offering full PCI-compliance, it was important for the payment gateway to keep customers on our website to underline our professional service and brand. Thanks to SecureTrading, we can now measure occupancy rates as a result of our stronger value driven offers.”

Marston’s had previously used third party websites to process payments but SecureTrading’s system integrates fully with the existing website, ensuring customers stay in contact with the brand throughout the secure payment transaction and take advantage of offers such as discounts on
meals. SecureTrading’s enhanced payment gateway enables Marston’s to react to customer ‘no-shows’ more promptly and operate efficiently.

Tim Allitt, Head of Sales and Marketing at SecureTrading, comments: “Marston’s has an impressive pedigree and we are delighted to provide its payment gateway. Our secure system enables Marston’s to get closer to its customers and analyse
reservation data.”

A recent trading statement reported that Marston’s had enjoyed a like-for-like sales increase in the 23 weeks to 10th March of 3.5%.

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Confused.com Reveal Competition Giving Thousands Of Nectar Points Away

Confused.com, the expert price-comparison site, is to extend its 1,000 Nectar points promotion to include home, pet, bike, van and life insurance as well as continuing to offer the promotion on car insurance.

This promotion will run from 1st April until 30th June and follows on from Confused.com and Nectar’s first partnership unveiling in December.

Confused.com will continue to give customers 1,000 Nectar points for every car insurance product they buy through the website, but the 1,000 points giveaway will also be extended to every home, pet, bike and van insurance product.

Customers who buy any life insurance product through Confused.com will receive 3,000 Nectar points, giving a little helping hand in these difficult times.

All Nectar points will be awarded within the first 90 days of purchase*. The Nectar points will go straight onto the customer’s card, so they can boost their Nectar balance by simply buying insurance. The Confused.com promotion not only gives customers competitive rates on all insurance needs, but gives customers something back for their purchase.

The Nectar promotion will be supported by a TV advertisement and radio advert, running from the 1st April.

The television advert will be shown on ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, S4C, Sky Multimedia and many more in prime time slots. The radio advert can be heard on Absolute, Kiss, Real Radio, Heart, Talk Sport Magic and many other stations.

Will Shuckburgh, Nectar Client Services Director commented: “Our savvy collectors have loved getting points for saving money with Confused.com. Extending this to even more products, at a time when we are tightening our purses, will be really well received.”

Mike Hoban, Marketing Director at Confused.com, said: “After our initial launch with Nectar in December, we decided that we wanted to expand this promotion further by offering our customers the chance to get thousands of Nectar points by purchasing motor, home, life, bike and van insurance products, making it even easier for customers to get more for their money at Confused.com.

“As a company we understand how hard things are for many people and this promotion with Nectar is once again demonstrating Confused.com is the people’s choice for comparison sites and a company that cares for its customers.”

The Confused.com advert will be aired on 1st April. The new advert can be viewed at www.confused.com/cara from1st April 2012.

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ACT Insurance Program (ACTinsPRO) announced the winner for their 1st Annual Video Contest

In October 2011 ACTinsPro announced its 1 st Annual Video Contest, which was to last until March 15, almost five months. Submissions were slow coming in at the beginning of the contest, but by the end the submission rate was hot! The rules were simple and listed on ACT’s website, www.actinspro.com. The task was to create a video that promoted the ACT Insurance Program in three different aspects, and was up to 60 seconds in length.

Many submissions had the extra appeal of showcasing participants’ artwork, which also made the video appear more personal.

“It was quite a hectic day on April 2 nd for us because we should have been working as usual. But all of our ACT Insurance Program team members met in the conference room for more than two hours trying to decide a winner from all the submissions. It was very hard to choose the winner because the submissions were all so good! We listened to the opinion of everybody, then looked though our ACT Facebook wall to see how our fans, friends, relatives, and customers reacted to each video entry,”said Melanie Allen, Vice President of Operations.

A decision was finally made and the ultimate winner was announced LIVE on Facebook on April 2. First price and congratulations go to JøhnHøman, the winner of the 1 st Annual ACTinsPro Video Contest! The winner received a $500 pre-paid Visa debit card and the video is featured on the website artist and crafters insurance website. The second price goes to Wyatt Kruse. He won $50 Visa debit card.

The ACT team thanked all participants for their contribution. All videos submitted will be available to view on ACTinsPRO Facebook page and ACT’s YouTube channel.

Veracity Insurance Solutions CEO Daryle Stafford said, “We love working with our customers not only as a business but also to create personal relationships. I’m sure new contests for the ACT Insurance Program and other our programs managed by Veracity are coming up, and there will be new chances to show your creativity and win great prizes.”

ACTinsPro stands for Artists, Crafters & Tradesman Insurance Program and is managed by Utah-based Veracity Insurance Solutions, LLC, the experts in the placement of programs, product liability, and general liability insurance. Veracity has over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, and knows how to get businesses the customized coverage they need. The ACT Insurance Program provides information and online insurance options for those in the Arts and Crafts industry in all 50 states.

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The Royal Mint Marks 100th Anniversary Of The Titanic With Commemorative £5 Coin

The Royal Mint has released the Titanic £5 coin in remembrance of the 100th anniversary of the historic ships’ maiden voyage in 1912. Designed by Royal Mint engraver, Lee Robert Jones, the coin commemorates a maritime legend.

The Titanic coins depict the instantly recognisable profile of RMS Titanic with the goddess Thane looking down on the ship as it sails through the Atlantic Ocean. Erected on 26th June 1920 as a memorial to all those who died, the marble figure of the goddess stands in Belfast, home of the Harland and Wolff shipyard, the biggest in the world at the time, where Titanic was constructed.

Commenting on his design, Jones said: “My design is concerned with the spectacle of the ship and her story. Thane, the goddess of death, is to reflect the significance of the event; she symbolises respect and sorrow for the loss that ultimately occurred. Her stark silhouette contrasts with the detailed image of Titanic, cutting through the waves with purpose and pride.”

The first voyage of RMS Titanic, the largest passenger steamship in the world at the time, began on 10 April 1912, when she set sail from Southampton to New York, with 2,223 people on board. Owned by the White Star Line, the luxurious passenger liner was one of three sister ‘Olympic class’ ships built to cater for the most elite passengers, her lavish fittings reflecting the opulence and elegance of the Edwardian age.

Late on the morning of 14 April 1912, RMS Titanic struck an iceberg leading to the ship sinking less than three hours later, a disaster that resulted in the loss of more than 1,500 lives.

Commenting on the new coin, Dr Kevin Clancy, Director of The Royal Mint Museum, said: “The story of Titanic has long captured imaginations. The passing of 100 years has not lessened the interest in the tragic outcome of her maiden voyage, the personal stories of those on board or the achievement of the iconic ship as a feat of British engineering. The Royal Mint’s coin will mark this occasion and, we hope, will be passed on to future generations to honour the lives that were lost, underlining the significance of RMS Titanic in British history.”

The Titanic Alderney* £5 coin has an uncompromising finish; struck to a higher quality than every day coinage. For more stand-out brilliance you can view silver coins available from the Royal Mint. For further information, please visit www.royalmint.com.

Via EPR Network
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Standard Life Reveals Less Than A Third Of UK Adults Know When The Tax Year Ends

Standard Life’s ‘Financial Efficiency’ research shows that a large number of people in the UK are at risk of missing the opportunity to capitalise on their ISA tax allowance and their pension contribution limits because they don’t know when the tax year ends. The research, which asked a poll of over 2000 people in the UK to say when they thought the end of the tax year was, found that only three in 10 Brits (31%) know the correct date.

The tax year end falls on April 5th, but the majority of the public (69%) either doesn’t know or thinks it’s a different date. Some said it was earlier in the year, with one in 12 (8% – more than 4.08 million people*) thinking the end of the tax year is April Fool’s day.

But more alarmingly, 7.27 million people** (15%) of respondents believe their tax deadline falls after April 5th. Even those who already actively save into ISAs can still get it wrong. Only 36% of ISA investors were able to correctly identify the tax year end date and a worrying one in six (17%), thought the tax year end was later than April 5th.

People in Northern Ireland seem to be the most clued up on the tax year-end deadline, with almost two in five (38%) identifying the correct date. While people in Wales were the least aware, with only one in four (25%) people able to correctly identify April 5th as the tax year end.

Standard Life’s Julie Russell commented: “Our research shows that few people know when the tax year ends. While more people believe it is before April 5th, each year than after, and that is perhaps less of a worry, it’s a real concern that so many ISA investors don’t know when the annual cut off point is for their investments.

“If you are saving into tax efficient savings or investments like ISAs or pensions, then you really do need to know when the tax year ends. The 5th of April should be front of mind. Otherwise you risk not making the most of these products and their valuable allowances.”

People can find out more about being financially efficient with investments like pensions and stocks and shares ISAs at www.yourfuturemoney.co.uk which also includes top tips and interactive tools.

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Peacocks, Puppies And Pests Behind Unusual Insurance Claims

Admiral has released details of its most bizarre claims from the last two years revealing our furry and feathered friends are often the culprits.

The car insurance specialist revealed that for one unfortunate motorist, their pride and joy was destroyed by a nest of mice who took a liking to its stylish leather interior. Another motorist collided with a bollard after their front passenger pulled up the handbrake mistaking it for the puppy which had jumped down from their lap, and another drove into a telephone pole while trying to swat a fly inside their vehicle.

Peculiarly, peacocks seem to be particularly troublesome for many motorists and four out of the twelve most unusual animal claims involved the feathered poseurs attacking vehicles. These include a car clawed by a peacock after seeing its reflection in the paintwork and another damaged by a group of peacocks which had escaped from a neighbour’s garden.

Dave Halliday, Admiral managing director, said: “We asked our claims handlers to tell us about any unusual claims they had dealt with that really stood out for them and found that animals featured in the most memorable ones.

“Although amusing to read about now, any incident is distressing for those involved and our handlers are trained to be understanding and professional. However, it goes to show car insurance is not always as dull as you may think.”

Other unusual claims include a car damaged at a village fete when a miniature pony broke loose and climbed over the bonnet, a driver distracted by a camel and an elephant tethered at the side of the road who collided with a bollard and a man who leaned over to stroke his dog when driving and crashed his car.

Another motorist caused a multi-car shunt after being startled by a spider dangling from the rear view mirror and a car was damaged by rats which entered the engine compartment and chewed through internal parts. Dave Halliday continued: “From territorial peacocks, creepy crawlies and cute puppies, it seems it’s not just other road users motorists should be aware of. These unusual incidents illustrate how important it is to remain focused on the road ahead at all times and not to get distracted by animals whether they’re inside or outside your vehicle.

“Whilst it’s more difficult to protect your car exterior from a frantic peacock, if you are transporting pets, make sure they are safely secured so as not to cause any distraction.”

Via EPR Network
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Confused.com Reveals Life Insurance As The Newest Way To Say I Love You

New findings from Confused.com have revealed that taking out life insurance or breakdown cover for a partner is deemed romantic by some couples. Bucking traditional gender stereotypes, it’s the men who most want to be protected with a gift of breakdown cover but many couple have not had ‘the chat’ and are unaware of where important financial documents are kept in their household.

Confused.com asked people in a relationship to tell them how they would feel if their partner took out a life insurance policy to protect them or purchased breakdown cover on their behalf.

More than half (53%) of people in a relationship tell us it would be ‘thoughtful’ if their partner took out life insurance to protect them: 56% of women versus 50% of men call life insurance a ‘thoughtful’ gift. 8% of people go as far as to call it ‘romantic’ if their partner takes out life insurance in their favour while 9% of men who drive compared to 6% of women think that breakdown cover for their car is a ‘romantic’ gift. 75% of women and 60% of men think breakdown cover is a ‘thoughtful’ gift.

Not everyone agrees, as 10% of people feel that life insurance is ‘morbid’, but a further 8% say it would be ‘well-overdue’ and that their partner should have got around to getting life insurance sooner. Couples tend to be independent when it comes to finances with 47% of men and 39% of women admitting they don’t know where their partner keeps their financial documents and only half of people in relationships saying that their partner knows where they keep details of their own finances.

Matt Lloyd from Confused.com’s Life Insurance team said: “It’s heartening that couples realise life insurance is there to protect your loved ones and that making provision in case you die is actually a very caring thing to do.

“Having private finances is up to individuals and keeping your information safe is important but it is advisable to have ‘that chat’ with your loved ones so that they know which bank or provider to call if the worst happens.”

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Confused.com Reveals Spare Keys Could Invalidate Home Insurance

Confused.com research reveals that 69 per cent of people could be putting their property at risk just by giving out spare keys.

Home insurance experts at Confused.com are warning the nation to wake up to the potential danger of giving out spare keys, advising that everyone be fully aware of how to keep their home safe and to look at the small print of their home insurance policy.

72 per cent of homeowners surveyed by Confused.com didn’t know that giving out spare keys could invalidate their home insurance and with almost seven in ten Brits having entrusted a set of spare keys to someone, this is a worrying figure.

In fact, 37 per cent of homeowners admitted to having keys to other people’s properties on their own keyring. Wales is the most trusted region with 50 per cent of people stating that they have other people’s house keys, compared to the North East and North West (31 per cent respectively).

Worryingly, the UK appears to be a forgetful and clumsy nation with 46 per cent of people admitting to losing their keys and 16 per cent of those homeowners losing their keys when drunk. Worst of all, 17 per cent of homeowners admitted to not having home insurance at all.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) commented: “Clearly people should try to take care of their house keys and think carefully before giving spare keys out. Homeowners must be aware that if you make an insurance claim for theft from your home, and there are no signs of forced entry and you cannot account for your spare keys, your insurer may have reason to question the claim.”

Gareth Kloet, Head of Home Insurance at Confused.com, said: “Our advice is simple, if you move into a new home or have given out your house keys to someone you no longer trust or have lost or misplaced your keys resulting in a the risk of a security breach, change the locks.

“It’s worth remembering that many home insurers will not pay out unless forced entry is proven. Your home is typically the single largest investment that you’ll make and therefore we would encourage anyone without home insurance or adequate security to think carefully about protecting their investment more wisely.”

Via EPR Network
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