Category Archives: Investment

Investment

Checking & Savings, Financial, Insurance, Investment, ISAs, Money

The sixth annual survey from LV= insurance and investment group, on the Cost of a Child, shows that parents could spend £193,772 raising a child up to the age of 21

The sixth annual survey from insurance and investment group LV= on the Cost of a Child, shows that parents could spend £193,772 on raising a child up to the age of 21. This is equivalent to £9,227 or £25 a day.

The survey by the UK’s largest friendly society shows that the cost of raising a child has increased by 4% since the last survey in December 2007 and is up 38% over the five years since the survey began in 2003. Childcare and education remain the biggest expenditures, costing parents £53,818 and £50,240 respectively.

Mike Rogers, LV= Group Chief Executive, said: “Every parent knows how their hard-earned savings can dip thanks to eye-watering education and childcare costs. It is also likely to be of little comfort to mums and dads to hear that pocket money costs are at their lowest level since 2004, or that expenditure on family holidays in 2008 was only 4% up on the 2003 cost.”

81% of parents have had to cut back on family expenditure as a result of feeling the pressure financially in the economic downturn. Family activities are the main casualty, with over half of parents admitting to curbing their spending on holidays and short breaks, as well as reducing spend on leisure and recreational activities (52%).

In order to economise, 79% of parents are consciously buying lower cost items and supermarket ‘value’ items. 35% are buying second hand items to help make ends meet, with the same number selling unwanted items to raise money.

The pressure on family finances has also caused 37% of parents to reduce the amount they save regularly. Worryingly, 23% said they have also had to cancel or review their life insurance and income protection cover to help with family budgeting, which could have significant long term implications.

Mike Rogers continued: “Although parents are feeling the pressure financially, it is important they try to look beyond the short to medium term money worries. Life insurance and income protection are more important than ever in the current climate – the financial security of a family could be hugely affected if a parent was unable to work long term because of an accident, illness, or job loss.”

The average household could spend £50,240 on education over their child’s lifetime, including £34,300 on a three year university degree course. This includes tuition fees, travel, books, and living costs, including rent, bills and household items.

The cost of raising a child peaks during the university years, when parents could pay out £13,064 a year. But new parents may also find themselves significantly out of pocket, as the first twelve months of a child’s life could cost £8,853.

Mike Rogers continues: “Our research shows that parents are being very resourceful when it comes to budgeting and cutting back on non-essential spend. Planning ahead is more important than ever though, and saving as much as you can, just a little and often, could help to ease the financial pain.”

Tax efficient savings can make people’s money go even further. Individual Savings Accounts – ISAs are a great way to save and the new LV= ISA savings give parents the opportunity to invest in a fund that suits them, at a time that many are seeing as a good buying opportunity.”

About LV=

LV= is a trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. The new LV= brand identity was launched in March 2007.

Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority and entered on the Financial Services Authority Register No. 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

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Business, Financial, Investment, Money

The Profit-Taker: Solid Advice On The Stock Market

This phenomenal financial game was invented by the author of an international best-seller. A top-ten best-selling author of John Wiley & Sons, New York is raving mad … giving away his new book. Not only is he making a gift of the sequel to his best-selling book… now he includes a ‘Live’ stock market game.

“Why should the billionaires have all the fun?”, says Professor Don Abrams, best-selling author of The Profit-Taker.

“Don’t lose your investing skills during these bad times”, says Professor Smarba, “Hone them!”.

He invented it to reveal the finer secrets of his proven, rapid, money-maker in both good and bad markets. And it’s free… Zip. Zero. Zilch. No registration. No required email. No ‘funny’ paper money. No catches.

The Chicago Tribune says: “THE PROFIT-TAKER: SOLID ADVICE ON THE STOCK MARKET“.

The new free sequel reveals a proven strategy to grow rich – especially for late starters. It is a blueprint that awakens the self-actualizing quest to live long. Thousands are already playing the game. Modestly named ‘The Greatest Game on Earth’. It’s an adventure, not based on guessing – but on newly-gained knowledge. All this on www.profittaker.info.

Is your current investing on a grand, small or academic scale? Doesn’t matter. Is it fun? If not, the author says you’re doing something wrong.

The solution? Discover it here. Now you can control your own destiny…be your own person.

‘The Greatest Game on Earth” allows people the world over the opportunity to relish the ingenuity and pure fun of the Profit-Taker Concept.

The game provides ‘live’ examples for the free book ‘The Profit-Taker Equalizer for the Underdog’.

The game is aimed at investment professionals as well as beginners.

Unlike the ‘usual game’, it is the actual chosen common stock which decides your next move. No rolling of the dice. No dealing of the cards. No spinning of a wheel.

It’s the actual ‘game’ action that opens up possibilities. Opportunities!

Let the good times roll on www.profittaker.info.

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Business, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Services, Funding, Investment, Money

Sameer Al Ansari Of Dubai International Capital Recognised At 2nd Annual Private Equity World Awards MENA 2008

Dubai International Capital LLC (‘DIC’) has announced that its Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Sameer Al Ansari, was honoured with the ‘Special Merit Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry’ at the 2nd Annual Private Equity World Awards MENA 2008 for his invaluable contributions to the regional private equity sector. The coveted recognition from industry peers was presented to Sameer Al Ansari for the second consecutive year at a ceremony held in Dubai.

In addition to recognising Al Ansari for his leading role in the development of the private equity industry, the distinction also reflects the increasingly influential role of Dubai International Capital, the international investment company that Al Ansari helped establish in 2004.

Organised by Terrapinn, a business media company, the Private Equity World Awards MENA 2008 recognises leaders, entrepreneurs, innovators and pioneers in the MENA private equity and venture capital industries.

Sameer Al Ansari said: “It is a privilege to receive this prestigious award for the second year running. It is not only an honour to have been chosen, but the award is a testament to the talent and expertise of DIC’s team who have contributed to building DIC into a well-respected name in the private equity sphere within a span of four years.”

Sameer Al Ansari is the recipient of several accolades, including the ’50 Most Influential People in Private Equity’ by Private Equity International (2007) and the Young Arab Leaders (YAL) Award from Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Establishment for Young Business Leaders (2005).

Symon Rubens, Managing Director, Terrapinn Middle East, said: “Terrapinn would like to congratulate Mr Al Ansari on his outstanding work and contribution to the private equity industry. Our mission is to identify and reward those individuals, teams and companies who have demonstrated an unparalleled ability to succeed and it gives us great pleasure to celebrate their remarkable accomplishments.”

Under Al Ansari’s leadership, DIC has emerged as a leading investment company in the private and global equities markets with an outstanding reputation and track record. Earlier this year, DIC was named MENA Private Equity Firm of the Year in the 6th annual Awards for Excellence in Private Equity Europe 2008, organised by Dow Jones Private Equity News.

About Dubai International Capital LLC: 
Established in 2004, DIC is an international investment company with offices in Dubai and London focused on both private equity and public equity. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Holding, DIC manages an international portfolio of diverse assets that provide its stakeholders with value growth, diversification, and strategic investments. Assets under management total over US$13 billion.

Among the many accolades, DIC’s Executive Chairman and CEO, Sameer Al Ansari, is also the recipient of numerous industry awards including, Special Merit Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Industry for two consecutive years (2007, 2008) by PE World MENA Awards and was ranked as the 11th most powerful Arab in the world by Arabian Business

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Banks, CDs, Checking & Savings, Financial, Investment, IRA, Money

During an economic downturn most investors resort to bank CDs, but CDs may not be the best option considering the low returns they guarantee. Therefore, a more favorable option during this economic downturn could be in an alternative private investment with higher yield and a guarantee

Stock Market Investors Shift From Wall Street To High Yield Investments On Main Street. Most investors traditionally resort to bank CDs during an economic downturn. But CDs may not be the best option considering the low returns they guarantee. Therefore, a more favorable option during this economic downturn could be in an alternative private investment with higher yield and a guarantee offered by a financial company such Integrity Financial AZ based in Sacramento, CA.

Investors across the stock market could soon find a better alternative to the traditional bank CDs in guaranteed return investments, claims Integrity Financial AZ, a leading financial investment company headquartered in Sacramento, California.

Financial companies realize that the current credit crisis is causing an economic downturn as well as apprehension among the investors losing their retirement savings due to the stock market plunge. Analyzing the current scenario, investors are also worried that the stock market may not recover in the near term from the recent “Ticker Shock” being reported minute by minute by the media.

In order to escape the financial morass, “Wall Street investors are scrambling for alternative investment vehicles to recoup their stock market losses in the safest investments possible while at the same time staving off the under-toe of inflation,” says Stanley Paulic, CEO of Integrity Financial AZ, www.IFAZLLC.com, and one of the leading financial companies of the United States. “Finding a high equity yield investment on Main Street to recoup one’s losses is even doable in this economy,” Paulic adds.

“Earning higher yields and a guaranteed rate of return does not automatically correlate to ultra-high risk. It might just mean that it is a better investment vehicle with better margins for investors. After all, what is riskier than Wall Street, especially right now where most investors are suffering from double-digit negative returns?”

“You can earn a guaranteed return with a bank CD, but the return will be low.” His statements are based on the fact that the rate of return for investors on bank CDs is 2-3% during economic downturns.

Company management states that investors can rollover their 401k or transfer an existing self directed IRA to purchase 10% guaranteed investment contracts secured by real estate. Over the long run these contracts earn more in comparison to CDs making such guaranteed investments more preferable.

About Company
Integrity Financial A-Z Company was founded by Steven R. Long, President, and Stanley M. Paulic, Chief Executive Officer, with the vision to create financial independence for internal clients so that they are self-sustaining, self-generating, and self-perpetuating as stated in Latin on the logo. The company aims to provide clients with financial independence assuring high equity yield investments and 10% guaranteed returns, which three to four times the rate of return of normal Bank CDs.

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Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Insurance Services, Investment, Money

LV=, the investment, pensions and insurance group, has revealed that the credit crunch, stock market volatility, and fears of a recession are growing concerns for the nation’s pre-retirement population

Six months after the LV= ‘State of Retirement’ report* first identified the rise of ‘FREDs’ – people approaching retirement who are Facing Retirement Earnings Doubts – new research shows that 69% of pre-retired people are now more concerned than ever about their financial security. This equates to 7.1m people**, an increase of 600,000 since the first LV= ‘State of Retirement’ report was published in May 2008***.

The rising cost of utility bills and food prices remains the biggest worry for people facing retirement, with 71% of those surveyed. However, this is marginally down on six months ago (76%), whereas worries regarding the credit crunch, stock market volatility, and fears of a recession are now all on the increase.

The credit crunch has become a concern in the last six months for an additional 2.1m pre-retired people, making a total of 4.2m. In addition, a further 1.8m people have become more anxious about a recession and a further 1.5m about stock market volatility, totalling 4.5m and 3.1m pre-retirees respectively. Over 50s are also more concerned about job insecurity. These three issues have increased in importance over the last six months, further contributing to the growing number of FREDs.

Despite the increase in those admitting to being more concerned about their financial situation in retirement, 20% are not saving anything towards their retirement, while 51% have not increased the amount they are saving. Of the 10% who have increased the amount they save each month, the average is £225 a month, £35 more than the average monthly amount from the survey six months ago.

Mike Rogers, LV= group chief executive, said: “In just six months the number of FREDs has increased, indicating that pre-retired people across the UK are more concerned than ever about their retirement finances. Unsurprisingly, the credit crunch, stock market volatility, and fears of a recession are now huge issues for these people, along with the perennial concern about the rising cost of living.”

The latest LV= report also shows that the number of people approaching retirement who haven’t taken any form of financial advice about retirement planning has increased to 60%, compared with 56% previously.

Mike Rogers continued: “The FREDs of this world have at least received some small comfort from the recent Pre-Budget Report, with the announcement of increases in both the state pension and pension credit. This goes some way towards bridging the gap between income expectation and reality in retirement, that our survey revealed is an issue for many people.”

All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from online Opinium Research

* Sample size was 1042 adults over the age of 50 years. Fieldwork undertaken 14th – 19th April 2008. ** The over 50s population in the UK is 21,011,000 (Source: Population projections by ONS, 2008). According to the research, 49% of those people are not retired. The research also shows that 69% (7.1m people) agreed they have become more concerned lately about retirement finances. *** Sample size – 1655 adults over the age of 50 years. Fieldwork undertaken 3rd – 9th April 2008.

About LV= LV= is a registered trade mark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. LV= employs more than 3,500 people, serves more than 2.5 million customers and members, and manages around £8 billion on their behalf. LV= is also the UK’s largest friendly society (Association of Friendly Societies Key Statistics 2008. Total net assets) and a leading mutual financial services provider. LVFS is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority register number 110035. LVFS is a member of the ABI, AMI, AFS and ILAG. Registered address: County Gates, Bournemouth BH1 2NF.

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Checking & Savings, Financial Management, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Insurance, Investment, IRA, Money, Personal Finance, Retirement

Individuals Who Are Investing Their 401k & IRA Money In Ventures Outside The Stock Market Can Have A Brighter Retirement And Growing Wealth

The stock market implosion of 2008 has millions of Americans feeling financially helpless. Yet individuals who are investing their 401k & IRA money in ventures outside the stock market are singing a different tune.

One such cheerful investor is Janice Stoddard, who along with her husband, Jack, owns a real estate business in Arkansas. In 2004, Janice learned about “self-directed investing” from a seminar that taught how to invest IRA money into real estate. She returned home excited about the prospect of setting up her own self directed IRA.

The Stoddards established two IRAs, rolling over investments from their traditional IRAs to fund them. They used the IRAs to make small real estate transactions, purchasing and reselling property at a profit with all proceeds staying in the IRA.

In 2006, an opportunity to buy and then immediately re-sell 60 acres of undeveloped land at a profit came up. Concerns over structuring the deal and keeping everything above board led her and her husband to consult with Jeff Nabers, well known as one of the nation’s top experts on self directed investing.

“Jeff helped us establish a Solo 401k that could be used to handle the 60 acre transaction. The Solo 401k was a key component to our funding because we were able to contribute 10 times more to it than we could to an IRA. Meanwhile, our son, who works in oil and gas, alerted us to keeping our eyes open for property with mineral rights for future transactions,” Janice says.

With the proceeds from the 60 acre sale, the Stoddards began looking for their next investment. They found a 57 acre property with 54 acres of undeveloped land and a house that was sitting on three acres. The property, valued at $435,000, was more than the couple had in cash in their Solo 401k, so they began looking at options.

They contacted friends in Dallas and asked if they’d be interested in joining them in the investment. Their goal was to buy it and sub-divide it for resale in five and ten acre parcels. Their friends, both physicians, agreed.

Nabers Group helped the couples form a Limited Liability Company for purposes of purchasing the land. The LLC is owned jointly by the Stoddard’s Solo 401k and their friend’s IRA.

The owner had originally listed the property for $5,250 an acre with only 50% of the mineral rights. At the time no drilling was taking place on the property and no natural gas had been pulled from the ground. The Stoddards negotiated for full mineral rights and bought them with the property for $5,875 per acre.

Over the next few months, natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy put a well on the property, and soon the LLC was receiving large monthly royalty checks for the natural gas on the property. Over 18 months, those checks totaled more than $100,000. When the Stoddards were approached by a buyer who wanted to purchase the mineral rights and not the land for $8700 an acre, they sold the rights, netting another $465,000 while retaining the land, now valued at an estimated $435,000.

“Janice knows real estate and knew how to identify an under-valued property that was a good investment. With her son’s knowledge of oil and gas, her strategy became as much about the mineral rights as the real estate. Mineral rights prices had been skyrocketing and lease values had been increasing in her area, and Janice knew she could resell the land and improvements alone and at least break even while keeping what she was really after – the mineral rights,” Nabers said.

Within six real estate transactions, the LLC’s asset value had gone from $350,000 to more than $950,000 in under two years. The Stoddards have more than quadrupled their initial investment, and they aren’t stopping there. Other property and mineral rights deals are already on the table for purchase with their Solo 401k funds.

Nabers, whose firm regularly structures self directed IRA & Solo 401k investment plans, says the growth in the Stoddards’ investments is exceptional, but not unique for someone who is as diligent in their investing as they are.

“I will admit to being a researcher,” Janice Stoddard says. “When I found out that as a self-employed individual I could set up a retirement plan that would allow me to invest in real estate, which is something I know very well, I was excited about that. The hard part was finding a financial expert who would embrace the concept of self directed investing. Everyone I talked to told me I should buy stocks instead. The Nabers Group has a wealth of experience in this area and Jeff has been very instrumental in giving us a thorough understanding of our options and the opportunities,” she says.

Today Stoddard advises other real estate professionals to do the same thing, and she’s joined the IRA Association of America to ensure that she is aware of regulations and new opportunities available to individual investors.

“I talk to my friends, and they are absolutely despondent over what is happening to money they thought they had for retirement or college. A lot of people have lost a lot of money in recent months. When I tell them I didn’t lose a dime and that I’ve quadrupled the value of my Solo 401k over the last eighteen months, they want to know how,” Stoddard says.

According to Nabers, “My business is growing because there are plenty of people who are not willing to ‘wait and see what happens’ with the stock market. They want control over their finances, and they want to replace their restrictive IRA or 401k with one that offers unlimited possibilities.”

Stoddard says she never hesitates to tell people to take charge of their own retirement money.

“If we had not established our self directed investment accounts we would not have the cash available for investing that we now have. That’s what allows us the ability to act fast with real estate and mineral rights opportunities. It’s a lot different than helplessly watching the market, and it has absolutely changed our future,” she says.

For more information on self-directed investing, visit the IRA Association of America or Jeff Nabers’ blog.

About The Company:
Jeff Nabers is an expert on self directed investing, Solo 401ks, the future of social security, alternative IRA investment options, and other topics that are of interest to individuals at all income levels. His firm, Nabers Group, is located in Denver, Colorado. Mr. Nabers can be reached at 866-253-7746. You may also contact his publicist, Connie Holubar, at 903 880 8217 to arrange for an interview or to request photos or other background materials.

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Credit Cards, Financial, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Investment, Loans, Money

M&S Money urge pet owners to ensure household medication is securely stored following increase in reports of pet poisonings

M&S Money has urged pet owners to ensure medication is securely stored around the house following a large increase in reports of pet poisonings.

The potentially fatal mishap is a growing problem across the UK, with a 34% year-on-year increase in reported cases to Vetfone – a 24-hour advice line available to M&S Pet Insurance customers. Vetfone is manned by qualified veterinary nurses who can give concerned animal lovers immediate advice on a pet’s condition. Around 70% of calls to the service by M&S Money customers are made out of normal veterinary hours.

One of the major increases of poisonings seen involves nicotine-based products, including nicotine patches, chewing gum and inhalers.

The toxic dose of nicotine in dogs is five milligrams per pound pet bodyweight and a dose of 10mg/lb can be lethal. While a cigarette contains 15-25 milligrams of nicotine, nicotine patches can contain much more at between 8-114 milligrams of nicotine and even nicotine inhalers contain around 10 milligrams of nicotine. Signs of toxicity are dose-dependent and include tremors, weakness, depression and vomiting.

Vetfone Operations Manager & Senior Emergency Vet Nurse, Louise O’Dwyer, said:”It is very concerning that there has been such a large increase in reported pet poisonings.

“Nicotine poisoning can be particularly serious. Remember prevention is better than cure, so ensure products such as cigarettes, nicotine patches and gums and even ashtrays containing cigarette butts are kept away from your pets reach.”

M&S Money Insurance Manager, Judith Roberts, said: “Anyone who suspects that their pet has swallowed household medication should first try and identify what’s been eaten, by recovering packaging such as blister packs or boxes and then seek immediate veterinary advice.

“M&S Pet Insurance policyholders can rest assured that a qualified veterinary expert is available round the clock to provide advice and answer questions should a pet become unwell.”

About M&S Money

M&S Money (the trading name of Marks & Spencer Financial Services) was founded in 1985 as the financial services division of Marks and Spencer Group plc. The company is now a top ten credit card provider and the second largest travel money retailer in the UK. M&S Money also offers a range of insurance cover, including home insurance and car insurance, as well as loans, savings and investment products.

In November 2004, Marks & Spencer sold M&S Money to HSBC, one of the world’s largest banking and financial services organisations with over 9,500 offices in 85 countries and territories.

M&S Money has an executive committee comprising an equal number of representatives from HSBC and Marks & Spencer.

The company employs 1,200 staff at its headquarters in Chester, delivering personal financial services to its customers, reflecting the core values of Marks & Spencer – quality, value, service, innovation and trust.

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Financial, Financial Solutions, Investment, IRA, Money

Integrity Financial AZ Launches A New Web Site That Reaches Out To Wall Street’s Weary Investors That Are Apprehensive About The Fate Of Their Investments

Integrity Financial AZ announces today the the launch of their new Web site, www.IFAZLLC.com, that aims to convince clients about security they can earn by investing with the company.

In an environment where investors are feeling insecure and scared about Wall Street, the IFAZ LLC is boasting about retaining 99 percent of their clients. They claim that renewal of accounts by clients even after maturity is an indication of their trust on the company.

“Though investors are trying to avoid such dangers by liquidating their retirement funds with a fixed rate CD, the company believes the interest rate of 3-4 percent is unlikely to make up for the drastic losses they may have incurred. High levels of corruption and malpractices do not help the situation either,” says Stanley Paulic, CEO of IFAZ LLC. “Our clients consistently make 10 percent on their invested funds. Their returns are contractually guaranteed,” adds Paulic.

IFAZ is ensuring safety and consistency while honoring their contracts. Their investments are not open to all and they only take on 7-10 new clients monthly, encouraging private lending with guaranteed contractual returns.

Traditionally, people have considering retirement plans such as 401(k)s and IRAs as safety nets and not wealth builders. They know that enhanced interest rates may help multiply their income. A possibility in the investment paradigm shifting seems unlimited and the company is trying to cash in on it.

Investor confidence has steadily eroded since 2000 and the old financial planner adage that the stock market is going up forever is falling on deaf ears. A study of the market trends during the last few months is enough to offer real insight into the situation.

In their bid to retain old customers and attract new ones, the company denounces the system of financial agencies preventing customers from diversifying their investments in other profitable channels. Such a ploy only aims at more profit for the financier, irrespective of losses incurred by the investors. They state, “IFAZ has the clear intention of enabling you to have sufficient funds in your self-directed IRA and full control over your investment decisions with a minimum of two year’s commitment,” declares Paulic.

With separate and distinct accounts, investors may expect the 10 percent returns only a small number of investors are presently enjoying. “Clients should take control of their own financial affairs and choose such investment plans that remain unaffected by market fluctuations. This will satisfy their urge to break away from the ups and downs of the Wall Street,” states Steven Long, president of IFAZ LLC.

About Integrity Financial AZ
Integrity Financial AZ Company, a leading financial investment agency in the United States is located in Phoenix, AZ., and is now expanding its area of operations to Greenville, S.C. Founded by Steven R. Long, president, and Stanley M. Paulic, CEO, the company aims to provide clients with financial independence and assured returns as high as three times the normal bank CDs. If you have more questions about the company, please contact us at 888-432-8552 or log-on to our frequently asked questions section at www.ifazllc.com.

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Business, Financial Management, Investment

Dubai International Capital Adds Strategic Partnership With KEF Holding To Its Portfolio Of Assets In Emerging Markets To Support Expansion Drive

Dubai International Capital LLC (‘DIC’), the international investment arm of Dubai Holding, has announced the acquisition of a 45% stake in UAE-based KEF Holding (‘KEF’) by its Emerging Markets division. KEF is an international award-winning provider of steel castings for valves and pumps serving the oil and gas, mining, industrial, and chemical industries in the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the United States.

Sameer Al Ansari, Executive Chairman and CEO of DIC, said that, “The acquisition of KEF Holding reinforces DIC’s commitment to investing in outstanding Middle East businesses that combine strong growth potential with an experienced management team – KEF’s team have deep industry knowledge, excellent relationships within the sector and a clear vision for growth.”

Mr Al Ansari stated that he believes that KEF’s founder, Faizal Kottikollon, has in just 11 years built KEF into a significant competitor to European foundries that have been in operation for over 100 years and he pledged his full support for his strategy for sustaining an impressive growth trajectory. He continued, “As part of Dubai Holding, Dubai International Capital can access resources and relationships that are of great benefit to our portfolio companies.”

Established in 1997, KEF Holding, based in the Sharjah Hamriya Free Zone, is the holding company of its two flagship businesses including Emirates Techno Castings (‘ETC’) and JC Middle East (‘JCME’). Collectively, ETC and JCME form the Middle East’s first fully automated foundry boasting a production capacity of 36,000 tonnes per annum. KEF was recognised for its best-in-class practices, as evidenced by their award of Best Foundry in the World by Weir Clear Liquid, a division of Weir Group.

Faizal Kottikollon, CEO of KEF Holding, said: “We are delighted to choose DIC as our strategic partner and shareholder. DIC’s ability to leverage their strong relationships in our key target growth markets, mainly Saudi Arabia and India, will elevate KEF’s ready capabilities and talent. We are confident that with DIC’s market experience and guidance, KEF will be ready for an initial public offering in the near future.”

Anand Krishnan, Chief Operating Officer of Dubai International Capital and acting CEO of DIC Emerging Markets, added: “DIC congratulates KEF on creating its dynamic technology-based platform that will allow it to maximise its full growth potential and capture opportunities in new industries, products and geographies.” He further commented, “DIC is proud to complement its existing portfolio of technical manufacturing companies with the addition of KEF and will strive to add value by building synergies and relationships among all parties.”

About Dubai International Capital LLC
Established in 2004, DIC is an international investment company with offices in Dubai and London focused on both private equity and public equity, with its current CEO beingSameer Al Ansari. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Holding, DIC manages an international portfolio of diverse assets that provide its stakeholders with value growth, diversification, and strategic investments. Assets under management total over US$13 billion. DIC was named MENA Private Equity Firm of the Year in the 6th annual Awards for Excellence in Private Equity Europe 2008, organised by Dow Jones Private Equity News.

About KEF Holding
KEF Holding is the holding company of Emirates Techno Casting (ETC) and JC Middle East (JCME) based in the Sharjah Hamriya Free Zone. ETC is the flagship business of KEF Holding. ETC manufacturers precision steel castings and distributes its products to the leading market players within the oil and gas, chemical, mining, industrial, and chemical industries.

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Financial, Financial Services, Forex, Investment, Money, Trading

Crisis period has become a trial for most financial companies, and also their clients. North-West Financial Broker Company offers the best conditions on forex market to their clients

NWFBroker offers the best conditions on forex market for clients during the financial crisis period.

There is every-day quotes delivery to the terminal, which allows trades to be well informed about current situation on financial markets every single moment. In addition, the Company charges 11% of annual to a free deposit, which is also a certain bonus for the Company’s clients. Lowest deposit is 100$. They offer over 500 tools for work.

The Company always improves the quality of the services they offer in order to make trade operations keeping easier. The clients have a possibility to get an interest free credit for transactions. Trader can get the needed information by means of sms at any time even without being near a trade terminal. Newswire of high quality from the leading global agencies, access to the most topical news, and also direct analytical support will facilitate the work on financial markets.

 

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Business, Financial, Financial Management, Financial Solutions, Investment, Money

Venulum Is Seeing Strong Interest In Its Wine Investment Portfolio From Those Looking To Weather The Financial Storm

Venulum, the private wealth management firm based in the British Virgin Islands, is seeing increasing interest in wine investment from those looking to avoid the pitfalls of the current economic climate.

Venulum recognised that investors commonly turn to hard assets in market downturns, with the idea that by investing in something real, it won’t disappear although its value may decline modestly, hence the increased interest in the company’s wine investment portfolio.

The Liv-ex 100 Fine Wine Index was flat in August and fell 3.7% in September but compared with the battering the world stocks and bonds markets are experiencing, this drop could be termed relatively insignificant, since it still shows a year to date increase of 5.5% compared to the loss of 24.1% for the FTSE 100 for example.

Much of the downturn in the Liv-ex 100 in September was down to profit taking on top wines of the recently landed 2005 Bordeaux vintage, many of which have fallen from their peak prices of late spring this year by as much as 25%.

Dennis Winson, a periodontist from Maryland has been a Venulum client since 2003 and has invested in Forward Purchase Agreements.

“My annual returns to date have consistently been between 15-20%, but I expect they will be affected by the current market turmoil,” Mr Winson said. “I take a long term approach however, and as long as I don’t need to redeem early I expect the market to see an improvement in the next year or two.”

Stephen Kern, a general dentist from Washington State, has been investing with Venulum since 2004 and has a large investment portfolio in wine. “I began investing in wine because I am interested in it and enjoy drinking it,” he says. “My returns of 15-20% per annum didn’t look that exceptional in a bull market but compared to some of my other investments, they are now looking great.”

Mr Kern invested in Forward Purchase Agreements at a modest leverage ratio of approximately three to one and feels comfortable with the level of risk.

He said; “A leverage ratio of three to one compared to property investment at up to ten to one is relatively safe but margin calls could be worrying for me so my strategy going forward is to physicalise my portfolio through Venulum‘s new Wine Portfolio Strategy.”

Fears of a sustained major correction continue to appear to be relatively unfounded, with strong demand coming from the Far East in particular.

Giles Cadman chairman of Venulum, noted: “The market remains firm, with demand for the top wines from sought after back vintages especially strong. The emerging markets continue on as if the summer crunch hardly happened and we are quietly confident that fine wine will continue to outperform the majority of other asset classes through these turbulent times.”

About Venulum:
The Venulum Group is a multinational private wealth management firm headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. The Group manages the wealth of high net worth individuals, and specialises in alternative investments often not available to the general public. Venulum helps high net worth individuals balance their portfolios.

The Venulum Group was formed in 2002 and has expanded to include offices in five countries with service offices in a further two. Since 2002 Venulum’s client base has expanded rapidly, and they now have a substantial number of United States based clients.

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Banks, Financial, Financial Services, Home Equity, Interest Rate, Investment, Loans, Money, Mortgage

Despite the economic gloom, Wednesday’s base rate cut could stimulate the economy – and it does hint that the Monetary Policy Committee sees the threat of inflation as lessening, says financial solutions provider Think Money

Responding to the half-point cut to the Bank of England’s base rate, financial solutions company Think Money welcomed its already noticeable impact, and pointed to the implied likelihood of future cuts.

“There’s no question that we’re facing extraordinary issues today, both globally and nationally,” a Think Money spokesperson commented. “As a company, we were pleased to see the Bank of England taking this step – not just dropping the base rate, but dropping it by a substantial amount.

“Furthermore, we’re delighted to see major mortgage providers passing that reduction on to consumers. After so many months of negative news, this could make a big difference to many homeowners’ financial circumstances, as their variable rate mortgages drop from 7% to 6.5%.”

Anyone with a tracker mortgage, meanwhile, is sure to enjoy lower payments at once: The Times predicts immediate benefits for around 4 million people paying home loans that track the Bank’s base rate. ‘Those with a £150,000 mortgage’, it reports, ‘will see their interest-only repayments fall by £63 a month’.

“The same goes for other kinds of credit,” the spokesperson continued, “from secured loans to credit cards: people with tracker deals will certainly profit from the cut, and borrowers with SVR deals will be following their lenders’ reactions closely.”

New fixed-rate loans could also drop in price. “Now that the cost of credit has come down, lenders will be able to pass the savings on, giving their customers a better deal without placing their own profits in jeopardy – something which could have a profound impact on their stability at a time like this.

“Looking beyond the actual cut,” the spokesperson stressed, “it’s equally important to consider the implications – not just what the deal means, but what it says about the Bank of England’s assessment of our economy. First, the cut reveals how seriously it is taking today’s financial troubles. Second, it implies that the Bank is feeling more comfortable about inflation.”

As stated in the Bank’s news release about the rate cut: ‘The recent intensification of the financial crisis has augmented the downside risks to growth and thus has diminished further the upside risks to price stability’.

“In other words, today’s financial crisis has become more of a threat to the nation’s GDP – but on the plus side, slowing growth does tend to slow inflation too. The Bank may well have liked to postpone the base rate cut until inflation came down closer to the 2% target, but given the choice between letting the economy deteriorate and losing some ground in the fight against inflation, it chose the latter.”

As for the months ahead: “The latest BRC-Nielsen Shop Price Index (SPI) for the UK reveals that annual shop price inflation shrank to 3.6% in September, down from 3.8% in August. It’s encouraging to see inflation on the way down, particularly as it gives the MPC more leeway when it comes to future base rate decisions. Various influential bodies are calling for the Bank to make further cuts to the base rate – and there’s reason to hope it’ll be able to do that.”

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Sunwest Trust, which manages retirement funds for self-directed IRA investors, has continued to expand despite the uncertainty on Wall Street

Sunwest Trust, Inc. the New Mexico Company that acts as an escrow agent and self-directed IRA custodian, claims the self directed IRA funds placed with their firm are FDIC insured through local banks. Sunwest Trust further claims that it is financially sound and is not directly affected by the day-to-day volatility of the stock market. Since Sunwest Trust’s clients are self-directed, their investments are under each client’s direct control and are diversified in non-traditional assets, which are not directly indexed to the ups and downs of the stock market.

“With the current economic scenario being what it is, clients are naturally concerned about the security of their retirement money,” says Terry White, CEO of Sunwest Trust. “Large financial institutions including banks and lending agencies failing at regular intervals make headlines in the print and electronic media quite often, thus creating a suspicion in the mind of the clients about the security of their investments,” White adds.

Sunwest Trust deposits the IRA funds received from its clients into FDIC-insured banks. Although Sunwest Trust, Inc. only requires a minimum account balance of $400, “with the recent passage of the Financial Rescue Legislation this month, Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are now insured by the FDIC up to $250,000 until December 2009,” says White, CEO of Sunwest Trust, Inc., as he attempted to avert growing suspicion among customers on the fate of their deposits.

Sunwest Trust is currently serving 14,000 individuals and companies and covering assets to the tune of $1 billion. “In August, the company had a record-breaking month, in terms of opening new accounts, and September is not far behind. The achievements during both these months were higher than the previous record, which was set in April, 2007,” states Terry, projecting an attractive picture of the company’s achievements.

Company management has very high expectations for making the current year the greatest in its 21 years. The company also claims to have achieved a growth rate of 15% annually and to have provided high-quality services to its customers.

In the world of finance, fortunes are often made in down markets. One only needs to use foresight and fortitude to make the right decisions in time. Retirement plans can succeed with diversification plans. “The self directed IRA could well be one of the best ways to achieve success with post retirement investments,” adds White.

Although the stock market may fluctuate and credit may tighten, it doesn’t mean that the avenues for lucrative investments are all closed. Diversification continues to be paramount to a successful retirement plan, and having a self-directed IRA may be central in achieving this. For example, with real estate property values nearing all-time lows this may be an excellent time to purchase property as part of one’s IRA.

About Sunwest Trust, Inc.
Sunwest Trust is an independently owned private company which offers self-directed IRA custodian and escrow services. The company offers a huge range of financial services providing post retirement benefits, private mortgages, real estate contacts and other related fields for its clients. FDIC insured banks back the self directed IRA funds of their clients.

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Highway Insurance Group Acquired by LV

LV=, the UK based insurance, investment and pensions group, has announced its acquisition of the Highway Insurance Group, which includes Highway Insurance and Hero Insurance Services, further expanding the fast growing general insurance division of LV=.

The initial offer of 73.35p per share, which was recommended by the Highway Board, was made in August. Highway shareholders also received their interim dividend of 1.65p, payable at the start of October 2008. This gives an overall value of the entire issued share capital of Highway of £150m.

Fenchurch Advisory Partners acted as exclusive financial adviser to LV while Shore Capital Stockbrokers acted as corporate broker to LV=.

Mike Rogers, Group Chief Executive of LV= said: “We are pleased to have completed this deal quickly and we look forward to welcoming Highway into the LV= Group. This acquisition makes sound strategic sense and will assist us in our stated ambition to become a top five insurer in our chosen markets by 2012.”

He continued, “Highway is highly complementary to our existing general insurance operations and will provide a strong platform for growth. Putting the strengths of LV= and Highway together will enable us to compete even more effectively in the insurance broker market.”

Highway Insurance will become part of the LV= General Insurance business which is led by Managing Director John O’Roarke, who formerly headed up the Churchill and RBS Insurance businesses.

Andrew Gibson, Chief Executive of Highway, will be staying on in an advisory capacity until the end of the year, when he will be leaving to explore opportunities outside the LV= Group.

As LV= is a mutual organisation, owned by its members, Highway Insurance will be de-listed from the London Stock Exchange in due course.

About LV=:

LV= is a trademark of Liverpool Victoria Friendly Society Limited (LVFS) and LV= is a trading style of the Liverpool Victoria group of companies. LV= employs over 2,700 people, serves more than 2.5 million customers and members, and manages more than £7.7 billion on their behalf. LV= is the UK’s largest friendly society and a leading mutual financial services provider, providing home insurance and car insurance well as travel and pet insurance direct to consumers. It also offers insurance products exclusively to brokers via the Highway and ABC Insurance brands.


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Venulum’s Master Fund Has Risen Up The Bloomberg Ranks To Third Place Overall

Venulum, a multinational private wealth management firm, has reported that its Master Fund, consisting of Venulum Property Investment Limited, Venulum LLC and Venulum Property Limited, is now ranked third by Bloomberg across all mortgage backed arbitrage funds in all jurisdictions.

The excellent returns produced by Venulum Property Investment helped lift the overall performance across the funds. The performance was considered to be a strong reflection of the group’s strength by Giles Cadman, Chairman of The Venulum Group.

“We have an established team who utilise their skill and experience to create value,” Mr Cadman explained. “In rising markets it can be very easy to make strong returns, but when market conditions deteriorate you need to have the ability to add value. We often get criticised by our competitors in the property market for not taking enough risk, but as the last few months have proved, markets can change and wipe out value very quickly.”

CFO of Venulum Group, Richard Lowden, was instrumental in the listing of Venulum’s funds with Bloomberg. “Venulum is a private company owned by a family trust and we invest on behalf of private individuals, so the opportunities to compare our returns with competing funds are limited” he explains. “When our administrators, Folio suggested we register our funds with Bloomberg we thought it would be a great opportunity. The listings are not in the public domain because the funds are privately held, but brokers and independent financial advisors who subscribe to a Bloomberg terminal have access.”

The process involves significant due diligence carried out by Bloomberg on Venulum and the Private Placement Memorandums of the funds, and it is then the responsibility of Folio to update the monthly share prices.

Mr Lowden is confident that the funds will hold up well in the downturn. “Our wine business is run by exceptional people who have a very clear investment strategy to take advantage of price movements and we have taken the risk out of our property business by focusing on the public sector housing market and investing exceptionally cautiously over the past two years, in expectation of the current downturn.”

About Venulum:
The Venulum Group is a multinational private wealth management firm headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. The Group manages the wealth of high net worth individuals, and specialises in alternative investments often not available to the general public. Venulum helps high net worth individuals balance their portfolios.

The Venulum Group was formed in 2002, and has expanded to include offices in four countries, with service offices in a further two. Since 2002 Venulum’s client base has expanded rapidly, and now has a substantial number of United States based clients.

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Venulum’s September Client Was A Great Success With Over 40 Clients And Their Partners Of The Private Wealth Manager Attending From All Across America

The Venulum September client conference was held on Friday morning and set out to clarify Venulum’s strategy for 2009 together with a review of performance of the Mutual Wine and Property Funds in 2008. Giles Cadman, Chairman of the group, was pleased to announce the overall returns for the Group had exceeded 15% in 2007 and was positive about 2008-2009 in light of the opportunities presenting themselves because of the deteriorating economic climate in the US and the impact felt in the UK and Europe.

“We are well placed to take advantage of the weakening property market in the UK as we have strong liquidity in the Property Fund,” explained Cadman, “We have been waiting for three years for the property market to cool so that we can acquire property within our yield criteria of between 7% and 9%.” The property team are now analysing three opportunities where values have fallen by over 50% in the past twelve months.

Rob Spalding, Business Development Officer from Pensco Trust Co was also a speaker at the conference. Pensco started trading in 1989 in New Hampshire and are an independent custodian of self directed IRA’s, specialising in non traded assets. Rob Spalding explained that as a regulated IRA custodian, Pensco are independent and are never in conflict with investors’ goals because they do not sell investment products nor provide investment or tax advice.

“At Pensco Trust, we combine proprietary technology, built specifically to facilitate smooth, safe processing of investment transactions with the greatest depth of in-house expertise in the industry” explained Spalding, “Clients benefit from our expertise on non-traditional IRA investing that comes from our singular focus. We are proud of our philosophy of sharing this expertise with our clients and prospects by providing free education on self directed IRA investing.”

Daniel Cann, Director of Folio Administrators Limited was also on hand to answer specific questions from clients throughout the weekend. Folio administers all of the Venulum funds. Having been founded in 2001, they have grown to be the largest fund service provider in the British Virgin Islands, currently providing full administration services to over 130 funds with approximately $5.5 billion of net assets under administration.

Daniel commented “We focus on tailoring our services to match individual requirements by employing specialist, highly qualified accountants and administrators. We utilize the best in fund administration solutions with PFS-Paxus and Bloomberg.”

The second session of the Friday morning presentation focussed on Venulum Wine Ltd and the different ways that Venulum invest in wine. “Wine is an asset class that Venulum believe is perfect for use in IRA and 401K investment vehicles,” Giles Cadman explained, “It can produce strong consistent returns as it benefits from diminishing supply as it gets drunk whilst demand increases as it improves with age.” Venulum Wine Limited has a team of experts and consultants who attend the annual tastings in Bordeaux and Burgundy to unearth those wines they think will provide the strongest investment returns. The company offers clients the opportunity to invest with different levels of gearing, from a straight forward full physical purchase to instalment contracts, En-Primeur agreements or forward purchase agreements.

Venulum are already planning conferences for 2009 on the West Coast and back at Greenbrier in the fall.

About Venulum:
The Venulum Group is a multinational private wealth management firm headquartered in the British Virgin Islands. The Group manages the wealth of high net worth individuals, and specialises in alternative investments often not available to the general public. Venulum helps high net worth individuals balance their portfolios.

The Venulum Group was formed in 2002 and has expanded to include offices in five countries with service offices in a further two. Since 2002 Venulum’s client base has expanded rapidly, and we now have a substantial number of United States based clients.

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New Research From LV= Reveals That Parents Spend A Staggering £233 Billion Supporting Their Adult Children

New research from insurance, pensions and investments group LV= reveals that parents spend a staggering £233 billion* on supporting their adult children (children aged 18 years or over), and are foregoing their own financial freedom to support their children.

The LV study, which was carried out amongst adults aged 40+ years who have children 18+ years, found that 94% of parents continue to contribute financially towards education and other major purchases such as houses and cars, plus living expenses, once their children have reached ‘adulthood’.

Over half of all parents surveyed (55%) admitted to helping their adult children with general living costs, indicating that the ‘credit crunch’ and rising living costs are impacting on the finances of adult children.

Nigel Snell, Communications Director at LV=, said: “Parents certainly like to financially contribute, if they can, towards large purchases for their adult children, such as weddings and deposits for first homes. However, it seems that the current economic climate is impacting on day-to-day finances. Parents are the hardest hit, with a large proportion admitting that they are helping to cover their children’s living expenses, as well as meeting their own financial commitments.”

One quarter (23%) of parents aged between 40 and 49 years still have children aged over 25 years old living with them, indicating that despite falling house prices, adult children are not in a hurry to leave the nest, and may not be able to afford to either.

According to the research, it is not just their own children that parents are paying for either. Of those parents with grandchildren, 79% reported supporting both their children and grandchildren.

Almost half of all parents aged 70 years or older (45%) are still helping their children financially. Despite generally being retired and living on a reduced income, 55% of these parents state that they help their children because they feel it is their responsibility as a parent, and 42% stated that they support their children ‘because they can afford to’.

In contrast, less than one third (29%) of the parents questioned said that they had received financial help from their own parents after they had left school. Now, 62% of parents say they help their adult children because ‘they need the assistance’ and 17% of parents say that their adult child actually asks them for financial support.

Nigel Snell concluded: “Our study shows that parents can no longer expect their children to pay their own way once they have flown the nest. More than ever it’s true to say that having children means signing up to a lifetime financial commitment.

“Many parents will have had to put some plans on hold to manage the costs associated with raising a family, and once their children are old enough, parents should begin to encourage their own children to make small provisions, so that the financial burden can be reduced and parents can enjoy more financial freedom in retirement.”

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Dubai International Capital has appointed David Smoot as Managing Director of DIC private equity

Dubai International Capital LLC, the international investment arm of Dubai Holding, announced that it has appointed David Smoot as Managing Director of Private Equity. David will be based in Dubai and report to Sylvain Denis, Chief Executive Officer of DIC Private Equity.

David, aged 38, joins Dubai International Capital from Morgan Stanley Private Equity, where he was a member of the investment committee who led portfolio investments and helped to build a 35-person team located in New York and London. Key transactions include the acquisition of Tops Markets from Royal Ahold and the firm’s co-investment with JLL Partners in the acquisition of McKechnie Aerospace.

David has a 14-year track record in investment banking and private equity, of which 11 years were spent with Morgan Stanley. Before co founding the Private Equity Group he was Managing Director of Financial Sponsors at Morgan Stanley, where he advised clients including Bain Capital, Blackstone, First Reserve and Warburg Pincus on M&A, IPOs, debt and equity financings. Before joining Morgan Stanley, David spent three years at Salomon Brothers where he specialised in energy and chemicals investment banking.

Sylvain Denis, Chief Executive Officer of Dubai International Capital Private Equity said, “David has exceptional experience and relationships in the private equity field as well as expertise in building a best-in- class team. I look forward to working with him on the development of our growth strategy for DIC’s business in North America.”

David Smoot, Managing Director, DIC Private Equity commented, “Since its launch in 2004, DIC has made outstanding progress in building a profitable business that manages combined assets in excess of $12 billion. DIC’s Private Equity division has established a strong reputation as a specialist in European secondary buyouts and I look forward to working with Sylvain to expand the portfolio in North America.”

David Smoot’s appointment as the managing director of DIC private equity comes shortly after DIC and its CEO, Sameer Al Ansari, was named MENA Private Equity Firm of the Year in the 6th annual Awards for Excellence in Private Equity Europe 2008, organised by Dow Jones Private Equity News.

About Dubai International Capital:
Established in 2004, DIC is an international investment company focused on both private equity and public equity, with its current CEO being Sameer Al Ansari. A wholly-owned subsidiary of Dubai Holding, DIC manages an international portfolio of diverse assets that provide its stakeholders with value growth, diversification, and strategic investments. Assets under management total over US$12 billion.

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The Importance Of Location, A Factor That Every Would-Be Homebuyer Should Consider Carefully, Says Financial Solutions Company Thinkmoney.Com

Commenting on recent figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML), financial solutions company ThinkMoney.com reminds potential homebuyers of the need to think twice about the location of their proposed purchase.

In Q2 2008, there was an 18% quarterly increase in ‘loans for house purchase’ (mortgages) in Scotland – a year-on-year decrease of 34%. These figures were significantly more robust than the Q2 figures for the UK as a whole: a 5% quarterly increase and a year-on-year decrease of 46%.

“The issues in the mortgage market are affecting the whole of the UK,” said a spokesperson for ThinkMoney.com, “but the availability of mortgages does vary greatly from country to country. Prices are, of course, a key factor in determining whether people can get on – or move up – the property ladder: in May 2008, the average house price in Scotland was £167,126, according to the Department of Communities and Local Government, while the average UK house price was around 30% higher, at £218,151.

“What these figures highlight is the sheer scale of the price variations in different parts of the UK – but there’s no need to move country to benefit from this, as the price of two similar properties a few miles apart can easily vary by tens of thousands of pounds. Any would-be buyer would be well advised to broaden their search to include nearby areas: unless there’s a significant difference in terms of amenities, a lower price could more than compensate for any minor compromise they have to make.”

At a time like this, when prices have dropped substantially, a slightly more flexible approach to house-hunting can really work in a buyer’s favour – especially if they’re a would-be landlord and therefore less likely to be ‘tied’ to a certain area. “Lower prices always give homebuyers a chance to buy a better property and / or put down a larger deposit, but in today’s mortgage market, a lower price can be particularly attractive.”

Since deposits are measured in terms of percentages, a sum that counts as a 23% deposit on one house could easily account for 26% of the value of another. In some cases, this could give access to a significantly lower rate of interest; in others, it could make the difference between being offered a mortgage and being refused.

While mortgage providers have always reserved the best deals for people with larger deposits, the disparity is particularly noticeable in today’s mortgage market, with the bulk of the recent rate cuts benefiting people with larger deposits far more than those with less to lay down.

Finally, when house prices are dropping, no would-be homeowner should buy property without weighing up the odds of losing money on it, and comparing this with the money they’d spend if they continued to rent. “This isn’t a straightforward equation. Even though homeowners face the possibility of negative equity (carrying a mortgage that’s larger than the value of the property), they also know that house prices are bound to recover sooner or later – but any money spent on rent is gone for good.”

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