Money Archives - Page 31 of 32

HOW CAN ONLINE CFD TRADING BE “GREEN”?

There is no doubt about it – living in the digital age is always changing and this dynamic environment means that we are no longer restricted to working at desks behind computers or laptops. Today it’s all about mobile usage and application platforms. This of course means that traders can engage with and ultimately trade CFD’s and the likes thereof from absolutely anywhere.

The ease of use that comes with being able to trade online via CFD trading platforms is immeasurable. It allows trader to place and manage their individual trades through a simpler user interface, while making use of the essential tools for in-depth research and analysis through CFD trading platforms, as well as the ability to view real time prices and trade options.

Applications designed for trading on Android phones provide the perfect opportunity for mobile trading and of course ease of access to the markets. All day, every day from anywhere. The truth is – that while we have moved toward a more dynamic and mobile world, we are also part of a global population that is focussed on the protection and conservation of the planet. So, with this ease of access, and all the time, traders can now continuously select to trade CFD online with companies that are also known to be investing in and making greater use of technologies that are considered “green”. So, while simultaneously trading CFD online, traders are also doing their bit for the environment.

There are a variety of different companies that offer “green” initiatives. These range from the Ford Motor Company to Telsa Motors with their focus on and development of electronic energies. Other companies worth looking at when selecting CFD trading platforms for trading are Johnson & Johnson, who aim to manufacture products with sustainable packaging – the list is endless, but you need to be made aware of the company’s developments and commitments to “Going Green”.

The correct broker with the necessary information will ensure that your trading experience will ensure that you – the trader – find the right balance within your own personal trading strategy and trade with the right type of company in order to make sure that your trade is helping to protect the planet. Making the right decision, while using the right CFD trading platforms for sustainable and green investments and trades will make sure that you are part of the people doing their bit to make a difference.

How Will Trump’s Presidency Affect Trading Markets?

By Frugaling 1 Comment

In one of the biggest political upsets in recent memory, Donald Trump was named President-elect following the results on November 8. While he will not be inaugurated until early next year, we are already seeing the effects of his campaign in the market. Here we take a look at three popular trading markets and assess the changes that Trump’s future presidency could prompt.

Currency Exchange

Currency exchange was the first market investors expected to see the influence of Trump’s presidency. Election night is typically a time of volatility for the market anyway, but what we saw last week had even experienced investors scrambling. During the course of the evening, we saw GBP/USD slightly rise before crashing and then surging to new heights as the night went on. As we can see from FxPro, the election also played a huge role in emerging markets, with the Mexican peso plunging to a new low following the shock results.

While in the short-term it’s safe to say that the market will remain volatile, predicting anything further into the future will be more difficult. The Federal Reserve meeting in December should give us our first insight into how the market views the situation. Last year, we saw the Federal Reserve raise interests rate by a quarter of a percent and Chairwoman Janet Yellen recently gave an indication to expect more of the same next month.

Precious Metals

Just like with Brexit earlier in the year, economic uncertainty resulted in a significant rise in the number of people looking to invest in precious metals. By the time it emerged that Trump had triumphed over rival candidate Hillary Clinton in the election race, gold had surged to nearly a six-week high of $1,337.40 an ounce. In the following days, the market began to stabilize, especially after Trump’s conciliatory speech in which the Republican candidate appeared to tone down his typically exuberant rhetoric.

Since then, the market has continued to react. The Wall Street Journal reports that gold prices are now at a 5-month low due to the stronger dollar and renewed optimism over potential growth under Trump. Those who rushed to buy have been advised to hold on to their assets for now, though, as the price is expected to rise in the medium-to-long-term as we learn more about Trump’s geopolitical policies.

Real Estate

Of course, Trump himself made his name in real estate so his impact on the market will be interesting to see during his tenure as President. During the course of the election, Trump made big promises to invest heavily in the nation’s infrastructure. On his website, the President-elect notes that he wants to transform America’s “crumbling infrastructure into a golden opportunity for accelerated economic growth” with over $1 trillion of investment over the next decade.

In an industry where optimism and consumer confidence count for almost everything, it is perhaps not surprising that many investors are optimistic about the future. However, others have noted that Trump’s potentially strict immigration policies could be problematic. According to a report by Bloomberg, one in four constructions workers are foreign born and 40% of new home buyers are expected to come from overseas in the next ten years.

Achieving Financial Independence before Your 30th Birthday

By Frugaling 1 Comment

Why is it that everyone seems to talk about achieving financial independence, but few people get there? Well, because it takes definite, deliberate, disciplined and proven efforts to get there. It doesn’t just happen.

The best time to aim for financial independence is before you hit 30 years. Unfortunately, that’s often the last priority on the mind of this age group, as they’re often preoccupied with immediate luxuries and gratifications like buying a car.

Contrary to what most under 30 think, attaining financial security doesn’t suggest a life of self-deprivation. You can still have fun while at it. Here’s how.

Commit to living spend less than you earn

Committing to and mastering this attitude is just about the most important step to securing your financial future. It’s the single step that will keep you constantly liquid to meet the other targets. It’s a sacrifice you must be willing to undertake to be in control of the future. The earlier you learn the technique, the less uncomfortable it gets as you go along.

Form the habit of tracking your spending

On the surface, this might look a bit tedious but you can get creative with it and have fun. More vitally, the reward attached to tracking where your money goes outweigh whatever inconveniences you have to put up with in letting go of some immediate surplus gratifications.

Apps like B make it less of a chore taking control of your money. This money-saving app has clever tools, including a tagging function that helps you keep track of your spending and know it looks like it’s time to spend or save cash.

Take risks — calculated ones and seize the moments

it’s more prudent and safer taking risks when you’re young. You may get into a bit of some bumps along the way, but that’s okay. Mistakes give you more wisdom and better financial education than successes.

Besides, you recover faster when you’re still under 30 years, and you have many years to do that. So, seize good business opportunities and take calculated risks. These opportunities might be not be available later in life.

Keep moving forward with your career or business

This should complement your disciplined spending and tracking lifestyle. Earn more and spend less. To earn more, make sure your income is on a steady increase as you go along in your career or business while you keep your spending at a moderate level.

Personal Finance – 3 Ways to Invest Your Savings

By Frugaling Leave a Comment

A couple of years ago, I started questioning what I was saving my money for, I am not a frivolous spender nor a reckless gambler when it comes to finances but I decided to look into ways in which I could use my savings to grow my wealth. I’ve since used the money that I have saved, or at least some of it, to take advantage of various financial opportunities that I wanted to share, so if you have saved up some money through the years then here are some tips on how to put it to work.

Stocks and Shares

A slightly different way to invest your cash when it comes to the stock market is to trade the stocks themselves as opposed to betting on their rise or fall. Naturally when it comes to owning stocks, you will only want the price to grow and the real trick is knowing when to sell them. Stocks are a slightly more secure way of investing your cash than spread betting as should the price go down, you can simply keep hold of your shares in the hope that they will once again rise. Many stocks offer dividends which can give you a small payout each year and act as something of a loss insulator should prices drop. From a tax point of view, you will pay capital gains of between 25-39% on any stocks sold in their first year and around 15% after the year is out. Like spread betting, you can start trading with as little as $100.

Spread Betting

Spread betting, in a nutshell, is about gambling on the future price of various markets such as currency, oil, commodities and stocks and shares. One of the biggest bonuses of this type of investment is that spread betting is considered by the government as a form of gambling and as such you will not pay taxes on your profits, an appealing option and one that can prove to be very fruitful. You will naturally need to have a firm grasp of the markets to which you will be betting on and be able have good analytical skills in order to see which way the market is heading. You can start out with companies such as ETX Capital with just a few hundred dollars and you can bet on prices for the day or even a longer period of time. Spread betting is exciting and can be a great way to grow your wealth.

Start-Ups

There are more businesses being created than ever before and if you have an eye for what will become successful then you could stand to make a healthy profit by investing in these businesses during their early years. Start-ups rely heavily on private investment and if there is a new business entering into an industry that you are already familiar with then you could be best placed to invest your money in their new idea. Ensure that you negotiate a good contract for your investment as there are a lot of risks with new businesses, 54% fail within their first 3 years and the last thing you want is for your investment to turn sour.