We have identified a short term AAA rated IBRD (aka World Bank) bond denominated in South African rand maturing in October 2012, and are targeting a better than 5.50% yield for our clients.
Corporate Bond linked to the South African Rand
The IBRD has bonds, denominated in the South African rand, which currently have a yield of about 5.5% for 14 months. The better yield and very short maturity of this rand bond, when considered with its extremely strong AAA rating, compares favorably in relationship to other high yield instruments in our Foreign and World Fixed Income holdings, and we consider the most recent flight to the relative safety of the dollar a great opportunity for increasing exposure to the rand currency in our basket of foreign fixed income holdings.
Read full post…
2012, Aaa Rated, October 2012
Remember when bank robberies were a glamourous thing that people made movies about? Modern day technology has turned sensational bank robbery stories to hacking headlines. Although hacking is an important security issue that should be addressed and consequently combated, actual bank robberies are more intriguing to report.
This latest story out of California is no exception. The man, nicknamed the Geezer Bandit by the FBI, has robbed a total of 16 banks over the past two years. Fortunately, it appears authorities are making progress in nabbing him after a recent snafu.
For the past two years, a man said to be in his 60s or 70s has been walking into various banks, most recently Bank of America, and using a revolver pistol paired with a note to get his hands on some cash.
The reward for his capture is already at $20,000 as he continues to escape the law.
Read full post…
When I was 19 I had horrible credit. I had trouble renting an apartment and later buying a house. Flash forward just a few years later. I was buying a car and the salesman said, “Did you realize that you are in the top 3% of credit scores?” How did things change for me so drastically? Let me tell you my secrets.
Improving your score is very possible. Like proper sun, good soil and the right amount of water for a dying plant, you will need patience and discipline for your credit score.
Please don’t look for the easy way out of this. Don’t look for your rich uncle Stanley to give you a $3,000 gift. It is your debt. It is your responsibility. One way
Read full post…
Credit, Credit Basics
POUND
Sterling is trading stronger against the USD this morning and is staying relatively stable against the Euro within the 1.19 region. Most recent economic data has been flat with retails sales data out as expected at 0.6%. Market sentiment has improved towards riskier assets but further gains may well be hampered by concerns over the fragile state of the UK economy. There is some speculation of foreign investment flows are aiding the pound with China’s sovereign wealth fund taking a stake in Thames water. The outlook for sterling remains shaky with inflation now lower, the BoE has more room to manoeuvre on quantitative easing in order to starve off the ongoing threat of another UK recession. <
Read full post…
Sterling, Sterling Hits
A “fair performance” from the equity release market in the first quarter of this year could be considered a catalyst for providers returning to the market and new ones entering it.
Whilst the performance of the equity release market was down by 4% on the last quarter of 2010 and down 15% year-on-year according to Safe Home Income Plans (SHIP), Director General of the trade body, Andrea Rozario felt there is encouragement to be taken from Q1. She
Read full post…
Equity Release, Equity Release Market, Market, Release Market
It is a great pleasure to be here in the MaRS Discovery District, where science and innovation meet.
I am here to announce the issue of the new $100 bank note which is available, as of today, in banks across the country.
We are very proud of our innovative polymer bank notes. They are more secure, more economical, and better for the environment than any we have issued previously. These notes are also potent symbols of our rich heritage.
The design of the $100 bank note celebrates Canadian innovation in medical research, including the discovery of insulin to treat diabetes. We are honoured to issue this note on the site where Banting and Best conducted their groundbreaking research almost a century ago.
Many forget that diabetes was once a death sentence.
Read full post…
Bank Note, Note
The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the Bank of England has today decided to leave unchanged the UK’s interest rate at the record low of 0.5%.
The scale of the quantitative easing asset purchase scheme has also been left unchanged, at £275bn.
The MPC has also stated that the scheme is expected to run its course by early February, and said that its scale remains under review.
The interest rate has been held steady for almost two years, having been slashed to 0.5% in March 2009 to help alleviate the worst effects of the credit crunch.
As growth appears likely to be faltering and gradual in the immediate future an increase in rates appears unlikely, and there has been some suggestion that the European Central Bank (ECB) may continue its recent cutting of rates.
Should the ECB reduce rates from their present level of 1% it would mark a new record low for the beleaguered single currency.
Qe Unchanged, Unchanged