Fraudsters will “exploit any weakness” to commit financial crime March 31, 2020 | Sponsored Scammers will use every opportunity to commit insurance fraud, from taking advantage of the panic around COVID-19 to exploiting opportunities presented by digital technologies. In times of crisis, there’s usually an upturn in fraud and financial crime. That’s just a historical fact. It happened in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, and Chris Andrew [...]
Do you know the many forms of money laundering? March 31, 2020 | Sponsored In financial circles there is much discussion around money laundering, but the forms which money laundering can take are very rarely explained. So, what is money laundering? It’s the process of making illegally gained money, often known as dirty money, appear to be legal. Money laundering usually involves three steps; surreptitiously getting the illegitimate money [...]
Tax needs to keep pace with global developments March 30, 2020 | Sponsored Designing a modern-day tax system takes co-ordination on a global scale, with many players all having a part. The business of tax faces challenges in the 21st century: its role as a force for good, and the way tax systems are designed and implemented Adapt to survive In a fast-changing world, tax systems have to [...]
Investors flee UK funds for cash with bond funds the worst hit March 26, 2020 Record amounts have flowed out of UK funds this month with bond funds hit the hardest as investors flocked towards cash. As the coronavirus crisis deepens and fears of a recession mount, UK funds have shed £4.4bn in the month to date, according to figures from global funds network Calastone. This week there was a [...]
Time for a staycation? Mortgage payment holidays explained March 26, 2020 As part of its plan to reduce the economic damage done by staying at home during the coronavirus outbreak, the government has granted a holiday on what is many people’s biggest outlay: mortgage payments. For three months, those who are paying off their mortgage will get a temporary break from their monthly payments, one of [...]
What’s happening to the AUD/GBP exchange rate? March 25, 2020 | City Talk A quick look at the performance of the Australian dollar in the FX market during the global pandemic The Australian dollar has been under pressure all year; as a commodity-based currency, it was among the first to struggle due to the impact of the coronavirus. Now, as the countries implement various forms of lock-down and [...]
How coronavirus is turning the spotlight on sustainable investing March 25, 2020 | City Talk It is difficult to start any article without referring to the threat presented by the coronavirus sweeping across countries. The human impacts are clearly devastating for anyone affected, even if the overall impact is at present relatively small in the context of major pandemics through history. The economic and financial impacts are also proving significant. [...]
IFISAs: Invest in British entrepreneurs and maximise your tax-free ISA March 25, 2020 | Sponsored Innovative Finance ISAs offer an exciting alternative investment channel, helping you diversify your portfolio and maximising your £20,000 tax-free ISA allowance — all while supporting high performing British entrepreneurs. Finding the right businesses for your portfolio without skimping on the details you need to make an informed investment decision has always been a challenge. Crowd2Fund [...]
How coronavirus could change our working lives (and the climate) March 24, 2020 | City Talk financial markets. The epicentre of the shock is clearly being felt in travel related industries, as people cancel or put holiday plans on hold, and businesses cancel conferences and move to remote working. Remote working tools widely available As an investor looking at climate change trends, these changes in working practices are interesting in an [...]
GBP / EUR update March 20, 2020 | City Talk As everywhere across the world, everything in the UK has been accelerating at pace and the pound has paid the price. Whilst not always at the bottom of the pile, sterling has been struggling and hit a 35-year low against the US dollar. Measures to address all aspects of the crisis were well-received by investors [...]
