THINKTANK – Page 8 – Strategy and Management Consultants

Finra achieves blockbuster financial year in 2021:

The broker-dealer self-regulator's net income of $218 million was $199 million higher than in 2020, thanks to significant increases in trading fees, investment gains and fines. Operating revenue increased 17.7% in 2021 to $1.3 billion, compared to $1.1 billion in 2020, thanks in part to gyrating markets that produced a 15% increase in trading activity fees, which reached their highest level in more than a decade. Increased market volumes also led to a 10-year high in fixed-income and equity securities trade reporting, and Finra achieved an 84% increase in corporate financi

by Think Tank July 4, 2022July 4, 2022 Leave a Comment

Investment

People back green investment despite soaring bills

The Cooperative Bank have noticed that those earning between £20,000 and £25,000 are more likely than average to support investment in green energy even if it adds to the cost of household bills, a new survey has suggested. 63% of those in the earnings bracket think that it is still important to tackle climate change through such measures, even in the face of a cost-of-living crisis. It is clear that climate change is a major concern for UK consumers and a concern that the bank shares. Climate change was the most urgent social and environmental issue for consumers in th

by Think Tank June 15, 2022June 15, 2022 Leave a Comment

Property Consulting

Ex-Patriots merging properties to get Golden Visa in Dubai:

In April 2022, the UAE visa residency system announced that real estate investors could obtain Golden Visa when purchasing a property worth no less than Dh2 million. This has encouraged residents in Dubai to invest or merge their properties to reach the milestone to be eligible for long-term residency. Around 35 to 40 per cent of customers merging two properties to reach the Dh2 million milestone to get the Golden Visa. When it comes to top buyers of properties for Golden Visa, it’s mainly Europeans, Africans and nationals of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).

by Think Tank June 14, 2022June 14, 2022 Leave a Comment

Investment

Cowell calls for £100 million investment!

Cressida Crowell, the outgoing children’s laureate has transformed six primary schools through her Life-changing Libraries initiative, but says a ringfenced fund is needed for lasting impact. Her project resulted in reports of “increased attention, engagement and motivation to learn in the classroom” and improvements in pupils’ writing, “particularly in the use of vocabulary and imagination”. Libraries in schools are not statutory, and research shows that one in eight primary schools has no library space at all. This figure doubles in schools with a higher proportion of ch

by Think Tank June 14, 2022June 14, 2022 Leave a Comment

Investment

Investment Opportunities during geopolitical ‘turmoil’

A big rule which has been employed for making good investments is being able to be flexible. This can apply in many different scenarios both using a micro and a macro view of an entire region. When geopolitical turmoil affects a country, their currency will depreciate and their imports or exports will be impacted. Commodities like precious metals can be traded via a variety of online platforms, along with spot over-the-counter (OTC) markets, listed exchanges and options. A useful analogy is to consider a country and currency like a large company, and a company’s stock like

by Think Tank June 10, 2022June 10, 2022 Leave a Comment

Investment

Credit Suisse Flags Q2 Loss in Latest in String of Profit Warnings :

The bank has described 2022 as a "transition" year in which it is trying to turn the page on costly scandals that brought a near-total reshuffle of top management and a restructuring seeking to curtail risk-taking, particularly in its investment bank. The bank is considering job reductions as part of the cost cuts, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday. Credit Suisse declined to comment on potential staffing cuts. hares slid 7.3% in early trading as analysts pointed to the particular impact of market conditions on a bank in restructuring mode and concerns that cost savings will

by Think Tank June 8, 2022June 8, 2022 Leave a Comment

Property Consulting

House prices are plunging drastically in Australia:

House prices in capital cities are slowing at a rate which has not been seen in more 30 years, this is signalling that the property boom is coming to an end. Australian homeowners have had the upper hand, with the property market enjoying unprecedented levels of growth year-on-year, increasing by 35 per cent since mid-2020. Annual price growth has fallen from 24 per cent just six months ago to 14 per cent now. The last time house prices slowed this quickly was more than 30 years ago – at a time when Australia was heading into a recession. Houses are continuing to outperfor

by Think Tank June 8, 2022June 8, 2022 Leave a Comment

Investment

Bitcoin investment simulator!

Workers will soon be able to put some of their retirement savings in bitcoin, but the crypto crash has made it clear what a risky bet it is. The currency has lost more than 50 percent of its value from November to May. So while those who invested in bitcoin even two years ago may have seen big returns, any investor jumping in now could be in for losses. You can use the NBC news simulator whereby you’ll have $10,000 to play with, and you can put up to $2,000 in bitcoin. Pick any start date in the past 18 months — or use our presets — and see which would have been the better

by Think Tank June 7, 2022June 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

Property Consulting

CURRENTLY: Property boom or bust or normal market?

The property market has weakened since the interest rate hike, which has been hitting big property investors. However, there remains large competition around the big, new houses which has meant the market has returned to a normal one. A normal market is one considered to have steady auction clearance rates around the 60 per cent mark as when the clearance rates linger around the 80 per cent mark it is seen to be unsustainable long term. The average home buyer’s disposable income and borrowing capacity is decreasing due to hikes in interest rates therefore the house prices

by Think Tank June 7, 2022June 7, 2022 Leave a Comment

Investment

Waitlist for the NHS growing despite investment!

Sajid Javid confirms that the waitlist for NHS will continue to grow as healthcare in the UK is struggling to cope with the post pandemic surge in demand. This confirmation has been made despite the significant Government investment. The NHS was still struggling to address the waitlists that had been exacerbated by a pandemic which forced thousands of treatments across the UK to be blocked. He had previously outlined a plan to implement a series of “community diagnostic centres” to ease the burden of tests and treatments taking place within hospitals.Despite current pressu

by Think Tank June 6, 2022June 6, 2022 Leave a Comment