Author: Lucas

1. What is the main difference between bond funds and individual bonds?Individual bonds have a fixed maturity and return principal at maturity, while bond funds are diversified portfolios without a fixed maturity date.2. Are bond funds safer than individual bonds?Bond funds reduce issuer-specific risk through diversification but still fluctuate with interest rates and market conditions.3. Which is better during falling interest rates?Bond funds may benefit more from price appreciation across multiple holdings when rates decline.4. Can I lose money in individual bonds?Yes, if sold before maturity during rising rates or if the issuer defaults, losses are possible.5. Should I combine…

This article was written byFollowWhether you are the kind of investor who sticks with preferred stocks with a CDx3 Compliance Score rated 10 out of 10, or whether your portfolio has room for 9-score-and-lower securities, stay tuned for future articles recapping new IPOs and interesting preferred stock activity that we notice here at the CDx3 Notification Service.Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not…

Precious metal prices are likely to see a fiery start to the week when trading resumes on Monday, as investors would rush for safe-haven assets amid global uncertainties following the escalating the Middle East tension, analysts said.President Donald Trump announced “major combat operations” in Iran after Israeli strikes on Tehran. Iranian state media confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Sunday, triggering retaliations from Iran against US military installations and Israeli targets across the region.Analysts said the extent of the impact on domestic silver and gold prices will depend on how long the conflict persists, as global…

Investors have a new mantra as they prepare for AI to shake up the global economy – the Halo trade.Interest in Halo – short for “heavy assets, low obsolescence” – has risen as investors seek out companies with tangible, productive assets, which might be insulated from AI disruption, such as energy and transport infrastructure companies.While US mega-cap tech companies have had a rough start to 2026, the Halo trade helped to push UK and EU stock markets to record levels by the end of February.Goldman Sachs reported this week that its basket of more than 100 big-spending companies had outperformed…

The latest plans will see the retention and refurbishment of Coitbury House, in Tanner Street, and Kings Walk. In previous schemes both would have been demolished. Jigsaw by Partnerships & Place are holding drop-in community engagement events. The first of these events will take place on Friday, February 27, at Winchester Guildhall, and Monday, March 2, at the Nutshell Theatre in Kings Walk, before an expected planning application later this year. These sessions will cover movement and access through the city centre, sustainable transport and the future of bus services, and the vision for public spaces and streets. Matt Woolgar,…

If one turns on the news, MercadoLibre (MELI +0.96%) stock may look more like a sell than a buy. Cartel violence in Mexico or high inflation in Argentina call into question the stability of the business environment the company operates in, and indeed, the stock has sold off amid rising competition and an increase in bad loans. However, investors should remember that the stock is up by around 6,000% since its initial public offering (IPO) in 2007. Amid those gains, the retail stock is likely not done rising, and three reasons explain why. Image source: Getty Images. 1. MercadoLibre thrives…

MPs during a session in parliament. The control of hire purchase rates and movable property will soon be the mandate of the government should the new reforms be adopted. The state is in the process of rewriting the laws governing security rights over movable property with the introduction of the Movable Property Security Rights (Amendment) Bill, 2024. The Bill aims to modernise regulations related to hire purchase agreements and movable assets, potentially streamlining the process but also adding new administrative requirements for businesses. One of the key changes in the Bill is the expansion of the definition of hire purchase…

The North West water and wastewater company is in the first phase of a programme to grow its team as it continues to deliver its largest ever environmental investment programme. Hundreds of roles, including process operators, process controllers, field service engineers and customer support technicians, are available in the company’s wastewater division. With roles based across the region including in Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Cheshire, Cumbria and Lancashire the company is inviting people the opportunity to find out more at on online jobs event being held at 4pm on Wednesday 4 March. People interested in taking part can find out more…

Gold, a precious metal, mostly appears in alloys and only rarely in its pure form. Because of its physical properties, it is resistant to air, moisture, heat and many solvents. Gold also has a high density. Gold is regarded as a secure investment and is very popular as a means of coverage in times of crisis. Its high value and its rarity and uniqueness make gold a secure financial investment which also withstands inflation. (read more)Gold was extracted in Egypt as early as 2000 B.C. and the first gold coins were minted in 50 B.C. in Rome. This shows that…

Image source: Getty Images For me, one FTSE 100 value stock stands out above all the rest. Its name? JD Sports Fashion (LSE: JD). The self-styled ‘King of Trainers’ has one of the lowest price-to-earnings ratios on the entire blue-chip index at just 6.6. That’s astonishingly low for a business forecast to deliver £849m of profit this year. So am I missing something? JD should be storming it. The group sells hugely popular trainers and sportswear brands in around 4,850 stores in 49 countries, and continues to open hundreds more each year. The £1.1bn acquisition of US chain Hibbett in 2024 gave it…