Tharon Green/CNETThough the housing market is never immune to political and economic volatility, mortgage rates have been eerily calm. Over the last month, the average rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage has moved in a narrow range between 6.8% and 7%. An escalating war in the Middle East could spark fresh volatility across global markets, significantly affecting oil prices and the US dollar. That would have a ripple effect on long-term Treasury yields and mortgage rates. Mortgage rates had been expected to gradually improve in 2025, but the Trump administration’s inflationary tariffs, deficit spending and geopolitical maneuvering led to bleaker forecasts. Most…
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Image source: Getty Images FTSE 250 hi-tech firm Oxford Instruments (LSE: OXIG) is down 29% from its 15 July one-year traded high of £26. It was established in 1959 when it was spun off from Oxford University’s physics department. An early success was its pioneering role in the development of magnetic resonance imaging scans used in medical diagnosis. Since then it has been at the cutting edge of the design and manufacture of high-tech products for scientific and industrial use. Most notably perhaps, it is a world leader in nanotechnology. This involves manipulating matter at the atomic and molecular level…
At the Bonn climate conference (SB62) ahead of COP30 in Brazil, there was a mood of upbeat optimism about Article 6 carbon markets. This positivism stands in shrill contrast with all the critical issues that continue to plague Article 6. Source link
Image source: Getty Images I have owned Aviva (LSE: AV) shares for several years, principally for their strong dividend yield. As I only buy stocks that appear significantly undervalued to me, there is also a good chance of share price gains. At least once a quarter, I conduct a comprehensive assessment of my stocks’ future earnings growth potential. It is this that powers any firm’s dividends and share price over time. If the results are especially good, then I will add to these holdings, usually in increments of £5,000. Back around today’s date in 2022 (Friday, 24 June), I did…
From time to time, I circle back to the question of the balance of deficits. In my mind, as our economy goes through whatever the “Trump Transition” is, the biggest risk to the bond markets is not from some fear about whether the Treasury will default or whether the US dollar will cease to be the world’s currency of choice for reserves (neither of which I think is going to happen any time soon) but that large secular changes in the balances of savings and dollar demand could lead to outsized moves in interest rates. First, let me remind you…
Image source: Getty Images The US stock market continues to defy gravity and logic. Despite growing geopolitical risks, rising gold prices, and unpredictable fiscal rhetoric from the Trump administration, US markets remain defiant. Following a quick recovery after the tariff-induced slump of early April, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 are now within spitting distance or record highs. It seems like a rally built on hope, but for how long can that optimism hold — or is there more to the story? A trifecta of concerns Several global issues are threatening to upend this uneasy calm. The ongoing conflict…
Biochar is produced by burning biomass in the absence of oxygen at high temperatures ranging from 500°C to 800°C (pyrolysis). The biomass at such high temperatures gets converted into black carbon. June 26, 2025. By News Bureau Biochar is currently perceived as a crucial solution for tackling climate change. Major corporations across the globe who want to showcase their efforts towards Net Zero are investing in biochar projects. For instance, Google has partnered with Varaha to buy 100,000 tons of biochar carbon removal by 2030, as biochar is in demand to tackle climate change. There are many startups jumping on…
Image source: Getty Images Buying FTSE 100 shares inside a Stocks and Shares ISA is a brilliant way of building wealth for the future. As well as generating growth when stock markets rise, many UK blue-chip stocks pay income too, via dividends. The combination of the two can be a killer way of making money, especially for investors who reinvest their dividends to buy even more stock. I still think too many savers are missing a trick by leaving long-term savings in cash. Shares are more volatile, yes, but should grow faster over time, even with the bumps we’ve had lately. I’d…
Image source: Getty Images My Lloyds (LSE: LLOY) shares have been winners. I only bought them a couple of years ago, and so far I’ve almost doubled my money, from share price growth and reinvested dividends. Not bad going for a stock from the supposedly staid UK financial services sector. The FTSE 100 bank is up 36% in the last 12 months, and I think it still looks decent value, trading at a price-to-earnings ratio of just under 12. The price-to-book ratio of one suggests it’s fairly valued, although not exactly cheap. While the yield has dipped slightly as the share price climbed,…
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