Stocks to Watch

The Spanish housing market has taken a hit since the global economic meltdown, and is showing little sign of recovery following the Euro-zone crisis.

The Fitch ratings agency believes that the property market is unlikely to grow at all in the near future, however, this is good news for investors. Those looking to secure a cheap deal could find one in Spain.

The company claims that a damaged Spanish economy could take its time before there is an improvement, meaning any growth in property value is for the short term. This may be a serious pitfall for those looking to invest and sell on at a higher value.

Spain is currently squeezed in between some battered economies. The country’s vulnerable position means that it will be struggling to avoid falling into recession.

The predicted growth rate for the Mediterranean country is 0% for 2012. Fitch, however, thinks Spain will see a 1% growth for 2013 despite earlier forecasts of 1.5%

‘Banks are unlikely to return to the cheap funding costs that were available to them in the past,’ a statement from the ratings agency Fitch claimed.

The average house price has fallen by a staggering 8.9% in the third quarter of 2011, compared to the same period in 2010. 

This is good news for those looking to make a move into the Spanish property market within the next few years. According to research from Scotiabank, property in Spain has become almost 25% cheaper than it was in 2007.

Transferring money to Spain

If you are looking to invest in Spain, think carefully about how you will be transferring money to Spain. Foreign currency exchange rates quoted by banks are almost always worse than the exchange rates available through specialist currency dealers.

So if you are looking to send money to Spain – which you will inevitably have to do if you are looking to make a property investment – be sure to compare the market before you buy your overseas currency.

Its true that the fastest way to build credit is to use a credit card. However, many people prefer not to use credit cards. Even if you dont want to use credit cards, though, your credit score is important. Mortgages and car loans require that you have good credit if you want the best rates.

On top of that, there are a number of other financial service providers that want to know your credit score. Satellite and cable TV providers often ask to run your credit to determine whether or not you need to provide a security deposit. Insurers often check your credit to determine your premiums. While employers arent supposed to check your credit score, they can check your report.

You want your credit report to show your finances in the best light, and you want your credit score to reflect your good habits as well.

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As 2011 nears its end, City Indexs Chief Technical Analyst Sandy Jadeja and Neil Looker, Chief Forex Dealer at City Index summarise 2011 analysing the stock market from a technical viewpoint and delivers their thoughts on important benchmark markets like the FTSE 100, Wall Street, Gold, Crude Oil, EUR/USD for currency exchange rate and what may be in store for 2012. At the end, Simon Denham, CEO of Capital Spreads gives his reflections on what could be in store for the new year.

Sandy Jadeja, Chief Technical Analyst, City Index:

The year 2011 has definitely left a stamp on traders minds as we head into the New Year.

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Remember the customer outrage over Bank of America’s plan to charge a monthly fee to have a debit card? That idea soon ended up on the scrap heap.

But many banks will be quietly increasing other fees in 2012, according to our partners at the consumer guide Angie’s List.

So don’t toss those letters from your bank that look like junk mail. It may be detailing a new fee.

Angie Hicks, founder of Angie’s List, said it’s important to review your bank statements or any literature you receive from your bank, so you can see notification ahead of time, and potentially change your habits or change your bank.”

New fees hitting bank customers

Angie says among the new bank charges to watch for:

    –New checking account fees.
    –Higher fees for using out of network ATM’s.
    –Costlier paper checks.
  

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More than 100 loan modification scams that targeted financially distressed homeowners through online advertisements have been shut down over the past week at the request of federal investigators.

The scams involved companies that the government says falsely promised to help homeowners obtain loan modifications through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) in return for a fee charged up front.   The Office of the Special Investigator General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) announced that it has shut down 125 such operations that advertise through Google, Yahoo! and Bing. The HAMP loan modification program is part of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP). 

Used Web banners, online search advertising

   “Many homeowners who have fallen prey to these scams were enticed by Web banner ads and online search advertisements that promised, for a fee, to help lower mortgage payments,” said Christy Romero, Deputy Special Inspector General for SIGTARP. “SIGTAR Full post…

With Thanksgiving a happy memory, now is the perfect time to sit down, relax and plan out your holiday shopping for the year.  Take out a pen and paper and write down everyone youll need to by gifts for this Christmas.   Create a budget on just how much youre willing to spend and STICK TO IT.  Once your list is complete, youre ready to go holiday shopping!

The key to a great holiday shopper is knowing how to extend your budget and how to wow with the gifts you buy.  Well help you with the latter in this article, as weve compiled 25 great Christmas gift ideas under $50.  All of these gifts can be purchased online and if you look hard enough, you might be able to find them even cheaper with the use of online coupon codes.  The list has Christmas gift ideas for mom, dad, siblings friend coworkers and pretty much anyone else you would want to buy a Christmas gift for.  Merry Christmas!

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