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The prognosis for Bitcoin in 2021

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2020 has been relatively volatile for Bitcoin to say the least. As the year is coming to an end, more people buy Bitcoin than ever before, and we are expecting the popular cryptocurrency to experience massive growth in value.

But what fuels this positive market sentiment? Over the next few chapters, we will explore Bitcoin’s YTD performance, how 2021 is about to unfold, and share the opinions of industry experts when it comes to the coin’s future price. Let’s delve in.

Bitcoin’s YTD performance

The best way to describe 2020 when it comes to the crypto markets is to label it as an “unstable recovery”. Sure, we are used to the volatility of the crypto markets, but this year has been unlike any other, and we can see it reflected in the current Bitcoin price.

Covid19

This year we experienced Bitcoin’s first-ever Black Swan event. Due to the pandemic-related lockdowns and the overall fear of the public, we saw many investors taking a position in cash, all at the same time, talking the price of Bitcoin nearly 60% in two weeks alone. All this occurred towards the end of the first quarter of the year (March 2020)

The bitcoin halving

Thankfully, 2020 was a banner year for Bitcoin thanks to the reward halving that occurs once every 4 years. The event always drives more retail investors to the cryptocurrency and increases the interest of the public in obtaining it. The halving, which occurred in May 2020, helped the price of Bitcoin recover to the $8000 levels, nearly doubling its value in two short months.

DeFi increase in popularity

Decentralized finance was the hot topic of the past summer, mainly for the altcoin markets. While most Ethereum-related tokens experienced a boost in demand, and decentralized exchanges increased in popularity, Bitcoin also grabbed more market share.

Institutions are buying

Possibly the most bullish event of the year is the most awaited institutional participation that we have now started to see. Public companies like Microstrategy, Square, Grayscale, and Paypal, are now buying more Bitcoins than those produced on a daily basis by miners. This massively limits the available supply (supply shock) and drives more demand to the markets, bringing Bitcoin back to its ATH prices.

Why 2021 seems optimistic

As we are entering 2021, there are many developments that make us optimistic about both the survival and price appreciation of Bitcoin. More specifically:

  • The institutional investors continue to increase, and we are seeing more and more large players buying up coins to hold onto for a longer timeframe.
  • Banks are now more welcoming to crypto, and many have even opened custodial solutions to hold onto the cryptocurrency of their customers. While this goes inherently against the values of Satoshi Nakamoto, it does offer more transparency and trust, allowing the general public to onboard easier.
  • More world-class investors are now not only Bitcoin proponents but convert (part of) their wealth in order to avoid potential scenarios where their funds could be negatively affected. This brings us to our final point.
  • The economy and our current financial system will continue to go sideways into 2021. We are already starting to experience the aftereffects of the uncontrolled money printing practices that have led to high numbers of inflation; nearly 20% of all USD in existence have been printed this year alone.

What do experts say?

Antony Pompliano, the founder of Morgan Creek Digital and author of the Pomp Letter, believes that Bitcoin will reach $100.000 in value by the end of 2021.

Plan B, an anonymous character also known as @100trillionUSD on Twitter, believes that Bitcoin could peak at $288.000 before the next Bitcoin halving, emphasizing that the event will probably occur in 2021 or 2022. Note that the anonymous figure claims to be an investment banker with many years of analysis experience.

Citigroup financial analyst Tom Fitzpatrick believes that Bitcoin may hit a peak of $318.000 during this market cycle, specifically due to the “network effects” caused by increased institutional and retail participation.

Bloomberg strategist Mike McGlone sees Bitcoin as a great investment that performs better than gold and sees the popular cryptocurrency topping out at $170.000 during this market cycle.

Finally, Mike Novogratz, one of the world’s most popular billionaire investors believes that Bitcoin will go sideways into 2021 (reaching $16.000 at its bottom), before it continues its upward trajectory to reach $60.000 in value.

Wrapping up

It’s safe to say that the market sentiment is, by all means, positive, as we are seeing an increased amount of participation in the markets and more interest by both institutions, retail buyers, and governments.

What does this mean for Bitcoin? We will have to be patient as the events unfold. Until then, we will keep on promoting Bitcoin’s potential and stack Satoshis!

Rideshare Insurance for Drivers: What it Covers in an Accident

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Ridesharing has changed the way people get around in cities. With cheaper rates and easier access to vehicles than traditional taxi services, these apps have carved themselves out a significant place in the market. They aren’t just taking business from taxis, though. They are also appealing to groups who would have previously taken public transportation or driven themselves.

The rise of leading rideshare apps like Lyft and Uber has also opened up new employment opportunities for many people. Whether they are looking to work full time or just make some extra cash on the side, many people are looking at these opportunities.

If you are interested in becoming a rideshare driver, it’s important to know that the insurance provided by these companies is very limited and only applies under certain conditions. You must also carry your own insurance.

What Uber and Lyft Insurance Covers

Anyone thinking about driving with one of these companies needs to be aware of what their employment status will be and how that will affect them when it comes to insurance as well as in other ways. Drivers for these companies are not considered employees. Instead, they are independent contractors. This is a great labeling for the company and their bottom line as they don’t have to provide benefits like health care for their drivers.

It also means that their drivers are not fully covered under the insurance policy that they provide. While Uber and Lyft do have insurance, it will not always cover your damages in a crash. Both of these companies require that their drivers carry their own insurance for the vehicle they drive. The insurance provided by Lyft and Uber is mainly in place only because some areas require that they carry it.

Since you are likely using the same car for driving for Uber or Lyft that you use as your personal vehicle, it is important to be aware of the different levels of coverage you will receive, depending on how you are driving your car at the time. There are four different periods of work that you might be in, and your coverage will cover you differently in each one. They are:

  • Period 0 – App is off
  • Period 1 – App is on, and you’re waiting for a ride request
  • Period 2 – You have accepted a ride and are on your way to pick up a passenger
  • Period 3 – You have passengers in your vehicle

During period zero, you are not covered by the rideshare app’s policy at all. During period one, you have limited liability coverage available from the app of up to $50,000 per injured person and up to two people, along with $25,000 in property damage coverage. However, this coverage only applies in a case where your personal insurance is not enough to cover all damages.

In periods two and three, you are covered for the full amount of the apps’ $1,000,000 liability coverage. You also have comprehensive and collision coverage, but only if you have them on your personal policy as well, and first pay a deductible.

This policy also pays out in the case of another uninsured party being at fault for the accident.

It’s important to note that, like all insurance companies, the coverage provided by these apps will attempt to not pay the claims if they can find any reason for denying them. Unless your personal insurance includes rideshare insurance, you will be left completely uncovered and liable for all damages.

What Rideshare Insurance Purchase From a Leading Insurer Covers

When you drive your vehicle for a rideshare company and don’t purchase rideshare coverage from your personal insurance provider, not only do you risk not being covered in the case of an accident, but you also risk having your coverage completely revoked.

With rideshare insurance, you will have several levels of coverage options available to you and should take into consideration both what you can afford and the risks that come with less coverage.

Who Else Needs Rideshare Insurance?

People who drive for Uber or Lyft aren’t the only ones who need rideshare coverage on their insurance policy in order to be covered in an accident. Anyone who drives for an app-based delivery service needs to purchase this type of coverage as well in order to ensure that they are covered in case of an accident.

When Involved in an Accident

Rideshare insurance is not available in all states. If you want to drive in a state that does not offer this coverage, you will have to purchase a commercial insurance policy. Rideshare is still a fairly new concept as far as the law is concerned, and these policies are even newer.

Anytime you are involved in an accident of any sort consulting a lawyer is a good idea. When involved in a rideshare accident, it is a near necessity. Read more about rideshare accident lawyers and how they have helped car accident victims to get the compensation that they deserve.

Options For Car Repair Without Any Emergency Fund

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It’s smart to save money for rainy days. We always encourage people to have emergency savings in order to deal with the unexpected. However, many people find it challenging to save a few hundred or thousands of dollars as per the data published in the feature published in The Atlantic.

Unfortunately, calamities that require expensive solutions can happen any time. In case your car breaks down, you need to get it repaired immediately. If you haven’t anticipated such an emergency, you might not have the necessary funds but there is no need to despair as there are other options available to you to pay for car repairs in absence of any savings.

Insurance Coverage

If your car has been damaged in an accident, emergency roadside assistance coverage should be covered by your insurance provider and they should also cover repair expenses though you will be responsible for the deductible. If your car has broken down even though it was not in an accident, it is still possible for you to get some free help. The first number you should call is your insurance provider. You will find this number on the proof of insurance.

For instance, AA members get roadside assistance from many trustworthy providers. Some credit cards also include roadside assistance as a benefit. Lastly, you should also check with the dealer from where you bought the car even if you bought a used one.

A number of credit card issuers and companies offer emergency road services. You will need to check the details of your credit card benefits to find out about any exclusions or limitations. This benefit is offered for free with some premium accounts whereas you might have to pay for a service call with others. Keep in mind that in most cases, the third party fees are to be paid by the card member.

Personal Loan

Taking out a loan to cover the cost of repairs may be necessary if you don’t have the funds saved. Take a look at Loanza for the best deals.

Finding a Good Auto Repair Deal

When your car gets damaged, you would want to get it fixed at the earliest to get on with your life. However, it is important for you to take the necessary time in order to find a great deal. Get estimates from at least 3 different repair shops with good reputation. Don’t forget to tell them that you will be comparing estimates and straightaway ask them for any available discounts. When the insurance company covers the repairs, they will check the damage and offer compensation for the value of the repairs as determined by them. Most insurance companies allow you to take your car to an auto repair shop of your choice.

If you want to save even more money on car repairs, you should give a call to vocational technical schools in the area. In case they offer training to students to become an auto mechanic, you might be able to get a deal from the instructor where your car can be used in the classroom. Check with the instructor whether he/she will inspect the car and have the students work on it and the money they are going to charge for parts. Also, find out what’s going to happen in case they are unable to fix the damage.

Stay away from shops promising to waive the deductible. It might not be entirely legal though it depends on your location as well as the rules of your insurance company. However, it does tell you that the shop might not be entirely ethical. Some auto repair shops don’t shy away from inflating estimated repairs in order to get extra money from the insurance companies. Sometimes, these shops install lower quality parts in order to recoup the cost. While all the shops offering deduction.

Another good alternative is to consider walking or using your bike more – this will limit wear and tear on your car and in turn mean you won’t end up with it breaking down.

All of these tips should help you pay for a car repair and make your life a lot easier.

How to Get Started as A Freelancer

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Freelancers are independent workers, performing a wide range of jobs across all industries, from design to writing and programming. Freelancing offers freedom and flexibility, but it’s not for everyone. There are many ways to freelancing. We go into the details of what you can expect when you freelance.

What is the right way to start freelancing?

Freelancing is a great way to perform specialised jobs for clients. Freelance writing, graphic design, e-commerce development, social media marketing—the list goes on! But many freelance professionals make the same mistakes when first starting out. It’s not because they came from a bad school or are unintelligent, but rather because they have never been given accurate information about how to succeed in freelancing.

Here are some important hints to help you;

Where do I find my first clients?

On the web. You should advertise your skills where other freelancers likely to be looking for a similar match would visit: “freelance” job boards, freelance and design associations, and freelancer listing sites.

If you have an in-demand skill, with marketable branding (like a designer with a portfolio of work), then you won’t need to go looking for clients for long. As soon as you start getting enquiries, you can start pricing your work and turning the most suitable clients your way.

Should I work for free to get exposure and experience?

Don’t work for free. In order to get paid, you have to charge a day rate or a project rate. Either one makes you appear as a professional and an expert in your field. If you’re working for free, you’ll eventually run into difficulty.

How do you ask for money? Who decides the rates? What if they don’t like the work? Charging a fee helps clarify these things and is far more professional than just “helping out” and hoping for exposure.

Starting small is ideal

The best way to get started as a freelancer is to start small, do well and build your portfolio. Talk to your current clients about referring you for related jobs; attend networking events, find and connect with potential online clients through LinkedIn and leverage social media to market yourself.

Market yourself

You may be a great designer, developer or writer. But if no one knows you exist, you’ll never get work. So, it’s important to get your name out there and make some strategic connections. Not only will this help increase the chance of more gigs coming your way, but these people will also be able to give you inside tips on how to improve your skills and what to watch out for.

Build relationships & reputation

It is not easy to win the trust of your clients. You need to demonstrate professionalism and competence, as well as establish relationships with those you work for or would like to work for.  Don’t forget to get a professional indemnity cover, so you’re adequately protected in the event you run into occasional errors, and a client relationship goes sour.

Play the long game

Establishing a successful freelance business is about playing the long game. Every client you partner with, and every project you focus on should be another step towards building the freelance career you imagine. Define your ideal clients, and then plan how to market your skills and build your reputation in order to attract them and win their trust.

Ready to turn up the heat on your career? Freelancing is a great way to learn new skills, build your portfolio, and launch a business that supports your dreams. Start freelancing today with the helpful tips above.

Ideas for Your Garden Renovation 2021

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If you’ve just bought your first home, or you’re considering a complete garden overhaul then this is the blog for you. Today we’re going to talk you through some of the up-and-coming garden trends that will transform your outdoor space for 2021.

With the continual impact of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, it’s likely that we’ll be spending a lot more time in our homes and gardens over the next few months. For that reason, we’re encouraging people to make a start on their garden renovations early. Not sure where to start? Here are a few things you can do to give your garden a well-deserved makeover.

Replace your old wooden deck

If you’ve got a wooden deck in your garden, you’ll probably know that it requires a lot of maintenance and upkeep. As we move into 2021, we want to make our gardens as stress-free as possible, so now is a great time to consider a low-maintenance upgrade.

One of the greatest materials you can use to create a deck that won’t need a lot of care and attention is composite decking. Created using a combination of real wood fibres and polymer resin, composite deck boards are more durable, easier to care for and more moisture resistant than their timber counterparts. This makes them a great choice for British gardens where the weather can be temperamental at the best of times.

For a really clean, contemporary look, use grey composite deck boards, for a more traditional look, stick to brown boards with a natural woodgrain and to spice things up, create an intricate design with a combination of the two! Composite decking gives your garden a polished look but won’t require hours of attention each year.

Install that garden room you’ve always wanted

Have you been thinking about extending your living space for some time? Adding a glass garden room is a great way to bridge the gap between indoors and outdoors. Glass garden rooms give your garden a really modern look without distracting from the beautiful surroundings.

Homeowners find a glass garden room a beneficial addition to their home because it can be used for so many things. From dining al fresco to home offices, sitting in a glass garden room will promote a sense of calm and relaxation as you feel submerged in nature without having to worry about the weather.

Nowadays, you can find glass garden rooms in a variety of sizes, colours and finishes. You can even create your very own bespoke glass garden room to complement your property and garden perfectly. Glass garden rooms can be joined onto your home or they can be free-standing. This flexibility means you can transform any area of your garden by adding a beautiful shelter.

Accessorising your glass garden room with blinds, heaters and even speakers will ensure that you can utilise the additional space all year round. We really think that more homeowners should consider glass garden rooms as an alternative to a brick-and-mortar extension.

A modern patio for parties and planters

When it comes to renovating your garden, adding different textures and ‘zones’ can really make the space more interesting. A great way to break up the green of the grass against the brown of the decking is to add an addition ‘zone’ made of something completely different – porcelain paving.

Porcelain paving has been a favourite of garden designers and landscapers for decades. It’s beautiful, it’s durable and it’s slip, chip and stain resistant. The way that’s porcelain paving is made (under high pressure and heat) also means that it’s naturally water resistant, so there’s no need worry about your new patio becoming an ice rink during the colder months.

Porcelain paving can be created to emulate the look of natural stones like limestone and slate, or it can offer a more unexpected real-wood design. This makes porcelain paving one of the most eye-catching additions to any garden.

Patios are really versatile and the way that you use them can change over time. Initially, you might create a cosy seating area with a firepit to entertain guests on an evening. During summer, you might pack your firepit away and pop some gorgeous planters around the perimeter for an additional touch of colour.

Did you know you can also use porcelain paving as a flooring option for your glass garden room? Here you’ll benefit from all the benefits of porcelain paving without having to step foot outside. You could even speak to your supplier about creating an indoor/outdoor transition that uses the same paving throughout your home and into garden.

So, there you have it, a few ideas to help you completely renovate your garden for 2021. We hope that you take some inspiration from this and create the garden space of your dreams.

How Much Money Can You Earn as a Nail Technician?

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Nail salons and the beauty business as a whole have positively boomed in the UK over the last few years. It’s an industry which has the potential to give you a great salary, and you can do what you love for a living. If you’re thinking about becoming a nail technician you should be aware of the different ways you can work, and how they can impact your income.

Salon

Let’s begin where some people begin their beauty careers: a salon. It offers you training and a sociable work environment. It can help you hone your craft, using the best nail accessories and perfecting your art. Not only this but working in a salon can give you insight into how a business is run. In-house nail technicians can earn up to £52,000 a year. However, don’t expect to start off on this income. You’ve got to work hard and build up your experience and expertise.

Self-Employed

Some nail technicians prefer to be self-employed as it offers them more creative freedom and they can be in charge of their own working hours. A nail technician in the UK can expect to earn between £12,000 and £20,000, though as previously said the more experience you have the more you can earn. It’s hard to get an average figure for self-employed technicians. The levels of work and how much they charge can differ from person to person. Also, there are certain costs to be aware of when going down the self-employed route – from insurance to handling your taxes.

Regional Differences

Where you’re located in the country can also drastically impact your earnings. For instance, Welsh nail technicians have a higher than average hourly wage. Approximately, they’re earning 23 pence more an hour than English nail technicians. This may not sound like much, but it adds up. Welsch technicians are earning £385 more a year than they would in England. Industry rates differ across the whole of the UK. London has some of the highest paying salaries in the country. Birmingham and the West Midlands also offer better pay than average.

Getting There

While an income is important to consider for a future career, you also need to ask yourself is the role right for you? There are certain skills and knowledge you need to become a nail technician. It’s not just about understanding how to do nails, but also the ability to work with a wide variety of people and communicate with the client.

There’s no right or wrong way to start your career as a nail technician. Like with many lines of work, you start at the bottom then build your way up – earning more as you go. What would your dream career look like?

How to Compare the Best Casinos

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With such a huge selection of online casinos available, it is important to compare the best casinos and choose the right one. There are many ways to compare online casinos and choose the best, including the use of casino review websites.

You will find many websites created purely to review online casinos but it is important you use one that remains impartial throughout the process. That means they not only inform you about the positive aspects of the casino but also make you aware of the negative aspects. For example, if an online casino has a great selection of games it is good news but if they have extremely limited custom support, you may decide to look elsewhere. When using a casino comparison website, you should always be looking for the negative comments, as well as the positive comments so you can build a balanced opinion.

A good way to spot a leading online casino comparison website is to check if they have a pros and cons section at the end of each casino review. For example, when using the CompareCasino website, you will find a pros and cons section at the end of every review. Take the review of 21.com Casino for example, although this online casino has an overall favourable score thanks to a strong game selection, promotions, and casino lobby there are still a couple of things that could be improved. They include the customer service and the fact the casino is a newcomer, so they do not hold the strong reputation of those who have been in business for many years.

Using this information, you can decide if you would like to use this casino now or perhaps wait until they have grown. You can now compare this online casino with some of the other best casinos available and if long term reputation is something of a concern, you can choose one that has been in business for many years.

You also have the option of comparing the best casinos yourself. This will take more time than using a casino comparison website but you will be able to form your own opinion by completing research. Any online casino worth joining will allow you to browse their website without having to create an account. This gives you a great opportunity to look through the selection of games and to check if they have the games you want to play. Analysing the choice of games is always the best place to begin because the rest of the information becomes irrelevant if there are no games or a limited number of games at the online casino you want to play.

If you like the look of the available games, you can begin looking at the other aspects of the casino including player support, licensing, bonuses, usability, and mobile options. If you make a note of these, you will then be in a position to compare the information with other casinos you visit and make an informed decision.

Problems and Solutions of Working Through Quarantine

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In the current trying times there are different approaches from various companies on how to tackle working from home. In this press release we will describe our experience in the matter along with examples of other companies.

Private and state companies

When we talk about companies and organizations, we focus mostly on office workspaces. In accordance with the local rules, offices are allowed to have people working as long as distance and disinfection restrictions are obeyed. This gives advantage to workspaces with vast square footage that can afford some separation between their workers.

Many offices went a different way by putting their employees on long-distance work. Communication between the employees is usually carried by third-party software like Telegram, Zoom and similar IM and video conferencing programs. Some companies even went as far as closing their premises for an unforeseeable future and donating their furniture to employees for more comfortable conditions for working from home.

This approach has proven that many of the meetings in offices without any substantial losses could be calls or e-mails, which might be a reason to reevaluate our approaches to business and working from offices when everything will be over. Some businesses could even go as far as to keep home working on a permanent basis.

However, the disadvantages to this are also numerous and tend to compound depending on the size of the company. When the global quarantine was first announced, large companies had to severely reevaluate how they do things daily. To allow their employees to work from home, they had to provide them with working computers along with access to the company’s network and software. IT specialists and security operations had to work overtime to solve all these problems. With hundreds of such users, it was a distinct bottleneck that required immediate attention. Because, when over five hundred of users suddenly are after your help, it makes you want to crawl into a tight space and cry. We have an acquaintance in a banking IT team who had to work for the first couple of months of the quarantine nearly around the clock to provide everyone in the branch with a necessary level of support.

The network access problem was compounded by the fact that some of these entities have an inner network inaccessible from the outside world. This was particularly true for state organizations that allow their workers to operate only on a selected set of machines dedicated to a particular task. Some of the organizations had to either limit the amount of users per machine per room, or to raid their warehouses for hardware that could be repurposed for working from home.

As to SeoBrothers, we had decided to split the difference: some people are working from home, some people come into offices. The choice is personal and depends on convenience, transportation and other factors.

New approach to retail

From our point of view, the most interesting outcome of the quarantine was a steady rise of delivery and online store services. Whilst online purchases may be an everyday reality for some of us, many retail services were forced to explore these opportunities to not go out of business, franchise stores included. For the first couple of weeks of the quarantine, for example, one of the biggest retail franchises in Latvia was so overwhelmed with delivery requests that you had to wait in the queue for full five days before your order was delivered. To somewhat counteract this volume of demand they had to rapidly expand their park of machines and move some of their employees to delivery.

The same was also true for smaller shops and businesses that had to hastily look for online commerce solutions. As the restrictions tightened, the shops had to shift their focus somewhere else – to the Internet. The height of the quarantine saw a steady rise of local delivery companies that entered into contract with shops and restaurants to provide the population with a service on demand. As the working hours of public places were tightened by the government, they were into a hibernation of sorts by still keeping places open only to people that placed orders online and came to collect the order from the point of origin.

Summary

“Survival of the fittest” is described in the Darwinian evolutionary theory as a mechanism of natural selection based on adaptation for existing conditions. What likely will come out of all this when things will finally get back to relative normal, is a new equilibrium. Many places and offices will go to business as usual, but some useful and modern practices will and should stay. Not having a fully-supported online business platform likely hurt a lot of businesses without them even realising it, and this quarantine might just be the wake up call for them to rectify that particular situation.

About SeoBrothers

SeoBrothers is an international company that operates in SEO-based projects in multiple languages and project teams. Its websites have hundreds of thousands of unique visitors every month. If you want to learn more about the company, you can visit its social media at our Facebook, Twitter and Telegram. Read also our news about projects in Serbia https://seobrotherslv.com/news/the-launch-of-serbian-mightytips/

Ideas To Shine Money This Year

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The financial year will begin tomorrow, Monday, January 4, when the bell rings in the markets and the first prices of the exercise are crossed. The vaccine approaches the return to normality after the nightmare of the covid-19 .

In addition, fiscal and monetary stimuli will remain in force. These three ingredients should be enough to guarantee investors another good harvest. However, nothing is as simple as it seems (and less in the world of money), so you will have to know how to read the game very well to get some polish from your savings.

The Stock Exchanges, as a leading economic indicator , have already discounted during 2020 part of the recovery expected for 2021; For its part, in the fixed income market, especially in the sovereign debt segment, there is little left to scratch with negative interest rates in a large part of the yield curve after the decision of the central banks to open the floodgates and provide liquidity to mansalva.

The market will continue to provide good opportunities, but returns could be lower than those of 2020. That is why experts advise highly diversified portfolios, both in assets and geographically, and an active management of investments because volatility will continue to be the dominant trend.

“The markets reacted very positively in November to the result of the elections in the United States and the advances in vaccines. Global stock indices ended the year positive, led by Wall Street and Japan, and the debt markets, both public and private, also posted gains for the year as a whole.

This scenario is better than expected six months ago, but on the other hand, it complicates the management of portfolios in the short and medium term, since the valuations are now more demanding ”, describes Óscar del Diego, investment director at Ibercaja Management.

Equities remain the favorite choice of managers and analysts for 2021. The question that many ask in their strategy reports is whether the equity market is not starting to be expensive after the impressive rebound accumulated since March.

And the most common answer is that it may be in historical terms, but not when compared to the other investment options. “Valuations are a source of concern. Everything seems to be expensive right now, but what is expensive may also seem cheap for some reason.

The possibility of a recovery in corporate profitsit is grounded in light of the economic outlook. Valuations do not usually spoil the stock market party while corporate profits rise, ”they argue in Julius Baer.

The coronavirus crisis has caused a huge spread. The balance of 2020 leaves clear winners and losers in the Stock Market. The performance differences are considerable both by country and by sector. In the case of the countries, the United States, China and Japan were the clear winners.

The US Dow Jones index reached December 30 (the day of this edition) with an annual increase of 6.89%, the Japanese Nikkei had a 16.01% gain and the Chinese CSI 300 a 24.83% .

On the other hand, in Europe the general trend, except in Germany and Italy, was the red numbers. The Ibex 35 once again led the stock exchange caboose with a decline of 14.53%. Nor was it a good year for Latin American parks.

Will this geographical dichotomy continue in 2021? “It makes sense to be overweight in equities, but the regional allocation will have to adapt throughout the year to reflect the new context. It is logical to bet on the most lagging Stock Exchanges , but it is also important to have an active management.

Greater economic stimuli or a rapid immunization of the population will favor Europe, Latin America and South Asia. However, the United States, China or Japan will continue to function as a safe haven, ”says Joseph Little, chief strategist at HSBC Global AM.

The other great dispersion that occurred in 2020 was the sectoral one. The lockdowns accelerated the digital transformation and the clear winners were the technological values. Proof of this was the impressive rise in the Nasdaq ( 43.62%).

On the other hand, the industries most linked to tourism, services and leisure dragged on like a lost soul. For this reason, the great debate that divides analysts at the moment is whether the supremacy of growth stocks (read above all technology) will remain over value stocks (more mature sectors) or linked to the economic cycle.

Allianz Global Investors believes that it is necessary to seek “a balance” in a stock market that appears uncertain. “It is possible that value stocks will begin to regain ground versus growth stocks”, They say in the German manager.

Opinion shared by Scott Glasser, Chief Investment Officer, ClearBridge: “The cyclical and value-oriented sectors that have suffered the most from the pandemic shutdowns are the most attractive.”

On the other hand, Santander Wealth Management & Insurance advises taking positions at the two ends of the spectrum of corporate profit growth, maintaining exposure to the values ​​favored by new future trends, but rotating from those that increased the most in 2020 towards less business. explored.

“We also advise progressively increasing exposure to the industries hardest hit by covid-19 to benefit from a recovery scenario and return to normalcy,” they add in the Santander division.

If equities continue to be the preferred investment option for 2020, it is not only due to its own merits (improved profits, economic growth environment) but because of the little way that experts see their natural alternative: fixed income.

The bond market is distorted by the intervention of central banks, a circumstance that will continue into the new year. The profitability offered by government bonds – it must be remembered that in debt the profitability moves inversely to the asset price – is at historical lows.

Furthermore, in developed countries, this profitability is negative in almost all cases, which, together with forecasts of interest rates equal to or slightly higher, lead BBVA AM to recommend underweight these bonds in portfolios. “However,

The diversification that a year as complex as the one that has just started requires advises investors, always in doses linked to their degree of risk tolerance, to consider the option of private debt to incorporate it into their portfolios.

Of course, you will have to be very selective because, as with stocks, the valuation of corporate credit no longer offers bargains. In March, when the virus spread globally and panic gripped the market, corporate bonds became a very attractive financial asset in terms of risk-adjusted expected returns.

Since then, the credit spread has been narrowing; the asset has had very positive returns, and therefore now the expected return for the next twelve months is moderate or even low.

Where analysts see the greatest potential – not without warning of its danger because until the economic recovery is consolidated, the probability of default or suspension of payments will be high – is in the issues of those companies with a worse credit rating.

Also known as junk bonds, they offer a higher yield than other fixed income issues (in return, the investor assumes a higher risk of default.) “The high liquidity of central banks supports the search for profitability in the high yield segment.

However, it must be done in a selective way, as there are still reasons to be cautious in some companies affected by the coronavirus ”, they explain from Deutsche Bank.

A key aspect to achieve maximum profitability is always the subject of currency. There are instruments in the market to hedge the fluctuations in exchange rates, but they also carry a cost. In general, experts believe that in 2021 the weakness of the dollar that was already seen during 2020 will consolidate.

In the worst of the pandemic, the greenback asserted its reputation as an active refuge, however, as strict confinements are They were rising, the euro was appreciating against the dollar, a trend that accelerated after the victory of Joe Biden in the US presidential elections.

Since March, the American currency has gone from almost touching parity to changing to 1.22 dollars per euro. “The magnitude of the Federal Reserve’s economic response to the economic challenge of the coronavirus is unmatched by any other postwar intervention.

Most importantly, the U.S. central bank has changed its commitment to price stability by promising that it will tolerate higher inflation from now on. In our opinion, all these circumstances speak in favor of the currencies of Europe, Japan and China ”, appreciate the experts of Julius Baer.

It is striking how in the investment strategies that fund managers, investment banks and analysis houses have sent to their clients in recent weeks there are numerous calls to try to anticipate long-term trends. Many of these structural changes have been accelerated by the pandemic. The most obvious is that of the energy transition.

More and more money is seeking to invest in sectors that contribute to curbing climate change. “It has been really encouraging to see the profitability of sustainable investment products in 2020. Which shows us that this type of investment is no longer considered a luxury or something that savers can only afford to think about during a bull market,” he says Nicholette MacDonald, from Schroders.

Another of the investment trends that has taken hold has to do with the digitization of the economy. “The growth rates of companies that had a digital advantage were extraordinary last year. When the pandemic comes to an end, we may see slower growth rates in this sector, but I don’t think many people will cancel their Netflix subscriptions or return their Peloton bikes, ”argues Chris Buchbinder, manager of Capital Group.

The other big long-term growth pole for experts is China. “It has prevented the new waves of contagion of the virus that have emerged in other countries.

In addition, the Government’s five-year plan is committed to the transition to growth driven by domestic consumption. If we add to that that its capital markets have become more mature, we think that this could be the decade of Asia in terms of profitability in the market, similar to the role played by the United States during the last cycle ”, they conclude from JP MorganAM

What is the Best Way to Sell Your House

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Selling a house can be a very stressful time especially as it often happens out of our control. Life challenges might be forcing you to sell unfortunately. Alternatively, perhaps you’re one of the lucky ones who’s upgrading with an ever-growing family. Either way, you’re dealing with a stressful time, possibly even with children, dogs or cats in tow. You therefore want to make sure you choose a good Realtor Vancouver professional who can be both a business partner and advisor.

Whether you do your own market research or not, you should be able to rely on your Realtor Vancouver professional to explain the ins and outs of the process. Of course it’s always good to have some background information but it’s not an absolute necessity. However, you can rest assured that you are protected from any fraud because the industry is regulated. You can even look up your agent and their brokerage in the Real Estate Council of British Columbia.

Set up your Process

Selling a house is a process, just like any other major change or decision in your life. The more you structure your process, the more likely you’ll avoid surprises and any mishaps. The main steps are summarized below:

  • Define your needs and ti1meline
  • Research and choose your Realtor Vancouver professional
  • Determine price and timing of listing
  • Get Your House Ready for Viewings
  • Negotiate and Sign

Define your Needs and Timeline

Is this an urgent sale to help your finances or family situation? Alternatively, perhaps you have all the time in the world. Many people need to juggle selling one house to then use that money to buy the next one. As luck would have it, you often find your next house before you’ve sold the first one. Talk to your Realtor Vancouver professional though and get their thoughts on timing. Perhaps they can even help you with your next purchase and manage those timings more seamlessly.

Research and Choose your Realtor Vancouver professional

The easiest way to do this is to walk around your area and walk into the different real estate offices. You’ll also get a sense of style and potential relationships more quickly. However, we can’t forget the online world and many agents now have a bigger online presence than a physical one.

When choosing a Realtor Vancouver professional, make sure you understand their approach to listing your property and negotiating prices. Ask them questions about the state of the market and what buyers are looking for. You can then compare answers from the different Realtor Vancouver professionals you’ve spoken to and get a sense of who knows their stuff and who doesn’t.

Determine Price and Timing of Listing

Once you’re happy with the Realtor Vancouver professional you’ve chosen then ask for their recommendations on price. Remember that it’s not about the highest price but it’s about the right price, especially if timing is an issue for you. It’s worth pointing out though that you can devalue a property simply by pricing it too high and letting it just sit on the listings with no changes. People quickly see these things and start distrusting the property. They quickly make judgements and assumptions that no one wants it and that’s something’s wrong with your property.

Get your House Ready for Viewing

Now that you’ve set the price and the date of the listing with your Realtor Vancouver professional, you can start cleaning. Oh joy! However, it’s so critical and you basically need to make sure that your house looks like something out of a catalogue. Remove any clutter and make your shelves look neat and tidy. Some even suggest taking family photos down so that potential buyers can imagine their own family photos in position. The hardest part about this phase is that your house should be ready for viewing at any time because you often get last minute requests. Make sure all toys and questionable dog blankets are safely stowed away.

At this stage, you might also want to get a professional decorator to make some small adjustments. Ask your Realtor Vancouver professional for advice on this one. However, you’d be surprised what a small change in light or furniture arrangement can do to a room. Finally, you might also want to get your home appraised professionally by an inspector.

Negotiate and Sign

The last exciting step is finally here. Let your Realtor Vancouver professional do everything for you at this stage. You can always play good cop at some point if they feel that will make a difference. However, let the expert guide you although it’s always wise to read everything for yourself before you sign something. You just never know.

Final Words on Selling your House with a Realtor Vancouver Professional

Selling a house is one of the most stressful milestones of our lives. Whether it’s the first time or the tenth time, it’s still a stressful process. Therefore, work with your Realtor Vancouver professional and let them guide you and do the stressful thinking for you. Give yourself plenty of time to prepare your house for viewings and don’t forget your own self-care and personal time-out throughout the process. The happier you are, then, the more this will rub off on potential buyers who’ll want to invest in your space. 

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