News Desk | Page 836 Of 893

Android to pay to launch in the UK next month: Can it rival Apple?

Elliot

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1 March 2016

Android to pay to launch in the UK next month: Can it rival Apple?

Despite minimal payment limits and security concerns, Apple Pay has taken the consumer market by storm since its release in the UK in July 2015. Offering convenience and a flexible payment solution to consumers, Apple Pay has revolutionised consumerism while enabling brands and service providers to drive sale conversions.

With this in mind, the upcoming launch of Android Pay is likely to add a new dimension to the consumer market. It also marks a new chapter in the rivalry between Apple and Google, which continues to define the contemporary technology market and its dominant products.

When will Android pay hit the market and how will it impact the status quo?

According to reports, Android Pay will make its UK debut at the end of March, after a previous attempt failed due to minor tech issues. The platform, which was rolled out successfully in North America last September, is now ready to hit the British market and is set to go head-to-head with Apple’s alternative.

This will provide a huge boost to the burgeoning mobile payments industry in the UK, with Android smartphones currently accounting for more than half of all smartphones sold in Britain. Essentially, it will open up the market to a huge target market, driving a higher volume of mobile sales and diversifying domestic (and international) consumerism. The technology behind the platform works in a similar way to Apple Pay, as users are encouraged to load their debit or credit card details onto the NFC microchip in their smartphone.

This is also excellent news for customers, as a larger number of consumers will have the opportunity to access flexible payment solutions.

Can Android Pay compete with its Apple rival?

A wider issue is the competition between Apple and Google, as these two similarly payment solutions go head-to-head. Apple currently holds a huge advantage in the UK market, having been rolled out sooner and had an opportunity to already establish itself nationwide. It is also more secure, with the installation of fingerprint encryption through the iPhone’s Touch ID home button making it almost impossible for thieves to authorise payments.

Android’s platform is certainly not as secure, while it has also been previously targeted by hackers. Although the integration of a token-based system may help to improve the existing level of security, Google may need to sell their new platform and reinforce its appeal.

One potentially decisive factor, however, is the flexibility of the Android operating system and the diversity of compatible handsets on the market. While Apple Pay is only accessible through the iPhone, Google can market its payment solution to a larger and more diverse consumer base (many of which fall into the budget category). This could ultimately give Google and Android the edge, especially over an extended period of time and once the new platform has had the opportunity to become established among British customers.

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Study finds men more likely to be victims of theft and to damage belongings

News

Elliot

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29 February 2016

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Study finds men more likely to be victims of theft and to damage belongings

New stats from a UK wide survey have shown that men are more likely to damage or break their home gadgets than women.

Research from Row.co.uk indicates that 13.28% of men have claimed on their gadget insurance in the last 12 months, compared to 10.44% of women. However, more women surveyed (13.75%) admitted they had lost a gadget, such as a mobile phone, tablet or laptop, than men (11.41%).

Men are more likely to be a victim of theft, with 21.74% of those surveyed agreeing that they have had a device stolen from them in the past.

In terms of age, shockingly, 35-44 year olds have claimed on their gadget insurance more than three times in the past year, and they are the age group most likely to claim due to the loss of a gadget (17.95%). 41.07% of those aged 18-24 have claimed on their insurance because they have dropped a device.

When asked if they had gadget insurance, 18-24 year olds and the over 55s are the most likely to say yes, coming in at 28.03% and 27.78% respectively. 45-54 year olds are the least likely to have gadget insurance (74.39%) yet over 30% of them agreed that their devices are worth over £1,000.

Those living in London are more likely to have a fault with their gadgets, as almost 13% have made a claim on insurance over the past 12 months, which is a five per cent increase on the West Midlands, in which only 7.7% of people have claimed.

Despite being the highest claimers, Londoners are also the least likely to have insurance for their devices (69.74%).

Richard Waters, Managing Director at Row, commented: “These stats highlight the importance of getting some kind of insurance to protect your devices, particularly as the value of our gadgets seem to be increasing.

“Looking at the results from London, these are particularly worrying, especially as 13% of people find a fault with their device, yet over half of those living there don’t have insurance. Consumers may be shelling out a lot of money for a new phone or laptop, when protecting their gadgets can only cost a few pounds per month.”

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UK homeowners count cost of winter storms

Elliot

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29 February 2016

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UK homeowners count cost of winter storms

Since December 2015, the UK has been battered by several major storms. With winds reaching up to 90mph and severe flooding from heavy downpours, thousands of home-owners are now facing thousands of pounds’ worth of repairs. The worse may be yet to come too, with further storms anticipated between now and the end of March and later in 2016.

The massive damage and disruption has caused homeowners to now look at ways to safeguard their property. The government and major utility companies in the country have also released details on how to prevent storm damage during these turbulent times, although a lack of financial support and adequate provisions for homes may is preventing homeowners from minimising the impact of such inclement weather.

A Combination of Proactive and Reactive measures: Preparing for the worst in the event of a storm

With these points in mind, home-owners must strive to take charge of their own safety and consider by proactive and reactive measures the minimise the impact of high-velocity storms. Although it is impossible to prevent such forces of nature from wreaking havoc, there are a number of creative and forward-thinking ideas that can at least help you to cope in such instances.

Inspecting your property is key

One of the main pieces of advice (and one that is often forwarded to home-owners) is to inspect their property for potential risks. If your home needs obvious repairs such as broken roof tiles, crumbling brickwork or a broken fence, these will need to be fixed immediately. If not, high winds could easily cause significant damage.

Prepare a flood emergency kit

Flooding has been the most damaging and expensive issue people have faced with the severe winter storms. A flood emergency kit could help to reduce damage and ensure you are properly prepared.

The kit should include a torch, insurance documents, a camera to take pictures of the damage and, valuables and most importantly a first-aid kit. It also helps to have an action plan in place. Moving valuables and any furniture upstairs will help limit the expense if the home does become flooded.

It is equally important to switch off the power in the home to avoid serious risk of electrocution.

Prepare your roof

As strong winds hit, the roof is going to take the worst damage. The latest Storm Imogen saw one family in Sussex have to flee their home after part of their home’s roof collapsed. Numerous similar emergency calls were made in the area as 80mph winds caused damage to buildings and trees fell down, cutting power lines.

Mould, signs of leaking and sagging materials are just some of the things home-owners should check when inspecting the roof prior to a storm.

Paying for repairs

For many home-owners, their insurance will cover the cost of repairs. However, for those who don’t have adequate flood insurance, replacing what was lost and damaged in a storm can be extremely expensive.

One way you can cover immediate repairs and furniture replacement is by taking out a loan. Reliable companies such as Trusttwo, can provide cash quickly when you need it.

The last word

Overall the recent storms have brought into perspective how devastating the damage can be. Preparing your home and taking numerous precautions will help limit the damage and cause minimum disruption, while also protecting your loved ones and those who reside inside your property.

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2016 is the best time to become an Entrepreneur

Business

Elliot

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25 February 2016

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2016 is the best time to become an Entrepreneur

Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, JD Rockefeller, and Walt Disney. Four names synonymous with out and out success, insatiable ambition, eye-watering wealth, and innovative thinking. Despite the fact that these names are known leaders in completely different fields, there is one thing that they each have in common. They all started out as entrepreneurs. All of these business giants would’ve have faced their own individual challenges when building their respective empires, whether it was Rockefeller founding Standard oil in 1870, or Bill Gates starting Microsoft over 100 years later. The common theme they all share, is they would have taken full advantage of the resources that were available at the time.

Today, as many of 40% of Britons want to start their own business. If you count yourself among this growing group of people who hold a dream of being their own boss, it is likely that you will face many of the same challenges that the aforementioned business giants would’ve come across. But, in 2016, what we possess that Messrs. Gates, Jobs, Rockefeller, and Disney didn’t is the power of hindsight. Thanks to the practically infinite well of information that is now available online, each of us, so long as we have access to a computer, can read in detail about the problems that our entrepreneurial hero’s would’ve faced, and how they can be avoided.

On top of reading about the stories and challenges of entrepreneurs form the past, the internet also provides us with real-time advice from those who are currently working for themselves, as well as news. Much of it can be found on this very site, while others can take advantage of the many other handy resources available to support people with small businesses, seeking growth.

Another way in which the global internet has widened the goal posts for ordinary people, is that no matter how niche your business idea may be, you have a potentially global audience to tap into. Thanks to the whole world being online, a small manufacturer of craft beers, for example can take orders from across the world, and export quite easily.

Even as little 15 years ago, the idea of a stay-at-home mother setting up a successful business from a spare room using only a desktop computer would seem inconceivable. Setting up a business online, from home allows would-be entrepreneurs to reduce overhead costs, as they can bypass some things are were previously believed to be essential to running a business. We are hearing about the success of Mum’s setting up businesses from home again and again.

By working from home, with a business that is fully online, you don’t need to pay extra for business premises. Another advantage that can help to drive down costs is that you can source suppliers for any necessary materials worldwide. Again, the web is full of great resources and useful guides that can help laymen within this area. Companies such as Apple, Microsoft, and Disney all take advantage of the global marketplace, and new entrepreneurs can as well.

In the days prior to widespread internet access, many would’ve been put off by the idea of having to contact to find cheap suppliers and manufacturers of materials in emerging markets, such as Asia. Today, we can connect with, and negotiate with these suppliers quite easily. As the evidence shows, it is now easier for ordinary people to enter the world of entrepreneurship, as thanks to the internet, we can connect to a global audience.

We can potentially sell anywhere, buy anywhere, and work from anywhere. This has levelled the playing field between individuals wanting to start their own businesses, and large corporations who dominate the market place. These are the main reasons why, in 2016, more of us are wanting to seek out the advantages that are associated with entrepreneurship, and start our own business. After all, there are more tools, information, and resources at our disposal than ever before.

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Traders thriving in volatile forex market

Elliot

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22 February 2016

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Traders thriving in volatile forex market

Let’s start with a simple assertion; when trading any currency there is always a high level of risk involved. This is particularly true in the current climate, however, with Britain debating whether or not to withdraw from the EU and talk of a global recession dominating economic circles.

Given this and the fact that not all traders are willing to take big risks, the forex weekly analysis market may well be avoided by those without the appetite for a challenge. After all, while there are opportunities to make huge profits in the foreign exchange these can often be counterbalanced by the chance of making a large loss.

The Importance of Stop Loss and take Profit levels

For this reason, many traders choose to set stop loss and take profit levels. A take profit order is where traders state an exact rate or number of pips from a currency’s current price where they want to close out the position for a profit. Stop loss is the exact opposite, where a specific rate is decided to stop trading to minimise losses. There are various ways to use this effectively when trading.

These measures can help you to automate and carefully manage your portfolio, minimising risk and potentially optimising gains over a sustained period of time. So long as you approach this from a position of knowledge and ensure that you use these features wisely, you can profit in a constantly changing, global marketplace. For example: –

Including stop loss and take Profit levels as part of your Trading Strategy

During the preparation for any trade, the stop losses and take profits should be incorporated into the trading strategy. When you go into real time trading it can be too easy to get carried away and hold out for either making a higher profit or coming back from a loss.

By setting these out beforehand it will ensure it is controlled, so that successful trades do not turn into losses or unsuccessful ones turn into highly damaging ones. It will also help you budget on how much to invest in your chosen currencies.

Use Appropriate Stop Losses

There are various methods for setting stop losses. The percentage based one is most common, which involves using a predetermined portion of a trader’s account for setting the stop loss or take profit. Ideally this should be limited to around 2%, though will depend on your finances and trading methods.

Support and resistance is another way that bases the levels on current market trends so you can risk more at profitable times. Time limit stop losses are set within a certain period so you cannot lose too much in one go, the trades stopping after a decided amount of time.

Make the Most of Calculators

The easiest way to work out what your stop loss and take profit margins should be is to use the FxPro calculator. This is a much quicker way to work out important trading calculations by inputting all the vital information such as the currency pair, leverage, position size and more. Whatever method of setting stop losses you decide to use this is an extremely helpful tool. If you’re hoping to make a success of forex trading and edge on the side of caution then setting stop loss and take profit levels is essential.

These steps enable you to understand the purpose of stop loss and take profit levels, while hopefully ensuring that you are able to utilise these to benefit your trading strategy. This is important in the current economic climate, and it may become even more so in the event of a global recession.

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Donald Trump calls for boycott of Apple

Elliot

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22 February 2016

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Following numerous outspoken assertions during his remarkable political rise in recent months the American businessman and Republican candidate Donald Trump has personally called out Apple CEO Tim Cook and pushed for the American people to boycott Apple products.

Apple is one of the largest companies in the world and is a huge contributor to the American economy. However, Trump believes they should be boycotted after the firm refused to change security settings on their iPhone handsets.

Having recently traded blows with the Pope, Trump now has his sights set on Apple, which until recently was the world’s most valuable company, before Google announced bigger numbers in Q4 of 2015.

The issue at stake here is actually a serious one, even if Trump’s suggested approach to solving the dispute is somewhat clumsy. Apple is involved in a tangle with the U.S. Justice Department over an encrypted iPhone belonging to one of the accused participants in the San Bernardino massacre in December last year. The FBI demand that Apple develop technology to unlock the phone in question.

Apple and their CEO Cook assert that doing so is not a straightforward task and that unlocking the phone would set a dangerous precedent. It could essentially allow hackers and scammers easier access to unlock encrypted iPhones globally. Essentially Apple’s stance is that letting the good guys in makes it easier for the bad guys to get in too.

Apple will contest the FBI order in court, with an appeal against the order due to be heard on 26^th February, in a case which could rumble on for months.

Trump, stated at a rally in South Carolina “Boycott Apple until such time as they give that information.” He also added on Twitter “I use both iPhone & Samsung. If Apple doesn’t give info to authorities on the terrorists I’ll only be using Samsung until they give info. Boycott all Apple products until such time as Apple gives cellphone info to authorities regarding radical Islamic terrorist couple from Cal.”

He also said, “Tim Cook is looking to do a big number probably to show how liberal he is.”

Calling for a boycott on the company’s products is of course great publicity for the Republican. There are estimated to be somewhere in the region of a billion devices running Apple’s iOS software worldwide.

Apple say they are protecting civil liberties and consumer rights, whereas their critics feel they should comply with the FBI, as the privacy of a terrorist sympathetic to ISIS who murdered 14 civilians at an office party is of no consequence.

Trump has previously called for boycotts of large brands including Macy’s and Starbucks.

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Cruise liners providing an injection to global economy

Elliot

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17 February 2016

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Cruise liners providing an injection to global economy

A booming industry expanding across the world’s greatest oceans. That is an apt description for one of the fastest growing sectors of the global tourist industry, cruising.

This charming and relaxing way of passing an annual vacation – or the journey of a lifetime – is attracting increasing numbers tourists from across the globe every year.

The Europe’s Mediterranean sea and the Caribbean islands are amongst the most popular destinations for cruises, with more than 20 million passengers enjoying cruises globally each year. Around 50% of those passengers come from North America.

Despite the US being one of the countries hit hardest by the global economic crash of 2008 the number of people enjoying cruises worldwide has risen gradually from 17.8 million in 2009 to 23 million in 2015. This has in part been due to the intelligent marketing by the cruise lines and in part by the steady improvements to their services and tours.

Indeed, last year the worldwide cruise industry generated almost $40 billion (£26.71) in revenue and the growth in the sector is set to continue for years to come. With half of the world’s cruise passengers being from the US the upturn in the American economy over the past couple of years is good news for the industry.

In 2013, the passenger capacity of the global cruise industry was 415,000 and this figure is expected to rise to 521,000 by 2018.

That means within a couple of years more than half a million people could be cruising the world’s oceans at any one time as tourists, not including those traveling by ferry or private vessel.

Contrary to popular perception cruise passengers are spread fairly equally across the age spectrum, with a quarter falling equally in the 30-39, 50-59 and 60-74 age brackets. Unsurprisingly the vast majority of cruise travelers are employed, most are university educated and 84% of them are married, enjoying on average an annual household income of around £80,000.

A 2012 study by the Business Research & Economic Advisors group into the economic contribution of cruise tourism to destination economies showed that a single docking from an average cruise ship of 3,000 passengers and 500 crew members generates around £200,000 in passenger spending, £33,500 in crew spending and approximately £10,000 in port fees.

Today’s giant cruise ships offer a wealth of luxury and entertainment for passengers. Giant swimming pools and water slides, theatre shows, sky-diving simulators, robotic bartenders, celebrity chef kitchens and top of the range fitness facilities mean there is something on offer for every generation.

From major travel agencies worldwide to independent travel agents working with the likes of the-travel-franchise.com/ finding the right package to suite any individual’s taste is possible.

The Caribbean and the Bahamas remain as the number one cruise territory worldwide enjoying a huge 35.5% market share, followed by the Mediterranean (19.5%) and non-Mediterranean Europe (10.6%), Asia (6.0%), Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific (6.0%), Alaska (4.5%) and South America (2.9%).

Carnival Corporation (including the Princess brand and Costa Cruises), Royal Caribbean International and Norwegian Cruise Line are the market leaders but smaller companies also provide variety and ever evolving packages for passengers. Cruising the world’s beautiful seas has never been bigger business.

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British living standards return to pre global economic crash level

Elliot

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17 February 2016

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British living standards return to pre global economic crash level

The Guardian newspaper has reported the findings of the economic thinktank the Resolution Foundation which has found that rising employment and persistently low inflation in the UK have seen living standards in the country return to the levels of those experienced before the global economic crash of the late 2000s.

The UK was hit hard by the crash as major banks required state-led bailouts, with the bills for the rescue packages picked up by the taxpayer and with the government then introducing strict austerity measures as a result.

Unemployment increased and the economy slowed down, with incomes put under pressure during the UK’s most pronounced post-war economic downturn. Weak economic growth, low-wages and high inflation made individuals harder up.

But a slow recovery has taken place, in line with similar global trends. The Resolution Foundation has now found that increasing employment levels, rising incomes and low inflation mean that living standards are returning to the levels of their previous 2009 peak – though the pace of the recovery is likely to slow.

The thinktank describe recent economic conditions in the UK as ‘the longest squeeze on households in living memory’ but say they have finally come to an end. Nonetheless the Guardian reports that the group warn, ‘the pace of recovery was likely to slow during the course of the current parliament and that low-income families were particularly vulnerable to changes to the benefits system.’

The Resolution Foundation state that the recent recovery has led to the average income, adjusted for inflation, rising to its highest ever level at £24,300.

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How Technical Analysis assists success in the current forex market

Elliot

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17 February 2016

0

How Technical Analysis assists success in the current forex market

The forex market is always a newsworthy entity, although not always for the right reasons. Regardless of the controversies that have undermined the market’s appeal since the recession, however, the foreign exchange remains a lucrative and profitable sector that offers incredible liquidity to investors.

The world of forex is also incredibly complex, however, and for those seeking to trade the currency markets, it’s essential to fully understand the terms and jargon used by the professionals.

One of the most important concepts that you’ll hear about is technical analysis. Those who practice technical analysis believe that historical price action can be used to predict future market movements, and this forms one of the fundamental foundations of their strategy.

It is also particularly beneficial for young professionals and those who look to trade on a part-time basis, as the historic and real-time insight offered by technical analysis helps individuals to achieve a healthy outlook and work-life balance over time.

Why Forex Traders Use Technical Analysis and how it is best applied

So if you’re considering how you’re going to trade, then there is no doubt that technical analysis will have a critical bearing on your success. Technical analysis is particularly handy for those who trade the forex markets, due to their around the clock opening hours. This constant cycle of movement provides a wealth of data for would-be traders to analyse, and this makes technical tools like trends, charts, and indicators particularly suited to currency trading.

Those who use technical analysis trade in a very different manner to those who employ different methods. One of the key variances is how they treat the factors that influence the markets. Rather than focusing on economic, political, social, and psychological drivers, they assume that these have already been factored into the exchange rate displayed, and that all that’s important is the trend and flow of capital. This helps traders to focus solely on the underlying laws that govern change, rather than becoming distracted by external economic and geo-political factors that influence daily forex trades in 2016.

One of the primary aims of technical traders is to correctly predetermine whether a currency combination will trend in a particular direction, or whether it will travel sideways or remain range-bound. They tend to use trend lines as the basis of their hypotheses, connecting historical levels to inform their decisions. The levels of support and resistance that they study are then used to predict whether the trend, or lack of, will continue.

The Currency Combinations Most Suited to Technical Analysis in the current market

Any trader can employ technical analysis at any time, yet it seems to suit some currency combinations to a greater degree than others. The major pairings, in particular, often display the strongest trend characteristics, with the EUR/USD, USD/JPY, USD/CHF, and GBP/USD frequently proving predictable. This is even true in the current market, as the British Pound currently remains strong despite the uncertainty that exists around UK’s potential departure from the EU.

It’s important to take this information into account when selecting your combinations, as it will heavily impact how well a particular strategy suits the currencies contained within your portfolio. Strong and reliable currency pairings can be a Godsend during times of austerity or volatility, and technical analysis can help you to determine which options are most suitable at any given time.

In Summary: Using Technical Analysis to drive your Forex Trades

The tactics that you choose to use will be one of the greatest determiners of your success on the forex markets, and this means that it’s essential to spend some time assessing which of them would work best for you. So while there is no doubt that technical analysis can inform and drive your trades in 2016, those of you who are considering starting a secondary career as a forex trader should also understand precisely how this would suit their prevailing strategy?

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UK banks ‘vulnerable’ to further global economic turmoil

Elliot

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15 February 2016

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UK banks ‘vulnerable’ to further global economic turmoil

Senior analysts of the UK banking sector believe the country’s major banks remain highly vulnerable to the current turmoil in the global economy, with several factors affecting stability.

The slowdown in China’s manufacturing sector and subsequent market turmoil, plummeting oil prices, stubbornly low inflation and now the news that Japan’s economy shrank by 1.4% in Q4 of 2016 are all signs that another global crash could potentially be on the way, eight years after the slump of 2008.

Respected financial expert, Sir John Vickers, who leads the Independent Commission on Banking, told the BBC that banks should be holding more capital in order to prepare themselves for any forthcoming fallout in the market.

He said, “A good way to think about it is as an insurance policy. You do have to pay a premium to insure your house and you hope nothing bad will happen. But if it does, you are much better off in paying that premium, and for full coverage. If banks run out of capital, all sorts of havoc could ensue. We want to be in a position where there’s enough of a buffer to take any losses that might occur.”

He had also earlier written an opinion article for the Financial Times newspaper in London, stating: “Given the awfulness of systemic bank failures, ample insurance is needed, and equity is the best form of insurance. The recent volatility in banks underlines the importance of strong capital buffers. The Bank of England should think again.”

Vickers, a former Bank of England chief economist, says UK banking institutions are still at risk despite measures to strengthen finances, having led an inquiry into the safety of UK banks following the 2008 crash. Vickers believes the recommendations he made to the market via the Independent Commission on Banking have been watered down by the Bank of England and that leaves the banks in a position of vulnerability.

The warnings have come as global fears of another crash have been fuelled by China and Japan’s economies continuing to rock, with China’s financial authorities expected to spend billions of dollars to inject some power and growth into the Shanghai stock market.

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