Your Future Options: Guaranteed Income Bonds

Because no-one is sure which way the stock market will jump, and savings are offering low returns, investors are looking ways to beat the market. It is impossible to give any definites, but you should at least be familiar with the options.

We’ve touched on the risky side of investing with spread betting, and now look at some safer options. One of these is a guaranteed income bond (Gib). These are run by life-insurers and not, as with your savings account, by banks or building societies. Interest on Gibs is paid net of basic-rate tax. Non-taxpayers cannot reclaim it.

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The FTSE Remains A Good Investment Over Time But Investors Seek Security In Cash

Stock markets around the world have been in turmoil. The fear is that the crisis in the US housing market could undermine the global economy.

Last Thursday, the FTSE 100 - the index of the UK's largest publicly quoted companies - lost over 4% of its value.

It looks bad. Shares go up is good. Shares go down is bad. At least that’s the impression. But neither need be unpleasant on their own. The FTSE remains a sound investment.

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Labour Government Takes Credit For Stock Market Crash

As Dizzy notes: Just a quick observation that's been made before, but when the stock market was doing well, Blair and Brown were very quick to boast about it as evidence of Labour's economic credibility and successful stewardship of the economy.

Anyone want to bet whether they'll be accepting responsibility for the £63bn that was wiped off the FTSE 1000 yesterday as my pension value hit the bottom of the barrel? Of course they won't, because causality is much wider than the Government alone. Just like the causality of the "good times" was as well.

Dizzy via Anorak

Personal Finance Web Round-Up - New York Savings, Housing Crisis (Again) And Bargains

Independent - Is it a ‘mortgage minefield’ or a ‘mortgage jungle’? Or maybe it’s both? Anyway, the property ladder has become as difficult to mount as a bucking bronco smeared in butter but the Indy has a few helpful hints, courtesy of Stephen Pritchard, who answers questions on everything from interest only loans to holiday homes.

Telegraph - With global shares dropping again, fuelling fears of a global credit crunch, Myra Butterworth over in the Telegraph has some tips on how to survive the stock market turmoil. For those of you lucky enough to have shares in anything, that is.

BBC - The Beeb’s business editor Robert Peston bemoans the situation across the water where the US sub-prime shenanigans continue to chip away at the American Dream. However, in his blog, Peston fears that the Europe could suffer too as a result of the Stateside crisis.

Motley Fool - The Motley Fool brings us back to the more humdrum side of finance, with Alison Hunt’s excellent money saving round-up. Apparently Tesco’s is the place to go for your disposable nappies, with prices currently down by a third, Although, to bring some glam back into your life, Sainsbury’s are offering up to 50 per cent off selected champagnes and sparkling wines. So toast your clever nappy purchase and get sloshed. Probably best to get a baby-sitter first.

Telegraph - If you feel like a slightly more glam shopping trip, then the Telegraph gives you the low-down on the best shopping to be found New York. And with the dollar about as weak as David Cameron’s chin, there’s never been a better time to take a bit of the Big Apple.

His Master’s Voices Getting Weaker: HMV Shares

Poor old HMV, the famous company is finding life rather difficult, what with supermarkets now flogging cheap CDs and the internet full of online music retailers.

According to the latest figures, HMV made pre-tax profits of £48.1million in the year to 28 April, a massively drop on the previous year’s £98.2million total. Interestingly, this drop in profits occurred despite HMV’s sales growing by 3.8 per cent to £1.9billion.

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China's Booming

China’s rising shares have pushed Shanghai’s main stock index past the 4,000 mark for the first time.