Planning To Buy A House? Average Home Prices Now At £200,000

England and Wales close off 2016 with another inflation of real estate prices -- signifying great news for homeowners. Data from observers suggest that homes in England and Wales have increased by 3.1 per cent in value by the end of 2016. From October to December alone, house prices have grown by 0.4 per cent pushing house prices by £1,139 to £297,678.

The Brexit vote during the EU referendum had helped push down prices in the area but real estate confidence had returned with the average house prices back at "record levels." The rise of 3.1 per cent in England and Wales in general is an effect analysts consider to help lower London's property prices as the "balance" shifts away from the British capital city.

However, first-time homebuyers still need to contend with over £200,000 in property expenses -- a lower contender compared to the £400,000 homebuyers may face in London property values. Data from Halifax indicates that last year, 28 per cent of first-time buyers opted for a 30 -35 mortgage term with most buyers beyond the age of 30 years.

Foxtons -- recently faced with investor coop-out -- warned that the estate industry's sales are slowing down. Reflected in their figures is a sharp drop in transactions for the second half of 2016 in their central London operations.

India Has More Credit Cards That Purchase Only Small Products In 2017

Indian financial reports indicate that applications and approvals for credit cards have increased in the last three quarters of 2017 but the value of items purchased and frequency of usage is quite small. Demonetisation and the ability to pay online has increased the number of credit card applications and approvals but consumer confidence -- measured capably by credit card use -- is still at a low. 

However, India's bank industry is optimistic that the values will pick up in the second half of December once consumers pay for fuel and airline tickets for the holidays.

Analysts noted a drop in sales of consumer durables but agree it has nothing to do with the trend of demonetisation. Most consumers used their cars to spend on fuel. They speculate that as soon as old notes are phased out, it would increase the use of credit cards.

Meanwhile, ICICI Bank sources indicate that credit cards are being used for items such as coffee payments and keep growing weekly. It said that the trend of higher credit card approvals versus low transactions can be risky in the long run. Discretionary spending for higher-value items including jewllery and consumer durables are seldom with most credit card owners.

Former Kraft Finance CFO Takes Over Gap

GAP Incorporated, the world's former foremost clothing firm is to name Teri List-Stoll -- the Former CFO of Kraft -- to lead the vacant position in the company.

Ms List-Stoll formerly worked as the CFO of Dick's Sporting Goods and had left last August.

List-Stoll had resigned from Kraft after it split into two separate entities in 2012. She is also a part of the Microsoft and Danaher Corporation Board of Directors.

As newly-elected US President Donald Trump may make good on his promise to dismantle the Dodd-Frank financial reforms, she said that companies including Gap -- who intend to comply with the regulations and with happy shareholders -- are likely to keep the regulations in check.

Gap announced the resignation of former CFO Sabrina Simmons earlier this month. According to the clothing company

According to a Gap spokeswoman, Ms List- Stoll is a tested CFO of two public companies.

From her statement at the sidelines of the Financial Executives International Conference in New York last Tuesday, she needs to do a lot of things because they're the right things to do.

Her internment with Gap may begin after the company declares that Ms Simmons' hold on the CFO position will last by February 1, 2017.

Maybe It's Time To Go With Equities

Yes, the pound sterling is in very bad shape nowadays. With a 16 per cent drop to its 30-year-lowest of $1.28, the UK is facing huge rivalry against the EU and US. Given the UK's troubled economic situation due to the Brexit, it is entirely possible the UK could level down.

But once again, corporate stocks defy the odds.

According to official figures, the benchmark index of top UK stocks had defied expectations as it soars to its highest levels.

However, the UK is still bound to get a 'hard Brexit' according to Ayondo Markets Chief Trader 

Jordan Hiscott. He also said the Bank of England's cutting of interest rates had the pound less attractive to foreign investors.

British exporters and Britain's tourism industry is praising the lowered pound sterling as foreign markets are purchasing their products and services. More tourists from other countries have been purchasing pound sterling upon entry into the country, improving the industry's current outlook.

But for Britons planning trips abroad or even purchasing properties abroad, it would mean big trouble.

According to Mr Hiscott:

“It will make your holiday more expensive, particularly to Europe or the US, as sterling has fallen hardest against those currencies.”

I guess the best equities would be in the tourism industry. Indeed, now is the time to invest. From here, we can strengthen the economy once again.

Put Your Money Now If You're Thinking of Using 'Smart Funds'

The buzzword for this era is "smart".

Whenever anyone talks about "smart", it means it is capable of adapting to the needs of its owner.

For a "smart" fund, that means it adapts quickly to investor behaviour. The fund should cut more volatility and increase profits where possible.

Low or minimum-volatility funds hold stocks that are less likely to crash when the stock market should fail. Investors nowadays consider it as the new "rainy day" fund compared to the issue of crashing as a whole previously.

While it picks out blue chip companies, it picks ones that are known for their stable profits. It uses the idea  of consumer necessities fitting for a present situation, bringing out its "smart" function.

The trouble is, even with its low-risk trouble, if funds like these continue to become popular, it increases in risk.

In fact, it could very well be at risk as the Federal Reserve starts raising interest rates by the end of 2016. A climb could mean an increase in stock value, which could mean a huge number of sells depending on the investors' preference.

But even if the high demand continues the stock prices would continue to skyrocket, making it essential for investors to immediately put their money where it is right now: at a manageable position.

Reviewing The Moni 3

Whitewater Labs first released Moni in 2012. It was a simple personal finance management app made during the early days of Android. It was an easy-to-use financial management tool. I was able to keep track of all my mortgages, debt repayments and credit card limits easily.

Moni gained favours from me because of the colour codes. It handled Google's Material Design and flat design principles that gave it an attractive yet friendly look.

After three years, the Moni 3.0 arrives with new features. Before, the app only relied on your Google account where you could backup your information to a hard drive or an online cloud. Whitewater Labs had developed its own cloud system allowing you to sync and export your data in real time.

But of course, like all new applications (and methods to get you into their newsletter), Moni would require you to sign up for a Moni account.

One thing though, Whitewater Labs understands the interface was lovable for many users. New features include the ability to share financial information and update them in real time with friends and family. Now, you also have charts to keep track of your expenses.

It's an amazing tool that only keeps on giving. While there are many alternative personal finance management software out there, I think I'll stick it out with Moni 3.

George Osborne In Wall Street: Invest in Britain

The Brexit was the Tory's biggest nightmare. As it had come true, the government continues to try and plug the sinking ship that is Britain.

UK Finance Minister George Osborne has travelled from London to New York and would be travelling to China and Singapore to help convince investors to stay with the UK.

The upsell comes after immense pull-outs from investors after the Brexit's decision had come to pass. 

The vote had sent the pound to a 31-year-low as uncertainty looms in the background.

“While Britain’s decision to leave the EU clearly presents economic challenges, we now have to do everything we can to make the UK the most attractive place in the world to do business,” Osborne, who backed staying in the EU, said in a statement.

“Pursuing a stronger relationship with our biggest trading partners is now a top priority … my message to the world is that Britain may be leaving the EU but we are not quitting the world. We will continue to be a beacon for free trade, democracy and security, more open to that world than ever.”

Mr Osborne said tying up with the United States, Canada and Mexico would give the UK the leverage it needs to buoy itself off of stormy waters.

“As I will tell Wall Street, we want more finance in London, not less,” Osborne wrote, adding Britain and the United States were the biggest foreign investors in each other’s country.