Interest Rates and Inflation both are very strongly linked

November 11, 2011 · Posted in Finance · Comment 

Everything in an economy in interlinked with each other and in a broad sense the economies of the world are linked with each other as well. Countries export and import with each other and this is why if one country has a problem in its economy the other country will get affected as well. Just look at how the whole world felt the ripples of the effect of the collapse of the US housing market. This phenomenon is known as the ripple effect or the multiplier effect. Likewise, interest rates and inflation both are very strongly linked.

Lets first define inflation and interest rates just so that everyone is on the same page; inflation is defined as a general increase in the prices of commodities over a period of time. Interest rates are the percentage at which you borrow money, meaning if you borrow a set amount of money you will have to pay back more than your borrowed amount, this is because the value of money decreases over time.

The best way to understand the concept of the relationship between interest rates and inflation is with an example, so let’s say interest rates in your economy have fallen, it gets cheaper to borrow from banks, getting credit cards, loans, and everything. You see people around you getting loans and using credit cards, and it compels you to think, why shouldn’t I? As a result, you get involved in bank borrowing as well, taking advantage of the interest rates, life seems great initially, you are able to pay your debts and monthly payments on time and you get used to it. However, after sometime the case doesn’t remain the same due to changes in demand and supply. You need to realize that time changes and as it passes, demand for everything will be so high that there wouldn’t be enough supply to meet that demand. For example everyone now has a car or a motorbike, and the demand for petrol has risen so much that supply becomes inadequate, and when this happens we see an increase in price because people are be willing to pay higher prices to get it, and this is when things start to go wrong. Now imagine every good and service starts to face this same problem, everything will become expensive and even if some commodities do not face this problem of increased demand they will have to increase prices because in general prices have risen and that’s affecting their income as well. This is known as demand pull inflation.

Similarly when interest rates increase, borrowing becomes expensive and people save rather than spend because when they save, the same interest rate applies to their savings and saving seems a better option. This eventually results in a decrease in demand and when there is less demand in the market it leads to an excess of supply which force prices to decrease and inflation levels go down. And that’s how interest rates and inflation are connected with each other.

           

Some simple Guidelines to avoid major mistakes in Investing

April 2, 2011 · Posted in Investing · Comment 

If you are not sure how to invest money and want to invest to get ahead, don’t start investing until you know some rules of the road. Few things are black and white in the investing world, but you can avoid major mistakes when you invest by following some simple guidelines.

Get the idea out of your head that investing money and outperforming the markets is easy. Few professional investors have consistently done this in the past 10 years; and 2011, 2012, and 2020 will likely be no different. Your objective when you invest should be to earn better than average returns with only moderate risk. To do this you’ll need to invest in stocks, bonds, and perhaps real estate.

Forget about picking your own stocks to invest in unless you intend to make stock picking a part time job. One poor pick can ruin your year. You can’t afford to NOT make money when the stock market has a GOOD year, which is most often the case. Diversification is the key to investing money and participating in the stock market over the long term. The same is true when you invest in bonds. Few average investors can analyze individual bond issues, so they are best off investing in a diversified portfolio of bonds.

Real estate still looked dead in early 2011, but don’t believe that it will never again be a good place to invest money. In the future it is quite likely that 2011 or 2012 will define the bottom in this troubled market, even if (when) inflation and interest rates heat up. When that happens, investing money will be a real challenge for anyone trying to find the single best place to invest. Don’t spend your time or money trying to out-guess the markets and other investors. Instead, put together a diversified and balanced investment portfolio.

How can a beginner invest in stocks, bonds and real estate and at the same time have some money safely tucked away earning interest? You can do this by investing money in just three different mutual funds. Let the professionals pick the stocks and bonds for you by investing in a traditional balanced fund, where about 60% goes to stocks with most of the rest going into bonds. That simple formula has worked for years, so invest most (about 70%) of your investment portfolio there. The other 30% divide equally with half going into a real estate equity fund, and the other half going to a money market fund for safety.

Don’t get distracted when investing money and don’t try to time the markets. Real estate will again come back into favor and interest rates will likely rise in 2011 and/or 2012. When rates go up returns on money market funds will get better. When real estate recovers, you’ll be there. When you invest money in a balanced fund you’ve got stocks and bonds covered. If you invest by the simple guidelines provided here you should be better able to relax. You’ve covered the bases and avoided making major mistakes.

           

Getting Unemployed Loans in UK

September 27, 2010 · Posted in Loan · Comment 

The processes of obtaining a loan were perhaps never as easier as it has now been made by the unemployed loans. If you are an unemployed, not to worry, the solution is right at here with these loans. Whatever your particular problem is, you need to simply get your hands on unemployed loans and go through its features which surely will be found helpful by you.

Secured and unsecured; two types of unemployed loans are available with these loans and you are free to apply in any of these. But before you make your mind and make preparations of applying in any of these same day loans for unemployed, the primary thing to be done is to throw a look over the respective characteristics of these. The secured loans are particularly for the homeowners as these loans are available against collateral only and the unsecured loans are available for all as no collateral is required in it.

The secured loans offer quite a sumptuous amount that ranges from £5,000 to £75,000 and for repaying it a fixed term of 5 to 75 years is provided which is lengthy enough to support one. The advantageous factor about this loan form is that the borrower will not have to be burdened as its rate of interest is quite low.

The unsecured loans are good for small financial needs as the fund provided in these is a maximum of £25,000 with 1 to 10 years of repayment term. Even though the rate of interest in these loans is higher that can be handled quite easily for which the borrower will just have to complete repaying the loan faster.

The bad credit holders are always allowed in these same day loans. So, a few of those bad credit records that are allowed in it includes arrears, defaults, late payment, bankruptcy, CCJ’s, and skipping of installments. Without the fear of being turned down and without being charged with a higher interest rate, one can now hope to obtain financial assistance. So, that is the biggest attractive factor about these loans and no body likes denying it.

           

How to Calculate the Future Value of an Investment?

September 1, 2010 · Posted in Investing · Comment 

When we decided to save, the next step is to learn to invest our money. Knowing how they behave different investment instruments over time will support us to make that money work efficiently increase our wealth, we project the amount in the future by investing with a specific interest rate will support us in the decision on the best investment tool to achieve our plans.

Knowing the amount of money that we save to retire with enough capital at the end of our working lives to accumulate money for a down payment on a mortgage or car, calculate the final amount will pay for a credit and any other utility that mean know the value you will have our money in a period of time, are some utilities to know how to calculate the value of an investment in the future.

How can we calculate the future value of a quantity?
To quantify the final amount by a certain date we must know the following information:

M = Amount to invest
It is the amount we invest to achieve our goal.

i = interest per period we will invest
It refers to the collection or payment of interest that apply to our credit or investment in a period of time.

N = number of periods that will be the amount invested.
Our investments or loans will be made for certain periods: monthly, annual or otherwise, where the interest rate applied.

After learning this information and applying the following formula we can calculate the future amount to obtain an initial investment:

Formula to calculate the future value of an amount:
VF = M (1 + i) ^ n

Where:
FV = Future Value
M = Amount to invest
i = Interest
N = Number of periods

Applying this formula, the following fictitious values, would be resolved as follows:
Fictitious Values
M = 10,000
i = 10%
n = 1 year

Substituting:
Future Value = 10.000 (1 + .10) 1
= 10.000 (1.10) 1
= 10,000 (1.10)
VF = 11.000

The final value after investing 10,000 pesos for a year at an interest rate of 10% is 11,000 pesos.

To calculate the next period, the result will give the same application:

Second period:
Future Value = 11.000 (1 + .10) 1
= 11.000 (1.10) 1
= 11,000 (1.10)
VF = 12.100

And subsequently, we can perform the same operation until the number of periods we need.

If we apply the exponential function of a calculator, this operation can be performed more quickly and to a greater number of periods.

The aim of this article is to introduce you to the knowledge of one of the tools most important financial calculations that will help us properly design any economic objective over time. Seeing it put you in the right way to analyze your investments and make sound decisions about your investments and productivity adequately plan for your money. We invite you to consult an expert or directly into one of the many titles of books dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of financial management.