squeeze | Common News Update

Jan302021 by adminNo Comments

Short selling: What it is, why it’s risky and how the ‘squeeze’ happens

Finance

Aimee Dilger | SOPA Images | LightRocket | Getty ImagesMaybe you've heard by now that an army of retail investors has managed to use one of hedge funds' common investment strategies against them.That is, short-selling. It generally involves selling borrowed shares of a stock with the belief that the price will drop, at which point you'd buy shares at a lower price to repay what you borrowed (more farther below). And it's not the province of just hedge funds or other large investment entities. Individual investors — for better or worse — can employ it, too, if their brokerage approves it."For my clients who want to short stocks, I tell them it's generally not a good idea," said certified financial planner Ivory Johnson, founder of Delancey Wealth Management in Washington. More from Per...

Jun112020 by adminNo Comments

Coronavirus: Young hit hardest by lockdown financial squeeze

Business

Young people have been hardest hit by a fall in their income during lockdown as more of their money goes on essentials, official data suggests.The youngest and oldest workers are most likely to have lost their jobs or seen income cut owing to the system of state-paid wages.With little in savings and less chance to cut spending, the under-30s would be hit hardest by this, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said.Renters have found it just as tough.Money issuesThe ONS has calculated, for the first time, the effect of the coronavirus outbreak on household spending.It found that a typical household in the UK normally spent an average of £182 a week on activities, such as travel, holidays and meals out, that have been mostly rule...

Dec82019 by adminNo Comments

Clients’ health-care spending gets closer look from advisors as costs squeeze budgets

Finance

Find yourself struggling to manage your health-care costs in retirement? You're not alone.As the cost of health care continues climbing faster than the rate of inflation and an aging population is living longer, many financial advisors are focused on the line item in their retired clients' budgets more than ever."It's a cost we see that's ever-present and it's gone way up over time," said certified financial planner Kelly Wright, director of financial planning for Columbia, Maryland-based Pinnacle Advisory Group. Pinnacle ranked No. 80 on the CNBC FA 100 list of top advisor firms for 2019.The ability to pay for health-care needs is one of the most critical issues of retirement.Hero Images | Getty ImagesThe U.S. spent about $ 3.5 trillion on health care in 2017, or about $ 11,000 per person...

Apr172018 by adminNo Comments

Wages overtake inflation to end squeeze

Business

Wage growth rose to 2.8% in the three months to February, outstripping inflation for the first time in a year, official figures show.The figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) signal an end to the squeeze on household incomes after the slump in the pound following the Brexit vote drove the cost of living higher.Inflation had topped 3% in recent months but more recently has eased, dipping to 2.7% in February.The return to real terms wage growth will revive hopes for the struggling high street, where retailers have been struggling thanks to the strain in consumers' finances.It should also keep up expectations that the Bank of England will raise interest rates to 0.75% next month.There was a further boost from the official labour market statistics as the unemployment rate fell ...

Mar212018 by adminNo Comments

Household squeeze shows signs of easing as wages rise

Business

Wages grew by 2.6% in the three months to January while the unemployment rate fell, according to new data. The Office for National Statistics said that earnings growth was slightly higher than the 2.5% rate in the previous period.It adds to evidence that the squeeze on household income may be coming to an end after inflation fell to 2.7% in February.Meanwhile, the unemployment rate ticked lower to 4.3% from 4.4%. A small estimated increase in the number of unemployed people during the quarter did not dent the overall rise in employment over the last year. Matt Hughes, senior statistician at the ONS, said: "Employment and unemployment levels were both up on the quarter, with the employment rate returning to its joint highest ever."He said: "Total earnings growth continues to nudge upwards i...