[ad_1] Let us read it for you. Listen now. Your browser does not support the audio element. The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. held steady this week — not far from its highest levels this year, but below where it was a year ago.The rate stood at 6.76% for the second week in a row, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.09%.Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, eased. The average rate dropped from 5.92% last week to 5.89%. It’s down from 6.38% a…
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[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Monks Investment Trust (LSE: MNKS) from the FTSE 250 doesn’t get the same attention as fellow Baillie Gifford funds like Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. But the 10-year return of 175% is nevertheless solid. I was interested to see that the trust’s managers have been doing some portfolio shopping recently. Here’s what they’ve been buying, including a pair of top additions from the S&P 500. What is Monks? Monks aims for long-term capital growth through a diverse range of growth stocks. Looking at the top 10 holdings, I see Service Corporation International (funeral services) and Elevance…
[ad_1] The nation’s top teens go head to head over stocks, bonds, managing credit, budgeting, and more! NEW YORK, May 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — 34 teams from 28 states make up the nation’s most financially savvy high school students. The Council for Economic Education, a national nonprofit on a mission to equip K–12 students with the tools and knowledge of personal finance and economics, is hosting the 14th annual National Personal Finance Challenge (NPFC) where those top teams will compete on June 1-2 in Atlanta to become the 2025 National Personal Finance champions. Qualifying teams have successfully outmaneuvered their peers in…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images A recent breakthrough in US-UK trade relations has captured the attention of British stock market investors. The new agreement scraps the implementation of tariffs on British steel and aluminium exports to the US and could breathe fresh life into several UK-listed industrial stocks. Two key beneficiaries might be Rolls-Royce (LSE: RR.) and Melrose Industries (LSE: MRO) — both of which operate in sectors closely tied to global manufacturing and aerospace. The shift in policy is expected to reduce costs for industrial operators, opening new export routes and improving margins for UK manufacturers. For investors seeking…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images The FTSE 100 is packed full of brilliant passive income stocks, and Phoenix Group Holdings (LSE: PHNX) is one of the most spectacular. During the recent market dip, its trailing dividend yield shot past 10%. The Phoenix share price has jumped 14% in the last month, and that’s driven down the yield. But it still cuts a dash at 8.93% a year. That’s double what savers can get on deposit, and the gap is likely to widen after the Bank of England cut bank rate to 4.25% yesterday (8 May). High yield, low growth Of…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images One of my favourite FTSE 100 stocks is Rightmove (LSE: RMV). Over the long run, this company’s been a fantastic investment. This morning (9 May), the Footsie company posted a trading statement with some guidance for 2025. And it didn’t disappoint, predicting strong revenue growth for the current year. Decent top-line growth predicted A lot of FTSE 100 companies are facing uncertainty at the moment. Combine tariff issues with a potential recession/consumer slowdown and the outlook for a lot of businesses looks murky. Not Rightmove however. For the year, it’s expecting revenue growth of 8%-10%,…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images The thrill of owning a top FTSE 100 passive income share never fades. In fact, it only builds and builds. Especially when it pays a crisp £458 straight into my self-invested personal pension (SIPP) with no effort whatsoever on my part. That’s exactly what happened to me this morning, courtesy of wealth manager M&G (LSE: MNG). It’s best known for its fabulous yield, which now stands at a bumper 9.23% and is the main reason I own it. Loving those dividends I bought the stock on three occasions in 2023, picking up a grand total…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images High-yield dividend stocks are a cornerstone of many long-term portfolios, offering regular income alongside the potential for capital growth. On the FTSE 100, several companies consistently deliver above-average yields, making them especially appealing for those seeking passive income or defensive exposure during volatile market periods. Unlike growth shares, which rely on price appreciation, dividend stocks reward shareholders with recurring payouts — which many people reinvest to compound returns over time. For investors with a long-term outlook aiming to build a passive income portfolio, the attraction is clear — but not every dividend share is created…
[ad_1] Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images Check out CNET Money’s weekly mortgage rate forecast for a more in-depth look at what’s next for Fed rate cuts, labor data and inflation. It’s been a bumpy few months for mortgage rates. Lingering inflation, the threat of a global trade war and growing recession worries have reduced affordable options for homebuyers. The average for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.83% today, up 0.07% over the last week. The average rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 6.01%, which is an increase of 0.09% from the same time last week. Given…
[ad_1] Image source: Getty Images Looking for the best bargain stocks to buy in a Stocks and Shares ISA? Here are two UK shares I think might be too cheap to ignore. Both trade on rock-bottom price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios and/or modest price-to-earnings growth (PEG) multiples. Value investors should give them serious consideration right now. Springfield Properties The FTSE 100 is the most popular places to go for investors seeking housebuilder shares. I own a handful of the index’s heavyweights (Barratt Redrow, Persimmon and Taylor Wimpey, if you’re wondering). But today, my gaze has been drawn to AIM housebuilder Springfield Properties…