Oooh conspiracy! Is it possible that the government has a deliberate policy of encouraging people to spend more than they earn? The signs could certainly be explained in that way. They’ve allowed mortgage companies to gradually relax their lending criteria in all sorts of ways, they don’t force lenders to assess income before they provide unsecured loans or credit cards and, in 2004, they relaxed the bankruptcy laws so that people can wipe clean their debts and be discharged from bankruptcy in just three to twelve months. You could even argue that the government’s failure to educate people about saving, investing and the dangers of debt is all part of the master plan.
Month: September 2006
Motley Fool: Next’s Buyback Boo Boo
The high street is suffering. Retailer after retailer is struggling to maintain profits; Britain’s over-indebted consumers just don’t seem to be able to spend any more. Some retailers are doing better than others, however.
Motley Fool: Safer Online Gamers
Online gaming companies were thrown into turmoil last week after US authorities arrested Peter Dicks, the chairman of online gaming site Sportingbet (LSE: SBT). He was arrested for allegedly violating Louisiana State laws relating to gambling by computer. His arrest followed the arrest of BETonSPORTS (LSE: BSS) boss David Carruthers, who faces charges of racketeering and tax evasion in the State of Missouri.
MoneyExpert: Premium Bonds Celebrates 50th Year With Multiple-million Giveaway
Premium Bond’s operator National Savings & Investment (NSI) has announced that it is to make ten people millionaires to celebrate its 50th birthday.
MoneyExpert: Desperate Renters Gang Together To Bridge Affordability Gap
Desperate first-time buyers are increasingly clubbing together to get the financial clout to get onto the property ladder, claims a new HSBC report.
MoneyExpert: Further Interest Rate Rise Looms
The odds on a further rise in interest rates sooner rather than later have shortened following new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
MoneyExpert: HSBC Announces Clampdown On Overdraft Borrowing
HSBC has announced that it is to launch an “annual review” of all customers’ overdrafts to clampdown on customers routinely borrowing over their limit.
Motley Fool: A Pyad Share, Give Or Take
I’ll take a look at the bad news first. With a capitalisation of about £4m Holders Technology (LSE: HDT) is a very small cap and I don’t particularly like them this small for several reasons which add to the risks. Quoted on AIM, the spread when I checked was 93-98, a large difference but to be expected for a company this small. That chunky spread is one of the increased risks.
Motley Fool: Investing Discussion Boards
Here at the Fool we have hundreds of different discussion boards that cover virtually every subject you can think of. On the investing side, we have boards for individual companies where people can discuss what they think the prospects are for a company’s shares.
Money Links For 12th Sep 2006
Links to other interesting money articles on 12th Sep 2006.