Finance

Finance

UK banks all set for an endurance test in real estate lending business

Property markets and banks find themselves navigating through uncertain waters, reminiscent of the financial crash of 2008 and the ongoing crisis. Unlike previous crises, there’s a sense of caution prevalent among banks and property owners, yet the impact remains undeniable. The real estate lending market, estimated at £238 billion, faced dismal rent collection rates of just 67% at its nadir in the past year. Among the worst-hit entities are the prominent banking giants known as the ‘big four’ – Lloyds Banking Group PLC, Barclays PLC, NatWest Group PLC, and HSBC. Their extensive exposure to the real estate sector has left

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Featured

Are Scotch Whisky Casks a better Investment Than Property … or Gold?

What is it about whisky? It’s enigmatic to the point of ecstasy. It is possibly the only true, ahem, liquid investment. Property is, to quote the 1980s comedy Airplane!, up, down and all over the place as of January 2022. Quantitative easing, the printing of money by central banks to combat the pandemic, will grind to a halt this year. Inflation is soaring. As are interest rates. Fortunately, whisky has been outperforming markets since, we well basically, people started selling it.  Whisky also has the benefit of being widely tradeable and is consumed in almost every country in the world

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