May 6, 2024
Investment

Investment Apps Tap Open Banking to Help Consumers Cut Costs

Traditional wealth management services often involve face-to-face interactions with financial advisors, extensive paperwork and opaque fee structures, making the process daunting for many potential investors. However, the digital age has brought about significant shifts in consumer expectations and demands, prompting the industry to adapt and innovate to remain relevant. Enter open banking — a concept

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Loans

Blackstone and Starwood Are Both Mortgage REITs. Their Reserves Tell Different Stories.

The specialized lenders known as mortgage real estate investment trusts have a prominent spot on the injured list of players in commercial real estate. Since rising rates started to weigh on real estate borrowers in early 2022, shares of two mortgage REITs— Starwood Property Trust and Blackstone Mortgage Trust —have fallen 15% and 35%, respectively.

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Funds

This Top International Fund Is Snapping Up Japan Stocks

A well-articulated sell strategy—and the discipline to stick with it—are among the most important qualities a patient investor can have, but they’re often overlooked. Most investors can explain why they bought a stock, but few can say, before they buy a stock, what would cause them to sell it. The managers of the MFS International

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Crypto

Bitcoin Price Struggles. It’s Had a Very Bad Week—and the Selloff May Not Be Over.

Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies were weaker Friday, struggling into the end of a bearish week for digital assets as Bitcoin plunged after notching an all-time high. While analysts and traders remained bullish on the outlook for crypto, there are still warning signs that a correction may not be over. The price of Bitcoin has fallen

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Funds

The Fed’s High Interest Rates Are Helping Pension Funds Close the Gap

This is commentary by Allan Sloan, an independent business journalist and seven-time winner of the Loeb Award, business journalism’s highest honor. We hear lots of talk about the problems that high interest rates have been causing since the Federal Reserve began jacking up rates two years ago. We also hear endless talk from people waiting

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Investment

5 Ways to Cut Your Taxes on Income Investments

Tax day is almost here, and, thanks to higher interest rates, many investors are finding they earned a lot more income from their portfolios in 2023—and now they owe the government a piece of it. “That’s a good thing,” says Mary Ellen Stanek, co-chief investment officer at Baird Asset Management. “But it means investors need

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Finance

Barron’s 100 Most Influential Women in U.S. Finance: Alesia Haas

Coinbase Global’s stock has almost quadrupled since its chief financial officer was profiled here in 2023. That Alesia Haas’ strategy has been consistent speaks volumes more than the share price. Having steered the broker through a prolonged Bitcoin bear market, Haas, 47, is now riding the rally that has picked up since the Securities and

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Investment

Barclays plans hundreds of job cuts within its investment bank

Barclays is preparing a fresh wave of job cuts that will affect hundreds of employees within its investment bank, according to reports. The UK lender, which unveiled a strategy revamp in February in a bid to boost returns and cut costs, will strip out hundreds of roles across investment banking, research and markets, Bloomberg reported.

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Investors

Should Investors Buy Bitcoin ETFs? Financial Advisors Weigh In.

How are financial advisors feeling about Bitcoin these days? In years past, many have expressed deep skepticism, citing price volatility, regulatory uncertainties, and even cryptocurrencies’ use in criminal activities. While plenty of doubts remain, the landscape has changed. In January, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs. Two of the biggest, BlackRock’s

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