Business

The Connor Group founder and managing partner discusses what needs to happen to unleash the housing market and the impact of regulations on rebuilding California following the wildfires. The key to America’s housing problem may lie within the Trump administration, according to one real estate expert.  Larry Connor, The Connor Group founder and managing partner, explained how the new administration could tackle the persistent problems plaguing the housing industry during his appearance on "FOX Business Live," Thursday."The reality is, across America we have an affordable housing problem, in some cases [a] crisis. You can solve it. I think the Trump administration is uniquely qualified to do so," he expressed.Connor said the first step in solving the country’s housing issue is throug...

HSBC is to shut down its app Zing, a currency conversion service which allowed customers to hold funds in over 10 different currencies, send over 30 currencies, and transact in over 200 countries and territories worldwideZing was launched a year ago by James Allan, HSBC's head of FX and payments. It has partnerships with other fintech companies, including Visa, Currency Cloud, and Tink.Reuters reported that the decision to shut down the business would result in 400 job losses.An HSBC spokesperson said: "Following a strategic review of Zing within the HSBC Group and after careful consideration, we have made the decision to close Zing and integrate its underlying technology platform into HSBC."Zing was intended as a rival to Wise, a fintech set up in 2011. In November last year it had nea...

Former 'Million Dollar Listing' star and Los Angeles real estate agent Josh Altman provides an update on wildfire recovery and rebuilding efforts, and previews President Donald Trump's visit to disaster sites. After making a shocking prediction that up to 70% of Pacific Palisades residents won’t return to rebuild and live in their homes, former "Million Dollar Listing" real estate agent Josh Altman is explaining exactly why. "They're not going to not return because they don't want to return. Of course they want to go back there… They're not going to return because it's simple math," Altman said on "FOX Business Live," Friday."I don't believe they're going to be able to afford to rebuild with most of the people that are heavily underinsured, with the costs of construction, lumber, s...

The existing state pension age is 66 in the UK, although it is on course to stretch to 67 from 2026 to 2028. This year, anyone born in 1959 can start claiming their UK state pension payments.Many people approaching 66 may not be aware that the Department does not automatically pay them the state pension for Work and Pensions (DWP) and needs to be claimed.The maximum state pension payment paid is £221.20 a week, but some Brits may choose to defer their claim.DWP guidance says: "You do not get your State Pension automatically - you have to claim it. You should get a letter no later than two months before you reach State Pension age, telling you what to do.”DWP says if someone does want to defer their payments they do not have do anything.By deferring a state pension, retirees can boost th...

Global Real Estate adviser Jenna Stauffer breaks down her outlook for the housing market in 2025 during an appearance on ‘Mornings with Maria.’ If you consider owning a home as part and parcel of the American Dream, you aren’t alone. A survey recently released by Realtor.com showed many American adults hold that belief. The proportion of U.S. adults that still consider home ownership to be a component of the American Dream stood at 75%, according to the Realtor.com survey.The survey involved about 2,200 adults in the U.S. and took place online Nov. 7-8. Homes in the Issaquah Highlands area of Issaquah, Washington on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.  (Photographer: David Ryder/Bloomberg via Getty Images / Getty Images)The association between homeownership and the American dream was obs...

The Labour Government is "considering" bringing forward increases" to the state pension age despite experts agreeing that life expectancy in the UK was stalling,GB News has reported that research suggested the official retirement age needs to rise to 71 by 2050 for payments to remain affordable.A study by the International Longevity Centre (ILC) warned that the UK faces "widening demographic imbalances" that will put increasing pressure on Government finances.It claimed Britain was heading towards a future where there will be just one working-age adult for every pensioner by 2050."Earlier this month, the Daily Express reported that the UK's state pension will become unaffordable by 2035The Adam Smith Insitute said that in 2021, the State Pension had a total obligation to the British peo...

After spending more than a decade in prison, Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht says the president gave him an "amazing blessing." (Credit: X /@RealRossU) Ross Ulbricht, founder of the anonymous online marketplace Silk Road, thanked President Donald Trump for giving him a full and unconditional pardon. In a video posted online, a visibly emotional Ulbricht praised Trump for being a "man of his word," and thanked the president for giving him the "amazing blessing" of freedom. "I am so, so grateful to have my life back, to have my future back, to have this second chance," Ulbricht says in the video. He also said the pardon was an "an important moment for everybody, everywhere, who loves freedom and who cares about second chances." People hold signs in support of jailed darknet mark...

Money expert Martin Lewis has revealed two fully legal methods for shielding yourself from paying tax on your savings.HMRC automatically gives a Personal Savings Allowance to everyone who works and pays Income Tax, so those earning more than £12,570 a year.This is the amount you can make via interest on your savings accounts, paid to you by your bank, in a given tax year.Those who earn less than £50,270 can earn £1,000 in savings interest before they owe tax, but those earning above that can only earn £500, and those earning £125,000 or more must pay tax on every penny of their savings.And with many savings accounts offering as much as 5% interest right now, it is easy to go over the limit with just £10,000 to £20,000 of savings, depending on your income.That’s why Martin Lewis has told...

Strategas Securities chairman and CEO Jason Tennert discusses President-elect Donald Trump's remarks about Canada and the SALT tax cap on 'The Bottom Line.' OTTAWA — On his first day of office as the 47th President, Donald Trump put Canadian leaders in panic mode that evening while signing executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House in the presence of journalists. Responding to reporters' questions, Trump reiterated his plan to slap a 25% tariff on both Mexico and Canada "because they’re allowing vast numbers of people… and fentanyl to come in," and said, "I think we’ll do it on Feb. 1."Trump signed the executive order called the America First Trade Policy that includes a provision to "assess the unlawful migration and fentanyl flows" from Canada, Mexico and China "and r...

Money saving expert Martin Lewis has issued a warning to people who have £10,000 in savings - because you could end up losing money to tax.The financial guru took to his X account to tell his legion of fiscal followers about a rule which means you could owe money in tax if you earn certain amounts of money and have either £20,000 or just £10,000 stored in a savings account.And with the self-assessment deadline for tax with HMRC just days away, it’s a good time to check if you owe tax and think about how to avoid it in future.Martin Lewis outlined how everyone who works and is a basic rate taxpayer will get a £1,000 Personal Savings Allowance. This is the amount of interest you can be paid by your bank before you owe tax on it.But for those who earn over £50,270, the allowance is halved ...