UPDATE 1-UniCredit faces hurdles in Polish talks-sources

(Reuters) - MILAN, July 5 - Italian bank UniCredit
is having a rough time clinching a deal to sell 200 bank outlets
in Poland as its counterpart GE Money maintains a tough
negotiating line, sources close to the talks said on Thursday.
In April, UniCredit entered exclusive talks with GE Money,
the financial arm of U.S. giant General Electric , to sell
200 BPH bank branches along with the BPH brand and
said at the time that a deal could be sealed in May.
But more than two months after the start of negotiations, a
deal is not yet in sight, meaning UniCredit risks delaying the
planned merger of the remaining BPH outlets into its other
Polish unit Bank Pekao .




"The Americans are playing hard ball," a source told
Reuters. "They know UniCredit is in a difficult situation and
that it wants to close this deal soon."


Read more at Reuters.com Mergers News

Philippine Peso Gains for Quarter on Overseas Funds; Won Boosted by Growth

(Bloomberg) -- The Philippine peso had a fourth
quarterly gain on speculation workers abroad sent back more
remittances and overseas funds bought the nation's stocks.

The peso was the second-best performer of 10 of the most-
traded Asia-Pacific currencies this quarter as the Philippine
Stock Exchange Index reached a record high. Money sent home by
Filipinos working abroad exceeded $1 billion for a 12th month in
April. The data are issued with a lag and may rise in May and
June as funds are remitted for the start of the school year.


Read more at Bloomberg Currencies News

UPDATE 1-US money market fund assets reach record-iMoneyNet

(Reuters) - The inflow was the largest since July 8, 2003, when $43.8
billion flowed into the funds, according to the report released
by iMoneyNet Inc. of Westborough, Mass.




Taxable assets climbed by nearly $33.4 billion, while
tax-free assets grew by almost $5.7 billion.


Read more at Reuters.com Bonds News

What Are You Teaching Your Kids About Money?

Children are the most potent receivers in the world - they are also notorious mimics. A child can read the unconscious signals in how you react to certain events and at once surmise and integrate your attitude into their personalities.

If you show a negative attitude toward things of a financial nature, chances are, your child will too. So how do you know that you're sending the wrong financial messages to your kids? Read on for some tell-tale signs that you need to put your financial household in order.

Read the full article at investopedia.com

The Importance Of Dividends

"The only thing that gives me pleasure is to see my dividend coming in." --John D. Rockefeller.

One of the simplest ways for companies to communicate financial well-being and shareholder value is to say "the dividend check is in the mail." Dividends, those cash distributions that many companies pay out regularly to shareholders from earnings, send a clear, powerful message about future prospects and performance. A company's willingness and ability to pay steady dividends over time--and its power to increase them--provide good clues about its fundamentals.

Read more at investopedia.com

Dividend Facts You May Not Know

Money For Nothing" is not only the title of a song by Dire Straits in the '80s, but also the feeling many investors get when they receive a dividend. All you have to do is buy shares in the right company and you'll receive some of its earnings. How exciting is that? However, despite the advantage, there are several implications involved in the paying and receiving of dividends that the casual investor may not be aware of. This article will explain several of these. But first, let's begin with a short primer.

Read the full article at investopedia.com

The Stop-Loss Order - Make Sure You Use It

What with so many facets to look at and brood over when weighing a stock buy, it's easy to forget about the little things. The stop-loss order is one of those little things, but it can also make the world of difference. Just about everybody can benefit from this tool in some way. Read on to find out why.

What Is a Stop-loss Order?It is an order placed with a broker to buy or sell once the stock reaches a certain price. A stop-loss is designed to limit an investor's loss on a security position. Setting a stop-loss order for 10% below the price at which you bought the stock will limit your loss to 10%. For example, let's say you just purchased Microsoft (MSFT) at $50 per share. Right after buying the stock you enter a stop-loss order for $45. This means that if the stock falls below $45, your shares will then be sold at the prevailing market price.

Read the full article at investopedia.com

Cyclical Versus Non-Cyclical Stocks

Investors cannot control the cycles of the economy, but they can adjust their investing practices with its ebbs and flows. Adjusting to economic transitions requires an understanding of how industries are characterized by their relationship to the economy. It's important for you to know the fundamental difference between cyclical and non-cyclical companies so that you can distinguish between sectors that are affected by economic changes and those that are more immune. Here we look at the industries that reside within these categories, and identify where it's best to put your money when the economy starts to decline.

Read the full article at investopedia.com

Portfolio Management For The Under-30 Crowd

Face it, as an individual under 30, you're not the average investor, and modeling your portfolio after that of your parents isn't always a good idea. In fact, doing so can cause you to miss out on some valuable learning opportunities and, in the long run, even cost you money.

If you want to make the most of your money, every decision you make about your portfolio is as important as the last. In this article we look at the unique set of challenges involved in portfolio management for young investors and provide some advice to help you succeed

Read the Full Article at investopedia.com

Green money bypasses Africa

Africa has missed out on booming investment in clean energy projects partly over worries that it is a tough destination to do business, a UN official said on Tuesday.

The Kyoto Protocol obliges 35 rich nations to cut greenhouse gases by 5% below 1990 levels by 2008-12, mostly through curbing the release of heat-trapping carbon dioxide.

An element of the treaty is the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) which helps nations meet their reduction targets by funding green energy development in poor countries in exchange for carbon credits.

Read More at FIN24.co.za

A Corporate Approach To Personal Finance

Companies across the world operate in much the same way. They go into business, manage their expenses and try to turn a profit. It is a tried and true concept that can also be applied to personal finance. Think of yourself as your own little company. To make your company run smoothly, you need to take a look at your books. The exploration starts with a comparison of your income and expenses. In this article we'll show you how to apply corporate money-managing concepts to your own financial situation

Read Full Article at investopedia.com

Housing loan – a lawful deduction

Deputy pension funds’ adjudicator discusses housing related deductions from pension benefits.

Individuals looking for money to build or refurbish a house could get it form their pensions.

Pension and provident funds are a form of social security and therefore the Pension Funds Act allows funds to grant housing loans to its members.In terms of the act, provided the fund rules so permit, a fund may grant a loan to a member for the purposes of acquiring a house or property on which a dwelling will be erected for him or his dependants or effecting improvements to an existing dwelling.

Read Full Article at MoneyWeb.co.za

Five ways to pay for education

School fees eat up a sizable chunk of disposable income, with the annual cost of sending a child to the better primary and secondary schools easily in line and even in excess of a year at university.With all those regular bills, and no time to build a big lump sum, what’s the best way to pay?

Read Full Article at Moneyweb.co.za

What Is Money?

Everyone uses money. We all want it, work for it and think about it. If you don't know what money is, you are not like most humans. However, the task of defining what money is, where it comes from and what it's worth belongs to those who dedicate themselves to the discipline of economics.
While the creation and growth of money seems somewhat intangible, money is the way we get the things we need and want. Here we look at the multifaceted characteristics of money.

Read Full Article at investopedia.com