Car insurance is an absolute necessity for anyone who drives a car. Even ignoring the fact that some types of car insurance are mandated by law, coverage is essential: the potential costs surrounding an accident -- whether they be repair/replacement costs of the cars or other property, or medical costs of the victims -- are simply too huge to run the risk of being without adequate coverage.
Car insurance policies can be divided into two distinct categories: third-party liability and first-party insurance. In car insurance terminology, the owner of the policy is the first party, who has contracted with the second party (the insurer) for the coverage. The third-party is the other person(s) in the accident, or the person(s) whose property the policy-owner damaged. Thus, in general, third-party liability insurance covers the damages to other people that are attributable to the policy-owner. First-party insurance covers damages that are done to the policy-owner or his passengers.
At least some amount of third-party liability coverage is required by law in most states; for the most part, first-party coverage is not. However, car insurance is not the place to save money by cutting corners; a single accident could easily wipe out someone's life savings, whether they're at fault or not. Also, price isn't everything... if the insurance company balks at every claim, low premiums are meaningless.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Private Mortgage Insurance
Definition
PMI. Mortgage insurance provided by nongovernment insurers that protects a lender against loss if the borrower defaults.
insurance
Definition
A promise of compensation for specific potential future losses in exchange for a periodic payment. Insurance is designed to protect the financial well-being of an individual, company or other entity in the case of unexpected loss. Some forms of insurance are required by law, while others are optional. Agreeing to the terms of an insurance policy creates a contract between the insured and the insurer. In exchange for payments from the insured (called premiums), the insurer agrees to pay the policy holder a sum of money upon the occurrence of a specific event. In most cases, the policy holder pays part of the loss (called the deductible), and the insurer pays the rest. Examples include car insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and business insurance.
PMI. Mortgage insurance provided by nongovernment insurers that protects a lender against loss if the borrower defaults.
insurance
Definition
A promise of compensation for specific potential future losses in exchange for a periodic payment. Insurance is designed to protect the financial well-being of an individual, company or other entity in the case of unexpected loss. Some forms of insurance are required by law, while others are optional. Agreeing to the terms of an insurance policy creates a contract between the insured and the insurer. In exchange for payments from the insured (called premiums), the insurer agrees to pay the policy holder a sum of money upon the occurrence of a specific event. In most cases, the policy holder pays part of the loss (called the deductible), and the insurer pays the rest. Examples include car insurance, health insurance, disability insurance, life insurance, and business insurance.
policy loan
Definition
A loan made by an insurance company to a policyholder on the security of the cash value of the policy.
A loan made by an insurance company to a policyholder on the security of the cash value of the policy.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
Student Housing Loan
CommercialBanc Multifamily Lending Group offers dedicated student housing loans through its Agency-Series™ Multifamily Loan Program.
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The Agency-Series™ Student Housing Loan Program is a customized multifamily loan program that addresses the special needs financing of the student housing market. Borrowers can expect flexible financing terms, including supplemental loans, structured transactions, and fast execution.
CommercialBanc Dedicated Student Housing Loan Program Overview
Dedicated Student Housing Loans are available based on the following general program guidelines. Exceptions to standard terms are made on a case-by-case basis. Contact a Multifamily Lending Expert at 1-888-706-BANC, to learn more.
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Eligible Properties Existing, stabilized properties that have a student tenant base and are not readily convertible to conventional multifamily housing.
Properties typically have undergraduate or graduate students comprising a minimum of 80% residency that were specifically constructed as student housing facilities, or built as conventional multifamily housing that function as dedicated student housing.
Eligible properties typically are located at or near a college or university with a minimum of 10,000 students, the majority of which are full time. Property should be located within a two mile radius of campus.
Student Housing Minimum Loan Size $1 million
Pricing Fixed rate pricing with fixed term to 10 years.
Location Nationwide
Amortization 25 years. Exceptions may be available on a case-by-case basis.
Maximum LTV 75%
Minimum DSCR 1.30:1
Minimum Vacancy 10%
Eligible Borrowers Single and multi-asset. Strong borrower with proven track record in student housing.
Food Service Not permitted
Leases 12 month leases required with parental guarantee or credit worthy students that are employed.
Forward Commitments Not permitted. Exceptions may be made on a case-by-case basis.
Rate Lock Extended rate lock available.
Study Abroad Loans
Loans are available for US students studying abroad, and are becoming incredibly important in meeting the demand for international education. US students studying outside the US fall into two categories for student loans, Study Abroad Loans for short-term foreign study and Foreign Enrolled Loans for direct enrollment overseas.
Study Abroad Loans
Study Abroad Loans are for those enrolled in a US school and studying abroad on a short-term program. You must be receiving credit at your home school for your study abroad, and your home school also must be approved. If so, your program can be located anywhere in the world. Of course, although you can apply on your own, you are much more likely to be approved and to get better rates with a qualified co-signer. We partner with two programs for Study Abroad Loans, each of which offer very similar and competitive products with different strengths:
> Study Abroad Loan from InternationalStudentLoan.com - offers competitive rates, online application and fast funding directly to the student. There are thousands of approved schools, and annual loan limits are the lower of $30,000 per year ($40,000 at certain select schools) or the maximum amount calculated for your school.
> Study Abroad Loan from StudyAbroadLoans.com - offers competitive rates, online application and fast funding directly to the student. There are a large number of approved schools, and student can obtain up to $50,000 per year for their study abroad program.
Which program is better for studying abroad?
In most regards the loans are very comparable from the two providers. However, StudyAbroadLoans.com will lend up to $50,000 per year for study abroad, so it's a good choice if you need a large loan. The StudyAbroadLoans.com program does not have as many approved schools, so if you do not see your school listed on that site, check out the InternationalStudentLoan.com study abroad loan program described above.
Foreign Enrolled Loans
Foreign Enrolled Loans are for US students directly enrolled and working towards a degree or certificate at a non-US school. There are over 400 approved schools around the world. With the Foreign Enrolled Loan, you can borrow up to $50,000 per year for undergraduate programs, and up to $70,000 per year for medical, dental, law or business school. A qualified US co-signer is strongly encouraged, though you can apply without one if you have built up good credit history. The high loan limits are helpful, especially if you choose to study in the UK, Western Europe or other areas with a high cost of living. You can find more information about loans for foreign enrolled students at InternationalStudentLoan.com.
Stafford and Plus Loans
As a US citizen or permanent resident, you have access to an excellent government-backed funding resource in Stafford and Plus loans. Before maxing out your private loans, make sure you start early, complete your FAFSA and apply for as much as possible through a Stafford loan; then get the remainder through a private loan described above.
International Student Loans
In partnership with International Student Loan we are excited to offer student loan programs for US citizens studying abroad and international students studying in the USA. We offer a variety of programs based on the country you are from and where you are studying.
For more information about the particular student loan products, please see below:
Student Loans for International Students
The International Student Loan Program is available to international students from around the world, who are looking to study in the USA. You have to be attending one of the approved schools, and you must also have a US Citizen or permanent resident to cosign the loan with you. The International Student Loan offers funding that is disbursed directly to you, with competitive interest rates and no application fees!
Student Loans for Study Abroad
The Study Abroad Loan provides funding for US Citizens who are looking to participate in a study abroad programs outside of the USA. Students need to be attending an approved school in the USA and have no need to complete a FAFSA form. Funds acan be available in a little as 5 days.
Student Loan for Canadian Citizens
For Canadian students studying or planning to study in the USA, we offer the Canadian Student Loan. Students applying for the Canadian Student Loan will require a US citizen or permanent resident co-signer. Formerly, we offered the CanHelp loan, which was available with a Canadian co-signer; however, as of April 18, 2008 the CanHelp loan has been discontinued and is no longer available. Instead of the CanHelp, Canadian students can now apply for a Canadian Student Loan for study in the USA.
Student Loans for US Citizens Foreign Enrolled
The Foreign Enrolled Loan program provides US Citizens with funding for their education when they plan to enroll directly in a degree program abroad. This is a private, alternative loan that offers high loan limits to cover the cost of school abroad, with borrowing limits up to $50,000 per year for undergraduate programs and up to $70,000 per year for medical, dental, business or law school.
For more information about the particular student loan products, please see below:
Student Loans for International Students
The International Student Loan Program is available to international students from around the world, who are looking to study in the USA. You have to be attending one of the approved schools, and you must also have a US Citizen or permanent resident to cosign the loan with you. The International Student Loan offers funding that is disbursed directly to you, with competitive interest rates and no application fees!
Student Loans for Study Abroad
The Study Abroad Loan provides funding for US Citizens who are looking to participate in a study abroad programs outside of the USA. Students need to be attending an approved school in the USA and have no need to complete a FAFSA form. Funds acan be available in a little as 5 days.
Student Loan for Canadian Citizens
For Canadian students studying or planning to study in the USA, we offer the Canadian Student Loan. Students applying for the Canadian Student Loan will require a US citizen or permanent resident co-signer. Formerly, we offered the CanHelp loan, which was available with a Canadian co-signer; however, as of April 18, 2008 the CanHelp loan has been discontinued and is no longer available. Instead of the CanHelp, Canadian students can now apply for a Canadian Student Loan for study in the USA.
Student Loans for US Citizens Foreign Enrolled
The Foreign Enrolled Loan program provides US Citizens with funding for their education when they plan to enroll directly in a degree program abroad. This is a private, alternative loan that offers high loan limits to cover the cost of school abroad, with borrowing limits up to $50,000 per year for undergraduate programs and up to $70,000 per year for medical, dental, business or law school.
Car Loans for College Students
Almost every college student needs wheels. Unfortunately, getting a car loan isn't always easy. Traditional banks and credit unions are usually not very eager to give car loans to college students, who may not have a great deal of income or credit.
Car Loans Online
Online lenders are one of the good things that have come with modern times. The competition between online lenders is fierce. Interest rates are lower than ever and even if your credit score isn't perfect, you can still get a car loan that has reasonable loan terms.
If you are a college student who is looking for a car loan online, remember to use primarily vehicle loan companies that will help you compare quotes and offers from more than one lender. This will help you get the lowest interest rate and best loan terms possible.
When applying for a car loan online, it is also important to make sure that you answer all of the questions on your loan application honestly and accurately. This will help the lender give you quote that you can rely on.
Applying for a Car Loan
Before applying for a car loan, you should determine how much you can afford to spend. College is stressful enough; you don’t want to have to waste time worrying about how you are going to make you car payment. Consider the following expenses to come up with a payment amount that you can afford:
* Car Loan Payment
* Car Insurance
* Fuel
* Car Maintenance (oil changes, tune-ups, etc.)
If you need help with the calculations, many online lenders provide loan calculators that can tally the numbers quickly. The lender may also be able to determine an amount that you can afford based on your income and other monthly expenses.
Car Loans Online
Online lenders are one of the good things that have come with modern times. The competition between online lenders is fierce. Interest rates are lower than ever and even if your credit score isn't perfect, you can still get a car loan that has reasonable loan terms.
If you are a college student who is looking for a car loan online, remember to use primarily vehicle loan companies that will help you compare quotes and offers from more than one lender. This will help you get the lowest interest rate and best loan terms possible.
When applying for a car loan online, it is also important to make sure that you answer all of the questions on your loan application honestly and accurately. This will help the lender give you quote that you can rely on.
Applying for a Car Loan
Before applying for a car loan, you should determine how much you can afford to spend. College is stressful enough; you don’t want to have to waste time worrying about how you are going to make you car payment. Consider the following expenses to come up with a payment amount that you can afford:
* Car Loan Payment
* Car Insurance
* Fuel
* Car Maintenance (oil changes, tune-ups, etc.)
If you need help with the calculations, many online lenders provide loan calculators that can tally the numbers quickly. The lender may also be able to determine an amount that you can afford based on your income and other monthly expenses.
Students Loan Scheme(paki student)
Pursuant to the announcement made by the Federal Finance Minister in his 2001-2002 budget speech, a STUDENTS LOAN SCHEME (SLS) for Education was launched by the Government of Pakistan in collaboration with major commercial banks of Pakistan (NBP, HBL, UBL, MCB and ABL). Under the Scheme, financial assistance is provided by way of Interest Free Loans to the meritorious students who have financial constraints for pursuing their studies in Scientific, Technical and Professional education within Pakistan.
The Scheme is being administered by a high powered committee comprising Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, Presidents of the commercial banks and representative of Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan.
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SCHEME National Bank of Pakistan
ELIGIBILITY
Under the scheme the students are eligible to apply for loans provided:
He/She has obtained admission on merit through normal course/procedure in the approved Universities/Colleges of the public sector mentioned hereunder.
He/She falls at the time of admission within the age bracket of:-
For Graduation Not exceeding 21 Years
For Post-Graduation Not exceeding 31 Years
For Ph.D Not exceeding 36 Years
He/She has secured 70% marks in the last public examination.
He/She has undertaken the study of the subjects given below.
He/She is unable to pursue studies due to financial constraints.
TYPES OF LOAN
The loan facility will be available for entire duration of the study for:-
Schedule Fee
Paid directly to the
University/College
Boarding expenses excluding meal charges
Procurement of textbooks--- Disbursed directly to the student
REPAYMENT
The maximum period of repayment of loan is 10-Years from the date of disbursement of first installment. The borrower shall repay the loan in monthly installment after six months from the date of first employment or one year from the date of completion of studies, which ever is earlier.
Under the Scheme, loans is available in the following subjects.
APPROVED UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES
i) Engineering ii) Electronics
iii) Oil Gas & Petro-Chemical Technology iv) Agriculture
v) Medicine vi) Physics
vii) Chemistry viii) Biology, Molecular Biology & Genetics
ix) Mathematics x) Other Natural Sciences
xi) DAWA and Islamic Jurisprudence (LL.B/LL.M Sharia) xii) Computer Science/Information
System and Technology including hardware.
xiii) Economics, Statistics and Econometrics xiv) Business Management Sciences
xv) Commerce
The Scheme is being administered by a high powered committee comprising Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, Presidents of the commercial banks and representative of Ministry of Finance, Government of Pakistan.
ADMINISTRATOR OF THE SCHEME National Bank of Pakistan
ELIGIBILITY
Under the scheme the students are eligible to apply for loans provided:
He/She has obtained admission on merit through normal course/procedure in the approved Universities/Colleges of the public sector mentioned hereunder.
He/She falls at the time of admission within the age bracket of:-
For Graduation Not exceeding 21 Years
For Post-Graduation Not exceeding 31 Years
For Ph.D Not exceeding 36 Years
He/She has secured 70% marks in the last public examination.
He/She has undertaken the study of the subjects given below.
He/She is unable to pursue studies due to financial constraints.
TYPES OF LOAN
The loan facility will be available for entire duration of the study for:-
Schedule Fee
Paid directly to the
University/College
Boarding expenses excluding meal charges
Procurement of textbooks--- Disbursed directly to the student
REPAYMENT
The maximum period of repayment of loan is 10-Years from the date of disbursement of first installment. The borrower shall repay the loan in monthly installment after six months from the date of first employment or one year from the date of completion of studies, which ever is earlier.
Under the Scheme, loans is available in the following subjects.
APPROVED UNIVERSITIES/COLLEGES
i) Engineering ii) Electronics
iii) Oil Gas & Petro-Chemical Technology iv) Agriculture
v) Medicine vi) Physics
vii) Chemistry viii) Biology, Molecular Biology & Genetics
ix) Mathematics x) Other Natural Sciences
xi) DAWA and Islamic Jurisprudence (LL.B/LL.M Sharia) xii) Computer Science/Information
System and Technology including hardware.
xiii) Economics, Statistics and Econometrics xiv) Business Management Sciences
xv) Commerce
Monday, July 27, 2009
Crashes
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A stock market crash is often defined as a sharp dip in share prices of equities listed on the stock exchanges. In parallel with various economic factors, a reason for stock market crashes is also due to panic and investing public's loss of comfidence. Often, stock market crashes end speculative economic bubbles.
There have been famous stock market crashes that have ended in the loss of billions of dollars and wealth destruction on a massive scale. An increasing number of people are involved in the stock market, especially since the social security and retirement plans are being increasingly privatized and linked to stocks and bonds and other elements of the market. There have been a number of famous stock market crashes like the Wall Street Crash of 1929, the stock market crash of 1973–4, the Black Monday of 1987, the Dot-com bubble of 2000, and the Stock Market Crash of 2008.
One of the most famous stock market crashes started October 24, 1929 on Black Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial lost 50% during this stock market crash. It was the beginning of the Great Depression. Another famous crash took place on October 19, 1987 – Black Monday. On Black Monday itself, the Dow Jones fell by 22.6% after completing a 5 year continuous rise in share prices. This event not only shook the USA, but quickly spread across the world. Thus, by the end of October, stock exchanges in Australia lost 41.8%, in Canada lost 22.5%, in Hong Kong lost 45.8%, and in Great Britain lost 26.4%. The names “Black Monday” and “Black Tuesday” are also used for October 28-29, 1929, which followed Terrible Thursday--the starting day of the stock market crash in 1929. The crash in 1987 raised some puzzles-–main news and events did not predict the catastrophe and visible reasons for the collapse were not identified. This event raised questions about many important assumptions of modern economics, namely, the theory of rational human conduct, the theory of market equilibrium and the hypothesis of market efficiency. For some time after the crash, trading in stock exchanges worldwide was halted, since the exchange computers did not perform well owing to enormous quantity of trades being received at one time. This halt in trading allowed the Federal Reserve system and central banks of other countries to take measures to control the spreading of worldwide financial crisis. In the United States the SEC introduced several new measures of control into the stock market in an attempt to prevent a re-occurrence of the events of Black Monday. Computer systems were upgraded in the stock exchanges to handle larger trading volumes in a more accurate and controlled manner. The SEC modified the margin requirements in an attempt to lower the volatility of common stocks, stock options and the futures market. The New York Stock Exchange and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange introduced the concept of a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker halts trading if the Dow declines a prescribed number of points for a prescribed amount of time.
The behavior of the stock market
From experience we know that investors may 'temporarily' move financial prices away from their long term aggregate price 'trends'. (Positive or up trends are referred to as bull markets; negative or down trends are referred to as bear markets.) Over-reactions may occur—so that excessive optimism (euphoria) may drive prices unduly high or excessive pessimism may drive prices unduly low. New theoretical and empirical arguments have since been put forward against the notion that financial markets are 'generally' efficient (i.e., in the sense that stock prices in the aggregate tend to follow a Gaussian distribution).
According to the efficient market hypothesis (EMH), only changes in fundamental factors, such as the outlook for margins, profits or dividends, ought to affect share prices beyond the short term, where random 'noise' in the system may prevail. (But this largely theoretic academic viewpoint—known as 'hard' EMH—also predicts that little or no trading should take place, contrary to fact, since prices are already at or near equilibrium, having priced in all public knowledge.) The 'hard' efficient-market hypothesis is sorely tested by such events as the stock market crash in 1987, when the Dow Jones index plummeted 22.6 percent—the largest-ever one-day fall in the United States. This event demonstrated that share prices can fall dramatically even though, to this day, it is impossible to fix a generally agreed upon definite cause: a thorough search failed to detect any 'reasonable' development that might have accounted for the crash. (But note that such events are predicted to occur strictly by chance , although very rarely.) It seems also to be the case more generally that many price movements (beyond that which are predicted to occur 'randomly') are not occasioned by new information; a study of the fifty largest one-day share price movements in the United States in the post-war period seems to confirm this.
However, a 'soft' EMH has emerged which does not require that prices remain at or near equilibrium, but only that market participants not be able to systematically profit from any momentary market 'inefficiencies'. Moreover, while EMH predicts that all price movement (in the absence of change in fundamental information) is random (i.e., non-trending), many studies have shown a marked tendency for the stock market to trend over time periods of weeks or longer. Various explanations for such large and apparently non-random price movements have been promulgated. For instance, some research has shown that changes in estimated risk, and the use of certain strategies, such as stop-loss limits and Value at Risk limits, theoretically could cause financial markets to overreact. But the best explanation seems to be that the distribution of stock market prices is non-Gaussian (in which case EMH, in any of its current forms, would not be strictly applicable).
Other research has shown that psychological factors may result in exaggerated (statistically anomalous) stock price movements (contrary to EMH which assumes such behaviors 'cancel out'). Psychological research has demonstrated that people are predisposed to 'seeing' patterns, and often will perceive a pattern in what is, in fact, just noise. (Something like seeing familiar shapes in clouds or ink blots.) In the present context this means that a succession of good news items about a company may lead investors to overreact positively (unjustifiably driving the price up). A period of good returns also boosts the investor's self-confidence, reducing his (psychological) risk threshold.
Another phenomenon—also from psychology—that works against an objective assessment is group thinking. As social animals, it is not easy to stick to an opinion that differs markedly from that of a majority of the group. An example with which one may be familiar is the reluctance to enter a restaurant that is empty; people generally prefer to have their opinion validated by those of others in the group.
In one paper the authors draw an analogy with gambling.[9] In normal times the market behaves like a game of roulette; the probabilities are known and largely independent of the investment decisions of the different players. In times of market stress, however, the game becomes more like poker (herding behavior takes over). The players now must give heavy weight to the psychology of other investors and how they are likely to react psychologically.
The stock market, as any other business, is quite unforgiving of amateurs. Inexperienced investors rarely get the assistance and support they need. In the period running up to the 1987 crash, less than 1 percent of the analyst's recommendations had been to sell (and even during the 2000 - 2002 bear market, the average did not rise above 5%). In the run up to 2000, the media amplified the general euphoria, with reports of rapidly rising share prices and the notion that large sums of money could be quickly earned in the so-called new economy stock market. (And later amplified the gloom which descended during the 2000 - 2002 bear market, so that by summer of 2002, predictions of a DOW average below 5000 were quite common.)
Irrational behavior
Sometimes the market seems to react irrationally to economic or financial news, even if that news is likely to have no real effect on the technical value of securities itself. But this may be more apparent than real, since often such news has been anticipated, and a counterreaction may occur if the news is better (or worse) than expected. Therefore, the stock market may be swayed in either direction by press releases, rumors, euphoria and mass panic; but generally only briefly, as more experienced investors (especially the hedge funds) quickly rally to take advantage of even the slightest, momentary hysteria.
Over the short-term, stocks and other securities can be battered or buoyed by any number of fast market-changing events, making the stock market behavior difficult to predict. Emotions can drive prices up and down, people are generally not as rational as they think, and the reasons for buying and selling are generally obscure. Behaviorists argue that investors often behave 'irrationally' when making investment decisions thereby incorrectly pricing securities, which causes market inefficiencies, which, in turn, are opportunities to make money[10]. However, the whole notion of EMH is that these non-rational reactions to information cancel out, leaving the prices of stocks rationally determined.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average biggest gain in one day was 936.42 points or 11 percent, this occurred on October 13, 2008.
Importance of stock market
Function and purpose
The stock market is one of the most important sources for companies to raise money. This allows businesses to be publicly traded, or raise additional capital for expansion by selling shares of ownership of the company in a public market. The liquidity that an exchange provides affords investors the ability to quickly and easily sell securities. This is an attractive feature of investing in stocks, compared to other less liquid investments such as real estate.
History has shown that the price of shares and other assets is an important part of the dynamics of economic activity, and can influence or be an indicator of social mood. An economy where the stock market is on the rise is considered to be an up and coming economy. In fact, the stock market is often considered the primary indicator of a country's economic strength and development. Rising share prices, for instance, tend to be associated with increased business investment and vice versa. Share prices also affect the wealth of households and their consumption. Therefore, central banks tend to keep an eye on the control and behavior of the stock market and, in general, on the smooth operation of financial system functions. Financial stability is the raison d'être of central banks.
Exchanges also act as the clearinghouse for each transaction, meaning that they collect and deliver the shares, and guarantee payment to the seller of a security. This eliminates the risk to an individual buyer or seller that the counterparty could default on the transaction.
The smooth functioning of all these activities facilitates economic growth in that lower costs and enterprise risks promote the production of goods and services as well as employment. In this way the financial system contributes to increased prosperity.
Relation of the stock market to the modern financial system
The financial system in most western countries has undergone a remarkable transformation. One feature of this development is disintermediation. A portion of the funds involved in saving and financing flows directly to the financial markets instead of being routed via the traditional bank lending and deposit operations. The general public's heightened interest in investing in the stock market, either directly or through mutual funds, has been an important component of this process. Statistics show that in recent decades shares have made up an increasingly large proportion of households' financial assets in many countries. In the 1970s, in Sweden, deposit accounts and other very liquid assets with little risk made up almost 60 percent of households' financial wealth, compared to less than 20 percent in the 2000s. The major part of this adjustment in financial portfolios has gone directly to shares but a good deal now takes the form of various kinds of institutional investment for groups of individuals, e.g., pension funds, mutual funds, hedge funds, insurance investment of premiums, etc. The trend towards forms of saving with a higher risk has been accentuated by new rules for most funds and insurance, permitting a higher proportion of shares to bonds. Similar tendencies are to be found in other industrialized countries. In all developed economic systems, such as the European Union, the United States, Japan and other developed nations, the trend has been the same: saving has moved away from traditional (government insured) bank deposits to more risky securities of one sort or another.
The stock market, individual investors, and financial risk
Riskier long-term saving requires that an individual possess the ability to manage the associated increased risks. Stock prices fluctuate widely, in marked contrast to the stability of (government insured) bank deposits or bonds. This is something that could affect not only the individual investor or household, but also the economy on a large scale. The following deals with some of the risks of the financial sector in general and the stock market in particular. This is certainly more important now that so many newcomers have entered the stock market, or have acquired other 'risky' investments (such as 'investment' property, i.e., real estate and collectables).
With each passing year, the noise level in the stock market rises. Television commentators, financial writers, analysts, and market strategists are all overtaking each other to get investors' attention. At the same time, individual investors, immersed in chat rooms and message boards, are exchanging questionable and often misleading tips. Yet, despite all this available information, investors find it increasingly difficult to profit. Stock prices skyrocket with little reason, then plummet just as quickly, and people who have turned to investing for their children's education and their own retirement become frightened. Sometimes there appears to be no rhyme or reason to the market, only folly.
This is a quote from the preface to a published biography about the long-term value-oriented stock investor Warren Buffett.[4] Buffett began his career with $100, and $105,000 from seven limited partners consisting of Buffett's family and friends. Over the years he has built himself a multi-billion-dollar fortune. The quote illustrates some of what has been happening in the stock market during the end of the 20th century and the beginning of the 21st century.
Trading
Participants in the stock market range from small individual stock investors to large hedge fund traders, who can be based anywhere. Their orders usually end up with a professional at a stock exchange, who executes the order.
Some exchanges are physical locations where transactions are carried out on a trading floor, by a method known as open outcry. This type of auction is used in stock exchanges and commodity exchanges where traders may enter "verbal" bids and offers simultaneously. The other type of stock exchange is a virtual kind, composed of a network of computers where trades are made electronically via traders.
Actual trades are based on an auction market model where a potential buyer bids a specific price for a stock and a potential seller asks a specific price for the stock. (Buying or selling at market means you will accept any ask price or bid price for the stock, respectively.) When the bid and ask prices match, a sale takes place on a first come first served basis if there are multiple bidders or askers at a given price.
The purpose of a stock exchange is to facilitate the exchange of securities between buyers and sellers, thus providing a marketplace (virtual or real). The exchanges provide real-time trading information on the listed securities, facilitating price discovery.
New York Stock Exchange.
The New York Stock Exchange is a physical exchange, also referred to as a listed exchange — only stocks listed with the exchange may be traded. Orders enter by way of exchange members and flow down to a floor broker, who goes to the floor trading post specialist for that stock to trade the order. The specialist's job is to match buy and sell orders using open outcry. If a spread exists, no trade immediately takes place--in this case the specialist should use his/her own resources (money or stock) to close the difference after his/her judged time. Once a trade has been made the details are reported on the "tape" and sent back to the brokerage firm, which then notifies the investor who placed the order. Although there is a significant amount of human contact in this process, computers play an important role, especially for so-called "program trading".
The NASDAQ is a virtual listed exchange, where all of the trading is done over a computer network. The process is similar to the New York Stock Exchange. However, buyers and sellers are electronically matched. One or more NASDAQ market makers will always provide a bid and ask price at which they will always purchase or sell 'their' stock.
The Paris Bourse, now part of Euronext, is an order-driven, electronic stock exchange. It was automated in the late 1980s. Prior to the 1980s, it consisted of an open outcry exchange. Stockbrokers met on the trading floor or the Palais Brongniart. In 1986, the CATS trading system was introduced, and the order matching process was fully automated.
From time to time, active trading (especially in large blocks of securities) have moved away from the 'active' exchanges. Securities firms, led by UBS AG, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Credit Suisse Group, already steer 12 percent of U.S. security trades away from the exchanges to their internal systems. That share probably will increase to 18 percent by 2010 as more investment banks bypass the NYSE and NASDAQ and pair buyers and sellers of securities themselves, according to data compiled by Boston-based Aite Group LLC, a brokerage-industry consultant[citation needed].
Now that computers have eliminated the need for trading floors like the Big Board's, the balance of power in equity markets is shifting. By bringing more orders in-house, where clients can move big blocks of stock anonymously, brokers pay the exchanges less in fees and capture a bigger share of the $11 billion a year that institutional investors pay in trading commissions[citation needed].
Market participants
A few decades ago, worldwide, buyers and sellers were individual investors, such as wealthy businessmen, with long family histories (and emotional ties) to particular corporations. Over time, markets have become more "institutionalized"; buyers and sellers are largely institutions (e.g., pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, index funds, exchange-traded funds, hedge funds, investor groups, banks and various other financial institutions). The rise of the institutional investor has brought with it some improvements in market operations. Thus, the government was responsible for "fixed" (and exorbitant) fees being markedly reduced for the 'small' investor, but only after the large institutions had managed to break the brokers' solid front on fees. (They then went to 'negotiated' fees, but only for large institutions.[citation needed])
However, corporate governance (at least in the West) has been very much adversely affected by the rise of (largely 'absentee') institutional 'owners'.
Some exchanges are physical locations where transactions are carried out on a trading floor, by a method known as open outcry. This type of auction is used in stock exchanges and commodity exchanges where traders may enter "verbal" bids and offers simultaneously. The other type of stock exchange is a virtual kind, composed of a network of computers where trades are made electronically via traders.
Actual trades are based on an auction market model where a potential buyer bids a specific price for a stock and a potential seller asks a specific price for the stock. (Buying or selling at market means you will accept any ask price or bid price for the stock, respectively.) When the bid and ask prices match, a sale takes place on a first come first served basis if there are multiple bidders or askers at a given price.
The purpose of a stock exchange is to facilitate the exchange of securities between buyers and sellers, thus providing a marketplace (virtual or real). The exchanges provide real-time trading information on the listed securities, facilitating price discovery.
New York Stock Exchange.
The New York Stock Exchange is a physical exchange, also referred to as a listed exchange — only stocks listed with the exchange may be traded. Orders enter by way of exchange members and flow down to a floor broker, who goes to the floor trading post specialist for that stock to trade the order. The specialist's job is to match buy and sell orders using open outcry. If a spread exists, no trade immediately takes place--in this case the specialist should use his/her own resources (money or stock) to close the difference after his/her judged time. Once a trade has been made the details are reported on the "tape" and sent back to the brokerage firm, which then notifies the investor who placed the order. Although there is a significant amount of human contact in this process, computers play an important role, especially for so-called "program trading".
The NASDAQ is a virtual listed exchange, where all of the trading is done over a computer network. The process is similar to the New York Stock Exchange. However, buyers and sellers are electronically matched. One or more NASDAQ market makers will always provide a bid and ask price at which they will always purchase or sell 'their' stock.
The Paris Bourse, now part of Euronext, is an order-driven, electronic stock exchange. It was automated in the late 1980s. Prior to the 1980s, it consisted of an open outcry exchange. Stockbrokers met on the trading floor or the Palais Brongniart. In 1986, the CATS trading system was introduced, and the order matching process was fully automated.
From time to time, active trading (especially in large blocks of securities) have moved away from the 'active' exchanges. Securities firms, led by UBS AG, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Credit Suisse Group, already steer 12 percent of U.S. security trades away from the exchanges to their internal systems. That share probably will increase to 18 percent by 2010 as more investment banks bypass the NYSE and NASDAQ and pair buyers and sellers of securities themselves, according to data compiled by Boston-based Aite Group LLC, a brokerage-industry consultant[citation needed].
Now that computers have eliminated the need for trading floors like the Big Board's, the balance of power in equity markets is shifting. By bringing more orders in-house, where clients can move big blocks of stock anonymously, brokers pay the exchanges less in fees and capture a bigger share of the $11 billion a year that institutional investors pay in trading commissions[citation needed].
Market participants
A few decades ago, worldwide, buyers and sellers were individual investors, such as wealthy businessmen, with long family histories (and emotional ties) to particular corporations. Over time, markets have become more "institutionalized"; buyers and sellers are largely institutions (e.g., pension funds, insurance companies, mutual funds, index funds, exchange-traded funds, hedge funds, investor groups, banks and various other financial institutions). The rise of the institutional investor has brought with it some improvements in market operations. Thus, the government was responsible for "fixed" (and exorbitant) fees being markedly reduced for the 'small' investor, but only after the large institutions had managed to break the brokers' solid front on fees. (They then went to 'negotiated' fees, but only for large institutions.[citation needed])
However, corporate governance (at least in the West) has been very much adversely affected by the rise of (largely 'absentee') institutional 'owners'.
Stock market
A stock market is a public market for the trading of company stock and derivatives at an agreed price; these are securities listed on a stock exchange as well as those only traded privately.
The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion US at the beginning of October 2008.The total world derivatives market has been estimated at about $791 trillion face or nominal value, 11 times the size of the entire world economy. The value of the derivatives market, because it is stated in terms of notional values, cannot be directly compared to a stock or a fixed income security, which traditionally refers to an actual value. Moreover, the vast majority of derivatives 'cancel' each other out (i.e., a derivative 'bet' on an event occurring is offset by a comparable derivative 'bet' on the event not occurring.). Many such relatively illiquid securities are valued as marked to model, rather than an actual market price.
The stocks are listed and traded on stock exchanges which are entities of a corporation or mutual organization specialized in the business of bringing buyers and sellers of the organizations to a listing of stocks and securities together. The stock market in the United States includes the trading of all securities listed on the NYSE Euronext, the NASDAQ, the Amex, as well as on the many regional exchanges, e.g. OTCBB and Pink Sheets. European examples of stock exchanges include the London Stock Exchange, the Deutsche Börse.
The size of the world stock market was estimated at about $36.6 trillion US at the beginning of October 2008.The total world derivatives market has been estimated at about $791 trillion face or nominal value, 11 times the size of the entire world economy. The value of the derivatives market, because it is stated in terms of notional values, cannot be directly compared to a stock or a fixed income security, which traditionally refers to an actual value. Moreover, the vast majority of derivatives 'cancel' each other out (i.e., a derivative 'bet' on an event occurring is offset by a comparable derivative 'bet' on the event not occurring.). Many such relatively illiquid securities are valued as marked to model, rather than an actual market price.
The stocks are listed and traded on stock exchanges which are entities of a corporation or mutual organization specialized in the business of bringing buyers and sellers of the organizations to a listing of stocks and securities together. The stock market in the United States includes the trading of all securities listed on the NYSE Euronext, the NASDAQ, the Amex, as well as on the many regional exchanges, e.g. OTCBB and Pink Sheets. European examples of stock exchanges include the London Stock Exchange, the Deutsche Börse.
what is financial market
Definition
In economics, typically, the term market means the aggregate of possible buyers and sellers of a thing and the transactions between them.
The term "market" is sometimes used for what are more strictly exchanges, organizations that facilitate the trade in financial securities, e.g., a stock exchange or commodity exchange. This may be a physical location (like the NYSE) or an electronic system (like NASDAQ). Much trading of stocks takes place on an exchange; still, corporate actions (merger, spinoff) are outside an exchange, while any two companies or people, for whatever reason, may agree to sell stock from the one to the other without using an exchange.
Trading of currencies and bonds is largely on a bilateral basis, although some bonds trade on a stock exchange, and people are building electronic systems for these as well, similar to stock exchanges.
Financial markets can be domestic or they can be international.
Types of financial markets
The financial markets can be divided into different subtypes:
* Capital markets which consist of:
o Stock markets, which provide financing through the issuance of shares or common stock, and enable the subsequent trading thereof.
o Bond markets, which provide financing through the issuance of bonds, and enable the subsequent trading thereof.
* Commodity markets, which facilitate the trading of commodities.
* Money markets, which provide short term debt financing and investment.
* Derivatives markets, which provide instruments for the management of financial risk.
o Futures markets, which provide standardized forward contracts for trading products at some future date; see also forward market.
* Insurance markets, which facilitate the redistribution of various risks.
* Foreign exchange markets, which facilitate the trading of foreign exchange.
The capital markets consist of primary markets and secondary markets. Newly formed (issued) securities are bought or sold in primary markets. Secondary markets allow investors to sell securities that they hold or buy existing securities.
To understand financial markets, let us look at what they are used for, i.e. what is their purpose?
Without financial markets, borrowers would have difficulty finding lenders themselves. Intermediaries such as banks help in this process. Banks take deposits from those who have money to save. They can then lend money from this pool of deposited money to those who seek to borrow. Banks popularly lend money in the form of loans and mortgages.
More complex transactions than a simple bank deposit require markets where lenders and their agents can meet borrowers and their agents, and where existing borrowing or lending commitments can be sold on to other parties. A good example of a financial market is a stock exchange. A company can raise money by selling shares to investors and its existing shares can be bought or sold.
The following table illustrates where financial markets fit in the relationship between lenders and borrowers:
Relationship between lenders and borrowers
Lenders Financial Intermediaries Financial Markets Borrowers
Individuals
Companies Banks
Insurance Companies
Pension Funds
Mutual Funds
Interbank
Stock Exchange
Money Market
Bond Market
Foreign Exchange Individuals
Companies
Central Government
Municipalities
Public Corporations
In economics, typically, the term market means the aggregate of possible buyers and sellers of a thing and the transactions between them.
The term "market" is sometimes used for what are more strictly exchanges, organizations that facilitate the trade in financial securities, e.g., a stock exchange or commodity exchange. This may be a physical location (like the NYSE) or an electronic system (like NASDAQ). Much trading of stocks takes place on an exchange; still, corporate actions (merger, spinoff) are outside an exchange, while any two companies or people, for whatever reason, may agree to sell stock from the one to the other without using an exchange.
Trading of currencies and bonds is largely on a bilateral basis, although some bonds trade on a stock exchange, and people are building electronic systems for these as well, similar to stock exchanges.
Financial markets can be domestic or they can be international.
Types of financial markets
The financial markets can be divided into different subtypes:
* Capital markets which consist of:
o Stock markets, which provide financing through the issuance of shares or common stock, and enable the subsequent trading thereof.
o Bond markets, which provide financing through the issuance of bonds, and enable the subsequent trading thereof.
* Commodity markets, which facilitate the trading of commodities.
* Money markets, which provide short term debt financing and investment.
* Derivatives markets, which provide instruments for the management of financial risk.
o Futures markets, which provide standardized forward contracts for trading products at some future date; see also forward market.
* Insurance markets, which facilitate the redistribution of various risks.
* Foreign exchange markets, which facilitate the trading of foreign exchange.
The capital markets consist of primary markets and secondary markets. Newly formed (issued) securities are bought or sold in primary markets. Secondary markets allow investors to sell securities that they hold or buy existing securities.
To understand financial markets, let us look at what they are used for, i.e. what is their purpose?
Without financial markets, borrowers would have difficulty finding lenders themselves. Intermediaries such as banks help in this process. Banks take deposits from those who have money to save. They can then lend money from this pool of deposited money to those who seek to borrow. Banks popularly lend money in the form of loans and mortgages.
More complex transactions than a simple bank deposit require markets where lenders and their agents can meet borrowers and their agents, and where existing borrowing or lending commitments can be sold on to other parties. A good example of a financial market is a stock exchange. A company can raise money by selling shares to investors and its existing shares can be bought or sold.
The following table illustrates where financial markets fit in the relationship between lenders and borrowers:
Relationship between lenders and borrowers
Lenders Financial Intermediaries Financial Markets Borrowers
Individuals
Companies Banks
Insurance Companies
Pension Funds
Mutual Funds
Interbank
Stock Exchange
Money Market
Bond Market
Foreign Exchange Individuals
Companies
Central Government
Municipalities
Public Corporations
Financial market
In economics, a financial market is a mechanism that allows people to easily buy and sell (trade) financial securities (such as stocks and bonds), commodities (such as precious metals or agricultural goods), and other fungible items of value at low transaction costs and at prices that reflect the efficient-market hypothesis.
Financial markets have evolved significantly over several hundred years and are undergoing constant innovation to improve liquidity.
Both general markets (where many commodities are traded) and specialized markets (where only one commodity is traded) exist. Markets work by placing many interested buyers and sellers in one "place", thus making it easier for them to find each other. An economy which relies primarily on interactions between buyers and sellers to allocate resources is known as a market economy in contrast either to a command economy or to a non-market economy such as a gift economy.
In finance, financial markets facilitate –
* The raising of capital (in the capital markets);
* The transfer of risk (in the derivatives markets);
* International trade (in the currency markets)
– and are used to match those who want capital to those who have it.
Typically a borrower issues a receipt to the lender promising to pay back the capital. These receipts are securities which may be freely bought or sold. In return for lending money to the borrower, the lender will expect some compensation in the form of interest or dividends.
In mathematical finance, the concept of a financial market is defined in terms of a continuous-time Brownian motion stochastic process.
Financial markets have evolved significantly over several hundred years and are undergoing constant innovation to improve liquidity.
Both general markets (where many commodities are traded) and specialized markets (where only one commodity is traded) exist. Markets work by placing many interested buyers and sellers in one "place", thus making it easier for them to find each other. An economy which relies primarily on interactions between buyers and sellers to allocate resources is known as a market economy in contrast either to a command economy or to a non-market economy such as a gift economy.
In finance, financial markets facilitate –
* The raising of capital (in the capital markets);
* The transfer of risk (in the derivatives markets);
* International trade (in the currency markets)
– and are used to match those who want capital to those who have it.
Typically a borrower issues a receipt to the lender promising to pay back the capital. These receipts are securities which may be freely bought or sold. In return for lending money to the borrower, the lender will expect some compensation in the form of interest or dividends.
In mathematical finance, the concept of a financial market is defined in terms of a continuous-time Brownian motion stochastic process.
Finance
Finance is the science of funds management.[1] The general areas of finance are business finance, personal finance, and public finance.[2] Finance includes saving money and often includes lending money. The field of finance deals with the concepts of time, money and risk and how they are interrelated. It also deals with how money is spent and budgeted.
Finance works most basically through individuals and business organizations depositing money in a bank. The bank then lends the money out to other individuals or corporations for consumption or investment, and charges interest on the loans.
Loans have become increasingly packaged for resale, meaning that an investor buys the loan (debt) from a bank or directly from a corporation. Bonds are debt sold directly to investors from corporations, while that investor can then hold the debt and collect the interest or sell the debt on a secondary market. Banks are the main facilitators of funding through the provision of credit, although private equity, mutual funds, hedge funds, and other organizations have become important as they invest in various forms of debt. Financial assets, known as investments, are financially managed with careful attention to financial risk management to control financial risk. Financial instruments allow many forms of securitized assets to be traded on securities exchanges such as stock exchanges, including debt such as bonds as well as equity in publicly-traded corporations.[dubious – discuss]
Central banks act as lenders of last resort and control the money supply, which affects the interest rates charged. As money supply increases, interest rates decrease.
The main techniques and sectors of the financial industry
An entity whose income exceeds their expenditure can lend or invest the excess income. On the other hand, an entity whose income is less than its expenditure can raise capital by borrowing or selling equity claims, decreasing its expenses, or increasing its income. The lender can find a borrower, a financial intermediary such as a bank, or buy notes or bonds in the bond market. The lender receives interest, the borrower pays a higher interest than the lender receives, and the financial intermediary pockets the difference.
A bank aggregates the activities of many borrowers and lenders. A bank accepts deposits from lenders, on which it pays the interest. The bank then lends these deposits to borrowers. Banks allow borrowers and lenders, of different sizes, to coordinate their activity. Banks are thus compensators of money flows in space.
A specific example of corporate finance is the sale of stock by a company to institutional investors like investment banks, who in turn generally sell it to the public. The stock gives whoever owns it part ownership in that company. If you buy one share of XYZ Inc, and they have 100 shares outstanding (held by investors), you are 1/100 owner of that company. Of course, in return for the stock, the company receives cash, which it uses to expand its business; this process is known as "equity financing". Equity financing mixed with the sale of bonds (or any other debt financing) is called the company's capital structure.
Finance is used by individuals (personal finance), by governments (public finance), by businesses (corporate finance), as well as by a wide variety of organizations including schools and non-profit organizations. In general, the goals of each of the above activities are achieved through the use of appropriate financial instruments and methodologies, with consideration to their institutional setting.
Finance is one of the most important aspects of business management. Without proper financial planning a new enterprise is unlikely to be successful. Managing money (a liquid asset) is essential to ensure a secure future, both for the individual and an organization.
Finance works most basically through individuals and business organizations depositing money in a bank. The bank then lends the money out to other individuals or corporations for consumption or investment, and charges interest on the loans.
Loans have become increasingly packaged for resale, meaning that an investor buys the loan (debt) from a bank or directly from a corporation. Bonds are debt sold directly to investors from corporations, while that investor can then hold the debt and collect the interest or sell the debt on a secondary market. Banks are the main facilitators of funding through the provision of credit, although private equity, mutual funds, hedge funds, and other organizations have become important as they invest in various forms of debt. Financial assets, known as investments, are financially managed with careful attention to financial risk management to control financial risk. Financial instruments allow many forms of securitized assets to be traded on securities exchanges such as stock exchanges, including debt such as bonds as well as equity in publicly-traded corporations.[dubious – discuss]
Central banks act as lenders of last resort and control the money supply, which affects the interest rates charged. As money supply increases, interest rates decrease.
The main techniques and sectors of the financial industry
An entity whose income exceeds their expenditure can lend or invest the excess income. On the other hand, an entity whose income is less than its expenditure can raise capital by borrowing or selling equity claims, decreasing its expenses, or increasing its income. The lender can find a borrower, a financial intermediary such as a bank, or buy notes or bonds in the bond market. The lender receives interest, the borrower pays a higher interest than the lender receives, and the financial intermediary pockets the difference.
A bank aggregates the activities of many borrowers and lenders. A bank accepts deposits from lenders, on which it pays the interest. The bank then lends these deposits to borrowers. Banks allow borrowers and lenders, of different sizes, to coordinate their activity. Banks are thus compensators of money flows in space.
A specific example of corporate finance is the sale of stock by a company to institutional investors like investment banks, who in turn generally sell it to the public. The stock gives whoever owns it part ownership in that company. If you buy one share of XYZ Inc, and they have 100 shares outstanding (held by investors), you are 1/100 owner of that company. Of course, in return for the stock, the company receives cash, which it uses to expand its business; this process is known as "equity financing". Equity financing mixed with the sale of bonds (or any other debt financing) is called the company's capital structure.
Finance is used by individuals (personal finance), by governments (public finance), by businesses (corporate finance), as well as by a wide variety of organizations including schools and non-profit organizations. In general, the goals of each of the above activities are achieved through the use of appropriate financial instruments and methodologies, with consideration to their institutional setting.
Finance is one of the most important aspects of business management. Without proper financial planning a new enterprise is unlikely to be successful. Managing money (a liquid asset) is essential to ensure a secure future, both for the individual and an organization.
Mortgage modification
Mortgage modification is a process where the terms of a mortgage are modified outside the original terms of the contract agreed to by the lender and borrower (i.e mortgagor and mortgagee). In general, any loan can be modified.
Background
In the normal progression of a mortgage, payments of interest and principal are made until the mortgage is paid in full (or paid-off). Typically, until the mortgage is paid, the lender holds a lien on the property and if the borrower sells the property before the mortgage is paid-off, the unpaid balance of the mortgage is remitted to the lender to release the lien. Generally speaking, any change to the mortgage terms is a modification, but as the term is used it refers to a change in terms based upon either the specific inability of the borrower to remain current on payments as stated in the mortgage[1], or more generally government mandate to lenders.
Types of modification
Mortgages are modified to the benefit of the borrower in one or more of the following ways:
* Reduction in interest rate, or a change from a floating to a fixed rate, or in how the floating rate is computed
* Reduction in principal
* Reduction in late fees or other penalties
* Lengthening of the loan term
* Capping the monthly payment to a percentage of household income
The borrower can be current, late, in default, in bankruptcy, or in foreclosure at the time the application for modification is made. The programs available will vary accordingly.
There may be modifications made at the discretion of the lender. The lender is motivated to offer better terms to the borrower because of the expectation that the borrower might be able to afford a lower payment, and that a performing loan (i.e. one in which payments are current) will be more valuable ultimately than the proceeds obtained from a foreclosure sale.[2]
The state and federal government may structure a mortgage modification program as voluntary on the part of the lender, but may provide incentives for the lender to participate. A mandatory mortgage modification program requires the lender to modify mortgages meeting the criteria with respect to the borrower, the property, and the loan payment history.
Background
In the normal progression of a mortgage, payments of interest and principal are made until the mortgage is paid in full (or paid-off). Typically, until the mortgage is paid, the lender holds a lien on the property and if the borrower sells the property before the mortgage is paid-off, the unpaid balance of the mortgage is remitted to the lender to release the lien. Generally speaking, any change to the mortgage terms is a modification, but as the term is used it refers to a change in terms based upon either the specific inability of the borrower to remain current on payments as stated in the mortgage[1], or more generally government mandate to lenders.
Types of modification
Mortgages are modified to the benefit of the borrower in one or more of the following ways:
* Reduction in interest rate, or a change from a floating to a fixed rate, or in how the floating rate is computed
* Reduction in principal
* Reduction in late fees or other penalties
* Lengthening of the loan term
* Capping the monthly payment to a percentage of household income
The borrower can be current, late, in default, in bankruptcy, or in foreclosure at the time the application for modification is made. The programs available will vary accordingly.
There may be modifications made at the discretion of the lender. The lender is motivated to offer better terms to the borrower because of the expectation that the borrower might be able to afford a lower payment, and that a performing loan (i.e. one in which payments are current) will be more valuable ultimately than the proceeds obtained from a foreclosure sale.[2]
The state and federal government may structure a mortgage modification program as voluntary on the part of the lender, but may provide incentives for the lender to participate. A mandatory mortgage modification program requires the lender to modify mortgages meeting the criteria with respect to the borrower, the property, and the loan payment history.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Loan
A loan is a type of debt. Like all debt instruments, a loan entails the redistribution of financial assets over time, between the lender and the borrower.
In a loan, the borrower initially receives or borrows an amount of money, called the principal, from the lender, and is obligated to pay back or repay an equal amount of money to the lender at a later time. Typically, the money is paid back in regular installments, or partial repayments; in an annuity, each installment is the same amount. The loan is generally provided at a cost, referred to as interest on the debt, which provides an incentive for the lender to engage in the loan. In a legal loan, each of these obligations and restrictions is enforced by contract, which can also place the borrower under additional restrictions known as loan covenants. Although this article focuses on monetary loans, in practice any material object might be lent.
Acting as a provider of loans is one of the principal tasks for financial institutions. For other institutions, issuing of debt contracts such as bonds is a typical source of funding
Mortgage
A mortgage is the transfer of an interest in property (or the equivalent in law - a charge) to a lender as a security for a debt - usually a loan of money. While a mortgage in itself is not a debt, it is the lender's security for a debt. It is a transfer of an interest in land (or the equivalent) from the owner to the mortgage lender, on the condition that this interest will be returned to the owner when the terms of the mortgage have been satisfied or performed. In other words, the mortgage is a security for the loan that the lender makes to the borrower.
This comes from the Old French "dead pledge," apparently meaning that the pledge ends (dies) either when the obligation is fulfilled or the property is taken through foreclosure.[1]
In most jurisdictions mortgages are strongly associated with loans secured on real estate rather than on other property (such as ships) and in some jurisdictions only land may be mortgaged. A mortgage is the standard method by which individuals and businesses can purchase real estate without the need to pay the full value immediately from their own resources. See mortgage loan for residential mortgage lending, and commercial mortgage for lending against commercial property.
The cost to the borrower is measured by the annual percentage rate (APR), which is an effective annual rate of interest and fees paid by the borrower.
In many countries, though not all (Iran and Bali, Indonesia are two exceptions[2]), it is normal for home purchases to be funded by a mortgage. Few individuals have enough savings or liquid funds to enable them to purchase property outright. In countries where the demand for home ownership is highest, strong domestic markets have developed.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Canadian Student Loan Program
Canadian Students Studying in the USA
For Canadian students studying or planning to study in the USA, we offer the Canadian Student Loan. Students applying for the Canadian Student Loan will require a US citizen or permanent resident co-signer.
Formerly, we offered the CanHelp loan, which was available with a Canadian co-signer; however, as of April 18, 2008 the CanHelp loan has been discontinued and is no longer available. Instead of the CanHelp, Canadian students can now apply for a Canadian Student Loan for study in the USA.
Canadian students can apply for the loan program by phone, and can borrow up to the cost of attendence for their school. Canadian students are required to have a US Citizen or permanent resident as a co-signer to apply for this loan.
These loans also offer:
- Funds disbursed directly to you
- Loans are accepted at thousands of approved schools
- Competitive interest rates
- No application fees
Learn more about the Canadian Student Loan Program:
The International Student Loan Center
Each year over 200,000 Americans study abroad and nearly 600,000 international students come to the USA to study. However, studying abroad often requires financial assistance for extra expenses such as travel, accommodations and materials, which can make it a greater financial commitment. InternationalStudentLoan.com is here to help, by offering a range of international student loans and study abroad loans to international students and Canadian students in the USA and for US Students studying around the world.
International Student Loans are available for:
Why get an International Student Loan? For the most part, students struggle to fund their international education. Scholarships and grants are always available, but if you are one of the lucky ones to receive one it will still not cover all your expenses. That is where an International Student Loan will help you. Our lender partners offer n o application fees or other out-of-pocket fees and preliminary approval in as little as 15 minutes. Normally, funding is very quick, but currently processing and funding times have slowed down.
Interest rates have gone up substantially! We are also experiencing processing and funding delays due to the turmoil in the student loan marketplace. Borrow as little as you can -- make sure you exhaust all other avenues for funding first. Use scholarships, personal and family funds, and any other money you can first. Read more about the Credit Crunch and how it impacts international students.
Please take the time to visit and learn more about our international student loans, canadian student loans and us student loans. We also have a dedicated customer support center to help students with your loan application and research - please contact us with any questions.
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Saturday, July 11, 2009
CAR LOANS
Did you know? "CarCredit.com has been helping people get car loans for almost 10 years on the internet. Nobody has more experience than we do"
Did you know? "CarCredit.com has been helping people get car loans for almost 10 years on the internet. Nobody has more experience than we do"
Need to know more? Check this out, CarCredit.com helps people with bad credit get the car loans they deserve. Even if you have a bankruptcy or very bad credit, CarCredit.com has the car loans you want. The process is simple and free for car loans online . Fill out our online application, and within 24 hours a bad credit specialist in your area will contact you with details. You could be driving home with your new or used car today! What are you waiting for?
Car Loans Even With Bad Credit!
CarCredit.com uses a nationwide network of bad credit car dealerships who specialize in helping people with bad credit and bankruptcies get the car loans they deserve. Thousands of people with bad credit are being approved for car loans each day through our guaranteed approval program for bad credit car loans. Our service is free, secure and you don't need a credit card to apply!
CarCredit.com is not too good to be true, it is real. Your bad credit history is no longer an obstacle in obtaining car loans. All you have to do is fill out our free online car loans application and a representative will contact you within 24 hours with more details. You could have the car you want today! Why wait any longer, our car loans approval service is nationwide.
Our main concern is helping you get approved for an auto loan. If you have been turned down in the past, you needn't worry anymore. CarCredit.com is here to help.
Buying a Home After Bankruptcy
If you have filed bankruptcy and are looking for home financing, there is light at the end of the tunnel. There are factors that are very important if you are looking to buy a home with bad credit. The two factors required to get a mortgage loan are verification of the income and the down payment that you can afford.
After filing bankruptcy, most creditors wait at least 2 years after your bankruptcy has been discharged - before they will consider lending you the money. After the two year period is over, you should not have a problem getting your home financed. Actually, you can also get 100% financing if you have paid most of your bills and other dues on time since the discharge of your bankruptcy.
If you don't want to wait till two years after your bankruptcy has been discharged and want to get a mortgage loan sooner than that then your repayments must be perfect. You can not delay your monthly dues and you should also be able to make a little down payment. This will make your case stronger. If you have enough money to make 4-6% of the down payment, this should be enough to get approved.
There are a number of ways to get a down payment for your mortgage loan besides saving the money in the bank. Here a few tips to help you arrange a little down payment:
Borrow some money from your friends or relatives.
Once you have financed your house, you can usually take out a second or even a third mortgage, up to the total value of your house and then, you can start repaying your relatives. Remember that lenders can have a few reservations about where the down payment is coming from and you will be required to disclose this information before you can get your house financed. If you are not totally honest here, it could very well be considered as defrauding a lender and that has its own risks and can cause you serious problems.
Neighborhood Gold/Nehemiah Programs
You can get a lot of help with these are down payment assistance programs. Basically, these programs are there to help the seller in helping you with your down payment.
Receiving a down payment from your seller is an illegal act but, through these programs, it is legal to get down payment assistance from your seller. There are more down payment assistance programs which are more like grants and need not to be repaid or paid by anyone. To find out more about them, you should search the term "down payment assistance" on the internet.
401K Plans
You can also cash out your 401k or some other investment you made and just like in the first example, you can repay yourself with the second or third mortgage after the loan has been closed.
Buying a house after bankruptcy is not impossible anymore. In fact, modern day mortgage industry has made it far easier than ever and it keeps getting easier as our mortgage industry evolves. You can also save a lot of money and also get some extra cash by refinancing your mortgage. You can find more information on how and when to get your mortgage refinanced here on credit and mortgage index and you can also find tools that will help you calculate mortgage refinancing.
Bad Credit Home Improvement Loans
When a bad credit loan borrower applies for a loan, there are good chances that the lender will not easily lend him the money and the borrower will probably face a difficult time and will have to go through hard conditions laid down by the lender/creditor. This of course is the result of the common fact that bad credit means risky business. A person with bad credit history is more likely to not pay the money back than a person with a good credit report.
There are several ways to combat this situation. There are many types of loans and applying for the right kind of loan is the key. In this case, we are talking about specially design bad credit home improvement loans.
Usually, bad credit home improvement loans are approved without credit hassles posed by the creditor. You can use these loans for improving your home for example; you can enlarge the size of your rooms, expand your kitchen and modernize it, redecorating the lounge and adding sofas etc. This increases your home value to a great extent!
Bad credit home improvement loans are specially designed for those people who have credit problems. For instance, a late payment, defaulting on your previous repayment plans and some arrears are only some of the reasons for having a bad credit report. Bad credit home improvement loans are secured loans given against your home. Lenders are mostly comfortable giving secured loans because this means that there is little risk involved. In such case, the loan amount that you’ll get will heavily depend on the value of your home. This means that improving your home and its value will get you approved for borrowing higher amounts and not to mention, your house resale improves drastically.
One of the best advantages of bad credit home improvement loans is that you get a loan with lower interest rates despite bad credit! Another advantage would the repayment duration. With a bad credit home improvement loan, you get easy repayment period starting from 5 years and lasting for as long as 30 years! This means that you can repay the loan depending your monthly repayment ability.
Before you apply for bad credit home improvement loans, make sure that you know your current credit score and if your credit score has hit rock bottom then try to improve it quickly by paying off some of the easy debts. Applying with a respectable credit score will get you better rates.
You can apply for these loans in banks, financial institutions and online loan lenders. Applying online for a bad credit home improvement loan can get you lower interest rates if you compare them with banks. Comparing between different quotes provided by different online resources is a must and is one exercise that will find you lowest interest rate loans for people with bad credit.
Personal loans for unemployed will be either secured or unsecured. Secured personal loans for unemployed require collateral for approval.
There is always a stage in everyone's life called unemployment. The good news is that it is temporary. The bad news is that at times financial situation and you think of ways to fight it off. Fight it out? Why fight if you have personal loan
You must have gone through similar reactions from people who tell you stories about how grim your situation is and how difficult is to find loans for unemployed. Usually an unemployed little realizing that they can get personal loans. However, this is a cliché that people often led to believe. Personal loans for unemployed have the flexibility to stretch and adapt to the requirement of each unemployed person.
Personal loans for unemployed are devised, of course taking into account their needs. The main concern of the loan lender reimbursement unemployed who thinks that he can not qualify for, because he has no job. An unemployed or visible means of repayment are eligible for a personal loans. Unemployed personal loans have great advantages such as low interest rates, special discounts, flexible repayment terms and the ability to match your budget.
Personal loans for unemployed will be either secured or unsecured. Secured personal loans for unemployed require collateral for approval. There is much equity in your home to get secured personal loans unemployed. Home is most acceptable form of collateral. However, depending on the amount of the loan alternative form of security may be accepted for secured personal loans for unemployed. Unsecured loans for unemployed will be perfect for those who have no clear active listings as security. Unemployed tenants and landlords can apply for unsecured personal loans.
Personal loan repayment will be primarily for the loan lender and should primarily for unemployed too. Repayment of the unemployed personal loans should be planned, together with loan borrowing. Unemployed persons may opt for a fixed or flexible monthly payments. Fixed for the unemployed personal loans will suit who expect a set income each Monday Flexible monthly repayment for personal loans unemployed will benefit those who are suddenly facing unemployment. Flexible monthly payment offers advantages such as the stand-by facility, overdraft and holiday period. With personal loans for unemployed credit unions are willing to defer and accept reduced payments for the moment. If the borrower gains employment, the Credit Union, the new revenue and adjust personal loan can be repaid.
With secured personal loans for unemployed you can borrow £ 5000 - £ 75,000. Unemployed personal loan enables you to 125% of your own value. Reimbursement Procedures may vary from period 5-25 years. Unsecured personal loans will be useful for the loan amount from € 500 - € 25,000.
For more information about no credit check unemployed loans visit http://www.nocreditcheckloansforunemployed.co.uk
loans for nuemployed peoples
Unemployment is a phase of life that most people experience at some point or the other. And when the pocket becomes empty during such times, you feel as if there is a cosmic joke being played on you. Well, the truth is that things are not as bad as they seem. Loans for the unemployed are being provided in the financial industry.
Loans for the unemployed are designed for the convenience for those who no longer have a source of income. They can be availed without much fuss. If you have unemployment benefits, then you will find it even easier to get yourself approved for one. Such benefits might be a disability allowance, redundancy pay or one-income allowance offered by your previous employers. These loans can be taken not only to fund the necessities of life but also recreational activities, buying a car or renovating your home.
There are no hard and fast rules as to whether you should provide collateral or not. If you are willing to, you can take a secured option. This way, you will get a bigger sum of money, a lower interest rate and a longer repayment period- up to 30 years at the most.
Unsecured loans for the unemployed have a loan amount limited to £25000 and a repayment term that lasts up to a maximum period of 10 years only. They are charged an interest rate higher that the secured option. Either way, the option you go for should be based on your requirements and repayment capability.
Loans for the unemployed have the following features:
• Low interest rate
• Repayment in small monthly installments as per your budget
• Flexible repayment options like overdraft, standby facility and holiday period
Loans for the unemployed are made to help you sail through one of the toughest periods that could be faced by anyone. Through their help, life can stay as normal as it ever was.
Rave Blackburn is a well known author and has been writing content for Same Day Cash Loans. His content is worth reading as it gives you an insight about different aspects of Loans For The Unemployed, same day payday loans, cash advance same day loans. For more information visit http://www.loanssameday.co.uk/
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The International Student Loan Center
Each year over 200,000 Americans study abroad and nearly 600,000 international students come to the USA to study. However, studying abroad often requires financial assistance for extra expenses such as travel, accommodations and materials, which can make it a greater financial commitment. InternationalStudentLoan.com is here to help, by offering a range of international student loans and study abroad loans to international students and Canadian students in the USA and for US Students studying around the world.
International Student Loans are available for:
| International Students | US Students |
This private loan program is available for international students who are planning to study in the USA.
| Federal and private loan programs are available for US Students who are studying abroad or fully enrolled in a non-US School.
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Why get an International Student Loan?
For the most part, students struggle to fund their international education. Scholarships and grants are always available, but if you are one of the lucky ones to receive one it will still not cover all your expenses. That is where an International Student Loan will help you. Our lender partners offer n o application fees or other out-of-pocket fees and preliminary approval in as little as 15 minutes. Normally, funding is very quick, but currently processing and funding times have slowed down.
Interest rates have gone up substantially! We are also experiencing processing and funding delays due to the turmoil in the student loan marketplace. Borrow as little as you can -- make sure you exhaust all other avenues for funding first. Use scholarships, personal and family funds, and any other money you can first. Read more about the Credit Crunch and how it impacts international students.
Please take the time to visit and learn more about our international student loans, canadian student loans and us student loans. We also have a dedicated customer support center to help students with your loan application and research - please contact us with any questions.
Mortgage
A mortgage is a way to use one's real property, like land, a house, or a building, as a guarantee for a loan to get money. Many people do this to buy the home they use for mortgage: the loan provides them the money to buy the house and the loan is guaranteed by the house.
In a mortgage, there is a debtor and a creditor. The debtor is the owner of the property, while the creditor is the owner of the loan. When the mortgage transaction is made, the debtor gets the money with the loan, and promises to pay the loan. The creditor will receive money back with interest over time (usually in payments made each month by the debtor). If the debtor does not pay the loan, the creditor may take the mortgaged property in place of the loan. This is called foreclosure.
In the 2008 American economic failure, creditors lent money to debtors who could not pay back that money. This lowered housing prices and hurt the economy.
Micro-enterprise
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A microenterprise is a type of small business that is often unregistered and run by a poor individual. Specifically a microenterprise is defined as a business having five or fewer employees and a seed capital of not more than $35,000[citation needed]. Because microenterprises typically have no access to the commercial banking sector, they often rely on "micro-loans" or microcredit in order to be financed. Microfinance institutions often finance these small loans, particularly in the Third World. Those who found microenterprises are usually referred to as entrepreneurs.
The terms microenterprise and microbusiness have the same meaning, though traditionally when referring to a small business financed by microcredit the term microenterprise is used. Similarly when referring to a small, usually legal business that isn't financed by microcredit the term microbusiness is used.
Broadly stated, a micro-business is a business started with as little capital as possible, or less capital than would be usual for a business. More precisely, the term is often used in Australia to refer to a business with a single owner-operator, and no employees.
Commercial finance
In the United States, commercial finance is the function of offering loans to businesses. Commercial financing is generally offered by a bank or other lender. Most commercial banks offer commercial financing, and the loans are either secured by business assets or alternatively can be unsecured, where the lender relies of the cash flows of the business to repay the facility.
Assets used to collatoralize commercial finance loans include:
- Real Estate
- Receivables from invoices
- Equipment or supplies
While qualifying for financing is generally easier for large, well established companies, some small businesses can qualify for commercial financing from the Small Business Administration (SBA).[1] The SBA may provide either financing or insure a lender who takes a risk on a smaller company to provide commercial finance.
Businesses can also seek the assistance of Commercial finance advisors in the structuring and sourcing of commercial final References
See also
 | This economics or finance-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
Microcredit
Microcredit is the extension of very small loans (microloans) to those in poverty designed to spur entrepreneurship. These individuals lack collateral, steady employment and a verifiable credit history and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional credit. Microcredit is a part of microfinance, which is the provision of a wider range of financial services to the very poor.
Microcredit is a financial innovation that is generally considered to have originated with the Grameen Bank in Bangladesh.[1] In that country, it has successfully enabled extremely impoverished people to engage in self-employment projects that allow them to generate an income and, in many cases, begin to build wealth and exit poverty. Due to the success of microcredit, many in the traditional banking industry have begun to realize that these microcredit borrowers should more correctly be categorized as pre-bankable; thus, microcredit is increasingly gaining credibility in the mainstream finance industry, and many traditional large finance organizations are contemplating microcredit projects as a source of future growth, even though almost everyone in larger development organizations discounted the likelihood of success of microcredit when it was begun. The United Nations declared 2005 the International Year of Microcredit.
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