Is oil on the brink of ending its three-year bear run?

Is oil on the brink of ending its three-year bear run?

by Louise United Arab Emirates United States
  • Prices have peaked this year at $57.59 per barrel
  • 3 years of price falls may mean a drop in US shale production is on the cards
  • Power consolidation moves in the Middle East could signal supply interruptions

At the end of October, US crude oil inventories hurt WTI oil once again as it came in higher than expected at 0.9 million barrels, as opposed to the -2.6million barrels. This oversupply has been hurting WTI and Brent Oil since the end of June 2014.

Due mainly to US shale, there has been an abundance of oil. This has pressured prices lower. In fact, they have collapsed by more than 50% from the peaks of early 2014.

Reacting to the weaker prices, OPEC (the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) and other oil producing countries such as Russia agreed to cut production until the end of March 2018. This move injected a bit of life into oil, which bounced back from its lows of $26 per barrel. Throughout 2017 it has traded between $42 per barrel and this year’s high (so far) of $57.59 per barrel.

“The reason behind the current stable mood now there is fear that a lack of supply which could push prices higher. The ever-influential Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has said that he backs extending OPEC production cuts past the original date of March 2018. Nor is he the only voice calling for the extension of production cuts: Russian President Vladimir Putin has also backed an extension to the end of 2018 at the very least.

“With both these dominant political figures supporting this move when OPEC meets this month, it will indeed signal a continuation in limiting the supply of crude oil.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

Adding to the mix is the latest unrest in the Middle East, which has injected even more upward momentum to oil prices. Over the weekend, a number of Saudi princes and leading businessmen were arrested by the Saudi authorities on corruption charges. This move has been seen by outsiders as the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman consolidating his power as he attempts to make massive constitutional changes to the country.

Tensions in the region have increased further with a statement made by top Saudi Ministers, who have said that Lebanon has declared war on the Kingdom, and further sabre rattling with Iran. These latest developments are destabilizing the region, with oil prices clearly benefitting.

“There is also another factor to be taken into consideration on why oil prices seem to be rising. In fact, oil may now be at the end of its three-year bear run. Although US shale is expected to continue to increasing healthy production, some believe that the three years of falling oil prices has meant a decrease in investment into production. This could cause further drops in supply. Along with the slow improvement in the world economy, demand for oil could increase. This will in turn not only support oil prices, but could even boost them to $65 per barrel in the long-term.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

At the end of the day, having suffered for three years, maybe it’s time for oil to have a bit of break.

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

Risk warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

Japanese elections – it’s business as usual with easyMarkets

Japanese elections – it’s business as usual with easyMarkets

by Louise Uncategorized

While most brokers are increasing margins and changing trading conditions for JPY crosses ahead of the Japanese general elections happening on 22 October, easyMarkets and its clients’ trading conditions will remain unaffected.

“We are happy to announce that easyMarkets will be conducting its business as usual and not changing our trading conditions whatsoever. We would like to ensure our customers that we are dedicated to client safety – proven by our handling of events such as the US elections last November, the Brexit referendum in June 2016 and the Swiss Franc collapse at the beginning of 2015.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

easyMarkets clients will have the exact trading conditions they had when they began with the company, regardless of what is affecting markets. As such, they will be able to continue trading any JPY crosses without any hindrance.

The confirmation comes as part of a raft of easyMarkets Risk Management tools and conditions. These include:

  • Guaranteed stop loss
  • Guaranteed take profit
  • No requotes or amendments
  • Negative balance protection
  • Fixed spreads – always

In addition, the easyMarkets team is available to assess and help traders with any concerns or inquiries they may have.

 

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

Risk Warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Please refer to our full risk disclaimer. Easy Forex Trading Ltd (CySEC – License Number 079/07).

 

About easyMarkets

easyMarkets is a trading name of Easy Forex Trading Limited, registration number: HE203997. This website is operated by Easy Forex Trading Limited

By using easymarkets.com you agree to our use of cookies to enhance your experience.

Restricted Regions: easyMarkets Group of Companies does not provide services for residents of certain regions, such as the United States of America, Israel, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, North Korea, Somalia, Yemen, Iraq ,Sudan, South Sudan, British Columbia, Ontario and Manitoba.

 

First deadlock, then hope – the Brexit negotiation saga continues

First deadlock, then hope – the Brexit negotiation saga continues

by Louise United Kingdom
  • Brexit repeatedly shocking exchange rates (easyMarkets)
  • Leaked document signals hope for UK trade deal
  • Sterling bulls quick to rejoice at the hint of good news

 

Just like life, the currency market is a roller coaster. Take what happened on 12 October with the Brexit talks. First in the afternoon we had doom and gloom and then a few hours later we had hope.

In all divorces, one of the key areas that most lawyers will lock horns over is money. And the Brexit negotiations are proving to be no different. Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, said that there was a “deadlock” over the UK’s so-called divorce settlement. He also said that the lack of progress on this matter was “disturbing”.

The UK was hoping that it would make some headway and at least agree to start talks on a future trade deal before the crucial EU summit on 19-20 October. However, this has yet to happen. In fact, Mr Barnier has said that he felt he was not in the position to recommend to the European Council to start discussions on the “future relationship.”

“With March 2019 fast approaching the lack of progress and the increased chances of the UK getting no deal sent shivers down the spines of sterling bulls with GBP crashing against both the USD and the Euro. The GBP/USD had fallen down to the 1.31310 levels and the EUR/GBP had risen to around 0.90184.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

Meanwhile, a leaked internal draft document hinted that the 27 European Union countries should prepare to discuss trade amongst themselves, which will pave the way to start negotiating trade talks with the UK Government in December. The paper underlined Mr Barnier’s earlier comments about a lack of progress, but also mentioned there had been developments on some key areas, which would please many.

Though this draft can at any stage be revised, it does show a tiny a bit of hope that a deal could be made before the UK’s official exit.

The market reacted swiftly to the news.

“Sterling bulls rejoiced. GBP/USD skyrocketed back above 1.32 reversing its previous losses of the day and at the time of writing is currently trading around 1.3264. The EUR/GBP did the opposite and crashed back down, falling below 0.9000 levels to trade around 0.8925. What a difference a few hours make!”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

When Theresa May announced that Britain would honour its financial commitments to the EU, there was the belief that the fifth round of talks would finally bring some much needed clarity that a deal could indeed be made in time. Initially it looked like that the EU and UK were getting nowhere, but this leak has shown there could be a bit of light at the end of the tunnel.

“We are still very much in unknown territory, but one thing that is mostly likely certain is that we will continue to get ups and downs with the Brexit roller-coaster.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

 

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

About easyMarkets

easyMarkets® is an online pioneer market maker established in 2001. We’ve made trading markets as easy as possible with proprietary mobile, web and desktop platforms. Traders enjoy full markets access with a simple and powerful approach to CFD’s, forex and options trading.

easyMarkets® is part of an international network with offices in Europe, Asia and Australia.

 

Risk warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

 

 

What does Merkel’s hollow victory mean for the EU?

What does Merkel’s hollow victory mean for the EU?

by Louise France Germany Italy Uncategorized
  • Angela Merkel’s fourth term win was not the victory the market was hoping for
  • 13% of voters backed the anti-Euro AFD (Alternative for Germany)
  • Euro trading at 30-day low as a result

Following the twists and turns of 2016, this year started with much apprehension that the populous vote, which saw the surprise Brexit result and Trump’s ascension to the White House, would continue and spread throughout Europe.

First there was the Dutch election, with the controversial anti-EU candidate Geert Wilders at one point fancied to be the winner. As election day got nearer, his popularity amongst the voters vanished and he eventually lost. Big sigh of relief.

Then there was the French general election. Enter Marine Le Pen, another anti-EU politician with very strong right wing beliefs, who promised to call France’s very own referendum on EU membership if she won. She didn’t. Instead, Emmanuel Macron become President and the fear that the plague of populism would spread diminished. The Euro vs the USD skyrocketed on confidence that the EU will live on.

Combined with Mario Draghi’s more hawkish tone in his ECB press conferences, where he dropped hints that the end of the central bank’s net asset purchases may happen sooner rather than later, EUR/USD soared to the highest levels since January 2015.

Of course there was the German election on the horizon but good old Angela would have no problem with that. Right?

angela-2689111_1920

On Monday 25 September the market woke up to an Angela Merkel victory, but not the victory she and the market was hoping for.  Mrs Merkel had won a fourth term, however it was her party’s worst result in almost 70 years and she now needs to form a coalition. Not only that but more worrying rival party the AFD (Alternative for Germany), which is very anti-immigration and Islam and indeed the Euro, won 13% of the vote. It’s the first far right party to win a seat in Parliament in more than 40 years.

“Mrs Merkel now has to form a coalition, which won’t be an easy task. Germany could face months of negotiations as one is formed. Whoever is chosen to partner with Merkel will provide the political direction not only for Germany but also the EU and immigration.

“At the same time, Angela Merkel’s weaker positon will also make new efforts to work with French President Emmanuel Macron on Euro-area integration very difficult.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

As news spread of a disappointing victory, the EUR/USD opened with a gap lower, dropping from Fridays closing price of 1.19473 to 1.19143.  It continued to decline in both the European and North America sessions and as of the time of writing is trading at a 30 day low of 1.18145.  The EUR/GBP came under further pressure and as time of writing is currently trading around 0.87618.

After concerns of the Dutch and French elections vanished there was hope that political stability in the bloc was pretty secure and the surprises that were experienced and shocked the market in 2016 had gone, but Sunday’s election outcome has once again filled the air with uncertainty.

“This sudden turn in AFD winning as much as 13% of vote (bearing in mind the party itself only came into existence five years ago) shows that there is a swathe of voters upset with Merkel’s stance on immigration. It underlines that one of the great dangers to the European Union is indeed politics and general elections. In the current climate they have become incredibly unpredictable and dangerous to its actual existence.  AFD’s success in the election goes to show that the fear of immigration is still being used as a key tool in the black art of politics to cause upset and surprise.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

Italy’s general election is due by the end of May 2018. There are concerns that Northern League and the Five Star Movement – both Eurosceptic parties – could fare quite well.  The Five Star movement is gaining momentum in the opinion polls and the Northern League recently won local elections in Genoa and L’Aquila.

Italy’s economy the third biggest in the Eurozone is shaky at best with 11% unemployment and national debt at 133% of GDP. There is also a fascinating debate in Italy about the country stepping away from the Euro and introducing a parallel currency alongside it.

“Though the end of May seems a long way away, you may certainly expect the market to start to focus on this general election. With what happened in Germany at the weekend, you may expect bouts of uncertainty about the outcome and how it will affect the European Union.

“The feel good factor that was felt across the bloc after Emmanuel Macron’s election victory seems to have diminished. Though the Euro is still currently enjoying a bull run, which started following Macron’s win in France, the fear and concern which the market felt at the beginning of the year could start to return as we see out 2017 and prepare for what 2018 will throw at us.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

About easyMarkets

easyMarkets® is an online pioneer market maker established in 2001. We’ve made trading markets as easy as possible with proprietary mobile, web and desktop platforms. Traders enjoy full markets access with a simple and powerful approach to CFD’s, forex and options trading.

easyMarkets® is part of an international network with offices in Europe, Asia and Australia.

 

Risk warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

 

easyMarkets expands APAC sales team

easyMarkets expands APAC sales team

by Louise Uncategorized

easyMarkets, the premium-service trading platform, today announced the appointment of Jimmy Pan to the position of Head of Sales, Asia Pacific. Based out of Sydney, Jimmy will work closely with easyMarkets’ global and local dealing teams to drive new account and revenue growth throughout the wider APAC region.

Jimmy brings over 10 years of experience in trading and brokerage, with strong technical expertise in trading and trading platforms, and the ability to deliver exceptional client experiences. Prior to joining easyMarkets, Jimmy worked in senior sales roles at multinational brokerages, including CMC Markets, GFT Markets, Invast Global and First Prudential.

As Head of Sales, Jimmy’s responsibilities will include overseeing the day-to-day management of the Sydney office and APAC team, as well as personally looking after the firm’s premium-level active traders. He will report directly to Daniel Byrne, Managing Director, APAC.

Jimmy’s appointment represents the next phase in easyMarket’s strategy to continue its strong expansion into the broader APAC markets, where he will nurture easyMarket’s growing regional client base and facilitate successful trading outcomes for premium level and HNW clients.

Commenting on the appointment, Daniel Byrne, Managing Director, APAC said:

“I am delighted to announce the appointment of Jimmy Pan to the easyMarkets team as the APAC Head of Sales. Having known Jimmy personally for over 10 years, working together for four of those, I can say that there are few in the industry of his calibre. During this time, I have seen Jimmy strengthen the trading success of thousands of traders across APAC. Key to this has been his well-honed intuition for understanding exactly what stage a trader is at in terms of their understanding and ability, and what support or knowledge is therefore required to move them forward to more profitable and consistent trading outcomes.

“On behalf of the whole easyMarkets team, I congratulate Jimmy on this exciting next phase of his career and we look forward to together building on his success.”

Commenting on his new role, Jimmy Pan said:

“I’m excited about the opportunity to join the experienced team at easyMarkets who I firmly believe offer the best trading conditions for retail traders. I’m personally driven to afford traders with the best opportunity to learn, develop and succeed. For this reason, easyMarkets, with its dedication to delivering first-class education, superior trading conditions, and a premium level of service, is a natural fit for me.”

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

About easyMarkets

easyMarkets® is an online pioneer market maker established in 2001. We’ve made trading markets as easy as possible with proprietary mobile, web and desktop platforms. Traders enjoy full markets access with a simple and powerful approach to CFD’s, forex and options trading.

easyMarkets® is part of an international network with offices in Europe, Asia and Australia.

 

Risk Warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

easyMarkets promotes Daniel Byrne to Managing Director, APAC

easyMarkets promotes Daniel Byrne to Managing Director, APAC

by Louise Australian United Kingdom
  • Byrne to replace outgoing MD Robert Francis
  • He joined easyMarkets as COO in May
  • easyMarkets CEO Nikos Antoniades praises Byrne’s “exceptional drive and talent”

easyMarkets, the premium-service global markets brokerage, today announced the appointment of Daniel Byrne to the role of Managing Director, APAC. Previously Chief Operating Officer of Asia Pacific, Daniel replaces Robert Francis, who is stepping aside after 10 years in the role of MD and will remain with easyMarkets in an emeritus advisory capacity to the board.

Since joining easyMarkets as Chief Operating Officer in May, Daniel has pioneered the company’s Active Traders Group, which brings institutional training, tools and best practices to retail traders. Available to easyMarkets members, the training program empowers both new and experienced traders with the tools and strategies to trade successfully.

In response to the success of this approach and growing demand from Australia’s self-managed super fund (SMSF) investors, easyMarkets has recently launched The SMSF Active Traders Group. The first of its kind in the industry, this new program equips SMSF trustees with the specific institutional-grade trading strategies, methodologies and – most importantly – the risk management framework they need to trade like a fund manager.

“I have always admired easyMarkets as a brokerage that goes so much further to support the successful trading outcomes of its clients. While never the cheapest option – the best option rarely is – easyMarkets’ emphasis on training and its premium level of service, with no hidden pricing, is unique in its ability to genuinely help clients become better traders. I am extremely honoured to take up this appointment and look forward to developing our offering throughout the region.”

Daniel Byrne, MD, easyMarkets

Daniel holds more than a decade of experience in markets trading and trading education, having previously managed premium accounts and driven global platform growth at multinational FX brokerage firms GFT Markets and AxiTrader, as well as being the Vice-President of the successful forex training firm, FXPlus Trading Academy.

“When we considered the idea of a new leader for the APAC region, we knew we wanted someone who understood the ethics and DNA of easyMarkets. It is Daniel’s versatile background and approach to trading which lead us to believe he is a perfect fit. Since being appointed as COO, he has shown exceptional drive and talent in leading the team and driving the business forward. He will therefore lead our strategic efforts to grow the Australian and the Asia Pacific market. We have every confidence in Daniel and wish him success in the exciting challenges ahead.”

Nikos Antoniades, CEO, easyMarkets

Earlier this year, the firm also extended its unique dealCancellation feature – which allows traders to cancel a losing trade within one hour – to the platform’s mobile app.

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

About easyMarkets

easyMarkets® is an online pioneer market maker established in 2001. We’ve made trading markets as easy as possible with proprietary mobile, web and desktop platforms. Traders enjoy full markets access with a simple and powerful approach to CFD’s, forex and options trading.

easyMarkets® is part of an international network with offices in Europe, Asia and Australia.

 

Risk Warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

 

Divided Bank of England edging closer to raising interest rates, but unlikely to move in August

Divided Bank of England edging closer to raising interest rates, but unlikely to move in August

by Louise United Kingdom
  • Internal divisions over monetary policy at Bank of England
  • UK households should “prepare for interest rates to go higher”
  • Snap election and Brexit process likely to mean rates held rates in August

The Bank of England (BOE) appears to be at odds over how to proceed with monetary policy. This internal division was on display at the June Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting when three policymakers dissented the central bank’s decision to keep interest rates at record lows.

Committee member Michael Saunders, who voted to tighten monetary policy, recently told UK households to prepare for higher interest rates.

“I think households should prepare for interest rates to go higher at some point. But if rates do go up, it will be in the context of the economy doing OK and unemployment being low and probably falling.”

Michael Saunders, Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee

Saunders isn’t the only one talking up an interest rate increase. Andy Haldane – another voting member of the MPC – clashed with BOE Governor Mark Carney last month by stating he was seriously considering voting for a rate hike.

Against this backdrop, traders are wondering whether the MPC will pull the trigger on a rate hike at its forthcoming meeting on 3 August. Given the 5-3 split in the June decision, it appears unlikely that the hawks will get the two swing votes they need to make it happen – at least, not yet.

At the same time, Brexit uncertainty will likely pour cold water on any attempt to tighten policy less than two months after the snap election.

“The consensus appears to share this view, with only two of 80 economists polled by Reuters saying they expect a rate hike next week. In fact, these economists don’t expect the BOE to act anytime soon, as policymakers wait for wage growth to catch up with inflation. This means traders should expect the official Bank Rate to remain at its record low of 0.25% – perhaps until 2019. Based on the way they began, Brexit negotiations are expected to be a long and bumpy ride, giving policy doves all the justification they need to keep rates low.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

The BOE eased monetary policy last August for the first time since the recession in response to the Brexit referendum. Although the British economy has had a resilient year, its outlook continues to be plagued by uncertainty. Official Brexit negotiations began last month.

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

Risk Warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you understand fully the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Our group of companies through its subsidiaries is licensed by the Cyprus Securities & Exchange Commission (Easy Forex Trading Ltd- CySEC, License Number 079/07), which has been passported in the European Union through the MiFID Directive and in Australia by ASIC (Easy Markets Pty Ltd -AFS license No. 246566).

 

The new holiday essential – have you packed your Virtual Private Network?

The new holiday essential – have you packed your Virtual Private Network?

by Louise United Kingdom
  • 89% of Brits take at least one mobile device on holiday (Expedia)
  • 36% of holidaymakers access social media sites while away (Hotels.com)
  • Virtual Private Networks provide home comforts for holidaymakers (BestVPN.com)

 More and more of us are taking our mobile devices on holiday. Research by Expedia has found that 89% of Brits take at least one mobile device with them when they go away, with 27% of business travellers and 17% of leisure travellers using their phone to help manage their itinerary.

As well as travel itineraries, mobile phones can be used for a range of purposes that save holidaymakers from cluttering up their bags with multiple items. City maps, phrase books, plan tickets, hotel reservation documents – all of these now fit neatly within our phones, making bulging holiday handbags and rucksacks a thing of the past.

Separate research by Hotels.com has found that mobile devices are also used for keeping in touch while on holiday – both with work and with friends and family back home. 46% of UK travellers check their work emails while on holiday. 36% use their mobile device to access their social media accounts.

It is this last trend that has led many holidaymakers to become more tech-savvy on their travels, as cybersecurity expert Douglas Crawford of BestVPN.com explains,

“Travellers increasingly expect that taking their mobile device on holiday will provide them with all the conveniences of home – and they’re taking steps to ensure that’s the case. This has led to an uptick in interest in Virtual Private Networks for mobile devices. VPNs allow users to get around social media site blocks in countries such as China, thus fulfilling, for example, their desire to share holiday snaps in real time.”

Virtual Private Networks also provide holidaymakers with the ability to access services such as Sky Go, BBC iPlayer and Neflix while they’re away. Whether it’s keeping up with the thrilling new season of Game of Thrones or simply keeping the children entertained for a few moments with a cartoon, families’ expectations of what their device should be able to do while abroad are growing. VPNs are enabling those expectations to be met.

They are also particularly useful in countries where internet freedoms are restricted. According to the United Nations World Travel Organisation, China is the fourth most visited country in the world, after France, the USA and Spain. Turkey is the sixth most visited. China and Turkey are both well known for their restrictive approach to the internet, and it is this that is driving holidaymakers to install Virtual Private Networks on their mobile devices.

Many visitors find Google Maps and Google Translate invaluable when touring China. A Virtual Private Network is required in order to unblock both of these sites. Those travelling to Turkey often also want uninhibited access to the news in order to access information that may relate to their safety, particularly in light of the rather volatile political happenings there.

“A VPN is becoming almost as much of a holiday essential as sun cream,” continues BestVPN’s Douglas Crawford. “We use sun cream to protect our skin and ensure that we can enjoy the full holiday experience without having to worry about burning. In much the same way, using a VPN protects our online privacy and means we don’t have to worry about not being able to share our magical moments or keeping in touch with friends and family members whenever we wish.”

The World Tourism Organization cites tourism as being responsible for 10% of global GDP, accounting for one in every 11 jobs. It forecasts that international tourist arrivals will increase to 1.8 billion globally by 2030. Great news for sun cream and Virtual Private Network providers alike!

 

For more information, or to interview BestVPN.com’s Douglas Crawford on matters relating to digital privacy and security, please email media@bestvpn.com or contact Louise Taylor on 07751 646 595.

 

Is Bitcoin teetering on the edge of the abyss?

Is Bitcoin teetering on the edge of the abyss?

by Louise World
  • $1k invested in Bitcoin in 2010 would be worth $1m now
  • Bitcoin and Ethereum account for 68.4% of the $100 billion combined market capitalization
  • ICOs currently taking place at a rate of around 20 per month

 

Over the last 30 days the original cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, has been receiving plenty of attention. In fact, the whole of the Altcoin market has featured in many a headline over the past month.

Bitcoin, which remains the leader of the pack, was first released in 2009. It was the first decentralized digital currency.  At the time, many skeptics assumed it was merely a fad that would soon vanish.

“I bet there are many out there now swallowing their words as we watch Bitcoin hit new all-time highs. At the time of writing it’s trading at around $2,500, from $11 back in 2011. I’ve read many articles demonstrating that if you had invested $1,000 in Bitcoin back in 2010 you would now be a millionaire. In fact, this did indeed happen to one young investor by the name of Erik Finman, who did exactly that and is now sitting on a fortune of $1.9 million. However, this attitude isn’t too far removed from saying, “if only you used these winning lottery numbers last week you would be a millionaire!” Hindsight is a beautiful thing.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

That said, the future of the cryptocurrency market is still unknown. Could an investment in a cryptocurrency today bring the same fate as that of Eric Finman?

There are now over 800 cryptocurrencies out there, with the combined market capitalization at $100 billion. However, the majority of this is made up by just a handful of high profile Altcoins, like Bitcoin (which makes up 40.1% of the market cap) and Ethereum (28.3% of the cap).

Every month sees around 20 new Initial Coin Offerings (ICO). An ICO uses a method similar to crowdfunding to release a new cryptocurrency.  The start-up firm behind the new cryptocurrency attempts to raise capital by publishing a white paper, which explains in detail about the project it is behind. The investor receives a token in return for the money he/she has invested. Early investors are incentivised to buy cryptocoins with the hope that they will go up in value if the venture is successful.

The projects of these start-up companies can vary in many different areas, from energy to gun safety, and there has been many a success story. A project called Bancor, for example, raised $153 million within a couple of hours. ICOs are proving incredibly popular, as investors hope that their chosen new cryptocurrency will eventually rise to the dizzying heights of Bitcoin.

“As amazing as they may sound, ICOs pose many problems. First, there is the obvious possibility of the project’s failure, and this stands true for pretty much any project or investment. Second, the ICO market is unregulated, so is exposed to more danger of fraud. There have been many cases of these ventures being fraudulent and there is no safety blanket to fall back on. Finally, there is the fear that the recent boom of this market is simply a bubble getting ready to burst.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

bitcoin-2057405_1920

Wall Street laughed its head off when one investor said back in February that Bitcoin would rise to $25,000 within the next decade. However, with the digital currency surging 400% higher over the last year, some now concede that this prediction could become reality.

Despite the recent success of Bitcoin and Ethereum, the explosion of new cryptocurrencies onto the market and the surge in new ICOs brings to mind the dot-com bubble.

Between 1997 and 2001 there was huge investment in creating internet-based companies due to the increased usage of the internet by businesses and consumers. The bubble eventually burst in 2002, with many of these web-based companies either shutting down or losing a huge amount of capital (although those that survived the financial massacre – the likes of eBay and Amazon – did bounce back and are now trading way above their pre-crash stock price).

“With the current lust for ICOs and the recent new high on the major cryptos, I can’t help but feel we could see something similar. The fact of the matter is how many cryptocurrencies does the market actually need? And how many can it use? Clearly 800 plus is an excessive number.”

James Trescothick, Senior Global Strategist, easyMarkets

 

Extreme volatility is certainly an issue. A prime example of this happened on 21 June, when Ethereum collapsed from $317 to as low as 10 cents before bouncing back. While these kinds of flash crashes can happen in any market, the manner of how the Ethereum crash happened and the severity of the drop go to show how fragile the cryptocurrency market is and how easy a sell-off across the board could cause a crash. This really is a brand-new market place with no real safe guards in place.

It seems that the likes of Bitcoin, Ethereum and LiteCoin are here to stay, with the world looking ready to embrace this new form of currency. However, many of the cybercurrencies out there will probably not last. With recent events like fraudulent ICO claims and the amount media buzz Bitcoin is creating, it is only a matter of time until some form of regulation and control are put in place. This will limit the number of ICOs and different cryptocurrencies.

For now, they can enjoy their time in the sun and all the admiration they are getting, as only time will tell how long they will last.

For further details, visit www.easymarkets.com, email pr@easymarkets.com or call +44 203 1500 748.

 

Risk Warning: Forward Rate Agreements, Options and CFDs (OTC Trading) are leveraged products that carry a substantial risk of loss up to your invested capital and may not be suitable for everyone. Please ensure that you fully understand the risks involved and do not invest money you cannot afford to lose. Please refer to our full risk disclaimer. EF Worldwide Ltd

 

Overseas Property Show announces Ireland tour dates

Overseas Property Show announces Ireland tour dates

by Louise Portugal ,

It’s that time of year when many people begin turning their dream of owning a property overseas into a reality. Now, the hugely successful Overseas Property Show is coming to Ireland in order to make that reality happen.

The free to attend show will take in two Dublin venues, Limerick and Cork during its tour of Ireland, sharing information, advice and opportunities for overseas property ownership with all those who are interested in attending.

Experts on foreign property ownership, including those who live and work overseas, will be available to share their experiences and provide detailed, factual information about owning a home abroad.

The Ireland shows will include:

  • Tuesday 23 May 2017 – RDS Dublin
  • Wednesday 24 May 2017 – Roganstown Hotel, The Aungier Suite, Sword, Dublin
  • Friday 26 May 2017 – Thomond Park Rugby Stadium, 1978 Suite, Limerick
  • Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May 2017 – Metropole Hotel, Ballroom, MacCurtain Street, Cork

Chris White, Founding Director of real estate agency Ideal Homes Portugal, which has been exhibiting at the Overseas Property Show for several years, comments,

“The Overseas Property Show is an ideal way for potential overseas property owners to connect with industry experts and find out more about making their home ownership dreams come true. The show is refreshing in its approach – it provides realistic insights into owning overseas, rather than an airbrushed vision of life in the sun.

“Owning a home abroad comes with legal and taxation implications and the Overseas Property Show provides the perfect forum for such questions to be addressed. It also offers a wide range of properties in several countries, giving visitors plenty of ideas about the style of property that they might like to own and the locations that they are interested in exploring further.”

The 2017 Overseas Property Show will include properties from Portugal, Spain and Mexico, as all three areas are particular hotspots right now for those buying overseas. From stunning studios to luxury villas with sea views, the show caters to visitors looking for second homes, retirement properties and investment properties, with experts on hand to explain the realities of each kind of purchase.

There is also a lifestyle element to the show, with expats there to talk about everything from language learning to the cost of groceries. It’s a whole-hearted approach that has proven extremely successful for previous Overseas Property Show tours.

Those looking for advice, guidance and inspiration when it comes to overseas home ownership are invited to obtain their free tickets and full details from www.theoverseaspropertyshow.com.

For further details, visit www.theoverseaspropertyshow.com, call (0800) 133 7644 / +351 289 513 434 or email info@theoverseaspropertyshow.com.