Investing

MetaTrader 5 (MT5) is a multifunctional trading platform. It hasn’t gained much popularity when compared to MetaTrader 4 (MT4). However, if you are interested in trading stocks and commodities, MT5 can be better than MT4, which is focused more on the forex market.

This review will highlight all that you need to know about MT5 and how useful it can be for your trading.

Who is MT5 best for?

As a trader, you should know that the key to success lies in identifying the right platform and tools. So, should you use MT5? Well, you can use it if you are:

1. An advanced trader: It works well for advanced traders because of its multi-asset and multi-functional abilities. This platform allows you to work with different brokers and multiple accounts.
2. Day traders: You can also use the speed, robustness, and reliability of MT5 for day trading.

But this information doesn’t mean that you cannot use MT5 as a beginner. It is still accessible and helpful to all traders. However, most seasoned traders recommend it for experienced investors.

Pros and Cons

Here is a quick review of its pros and cons to guide your understanding of this platform.

The pros

• It has an easy-to-navigate interface
• It has a wide range of analytical tools
• It has a wide breadth of asset classes
• It has an integrated economic calendar

The cons

• You might have to relearn techniques if you are used to MT4
• It has advanced features that may intimidate you if you are a beginner
• Hedging for exchange markets is disabled

These pros and cons only give an overview of the platform. You can gain further insights by looking at reviews written by experienced traders.

Important Review Factors that Define MT5 Platform

Platform and trading tools

You can access the MT5 platform on desktop, laptop, and mobile. Its desktop version is superior because of the comprehensive tools of analysis available. You should open an MT5 trading account using the desktop version to familiarize yourself with the platform before downloading the mobile version.

The platform has a variety of tools that can help you to copy deals, analyze news, send reports, and create a custom graphical interface.

Research offering

You can read financial news from international agencies on the MT5 platform. It provides a daily broadcast of international news affecting the financial market to influence your trading decisions. It also has an economic calendar that has a list of upcoming events. This can help you to forecast the values of financial assets.

Pricing

You can access the MT5 platform for free. You can either use your broker’s website or get it directly from MetaQuotes’ website. It has a demo account that allows you to practice using the platform.

Compatibility

You can access this platform if you are using Windows, Mac OS, Android, or iOS. It can run on Windows 2008, 7, 8, or 11. For iPhone users, you must have an iPhone 4S or a newer version to access the mobile app.

Customer support

MT5 has a customer help page that can help you get quick information on topics like Getting Started, Price Charts, Trading Operations, Technical and fundamental analysis.

 

 

Penny stocks are stocks from small companies worth up to a maximum of $5. Typical penny stock companies have low liquidity, and their shares also tend to be quite speculative. In case you are just getting started as an investor, you don’t need huge amounts of money. These stocks are cheap. However, it is not uncommon for them to multiply by many times more in just a matter of days.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to get started with penny stocks

Penny Stocks vs. Regular Stocks

There is a huge difference between a penny and regular stocks. The penny stocks mainly concern small and new companies while the regular stocks are attached to thriving companies that typically trade frequently.

Penny stocks, as the name suggests, only require investors to spend a small investment typically in pennies per share. This lowers the investment risk. If you invest in blue-chip companies, the price per share is higher, and this means a more significant investment risk should things go south. On the bright side, the investments of regular stock investors are safer, even in volatile markets.

Penny stocks are arguably better than regular stocks because they move faster. With blue-chip stocks, it may take months before you notice any changes in the markets. Penny stocks, on the other hand, are more volatile and aggressive. Low-quality stocks may turn out to be highly profitable over shorter periods.

How to Get Started with Penny Stocks Trading

As you may have gathered already, penny stocks are just as risky as they can be rewarding. Individuals who understand the OTC markets in-depth or experienced private investors can go straight to signing up on trading platforms and buying stocks. However, it is best for newbies in penny stock trading to enlist brokers.

To get it right, you cannot overlook the importance of research. Having some facts at your fingertips is the only way you can reduce the risk of making losses. Do detailed research on platforms where your penny stock of choice is listed. A broker can help you access and navigate through marketplaces that interest you.

Rules to Abide by as a Penny Stock Trader

If you are ready to get started in penny stocks, the chances are that you understand the potential rewards and risks of penny-stocking. Fortunately, there are a few sure ways of maximizing your gaining potential while lowering the odds of making losses.

First, take your research for the right broker as seriously as you would dig for information about a penny stock company. Avoid promotional pumps and make choices based on facts and not marketing gimmicks.

Another practical tip is to focus more on small wins than big wins. When the opportunity presents itself, do not stall with the hopes of having better luck tomorrow. Any experienced trader will tell you that a substantial number of small base hits quickly turn into impressive annual profits. However, when done right, you could rip excellent returns from penny stocks in the future.

 

If you’ve chosen to invest in real estate, you’re likely always on the lookout for ways that you can see an even bigger return on your investment. Luckily, for people who choose to purchase an apartment and rent it out to tenants, there are quite a few ways in which you can maximize this investment opportunity.

To help you find some ways that might work for your exact situation, here are three ways you can make more money from your rental apartment.

Get The Right Tenants

One of the best and easiest ways that you can make more money from your rental apartment is to get the right tenants into the space. You’re losing money each month that you have a vacant apartment rental. So by getting good tenants in there, you can maximize your profits.

To ensure you’re able to get the right tenant from the get-go, Kelly Gurnett, a contributor to The Penny Hoarder, advises that you take the time to thoroughly screen tenant applicants before renting to them.

If you simply go with the first people who apply so you can get someone in the space, you might not have had the time to check that these people are responsible, trustworthy, have all the other makings for good tenants. When you do find the right tenants, they’ll get their rent paid on time, maintain the property, and present minimal problems for you.

Offer Additional Services

The more valuable you can make your rental property, the more you can ask for when it comes to rent. Aside from increasing the actual value of the property, you can make the apartment more valuable to tenants if you offer them additional services or conveniences.

According to G. Brian Davis, a contributor to BiggerPockets.com, some services you might consider offering could include property-related services like lawn maintenance or regular deep cleaning. Other options could include services that are more for the convenience of your renter, like babysitting, pet care, or various concierge services. Keep in mind, however, that you should only offer these services if they make financial sense for your investment.

Increase Rent With The Market Or Apartment Improvements

One easy way you can start making more money off of your apartment rental is to start charging more for rent. While this can be a fine balance to strike, especially if you already have tenants in the space, there are some things you can try to make this transition a little easier for your tenants to swallow.

If you’re going to consider raising the rent, Blake Hilgemann, a contributor to Money.com, recommends being strategic by increasing the rent either as the housing market becomes more expensive or as you make upgrades or improvements to the property. By doing this, your rent increases will be much more justified.

If you’re wanting to find ways to get more value out of your apartment rental, consider using the tips mentioned above to help you do just that.

 

Here are some fool-proof ways for spotting fake jewellery, whether it is a dainty baby handprint necklace, a string of pearls, diamond earrings or gold bangles.

Price

Is the price too good to be true? Then it probably is. Real jewellery, especially rare items, can be costly. So, if you see a diamond-studded bracelet and it only sells for a meagre price, then it is most probably fake. Price is a good indicator of whether a piece of jewellery is real or fake.

Seller

Always go with a known and respectable seller; you will never go wrong. However, if you opt to buy from an unknown seller who does not have a solid reputation for selling genuine jewellery, you are setting yourself up for disappointment. When buying jewellery, do not trust online sites where you cannot check the authenticity of the item.

Return policy

If the seller does not have a return policy, then the product is probably fake. Sellers, especially online ones, who refuse returns perhaps sell phoney jewellery. Not being able to check the item personally before purchasing it is a very risky move. It’s too big a risk to part with a huge sum of money for fake jewellery.

Hallmark

Jewellery sold in the United Kingdom – whether, silver, palladium, platinum or gold – has a hallmark that indicates the purity of the metal. The Hallmarking Act of 1973 requires jewellers to have this hallmark to protect their consumers.

Logo

Jewellery makers, especially those who make expensive pieces, have their own hallmark that you can check. Check logos to see if anything is amiss. Fakers usually get something wrong in the logo, so it should be something to look out for – the spelling, font, etc.

Quality

You can spot a piece of fake jewellery by its quality. Genuine jewellery does not have quality issues, such as links that look pinched, or bands that have scratches on them. The look of the jewellery should be fine. Rings that have stones mounted on them should not have any imperfections; the mounting should be solid.

Documents

If you are going to buy diamond jewellery, it should come with a certificate proving its authenticity. All other jewellery should come with care instructions and details about the manufacturer. When reading the documents that come with the jewellery, check the spelling and grammar as well; it is another tell-tale sign of authenticity.

Test the metal

You can do some simple tests to see if what you bought is authentic. The first one is the magnet test – for silver or gold jewellery, use a strong magnet on your item. Gold and silver are non-magnetic, so if it sticks to the magnet, it is fake. The fog test is suitable for diamonds. Breathe onto the stone; if it fogs up, it is fake. A diamond does not retain heat, so if you blow air onto it, it should look the same. The skin test is when you wear a piece, and your skin turns green or becomes irritated and itchy. Real silver and gold do not react to the skin.

Image:https://cdn.pixabay.com/photo/2015/09/02/13/24/woman-919047_960_720.jpg

 

2018 was a slow year for the property market. With fewer houses for sale, deals taking a record long period of time to complete, and property being on the market for a significantly longer period, the UK housing market was widely regarded as subdued in 2018.

Unfortunately, there looks to be more of the same going forward into 2019. Of course, the market will continue – unfortunate scenarios in death and debt means that properties will naturally come onto the market. People will still need to relocate for work or education, but buyers will have limited options on the market.

Strict lending criteria will continue to make the purchase of property difficult. With a rise in people renovating and extending their homes, the property market will likely continue to ´tread water’.

We did see economic growth in some areas across the UK last year. Cities such as Manchester and Liverpool, those cities in the North, showed promising growth. House prices in London however slowed.

Prices in London are predicted to drop by a further 5% next year but rise elsewhere. The performance of a school or the level of crime will have an effect on prices.

There is no escaping the dreaded topic – Brexit. RICS were unanimous in blaming Brexit for the relative slump in the market. They say, “uncertainty created by the Brexit process is causing buyers and sellers to sit tight in increasing numbers.”

With house prices falling as much as 30% from a pre-Brexit level, if we are to have a “disorderly Brexit”, the effects are clear. If the UK’s exit is indeed disruptive, then the fall in property prices could be up to 14% in 2019.

The transition phase post Brexit is unlikely to see a recovery, either, as well as those with property assets abroad.

Young people wanting to get on the property ladder will continue to have a difficult time. Stricter lending criteria, affordability issues and a lack of secure employment makes saving for a house as hard as it has ever been, especially in the big cities.

This speaks volumes when first time buyers were actually the most active group in the property market for 2018 according to findings from Hometrack. Government help to buy schemes will have bolstered this demographic, with 1 in 10 buyers receiving help from the schemes. A property investment guide will help for those looking to enter the market and invest in property.

To contrast this, those with existing homes, particularly those under mortgage, saw little reason to move. With the relative unease in the climate, property owners took a safety-first approach to the housing situation.

It is worth noting that the political situation is in a massively unpredictable position. The result of this is that, the UK housing market is particularly tricky to anticipate. Not many will have full confidence in predicting where the housing situation will be at the close of this year.

 

Your decision to hand out free promotional merchandise is great. You can attract people to consider the products you offer because of the items you are giving away. You are sending a message that you are not only after their money, but you are also willing to give something for free.

However, not everyone deserves to receive the merchandise. For instance, if you opted for personalised t-shirt printing, you will spend quite a considerable amount of money. You want only the most deserving people to receive those shirts. These are the people you need to prioritise if you want to boost the popularity of your brand.

Inactive customers

You can send the shirt to your inactive customers. The reason why they are a priority is that they already considered buying your products before. You only need to push them a little to consider repurchasing your products. Some others might have forgotten about your brand, and a simple reminder would suffice.

Loyal customers

You also need to prioritise them even if you know that they are buying your products anyway. Remember that there will always be competitors trying to pull them away from you. Do not rely on the quality of your products alone. You need something more than your products to retain loyalty.

Potential investors

Yes, these people might be wealthy, and they do not need another free shirt. They already have tons in their closet. However, it is not the point. The reason why you are giving them free shirts is that you want to show that you have a diverse marketing strategy. It is one of the areas potential investors look into before they decide to invest their money. You can demonstrate to them that you do not only rely on social media marketing to target potential customers. You have other means of attracting their attention.

Interested individuals during trade shows

When you have the chance to join a trade show, you will have a booth where you can convince people to come over and ask questions. Of course, not everyone will feel interested in having a closer look at your company. They might pass by to see what is going on, but they will move forward to see other options. If someone decides to sit and request more details, this person could soon be a customer. You can push it a bit by throwing in a free shirt.

Winners of a competition

You can launch a social media competition where winners receive the free shirts you are handing out. You can come up with a unique limited design to encourage more people to join in. They might have to work hard to win and receive the shirt, so they deserve something that is worth their time and effort.

You need to be selective about who receives your free merchandise; otherwise, you will keep giving it out to people who have no intention of helping boost your company’s profit or popularity.

To read more on topics like this, check out the lifestyle category.

Sometimes, the best way to make sure that you have the best attitude to win at penny stock trading is to gather some insights from the experts who know the market better than you do. In case you’re not familiar with Warren Buffet, he’s one of the wealthiest people in the world, falling just behind Bill Gates. This highly successful man has been building his fortune since 1962, and he knows a thing or two about trading. Although no single person can tell you how you should be trading the best penny stocks, if there’s one person you should probably take trading advice from, it’s the guy that’s built a $67 billion fortune on understanding the nature of the stock market. Here are some tips from Buffer that you should take with you into your trading strategy.

Avoid Losing Money

This might seem like a pretty obvious piece of advice at first glance but bear with us. The first rule of trading is to avoid losing money whenever you can. Most people will only win at trading about 75% of the time, but it’s the plan never to lose that really keeps you going. When you go into penny stock trading with a focus on never losing and always winning, you maintain a confidence that helps you to succeed in anything you do. At the same time, remembering that it’s more important to avoid losing money than to make sure you gain money can help you to make some intelligent decisions. For instance, some people can get greedy with penny stocks and stay in the market even when all the evidence takes them to sell. Don’t push yourself to take any risks that go beyond what you’re capable of paying for.

Only Spend What You Can Afford

Ultimately, if you want to keep your risk levels to a minimum with penny stock trading, then you should never borrow money for the stocks you want to purchase. Borrowing money might not seem like a bad idea at first, but Buffet is famous for his attitude towards lending money, and it’s a good idea to follow his lead. Just because a penny stock seems like a great deal that you can’t afford to pass up, doesn’t mean you should put your future at risk by borrowing money that you don’t know whether you’ll be able to pay back. Only trade using money that you can afford to spend – and lose if necessary. If that means holding off until you’ve had a chance to build some extra capital, so be it.

Stay Optimistic

Finally, remember that trading penny stocks isn’t all about making vast amounts of money and celebrating your fantastic wins. Sometimes, things are going to go wrong, and there’s not a lot you can do about it. Ultimately, the market changes all the time, and one of the things you need to keep in mind about penny stocks is that they’re incredibly volatile. A penny stock is cheap because the business you’re backing doesn’t have a lot of hold in the marketplace. When something goes wrong, don’t decide that you’re going to give up on trading altogether. Get excited for your next opportunity to invest in something big.

Life has a good way of throwing financial curveballs when we’re least prepared for them. From expensive car repairs to being laid off unexpectedly, there are all sorts of life events that can happen that can quickly leave you in a financial bind. To ensure that you’re prepared for anything that may come your way, it’s good to know how to prepare for the unexpected.

Here’s what you need to know about creating a finance plan to help during those moments in life that no one ever thinks will happen to them.

Have an Emergency Fund

One of the best things you can do to prepare for the unexpected is to have an emergency fund. This fund should cover your living expenses for at least three months, though saving six months of expenses is even better. In the event that you lose your job, are injured, or for some reason are unable to make your normal income, you have money to fall back on.

While emergency funds are often used for worst case scenarios, they’re also helpful for those times when your car decides to stop running or the HVAC in your home has reached its end of life. In these situations, most people would have to drain their checking account or run up a credit card in order to cover the expenses.

With a well-stocked emergency fund, you have access to money that you can use in the event of any expensive situation. In turn, there’s much less of a financial impact.

Get Into the Habit of Saving

There’s nothing worse than having to cut costs because of an unexpected financial issue. Instead of waiting to save until you don’t have a choice, make saving something that you do on a regular basis. Be sure to set aside money from each paycheck into a savings account. This is separate from an emergency fund but should be for more long-term costs, like saving up for a car or purchasing your first home.

The earlier you save, the easier it becomes. Saving as soon as you start receiving a steady paycheck allows you to effortlessly put money aside. By saving $100 each paycheck (assuming a bi-weekly pay schedule), you could end up saving at least $2,600 in a year!

A savings account not only acts as a financial cushion but is beneficial for helping you achieve your financial goals.

Make Your Money Go Farther

You only make so much money each month, so wouldn’t it be nice to stretch every dollar to get the most out of your money? Knowing how to cut costs without impacting your standard of living is key to achieving financial security and planning for the unexpected. For example, if you’re like most people, you pay a provider for Internet, cable, and phone services. But did you know that by bundling these services, you can often be given a lower rate? Using the same provider for home services is an effective and nonintrusive way to save money without impacting your life.

Other ways to make your money go farther include:

• Cooking meals at home
• Enjoying free entertainment
• Driving less, walking more
• Consolidate loans
• Use coupons

The less you spend, the more money you have available to save or to use towards something you really want to purchase. You can also work on safely investing your money to help it grow as well.

Get Insurance Coverage

Though many find it to be a scam, insurance coverage can come in handy, especially during those unexpected life events when we need a little help. With the right insurance coverage, you’re able to offset a lot of costs.

Maybe you’re interested in weight-loss surgery like Contrave, but can’t afford the out-of-pocket Contrave price. Maybe your pet has gotten sick recently and the vet bills are piling up. By having health insurance or pet insurance in the event that you have a pet, you don’t have to worry about paying the full cost.

Other forms of insurance to consider include life insurance and car insurance. Life insurance is beneficial in the event that you die and leave debt behind. With this coverage, your family members aren’t burdened with your debt.

Car insurance is truly a no-brainer. If you own a car, having insurance covers you and other drivers on the road in the event of an accident. While you may never be in an accident, it’s better to have coverage and not need it than have an accident and not be covered.

Conclusion

Planning for the unexpected may seem silly on the surface, but you’ll be glad you took the time to save in the event of a life emergency. With these tips, you can have the peace of mind that you’re financially prepared for anything that life may throw your way.

Owning property abroad in a foreign country can seem like a far-fetched idea for some people, but in reality, it’s a good investment opportunity. Increasingly, people in the U.S. are sending money to countries in Central and South America like Nicaragua, Belize and Costa Rica, as well as throughout the world, to secure property.

Purchasing property in a foreign country can include buying something like a condo in a resort community, a single-family home, or buying a piece of land.

So what are the benefits of owning property abroad?

Affordability

In most places around the world (with some exceptions of course) buying property overseas and in international markets is going to be a more affordable opportunity than buying in the U.S.

A lot of this does depend on things like changes in currency, and the local market, but by and large, it is going to be a more affordable way to invest in real estate, particularly desirable real estate like beach property, as opposed to buying in the U.S.

Diversification

When talking about investing, diversification is the primary objective of almost everyone. Diversification can provide investors with better returns and can protect them against certain downsides.

What better way is there to diversify than to purchase real property in another country? You’re buying an actual physical investment in a different country, which in and of itself is a good reason to buy abroad.

Income

When you purchase certain types of international properties, you can leverage them as a way to earn an income stream.

For example, if you purchase a beach property in Costa Rica, you can then rent it out and have that money coming in. When you are buying an international property, think about what’s going to make the most sense if you do ultimately want to rent it out. For example, two-bedroom condos tend to be the most appealing for vacation renters.

Think about the other considerations that will be important to most renters as well, such as location, security, and amenities. You may pay a little more for certain features, but that can more than be made up with the rental income.

Tax Benefits

There are certain tax advantages to owning international property, and they can vary depending on the specifics of the circumstances. One possible advantage is that when someone in the U.S. owns an overseas property, they can include travel costs as a deduction.

Also, if someone faces a lawsuit in the U.S., it can be much more difficult to bring overseas assets and properties into the equation.

Finally, if you purchase international property, you also have the opportunity to enjoy it. You can visit while you’re still in your working years and learn the local language, and be part of the culture in a much deeper way than you would be if you just visited for a week.

You then have that property ready and waiting when it’s time to retire, and you’re already comfortable with the location. It’s a great way to start preparing for your retirement while simultaneously having an income stream, a diversified investment portfolio, and the potential for certain tax advantages.