Barron's: It’s Time to Bet on British Stocks — Even With Brexit Looming

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It’s an opportune time to bet on British stocks.

The country’s economy is strong, stocks are inexpensive relative to those in the U.S., and when the Brexit drama passes, the pound sterling should rise.

Investors playing a likely rally should purchase the iShares FTSE 250 exchange-traded fund (ticker: MIDD.UK). Read more here.

Forbes: Time To Bet On Putin?

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Love him or hate him, now might be the time to place a bet on Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Not exactly him, but rather the Russian stock market. Read more here.

Russian President Vladimir Putin

Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

SFS: Borrowing and Business -- What You Don't Know Can Hurt Your Finances

By SIMON CONSTABLE

So, you’re feeling confident enough about your business to go shopping for a loan. 

Congratulations! But before you start looking you should understand these five important areas impacting loans, beginning with the difference between interest rates and APR. Read more here.

Korn Ferry: Has Brexit Hit the Disaster-Prepping Phase?

The EU and UK split-up is still not until the end of next March, but the warnings have already begun--with the British government preparing citizens for a world with no agreement or regulations set between its own country and Europe. Indeed, one memo sounds very much like a disaster-prep, suggesting companies stockpiling goods and products. Read more here.

Barron's: Bayer Battling Back Against Legal Woes

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Shares of struggling German health-care and chemical giant Bayer revived a bit on Thursday as the company got at least a temporary reprieve from a huge jury award that held its weed killer Roundup liable for a plaintiff’s cancer.

There is likely to be more positive news for long-term investors, as this and related cases against Roundup proceed through the court system. Read more here.

Daniel Case, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

WSJ: A Replacement for Libor Gains Traction

By SIMON CONSTABLE

A benchmark borrowing cost known as the secured overnight financing rate, or SOFR, is gaining traction as a replacement for the better known but sullied Libor as the rate underpinning a range of global debt instruments. Read more here.

Avsankur©, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Barron's: Italian Bonds Are Cheap — but for Risk Takers Only

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Italy’s political circus is sending local bond prices tumbling and yields higher. But the country’s real economic risk also offers a contrarian opportunity to buy long-dated Italian bonds at discounted prices.

“If you think the current political situation gets resolved, then Italian bonds offer really good returns,” says Ihab Salib, head of international fixed income at money-management firm Federated Investors. He concedes that this isn’t a consensus opinion. Read more here.