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☆ Using frozen Russian money for Kyiv is barmy
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

European officials are still discussing options to use the proceeds of Russia’s frozen funds to help Ukraine. Yet funnelling the money to the war-torn country, which looks justifiable on moral grounds, would set a bad precedent. Euroclear, the Belgium-based settlement house, is sitting on some 180 billion euros of Russian central bank reserves – part of the 280 billion euros Ukraine’s allies froze last year after Russia’s invasion. The clearing firm also holds another 17 billion euros from sanctioned Russian individuals. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

☆ Why a travel coach is a must-have for some travelers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Tamara Hardingham-Gill | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

Professional guidanceSahara Rose De Vore, founder of the Travel Coach Network, pictured, second from right, with members during an event in Atlanta. Courtesy Sahara Rose De Vore/The Travel Coach Network“It was something new,” explains Ubogagu. Sahara Rose De Vore, founder of The Travel Coach Network, a database of certified travel coaches, defines a travel coach as a “travel expert who helps people bring awareness to why they want to travel and what type of experience they need in order to obtain the transformation, feelings, or outcomes that their urge to travel is calling for.”The types of services provided tend to vary depending on each coach’s “personal interest, background, and passion for travel,” adds De Vore. Certified travel coach and organizational psychologist, Sonia Cruz Oro, founder of travel and personal development service Travel Awakens, has been coaching travelers since 2021. Increasing interestWellness travel coach Dr. Noreen Nguru prescribes travel to her clients.

☆ Grayscale moves to expand ETF business as legal fight over spot bitcoin fund continues
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-09 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

The expansion comes as Grayscale is embroiled in a lawsuit with the Securities and Exchange Commission over the company's attempt to convert its $17 billion Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC) into a spot bitcoin ETF. The SEC has repeatedly declined to approve spot bitcoin products, citing concerns about manipulation in the underlying crypto market. One of the new ETFs that Grayscale filed for on Tuesday could be seen as something of a substitute for a spot bitcoin fund. The Grayscale Global Bitcoin Composite ETF, which would have the ticker "BTC" upon launch, would invest in spot bitcoin products outside the U.S. as well as the equities of bitcoin mining companies. The other prospective funds are the Grayscale Ethereum Futures ETF (ETHG) and the Grayscale Privacy ETF (PRVC).

☆ Italy's Poste CEO says firms to use balance sheet in Eurovita rescue
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MILAN, May 4 (Reuters) - Italian banks and insurers that are being called upon to rescue struggling life group Eurovita will help by using their balance sheet, Poste Italiane's CEO said on Thursday, without elaborating. The Poste Italiane chief executive said all the main Italian insurers and banks distributing products by Cinven-owned Eurovita were working on a possible solution. "Everybody would use their balance sheet instead of funding a recapitalisation," he said, adding he could not explain more. Italian authorities have taken over management of Eurovita and are working on brokering a rescue after strong-arming Cinven into pumping 100 million euros of capital into the insurer. For insurers that rely on banks and financial advisers for their distribution, redemptions totalled 119% of premiums.

☆ ECB to stop reinvesting cash in largest bond scheme
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-04 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"The Governing Council will keep reducing the Eurosystem’s asset purchase programme portfolio at a measured and predictable pace," it said. "In line with these principles, the Governing Council expects to discontinue the reinvestments under the APP as of July 2023." Redemptions fluctuate, but about 148 billion euros' worth of debt held under the APP expires in the second half of the year. That means a halt to reinvestment would see an extra 58 billion euros' worth of maturities on top of the currently scheduled 15 billion euros per month. At 7.7 trillion euros, the ECB's balance sheet is already more than a trillion euros below its peak size but remains well above its historical average.

☆ Kroger will stop mailing weekly grocery advertisements in newspapers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Atlanta CNN —Kroger, the largest grocery chain in the United States, is ditching its long-running weekly newspaper ad circulars announcing the latest grocery specials. The ads for Kroger (KR) stores and subsidiaries, including Ralphs, Fred Meyer and King Soopers, will shift online. “Kroger is joining many retailers in shifting the way our weekly ads are distributed,” a spokesperson told CNN. The move could deal a blow to shoppers who plan their store trips based on weekly newspaper ads. Some companies, such as Walgreens (WBA), stopped printing coupon catalogs and moved their weekly advertisements online.

☆ Chase cardholders can buy Apple products with Chase points through Ultimate Rewards with up to a 50% bonus for a limited time
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Joseph Hostetler | Jasmin Baron | Credit Cards Reporter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Chase points are unusually valuable for Apple products in May 2023. You'll get a 10% to 50% bonus (1.1 to 1.5 cents per point) depending on the Chase card you have. Normally, Chase points are worth 1 cent apiece toward Apple purchases made through Chase. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out. Earn 3x points on dining, including eligible delivery services, takeout, and dining out.

Our experts answer readers' credit card questions and write unbiased product reviews (here's how we assess credit cards). Chase; InsiderThe Aeroplan® Credit Card currently offers a welcome bonus worth up to $1,500. Let's take a look at why you might want this Aeroplan credit card, no matter your travel style. What you need to know about the Aeroplan Credit Card bonusThe Aeroplan® Credit Card's vastly increased bonus will end on May 4, 2023. The card's previous bonus was 30,000 points lower — so if you've been considering this card, apply before then.

☆ Columbia Threadneedle launches real estate ETF even in the face of a potential recession
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Jesse Pound | In Jesse-Pound | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Columbia Threadneedle is launching the Columbia Research Enhanced Real Estate ETF (CRED) on Wednesday, focused on real estate investment trusts. The private Blackstone Real Estate Investment Trust has repeatedly halted redemptions in recent months because investors have hit the fund's stated withdrawal limits. Columbia Threadneedle does not appear to be alone in thinking the bottom is near for real estate. Jeffrey Gundlach's DoubleLine launched a fixed income ETF focused on commercial real estate ( DCMB ) that began trading earlier this month, and iShares debuted an environmentally focused ETF in February ( ERET ). The University of California also invested $4.5 billion into BREIT, the non-listed Blackstone Real Estate Income Trust , in January.

☆ Blackstone is in talks to help regional banks with lending
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - Blackstone Inc (BX.N), the biggest manager of private equity and real estate assets, said on Thursday it was discussing partnerships with U.S. regional banks to help them with constraints in areas such as car loans and home improvement financing. "As regional banks experienced outflows of deposits, we are seeing real-time opportunities to partner with them at scale," Blackstone President Jonathan Gray said on the firm's first-quarter earnings call. "The regional banks generally play a very large role in home improvement loans, auto loans and equipment finance. He did not identify the banks Blackstone is speaking to. The firm has shifted its focus in real estate to resilient sectors such as logistics and rental housing.

☆ Blackstone's first-quarter earnings plunge on real estate slowdown
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

NEW YORK, April 20 (Reuters) - Blackstone Inc (BX.N), the biggest manager of assets such as private equity and real estate, said on Thursday its first-quarter distributable earnings fell 36% year-on-year, as a weak property market stopped it from cashing out on some holdings. The slowdown in commercial real estate — triggered by higher interest rates, fears about an economic slowdown and businesses consolidating office space in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic — has also prevented Blackstone from selling assets for top dollar in many of its real estate funds. Distributable earnings, which represent the cash used for shareholder dividends, fell to $1.25 billion in the first quarter from $1.94 billion a year earlier, Blackstone said. Blackstone's fee-related earnings fell 9% to $1.04 billion, as fewer asset sales led to lower performance fees. Blackstone's opportunistic and core real estate funds depreciated by 0.4% and 1.6% over the first quarter, respectively.

German specialised property lenders such as Aareal Bank (ARLG.DE), Deutsche Pfandbriefbank (PBBG.DE) and Berlin Hyp, have a bigger concentration of real estate exposure, analysts added. Blackstone (BX.N) recently blocked withdrawals from its $70 billion real estate income trust after facing a flurry of redemption requests. Open-ended real estate funds in Britain have also battled to meet strong demand for redemptions. In Europe, CRE exposure for smaller banks, more at risk of deposit flight, is estimated at under 30% of all loans, Capital Economics said. "On the other, real estate owners themselves are going to face quite material increase in costs."

☆ 5 best balance transfer credit cards with a 0% APR in April 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Jennifer Yellin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +26 min

Balance transfer credit cards offer an introductory 0% annual percentage rate (APR) on existing balances that you transfer over from other credit cards. So if you need to get your credit card debt under control, check out our list of the best balance transfer credit cards to decide which one best fits your needs. The best balance transfer credit cards of 2023Citi® Diamond Preferred® Card: Best overall for balance transfersU.S. Bank Visa® Platinum Card: Best for long balance transfersCiti® Double Cash Card: Best for flat-rate cash backChase Freedom Flex℠: Best for rotating bonus categoriesCiti Rewards+® Card: Best for small purchasesWhy did we select these cards as our best balance transfer credit cards for April 2023? CNN Underscored’s comprehensive credit card methodology compares every aspect of each balance transfer credit card to our “benchmark credit card” to determine which cards can potentially bring you maximum value. Frequently asked questions about balance transfer credit cardsNot everyone is familiar with how and when to use a balance transfer credit card, so we’ve assembled some of the more common questions and answers about the process.

☆ Exclusive: Calls grow for quick end to ECB bond-scheme reinvestment
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-14 | by ( Balazs Koranyi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

It is already letting 15 billion euros worth of these bonds expire each month. The sources said the ECB should not implement a hard stop, however, and could stay flexible to react to episodes like last month's banking sector volatility. But when markets are calm, like now, the ECB should let all maturing debt expire, they said. Redemptions fluctuate but about 148 billion euros' worth of debt expires in the second half of the year, so a full reinvestment stop would see an extra 58 billion euros' worth of maturities on top of the currently scheduled 15 billion euros per month. The sources said that once these reinvestments end, the next discussion would be about reinvestments in the 1.68 trillion euro Pandemic Emergency Purchase Programme, which are set to continue until the end of 2024.

Known as Shapella, the latest upgrade to the Ethereum blockchain since its Merge upgrade will enable investors to redeem an offshoot of ether tokens that they have deposited in return for interest on the blockchain network over the past three years. Such so-called "staked ether" tokens currently account for about 15% of all ether tokens, according to data firm Dune Analytics, and are worth some $31 billion. Deposits & withdrawals for ETH, OP, ARB and ERC-20 tokens via the Ethereum, Optimism, and Arbitrum networks are now back online," Binance said in a tweet. The changes will likely lead to heightened volatility for ether, investors have predicted. In its last significant upgrade, Ethereum in September drastically reduced its energy usage - a move proponents said would give Ethereum an advantage as it seeks to surpass bitcoin.

April 12 (Reuters) - The software that underpins the second-biggest crypto coin ether is due for a software upgrade on Wednesday that will give investors access to more than $30 billion of the digital tokens. Such so-called "staked ether" tokens currently account for about 15% of all ether tokens, according to data firm Dune Analytics, and are worth some $31 billion. The upgrade is due for around 2230 GMT, according to a tweet by Tim Beiko of the Ethereum Foundation, a body that speaks for the Ethereum network. loadingThe changes will likely lead to heightened volatility for ether, investors have predicted. In its last significant upgrade, Ethereum in September drastically reduced its energy usage - a move proponents said would give Ethereum an advantage as it seeks to surpass bitcoin.

Some of the very best Citi credit cards earn ThankYou Rewards, including the popular Citi Premier® Card and no-annual-fee options like the Citi® Double Cash Card, Citi Rewards+® Card , and Citi Custom Cash℠ Card. If you're thinking of applying for one of the best credit cards like the Citi Premier® Card, Citi Custom Cash℠ Card, or Citi® Double Cash Card, keep reading to learn more about how you can put your Citi credit card rewards to work for you. How to earn Citi ThankYou pointsThe easiest way to rack up Citi ThankYou points is with a Citi credit card, which you can easily apply for online. Show more Regular Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 18.74% - 28.74% Variable Intro Annual Percentage Rate (APR) 0% intro APR on balance transfers for 18 months Editor's Rating 3.65 /5 A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star A five pointed star 3.65 out of 5 Stars Our editor's ratings analyze fees, bonuses, rewards, and benefits to highlight the simplest and most valuable credit cards available. There's one non-airline Citi ThankYou transfer partner available to all cardholders — you can transfer your Citi ThankYou points to Sears Shop Your Way points at a rate of 1:10.

Chase is well-known for its excellent small-business credit cards, most notably the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card. Even the no-annual-fee Ink Business Cash® Credit Card and Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card may prove significantly better for your credit card strategy, whether you're interested in cash-back or travel rewards. With other Chase Ink credit cards, like the Ink Business Unlimited® Credit Card and Ink Business Cash® Credit Card, you can:Redeem your rewards for cash, gift cards, and travel at 1 cent eachConvert your rewards to airline miles or hotel points by moving your points over to a Chase Ultimate Rewards transferable points credit card like the Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card, Chase Sapphire Reserve®, or Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card. Ink Business Premier Card Benefits and FeaturesAs with many small-business cards, the Ink Business Premier Card comes with travel and purchase benefits that can save you money and give you peace of mind. Methodology: How We Reviewed the Ink Business Premier CardTo evaluate the Ink Business Premier Card, we compared it to other business credit cards and focused on several critieria, including:Simplicity — How easy is it to use the card?

☆ Explainer: Why European money market funds inflows are lagging behind the U.S. torrent?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Harry Robertson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] U.S. dollar and Euro bank notes are photographed in Frankfurt, Germany, in this illustration picture taken May 7, 2017. In Europe, investors put 17.7 billion euros ($19.35 billion) into euro-denominated money market funds in March, Refinitiv Lipper data shows, when the Credit Suisse crisis rocked markets. Other analysts said it was due to the fact that euro money market funds are underdeveloped relative to U.S. funds and are focused more on private sector, particularly bank, debt. WHAT IS A MONEY MARKET FUND? The European money market fund sector is far smaller than in the United States.

How to earn American Airlines milesThere are myriad means of earning American Airlines AAdvantage miles. American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp®While not as lucrative as some of the other available American Airlines credit cards, at least the American Airlines AAdvantage® MileUp® doesn't charge an annual fee. Earn miles flying American Airlines and boost your earning with elite statusAside from using co-branded credit cards, one of the best ways to earn American Airlines miles is to actually fly the airline and its partners. Earn miles flying American Airlines' partnersYou can also earn American Airlines miles on over a dozen airline partners. The best ways to redeem American Airlines milesAs with earning American Airlines miles, there are plenty of ways to use AAdvantage miles when the time comes.

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If you have one of the Chase IHG Rewards credit cards, you'll earn an extra 10 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Premier Credit Card and IHG® Rewards Premier Business Credit Card, or 5 points per dollar with the IHG® Rewards Traveler Credit Card. Other ways to redeem IHG pointsOpt for airline miles instead of IHG Rewards pointsIf you'd rather receive airline miles for your stays instead of IHG Rewards points, that's an option, though redemption rates vary by airline. Transfer IHG points to a friendThere's also an option to transfer IHG points to a friend or family member at a cost of $5 per 1,000 points, or buying them through IHG's website. Some of these redemptions are as low as 100 IHG points, so if you haven't had any activity in your account recently, this is a good way to keep your IHG points from expiring. Use IHG points to attend special eventsThrough IHG Auctions, you can redeem IHG points for concerts, sports, special events, or other experiences.

☆ Explainer: How are money market funds preparing for a potential debt ceiling crisis?
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( John Mccrank | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

HOW BIG ARE MONEY MARKET FUNDS? Assets under management in U.S. money market funds, which include Treasury-only funds, prime funds, and government funds, totaled a record $5.2 trillion as of March 29, Investment Company Institute data showed. WHY IS THE DEBT CEILING A CONCERN FOR MONEY MARKET FUNDS? Fitch Ratings warned in February that the potential for investor redemptions and volatility in Treasury-only money market funds – as opposed to prime and government money market funds, which have other sources of funding – would rise if investors believed the government were to default. Runs on money market funds have been rare.

☆ American Airlines scraps traditional frequent flyer award chart in dynamic pricing shift
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-05 | by ( Leslie Josephs | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

American airlines planes are seen at San Francisco International Airport (SFO) in San Francisco, California, United States on September 15, 2022. American Airlines is getting rid of its traditional frequent flyer award chart as the carrier moves toward dynamic pricing for mileage redemptions, the latest shift in its lucrative AAdvantage loyalty program. American in December said it would get rid of different redemption categories, MileSAAver and AAnytime awards, which have set minimum rates. The new redemption level will be called "Flight Awards" and the chart will serve as a reference guide. American introduced dynamic pricing for award tickets in 2019, meaning the number of miles required to redeem for a ticket fluctuate based on supply and demand.

☆ These are the best credit cards for large purchases
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-04 | by ( Andrew Kunesh | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +21 min

Here, we’ll break down 6 of the best credit cards for large purchases. We’ve broken the list down by cards best for purchase protection, financing and other benefits so you can find the best credit card for your next large purchase. 6 of the best credit cards for large purchasesJust because a card is listed as one of the best in this article doesn’t mean it’s the best for your large purchase or financial situation. Aeroplan Credit Card: Best bonus for $20K+ purchasesThe Aeroplan Credit Card has various spending bonuses. Find out which cards CNN Underscored chose as its best travel credit cards currently available.

Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured RewardsBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured welcome bonusThe Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card does not come with any sort of welcome bonus offer, which is typical of secured credit cards. How to earn rewards from the Bank of America Unlimited Cash RewardsThe Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card earns a flat 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Annual Fee and Other CostsThe Bank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card comes with a $0 annual fee. N/A Minimum security deposit $200 $200 $200 Review Bank of America Customized Cash Rewards Secured credit card reviewBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured vs other secured credit cardsBank of America® Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Credit Card U.S. Bank Cash+® Visa® Secured Card U.S. Bank Altitude® Go Visa® Secured Card Annual fee $0 $0 $0 Rewards rate Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on all purchases. Minimum security deposit $200 $300 $300 Review U.S. Bank Cash Plus Secured credit card review U.S. Bank Altitude Go Secured credit card reviewBank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured Frequently Asked QuestionsIs the Bank of America Unlimited Cash Rewards Secured card worth it?

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