Alex Rankine

The US financial regulator has begun approving bitcoin-themed exchange-traded funds, but with important caveats.

Central banks in Poland, Russia, Mexico and Brazil have been raising interest rates to get ahead of global inflationary pressures.

The gas crisis has revealed Europe’s dependence on imported gas, but the rest of the world is facing higher bills too.

India's stockmarket is booming, up by 37% so far this year, and the BSE Sensex index has delivered an annualised return over the last five years of mo…

With the scrapping of the amber and green travel lists, the rules governing re-entry to the UK have finally been simplified.

There was much talk earlier this year of a commodities supercycle. But even as energy markets boom, other commodities have come back down to earth.

Investors appear unimpressed with Fumio Kishida, the man chosen to succeed Yoshihide Suga as Japan’s prime minister.

Stockmarkets are getting increasingly jumpy about stagflation, the combination of economic stagnation and high inflation, with America’s S&P 500 down …

A “do-it-yourself” approach can greatly reduce lawyers’ fees when getting divorced. But do be careful.

The FTSE 100 has gone virtually nowhere since 2000. But it could be heading for happier years ahead.

Markets had so far shrugged off the prospect of central-bank monetary tightening. But not any more.

Chinese regulators have effectively banned cryptocurrencies, declaring all transactions to be “illegal financial activities”.

After gas prices hit new highs, Brent crude oil prices have broken through $80 a barrel for the first time in almost three years.

This year has seen a big boom in activity by special purpose acquisition companies (Spacs) in the US and the Spac craze is spreading to other markets…

How do you know when it’s time to replace an old mobile phone?

The price of uranium has hit an eight-year high after being in the doldrums for much of the past decade

America’s S&P 500 stockmarket index has gained 30% over the past year. Valuations may be high, but that doesn't necessarily mean investors should sell…

Evergrande, once the world’s most valuable real-estate group, is now the world's most indebted as China's epic property bubble starts to deflate.

Tracking and pruning subscriptions isn’t as easy as it sounds. Here's how to take charge.

China has announced plans to establish a new stock exchange in Beijing that will be aimed at small and medium-sized firms.

The Japanese stockmarket has hit a 30-year high following the resignation of prime minister Yoshihide Suga.

Germany's benchmark Dax stock index is to expand to 40 companies from the current 30 amid a broader shakeup of the German stockmarket.

The gold price perked up this week, hitting a four-week high.

Southeast Asia is suffering from its worst wave of Covid infections since the pandemic began. And with just 3% of its population vaccinated, Vietnam's…

Global governments' fiscal support measures has left us with “war-time era” debt levels. A reckoning is inevitable.

Rather than throwing a tantrum at the prospect of a cut in US monetary stimulus, as confirmed by US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell, investors …

A new-car shortage is forcing car buyers to turn to the used market. Alex Rankine breaks down why.

The widely trumpeted smart meters for gas and electricity are a fiddly and expensive mess.

The US dollar is the world’s leading reserve currency. But it might not always be.

UK consumer prices rose by 2% year-on-year in July – less than expected. And in the US, month-on-month inflation fell to 0.5%, down from 0.9% in June.…

US house prices soared by 16.6% in the year to May, and the rally looks like it will keep on going.

An explosion of Covid-19 cases, strict lockdowns and political gridlock has made this a difficult year for Malaysia. And now, investors are pulling ou…

Middle-class families are being trapped by a tax designed for the rich reports Alex Rankine. He explains ways which inheritance tax (IHT) can be avoid…

Before the advent of antibiotics, a small cut could be fatal, and surgery and childbirth were extremely hazardous. Is the rise of antimicrobial resist…

US companies are posting …

With Covid gaining a foothold, strict lockdowns in place and low rates of vaccination, Australia looks vulnerable.