Five Tips for Getting a Payday Loan in 2021

December 22, 2020

The payday loan industry is growing, and more clients are finding themselves in need of such services in the wake of the economic slowdown due to COVID-19. This trend looks set to continue in 2021. Many lenders are beefing up affordability checking processes to ensure that borrowers do not become overburdened by debt.

High levels of bad debt and recent findings by the ombudsman that indicated a need for more checks and balances have triggered this move. Here is what you need to know about getting a payday loan in 2021:

Understand terms and conditions

Payday loans, including same-day payday loans, are short-term financial transactions. You borrow a small amount to deal with a financial emergency on the premise that the loan amount, together with interest, is repaid once you receive your salary or benefits. Most lenders also offer borrowers extended repayment periods, but these seldom exceed three months. They also apply only when you borrow over an amount the lender specifies.

Payday lenders are obligated to ensure that they supply you with the terms and conditions of your agreement. However, it is incumbent on you to read and understand them. If you are not sure about something, seek clarification before committing.

While the interest rates charged on payday loans are high compared with personal and long-term loans, they have some benefits. They are relatively easy to obtain and come in handy when you need a helping hand to get to the end of the month. Payday loans are over and done with after a short time, leaving you free to seek other credit products should you want them.

More rigorous screening

Rulings by the ombudsman have put some payday lenders out of business because of compensation orders from past unfair practices. Lenders were found to have offered borrowers loans knowing that there was a distinct chance they would be unable to pay them. This is unethical as it lines the lender’s pocket with the additional interest charged on outstanding balances.

To ensure that your application meets with a lender’s requirements, prove that the repayment is well within your budget and that defaulting is an improbable prospect. With lenders being more cautious, focus on reassuring them that lending you money is minimally risky.

A healthy credit score

Payday lenders should check your credit score before extending a loan to you. While you might still get a loan with a less than ideal credit rating, there is a significant chance that you will be charged a higher interest rate. Your past financial behaviour is a reliable prediction of how you will handle debt in the future.

To maintain an excellent credit score, keep your debt levels down to what is essential. You should not be going into debt on a whim to buy something that you could realistically save for. Pay monthly instalments in full and on time. A missed payment incurs additional interest while simultaneously deducting credit score points from your total.

Stay off the debt hamster wheel

If you find yourself borrowing money to pay off debts, get out of this debt cycle before it becomes well-nigh impossible. Instead of offering you more loans that will make your situation worse, payday lenders should protect you by referring you for debt counselling. While times are tough, and it is easy to succumb to the temptation of taking out a loan to make your financial problems ‘disappear’, all you are doing is prolonging them.

Consider checking your credit score at least once every six months to get an overall picture of how potential lenders would view your application for a loan. It also helps you identify fraudulent transactions that you did not authorise. If you feel your situation is getting out of control, get help. Several organisations run free debt counselling services to improve clients’ financial literacy levels and get them onto an even keel.

Shop around

As most payday loan transactions are now conducted online, you are no longer limited by geography. In the past, you could only make use of lenders that operated in your area. This no longer applies as you can take a loan from a company anywhere within the UK. You can now take advantage of companies offering better deals on payday loans.

Just as your financial situation is unique, so are the services offered by some companies. For example, some payday lenders require more information in an application than others. You might be asked what the money is for, a budget breakdown to prove that you can repay a loan or a letter of employment in addition to salary advice slips.

Certain payday lenders are a little more flexible when it comes to a less than stellar credit score than others. Some offer lower interest rates than others. With so many potential lenders to choose from, take the time to weigh your options before deciding.

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Fantastic truths and where to find them: how do judges decide which witnesses to believe?

December 22, 2020

By Sarah Murray and Laura Beagrie

It cannot have escaped anyone’s notice that Johnny Depp recently lost his libel claim against the publishers of The Sun newspaper after Mr Justice Nicol held that the allegations made against him of domestic violence were substantially true. Whilst questions over the future of his film career abound, on any view his credibility lies in tatters; with the judgment handed down after a 16-day trial where Mr Depp gave evidence for over 20 hours.

The case turned largely on witness evidence and the credibility, or otherwise of those giving evidence, shedding a light on the difficulty of assessing witnesses and over relying on them in proceedings. Short of polygraph tests, truth serums or time machines, how do judges decide whether witnesses are telling the truth?

The Bingham factors

Lord Bingham, former Master of the Rolls, Lord Chief Justice and Senior Law Lord set out a good starting point for assessing witness credibility in his essay entitled, “The Business of Judging”. Although noting their relative importance will vary widely from case to case, he outlined each of the below factors as the main tests needed to determine whether a witness is lying or not.

Consistency of the witness’s evidence with what is agreed or clearly shown by other evidence

Evidently, clearly obvious facts and contemporaneous documents provide a useful framework for what has happened. Thus, witness evidence, which is consistent with those “fixed point facts”, is obviously more credible than evidence that is inconsistent.

This is neatly illustrated by the Depp case, especially through a particular incident on an aeroplane. Mr Depp had said that he remembered the flight in detail, however this was contradicted by a text message he sent after the flight in which he said he had blacked out. Additionally, his former personal assistant had also sent a text saying, “He doesn’t remember much”. Whilst Mr Depp and his assistant tried to explain the texts away as being sent to placate Ms Heard, they formed the basis for the judge’s findings that Mr Depp had assaulted Ms Heard on that occasion, that he blacked out at times and that, perhaps because of this, he did not recall the assault until reminded of it.

Witness evidence can also be undermined by metadata (hidden data within documents showing information such as the dates on which they were created or modified). For example, a member of Mr Depp’s security team, Mr Betts, originally stated that he had seen Mr Depp with an injury on 21 April 2016 and had taken a photo of it, which was exhibited to his witness statement. He subsequently amended this to say that the photo attached to the statement was not the one he had taken, although it was similar. In cross-examination it then emerged that the photo had a date stamp of 23 March 2015 (a date on which Ms Heard accepted that she had struck Mr Depp). Due to the inconsistencies in this statement, the judge found Mr Bett’s evidence that he saw an injury to Mr Depp’s face on 21 April 2016 was considerably weakened.

As the smallest inconsistency can be blown up to epic proportions under the microscope of cross examination, the need for witnesses and their legal teams to be completely on top of the detail of a case is vital. It is also beneficial to consider hiring NICE Public Safety & Justice for Incident Recording & Reconstruction purposes.

The internal consistency of witness evidence

If a witness gives an account of events during cross-examination which contradicts itself, this obviously raises doubts about the credibility of their evidence. In other legal systems, witnesses can be coached so that they can practice their evidence. However, this is not permitted under English law. The most witnesses can do is to undergo witness familiarisation training, which gives them an understanding of the process of giving evidence and what is expected of them. This may help them to remain calm during cross-examination and minimise the risk of them saying something that they do not really mean.

Consistency with what the witness has said on other occasions

If a witness says something different to what they have said (or not said) on a previous occasion this can obviously damage their credibility. During cross-examination in the Depp case, Mr Depp admitted that he had, or may have, head-butted Ms Heard. Mr Depp agreed that this was a very important detail, but when asked why it was then omitted from his witness statement, he said that he had not noticed that it was not included in his witness statement, saying, “‘I am sure that I read some of [the witness statement]. I do not know that I read it all.” With these words, all credibility in Mr Depp’s written witness statements were lost, highlighting the clear need for witnesses to read their statements carefully and to speak up if any amendment is needed.

However, witnesses can take some heart by the fact that inconsistences may not be fatal if they can be legitimately explained. For example, Ms Heard had originally said that Mr Depp had defaced a painting on 8 March 2013, only to subsequently say, having read through the materials again, she had realised the incident had actually happened on 22 March 2013. The judge accepted Ms Heard’s explanation as to how the mistake had come about and her credibility remained intact.

The credit of the witness in relation to matters not relevant to the litigation

A judge may take the view that if a witness is willing to lie or can be shown to have acted dishonestly in an unrelated matter it is support for the proposition that he or she might be willing to lie or act dishonestly in giving evidence.

In the Depp case, Mr Depp’s lawyers sought to argue that Ms Heard’s alleged dishonesty on other occasions should lead the judge to disbelieve her allegations of domestic violence. These arguments were unsuccessful on the particular facts of the case but evidence of dishonesty on the part of a witness should always be considered carefully for deployment in legal proceedings.

The demeanour of the witness

Due to its subjectivity, this is perhaps the most difficult factor that judges seek to assess. Further, people are not always aware of the extent to which their own and other people’s memories are unreliable, and we believe our memories to be more faithful than they are.

The approach in commercial cases is to treat demeanour of witnesses with caution. In one case, Lord Justice Leggat said that it was a fallacy to suppose that, because a witness has confidence in his or her recollection and is honest, evidence based on that recollection provided any reliable guide to the truth. Instead, best approach was to place little, if any, reliance on witnesses’ recollections of what was said in meetings and conversations, so basing factual findings on documentary evidence and known or probable facts. He saw the value of oral testimony was as a tool to subject the documents to critical scrutiny and to allow a judge to gauge the personality, motivations and working practices of a witness.

Unfortunately, this approach is not always possible as many matters litigated before the courts will not be fully recorded in documents. In such cases, Judges must make findings of fact based upon all of the evidence and where a party’s sworn evidence is disbelieved the court must say why.

Witness familiarisation training can also help with demeanour issues and creating the right impression. Above all, it is sensible for witnesses to keep calm, consider questions carefully, to give considered and thoughtful answers and make concessions when obviously required.

Additional factors for consideration

Importantly, there are other factors that can mean the difference between evidence being believed or not. For example, the independence of a witness can make their evidence more credible, whereas the evidence of clearly partisan witnesses makes their evidence less credible. In the Depp case, few of the witnesses were independent because they were mainly friends, relatives or employees of Mr Depp or Ms Heard. However, the judge did note that one particular witness, Mr Murphy, was “an enthusiastic supporter of Mr Depp”, quoting an email he had written to Mr Depp, which said “I’ll always have your back … anytime/anywhere …”. Less weight was placed on his evidence as a result.

Additionally, Occam’s razor says that the simplest explanation is usually the right one. Judges are likely to deploy this principle, applying a healthy dollop of common sense, when assessing witness evidence. To give an example from the Depp case, in one incident, Mr Depp sought to explain a text to his assistant asking for drugs as being a request for prescription drugs. The judge rejected this on the grounds that, as Mr Depp’s personal nurse was with him at the time, it would make no sense for his assistant to be the source of prescription drugs rather than her.

Preparing the witness

With credibility under the microscope and every statement pored over by the other side and the court to try and trip them up, it may seem like witnesses face an impossible task. However, there are some principles that can be followed to counter this. Whilst it should go without saying that the most important thing for a witness to do is tell the truth, they must also remember that contemporaneous documents are the most important evidence for the fact-finding exercise at trial. Therefore, if a witness is to depart from what they show, he or she needs to be able to explain why.

The preparation of the witness statement is also key. A witness should be closely involved in its drafting and intimately acquainted with its contents, as well as the documents exhibited to it. Any omissions should be discussed and, if necessary, added. Anything that is not completely true, or which could be misinterpreted should be removed.

Witness preparation training is another great way to get into the mindset a good witness needs. Paramount is the principle that the job of a witness is to help the judge find the truth of the case, therefore, a witness who is helpful, open and honest is far more likely to be believed than one that is evasive, combative or slippery with his or her answers.

Assessing the truth or otherwise of witness evidence is notoriously difficult. Memory is fallible, and court are having to increasingly rely on witness evidence, which many are ill-equipped to deal with. However, through thorough preparation and consideration of the intense scrutiny witness evidence will be subject to, witness credibility can be strengthened, helping judges get closer to the truth.

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About the Authors

Sarah Murray is head of the dispute resolution practice and deals with a wide range of commercial disputes both in the High Court and through arbitration. She trained at a City firm and joined Stevens & Bolton in 2003. She became a partner in 2013.

Laura Beagrie is a highly experienced professional support lawyer who delivers specialist technical support to disputes lawyers across the firm. She helps to develop the practice of the commercial litigation and arbitration team, manages the team’s know-how and precedents and helps deliver its training programme.

4 Strategies for Getting Out of Debt Sooner

December 22, 2020

Learning how to get out of debt is the first important step toward repairing your finances. There are several strategies that you can employ to fix your personal finances, and if you’re struggling to meet your expenses and make progress on debt payments, you should know what’s out there.

High debt burdens can get in the way of your financial progress. It can prevent you from saving for a bigger goal like retirement or buying a home, and it can keep you from taking out more beneficial loans, like a mortgage or small business loan, that help you build up your wealth.

To get back on track toward your bigger financial goals, you need to know how to get out of debt. These are some of the most effective and popular strategies.

#1 Debt Consolidation

You’ve likely heard of a debt consolidation loan, where you borrow money from a bank or credit union at a low interest rate to pay off all your high-interest balances with credit card companies and other lenders. However, you don’t need a debt consolidation loan to get out of debt.

You can also start a Debt Consolidation Program. Certified Credit Counsellors from a non-profit credit counselling agency can provide professional advice on debt consolidation that doesn’t involve taking out a new loan. A DCP reduces or eliminates the interest rates you pay on your individual debts and simplifies your finances so you only have to make one monthly payment.

#2 Bankruptcy

Insolvency measures such as bankruptcy are typically a last resort. The consequences of declaring bankruptcy can be long-lasting and set you back financially, especially if you have assets like considerable equity in your home, secondary properties, investments, fine art, multiple vehicles, etc.

In bankruptcy, many of your assets may be liquidated to pay your creditors, while surplus income can also be collected for a period of time. It will also remain on your credit history for years. It should be approached with caution.

#3 Snowball and Avalanche Methods

If you’ve got the financial resources to pay back debts yourself, try using either the snowball or avalanche methods. These are two different approaches to the same idea: while you keep up with minimum payments on all accounts, you pay as much as possible to knock out one single debt.

In the snowball method, you focus your payments on the smallest debt you owe. It will be the quickest to pay back, and the momentum can help mentally motivate you to push through the rest.

The avalanche method is purely about cost. It focuses on the most expensive debt you have, i.e., whichever one hits you with the highest interest charges. This method will help you minimize the cost of servicing debt.

#4 Bare-Bones Budgeting

Limit your spending to a bare-bones budget that slashes all non-essential expenses and even finds ways to reduce essential expenses. All of that extra money can be put toward debt repayments. By living off of a smaller percentage of your income, you can speed up debt repayments.

Make no mistake, this kind of austerity isn’t a lot of fun. But it’s only temporary. The sooner you get out of debt, the sooner you can do what you want with your money.

The way out of debt begins with a smart strategy. Get professional advice when it comes to debt consolidation, budgeting, and other tools.

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How You Can Make the Most Out of Your Credit History

December 22, 2020

A high credit score can be incredibly rewarding. When you have a high score, you tend to get lower interest rates on credit cards and loans. You’re more likely to have your loan applications approved and given bigger credit limits to work with. You might find that you have an easier time getting a mortgage, buying a car and even getting a new cellphone than others.

If you’re hoping to obtain these benefits, you need to think about your credit history. Your score is based on five major factors: Credit Mix, Payment History, New Credit, Credit Utilization and Credit History. Your Credit History is the length of time that you’ve had a credit account open, and it will have a significant influence on your score. Read ahead to see how you can make the most of it:

Use a Personal Line of Credit

A personal line of credit can help you extend your credit history without forcing you to commit to a steep repayment plan. You have direct control of the outstanding balance, and therefore, you have control over the necessary repayments. So, if you have the goal of increasing your history, you can keep your balance low. That will make it an easy account to maintain.

Do you not have one? If you don’t already have a line of credit on-hand, you can apply for one online. Go to the website CreditFresh to learn about personal line of credit requirements and see if you’re qualified to apply. This could be the solution that you’re looking for.

Keep Accounts Open

Keeping your accounts open is one of the easiest ways that you can get the most out of your credit history. The longer that you keep those accounts open, the more experience you will accrue.

If you’re planning on closing an account, take a step back. Doing this could lower your credit score. Your credit cards and lines of credit will still add to your credit history, even when they don’t get much use. Closing accounts also changes your credit utilization ratio since you’re eliminating the credit limit from your financial portfolio. Naturally, losing out on the extensive experience and offsetting your ratio will often lead to a lower credit score — not a higher one.

So, keep your old accounts open for as long as possible. Keep them active with a small balance. Make sure to check on them regularly. Rarely used accounts are more vulnerable to identity theft and fraud since users don’t keep a close eye on transactions.

Close Your Accounts Strategically

You feel like you have to close an account. Maybe the pressure to spend beyond your means is too much. Maybe you’re tired of juggling so many credit cards. Whatever your reason, you want to eliminate at least one account from your portfolio.

So, how do you make sure that you don’t eliminate too much credit history? You’ll have to be strategic. Don’t close your oldest accounts because those will have the most experience. Instead, see if you can close a newer account to minimize the loss of credit history and the impact on your score.

Your credit history proves that patience and persistence will always pay off. The longer that you maintain your accounts, the better your credit score can be. It’s that simple.

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Basel Capital Markets for Traders – Review of Trading Platform

December 21, 2020

The financial system and ways to make money have begun to develop in the online sphere, thereby opening up a chance for traders of any category to achieve huge success. Basel Capital Markets is a platform for working with stocks as well as Forex, CFDs, cryptocurrencies, and commodities. In this review, you will find out how to use this platform, start investing, and begin earning by first capital.

Why Basel Capital Markets?

The first thing that should be considered while choosing a platform of such a kind is trusting relationships with partners. It is one of the most important advantages that distinguish no-name companies from really responsible platforms for making money for traders. The main partner of Basel Capital Markets is the Hertha sports football club.

If this information is not enough for you to be convincing, then you should pay attention to the fact that Basel Capital Markets is a legally registered company that has a license. The rights of the company are regulated and granted by Cyprus, which also testifies to its reliability.

Among other things, it should be said that the company offers its customers three simple but very significant advantages:

Interaction with the client. It doesn’t matter where you are and what time it is right now. The company is always ready to contact you and discuss ready-made investment solutions.
24/7 support. Basel Capital Markets will help you anytime you need it. The company will help you solve any difficult issue and suggest how to do the right thing.
Complete security. You do not have to worry about your safety, as Basel Capital Markets is fully responsible for it. Nobody will know or see information about you.

Other Basel Capital Markets Features

In addition to all the advantages described above, the platform also offers several privileges that you may not find dealing with other platforms.

Sometimes, working with stocks or Forex can seem daunting, especially if you are a beginner trader. The main difference between Basel Capital Markets and other platforms is that the company allows you to perform complex financial transactions in a few clicks. The unique platform management system allows you to easily and quickly regulate and manage all functions in your personal account. Moreover, in case of problems or questions, the support service is always ready to help.

You can also work with the platform anywhere and from any device, be it a PC or a mobile phone. The system adjusts conveniently to any conditions and works wherever you are. More information can be found here at baselcapitalmarkets.de.

And the most important advantage of the company is that you will always be aware of other traders who are trading at a certain moment. This data will help you make your financial management decisions more clearly.

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How can a DAM platform save a business money?

December 21, 2020

In business, it’s not just about making money, it’s about putting the right measures in place to save as much as possible. A healthy bottom-line can be pretty difficult to come by, especially when your department or organisation is seemingly blowing its budget every quarter.

Having the right tools in place can help preserve cash flow across any business, and more companies than ever before are turning to DAM platforms to make that happen. Check out bynder.com for the latest information on Digital Asset Management software.

So, how can a DAM platform save your business money? Read on to find out more.

Efficient workflows

You know what they say – “you should focus on being productive instead of being busy”. But if your team doesn’t have the right technology in place to help boost their efficiency, then they’re destined to spend more time being busy and less time being genuinely productive. The more productive and efficient your workflows are, the more tasks that get done and the more money the business makes.

Being able to access the right digital assets within seconds is essential to keep things flowing along nicely. Otherwise, your department is only going to waste time trawling through hundreds or even thousands of digital files, or they may even end up using the wrong ones. When this kind of issue occurs, it can delay projects, create interdepartmental contention and hamper the customer experience. All of which costs the business money. By joining thousands of businesses and investing in DAM software, you can benefit from efficient workflows and projects being completed on time.

Saving money on your reputation

In business, reputation is everything and the only thing harder than gaining a good reputation is keeping hold of it. When you have numerous people handling your digital assets with no organisation, management or user permissions in place then it opens the door to all kinds of potential problems. The use of the wrong digital asset could lead to a discrepancy with the company image, leading a potential customer to look elsewhere, or you could have a copyright infringement on your hands, something which is incredibly difficult to bounce back from, both in terms of reputation and financially.

The use of DAM software ensures brand consistency across your business or department. With restricted access to certain folders, collections and media, and intelligent version control, you can save time and money on your reputation by keeping your brand consistent and your digital assets well managed.

And finally, banish duplicates and recreation costs

Without fast and swift access to the right digital files, you’re going to see a bottleneck within all your workflows and processes. These issues can lead to frustration and often the need to repurchase or recreate files that can’t be found quickly enough. Duplicates are expensive, especially if you have to reach out to a third-party creative.

Using smart search technology, metadata, tags and strict taxonomy means that your department can save money and keep digital assets secure and accessible. It doesn’t matter how many digital assets you have; with DAM software you can find what you need within seconds. Whether you’re developing marketing materials, working on a project or reaching out directly to customers.

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Business Defamation – How To Prove That You Have Been Wronged

December 21, 2020

As the corporate landscape gets competitive, rivals will go as far as they can to damage your brand’s reputation. The growing number of business defamation cases shows how common the concern is for organizations. You can expect people to indulge in verbal slander or defame your business in writing. The risk runs even higher now that people can freely post unfiltered reviews online and harm brands with defamatory statements. Thankfully, startups and established enterprises can file defamation lawsuits, but everything boils down to proving that you have been wronged. Here are the facts that you will have to show for protecting your business against defamation.

A false statement of fact

If you want to claim defamation against a person or business, you will have to show that they made a false statement of fact with malicious intent. Any negative statement, therefore, cannot be regarded as a valid ground to file a claim. For it to be regarded as defamatory, it should state a fact rather than an opinion. Further, it must also be false to make a valid claim. The burden of proof lies with the business, so you will have to prove that the other person or company is lying to cause harm to your brand.

Publication of the statement

While a defamatory statement can be spoken or written, it must be published to show that your company has been wronged. Published indicates that a third party heard or read the statement. It could include saying or writing something to make it public through media channels such as radio, television, newspaper, social media, or online reviews. Even speeches and loud conversations can entail publication.

The statement was injurious

A statement is defamatory only if it is injurious to your business. The entire objective of defamation law is to protect people and businesses against reputational damage. If you want to prove the claim, you will have to collaborate with a seasoned defamation lawyer like advokat-danielsen.no and prove that your business’ reputation has taken a blow due to the false statement. Additionally, you can prove that it also caused economic damages in the form of lost customers and profits for the business. The validity of the claim hinges on the evidence of damage, so it is advisable that you seek legal expertise to prove it.

Lack of privilege

Even as you bring up a lawsuit to seek damages for your business, the defendant can also assert some privileges as a defense. If they end up showing that their statement is true, the claim can be dismissed. Similarly, you cannot sue a witness who states a fact in the course of legal proceedings, even if they testify falsely. Also, lawmakers have this privilege, and businesses cannot sue them for repeating allegations in a legislative chamber. The defendant must lack this privilege for the lawsuit to be valid.

Defamation can have a far-reaching impact on a business, as they may end up losing their future revenue potential, missing out on growth opportunities, and tarnishing their reputation. It makes sense to establish your rights and claim damages for being implicated wrongly, so you must do whatever it takes.

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10 Useful Resources Every Business Student Should Bookmark Right Away

December 21, 2020

If you struggle during your business course, we have a relevant suggestion on how to solve the problem. The point is in using top-quality resources that will improve your understanding of business. In this material, we present ten useful to any business student resources that will kickstart your academic performance.

Review websites

One of the most important skills for business students is research and analysis of information. One must be able to take into account all risks and choose the best option for their business. While at school, review websites are something each student deals with, so no wonder a reliable review website can help save precious time.

For example, as a student you might need to find a room for rent or professional help with your assignment. If you find some company online, like Paper Rater, you won’t be able to predict whether you’ll succeed at your accomplishments. Thus, Paper Rater reviews will provide you with all valuable information on whether this is a credible resource. Similarly, review websites often allow you to collect more information than the company representative can provide you as people share their personal experience on such a resource.

University databases

For sure, databases of diverse colleges and universities are reputable sources of educational materials on business. You may use your educational facility’s database or reach open-access materials provided by other facilities, such as Walden University. It is an excellent approach if you seek more detailed and sophisticated materials.

Video games

The best websites providing business simulations are other popular sources of entrepreneurship knowledge. They allow you to develop specific skills in practice, which can give you a great advantage in the domain of commerce. There are many interactive web apps to choose from, such as Business Simulation Game and BTS.

General research databases

There are multiple research databases that provide students with thesis papers, scholarly articles, study reports, and other credible sources for research. You can use such resources to get sophisticated and informative materials on a broad range of business-related questions. Surely, lots of sources on such websites require paid access, but you still have great chances to find free and useful references on such websites.

Popular business magazines

Sometimes, you should not seek very sophisticated sources to improve your understanding of business. Actually, such resources as Forbes and Reuters can give you much relevant information. You can read diverse articles or essay materials from those authoritative magazines to know more about the trends or research success stories of notable entrepreneurs.

Though these recommendations are general, they give you an idea of what you should be reading in a spare minute. And here are a few of my personal favorites for every business student you can bookmark right away:

American Educational Research Journal

Do not underestimate this source of information. Sometimes, students provide really meaningful content in their articles written for educational journals, such as American Educational Research Journal. The main benefit of such sources is that they are written in a scientific yet relatively simple manner that will not disappoint you.

Hubspot Academy

Nowadays, you cannot become successful in business without understanding how to promote the product. Marketing research is a must for any business learner. Make sure to check marketing resources, such as Hubspot Academy, to become more proficient in this sphere.

Rutgers Business Review

Surely, such sources can seem difficult for an average student, but if you aim high, prepare to work with professional literature. Such magazines as Rutgers Business Review can become your most valuable sources of information on business trends, market shifts, and emerging issues. In movies, you can often see credible business analysts reading such journals. Well, there is definitely a grain of truth in such images.

Business Explained on YouTube

Teachers often give their students an assignment to watch various educational videos. It is because they understand the learning potential of properly visualized courses. Fortunately, you can find a broad range of such lessons on YouTube. My personal favorites are the channels Business Explained and Crash Course.

JS Business Solutions Blog

Often, you can find useful information on business and innovation in various blogs of credible persons. A successful entrepreneur, a scholar, a teacher, or even a group of investors can share their experience and opinions on such a blog. Finding a useful blog on the Internet is not a challenging task. My personal favorite is JS Business Solutions Blog.

In conclusion, there is almost an unlimited list of resources that can be used by business students. Our ten essential picks include marketing resources, review websites, university databases, college student journals, professional journals, educational videos, credible blogs, simulations, research databases, and popular business magazines. The use of such resources can greatly improve your academic performance and even grant you success during the nearest exam!

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How to Write a Proper Resume: What to Include and What to Leave Out

December 20, 2020

On average, a recruiter takes about 30 seconds to skim through a resume. If the information that sticks out seems irrelevant for the position, the applicant will not make it through the first stage. Therefore, your level of education or experience will not matter if you present your resume poorly. Domy resume helps you in presenting the resume in the right way with all the essential elements.

Websites like domyessay.com follow strict structures in their essays, and so should your resume. When interviewers ask you for a resume, they give you 30 seconds to sell yourself and prove you are qualified to move to the next stage. Therefore, you should know what to include and what to leave out to ensure you present yourself well. Here are some of the critical areas to look into.

Contact Information

This is the most basic information that all resumes should have. It tells the employer how they may reach you. Ensure to include your name, title, telephone number, email address, links to relevant websites or blogs, and social media handles. Ensure your LinkedIn profile is up to date since most professionals are likely to check. It is not compulsory to include your home address. Do not write your contact details in the header section since most recruitment software experience difficulties reading the header and footer section.

Opening Statement

Here, you tell the employer what you have to offer. Ensure you are brief and to the point. Do not write more than six lines. Also, avoid using personal references like, I, we, my, me. Write in the first person but exclude the reference. Instead of writing “I worked at …”, write “Worked at…” In this section, avoid writing too much about yourself, like stating your objectives, since you may come off as self-centered. Write more about what you can do for that company.

Experience

This area requires you to give your employment history in chronological order, starting with your most recent job. If you have worked for long, include your employment history in the last 10-15 years. Only include internships if you do not have sufficient work experience. This is mostly applicable to recent graduates. Under each employment position or training, add a few bullet points describing your roles and responsibilities. You could try and link them to the skills required in the current job interview. While writing the topics, start with an action verb, then include a quantifiable point and a specific task. For example, you could write, “Lead a marketing campaign that increased sales by 15%.” Remember to add unconventional work like freelancing and volunteer jobs, mainly if you have limited work experience.

Education

Education history is also written in chronological order, starting from the most recent academic achievement. It is not compulsory to add descriptions, but you may if the information is relevant to the job description. Typical entries include the name of the degree you studied, the institution, and the award received. In case you have several higher qualifications, you could exclude information like your high school.

Skills

The skills section is the most critical area as it shows the relevance of your skills to the job. Most employers use an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) software to place applicants with the best skills. Applications provide a list of skills for applicants to choose from. Include about 10-15 relevant skills. Apart from skills specific to the job, you could also include some general skills like leadership, teamwork, communication, and critical thinking. These personal attributes may set you apart from the rest of the applicants. However, do not include them at the expense of the relevant job skills.

Hobbies

Nowadays, many employers are keen on your interests as they are telling of your personality. Most employers want to ensure you fit in with the teams, and you can integrate seamlessly with their working culture. For example, if you apply for work at a running shoe company, you could express your love for jogging. Make sure the hobbies you include are relevant to the application. Do not make up hobbies to seem fit for the position. It’s better to exclude the section and maximize on other areas.

References

Include two people who can give positive recommendations about you in the resume. Ideally, they should be people that have worked with you previously. Give their name, title, and contact information. You could also attach testimonials to support your experience, skills, or educational background. Two testimonials are enough.

As you write your resume, first contemplate whether the information you are giving is relevant. View your resume from the perspective of the employer. It would be best if you always customized your resume for every application. Ensure it is simple and communicates. Choosing to use complicated additions like graphics and fancy texts makes accessing your resume harder for the recruitment software and the recruiter. Also, avoid basic mistakes like grammatical errors as they communicate a lot about your attributes.

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Downward Trend in the U.S. Dollar Deserves Attention

December 20, 2020

By Chan Kung and Wei Hongxu

As the outcome of U.S. presidential election in November becomes clearer, the uncertainty plaguing the country was removed, and we see the U.S. dollar’s slide has accelerated. On December 1, the U.S. dollar index had fallen to a more than two-year low of 91.318. With the promising progress on COVID-19 vaccine, the expectation of economic recovery in the United States is strengthened. In addition, the new administration of the United States may push for new stimulus package, hence the U.S. dollar is expected to depreciate along with the continuous increase of dollar liquidity, which is likely to be the underlying trend across global financial markets in the new year.

Chart: Continuous Decline of the U.S. Dollar Index

This year, the U.S. dollar index hit a high of about 102 in March during the turmoil in global financial markets, driven by tight liquidity and rising trade frictions between China and the U.S. Since then, the massive liquidity unleashed by the Federal Reserve’s unlimited quantitative easing (QE), combined with the elimination of liquidity risks after financial markets stabilized, and the continued spread of the COVID-19 pandemic have led to gradual depreciation of the U.S. dollar. This can be seen as an aftermath of the Federal Reserve’s policy. After excess liquidity continued to lift U.S. stocks and major capital markets, money began flowing to Asia-Pacific regions such as China amid expectations of a possible improvement in U.S.-China relations, further exacerbating the dollar outflow.

When then, are the prospects for the U.S. dollar next year? In terms of the current global political, economic, and the changes in the COVID-19 situation, the U.S. dollar is likely to remain weak next year. While the current progress of the vaccine development has raised expectations that the U.S. economy could achieve recovery, both Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell and U.S. Treasury Secretary-designate Janet Yellen are now signaling a desire to keep stimulus policies in place to avoid a crisis. On the one hand, the Federal Reserve remains concerned about the instability of the U.S. economy and employment, calling for continued stimulus to help businesses and households weather the downside risks. On the other hand, Yellen stressed that, “It’s an American tragedy and it’s essential that we move with urgency. Inaction will produce a self-reinforcing downturn, causing yet more devastation.”

The attitude of key officials in the U.S. financial sector shows that they are still keen to push for the expansionary fiscal policy and the implementation of QE policy to promote the recovery of the U.S. economy. This also suggests that the U.S. will continue to “print money” to maintain economic stability and inflated financial market valuations.

From a global perspective, among the major economies’ continuous loosening policies, the United States still took the lead in massive easing. Research shows that the Federal Reserve expanded by about USD 3 trillion as of October this year, with the balance sheet expanded by 36%, lower than the 693% expansion since the financial crisis of 2008. Bank of Japan’s balance sheet amounted to USD 6.67 trillion at the end of October, up slightly from USD 5.6 trillion at the end of February, and the overall balance sheet expansion is relatively conservative, with an expansion of about 19%, far lower than the 528% expansion since the 2008 financial crisis. Bank of England’s balance sheet amounted to USD 1.09 trillion at the end of October, up sharply from USD 0.66 trillion at the end of February, an expansion of around 65%, well below the 731% expansion since the 2008 financial crisis. The European Central Bank has launched a cumulative EUR 1.35 trillion of emergency asset purchase program. As a result, the United States is still in a leading position in terms of the absolute size of the expansion. This also means that the U.S. dollar will be in a weaker position against other major currencies, which is why the U.S. dollar continues to depreciate against the euro and the Japanese yen. But at the same time, the U.S. dollar index would not continue to fall to the level of around 72 seen during the 2008 financial crisis.

With the Federal Reserve unleashing massive liquidity, concerns about whether inflation will affect its QE policy are less prominent in next year. On the one hand, the sustained downturn in international oil prices means that inflation is unlikely to rise significantly. On the other hand, the change in the Federal Reserve’s policy framework is in fact an early response to rising inflation, suggesting that it will not change QE policy for quite some time.

As the U.S. dollar continues to weaken, international capital inflows to emerging markets, including China, are actually on the rise. According to the Institute of International Finance (IIF), foreign capital inflows into emerging markets reached a record USD 76.5 billion in November, the highest ever for a single month. Since the beginning of the year, net foreign capital inflows into emerging markets reached USD 166.5 billion, including net inflows of USD 16.6 billion into the equity markets. These capital flows have naturally led to a rise in the RMB exchange rate. The RMB’s spot exchange rate against the U.S. dollar rose 1.78% in November to 6.5827, the sixth straight month of gains.

In terms of other currencies, however, the RMB is actually in a passive appreciation process. In November, the U.S. dollar index fell 2.31%, while the euro and the pound rose 2.41% and 2.94%, respectively, over the same period, indicating that the appreciation of the RMB does not match the depreciation of the U.S. dollar. If the depreciation of the U.S. dollar persists, it is bound to lead to the unilateral appreciation of RMB, which may make China’s capital market expand along with it, but also bring unprecedented pressure to China’s export enterprises.

The continuous “liquidity flood” and the continuation of the Federal Reserve’s QE policy would bring about a major problem, i.e., the accumulation of financial risks. Enterprises are more inclined to increase their leverage in an environment of weakening real demand and low-interest rates, while super-loose monetary policy has pushed up asset prices, raising both credit and market risks. Capital markets are likely to be more sensitive and fragile in the future, and financial risks associated with a more volatile market are issues that need to be taken seriously by regulators such as central banks and market participants.

Final analysis conclusion:

With the uncertainty in the U.S. election result being removed, this has reinforced the U.S. government’s and the Federal Reserve’s efforts to revive the economy with loosening policy. Under such circumstance, the U.S. dollar will continue to depreciate for some time to come. This has new implications for global markets including China, as well as on the global economy, particularly the financial risks that have been accumulating.

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About the Authors

Founder of Anbound Think Tank in 1993, Chan Kung is one of China’s renowned experts in information analysis. Most of Chan Kung‘s outstanding academic research activities are in economic information analysis, particularly in the area of public policy.

Wei Hongxu, graduated from the School of Mathematics of Peking University with a Ph.D. in Economics from the University of Birmingham, UK in 2010 and is a researcher at Anbound Consulting, an independent think tank with headquarters in Beijing.

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