With cash savings rates approaching 5% if you're prepared to lock your money away for a few years, investors are starting to ask if this is a better place for their savings than taking the risk of investing in the stock market.Over the past decade or so, income funds have been popular investments as they've offered more generous yields than you'd get on cash. Now the Bank of England's base rate ha

Generating a steady income from the markets in retirement isn't as hard as you might think. Doing some basic research and understanding the risks involved with certain investment products are good starting points. In this article we'll discuss these topics and more in order to help you find that prized stream of cash.Anyone deciding to stay in the markets instead of generating a fixed income throu

The quest for income remains at the top of the agenda for many investors. While UK interest rates have started to go up, they are still low relative to history and so cash savings accounts are unlikely to offer any decent levels of interest.For example, the best paying instant access cash savings rate is currently 1.5% from Goldman Sach's new Marcus service and Kent Reliance. Fixed-rated accounts

It goes against the grain to pay more for an investment trust than the underlying net assets are actually worth, but sometimes it can make a lot of sense. The most highly rated trusts tend to experience heavy demand and normally trade at a premium to reflect their superior performance.In some cases the demand is sufficient to lift a whole sector. For example, strong investor appetite for safe sour

Of all the long-term consequences of the financial crisis of 2008, one of the most serious is the partial withdrawal of the banks from some of their traditional lending activities.Tougher capital adequacy requirements have made it more expensive for them to provide loans, which has left key areas of the economy short of funding and created a lucrative gap in the market.Part of the shortfall has be

The UK base rate has been at an all-time historic low of 0.5% since March 2009, but recent comments from the Bank of England suggest that the first increase is getting closer. Despite the current turmoil it is almost certain that interest rates will go up either this year or next and when they do it could have a profound effect on the financial markets.Higher interest rates are normally bad for bo

There are a variety of reasons why people invest for income. Those of working age may need the money to put towards a regular outgoing such as their mortgage or child's school fees, whereas retirees will most likely want to supplement their state pension.Many use savings accounts, yet UK base rates have now been at an all-time historic low of 0.5% for more than six years and the latest data sugges