off plan property investments

China eases curbs on banks for offshore investments

China is to ease curbs on offshore investments in a bid to reduce the rising tide of liquidity in the financial system, state press reported on Saturday.

The new rules widen the scope of a government programme for banks and other institutional investors to tap more than four trillion dollars in national and corporate savings, the Shanghai Securities News reported.

The move by the China Banking Regulatory Commission is also aimed at easing appreciation pressure on its currency and the pace of growth in foreign reserves that, at 1.2 trillion dollars, are already the world's largest.

According to the commission, individual bank customers will be allowed to invest a minimum of 300,000 yuan (38,900 US dollars) in offshore stocks.

Stocks can account for up to 50 per cent of the net value of an offshore investment product offered by a bank, with the net value of a single stock capped at five per cent, the regulator said.

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Private equity is preferred alternative investment

The latest poll of Trustnetusers indicates that private equityis the favoured style of 鈥榓lternative' investment by the investment community.

Offered the choice of classic cars, fine art or wine, hedge funds/futures/options derivatives, horses or private equity, more than 38% of all respondents, mainly private investors and financial advisers, chose private equity. Hedge funds/futures/options derivatives pipped fine art or wine to second place polling 19.2% and 18.6% respectively. 14.5% chose classic cars as their preferred alternative investment vehicle while horses trailed with a luke-warm 9.6%.

The online survey, carried out during April 2007, was triggered by a recent FSA consultation paper proposing funds of alternative investment funds. Although private equity products were voted first choice consistently by private investors and professionals alike, the survey reveals an interesting disparity between private investors with financial advisers and those who go it alone, in other categories.

business brokerage brisbane

Assurant Solutions enters Irish insurance market

As it enters the insurance market, it is launching a flexible range of payment protection products, including mortgage payment protection income protection and loan protection.

Assurant Solutions hopes this will allow Irish brokers to unbundle the one-size-fits-all product that currently dominates the marketplace.

Clients will be able to offer their customers full accident, sickness and involuntary unemployment cover or stand-alone accident and sickness cover or involuntary unemployment cover only, providing benefits for three, six, 12 or 24 months.

Hospitalisation and life cover also can be included as additional benefits.

Ian Moffatt, managing director of Assurant Solutions, says: This is an exciting time for our company.

"We have a reputation for taking a fresh approach to PPI, creating products that meet our clients requirements and put the consumers interests at the heart of the product design process.