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Possibility of ‘Soft Brexit’ Is Good News for Investors

By U.S. News & World Report

Investors got yet another surprise election headline out of the U.K. on Thursday after no party achieved a majority in Parliament. The vote may have major implications on the approach the U.K. takes to its exit from the European Union, a key area of uncertainty for investors who own stocks with exposure to the U.K.

While uncertainty is rarely a positive for financial markets, the lack of a clear mandate may prevent Prime Minister Theresa May and the Conservative Party from taking a more aggressive approach to Brexit negotiations, which were set to begin on June 19.

[Read: What Populism Means for the Stock Market.]

“Today’s result will in part be seen as a vote against a definitive break from the EU, and the market may soon begin to reassess the probability of a so-called hard Brexit,” UBS strategist John Wraith says.

A hard Brexit could potentially involve the U.K. and the EU applying tariffs and other trade restrictions, a scenario which would be bad news for the large British companies that do the majority of their business outside of the U.K.

Many of these British companies trade on the FTSE 100 Index, which initially bounced more than 1.3 percent on Friday on the news that a hard Brexit may no longer be the most likely path forward. However, the FTSE 250 Index, which includes companies with more exposure to the domestic U.K. market, was down slightly on the day.

The U.S.-listed iShares MSCI United Kingdom ETF (ticker: EWU), which tracks stocks representing roughly 85 percent of the total market capitalization in the U.K., initially dropped more than 1.1 percent following the vote as U.S. investors weigh the uncertain future of the U.K.

Fortunately, the political drama in the U.K. will likely have little impact on the majority of global financial markets in the long term.

“The U.K. is just 2.5 percent of world GDP, and it’s hard to see significant implications for global investment markets,” AMP chief economist Shane Oliver says.

[See: The 10 Best European Stock ETFs on the Market.]

In the U.S., the Standard and Poor’s 500 index was up 0.4 percent Friday.

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Possibility of ‘Soft Brexit’ Is Good News for Investors originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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