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U.K. Deal With the EU May Help British Stocks

The U.K. is making real progress in its negotiations to exit the European Union, and its progress toward a successful Brexit presents an opportunity for savvy investors to get in on the action.

U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May struck a deal with the European Union that allows the country to start the next stage of talks about future post-Brexit trade deals. It comes after a year and a half of tough talk from both sides.

The recent agreement allows EU and U.K. citizens who are already established in the other’s territory to continue living there. There is agreement that the amount for the divorce bill is around 50 billion pounds ($67 billion.) There is also agreement on how to deal with the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2018.]

“The impression I have is that the U.K. isn’t getting a bargain,” says Ivo Pezzuto, professor of global economics at the ISM Global Business School in Paris. “The U.K. just didn’t want to have no deal.”

The understanding may pave the way for Britain to cut a deal such as Norway has, which allows free trade with the EU. However, there are other alternatives such a replicating the arrangement Canada has or that through which Switzerland operates. Of course, the country could decide to rekindle its trading past with nations that are members of the so-called Commonwealth.

Exactly, how Brexit turns out is still unclear in large part because there are varying views within the government of what makes the most sense.

The pound is still struggling. Some global investors are still likely fearful of what may happen to the British economy as it exits the EU. The currency markets seem to indicate that’s what’s happening. Right before the mid- 2016 Brexit referendum, a pound would fetch around $1.46 versus $1.34 recently. The pound initially fell much further, to approximately $1.21 as investors fled the currency. The partial recovery suggests that some of the fear has dissipated.

“I think this fear thing is unfounded,” says Adam Johnson, editor of the Bullseye Brief newsletter. “Ultimately, the U.K. is better off without EU.”

He also notes that the still-reduced value of the pound means that non-U.K. investors can invest while the dollar prices of the stocks are still low.

He’s not the only markets expert to see opportunity.

“The agreement means there is less uncertainty now, so this is good news,” says Oliver Brennan, senior macro strategist at TS Lombard in London. Because investors hate uncertainty, anything reducing it is better for the market.

[See: 10 Ways to Buy International Small-Cap Stocks.]

He also points out that, contrary to what some had feared, the U.K. economy hasn’t disintegrated into nothingness since the Brexit vote. “U.K. growth is good with close to full employment,” he says. “It is not exactly a weak economy.”

Take the FTSE 250 over the FTSE 100. Brennan says it is time to consider stocks that benefit from the robust British economy. That isn’t the stocks of the well-known FTSE 100 index because it is made up mainly of massive global stocks that do well when the world economy is rocking along.

Instead, focus on the companies in the FTSE 250, which has more U.K. domestic-focused companies such as electronics retailer Dixon’s Carphone, postal service company Royal Mail, and real estate website Rightmove. Such companies may not be familiar to U.S. investors, but they are big names in Britain.

“The FTSE 250 gives you more exposure to the U.K. market,” he says and adds that it is outperforming the index of large stocks. The FTSE 250 gained 13.5 percent this year versus the FTSE 100 that added 7.9 percent, according to data from the London Stock Exchange.

“Overall, it seems like a good time to buy,” he says.

The three stocks mentioned above all are listed on U.K. stock markets, and also listed on the over-the-counter U.S. market. But the U.S. listed market versions tend to have light trading volume. Low volume typically results in wider bid-ask spreads and hence it is costlier to buy and sell shares than it would be going directly to the U.K. markets. On the other hand, buying stocks directly from the U.K. market may involve some additional administration for U.S.-based people.

How to invest. An exchange-traded fund that fits the bill is the iShares MSCI United Kingdom Small-Cap (ticker: EWUS) It has annual expenses of 0.59 percent or $59 per $10,000 invested annually. Rightmove shares are one of the fund’s top 25 holdings.

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

Because the fund is U.S.-listed, investors can buy it using U.S. dollars. However, if you do this, you will still be exposed to changes in the value of the British pound relative to the greenback. That can make buying the fund riskier in both a positive and negative way.

For instance, if the pound gains value against the dollar while the U.K. market rallies, you’ll do extra well. However, a sag in the pound versus the dollar could wipe out all the gains from the stocks held in the fund. Or worse still, the U.K. market could fall along with the British pound.

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U.K. Deal With the EU May Help British Stocks originally appeared on usnews.com

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

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. 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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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