Expat Currency News

Latest 10 news items tagged Currency

16 Jul at 6 PM 2020

British expat retirees urged to ignore financial sharks

British expats across the world are being urged by sharks to shore up their finances before Brexit finally hits. Given that mitigating the financial aspects of Britain’s looming divorce from the rest of Europe is dependent on the final outcome, taking action now might well make things worse should a no-deal drop off the cliff become the final outcome of four years’ wrangling. The Brexit trade discussions don’t seem to be going well, and the vast majority of expat concerns about their post-Brexit financial health are concentrated...
3 Mar at 6 PM 2020

Expats and locals stocking up on necessities as virus victim numbers increase

Locals and expats in Europe are stocking up due to fears of forced lockdowns or voluntary quarantines. As coronavirus cases continue to increase across Europe and the risk of contracting the disease is officially raised to ‘high’, expats and locals are raiding local malls and stores. Panic shopping is increasing across the continent, with stockpiling of necessities causing empty supermarket shelves. In Italy and France, governments have announced strict rules against public events, with get-togethers of over 5,000 in enclosed...
3 Feb at 6 PM 2020

Numbers of Brits in Europe see significant decline

The number of British expatriates living in Europe has fallen to an all time low. According to a report from the UK’s Department of Work and Pensions, the total numbers of British expat pensioners living in European Union member states have fallen to the lowest level in the past five years. For the past several decades, Europe has been the number one destination for British retirees looking for a warm, affordable location offering a better quality of life than that in the UK. Spain was the all-time favourite, with as many as...
26 Dec at 6 PM 2019

Would-be expats in Dublin will enjoy the Overseas Property Show

If you’re within easy access of Dublin and are considering emigration, the upcoming Overseas Property Show is for you. January 11th and 12th mark the return to Dublin of the Overseas Property Show, a must-visit for would-be expats looking to spend the next several years planning and making the move overseas. For locals, although it’s as yet unsure what effect Brexit will have, one thing’s for certain – nothing will be easy as regards business and trade. Those coming up for retirement might well consider leaving whilst the...
11 Dec at 6 PM 2019

Expats in UK getting more bangs for buck due to sterling crash

The impact of the UK’s Brexit chaos on sterling as well as the cost of living has resulted in boom time for foreign professionals working in London as the shrinking pound continues to provide gains for expats paid in their local currencies. Expatriate professionals living and working in the capital are getting an increased amount of bangs for their home currency bucks due to sterling’s continuing fall against a basket of other currencies. The current report from ECA International also notes British companies wishing to reassign...
6 Dec at 6 PM 2019

Brit expats fearing further sterling falls if election brings hung parliament

British expats living overseas could see yet another sterling crash if a hung parliament is the result of the upcoming general election. UK expats living on their state pensions in Europe and other favourite retirement destinations are having a tough time since the pound fell against a basket of other currencies including the Euro, the US dollar and several Asian currencies such as the Thai baht. Any further devaluation of sterling could mean elderly expats are forced to choose between paying rentals, service bills and medical costs...
19 Nov at 6 PM 2019

British building society to allow foreign currency deposits on expat mortgages

A British building society is now accepting deposits on expat mortgages made in foreign currencies. The Ipswich Building Society’s latest move may well be of interest to UK expats living and working overseas whose savings are held in the foreign currency of their present locations. Previously, only the pound sterling was acceptable, closing off the use of expatriates’ savings to purchase a UK property, especially if their present countries of residence have inconvenient currency regulations. British nationals living and...
30 Oct at 6 PM 2019

New study reveals Prague stores are cheating expat customers

A new study has revealed some 20 per cent of expats in Prague are regularly cheated by local grocery stores when buying foodstuffs. The study, undertaken by the Czech Journal of Behavioural and Experimental Economics, was published in the association’s journal, thus confirming the suspicions of a vast number of expatriates in the city. Some 259 local grocery stores were investigated, with the assistance of expat customers posing as new arrivals unfamiliar with the local currency. Shopping during both the morning and evening...
16 Oct at 6 PM 2019

Slump in expat arrivals hits Thai condo market

The soaring baht and a dearth of expat arrivals have hit hard on the country’s condominium market. Real estate agents across Thailand are hunkering down and hoping to survive what one developer is calling the most severe situation in the past 10 years. Prices have slumped during 2019, mainly due to the continued rise in the baht and a strong fall in the numbers of Chinese and Western expats arriving to work or retire. Almost half a million residential condominiums both in Bangkok and other major cities were left unsold in 2018,...
14 Oct at 6 PM 2019

Expat pension schemes well prepared for Brexit chaos

Over 50 per cent of pension schemes are now considered safe from the after-effects of Brexit. A major concern for British expats living overseas has been the Brexit effect on their pension schemes, but the majority of schemes recently surveyed are well prepared for any fall-out. Just 20 per cent of the total numbers of providers believe Britain’s exit from the European Union may cause an increase in red tape and additional costs, with over half of existing schemes having taken measures to mitigate any risks. As previously...