Securing finance to purchase goods: There are many routes for SMEs Equity or angel investment is great for kickstarting the growth of an awesome startup, but sometimes, it’s not appropriate.… read more →

Europe – The Economic Reality Greece has made a €200m IMF repayment but there does not seem to be any move closer to a final agreement. These finances have mostly… read more →

Bradford has the highest percentage of SMEs which are selling products or services overseas, according to a recent FedEx Exporter survey. Beating the usual suspects, (London, Leeds, Manchester and Southampton,)… read more →

By 2016, over half of the UK’s SMEs expect to be exporting their goods and services around the world; that’s an increase of one fifth over the next year. This… read more →

Low inflation rates breathe sigh of relief into markets and UK importers The UK’s annual inflation rate fell to zero in February which breathed a sigh of relief into markets.… read more →

When a bank or finance house lends out money they will usually use a reference rate, which in the United Kingdom will usually be LIBOR (London Interbank Offered Rate) or… read more →

There are a number of difficulties with using a Letter of Credit, but they are one of the most widely used instruments for trade. Letters of credit are used in… read more →

Many industries are financially regulated and governed to facilitate trade, prevent risks and standardise rules. The UCP 600 (“Uniform Customs & Practice for Documentary Credits”) is the official publication which… read more →

Structured Trade Finance Lending institutions and banking corporations provide a variety of services to exporters, importers and trading corporations for carrying out trade efficiently and these services are collectively referred… read more →

What is the procedure by the beneficiary banks (not a negotiating bank) if there is a restricted Letter of Credit (LC)? The bank could tell the beneficiary to present documents… read more →