Author Archives: Darren Marchal

Managing the Venezuelan exchange control system

Since January 23 2003, an exchange control regime authorised by the Venezualan Central Bank (BCV) has been in force in Venezuela, strongly restricting the sale and purchase of foreign currency. This restricted currency market was initially developed by Exchange Control Convention Number One, and was then reviewed by several other Exchange Control Conventions. Resolutions were…

Tort team attack Big Food

In 2009, a group of parents filed a class action lawsuit with the potential to bring Big Food down to its knees. The parents had taken issue with an ad campaign that tried to pass off Nutella – the chocolate and nut paste – as a healthy breakfast staple, citing the wholesome ingredients used to…

How To Troubleshoot Foundation Problems

You don’t have to be an expert to detect problems in your home’s foundation, but detecting problems is only half the battle. The other half – and the most difficult one – is to repair these problems before it’s too late. The earlier you discover problems, the more likely it is that you’ll be able…

Bank of America ramps up lending

Bank of America CEO Brian Moynihan has announced that the company should overtake JPMorgan Chase in direct-to-consumer mortgage lending over the next six months, according to the Financial Times. Moynihan says he has instructed bankers to be “more aggressive” in pursuing and offering loans to companies. In the first nine months of 2012, BofA originated…

How To Stage Your Vacation Rental

You put a lot of effort into marketing your vacation rental. You have a great-looking website, relevant information, and professional photographs. Plus, there’s the time, energy and money you’ve invested in purchasing and maintaining the property.In many ways, all that work boils down to one critical moment: When your renters open the front door.While your…

How To Keep Your Home Safe During The Holidays

Burglaries are often devastating in several ways, and unfortunately for homeowners, they aren’t uncommon in the United States. Millions of burglaries occur each year, and the vast majority of those burglaries occur in residential areas, putting homeowners at a heightened risk of being robbed.When burglaries occur, it isn’t just the physical assets that are lost….