Showing posts with label investments. Show all posts
Showing posts with label investments. Show all posts

Tuesday, November 4, 2014

New Regulatory Guidelines for UK Banks on Risk Assessment



Bank of England
According to the reports the Banks in Britain are getting prepared for one of the most anticipated news at present. With the declaration of new regulatory guidelines from the Bank of England, all the banks are expecting that they might have to raise any extra capital to meet these guidelines.

This can have serious negative impact on the customers in terms of their cost of borrowing from the banks. Thread needle Street is expected to give out the details on the methods for setting leverage ratio and this will be given on Friday around 2PM GMT.

Leverage ratio is the method which measures the financial stability and strength of a particular brand, but this doesn’t allow the banks to carry out any assessments of the potential risks that they might face in the future.

Sir John Vickers, who chaired the independent commission on banking, in the year 2011 had recommended that having a 4% leverage ratio will allow the banks to able to borrow nearly 25 times more than the value of their assets.

This recommendation was not readily acceptable to the Government as they were looking for a more convenient ratio of around 3%. But still the Bank of England consulted others to determine the different means to measure the leverage ratio, they have analyzed if the bank need bigger lenders to hold their capital or they can rely on the smaller lenders as well.

They consulted as to how the banks can gain the ability to additional amounts depending on the market conditions. Although this is expected to take complete coverage in the next couple of years, but the lenders are pretty much ready to the leverage ratio of 4%. While the regulators United States of America have set the level as high as 6%, Switzerland has set a ratio of 4 percent for their banks.

According to George Culmer, the finance director at Lloyds’, he is expecting the leverage ratio is to start with 4% itself. At present Lloyds Banking Group has reached the leverage at 4.7% when compared to the 3.8% last year.

On the other hand Barclays Banks have managed to reach 3.5% and the Royal bank of Scotland is at 3.9%. All the high street banks are taking possible measures to reach the set leverage ratio. With the leverage ratio starting at 4%, one needs to worry about the pricing factor.

According to the British Bankers’ Association, they fear that this change might impact the banks first as they might be dealing with businesses having large mortgages.

This will have the impact in such a way that the banks might be forced to either increase the cost of new mortgages as well the risk taking ability of the banks. This seems to be going in exact opposite direction to what the makers of the policy have in mind.

This was the main reason which attributed to the change of high end societies to bank in the past couple of decades.

Saturday, October 18, 2014

Find the Best Places to Put in your Money


ETF
If you are planning to enter into the stock market, it is true that you might think of getting a considerable return from your investment quantity that ought to be greater than what you had get by spending your cash into mutual funds or also certificate of deposits having no risk where returns are particular. So, it is ideal the best site to invest wealth.

It should be learned that knowing where to spend cash is not a matter of making out instructions from experts in a foreign country. It is in fact about reaching your cash in the best places.

With the help of wide exchange-traded funds or ETFs that control entire areas of the world and every market. Though there are some risks, ETFs reduce those risks by merging investable businesses into simple tickers that you can purchase as well as sell securely through your dependable brokerage.

Various advantages of ETFs-

  • Simple - purchased and sold just as shares. These are very easy or simple to deal.
  • Diversification – These Easy Traded Funds are very helpful addition to a reasonable portfolio and permit you to access entire indices that are based in a variety of nations. 
  • Comprehensible pricing - Since ETFs are purchased and traded like shares, average commission rates are applicable while you purchase or sell online.
  • Taxation –ETFs in most cases are offshore funds and definite taxation rules are related to investors.
  Generally, if the offshore fund possesses reporting status then profits are subject to capital gains tax but if an offshore fund doesn’t have any reporting status then profits are dependent on income tax.

More Efficient Than Mutual Funds

ETFs are more inexpensive than conventional mutual funds for a lot of reasons. For beginners, many ETFs are the index finances, and following an index is naturally less costly than active management. However,ETFs that are index-based are more economical than mutual funds that are index-based.

Some places to buy ETFs are as follows-

Vanguard FTSE Emerging Markets ETF (VWO)
 
  • Supplies in stocks of corporations located in developing markets all over the world, for example China, Taiwan, and so on. 
  • The purpose is to directly track the yield of FTSE Emerging Index. 
  • Possesses much possibility for growth, in spite of having risk. 
  • Only suitable for long-term aims.
SPDR Emerging Markets Small Cap ETF

The SPDR Small Cap ETF wants to give investment outcomes that, before payments and expenses, match generally to the entire return activity of the S&P Emerging Markets ETF
iShares MSCI EAFE Growth ETF

1. Exposure to a wide variety of companies in the continent of Europe, Asia, as well as the Far East whose profits are expected to develop at an above-average speed in relation to the market.

2. Access to a definite kind of EAFE stocks

3. Take an global stock allocation to the growth stocks

iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF

1. Contact with a large number of companies in various continents that are considered to be underestimated by the market.

2. Aimed at access to a definite kind of EAFE stocks.

Monday, January 27, 2014

Online Investment Tips

Online Investment Tips
There is certainly no shortage of online investment tips today, and plenty of them are worthwhile. However, it's easy to get so excited about investing that you overlook the importance of savings. It's always a wise idea to squirrel away money for a rainy day. Before you begin to seriously invest, make sure you have all of these savings bases covered.

Emergency fund

The thing about emergencies is that they always show up without notice. They don't give you time to get your finances in order; they just fall into your lap and expect you to deal with them. By building an emergency fund, you cushion yourself against unexpected blows. Try to save at least three to six months' worth of your income in a savings account over time. The simplest way to do this is to set up an automatic transfer from your checking to your savings account each month.

Retirement

Much can be said for saving for retirement, but the most important thing to know is that the sooner you start, the better. The best way to see how much you need to save is to use an online retirement calculator. Once you have that figured out, take one of two approaches. If you want to get to your goal in ten years or less, focus on aggressively saving money. A rule of thumb is to save ten to fifteen percent of each paycheck, but if you have less than ten years, up the percentage accordingly. If you have more time to save than ten years, focus on making solid investments. Max out your 401(k), and fortify your portfolio with solid investments that will yield the returns you need in the given time frame.

College Fund

With college costs on the rise, it's more important than ever to invest in your children's future. Open a state-sponsored 529 savings account for your child as soon as possible, and dedicate a portion of your income to the account over time. How much you save will depend on your child's projected college costs. Keep in mind that college costs increase on an average of 5% per year. You can aim to save 75% of their projected college costs, and have your child supplement the remaining costs with work study, loans, and other aid.
Learning to save is an important skill to have in life. It leads to a life of financial stability for you and your family, which is a valuable thing to have in these economic times.

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Various Sources of Personal Finance Investment


Market funds
Every person needs to avoid wasting some cash and there square measure several choices on the market for investment. Personal finance investments one among them and their square measure some ways to try to personal savings. Savings checking account is one among the foremost common method it offers around 4%-5% interest that is simply marginally smart.

Bank account square measure simple to open, there's terribly stripped-down fees needed to open a saving account with any bank. Nearly each bank offers same interest.
Another smart plan for private finance investment is market fund it’s AN investment in mutual funds for terribly short term fastened deposits. They’re directed towards your capital and increasing your returns.

Market funds sometimes provide smart results than savings accounts. {They square measure they’re} lesser than fastened deposits with banks however are smart as a result of the supply you flexibility.
Fixed Deposits in Bank is another personal finance investment method. That’s offered for the minimum amount of thirty days although ideal time for fastened deposits is half-dozen months to twelve months. Banks offer smart rate of around 11th of September on all FD’s though it’s less than market fund returns.

If we have a tendency to square measure talking concerning investments however {we can we willowed square measure able to} ignore post workplace savings schemes it’s terribly ideal for folks that are probing for monthly investment arrange. It’s less risky than the other personal finance investment ways and there's no tax subtracted at supply therefore it’s the simplest appropriate supply for several of you.

We all detected concerning PPF (Public Provident Fund) that's terribly enticing supply of investment. Few advantages on the market here they offer square measure around St Martin's Day post return and pre-tax rate of fifteen.7% by presumptuous a charge per unit of half-hour.

You get tax rebate of two hundredth of the quantity of investment with PPF from your liabilities of the year. Terribly low risk is involves as this is often government theme for investment.

The major downside here you'll withdraw your investment solely once seven years and then it provides poor liquidity. Though some loan choices square measure open from the beginning of the investment itself and you'll use them if needed.

All of those personal finance investment choices square measure to avoid wasting cash for future or to induce liabilities. Is also obtaining smart interest on the capital is another advantage for several folks. All of the choices mentioned on top of have low risk and you'll invest any quantity for the beginning.

Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Exchange Traded Funds may be the next bubble! -1



Exchange Traded Funds currently experiencing rapid development in the United States, where they constitute more than half of the daily trading volume in the equity markets. The expansion of these instruments is less visible for the moment in Europe, because in U.S. where half of the market is held by individual investors where as in Atlantic the investors are mainly institutional investors are present in this class asset. Just may be feared that the development of the ETF market is currently powering the next financial meltdown? Recall that the ETF are the basis of funds, that is to say, collective investment vehicles such as UCITS, whose purpose is to replicate the performance of a market index, upward or downward, and whose shares are traded on the stock exchange just like stocks. They offer investors the opportunity to take a position, with management costs and tax costs reduced on a market index, including inaccessible or illiquid markets such as emerging markets, small caps, etc.

There are ETFs on all sectors of the market, and if a little unlikely sector is not yet covered today and in tomorrow it will emerge as new ETF. This is happening almost daily. We will soon invest in the segment of companies specializing in the balloon or tie pins, or companies based in anywhere. If there is no index representing the performance of the sector concerned, no problem, it creates the index and the ETF in stride. The phenomenon went beyond the stock market and extends to all asset classes, bonds (ETN Exchange Traded Notes), commodities (ETC Exchange Traded Commodities), futures, currencies (ETV Exchange Traded Vehicle) etc. The set is grouped under the term FTE, Exchange Traded Products. In short it is a beautiful alphabet soup simmering and is reminiscent of a previous recipe, the securitization (remember the ABS, MBS, RMBS, CMBS, CDO, etc), which had overflowed with some damage collateral for the past 5 years from now.

On the road there is nothing simpler than ETF investor buys an index, and as follows, upward or downward, the performance of the index being tracked. But precisely how this replication is obtained? There are two main methods: physical replication and synthetic replication. With physical replication, the issuer of the ETF actually holds the portfolio securities of the index being tracked. It calculates and communicates information two times: first, the net asset value equal to the valuation at market prices of assets held , divided by the number of shares issued and secondly the market price of the share , which comes from the comparison of buying and selling interests in exchange just like a stock. Both figures; net asset value and share price must be the same to a small margin near.

What will happen in case of divergence? These are specialized intermediaries (“authorized participants "), mandated by the fund issuer, which come into action. If the market value of the share exceeds the net asset value then the ETF is moving faster than the rise in the index, they will buy a basket of stocks in the index. This then delivers their new units; they can sell on the market, realizing a capital gain. Conversely, if the market price is below the net asset value of the fund, they will buy ETFs on the market and present it to again, which reimburses them by delivering the underlying assets. They can then sell these securities on the market and making a profit. These so-called arbitrage transactions are fully automated and have the effect of “realign " asset prices that were uncorrelated. It is the development of algorithmic trading has led to the development of ETFs.

 In case of synthetic replication, the issuer does not directly hold securities of the index, but other assets. It will then go to a specialized intermediary , typically a bank, to negotiate with him a "total return swap " the bank pays the issuer of the ETF 's performance index, while it reverse the performance of assets held in the portfolio. Physical replication is mainly practiced in the United States, where regulation severely limits the use of derivatives by collective investment funds. In Europe, ETFs are equally divided between the two modes of replication. We are mainly interested here in the physical replication, in which today we have a little more perspective. All this cooking takes place behind the scenes between specialized players (asset managers, hedge funds, brokers and banks financing and investment), thus preserving the image of simplicity and transparency between the final investor.

This should not, however, be fooled: many intermediaries are involved in constantly, and we must be aware that they do not by pure philanthropy, but because they have an interest. There was a second there the resemblance securitization market: the first beneficiaries of financial innovation are not the ultimate investors, but those who create and distribute these innovative instruments. That said, proponents point out that these ETF products are primarily funds, and so most of them are within the regulatory framework for the funds. These regulations, both in Europe in the United States, are very demanding especially in terms of transparency to investors . It is up to them to read the prospectus in which he will find, in principle, all the necessary information.

Saturday, September 28, 2013

Understanding Realtor and Real Estate Agent Reviews!

Did you know that for the typical family the most important financial transaction they will make in their lives is buying or selling a home? Amazingly, when making this momentous decision they often do not seem to have any criteria for choosing the real estate agent or realtor who will handle this life changing transaction.

A smooth, trouble-free experience and positive outcome is desired by buyers and sellers. Finding the perfect house in their desired area at the right price and in the least amount of time describes what buyers want. A quick sale close to the listed price is what sellers want.

Key for a positive outcome for both buyers and sellers hinges upon choosing the right realtor or real estate agent.

HOW ONLINE REAL ESTATE AGENT AND REALTOR REVIEWS CAN INSURE A POSITIVE OUTCOME

Reviewing products, services, and professional performances online allows buyers and sellers to share their experiences in many transactions. Sharing both positive and negative experiences is tremendously helpful to people without experience. It is a painless way to make good choices.

ARE ALL WEB REVIEWS RELIABLE AND OF GOOD QUALITY

Unfortunately, online reviews can fail to be reliable. Some posts are actually false reviews. A very positive review can be posted by someone who benefits from that review: not a genuine buyer or seller. Secretly leaving a wonderful review for one's own services or company often happens. And, of course, false and malicious reviews can be left to the detriment of a rival realtor or agent.

WHAT METHODS CAN BE USED TO JUDGE REAL OR FALSE REVIEWS?

A clue is a completely glowing review minus a single negative or neutral comment. Hardly any real estate transaction with a realtor is totally positive. A real review notes one or two things that might have been done better.

A totally negative review posted by a rival company deters buyers going to a competitor. Again, this is a red flag that this review is not genuine.

A real review is honest and forthright, listing both positive and negative results. Actually, the review for the most part could be positive, but note some things that might have been better done.

An objective and helpful review is done by professional reviewers similar to one that might be found at a site like.

Using online reviews can be guides to good choices and decisions when viewed realistically.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Crowdfunding a best alternative to Banks?



The crowd funding begins to touch the world of Start -Up, as an alternative to banks and business funders. Crowd funding is in between barter and solidarity loan capitalism of yesteryear, crowd funding often have much fun and attractions but it is sometimes risky. Many projects that have or will emerge in part through crowd funding (literally financing by the crowd), also called crowd funding. The phenomenon is not new: In 1958, John Cassavetes was able to finance his first film “Shadows “with a call for funds to public through radio. This phenomenon is becoming increasingly important. And now there are more than thirty sites are assisting general public as the crowd funding investors. Few of them are Ulule , MyMajorCompany , Sandawe , KissKissBankBank , Loan Union HelloMerci , Babyloan SmartAngels , Wiseed , Anaxago etc.

 The crowd funding market raised already worth $ 2.5 billion in the United States alone. There are three types of crowd funding. First, there is the gift against gift, nothing but a barter system. Then there is the system of loans or micro-credit. Some are paid, others do not, and that is like solidarity loan. Finally there is the financing of a business project in exchange for shares. The gift system against donation is very common in the world of arts. Projects may be small or substantial. Micro-credit is also very concerned and developed projects in US and abroad, mostly in trade, agriculture etc. According to Ricordeau Vincent, one of the founders of Kiss Kiss BankBank , "the motivation is to give birth to a project without any other return on investment a return emotional . People seek social link, a contact based on sharing, empathy, and trust. It is completely selfless unlike a financial return on investment. "

 For some companies, it is an alternative to banks and business lenders. This is particularly the case of start-ups, with little equity in start-up phase. However, crowd funding sites do not replace the banks. They do not lend money and they do not handle client funds. They are in an intermediate step of advice and not through management. The client chooses his investment and invests himself live in society. The sites just forgive a direct link between investors and entrepreneurs. This is the online community that validates whether the project should be born or not. This is not a window that decides to grant money or not. The risk is real and greater than the stock markets which has the advantage of being more liquid and especially give a real-time indication of the value of its assets.

Capital loss may be total and the second risk is the liquidity, This is an investment you can make for an unlimited period than what you anticipated. So do not invest money that you think you need three to five years. But there is another side: a significant potential gain, as we arrive shortly after the creation of the company. And it's worth it to invest in companies earlier. Here the risk and the reward are fairly standard. Regarding the gift donation against the financial risk is limited because the average financial contribution of users is around 50 Euros. If successful, the trust is garnered monumental. The question of the output is still crucial because all companies are not intended to go on an exchange.

If ramping up its activity, the company may be acquired by a competitor where leaders may choose to redeem the shares of the minority. And the price and the valuation is a matter of negotiation between the parties. Often these issues are anticipated in the shareholders' agreements. Early outputs can also be provided, but the recommended investment period is about 3 to 5 years, to let the company time to create value. In the end, crowd funding today fills a void in the financial needs. It allows artists to project promoters, merchants to support their project to start. Internet also allows them to reach a larger number of donors, lenders or investors, but is by no means a guarantee of success. Crowd funding is still in its early stage. Hence the Crowd funding is a social network linking young companies seeking skills, people willing to integrate a project as a partner or as freelancer and helping each other by joining hands together.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

The Gold Prices Falling Because of the Fed


The Federal Reserve has brought down the price of gold this week as investors reacted to the announcement of the U.S. central bank, suggesting that it would progressively restrict its extraordinary support measures to U.S. economy. The ounce of gold and has tumbled nearly $ 100 in the space of a week, from Thursday even below the threshold of 1300 dollars. This is something that had not seen for nearly three years. Friday, the price reaches $ 1295.45, which is its lowest level since mid-September 2010. Perverse effect of supportive policies, the Fed now considers the views of official figures, the economic recovery appears to begin in the United States no longer justifies the pace with which it buys Treasury bonds and mortgage-backed securities. These are the operations that are currently around 85 billion Euros per month. However, the withdrawal of these liquidity injections, which dilutes the value of the dollar, greatly reduces investor concerns about a possible resurgence of inflation. Thereby making the purchase of precious metals such as gold is much less attractive. The barbarous relic while losing its safe haven qualities, strengths as a bulwark against the rising prices are having so little appeal.

Some analysts believe that gold is now in a vicious circle, the decline in encouraging investors to liquidate ETF (investment funds backed by physical gold stocks). Thus, the most important of these funds, has seen its shares fall below 1,000 tons of gold this week. However, these new gold ETF disbursements weigh themselves on courses, racing somehow the machine. Meanwhile, physical demand is affected by the measures taken by the Indian government. The authorities have indeed raised the customs duties on the yellow metal, while the rupee is at a record low against the dollar. Now, gold imports will be allowed only for purposes of jewelry making. In addition, importers must now pay for their purchases in cash, without payment facility. India believes that these imports represent a significant portion of its current account deficit. A policy should reduce gold imports during the month of June, while India is the world's largest consumer of the precious metal. Finally, on the London Bullion Market, an ounce of gold finished at $ 1,295.25 at auction Friday night, against 1391.25 dollars at the end of last week.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

The Corporate Bankruptcies and The Crisis


The real crisis, the corporate bankruptcies are the real crisis and it is the creative destruction. Like it or not, the real victims of the crisis in Europe are definitely businesses. The loss of business in the Euro zone increase indeed 21% in 2013, to return to a growth rate moderate 7% in 2014. These bankruptcies are concerned and unfortunately synonymous with soaring unemployment and a real deindustrialization. Since the record figures of 2009, the waves of loss, of the United States to China, passing throughout the Europe, concentrated in areas with erratic tax incentives, such as construction and services. Once the boost is flown, numbers of companies were no longer profitable. Today, the shock wave is more fundamental: the sharp slowdown in consumer spending in Europe, or at half the exports for Asia. In Europe, the areas of distribution, furniture, consumer electronics, and automotive, and are strongly affected. This industrial Darwinism seems to be the swell of the year 2013, still marked by the credit crunch. But the induced effects are numerous: for example in Asia, companies see their market melt like snow in the sun and the overcapacity problem. This economic turbulence with a number of businesses created which also increases in many countries could it is a synonym for renewal? Economic entropy can be conducive to a new beginning, if we are to believe the evolutionary hypothesis of Schumpeter. The undertakings least well adapted and especially the least innovative way to let those who are reinventing themselves and meet new needs. "The perennial gale" Schumpeter, after the storm of 2009 and the economic winter it starts to make a lot. And yet ... The needs are there, in sectors with high added value, intensive skills, human capital and social capital, driven by research and innovation and entrepreneurship. So, of course the news is bad with soaring business failures and accelerated payment risk, while margins are already weakened. But, is it better to jump back? The answer is “Maybe”. It is also necessary that the guidelines are taken on supporting innovation, the business environment, or incentives to take care of seedlings, otherwise incubators will also be decimated.

Monday, June 17, 2013

After Gold Bubble Burst!



The soaring price of gold in recent years in early 2009 it was $800 and it reached more than 1900 dollars an ounce in fall 2011 - had all the characteristics of a bubble. And now, like any soaring prices of disconnected assets fundamentals of supply and demand, this gold bubble deflates. At the height of the outbreak, mad gold - a paranoid mixture of investors and others whose political agenda is determined by fear - happily predicted the price of gold on the order of 2000, 3000 or even 5000 dollars an ounce within the next few years. But the price has been declining since. In April, gold was at about $ 1,300 an ounce - and its price continues to trade under 1400 dollars, a drop of nearly 30% from its 2011 high. Many reasons can explain the bubble burst, and why the price of gold will probably fall further to stabilize at around $ 1,000 an ounce in 2015. First, the price of gold tends to buckle when serious economic, financial risks, and geopolitical threat to the global economy. During the global financial crisis, even the safety of bank deposits and government bonds was doubted by some investors. If there is concern of a financial Armageddon, it really is time metaphorically in his bunker to store weapons, ammunition, canned and gold bullion. But even in this terrible scenario, gold would be a poor investment. Indeed, at the height of the global financial crisis of 2008 and 2009, gold prices have collapsed several times. In an acute credit crunch, leverage purchases of forced sales or leads, because any price correction triggers margin calls. Gold can be very volatile - up or down - at the height of a crisis. Secondly, gold performs better when there is a risk of high inflation, insofar as its popularity as a store of value increases. But despite an aggressive monetary policy by many central banks - successive rounds of quantitative easing have doubled and even tripled the money supply in most advanced economies - the overall inflation is still low and steady decline.

 The reason is simple: when the monetary base explodes, the velocity of money slows as a result of the accumulation of liquidity by banks as excess reserves. The reduction of public and private debt keeps growing global demand below that of the offer. Companies therefore have little flexibility in their pricing because of too much capacity, and the bargaining power of workers is reduced due to high unemployment. In addition, with power increasingly weakened union, globalization has led to a cheap production of goods with high labor in China and other emerging markets, undermining the wages and employment prospects of workers unskilled workers in advanced economies. With low wage inflation, it is unlikely that there has been a steep rise in property. However, inflation fell even more today because of the overall downward adjustment of commodity prices in response to weak global growth. And gold follows the actual and expected decline in inflation. Third, unlike other assets, gold yields no income. While publicly traded stocks pay dividends, bonds have their coupons, and houses, rents, or are just a game of capital appreciation. Now that the global economy recovers, other assets - listed real estate or even the resurgent shares - now give better yields. Indeed, U.S. and global equities listed are far better than gold since the sharp increase of its course in early 2009. Fourth, the price of gold rose sharply when the real interest rate (adjusted for inflation) became negative after the various rounds of quantitative easing. The time to buy gold is when actual returns on cash and bonds are negative and declining. But the best prospects in the U.S. and global economies imply a term exit quantitative easing and zero interest rates from the Federal Reserve and other central banks, which means that real interest rates will rise rather than drops. Fifth, some have argued that the heavily indebted sovereigns would encourage investors to turn to gold because of the risks borne by the bonds. But there is an opposite situation. A large number of heavily indebted governments have substantial gold reserves which they may decide to get rid of to reduce their debts. In fact, the information that Cyprus planned to sell a small fraction - about 400 million Euros ($ 520 million) - its gold reserves led to a fall in the price of gold by 13% in April. Countries like Italy; which have massive gold reserves (over $ 130 billion), might also be tempted to do so, which would lead to a further decline in the price.

Sixth, some ultra-conservatives, especially in the United States, have so encouraged the gold rush that the effect was counterproductive. For this right-wing fringe, gold is the best hedge against the risk posed by the government conspiracy to expropriate private wealth. These fanatics also believe that a return to the system of the gold standard is inevitable, since the hyperinflation drift "devaluation" of paper money by the central banks. But in the absence of any conspiracy, and given the decline in inflation and the inability to use gold as a currency, such arguments are not valid. A currency serves three functions: it is a means of payment, unit of account and a store of value. Gold can be a store of value, but it is not a payment, you cannot use it to pay his races. It is not a unit of account the prices of goods and services, and those financial assets are denominated in gold. Gold remains so this "barbarous relic" by John Maynard Keynes, with no intrinsic value and mainly used as a safe haven against fear and panic largely irrational. Yes, all investors should have a very small share of gold in their portfolios as a hedge against extreme risks. But other real assets can be comparable coverage and extreme risk - although still present - are definitely lower than they were at the height of the global financial crisis. Even though the price of gold is likely to rise in the coming years, it will remain very volatile and will decline over time, over the improvement of the global economy. The gold rush is over.

Tuesday, May 14, 2013

European Commission and Audit Reform



Force companies to change auditors periodically and prohibit auditors from providing other services are part of changes to draft legislation to open the market for audit services in the EU and to increase the quality and transparency adopted in Committee on Legal Affairs on 25 April 2013. The role of auditors has been questioned because of the financial crisis. "We need to regain the confidence of investors, who want quality audits and independent give them the assurances they need when investing in European companies," said Sajjad Karim (ECR, UK), in charge on the reform of the audit. The committee decided by 15 votes for and 10 votes against to open negotiations with the Council in order to reach a common text. The S & D, Greens / EFA and GUE / NGL voted against. Informal negotiations begin as soon as possible. The legislation would force auditors in the EU to publish audit in accordance with international standards reports.

For auditors of public interest entities, such as banks, insurance companies and listed companies, the committee agreed that audit firms should provide stakeholders and investors a comprehensive document containing all actions of the listener and providing a comprehensive manner, the accuracy of the accounts of the company. As part of a series of measures to open the market and to increase transparency, the committee voted in favor of the proposal to ban contractual clauses "only four major companies" that require the audit is performed by one of them. The public interest entities would be forced to launch a tender in the selection of a new auditor. To ensure that the relationship between the auditor and the audited company become too familiar, MEPs adopted a mandatory rotation rule that an auditor would have the right to audit the accounts of a company for 14 years maximum, a period that could be extended to 25 years if guarantees are provided.

The European Commission had proposed a period of six years, but a majority of MPs in the committee felt that it was an expensive and undesirable intervention in the audit market. To avoid conflicts of interest and threats to their independence, EU audit firms would be forced to comply with rules similar to the standards internationally. Most members of the committee considered the proposal for a general ban on the provision of other services, counterproductive to the quality of audits. They agreed that the only other services that could threaten the independence should be banned. They also approved a list of services that would be prohibited under the new legislation. Audit firms could, for example, continue to provide certifications regarding compliance with tax requirements but would no longer provide tax advisory services that directly affect the financial statements of the company. They could also be examined by the national tax authorities.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Banks, Are they really protect your savings?



The political and economic world is undergoing a profound crisis of faith. Faith simply means faith in ethics, faith in political leaders, faith in money, and faith in banks. A publication recently revealed that banks are our real risk and their inventories are distressing. Banks are losing confidence of the customers and they are more defiance in debt rationalization in some European Union countries. The question is what will happen for your savings if the bank is insolvent or in case if it could not provide you liquidity for your savings? Hence it is best to diversify your maximum savings and evenly distribute them in reliable banks. Few banks are retaining their name by keeping the money and credit in order. Most of the financial credit banks first enrich them self and then the objective. Most of the gold jewelers and banks keep their customers against the bill of exchange which help them to sell this gold to many people at the same time are created loans with interest and unbridled pursuit of profit. A force to lend money to their customers, money speculation is based on the promise of repayment and eventually became a source of debt to the state level. Because of the amount of outstanding loans exceeds more than money in circulation to repay. This is how the bank in its current form was born. According to a survey conducted by Harris Interactive / Deloitte in December 2011, banks are now three times more detractors than promoters. Three out of ten European expressing their distrust an institution supposed to sell their confidence is a lot. A reputations of the banks were tarnished very much recently for various reasons. ( to be Continued)

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Increase Your Income By Investing A Little Time


The increase in income may go through several things: financial investments, overtime, promotion, etc. But you can also easily increase your income by investing a few hours a week and a bit of money upfront. The theory is simple: in addition to your work, you can invest a little of your time (approximately equivalent to 10% of the hours spent at work) to generate alternative income. Working for yourself is much nicer than having to work for others, and much more satisfying when you reap the benefits. Large cash flow is a little hard to get at first, but it may end up paying. The trick is to know, what to do to get more money. The most important choice is to take an activity that does not require too much time (not to exceed 5-10 hours per week).

If the chosen activity is done, it can increase your additional income to several thousand Euros per year very quickly. Personally, I strongly advise against trying to make money with online surveys or websites that offer reward systems, etc. You rarely touch the money in cash, sometimes rewards, and often the site in question may prove to be a scam which does not pay. We must not go after this type of site as Source (s) of alternative income. It is better to turn to other types of activities: gardening (many economies) blogging (paying little at first, but generates hundreds each month after 1 or 2 years of operation, and constantly rising), freelancing (choose something you can do and offer it as a service), etc.. Finally, it pays a lot more money doing something you like. It is not because you work better, but because you are more motivated to work.

 I suggest you diversify your income with an activity related to your interests. Still, the lesson to be learned from this post is that it is not always enough to put money aside for retirement, sometimes we also know that money to work to your advantage. I also advise you to continue to set aside money for your retirement, but also increase your income by investing a little time and (very) little money. Your goals for retirement accumulated capital will be achieved much faster. Do you already have diversified sources of income of your own?

Saturday, February 23, 2013

How to become rich?


You learned good principles in your life that help you manage a large number of situations that you are facing. Forget them when it comes to managing your money as applied not make you richer. But probably makes you poorer. Here are six principles you have to strictly follow to become rich: Do not settle for average. Search for the best. Funds "means" as index funds perform better than 80% of actively managed funds. Trust in your instincts and what your heart tells you. It is better to listen to your brain and if you sell coldly losses, rather than thinking that prices will rise and you will chase your losses.
 If you do not know how, ask an expert. Seek help from an expert may be useful in the case of complex financial or very specific topics such as taxation. To manage your money, especially if you want to get rich, no one will do better than you. You'll get the price you pay. In terms of investments, the less you pay fees and the yield obtained is important. Crisis, we must act quickly to resolve the problem. Do not panic. Invest every month and you can enjoy automatically the benefit, the market declines or increases without you pack whatever the trend.

 Is to invest regularly over time is important. History repeats itself. As it is written on every financial prospectus, "Past performance is not a guarantee of future performance." Do not choose funds based on rankings of the year; look at the behavior of the bottom 3, 5 and 10 years. Behave wisely in case of market volatility and market down trends. Because what you have learned does not apply with respect to managing your money, you must spend at least a minimum time to acquire a financial literacy. It is this; investment in time that makes the difference between a successful investor and one who realizes low performance.

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Financial planning


Any company needs to invest for its creation of its new development activity. That is to say, new development activity means of production. Besides the flow of funds of its own source, the use of bank loans is the most commonly used practice.

To production every firm need raw materials, labor, and  also a variety of equipment like Land, buildings, manufacturing equipment, etc.. ; All these devices are called the production tool.

Whether for the creation or for development needs every company needs to invest. Once established, they will allow the company to produce more or better conditions, which will enable it to generate additional profits.

A company can finance its investments from internal funds, without recourse to external capital. This solution has the advantage for the company to play independent, but it has the disadvantage of limiting the company in its investment opportunities and the expansion of the company.

Therefore, the use of bank loans is the most commonly used practice because it is  easy and possible way  for almost all small and medium enterprises. However, we must recognize that this funding has disadvantages for the business. It makes the company dependent on the varieties of the distribution of credit (i.e. amount, cost, time, etc.) And the policy adopted by its banker that is choice of risk guarantees, etc.  Among the solutions offered by banks, there is the classic credit medium or long term.


Saturday, October 23, 2010

Are ULIPs Good Investments?



The unit linked Insurance plans are simply called ULIP. ULIP are financial instruments which will give a term insurance coverage and, investment in stocks  In ULIP, the premium paid by investor goes to two separate investments. One goes for your insurance and the other goes for the investment in stock market. The insurance part consumes less amount and the investment plan consumes more amount. But, in the first year, a major portion of the premium goes to insurance companies as administrative costs which includes the commission paid to the Agents.
So, in the first year, a major chunk of the premium goes to the company and a small amount of the premium is invested in stocks and a small portion is taken for the term insurance. From second year onwards, the administrative costs will be reduced substantially and the balance will be used for investment in stocks and also for the insurance.
If the premium is paid for a long period, at the end of the maturity, one will get a good return. Will this investment option get benefit to the investors? Stock market investments are destined to give good results in the long term, say, more than 10 years.
But people attracted to these plans only during bull market. Their investments get eroded in the next bear market. Now they get confused whether to hold or get rid of it or to invest more. As I said earlier, stock market are bullish in the long term, always, and it will give good results in the longer run. So if an Investor continues his investments even in bear market surely investment in ULIPs will be beneficial.



Thursday, January 7, 2010

Sentiments and Trend reversal in Markets.


We have seen that whenever a market is viewed by all participants as bullish, a trend reversal takes place and turns bearish. Likewise, whenever a market is expected to be bearish by all, it turns bullish against their view.

When Crude oil was trading around 145 USD in 2009, everybody is thinking it will go to 200 USD levels. The Media is bullishly covering Crude oil. Everybody is expecting the demand for the Crude to go up because of growing world Economy. Every Analyst has turned bullish on Crude, but it has turned otherwise. Crude fell from 145 USD to 30 USD within 6 months.

Why is this happening, when everybody is in one view but the Market turns otherwise? Let me explain the internal dynamics in it.

Market movement is influenced by demand and supply. There is always a demand or supply potential for a market. Demand is inversely proportional to Supply. If the participants in a market feel bullish about a particular market, they will start to accumulate the asset. Like this slowly, every participant acquires the asset. In initial stages, the demand potential will be high, but as the time progress and as more number of participants acquires the asset, the demand potential slowly recedes.

But the sentiment in the market will slowly turn bullish, as more number of peoples have already bought the asset. As this process continues, almost all of the Investors would have bought the asset and the sentiment would be highly bullish by this time.

Now the buying potential is already receded because the potential Investors have already bought the asset. Now a selling potential is created, as those who have bought it will sell it for a profit. As the buying potential recedes, a selling potential increases.

At some point of time, the demand potential and supply potential will be same. And after some time, demand potential will be overwhelmed by supply potential. But at this time, the bullish sentiment would grip the Investors.

At one point of time, everybody would have bought the asset and nobody is left, so everybody is highly bullish, but the selling potential would be at its highest and buying potential would be at its lowest in this point time.

This is the time, trend changes from bullish to bearish because of the change of balance of buying and selling potential in the market. That is why, even though the sentiment is bullish, the trend changes from bullish to bearish and vice versa.

Understanding the internal dynamics of the Market is essential for successful Investing.

Saturday, December 26, 2009

Don’t be married to a stock!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


In investments, don’t marry a stock. Don’t stick to a stock all the time. Not all the stocks perform all the time. Various groups and various sectors perform at different times. Sticking to stock just because you love that stock is a waste of time in Investment.
Let me take the example of Hindustan Unilever from the Indian Stock Market and General Motors from the American Stock Markets. Hindustan Unilever is in Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector. It is a Multinational Company and excellent performing company fundamentally, till now.
The high price of Hindustan Unilever was 325 during 2000. The 2000 bull market was followed by a bear market till 2003 in all world stock markets. From there a bull market started in all world stock Markets. The Indian Bombay Stock Exchange Index , Sensex soared from 2600 to 21000 in another five years where as Hindustan Unilever traded in between 100 and 300 till 2008 and it is still now trading between this range.
If had been a fan of Hindustan unilever for it s performance and its fundamentals, then you would have invested a major portion of your investment in that stock. But for the past 9 years I would not have given a return on your investments.
Had you invested your money in Infrastructure and Reality stocks, it would have appreciated by more than 100 times in these 5 years. So don’t get married to a stock. Always every bull market is supported by a new set of Sectors. Identify it to for successful investing.

Risk versus reward


Risk is always directly proportionate to reward. The same holds good in investments also. The riskier investments are always give good returns. For example, Investing in Stock is riskier than investing in Real estate. Investing in real estate is riskier than investing in Gold. Investing in Gold is riskier than investing in Bonds. Investing in Bonds is riskier than fixed deposits.
When taking into consideration, investing in Stocks are looking riskiest of all. Dow was trading around 14000 in 2007 and it traded around 7000 in 2009 march. The Indian BSE Index Sensex was trading around 2100 those on January 2008, but by 2008 October, it depreciated by more 60 percent. The Chinese stock market Index was trading around 6100 in October 2007 and by October 2008, it was trading around 1670.


Investments in Stocks would have given negative return to one’s portfolio. Whereas, those who have invested in Gold, would be in good profits till now. Likewise those who have invested in fixed deposits would have got a fixed small return.


But in the longer run, say in another 5 years, Dow may be trading above 25000, Sensex may be trading above 50000 or Shanghai Index may be trading above 15000. If you take in to consideration the return we get from these Indices, it would be phenomenal. Stocks are riskier but in the longer run it will perform above other assets.
So risk is always is directly proportionate to rewards. In one’s portfolio all types of investment of various risks should be maintained for successful investing. One should not choose only a particular asset class. One should choose right mixture of assets including high risk stocks and low risk fixed deposits.
Happy investing.


Wednesday, December 23, 2009

Long Term Investments versus Short Term Investments

There would be always a debate going on whether long term investments are best or short term investments are best. There will always a fifty percent people vote for long term investments and a equal percent of people would opt for short term investments.
Long term investments are investments held by a person for more than one year. Any thing less than that would be considered as short term. Long term investments can be held from one year to a decades. Short term investments can be held from one day to one year.
Even a single day would be enough for the you to get a return from it. Whether it is long term or short term, the utmost important factor is timing the market and picking the right security. Without this no investment would give you a good return.
I prefer long term investment over short term investment just because, even if you have missed the right time but you have chosen the right security, then still you are likely to end up in good investment.
In short term investments, you have to time the market properly. Otherwise, instead of profits, you may end up in loss. The risk is more in short term investments. The short term investments would not give you a second chance. But long term investments do.
Whether is long term or short term, time the market for profitable investments.
Happy investing.