Why US Banks soon will be singing the Blues

Analysts Apprehensive – Quarterly Profits Reports

Estimates seem to be moving in the wrong direction with Wall Street banks about to report on how much money they have been making. The industry had jointly reported $43 billion in profits, coming off a quarter and analysts are expecting a rising rate environment with increased demand which would tend to keep things moving for $15.1 trillion sector.

But with declining expectations for a rate hike in 2015 together with other factors, it tends to make the analysts apprehensive with regards to how the quarterly profit reports would turn out. For the Big Four coming up, JPMorgan Chase would get things started with the others following during the week, like Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs and PNC. S&P 500 financials, as a sector is expected to indicate a 3.8% annual growth in profits as per S&P Capital IQ.

This seems to be an improvement than the 5.1% decline predicted for the total index and is a big disillusionment from early forecasts. The revenue is said to grow by 4.4%. As per July, analysts had been predicting 9.9% growth which a year back the expectations seemed to be a showy 27%.

Bank Earning – Increase – Based on Performance of Bank Stocks

Hence the results showed better than expected and are likely to remain below the earlier high hopes for financials which were expected to be the best performing sector of 2015. Bank earnings are increasing based on the performance of bank stocks recently and one would think that the earning could be a disappointment. However, it is not the same for all bank stocks.

Two great concerns for bank earnings are the weak trading and low interest rates. Trading profits being low seems to be correct. Trades in government bonds and the equity trading could be alright in the quarter though activity in the range of other financial areas could have been weak to awful.

In the case of awful, one could point to agency, asset backed bond as well as commodity trading. With regards to the weak side, one could view at corporates, currencies and municipals.

Substantial Revision – Individual Companies

Substantial revision has been seen in individual companies recently. According to FactSet, analysts have reduced MetLife estimates from 88% a share to 77 cents, while Goldman Sachs from $3.46 to $3.20, Morgan Stanley from 68 cents to 63 cents. In the S&P 500’s financial sector, expectations on earnings have been condensed for 53 of the 88 companies.

The weakness tends to come since loan growth has been steady due to strong climate in the commercial real estate. According to Federal Reserve data, in the third quarter, the sector increased by 9.7%, the greatest of the year after rising 6.7% in 2014.

Moreover, investment banking has been fairly strong all through the year and though the global revenue has been down by 10% year after year, it has been in level at $28 billion in the U.S. This was due to a record of $9.7 billion haul by way of mergers and acquisition revenue, as per Dealogic.

Banks stocks seem to have failed in 2015 with KBW NASDAQ Bank Index off 4.8% a year to date as against a 2.2% less in the S&P 500. In October, the index was up by 1.3% trailing behind the broader market’s gain of almost 5%.

Storm Clouds Gather Over Global Economy as World Struggles to Shake Off Crisis

IMF Framed Forecast – 2015, UK Growth Among Downgrades

According to the International Monetary Fund, Britain is among some of the shining lights in the global economy and as the world views, the slowest period of growth since the financial crisis. The IMF framed up its forecast in 2015, for UK growth among downgrades `across the board’ for emerging and advanced economies.

It stated that China’s slowdown, dropping commodity prices together with an expected increase in the interest rate in US would tend to weigh on output. It is now expected that the world economy would expand by 3.1% in 2015 from a forecast of 3.3% in July. Since 2009, this would represent the slowest expansion when the global growth came to a halt.

According to the IMF’s chief economist, Maurice Obstfeld, who stated that `six years after the world economy came from its broadest and deepest post-war recession, the holy grail of robust as well as synchronised global expansion remains elusive.


Inspite of differences in country specific outlooks, the new forecasts tend to mark down expected near-term growth marginally though nearly across the board. Besides, downside risks to the world economy seems more pronounced than it was a few months back’

Risk of Recession over Next Year

The Fund had also cautioned that the risk of recession in the US, Eurozone as well as Japan over the next year seemed to have increased in the past six months since emerging markets face a fifth year of slow growth.

The year of weak demand as well as anaemic productivity development meant the probability of damage to the development on medium term was a great concern, warns IMF. Further drop in global demand would be leading to near stagnation in advanced economies should emerging markets tend to continue faltering, it added.

The UK economy is anticipated to grow by 2.5% this year, slightly up on the IMF’s forecast of July by 2.4% and its expectation for 2016 growth remained unchanged at 2.2%. IMF had stated in its latest World Economic Outlook that `in the United Kingdom constant steady growth is anticipated which is supported by lower oil prices as well as constant recovery in wage growth’.

Fund Cautions – Countries Need to Be Prepared for Higher Interest Rate

The outlook also portrayed US growth for 2015 had been higher than expected three months back when Italy envisaged upgrades for 2015 as well as 2016. The biggest economy of the world is expected to lead growth in the G7 this year but the UK and US economies have shown indications of slowing down, recently. The latest health-check of IMF portrays that it anticipates the UK government to balance its books by 2020.

Mr Obstfeld had stated that the UK and the US seemed `not totally immune’ to a probable slowdown in China but were less open than countries with closer trade connections. As per the Bank of England, should China’s grown be 3% lower over the next three years than it present forecast, it would knock 0.1% off the growth of UK.

IMF has stated that the risk of a recession would now be higher in the Latin America 5 – Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru when compared to the rest of the world group. The Fund has informed that countries need to be prepared for higher interest rates in the US which is expected by the turn of this year. It also added that the Bank of England would probably raise rates by 2016.

The Truth about China's Dwindling War Chest

China – The World’s Largest Creditor

China is considered to be the world’s largest creditor and the enormous money reserves of Beijing presently stands at a $3.6 trillion, which is still the leading owner foreign holder of US government debt. For over two decades, China, the world’s second largest economy had developed a war chest of foreign currency assets as a shield against the global winds.

However, on August 11, the decision taken to tweak its exchange rate regime to engineer the biggest single devaluation of the renminbi in 21 years has put forth the query of reserve depletion in severe aid. After deserting its peg with the US dollar for anachieveddrift, those in authority have been compelled to get involved on a huge scale to prop up the renminbi.

China had gone through reserves due to this failed devaluation, at an unmatched pace this summer wherein the reserves had dropped by $93.9 billion in August. This was the biggest monthly fall on record as well as the largest with regards to percentage terms since May 2012. This is set to continue for at least the remaining of the year. China would be slowly moving towards a much flexible exchange rate though not yet willing to feature a considerably weaker renminbi

Quantitative Tightening

As per UBS analysis, almost 70% of China’s reserve accumulation between 2005 and 2014 was from the country’s enormous present account excesses. The total reserves emaciated at $4 trillion in August 2014 had been on a steady decline since then.

As for the composition, UBS note that almost two-thirds around 62% was held in US dollar assets with about $1.27 trillion in the US treasury bonds. China had shifted from being a net buyer to a net seller of dollar assets to defend the value of the renminbi and this has given rise for concern that Beijing’s actions tends to have a stifling effect on the global credit as well as liquidity conditions.

This occurrence named as `quantitative tightening has been seen as concern when China can no longer play a part as the driver of global economic prosperity, at a time when the Federal Reserves is ultimately poised to begin normalising the monetary policy. In the midst of the trouble surrounding China’s prospects, economist tends to remain optimistic, speculating the fears of a dwindling war chest are possibly overdone.

China/Emerging Markets – Offload Foreign Currency Assets

Bumper reserves of Beijing, at $3.6 trillion, seem to be adequate in continuing to establish the currency and covering 20 months of imports of goods and services. All this, states, Tao Wang at UBS, `while the country continues running a current account surplus of over $300bn a year’.

Others consider that Beijing’s intensive reserve accumulation had been developed to confront precisely the kind of headwinds presently facing the country and are not surprising that the Politburo is now organizing them for the same purpose.

The authorities have also other various tools to fight off tighter monetary conditions. With regards to the impact on the growth of China on the rest of the world, the QT theory for intuitive appeal is still to be materialised in the form of rising bond yields with higher debt costs in the developed world.

China together with the other emerging markets could be offloading their foreign currency assets to handle their individual exchange rates though these may not be destined to drive up the bond prices according to economists.

Nine of the World’s Biggest Banks Form Blockchain Partnership

Banks in Partnership to Form Blockchain

According to reports, nine of the world’s biggest banks which include Goldman Sachs as well as Barclays have come together with New York based financial tech firm R3 in order to develop a structure in utilising blockchain technology in the market.

For the first time banks have now joined forces to work on a shared way in which the technology that helpsbitcoin a Web based cryptocurency couldbe utilised in finance. Interest in blockchain has increased in the past few years and has already attracted major investments from many important banks which would be saving them money by making their operation quicker, efficient and more translucent.

The latest project which is the outcome of over a year’s worth of consultations with the R3, the banks as well as other members of the financial industry, would be led by R3 CEO David Rutter, earlier CEO of electronic trading at ICAP Electronic Trading which is one of the world’s largest interdealer brokers.

Rutter had informed Reuters recently that they had several round tables to consider in depth what the possible implications of the blockchain would be and what it could probably do in order to save money and time as well as to create an improved paradigm for the world of Wall Street and finance.

Function as Huge Decentralized Ledger

Some of those who have signed up for the initiative are J P Morgan, UBS, State Street, Royal Bank of Scotland, BBVA and Commonwealth Bank of Australia and Credit Suisse.

Blockchain tends to function as a huge decentralized ledger of all bitcoin transaction made which has been verified and shared through a global network of computers.

Hence it tends to be effectively tamper-proof. A team from Bank of England have been dedicated to it calling it a `key technological innovation’. Data that can be safeguarded by using the technology is not limited to bitcoin transactions.

Two parties could utilise it for the exchange of any other information quickly as well as without the need of a third party to verify the same. Rutter has mentioned that the earlier focus would be to approve on underlying architecture, however it had not been certain whether it would be supported by bitcoin’s blockchain or another one like one which is being built by Ethereum, offering additional features than the initial bitcoin technology.

Technologies - Transform Financial Transactions

He further added that once the same is agreed on, the first use of the technology could be the issuance of commercial paper on the blockchain.

He is of the belief that these technologies would probably be post-trade and the savings would be in the settlement side, in post-trade in issuance though not in exchange trading of OTC trading, in the near future. He also mentioned that R3 will soon be announcing a few more banks that would be joining the banks.

 Hu Liang, Senior Vice President as well as the head of emerging technologies at State Street, had mentioned in a statement that these new technologies could transform how financial transactions are recorded, reconciled as well as reported, with all additional security, lower error rates and significant cost reductions.

Could This Start-Up Save the Greek Economy

Week Long Start-up – Contribute to Crisis Worn Greek Economy

A week long start-up fast-track program had been started recently in London for the purpose of locating ways which would make some contribution to the crisis worn Greek economy. In 2012, the Greek government had the largest sovereign debt default in history and on June 30 2015, it became the first developed country to fail in making an IMF loan repayment while at that time, Greece’s government had debts amounting to €323bn.

Six short listed companies would now be working with mentors as well as investors which includes Steve Vranakis, Google executive together with George Kartakis of PayPal owned Braintree in refining their views prior to competing in a Dragons Den-style event.

The idea includes a chemical formula in order to protect historical sites from illustrations, a scheme of recycling unused hotel toiletries, a Mastiha liqueur importer, an online education manager a digital diary for the purpose of booking civil weddings as well as an internet shop for products that are handmade by the Greek businesses.

The accelerator program which is run in partnership with Watershed Entrepreneurs is planned by Greek expats as well as others who have a social and an economic impact in Greece.

The Brain Drain-Lost Generation-Lose Contact

Co-founder Effie Kyrtata, a 25 year old Athenian who had moved to London seven years back has stated that `as they are based in London, they are tapping into the dispersion, the global community who are connected with Greece.

He adds that they have seen a lot of people leaving Greece to go to other countries – the brain drain, the lost generation and lose contact with Greece and that he wants to create a bridge between Greece and the UK’. Reload Greece, has helped entrepreneurs to raise £1m in funding over the past 18 months which generally runs mentorship schemes that tend to run for several months, however was prompted to do the strong accelerator as a reaction to the recent economic improvements in Greece.

Kyrtata has stated that this is our effort to do something fast due to the great need that exists. They are aiming to activate the community which resides abroad in making an immediate impact now and what can be done that will help the Greek economy straight away by using the youth and the people who have left’.

Six Start-ups – Refining Business Plans/Coordinate/Interact

The six start-ups that had been selected from more than thirty applications from the UK as well as Europe would be refining their business plans, coordinate with successful entrepreneurs and interact with expert mentors prior to pitching to a panel of investors. The winner is said to receive five free business coaching sessions from Eudaimonia Coaching.

However, Reload Greece is hoping that all the participants would be able to make their contributions to the Greek economy by developing jobs and boosting businesses. Moreover, the non-profit organisation also perceives its task as much more than financial. Kyrtata has commented that they desire to change the perception which the world has created about Greece by showcasing young as well as successful entrepreneurs who could make a difference and that there is a crisis and it is essential to be motivated to create new things’.

China Economic Transformation Painful and Treacherous

China’s Economic Changeover – `Painful & Treacherous’

China’s changeover from an economy which is greatly dependent on manufacturing is a painful and treacherous one. China’s economic reformation has entered its most critical phase and authorities should deepen improvements in significant areas, eliminate barriers and restore the framework. Various challenges and tough times will be faced ahead.

This would create rare investment opportunities together with volatility and fluctuations and investors need to be positive and alert, looking for options to profit from the changes. China’s Premier Li Keqiang answered queries during a meeting on September 2, 2015, with foreign company executives at the World Economic Forum – WEF, in China’s port city Dalian and stated that China should embrace its global obligations with regards to combating climate change and that the country was already under huge pressure to meet emission reduction goals.

He admitted that the country is on track in achieving its target this year. He had informed the audience at the event that it was difficult to achieve 7% growth domestic product – GDP growth as China has targeted in 2015. However the nation’s new growth drivers as it tends to move from factories to a broader, service based economy would speedily tend to take shape.

Leaders Not Influenced by Short-Term Fluctuations

Li added that the Chinese economy has a bright future to what is known as the Summer Davos saying that `this is not unrealistic optimism’. Li further commented that China would be continuing in reforming its markets which included adopting an open and transparent capital market and relax restrictions on capital flow in the country.

He adds that over 10,000 new businesses are being registered in China each day and `sharing economy’ have been making new ways in creating growth.As the changeover takes place, leaders of China would not be influenced by short-term fluctuation in the economy, according to Li, who describes the company as shock-resistant and resilient.

His message reverberated to a statement which had been made by Finance Minister, Lou Jiwei earlier at the G-20 meeting in Ankara, Turkey wherein he had informed that China was not focused on monthly data. The position is at add with some of the economists who believe that what data is available from China, indicate that the world’s second largest economy is probably heading for a recession.

Risk of Falling into Deflation

Recession is usually demarcated as two successive quarters of a contraction in GDP. The influential Citigroup chief economists and a former member of the Bank of England’s interest rate-setting committee, Willem Buiter, have cautioned in a note that `there is a high and rising likelihood of a Chinese, EM – emerging market and global recession scenario playing out’.

Later on he also informed CNBC that the official data which had been provided by China was `largely meaningless’ and as per Citi’s own model, the economy of China had increased by 4 percent in 2014 and not at 7.3 percent since the number was studied down, by China earlier in the week.

The data that was released recently indicated that consumer inflation had accelerated in August when producers’ prices had fallen deeper into deflation. The CPI – China’s consumer price index increased to 2% in August from the previous year against expectations for a 1.8% increase from Reuter’s poll, following July’s gain of 1.6%. Chief China economist, Li-Gang Liu, at ANX stated that `as PPI remains negative for over three years, China is still facing the risk of falling into deflation’.

Coin is the Future of Payments

Coin – Secured & Connected Device for Transaction

Coin, a secure, connected device can hold and act like the card we tend to carry and works with debit cards, credit cards, gift card, membership cards and loyalty cards. Instead of carrying multiple cards, users could carry one Coin with several accounts together with information in one place.

Coin functions by enabling the user to add all the cards onto one piece of technology on `the Coin’. On signing with the Coin app with the same identifications to order Coin, users need to create a unique six digit tap code and when the app is set up, they can pair their Coin with the addition of new card by entering the information manually, swiping the card through an included card reader which goes into the headphone jack of the phone or by taking a picture of the card.

The Coin tends to get connected to the smartphone via a secured Bluetooth channel which is designed to thwart third parts from using the Coin or in transmitting information from it without access to the user’s smartphone. Its feature of the Lock-and-Find tends to provide a real time validation of the owner of Coin being available at the time of the transaction. Should the owner not be available at the time of the transaction, Coin tends to lock itself and can be found by the owner utilising the mobile app.

Designed on Custom 128-bit Encryption Layer

Coin has been designed on a custom 128-bit encryption layer for Bluetooth which can safeguard sensitive information as well as prevent man-in-the-middle outbreaks as informed byCoin CEO Kanishk Parashar to TechCrunch.

When not in use, the Coin tends to remain in locked position and when one intends making a transaction, a single tap on the Coin’s solitary button would activate the device to do a quick search for the specific smartphone and after a couple of seconds it will get unlocked. If the phone is on Airplane mode or turned off or else unavailable, user could unlock the Coin by editing the same six digits Morse style pin code which is utilised in accessing the Coin app.

The Coin functions as a standalone device and the mobile device is essential for the initial set-up for the purpose of adding or changing cards on the Coin and to completely use the Lock & Find system. However, it could also be used without the mobile device.

Stays Active for Seven Minutes

It can stay active for around seven minutes once the same is unlocked, in order that the waiter tends to have the time to swipe and then it automatically gets locked.

Moreover, it also remembers its last known location and alerts the user as soon as it contemplates that the smartphone could have been separated from the Coin. Users have the opportunity of saving up to eight cards on the Coin at a time and can re-sync various cards which are stored in the app as long as they are within reach of their smartphone.

Parashar informed TechCruch that the team have been working on an EMV product and that Coin would be attempting to make the shift as seamless as possible for the user. However, it seems too early in knowing the exact deal or trade-in process. Parashar had commented that it would be something sizable enough to show their appreciation for early adopters.

Save tax by investing in Mutual Funds

Mutual Fund – Substantial Returns

A collective investment in the form of mutual fund is professionally handled fund and investing in it could maximise the savings as well as receive substantial returns. As an investor, one needs to identify the needs and goal for the investment which could be in funding for a child’s education or retirement or a secondary income. In identifying the goal one could opt for the most appropriate investment options and reap the benefits. Tax savings mutual funds are known as Equity Linked Saving Schemes – ELSS wherein the main objective of these funds tends to provide a tax rebate of the Income Tax Act under section 80C and are also exempted from taxes for long term capital gains. Tax rebate from one lakh INR to 1.5 lakhs in 2015 had been increased by the Government of India. For ELSS, the minimum investment tenure is 3 years and if the fund tends to do well it could offer benefits of around INR 1 lakh. ELSS funds are offered 13% to 22% returns annually averaging to around 17.5%. Due to these reasons ELSS seems to be one of the topmost tax saving mutual funds of 2015. Besides this, other popular tax saving investment comprise of –

• Tax Saving Fixed Deposit wherein one could benefit up to 1 lakh INR though the interest which is earned from fixed deposits tend to be taxable 
• National Savings Certificate – NSC – which enables investments as low as INR 100 with a rate of interest of 8.5% for a period of 5 years and 8.8% for 10 years wherein one could save around INR 1 lakh with this scheme. 
• Home Loan Principal – under section 80C, principal amount on home loan qualifies for a maximum deduction of INR 1.5 lakh. However the same is not applicable for properties under construction as well as commercial properties. 
• Rajiv Gandhi Equity Saving Scheme – RGESS is a good choice for first time investors since it tends to offer tax savings of around 50% on the invested amount for the first year. Maximum deduction is INR 50,000 which can only be claimed by those whose annual incomes falls below INR 10 lakhs.

ELSS – Long Term Investment

ELSS seems to be a better investment plan due to its comparatively minimal lock in period of 3 years over Public Provident Fund – PPF which tends to be locked in for a period of 15 years. National Savings Certificate – NSC on the other hand is locked in for a period of 6 years and fixed deposits are locked in for 5 years. Moreover, ELSS could offer enhanced returns over the long term since it is an investment in equity markets. Prior to investments one needs to be well informed on the risks and expenditures associated with mutual funds. Some insight could be beneficial to the investors such as –

• Considering the prevailing financial situation of the market intending to invest in 
• Select an experience fund manager who is well versed in delivering good results, one who will keep you informed on the anticipated trends as well as prospects of the fund in the market 
• The prevailing performance of the mutual fund need to be investigated to lessen probable risks and look out for premium, mutual fund rates as well as consistency of the fund in the market 
• Match the returns of the fund with the other tax saving investments 
• Discover hidden expenses like the fund manager’s commission, marketing expenses and the other expenses.

China Money Market Stabilises After PBOC Injections; Investors Eye More Easing

Medium-Term Lending Facility – MLF Eased Market

China’s main money rates had been mixed recently as the confidence of the investors in the market seemed to recover a bit followed by huge fund injections by central bank earlier this week. Liquidity situations seem to be tightened over the last 10 days though traders had informed that they are speculating on another major easing move soon, by the central bank.

One trader has commented at a city commercial bank in Shanghai, that that they have experienced a difficult week. Mostly it is impossible to purchase overnight repos in the first two days. The medium-term lending facility – MLF and injection achieved to ease the market and these movements relieved investors and major banks, Some of the major banks have begun providing funds

The outcome of China’s surprise yuan devaluation on August 11, market viewers are concerned of the investors moving quickly out of yuan assets and into dollars, forcing yuan liquidity as well as the money market. Constricted liquidity could have also been a factor in the large equity market sell-off.

Central Bank – Address Liquidity Concerns

Trailing after a partial recovery earlier in August, benchmark of China’s CSI 300 equity index had fallen down by 11% on the week by The volume weighted benchmark seven day repurchase agreement –repo rate, considered the best indicator of short term liquidity conditions in China, increased by 11 basis points from August 11 to August 20 eventually hitting 2.58% on Thursday afternoon.

The central bank moved to address liquidity concerns on Wednesday and Thursday by lending 110 billion yuan to 14 banks through it medium term lending facility as well as injecting 120 billion yuan in money markets through the operation of open market. Central bank’s open market injection this week of 150 billion yuan was the largest since early February.

The repo of seven day eventually responded on Friday with trading at 2.5475 percent late morning with a modern fall of 3.26 basis points from the earlier day’s closing average rate. However, liquidity was yet under pressure owing to client dollar demand as well as real borrowing rates remaining high further down the yield curve. Traders are anticipating easing measures to come up soon.

Push Down Long Term Rates/Dissuade Borrowers – Short Term Money

A trader had mentioned that the central bank is subtle and they have to take into consideration the potential yuan devaluation as well as economic pressures in the next half year and once the direct injections is not capable of offsetting the liquidity shortfall adequately, central bank would have to cut interest rates.

One day repo had gone up by 0.99 basis point at 1.82% against Thursday’s closing and the 14 day repo was up, 1.75 basis point at 2.71%. The Shanghai Interbank Offered Rate – SHIBOR, for same tenor increased to 2.5990 percent up 1.30 basis point from the earlier close.

 In order to decrease speculation and guide more funds in long term productive investment, central bank has been making efforts to push down long term rates and dissuade borrowers from easy short term money. However a shaky stock market tends to keep it under pressure in keeping short term rates low in order to support share prices.

Long term rates on safe haven government debt and policy bank bonds seem to have fallen severelysince equity modification in late June and yields on corporate debt have scarcely shifted.

How to Stop a Foreclosure with a Short Sale

When you take out a home loan, you agree to make regular payments over 10 years or longer until you pay off both the original loan and the interest the lender charged on that loan. If you experience a medical problem, lose your job or go through other lifestyle changes, you may find that you can no longer pay off your mortgage. This gives the lender the right to foreclose on your home. Before a foreclosure ruins your credit, find out how you can recover with a short sale.

What is a Short Sale?

Many homeowners turn to companies like Realty ONE Group because they aren't sure what a short sale is or if a short sale is right for them. A short sale is essentially an agreement between you and your lender that allows you to sell your home before the lender forecloses on the property. You may have several months or up to one year to find a buyer for your home. Lenders often prefer going through a short sale than foreclosing on a home because it gives the bank more money.

Benefits of a Short Sale

Though a short sale will still appear on your credit report, many find that it impacts them less than a foreclosure does. A foreclosure will remain on your credit report for up to 10 years, which will make it difficult for you to obtain another home loan or any other type of loan. Depending on the agreement you work out with your lender, you may have the chance to walk away free and clear too. Some banks will agree to accept a set amount to pay off your total mortgage. As long as you sell your home for that amount, you won't owe the bank any additional money.

Before Putting Your House on the Market

Before you decide to go the short sale route and put your home on the market, you need to get some help from professionals like Kuba Jewgieniew and others. Those professionals can help you with everything from making arrangements with your bank to finding a qualified buyer and closing on the house. Professionals can also help you determine if you qualify for special programs like the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program. These special programs can help you sell your home quickly without damaging your credit report or score.

Oil Prices Fall Again as U.S., Asia Demand Looks Set to Weaken

Oil Prices Dropped in Asian Trading

Oil prices dropped again in early Asian trading recently as traders speculated lowering refinery consumption after the US summer while the weakening economies of Asia and the high global production showed concern on the oversupply. The US crude futures had been trading at $41.84 a barrel each at 0014 GMT, which was around 3 cents below their last settlement and not more than six years low touched earlier this week.

Brent futures had been at $48.61 per barrel, down by 13 cents though the same is still some way from their 2015 low of $45.19. Both crude oil benchmarks have more than halved in value from the last year. They had rallied earlier in the year though are now almost a third below their last year rise in May.

Data have conveyed that several speculators have taken on large bets on further likely falls lying ahead. The reason for the change being twofold, one is the weak demand in several countries due to dull economic growth together with surging US production. Beside this is the fact that the oil association OPEC is unwavering in not cutting production as a way to prop up the prices.

Speculating Rise in U.S, Stockpile

According to ANZ bank it was commented that the `fundamentals suggest downside risk still tends to remain in key markets, especially iron ore and crude oil, in the months ahead’, speculating a rise in U.S. stockpile in the forthcoming months as refiners reduce operations for the purpose of maintenance as the summer driving season tends to come to an end thereby reducing the demand for US crude.

A subsidiary of Fitch Ratings, BMI Research had stated that the market could have an overshot to the downside, hoping in a modest recovery in the prices towards the fourth quarter. BMI Research analyst had commented that `the downward move had been largely speculative driven by the Iranian nuclear accord, economic uncertainties surrounding China and bearish re positioning in the futures market’.

Several oil traders have been positioning themselves to earn profit from an additional drop in U.S. prices. With regards to betting on further outright falls, the traders have become aggressive in taking up put options, an option which tends to sell a contract once the price begins to fall to a certain level, at a price as low as $35 and probably $30 a barrel.

Long-Term Outlook Seems to Remain Bearish

One broker had informed that the amount of queries that they had recently received with regards to leveraging bets on further price falls, have been quite surprising. Underlining the bearish sentiment, money managers as well as hedge funds cut their net long holdings of Brent crude futures for a fourth straight week, according to exchange data shown recently.

Long-term outlook also seemed to remain bearish with BMI Research guessing `oil prices probably to remain fixed till 2018’. They had stated that `the return of Iranian oil to the market, coupled with strong project pipelines in North America, the Middle East, West Africa and Kazakhstan would see global supply growth exceed the growth in global consumption for the next two years’. It was forecasted by the firm, that Brent would average to $56 and $55 in 2016 and 2017 respectively with U.S. crude averaging $53 in both the years.

Apple Feels the Pain of China's Yuan Move

Apple’s Discomfort on China’s Yuan Move

U.S. companies relying greatly on sales to China which includes Apple as well as fast food chain Yum Brands are feeling the discomfort of China’s move to weaken its currency. On Tuesday, in reply to the country’s economic slowdown, China’s central bank undervalued the nation’s tightly controlled currency, the Renminbi – RMB or the Yuan.

The 1.9% cut, its biggest one-day drop in decade,was called as a onetime adjustment by the People’s Bank of China though the surprised move had moved the stocks down together with concerns that it would affect U.S. companies, like Apple which have been on the rise selling their products to the world’s most populated nations. China had become Apple’s leading revenue source under CEO Tim Cook, after its Americas region, including the U.S.

The iPhone maker, in the latest financial quarter ending June had stated that China had made up around $13.2 billion of its overall $49.6 billion by way of revenues. This was up by 112% from the same quarter of 2014, when China had made up just around $6.2 billion of the overall revenue of Apple.

Several Companies Deprived of Huge Percentage

Yum Brands also had broad exposure to China owing to the popularity of its KFC fast food chain and about 52% of its revenue came from China as per Goldman Sachs. Mead Johnson Nutrition, the baby formula maker, in the meanwhile developed 31% of its revenue from China and Tesla; the electric car maker had been moving to sell in China after the nation had broken a record for car sales in 2013.

 Wynn Resorts that runs hotels as well as casinos gained a massive 83% of its sales to China, according to Goldman. Several of the chipmakers together with other tech companies too derived a huge percentage of their revenues from China as per Goldman Sachs which included:

• Chipmaker Qualcomm with 61% of its revenue exposed to China 
• Chipmaker Nvidia got 54% of its revenue from China 
• Chipmaker Intel Corp that got 36% of its revenue from China

Negative Effect on Sales – Offset of Lower Production Cost

The negative effect on sales could be the offset of lower production cost for some of the companies, according to Adolfo Laurenti, chief international economist for Mesirow Financial in Chicago.

Apple for instance assembles several of their products in China and hence could benefit from the cheaper Yuan. Laurenti also mentioned that companies having strong brands, such as Apple could not be rejected as badly as the less popular products since wealthy Chinese consumers would be willing to spend more to have those brands name.

He further added that `Chinese consumers in particular preferred American brands especially marquee products and so the adjustment in price would not deter them much’. The major apprehension is what the devaluation move would recommend about the larger economy of China, according to senior economist with Morningstar Investment Management, Francisco Torralba and his main concern is that the depreciation of the RMB is construed by markets as a sign that Chinese economy tends to be weakening more than what they contemplated. He adds that should it occur, sales to China will be affected by more than just currency cost.

Easy Ways to Simplify Your Finances

Trim Spending If Possible

In the present scenario, prices on commodities have been escalating and at times one may find it difficult to cope up with the expenses wherein it tends to get more than the income. No matter how hard one may try to simplify life there seems to be no way to mentally track every financial deal in the current busy world.

Keeping track on the budget of what comes in and goes out, is very much essential which could help in understanding where one tends to spend more and where you spend it, so that you could trim spending wherever possible. The aim is to understand and trim the budget categories which would otherwise lead to stress and several sleepless nights or probably financial adversity. Creating a personal budget could be helpful since it provides a deep vision on the finances, on its expenses and savings. It is essential to first list out –

•  Fixed expenses which are those that do not tend to change for instance the homeowner insurance, mortgage etc. 
•  Variable expenses are those expenses which may differ monthly such as the electric bill, water bill, grocery bill etc. 
•  Check which major categories each bills may fall in, such as home expenses, phone expenses, car expenses, utility expenses etc. 
•  List out each major category, detail each expense under the categories and sum up each category which will then indicate on the accurate expenses incurred in each category. The individual will get a better insight on the expenses done and where one could draw the line in curtailing the expenses.

Personal Budget

You could follow the steps by starting on making a list of necessities which needs to be paideach month by creating a personal budget. These could be the expenses which cannot be avoided and is incurred every month as mentioned earlier like the groceries and all the payments of utilities.

Then we have the personal expense ladder which may include things which provide security and peace of mind like health insurance, life insurance etc. If the expenses tend to exceed the income slab, one may need to reconsider on the expenses involved which could be the internet usage, cable or satellite television, phone etc. and find out means of curbing on the expenses which would not be much of a strain at the time of making payment.

The amazing thing about personal budget is that it is an eye openeron where you can cut down in some areas to save on some cash.

IRA – Individual Retirement Account

Individuals could evaluate their net income or loss by considering the income and subtracting the expenses and you tend to meet up with a positive number. Then there seems to be a balance left after meeting all the expenses.

The extra money could be then put into a IRA which is an individual retirement account, offering a valuable future tax break, a tax-free income during retirement. The benefit of a Roth IRA is based on the beholder’s tax bracket, both now and when they tend to retire.

 IRA is an ideal saving for young lower income workers, who will not miss the upfront tax deduction and will benefit for years of tax free compounded growth. Cutting down on unwanted expense could also help while making purchases which could benefit tremendously in managing the income within its limits and be able to cut back for some free cash.

Three Ways To Take Your Jewelry Company To A New Level

These days, many jewelry companies are ready to operate at a greater level of excellence and expedience in order to optimize their conversion rates and expedite daily operations. If these are your objectives as a jewelry owner, it's important to note that there are numerous ways for you to realize your objective. Here are three:

1. Invest In High Quality Refining Services. 

If you're serious about taking your jewelry company to a new level, consider the value of investing in high quality refining services. Refining services help your products look as pristine and perfect as possible, and this can contribute to the development or maintenance of a very positive reputation in the mind of the public. Once you start looking for the ideal refining services, consider a company such as JRG. With extensive industry experience and a passion for making your jewelry look absolutely amazing, the company's professionals can provide you with the excellent, expedient products and services you're looking for. Click here to learn more about the company.

2. Seek Digital Marketing Assistance. 

In addition to investing in high quality refining services, it's a good idea to seek out high quality digital marketing assistance. This strategy is important because effectively advertising your company via internet is a wonderful way to extend your sphere of influence and build a bigger base of lifelong customers. To ensure that you pick the ideal digital marketing company to assist you, make sure that the firm you select can offer all of the following services:

•  online reputation management (ORM) 
•  link building 
•  social media optimization 
•  keyword research 
•  Google analytics 
•  content creation 
•  web design and development 

3. Focus On Employee Optimization.

Your employees play a profound role in determining how effective your business will be. Since this is the case, it's a good idea for you to focus on employee optimization. There are numerous ways that you can help your employees become better on both a personal and professional level. One strategy you should consider is periodically throwing corporate parties or company get-togethers that take place outside of the work setting. Doing so enables your employees to connect with one another in a more personal way that can help facilitate group cohesion and diffuse office tension.

Conclusion 

If you run a jewelry company and want it to be as successful as possible, it's important to know that implementing a strategic plan can help. When you're ready to get the process started, consider the value of making the aforementioned tips an integral component of the strategic plan. Good luck!

Asset Allocation - Don't Put All Eggs in One Basket

Asset Allocation – Portfolio Distribution of Various Investments

Asset allocation is a term on how the portfolio is distributed with the various investments. As such there does not seem to be any simple formula which could define the right asset allocation for a single investor. It is one of the most major decisions which investor could make, according to a certified financial planner and the founder of the Delancey Wealth Management, Ivory Johnson.

A simple expanded portfolio could comprise of many investment classifications like stocks, cash and bond and the allocation to each of these groups should be based on the investment goals, risk tolerance as well as the time horizon needed for the utilisation of the funds.

However the agreement among several financial professions is that asset allocation seems to be one of the most major decisions which investors should make. Selection of individual securities is secondary to the way one allocate the investments in stocks, bonds and cash as well as equivalents which would be the main factors of one’s investment consequences.

Extension of Financial Plan

In brief, asset allocation should be an extension of a financial plan. Three main sections of asset being equities, fixed income and cash and equivalents, tend to have various levels of risk and return. Hence each will behave differently over a period of time. The benefits of using an expanded asset allocation are that the combination of several various investments could have varied patterns of returns according to Johnson. He adds that this would mean that the goal of portfolio variation would be to generate the maximum possible return for a specified level of risk.

For instance, if a portfolio of a small company stocks could cause greater returns than an exp

anded portfolio of stock then it is unlikely to achieve that result without considerable more risk or volatility. The outcome would be that in the process of determining an appropriate asset allocation, the combination of assets to hold in your portfolio would be a very personal one. Asset allocation which would work best at any given point of time would depend mainly on the time horizon as well as the ability to handle the risk factor.

Life-Cycle/Target-Date Funds

Known as life-cycle, or target-date funds, asset allocation mutual funds are an effort in providing investors with a portfolio structures which would address an investor’s age, risk factor as well as investment objectives with an adequate allotment of asset classes.Nevertheless, critics of this approach indicate that coming to a standardized explanation for allocating portfolio assets, can be challenging due to individual investors would need individual solutions.

By including asset groups with one’s investment returns which tend to move up and down under various conditions in the market within a portfolio, investor get the opportunity of protecting themselves from substantial losses. Generally, the returns of the three main asset groups have not moved up and down at the same time and the market condition which tends to cause one asset group to do well often causes another asset group to have an average or poor returns.

The investor here on investing in more than one asset category tends to reduce the risk of losing money and his portfolio’s overall investment returns will not suffer losses. Should one asset group’s investment return tend to fall; the investor would be in a position to counteract the losses in that particular group with a better option in investment returns in another asset group.

Greek and Tunisia Crises Set to Hit Thomas Cook

Tour operator Thomas Cook is set to lose million by way of revenue due to last week’s terrorist attack in Tunisia as well as the on-going financial chaos in Greece as they head in the peak of summer trading period. According to analysts at Jefferies, these two catastrophes could cost the under-pressure FTSE 250 Company, around £20m.

Thomas Cook is due to report the third quarter numbers covering the three months to the end of June and is expected to update shareholders on how Tunisia and the uncertainty about Greece has affected its business. According to analysts estimate, ten percent of Thomas Cooks’ passengers tend to travel to North Africa with about a third, bound for Tunisia.

Earlier in the month, the Government had warned against all, though essential travel to the country after around 38 tourists, most of which were Britons, were killed on June 26, when an Islamist gunman had attacked holidaymakers at a beach resort in Sousse.

Due to this, Thomas Cook had cancelled all booking to Tunisian till the end of October and flew all its customers home. Uncertainties about travelling to Greece also affected the tour operator. The tragedy in Tunisia as well as the chaos in Greece has been a difficult time for Thomas Cook.

Imposed Capital Control to Protect Banking System

Besides, Athens had also imposed capital control in a desperate move in order to protect its banking systems amid fear that the indebted country would be forced from the Eurozone.While the introduction of capital controllimits Greeks to €60 a day from ATMs,the same is not applicable to tourists, where the country is facing a cash crisis.

 The FCO have advised Brits who tend to travel to Greece to ensure that they carry sufficient cash which would last for the duration of their trip. Analysts stated that tourists travelling to Greece and were advised to carry plenty of funds with them had fears related to theft which could have discouraged travellers from late booking to the country.

It has been estimated by Credit Suisse that Greece accounts for about 15% of passenger volumes in summer season. Besides losing some of these bookings, the company’s margin is also likely to have come under stress as it struggles to find substitute destinations at late notice for the customers.

Analyst at Jeffries, Mark Irvine-Fortescue stated that `the terrorist attack in Tunisia and the on-going uncertainty in Greece add risk for tour operators heading into the peak trading period.

Share Prices Dropped Due to Attack/Turmoil

Tunisia is likely to negatively impact holidays in the region. The `Grexit’ saga creates uncertainty which could hold back some potential for late bookings’.

The tour operator also faced calls for a boycott in May when an enquiry in Wakefield ruled that the company had breached its duty of care when two kids had died of carbon monoxide poisoning due to a faulty boiler, in 2006. Irvine Fortescue has further commented that `while Tui and Thomas Cook have provided public assurance about customers being unaffected, Sunday’s `no’ vote meant more uncertainty which is not helpful’. Both the companies’ share prices had dropped recently due to the attack and the turmoil in Greece.

Greece Asks For A Third Bailout

Greek Government’s Official Request – 3rd International Bailout

The Greek government has officially requested a 3rd international bailout in order to help in paying its debt, to prevent economic downfall and ejection from euro. It was recently confirmed by the European Stability Mechanism which acts as Europe’s financial rescue fund that Greece had applied for a new bailout package. According to a senior economist at ING, Carsten Brzeski who informed CNBC through email that there would be new negotiations and these would be tough.

Greece had received its first aid in 2010 with 110 billion euro rescue package while the second program brought the bailouts of 240 billion euros, for which the payment deadline was extended recently for another four month on the premise that the Greece’s government would be making a renewed push for economic improvements. Greece still needed financial help due to its huge debt burden unlike other euro zone members likeIreland and Portugal.

The latest bailout program ended recently and Greece had missed the big debt payment to the International Monetary Fund thus becoming the first developed economy for non-payment of fund. The Greek government has requested for the new package for three years and has promised to present fresh economic reforms for exchange of money. Moreover it has also implied that it would prefer some form of debt relief from previous bailouts.

Greece Economy in Deep Crisis

The European Union is expected to come to a decision soon whether to grant another bailout program once it receives more details with regards to the economic plans of Greece. Recently the International Monetary Fund had estimated that Greece would need at least 50 billion euros though analysts are of the opinion that the figure could be much higher since the IMF analysis had been conducted prior to the Greek banks being forced to shut down creating added havoc on the economy.

Greek economy is in a deep crisis due to years of overspending as well as mismanagement and the government has fundamentally run out of funds. Banks have been closed for over a week and will continue to remain close for some time with cash withdrawals being stopped for individuals and businesses. Driving has also been stopped by regular people since they now want to conserve any cash that they may have.

Experts are of the opinion that Greece would soon be compelled in printing their own currency and ditch the euro if the leaders tend to disagree on the new rescue package. Market News International – MNI, the News organization had recently reported that the creditors of Greece have been considering the possibility of a third package for several months, quoting top euro zone official.

Germany Powerhouse of Euro Zone

The source also informed that the possibility had increased in the hope of higher deficits and weaker growth owing to the turmoil of the recent snap election of the country. The deputy parliamentary floor leader of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s CDU party, Michael Fuchs, informed CNBC that another round of financial aid would probably be difficult.

He commented that it would depend on the Greek Government and that they have to come up with serious proposals. Greece needs to show that they are capable of really changing the situation. Germany has been known to be the powerhouse of the euro zone and the German taxpayer had portrayed signs that they are little more reluctant in continuing to bail out the struggling euro zone nations.

According to a recent new survey by Polit Barometer, around three quarters of Germans are in doubt that the Greek government would implement the announced serious measures and reforms while an INSA poll also indicated that only 21 percent of Germans support the present extension for Greece. German parliament had voted in support of the bailout extension, however with lot of dissatisfaction shown in these polls, it could not be too long before the German politician may change tact.

Cease Fire But No Peace Agreement

ING’s Brzeski informed CNBC that `the current compromise was a cease fire but no peace agreement. A lot of goodwill has been destroyed by the Greek negotiation strategy and it is completely open whether there will be an agreement on a third package or whether we could still see a Grexit later this year’.

Chief executive at the German Federation of Industry, Markus Kerber, had informed CNBC that Greece needs the reforms for the people of Greece and not just of its international creditors. He further added that Greece has four months now to show that the new government would be willing to do the structural reforms in the country that has been waiting for long and if this happens in the next four months, then there could be signs of hope on the horizon’.

In the meanwhile, a second reading of gross domestic product for Greece recently indicated that the economy had contracted 0.4 percent in the last quarter of 2014. Leaders of all 28 European Union countries would be holding a summit to decide on Greece’s fate in the euro and have warned that any bailout deal would tend to come with tougher requirements than the earlier deal offered which was rejected by the Greeks in a referendum earlier this month.

Ground Zero'- China's Stock Market Crash Up Close in Shanghai

China Facing Plunging Stock Market

For years the Chinese Communist Party has been capable of keeping control on democracy disputes, protestors, the legal system as well as the military. However it has now been facing a more headstrong opponent in the form of a plunging stock market. Fast paced and invisible defiant market forces have confronted the efforts of the party led government in arresting the month long slide in Chinese stock market and if the same tends to continue, the fall in stock prices could slow the economy as well as weaken the faith in the party’s leadership and power, according to experts on China and economics.

 Three months back the state run People’s Daily had spoken that the increased stock prices were the `carriers of the China Dream’ and the confirmation of President Xi Jinping’s signature vision for what he calls, the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. However, what had been addressed as a bull market turned out to be a bubble burst. The main share index of Shanghai is down a third since its peak of June and trading in almost three quarters of listed shares were frozen due to limit declines or completely suspended and the securities regulators were also speaking on a mood of `panic’.

Stock Collapse – Reveals Impromptu Policy Makers

Since the stock market collapsed, the Chinese authorities instructed brokerages as well as insurers to buy, barred insiders from selling, tapping the nations’ sovereign wealth to pile up shares. Moreover, the government also raised patriotism blaming foreigners and arrested rumour mongers.

The Chinese stock collapse has been` a total revelation of how impromptu the policy makers could be in managing the transition to market-driven capital markets and that’s the question of the moment’ comments Daniel Rosen, a partner at the rhodium Group, which is a New York based economic advisory firm. He further adds, that `the question for tomorrow is whether that immaturity applies to their ability to regulate other aspects for the economic transition as well’.

Wary at the prospect of further losses, the Chinese government has taken action by agreeing to establish fund worth 120 billion yuan - $19.4 billion in purchasing shares in the largest companies that were listed in the index. Besides Beijing has also reduced the interest rates, relaxed restriction on the purchase of stocks with borrowed money as well as imposed a moratorium on initial public offerings.

Boom Powered by Retail Supporters

According to Financial Times, the recent dip in the Chinese stock market trailed an extraordinary bull period wherein the Shanghai composite increased by 149 percent through June 12 and the boom was powered by retail supporters who had been new to investing where more than 12 million new accounts had been opened on the stock exchange in May alone. Once controlled by the elites, the stock market progressively has now become a vehicle for China’s developing middle class.

Two thirds of the households who had opened accounts in the first quarter of 2015 had not even finished high school and the Equity market passion had spread to China’s universities, where 31% of the college students of the country had invested in stock, three quarters of which had used money that had been provided by their parents. Chinese have generally put their excess savings in housing, in recent years, however the uneven performance of real estate has prompted their interest in other direction for domestic investments.

Due to strict capital controls it has been very difficult for most of them to move money out of the country and more have turned to stock market. As per Bloomberg, more than 90 million people in China is said to have invested in equities, which is greater than the total membership in the Chinese Communist Party. The recent fall in prices has affected the fortunes of a huge number of people. Should this be a cause of worry for those outside China? Perhaps not.

China Stock Markets – Isolated

China’s stock markets are quite isolated due to a heavily combined global economy which is now the world’s second largest. Foreign investors tend to hold only 2% of all equities of China where equities account for around 5% of the overall financing. The aggregate bank deposits of China are around $2.1 trillion, providing a buffer against huge market fluctuations.

Moreover, the long bulls run which led the June’s collapse had not faded totally and the Shanghai composite is yet up by 20% since January 1. Nonetheless, these types of volatility in the world’s second largest equity market props up questions about the overall health on the economy of China. The GDP increased by 7% during the first quarter of 2015, which was its weakest mark in six years, while stimulus measures implemented by the government is yet to reverse this slide. As per Chief Economist at Deloitte, Ira Kalish, `China’s slowdown already had consequences beyond its borders’.

He has written in ChinaFile that `already the halving of China’s growth has wreaked havoc with global commodity markets and has negatively influenced growth in those East Asian economies that are a vital part of China’s manufacturing supply chain. It could be argued that the imbalances in China’s economy thus represent more of a risk to the global economy than the current and much discussed situation in Greece.

The U.S. is pushing to reform the international postal treaty that subsidizes Chinese shipping

American e-Commerce Put at a Disadvantage – UPU

American e-commerce business has been put at a disadvantage for subsidizing shippers from developing countries like China, by the Universal Postal Union, a postal treaty where witnesses as well as legislators state, has created a rough playing field for international e-commerce, which is up for renegotiation in 2016.

A hearing was held on June 16th, by the Government Operations subcommittee of the House Oversight Committee that the committee Chairman, Mark Meadows considered as the start of a push for U.S reform strategy. Reported earlier by Fortune, the Universal Postal Union is considered a treaty organization which tends to set international postal standards, comprises of the terminal dues agreements between post-office.

Congressman Meadows, in his opening statements, branded the terminal dues system as `trade distortion’ that had left thousands of the small businesses of Americans at a disadvantage. This was due to the system favouring shippers from countries that included China, which is considered as `developing’ country.Meadows suggested a question for the committee on how the situation could be improved wherein some were offered by the witnesses, which represented the Amazon, FedEx, State Department and USPS.

Negotiating Rights Taken from U.S. Postal Services 

SinceCongress took the negotiating rights away from the U.S. Postal Service and gave the lead to the State Department in 2006, U.S reform efforts have made little progress. Presently the State lead negotiator at the UPU, Robert Faucher, defended the progress that was made while at the same time clarified that the UPU is a very slow moving organization and dependent on an extensive one-country, one-vote Congress, which is held once in every four years.

Head of regulatory affairs for FedEx, Nancy Sparks, claimed that lethargy seems to be the source of the UPU’s deteriorating discrepancies. She stated that the tradition of the UPU is that the haves tend to pay the have-nots and what brings this problem up is that the have-nots suddenly have a lot.

Sparks further pointed that time seems to be short for U.S. game plan ahead of next year’s UPU Congress where the rules could be amended. `September 2016, in UPU time, is a heartbeat away’

Specific Goal – 2016 UPU Congress – Establish UPU Task Force

Faucher refrained from offering a timetable for meaningful terminal dues reform when he was compelledby representative Meadows. He stated that the `State Department’s most specific goal at the 2016 UPU Congress would be to establish a UPU task force to explore fundamental reforms’.

Proposals similar to these had been put forward by the U.S. at earlier congresses though were not successful.Essential approaches were also offered by Paul Misener, Amazon representative who called for the U.S. in making postal rates part of larger diplomatic negotiations with China. He further added that the UPU seems to be an imbalance which makes no sense to Amazon and that they are on the look-out for the whole ecosystem.

Insignificance of the problem could make it difficult to meet that type of political stress and most of the committee members commented that before the hearing they were ignorant of the facts. However, as per Congressman Meadows, this seemed to be just the beginning who commented that this would not be the last hearing, since they were going to look for real results.

Gold Dips Below $1,170 Despite Greek Debt Crisis

Gold Price below $1,170 – On-going Greek Crisis

Price of gold fell recently as the markets anticipated news from euro zone summit speculating whether progress would be made due to the Greek debt crisis, as growing positions in gold underline bearish sentiments towards the precious metal.

In the meantime, China’s foremost stock market closed at 7.4% down the same day and some 18% down from fortnight back since several brokerage houses had tightened their margin trading rules. A data portrayed French and Italian consumer confidence rising though private sector loans from the 19 nation Eurozone increased by only 0.5% annually in May, as stated by the European Central Bank, inspite of 5% growth in the currency union’s broad money supply motivated by the new QE bond buying program of ECB.

 Gold has failed so far to see substantial safe-havenbids due to the on-going Greek crisis and the strength in the dollar has also stopped improvements. Higher prices attempts seem pointless with traders selling into rallies and bringing the prices quickly lower. Spot gold eased 0.1% to $1,168 an ounce by 0630 GMT and the metal increased as much as 0.6% early on Monday followed by Greek rejection on terms of the bailout package.

Investors Concerned – Major Macro Risks

However, it gave up most gains close to 0.2%. On Tuesday, US gold futures dropped to 0.5 percent. The price move indicated the growing evidence that gold cannot hold its weight against the face of market jitters according to an analyst at Phillip Futures, Howie Lee.

He commented that `while that suggest gold has lost some appeal as a safe-haven asset, more importantly it signifies the loss of interest in gold as an investment vehicle. Investor positioning reflected the same, established on US Commodity Futures Trading Commission data on Monday. In the week ending June 30, hedge funds as well as money manager increased their short position to the highest on record.

Non-commercial dealers increased their short positions to a two-year high. While, investors were still net long on gold, a week ago, bullish position fell drastically.However, in terms of transaction, 3 days of strong revenue in the Shanghai Gold Exchange’s domestic kilobar, contract trailed on Friday, by record high volume, with its premium doubling from the previous day to $2.60 per ounce over comparable London quotes.

A London bullion bank had commented that `more people getting involved is a clear sign that investors are concerned about major macro risks – Greece, Europe, China’, adding that the exchange trade trust fund vehicles backed by gold, saw strong inflows on Thursday.

Athens Speculating Proposal for a Deal

The benefit of gold had also been affected by prospects of higher US interest rates later this year which would have increased the demand for the dollar and reduce the appeal of non-interest paying bullion. The weakness in the euro, recently from the Greek crisis has supported the dollar.

Dollar index trading near a one month high was reached on Monday and according to a Sydney based bullion trader, focus was on the euro zone meeting to take place with any Greek debt deal is likely to send gold prices below $1,150.Athens is speculating in bringing a proposal for a deal to the summit after Germany and France informed Greece on Monday, to come up with thoughtful proposals for the purpose of restarting financial aid talks.

Edward Meir, an INTL FCStone analyst stated that `any movement towards an agreement would probably mean that gold’s staying power at current levels will prove to be short-lived’.

Interest Rates Could Stay 'Glued' to the Floor, Admits Bank's Chief Economist

Photo: CHRISTOPHER PLEDGER

Interest Rates Remain Glued to the Floor – Andy Haldane-Chief Economist

Reports have come in from the Bank of England’s chief economist, that the interest rates would remain glued to the floor for the instant future. It has been stated by Andy Haldane who sits on the Bank’s committee of interest rate setter that inspite of strong attempts in dislodging them; rates tend to remain stuck at unprecedentedly low levels across major economies.Presently the financial markets are speculating that the UK rates would rise from their lows of 0.5pc to around 2,5pc ten years from now which according to Mr Haldane implies an extraordinarily slow pace of monetary tightening at least by historical standards.

He suggested that policymakers, in trying too hard to raise rates would make the situation even worse, but on the contrary with in due course, they could come free of their own accord. He further stated that it is one reason why the glue holding interest rates to their floor has stayed so strong and feels no immediate need to loosen that glue.Mr Haldane has earlier considered himself as one of the Bank’s most dovish interest rate setters, indicated that he would prefer rates to be lower, instead of being higher. He comments that the Bank should be prepared to cut interest rates if it looks like low inflation and tends to become entrenched in the UK.

Interpreted Downward Drift as Evidence of Secular Stagnation

He has said that the glue holding rates low is remarkably resilient and could have been aggravated by deficient western investment together with additional savings in the east. While in conversation with Milton Keynes, Haldane has stated that `some have interpreted their downward drift as evidence of secular stagnation’, which is a concept that economies tend will grow slowly than in the past and this fear is an echo of concerns raised after the Great Depression. Consumers and businesses now are concerned that what is a reasonable recovery may not be permanent. Consumers are pleased that their glass is now less than half empty but they are no more willing to drink it and this cautious behaviour is to a degree, mirrored also among companies’.

Wage Growth Causing Fluttering 

Inspite of encouraging signs of wage growth during the year right up to April, together with rise in pay with its fastest pace from the time of the crisis, Mr Haldane had cautioned using the phrase `one swallow does not a summer make’. Analysts had informed that the pay growth could be even stronger after accounting changes in the UK’s workforce like the changing mix of employee ages, occupation and job tenures.

However, Mr Haldane has criticized the idea stating that `the wage growth is causing some fluttering though not in this dovecote’. It is now a matter of time to wait and watch for the outcome of the prevailing scenario on the interest rates in the near future.

How Crowdfunding is Exposing Bad Professional Investors

Crowdfunding Platform – Exposes Business

Crowdfunding is getting popular in the present world as an innovative method in which companies could generate funds and presently North America market is far advanced followed by the European market. Crowdfunding is the concept which comprises of funding a project or a business done through a number of individuals who tend to invest small amounts generally through a web-based platform.

Presence on a crowdfunding platform enables people to expose their business ideas to a large number of potential investors as well as business professionals. Fully funded crowdfund indicates that the group of investors and business professionals have faith in an idea and not just one investor. There is Equity Crowdfunding which involves a company offering equity share capital in return for the funding of cash which is not different with that of a Public Limited Company having share issue.

 But Private Limited Companies do not have access to Stock Market and the cost of going Public in most cases will be prohibitive for smaller or new companies. Crowdfunding thus, enables private companies with the benefit of raising capital from a number of investors through a share issue, minus the cost, regulations as well as reporting implications of being a Private Limited Company.

Google Search – Rise of Crowdfunding

Loan Crowdfunding on the other hand does not need any issue of shares by the company wherein one can just apply for a loan from investors at the agreed rates and the repayment terms. Instead of an individual or a fund provide offering the total amount of the loan needed, the business receives loads of small loans which could have various interest rates.In recent years, Google search has provided some data supporting the rise of crowdfunding and one that stems out from a study done by the World Bank, indicates that the global crowdfunding market would touch between $90 and $96 billion towards 2025.

Till recently, the number given on investing in start-ups and entrepreneurs was only reachable to people with deep pockets and the democratization quests is the major benefits of the rise of crowdfunding. The development of renowned platforms in the world, such as Kickstarter and Indiegogo, has provided many non-professional investors with the opportunity to back start-ups which tend to be appealing. Moreover, it could also provide a previously untapped way of capital for start-ups while acting as a competition for angel investing community and possibly also for the larger investment institutions.

Innovative Idea- A Game Changer 

Jeff Lynn, CEO of Seedrs, one of UK’s leading crowdfunding platforms had a discussion with Hot Topics on the factors behind the rise of crowdfunding, on his thoughts on professional investor as well as his advice on building a successful crowdfunding campaign.

Crowdfunding tends to be an innovative idea; however like anything which promises to be a game-changer, it also has its benefits as well as drawbacks that have to be measured. Several individuals would want to assist their colleague or neighbour in launching a new business, an idea or a product, help someone in need or pre-purchase some of the latest innovative product and crowdfunding could have the potential to do so.

Equity crowdfunding via a portal tends to expose many individuals to investments in start-up business through the internet and with crowdfunding; investors send money in exchange of intangible right without being aware of what happens to their funds invested. Recent investor survey carried out by the Ontario Securities Commission indicated that people in favour of equity crowdfunding were not aware of the risk. More disturbing was the fact that 12% of those identified as low risk tolerance were strongly interested in equity crowdfunding.

Implementation of Equity Crowdfunding Model 

Advocates recommend that the crowd would be capable of identifying fraud and weed out bad actors Experience together with research demonstrates that this is not the case; on the contrary investors tend to turn out to be victims of fraud at a shocking rate.Officials are probably proceeding in implementing an equity crowdfunding model and though the Canadian Foundation for Advancement of Investor Rights does not back an equity crowdfunding exemption individual could limit themselves to fraud and probable losses.

According to Jeff Lynn, `crowdfunding tends to be hard work and one of the issues which people always misunderstand is that you don’t just put up the listing and then wait for people to come and fund you. It is a tool for you to go into your networks and the public and get them excited about the deal’. They often inform the entrepereneurs that if they come there expecting that they will have to find the majority of the investments then a lot can be found from the network.

Crowdfunding tends to be useful in various ways, providing opportunities in fundraising for creative projects or for any start-up projects. It is a platform which enables the user to market their project, generate interest as well as receive funds. Its supporters could provide valuable feedback about a project and once the individual has settled with a stabilised support, there is no limit to the volume of projects one can fund.

How Much Cash is Too Much for Your Portfolio?

Cash Position – 6% - 30% Based on Age/Risk Appetite

As per Charles Schwab Corpn’s – SCHW robo-advisor, Schwab Intelligent Portfolios, the cash position of an investor should be between 6 and 30 percent based on age and risk appetite. If one would be looking for a precise percentage, advice from financial experts will inform the individual to focus on capital allocation of 60 percent stock, 30 percent bonds and 10 percent in cash.

Investors though who are more likely to take risk are the younger generations who don’t necessarily need a stable income and could have more capital allocated to stocks. Cash is king as well as trash and nowhere is cash said to be more controversial than using it by way of investment, where too much of it is considered to be a risk but how much could be `too much’?

The debate came up when Charles Schwab had launched Intelligent Portfolios which is an algorithm based platform that automatically builds and rebalances portfolios like the asset-management services of robo-advisors and his treatment of cash in platform had many eyebrows raised, leading to criticism of allocation to cash, depending on the investor’s risk profile.

How Much Cash an Investor Should Hold …?

Charles Schwab replied that there seems to be no right or wrong answer as to how much cash an investor should be holding as an investment and that it is a strategic decision. He further added saying that it is easy to question cash in the 6th year of a bull market and when the Federal Reserve is artificially suppressing interest rates, but they did not invest based on the last six years.

Investment was based on what can be expected in the future. Bull market end and interest rates increase and when they do, a little cash will feel pretty good’.The question raised was, how much should one hold in their brokerage account to which both sides seemed to agree and there was not a single answer that fits all circumstance. When people tend to discuss their investing portfolios they usually refer to the stocks, commodities, bonds and real estate that they own. Regarding cash and how much to hold in a portfolio is based on who you are and how you are investing as well as your investment perspective.

Cash Not As Asset Class – Call Option Which Can Be Priced

When Warren Edward Buffett an American business magnate, investor and philanthropist and the most successful investor of the 20th century had patiently held around $20 billion in cash, he thought of cash not as an asset class which is returning next to nothing but as `a call option which can be priced, relative to ability of cash to buy assets.’ He put in good use at the time of the financial crisis gathering deeply discounted bargains. Most of the investors, lack the discipline of Buffet.

When the market is rallying, cash in the portfolio tends to drag on performance, returning to around zero. The debate for cash in the portfolio is that it does not go down at the time of market crashes but enables the purchases of cheap assets like Buffett, at smart prices. However, investors rarely tend to buy when markets are crashing and are simple apprehensive, to take the plunge. Those who avoided the 2008 crash were stuck with too much cash in their portfolios as the markets recovered.