Friday, June 28, 2013

China facing a new threat of credit crunch!



Almost all the economists alarmed an increase in risk every day to see a new burst in credit bubble in Asia and now things seems to be clear now. The rating agency Fitch indicates that such event without precedent in the history of the modern world could burst in China. The Tribune does not beat around the bush; and citing a threat of a credit crunch. We have discussed these things already on various times. The occurrence of this new credit crisis may in turn be hit hardly soon. The main resources for these happening are the excessive growth of bank loans to the private sector and the loans outside the formal sectors etc which lend in turn more difficult to repay by the borrower. On Friday, the Chinese interbank rates showed a sharp decline, the refinancing rate to seven days - part of the cost of interbank lending - dropping from 11.62% to 8.33%, such a move could not be obtained thanks to rumors suggesting that the PBOC (the Central Bank of China) was pressure to release the donor funds, or it can intervene directly. Earlier, panic had seized the Chinese interbank market, the benchmark rate to a record high at 13.91%. In the end, according to Bloomberg, 50 billion Yuan (about 6.15 billion Euros) were injected into the market by the central bank. The situation with less tense will prevail in recent weeks and it will continue, and the worst is still to be feared to come out. Leading analysts consider that the PBOC should maintain its policy to severely restricting access to credit for businesses and individuals. Reasons behind this are; it will help to restrict the high level of bad loans held by Chinese banks. A context is that investors fear that banks are facing difficulties increasingly strong to refinance. During the past two weeks, the rate of refinancing had indeed soared, the Chinese Central Bank stopping the injection of liquidity, despite the economic downturn. A measure which provoked a strong restriction of access to credit, draping the exchanges while blocking the lending capacity of banks. Monetary authorities and Chinese policies now want to end the very rapid credit growth in recent years. It is true that there is an emergency, leading institutions in the viewfinder smaller banks, which have increased their loans while speculating heavily. A situation that pushes the government to "clean up" the banking market, closing the valve to riskier institutions, a policy may lead some to bankruptcy. Another worrying and not least: in May, a report released by the rating agency Moody indicated that informal lending outside the banking sector in China had increased by almost 70% over the past two years ... representative now the equivalent of 55% of gross domestic product (GDP). Financial products of the informal sector amounted at the end 2012 to 29,000 Yuan (3,600 billion Euros), according to preliminary calculations by Moody's. A narrower definition of the sector excluding loans fiduciary obligations and asset-backed companies, the informal sector would weigh only 21000 billion Yuan, but still 39% of GDP. The Moody's report indicated that parallel "informal banking sector could have a leverage effect on the finances of the wider economy and amplify fears of a credit bubble. The rating agency felt that the rapid growth of informal loans increased risks to the banking system and the Chinese economy as a whole. "Given the sheer size and growth of informal banking in China, we doubt the ability of banks to guard against a significant increase in defaults" in this area, yet warned by Moody's. In March, the Banking Regulatory Commission noted that it had ordered banks to control the funds asset management more closely in order to contain the risk and increase transparency. According to Fitch, Chinese banks have somehow hidden in a second parallel balance the equivalent of 2 billion loan mechanism to circumvent the official boundaries and new regulations put in place to curb the excesses. Practices that cause the bursting of a credit bubble. Because, according to Fitch, half of the loans must be renewed every three months and hence forth at least in less than six months. According to Charlene Chu, senior director of Fitch in Beijing, "The country has duplicated the entire U.S. commercial banking system in five years." Adding that the credit is increased from 9 000 to 23 000 billion dollars since the collapse of Lehman Brothers. "All this is far worse than anything we could know before in a major economy. We do not know what will happen. The next six months will be crucial, "said Chu also. For her, "the model of growth based on credit is clearly exploding. This could fuel a massive crisis of over-capacity, and potentially a Japanese-style deflation. " According to Wei Yao of Society General, the debt level of Chinese enterprises has reached the threshold of 30% of GDP, the threshold is nothing but a typical of financial crises.

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.

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

More About Financial Bubbles


But why economic agents do not learn a lesson from history and what is the origin of the observed market euphoria? It should actually wonder more generally about the rationality of agents. By their individual actions, they participate in effect to create a gap between the actual value of a thing and its market value. And this gap increases; more the bursting of the bubble is near, even if the term is unknown. This process can be summarized by the metaphor of the beauty contest Keynes in Chapter 12 of the General Theory. So imagine that you are in a competition against a host of other competitors. You are facing a hundred photos of girls all equally charming as the other, and you are asked to select six, the six prettiest. The person whose choice is closest to the average choice (that is to say the girls who got the most votes) will be the winner of this competition and win the jackpot. Three techniques are available to you and to win. First, you choose a simple, even naive strategy, which is to choose the six most beautiful girls according to your standards of beauty. But you can also adopt a strategy. which is more vicious this time to copy your selection on the other competitors with your expectations. Finally, you say that there is no reason for you to be the one to embrace the second strategy you determine an ultimate, which includes the fact that each competitor will not only formulate expectations about choice other participants, but also on your own. The metaphor of beauty contests and shows that speculation is mainly due to expectations that each agent makes about the behavior of other agents. Worse, it seems rational to participate in this type of competition because there is a real jackpot game now apply this reasoning to any other market (financial, real estate or even tulips) and you now understand that when Prices are disconnected from reality is that economic agents engaged in a competition of beauty contests guy and that large batches are obviously involved other words, do not enter a speculative market generates a cost (opportunity) that corresponds to the potential gain that you would not have achieved; corollary, it is rational to participate in inflating a bubble in order to enrich themselves, knowing that sooner or later the bubble will explode . If the game mirrors expectations promote the creation of speculative bubbles, it should be noted that favorable market conditions may also participate in this movement. Thus, over the last ten years, it is interesting to note that each period of financial euphoria is a situation of low interest rates and abundant liquidity. Thus to extinguish the fire of the Internet bubble of the early naughtier, the Federal Reserve has made successive rate cuts that have led to a rise in private debt and the emergence of a real estate bubble The subprime; Belated. Again, the response of central bankers involved in the reduction rates that, this time, encouraged the public debt; replete. And since it seems that we are now cured syndrome "this time is different" (Reinhart and Rogoff), the current historically low interest rates could facilitate the emergence of a new bubble. What will be the nature of the next big crisis? An early response, rather obvious, is of the bond market, when many experts welcome historically low borrowing rates, especially for states but also for corporate, bond bubble continues to swell to form a time bomb. And if some commentators are trying to alert the markets inevitable future rise in interest rates, the warnings remain almost unnoticed as the general euphoria is great. But other risk factors may also be highlighted. Real overheating in China, seven-fold during the decade gold bubble carbon and financing of energy transition and finally growing attraction for bit coin. Yes, this totally paperless currency created in 2009 by a computer meeting the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto, who was at the center of media talks some time ago, due to the sudden surge in its course and all its fall brutal. At its inception, the parity bit coin stood indeed one thousandth of a dollar before reaching on April 10 to a high of 266 dollars, then lose in just a few days over 70% of its value to pass under the below 80 dollars. All bubbles eventually burst and one day or the other. But the man never lacks imagination to always find a new source of enrichment. And when he is not at the origin, it adopts a mimetic behavior that allows him to achieve his goal. This process can really be repeated ad infinitum? Or, maybe it does not itself amount to a giant bubble that would only swell for centuries?

Tuesday, May 28, 2013

The Financial Bubbles Happened In The Past! -1



What is the common point between the Asian crisis of 1997, the Internet crisis of 2001, the subprime crisis in 2008, the sovereign debt crisis of 2010 and what will be the next financial and economic crisis? They all originate from the bursting of a speculative bubble. This phenomenon of artificial inflation of prices though not new, for more than three centuries actually, economic agents know that trees do not grow to the sky. And yet they are still surprised when a bubble bursts. It all began in the late sixteenth century, when Dutch traders introduced in the country of tulips from Turkey. New, rare and unlikely mix of colors, a combination which gave very quickly tulip flowers to have high value relative to many other flowers that were the kingdom. Tulip and gradually became a luxury item particularly popular with the wealthy but also by the Dutch bourgeoisie. Finally freed from Spanish rule, the latter had indeed reaped significant benefits from trade with Asia, not hesitating to build large houses surrounded by flower gardens particularly with tulips. For almost forty years, the price of tulip flowers then continued to grow at a moderate pace at first, then more sustained from the 1630s rhythm, and in 1635 it took an average of 2,500 florins to buy a tulip flowers,to a greater cost of 25 750 euro( as the value of 2002 ,if we are to believe the calculations of the International Institute of Social History). The price of tulip flowers reached its peak in 1636, the same year; parliament actually discussed a project on the transformation of the nature of the contracts that would become the purchasing options and not obligations which is a windfall for speculators. Thus says at the beginning of year 1637, a tulip flowers could be traded on the futures market against the equivalent of three paintings by Rembrandt, or ten times the annual salary of a skilled craftsman, or against a field of five acres ... data often from pamphlets of the time which it is impossible to verify the accuracy.

One thing is for sure though; the price of tulip flowers was abnormally high. Especially when we know that the color intensity of the flower was actually linked to a mosaic virus of the flower. Finally, in February 1637 that the euphoria ended and the prices of futures fall sharply, marking the end of speculation, understand the "trade wind." The tulip mania and was one of the first bubbles in economic history. It also marked the beginning of a long list of other bubbles - Crash of 1720 following speculation on the South Sea Company, crash of Vienna in 1873 due to soaring property prices in Paris Berlin and Vienna stock market crashes of 1929 and 1987 and, more recently, the subprime crisis - causes and consequences substantially similar. A mass hysteria and the rapid enrichment of people’s misunderstanding one another, movements of brutal impoverishment and bankruptcy.

Sunday, May 26, 2013

The need of better integration in environmental criteria in investment!


Banks have become essential in the transition to a greener and more sustainable economy. If their role in financing green infrastructure and renewable energy is identified, their efforts should also focus on the integration of environmental criteria in their funding decisions and investment, primarily in sensitive areas and eventually in all sectors. The 2008 crisis revealed the considerable power to influence of banks on the economy. Respondents even criticized, they undergo a double injunction to continue to finance the economy in all its complexity while being more transparent. Their indirect responsibility is increasingly sought: external stakeholders like customers, shareholders, institutional investors and NGOs), the challenge of repeatedly on the assets they finance and the behavior of large customers they accompany their development. Beyond all controversy, it has become imperative for them to be able to explain their decisions to finance and investment. How can banks now tackle the challenge of meeting the ever increasing global needs while encouraging the development of a production of "sustainable"? To meet this dual standby, banks must gradually integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) in all funding decisions and investment. The goal is to better understand the potential risks to better identify projects for funding, companies in which to invest, and the most sensitive regions. Their inclusion will progressively as they are both away from the heart of business of the bank (financial risk analysis), long-term and with a low probability of occurrence but maximum impact if realized. The most sensitive to environmental or social terms economic sectors must be supervised by funding policies and responsible investment that apply to all products and services, including asset management. In a little over a year, our group has worked on the areas of palm oil, nuclear, agricultural raw materials essential to the pulp and paper and finally the electricity produced from Coal. These are very heavy projects: each policy requires six months of work on average. All stakeholders are consulted to help position the criteria ambitious enough to have a real impact on the environment and society, but also to ensure realistic level their implementation. Finally, these policies should identify the most critical links in the production chain. Of course, all companies must comply with the existing laws in the field of the environment, but they must also be transparent by providing certain information, to assess the management of their risks on this subject. A thorough analysis of the specific risks of each sector is then used to define performance criteria that companies and / or Projects must meet. These policies approved by the Executive Committee, have been widely disseminated to all trades. If they respond to a pending trade and managers have accurate prior to any decision making instructions, they nevertheless induce profound changes: it is necessary to train and support unfamiliar teams sometimes certain criteria 'very technical evaluation. They also assume a new type of dialogue with customers or companies in whom we want to invest: beyond financial performance criteria, it is now necessary to address much broader issues. Our philosophy is not to exclude a sector as a whole (except those that are subject to legal prohibitions) but we do not forbid, as a last resort, to exclude companies that do not wish evolve and take into account our policies. The approach taken must and will therefore continue in both applying to other sectors, if necessary by revising existing policies (e.g., nuclear policy could evolve following the stress tests carried out in European level) but also in the declining in specific sectors.

Friday, May 24, 2013

European Commission and Taxing policy on financial transactions!



The European Commission and the European Parliament are to authorize the implementation of an enhanced cooperation procedure between 11 Member States to implement a tax on financial transactions. The contours of the project are summarized below.

 EFSM: European Financial Stability Mechanism, EFSF: European Financial Stability Facility, Financial institutions: credit institutions, investment firms, organized markets, insurance companies, asset management companies, pension funds, holding companies, leasing, securitization vehicles. The expected charges is 0.1% for cash instruments and 0.01% for derivatives. The scope includes the "financial markets" broadly, carefully avoiding the financing of the real economy through the exclusion of the primary market and financial products distributed by the retail banking and insurance. However, the purchase and sale of securities by an individual investor will be taxed via the taxation of the financial intermediary through which this negotiation channeled. The project raises vehement reactions from the world of finance. European banks have made their estimates, which showed that the FTT will sign their death warrant. The French associations instead, sent the Minister of economy to measure on the fate of individual financial institutions, but very they are very alarmed about the impact of the tax on the financing of the economy. It is difficult to sort through the flood of objections that can be read at this time. I chose to retain both. The tax applies to the negotiation and not the transfer of ownership. It is true that the presence of intermediaries and clearing induces a succession of transfers of ownership in the post-market cycle.

But such transfers resulted in two orders (purchase and sale) that resulted in an execution. The purchase and sale will be taxed ... 2 times as expected. However, it will not be the same if the negotiation goes through the OTC market, involving broker-dealers who buy the securities for their own account before transferring to their clients. This leads to the second point. The European Commission assumes that the FTT will effectively eliminate altogether certain market activities. This is what emerges from the published 02/14/2013 impact study. Effect on the market for public debt as the primary market is not taxed investments "buy and hold" long-term types will be favored. The implication speculation on debt of countries in the Euro zone, it's over. Effect on the repo market: The overnight repo will be replaced by secured loans (non-taxable). Therefore also exit the repo, considered a particularly opaque part of the "shadow banking" and carrying systemic risk by successive transfers of collateral. Impact on the OTC derivatives market: there too, the Commission expects a significant drop in volumes, without being moved more than that. Effect on market makers, systematic and other proprietary traders internationals: taxation of transactions of all these intermediaries will lead to cascading effects.

These are fully paid and their consequence capture spreads, become unprofitable cease altogether. Finally, one may wonder if there is not in this project a public agenda and calendar, otherwise hidden, the less "discreet." The public agenda was a political component: meet the largely hostile public opinion in the world of finance, and tax issues: generating additional revenue that would help significantly reduce the contribution of the participating States to the EU budget. The hidden agenda is, if not eradication, at least in the drastic limitation of certain activities deemed unnecessary or predatory for the real economy. It is obvious that the realization of this hidden agenda will also have the effect of reducing tax revenues, but this effect appears here, too, assumed perfectly.

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.

Thursday, May 9, 2013

Europe needs long-term financing!





The urgency for Europe to reconnect with smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, which allows Europe to create jobs and, based on the areas in which it has a competitive advantage, gain market competitiveness world. To achieve this, it must meet investment needs large-scale and long-term. To finance these investments in the long term, governments and businesses, regardless of size, should have access to a long-term, predictable funding. The ability of the economy to make available such long-term funding also depends on the financial sector's ability to effectively provide users and relevant investment, effectively and efficiently, saving governments, businesses and households. This provision may be indirect, such as through banks, insurers and pension funds, either directly, via the capital markets. The long-term funding must be secured in such a way that supports structural reforms and help get the economy back on a path of sustainable growth. The financial crisis has reduced the capacity of the European financial sector to channel savings into investment long-term needs. It is important to ask whether in Europe, traditionally high dependence with regard to banking intermediation to finance long-term investments could be replaced by a more diversified system leaving more room for direct funding by capital markets and the involvement of institutional investors and alternative financial markets.

The task of ensuring the existence of an effective and efficient intermediation for long-term financing is complex and multidimensional. Recently, the Commission adopted a Green Paper on the financing of the European economy that includes public consultation. Its purpose is to launch a wide debate on how to increase the supply of long-term funding and diversify the financial intermediation system for long-term investment in Europe. The answers to the questions will enable the Commission to deepen the analysis of barriers to long-term financing to determine what policy measures could help to overcome them. The whole process could lead to different results and, in some areas it may be necessary to introduce new rules or modify existing ones, while in others, the role of the EU would to foster better coordination and promotion of best practices, or to provide specific measures to certain Member States in the framework of the European community.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

The hurdles Fed has to overcome!


The persistent weakness of the U.S. economy - where deleveraging public and private sectors continues - has led to a stubbornly high unemployment and a lower than normal growth. The effects of austerity - a sharp increase in taxes and a sharp drop in public spending since the beginning of the year - further undermine economic performance. Indeed, recent data have silenced some officials of the Federal Reserve, who hinted that the Fed could start out the third round of quantitative easing, which is currently underway for a period indefinite. Given the low growth, high unemployment which fell only because discouraged workers are now leaving the workforce and inflation well below the goal of the Fed is not the time to begin to constrain liquidity. The problem is that liquidity injections by the Fed are not generating credit to finance the real economy, but to stimulate borrowing and risk-taking in financial markets. The bond sloppy risky under contractual commitments vague and excessively low interest rates is increasing, the stock market hit new highs, despite the slowdown in growth and the money goes mass to emerging markets high yield. Even the periphery of the Euro area has wall of liquidity triggered by the Fed, the Bank of Japan and other major central banks.

Because interest on state of the United States, Japan, the UK, Germany and Switzerland to absurdly low levels bond yields, investors are in a global search for yield. It is perhaps too early to say that many risky assets have reached bubble levels, and the levels of debt and risk-taking in financial markets have become excessive. However, the reality is that it is likely that credit bubbles and asset / equity form in the next two years, due to the accommodative U.S. monetary policy. The Fed has indicated that QE3 would continue until the labor market has improved enough probably early 2014, providing an interest rate of 0% until unemployment has dropped to less than 6.5%. Even when the Fed will begin to raise interest rates at some point in 2015, it will proceed slowly. In the previous tightening cycle that began in 2004, the Fed needed two years to normalize the policy rate. This time, the unemployment rate and household debt and public are much higher. A rapid normalization - such as realized in the space of a year in 1994 - would cause a crash in asset markets and the risk of a hard landing for the economy. But if financial markets already tend to bubble now, imagine the situation in 2015, when the Fed will begin to tighten its terms, and in 2017 at the earliest, when the Fed has completed the process of tightening. The last time interest rates have summers too low for too long during 2001-2004, and the normalization of rate thereafter was too slow, which had formed a huge credit bubble, housing and stock markets.

 We know the end of this film, and we may be ready to see more. The weakness of the real economy and the labor market, as well as high debt ratios, suggest the need to exit the monetary stimulus slowly. But a slow output may create a bubble of credit and asset as important as the previous one, if not more. The search for stability in the real economy, it seems, could again lead to financial instability. Some at the Fed - as chairman Ben Bernanke and Vice Chairman Janet Yellen - argue that policymakers can pursue two objectives: the Fed will raise interest rates to slow economic stability, while preventing financial instability (bubbles and credit created by the high liquidity assets and low interest rates) through supervision and macro-prudential regulation the financial system. In other words, the Fed will use regulatory instruments to control credit growth, risk taking and debt. But another faction of the Fed - led by Governors Jeremy Stein and Daniel Tarullo - argues that macro-prudential tools have not been tested, and that the debt limit in a part of the financial market only pushes liquidity elsewhere. Indeed, the Fed regulates banks, so that the liquidity and debt migrate to the informal banking system if bank regulation is stricter. As a result, Stein and Tarullo argued that the Fed has only one instrument of interest rates to tackle all the problems of the financial system. But if the Fed has only one effective instrument - interest rates - the two objectives of economic and financial stabilities cannot be pursued simultaneously.


Either the Fed continues the primary purpose of keeping rates low for longer and to standardize very slowly, in which case a huge credit bubble and assets would form in time, either the Fed focuses on the prevention of instability financial and increases interest rates much faster than the low growth and high unemployment have also requested, thus stopping an already sluggish recovery. Exit policies QE and zero interest rates the Fed will be treacherous: a too quick exit would cause a crash in the real economy, while a slow start out by creating a huge bubble and then cause a crash the financial system. If the output can be operated successfully partisan compromise Fed is more likely to create bubbles.

Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Reason behind Buying Gold!



Buying gold is favored by almost all investors and laymen in the field for three main reasons: In fact, buying gold would be sought from the purchase ornament that the metal is a store of value and a safe haven much more net growth in a context of crisis especially now. Indeed, buying gold is the only safe other than the other monetary valued purchase. It is for these reason even central banks are getting into and carry out purchase of gold. Buying gold is a kind of asset protection for professional investors who believe that buying gold is a good investment for both the long term and short term benefits. This not to mention the attractive European taxation regarding this specific area stipulating a progressive exemption by 10% annually and that from the third year of the tax on the capital gain that would result in a tax exemption on the capital gain after 12 years of holding gold assets.

 Buying gold for the purpose of hoarding seems reasonable for several reasons. Indeed, buying gold is hoarded in order to avoid the trustee payments but also by a fear of an upset or simply to avoid certain estate costs. This leads us to say that to capitalize on gold through buying gold can only lead to benefits. In addition, buying gold is going to be a real guarantee despite it does not generate revenue. Therefore by purchasing gold, it is good before speculating wait for the right moment when gold allow you to generate good profits. As such each would behave selfishly by hoarding their gold and wait for the right moment because gold cannot be a generator of profit.

Saturday, April 27, 2013

How to maintain your credit rating!


How to maintain your credit rating? Maintaining your credit rating in the world of personal finance is essential. The credit has an influence on a lot of things we touch. It influences the conditions of bank loans, the discount interest rate and even our financial reputation. Here are some tricks that allow me to maintain a good credit rating. We live in a society where the rule of consumption plays enormously. Therefore, as a consumer, you have one day or the other the desire to own any property. Obviously, things have changed. Before you know reputable seller or practically confirmed your purchase. Now we swear by your reputation and bank credit is the king. Hence it is very important to keep your credit rating in good condition. The first thing you have to do is to build your credit rating is as follows: you must make purchases by funding. Then complete the purchase of thing in cash. Leave your money in the bank. Get now a credit card to prove your spending habits, and most importantly, payment habits. So pay your bills at the end of every month or at least your minimum balance.

Whenever there is a delay in your credit card payments that will be indicated in your credit file. This negative impact will fall on your side. Obviously, the higher your score down, the more you become a consumer uninteresting by banks. Therefore, you will lose promotions, you will have high interest rates and it will be difficult for you to build a good heritage. If you are in the category of least preferred by banks, we need to change that. There are actions to be taken, over time; you can develop yourself to be a customer who is preferred by the most popular banks. Initially, pay your bills that too on time. This is obvious, but how many people do not perfectly? Also, do not change your credit card every year. This will ensure that your credit history will disappear and your credit rating will be less beautiful.

 Avoid more credit applications regularly. Often, it is rather the others who make for us in trying to verify exactly our credit. In this case, ask if it is really necessary. If the answer is positive ask the person rather pick up your credit report of you. A request by you has no impact on your score. It is in my view you should use credit wisely and get a credit card. But settle with just one card. Having many credit cards indicates that you have the opportunity to borrow a lot, thus adversely affecting your score. Thereby maintain only a good credit card only. A good credit score will increase your chances of getting the loan as required for the purchase of your home or your car. You may receive bank discounts and preferential interest rates benefiting you. You could maximize your assets more efficiently.

Friday, April 26, 2013

Dramatic Decline In The Price Of Gold!



In this month, the price of an ounce of gold has decreased by over 12%. This is the largest decline in the price of gold last 33 years history of gold. A decline in the selling price of gold, which affected the activity of buying gold from the counters of the jewelers around the world and it create a new rush in the bullion and gold coins across Asia and America. The ounce of gold traded in London at $ 1,790 October 5, (the highest price in the year 2012-1675), Friday, 12 April it was $1548 and on Monday and fell to $1416 before stabilize in the next few days between 1380 and 1400.

 Many explanations have accompanied the fall of the price of gold, some were optimistic and explained the decline of renewed confidence among investors in the economic and banking system as they no longer fear a collapse of the international banking system and no longer reluctant to put their money in financial products. So it is indeed signal the end of the crisis. Other explanations are much less positive considering that it is the fear of a resumption of the weaker global economy that was expected, resulting in less stress on the commodities market and therefore a lower risk of slippage in prices. Gold, he did not forget, is primarily a protection against inflation.

The Real Estate Bubble Bursts Netherlands!



The Netherlands saw their housing bubble burst. For years the country's banks have granted mortgages without sufficient guarantees coupled with tax breaks from the government. The German newspaper Der Spiegel highlights the weaknesses of the Dutch economy, rising unemployment, reduced consumption and GDP that was stalled. Der Spiegel believes that these are the consequences of the bursting of the housing bubble in Netherlands. In addition, institutions financed more than 100% of the value of the property and tax breaks could go up to 52% of mortgage interest paid. The chart below are the property price increase:

Monday, April 15, 2013

Black Monday for the gold market!




The price of gold has lost nearly 10% until Monday and a additional fall under 1440 dollars an ounce, its lowest level in over two years, and headed for its biggest drop in two sessions since February 1983 , investors massively reducing their exposure to this market. The price of gold has fallen by nearly 13% in two days, a victim of the announcement of the sale of a portion of the gold of Cyprus, which could give ideas to other countries in need of resources budget. Market players also explain this collapse by the prospect of the Fed influence by the end of its monetary policy by reducing its liquidity in the markets, which in recent months have made one of the engines up. "We cannot get across the road in front of a train: the market must go to the end of the race," said Max Schubert, head of commodities Emirates NBD Bank in Dubai. For its part, Ole Hansen, senior manager at Saxo Bank, suggests accelerated liquidation of long positions (the positions taken that focus on higher prices) from investors in ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and selling hedge funds. The announcement Monday of a slower growth expected in China in the first quarter gave investors another reason to reduce their exposure to the commodities market. Oil and copper, for example, were also oriented in sharp decline. The gold on the "spot" market fell to a low of 1336.04 dollars an ounce before recovering slightly, to 9:20 p.m. GMT; it was trading at 1352.75 dollars, down nearly 8.54 % on Friday. Other precious metals were also affected by large movements of Sale: money is returned to its lowest level since October 2010, the lowest since platinum and palladium last August to its lowest level in three months. The decline in gold prices began their down trend nearly three weeks, and despite its status as neither a refuge nor the rising tension on the Korean Peninsula, or the shift of monetary policy the Bank of Japan could not reverse the motion. The announcement of the Cyprus will sell for € 400 million of gold reserves from its central bank has increased the movement last week. "Investors fear that Cyprus and set a precedent that other central banks to follow suit, and it is not a factor in reducing purchases because central banks have been a key driver of the rise in the gold years, "said Ole Hansen. Debate more lively on the evolution of Fed policy does not help. "We are now witnessing panic sales, which may explain the speculations on the support of the Fed. The Fed hinted that it could reduce the QE (quantitative easing) and this began confidence in gold, "said Dominic Schnider, an analyst at UBS Wealth Management.

The Euro fell against the Dollar!



The Euro lost ground against the dollar on Monday as investors flee to the safe and is that the flat after the release of Chinese and U.S. indicators bode well for global economic growth.. The European single currency fell against the Japanese currency to 126.05 yen against 128.91 yen Friday. The dollar also fell against the Japanese currency to 96.72 yen against 98.35 yen on Friday. The currency market "is marked by a combination of lower than expected indicators in China and the United States that suggest that the global economic recovery is losing some of its momentum," noted Kathy Lien BK Asset Management . China has indeed made from a slowdown in growth to 7.7% annual rate in the first quarter, reviving concerns about the fragility of the analysts of the second world economy. Along with the United States in March, the growth in manufacturing activity in the New York area slowed more than expected and homebuilder confidence fell. "The fact that the world's two largest economies are showing signs of weakness at the same time" gives rise to "feelings of anxiety" among traders, said the expert. These concerns weighed on investor sentiment that favored currencies deemed safer, as the dollar and the Yen, at the expense of risk currencies like the Euro. The decline of the single currency, however, remained limited during most of the session with "a stronger than expected figures on foreign trade," noted Ms. But the announcement in late NY session, several explosions in Boston has strengthened the curve. For its part, the yen continued to gain momentum, traders reaping profits after the fall of the yen due to the decision of the Bank of Japan (BOJ) a new wave of monetary easing. Around 2100 GMT, the British pound advanced slightly against the euro at 85.29 pence per euro but fell to 1.5283 dollar. The Swiss currency advanced against the euro at 1.2140 Swiss francs to the euro but fell at 0.9312 Swiss francs to the dollar. The ounce of gold finished at $ 1,395 at auction tonight against USD 1,535.50 Friday, before falling to $ 1,335.30, its lowest level since February 2011. The Chinese currency finished at 6.1869 Yuan to the dollar, the highest closing level of the Yuan since 1994, when China has pegged its currency to the dollar, against 6.1921 Yuan on Friday.

Sunday, April 7, 2013

The Battle for the control of Silver!




Most of the countries more particularly US and China wants to control over the precious metals market. U.S want to keep the price of white metal as low as possible where as China tries to keep it in uptrend. Now days obviously gold is money but silver was the universal monetary standard for more than 7000 years. The countries have stopped minting silver coins in 1960s because of the deficit between the mining and the industrial demand. The deficit on the market has been filled for many years by selling their old reserves held by countries themselves. Those reserves were completely destroyed by the industries even though the mining production in the recent years had increased tremendously and it failed to meet the demands. To control over silver the banking oligarchy launched ETF. Investors wishing to invest in physical silver without having to carry pounds of metal ingots bought shares traded, they could easily sell. These ETFs are a huge success. In theory, the issuing banks hold hundreds of millions of ounces in stock, but only in theory. As for gold, cash investors have been diverted. Instead of buying silver bullion, and thus weigh on the rise in metal prices, banks guardians of these treasures, HSBC and JP Morgan, have manipulated the prices down. They sold the paper money, the silver-virtual, on the Comex and the London market, to lower the price of this rare and precious metal. These banksters sold five years of production in the form of derivatives in a very short term; they are absolutely unable to deliver.

When China began to open up to the outside world after the meeting Mao and Nixon, the bankers of the world have invested in China, creating new ports, equipped with the most modern refineries which enabled China to carve the lion's share in refining. The industrialization of China has enabled him to become the workshop of the world, so much so that the Middle Kingdom is poised to become the first world power. Since 1971, China sold to Westerners finished products against the dollar, the international currency. But since Nixon's visit, the currency has continued to devalue. Expressed in gold, today's dollar is worth 45 times less than that of 1971, the Chinese have been paid in funny money. China still exported 4800 tons of silver in 2006 will become a net importer in the following year to import 3500 tons in 2010.


 In March 2009, before the G20 meeting, the governor of China's central bank, the COPD, published an essay on the wishes of China's international monetary system, denouncing the failure of the current system and regretting that the new banking system proposed already by Bretton Woods has not been explored since. This rejection of the U.S. monetary hegemony will quickly turn into currency war between BRIC and Washington. In August 2009, China announced that it authorizes to default on Western derivatives, it is considered fraudulent. The silver is at the heart of the problem. In September 2009, the Chinese governments allowed its citizens to stock precious metals and launched a communication campaign pushing the silver the price is extremely low compared to gold. China then banned the export of silver which will cause a few months later the explosion at the rise in silver, putting JP Morgan in trouble. China, which had announced that it wanted to have a say about the price of raw materials, has achieved one of its objectives.


 For the record, in January 2011, Xia Bin, then a member of the Monetary Committee of the Chinese Central Bank, in an interview quoted by Bloomberg, said: "China should increase its gold and silver reserves." It seems important to reconcile this statement with the wishes of China's monetary system, especially as it was the last power to abandon the standard money in terms of silver. The U.S. policy of Roosevelt on money in 1934 caused a monetary crash in China, leading to a dictatorship then the first communism.

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)

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Russian Giant invests in Morocco Oil Resources


 
The oil curse is it the fear in Morocco? But we fear the worst in the country so far spared by the Arab revolutions, while already the U.S. oil giant Chevron has signed an agreement with the Moroccan authorities to conduct exploration work on three sites off its coasts. This is enough to create tension between the Kingdom of Morocco, Portugal and Spain, the Moroccan government has recently announced the establishment of a provisional commission for the delimitation of the continental shelf on the Atlantic shore. Now, it is the Russian Abramovich who invests in the kingdom. Thus, the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich and Circle Oil Plc, Irish Oil Company, just lay the groundwork for an agreement to invest more than $ 20 million for operating a first site in the Basin Gharb.

 Circle Oil says elsewhere on the internet, that the deposit "has been tested with success." Five additional drilling should be carried out by the company, which has two exploration licenses in the area. Recall that Abramovich made his fortune in the oil industry in 2005. He turned back to the oil sector in investing in Latin America and Africa. Since 2011, Morocco has witnessed the signing of new oil contracts for offshore areas like Foum Assaka, Cape Boujdour, Mazagan, Essaouira and Maritime Juby and the onshore area Doukkala. In addition, there are five agreements on recognition of Anzarane offshore areas of Tarhazoute and onshore areas Boudnib and highlands.

The Kingdom of Morocco said today make up the delay through "improved drilling techniques that now allow easier access to deep-water deposits." In order to encourage investors, the Moroccan government has implemented tax measures to encourage exploration while amending the law on hydrocarbons. Thus, the government offers newcomers an exemption from corporate tax for a period of ten consecutive years and rates of royalty on oil and gas not exceeding 10 and 5% respectively.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Ecology, carbon Emission and Economy


Sustainable development: Sustainable development takes into account all aspects related to the business (i.e.) raw materials, human and economic system. Sustainable development can produce products and services that meet the desires and human needs while preserving the environment for future generations. We can then say that sustainable development is linked with ethics. The World Commission on Environment and Development United Nations defines sustainable development in 1987 this way: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." The ecological footprint is a tool to evaluate the quantity of energy used for the production of a product or service. Can then be compared with this tool the difference between what natures provides us and what we consume.

It is used to make predictions but also to measure human actions on the environment. It measures not only for human consumption but also of a country, or even the planet nature necessary for the production of an object. E. Williams REES one of the two creators of the term suggests the following definition: "The ecological footprint is the corresponding area of productive land and aquatic ecosystems required to produce the resources consumed and to assimilate the wastes produced by a defined population at a specified material life. ' The carbon balance: The carbon footprint is a tool to quantify the greenhouse gas effect greenhouse (GHG) emissions of a company or an administration. These emissions can be direct or indirect. Carbon footprint to become much more important than the ecological footprint as international governments based GHG limits on companies that are based on the calculation methods.

 The great strength of the carbon footprint that is compatible with the ISO 14064 and 14065 with the theme here is the official definition proposed by ADEME: "A method of accounting for emissions of greenhouse gases from readily available data to arrive at a proper assessment of direct or indirect emissions from your business or territory." These definitions related to the various international meetings and scientific reports have led to the emergence of these themes in world governments. The Kyoto Protocol in 1997 was the first meeting has taken quantified commitments. It aims to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs).

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Best Advice to Get out of Your Debt


Number of people are facing debt, and for some it can turn into a nightmare. Although the debt can be a positive thing, it can also quickly mutate into vicious circle that will push you to develop a funding plan for all your purchases. So I would like to present my principles to get out of debt. Stop funding your purchases and stop keep accumulating new debt. Someone who is in debt should not continue to invest either in bank accounts at risk or in new or objects. An increase in the debt does not usually get out of your debt (at least not in the context of personal finances). If you have a credit card that allows you to have a negative balance, get rid of it and ask your bank to a card that does not allow negative balances.

Stop your recurring payments:

Your subscriptions for cable, mobile phones (especially phones last generation) and contributions to gym classes or others which weigh a lot in your monthly budget. I suggest you delete any subscription "useless" (type gym, cable or magazine) and try to reduce the burden of subscriptions called "essential" as the phone (internet package or unlimited time options are most can happen) or the Internet.

Build an emergency fund:

Unfortunately, being in debt does not mean you are immune to mishaps. At any time, an unexpected expense can come fill your budget dedicated to paying off your debt (step detailed in the following section) and you jeopardize your opposite banks, insurance companies and other creditors. Note that the process of creating an emergency fund can take several months.

Pay off your debts:

Like the previous, this step may take several months or even years depending on the amount of your debt. You must first establish a monthly repayment to spend. There is no fixed value for that amount and it all depends on the total value of your debt, your income and the time you have to make the repayment. The first step to begin the repayment of your debts begins by taking a second job. Although this option is not valid for everyone, I think especially to parents who keep their children, or some may be working too much to spend time on a second job. The fact is that this solution is very effective to increase substantially the share of your income devoted to paying off your debts. You will then need to establish a method to repay your debts. Some say that we must first repay debts that cost you the most in interest. Others think it is better to start with the smaller debts worth to get rid of them one by one and more quickly. I find this second solution most suitable for each canceled debt cancellation generates interest. So you can add to your monthly value of the interest on the debt previously canceled. Accumulated small amounts added to your monthly payment will allow you to increase significantly. Now you just have to start clearing your debt. The process can be long and difficult, but this task will dramatically change your outlook a financial point of view.

Friday, March 22, 2013

The Financial Rating Agencies


The rating agencies are responsible for assessing the risk of a borrower's credit worthiness, which may be a business, a state or a community at large. In other words, they size up the risk of a borrower not to repay its debt. Only financial criteria are taken into account in the scoring. There are around150 rating agencies are there in worldwide but the most important are a few more particularly Moody's, Standard & Poor's and Fitch. They are in the lime light in the recent years due to the worldwide financial crisis. The scoring system, which is the statistical analysis, is more specific to each rating agency and they differ.

For example let us consider the following two agencies which were mentioned above, their possible scores are the best score to worst:
 
Standard and Poor's: AAA, AA, A, BBB, BB, B, CCC, CC, D


Moody's: Aaa, Aa, A, Baa, Ba, B, Caa, Ca, C


Generally, agencies add to their score the medium term may be positive, neutral or negative. Financial markets are very attentive to the ratings agencies. Thus, the rating given by rating agencies has a direct impact on the borrowing rates. AAA borrower can expect to get loans at very low rates (about 3% for the State), while a borrower rated poorly will have real difficulties in obtaining the same loan for higher rate of interest. These agencies have been criticized, especially about the role they played in the Greek crisis of 2010. The European Commission and European governments feel they have contributed to speculation on the financial markets. Evaluation methods of banks by the rating agencies have recently been questioned by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) after the rating downgrade of a large number of international banks and the lack of stability of their ratings.

Saturday, March 16, 2013

Virtual banks



Virtual banks are increasingly popular among investors. Since they have combined more advantages than the regular banks, people are attracted towards it. Now a day we are hearing more positive news about them. As the name suggests, almost all their entire activities happens online. Having all their activities focused on the web platform their operating cost minimized. No need for branches and no need for high paying multiple advisory. Consequence of all these the money savings are passed on to the customers virtual banks. In banking industry, the bank charges are very high and they are charging for each withdrawal but this kind of charges can be avoided in the online banks.


In virtual banks the administration fees and other regular bank charges are absent. You not only pay less but also the offer higher interest rates for your money deposited with then unlike the other street banks. With online banking, you can access your money at any time, 24h/24 and 7 days / 7. Sites are secure and the customer service is often of good quality. You can also automatically save practicing payroll deductions and pay yourself first. This behavior is preferred to achieve affluence smile icon Virtual banks. Finally, there is no bank fees charged; no minimums and most importantly, no limit transactions.

Friday, March 15, 2013

U.S. Probe of Gold Price Manipulation



The noose is tightening on manipulation of the price of gold and silver. According to some sources of the financial sector, U.S. regulators are investigating at the moment on possible price manipulation in the world biggest gold market. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC - Commission control and regulation of U.S. futures markets) examines closely the method of pricing in London. The Gold price is decided by few banks who meet twice a day to fix the 'spot' price of troy ounce of physical gold, according to some sources. The CFTC focuses on transparency factors including pricing for both the gold market.

 No official investigation was opened according to sources. This study took place at a time when regulators are reconsidering larger scale criteria for financial references following a scandal involving the manipulation of interest rates. Three major banks have agreed to pay penalties totaling U.S. $ 2.5 billion following the alleged manipulation of the London interbank rate, or Libor practiced and where more than a dozen financial firms are still subject to investigation. Is the price of gold the most important market in the world was controlled by five banks? The gold price is fixed daily by a group of banks and plays an important role on the price of the jewelery industry. It determines the gains that will be going to the mining companies that are selling their raw materials to the refineries. This helps determine the value of derivatives whose prices are linked to metals. U.S. commercial banks had some $ 198 billion in contracts related to precious metals during the month of September 2012, according to sources from the Office of Currency Control (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency). CFTC's decision is alarming. The agency headed since 2009 by Gary Gensler, a former executive at Goldman Sachs Group Inc., has played a key role in the global survey of interest rates. Mr. Gensler has called for the analysis of the benchmarks that are subject to further reforms that would require them to be based on actual transactions rather than estimates submitted by industrial companies. Mr. Gensler is the co-chair of a working group of international regulators mechanism and in charge of examining these criteria and plans to publish a new set of guidelines in the spring.

 "The thought that widespread manipulation or tampering (interest rates) can spread leads us to ask questions about the veracity of other key points," said Bart Chilton, CFTC Commissioner at a roundtable on February 26 in Washington on financial benchmarks. "What energy swaps, the fixing of the gold and silver in London and the whole litany of 'bors' referring to Libor, Euribor and many others. In the case Libor, are traders who have provided false data to the industry organization in charge of publishing the reference rate with the aim of creating more profitability. Barclays PLC, Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC and UBS AG have made regulations result in fines up to $ 1.2 billion, paid to the CFTC. CFTC leaders have said that if Libor drew their attention. The agency had previously reported a series of cases between 2003 and 2005 imposing sanctions on companies and contractors for trying to manipulate the price of natural gas by providing false information to companies responsible for energy rankings.


 The CFTC began investigating following complaints received from a number of investors in the summer of 2008. These worried indeed the sudden decline in the price of silver. And this could be the result from a manipulation or market malpractice. The CFTC has never confirmed or denied the facts relating to the investigation. A spokesman for the CFTC did not want to speak on this subject. Controlling binding factors of the market prices of gold and silver has long been a source of debate. According to Kurt Pfäfflin, precious metals broker at Daniels Trading in Chicago said that this has always been in the minds of those who lingered on theories conspiracy. He says he does not believe in price manipulation 'spots'. Price-fixing, dating back to 1897 in the case of silver and 1919 in the case of gold, takes place through telephone conferences between banks.

Calls on gold held from 10.30 to 15 pm UK time. Calls related to money held at noon every day. Fixing the price of gold in London involves five banks: Barclays, Deutsche Bank AG, HSBC Holdings PLC, Bank of Nova Scotia and Society General SA. Pricing involves money Bank of Nova Scotia, Deutsche Bank and HSBC. Methods of price fixing are "based rather on the basis of supply and demand until a price is determined. This method is fully transparent. Nothing to do with the Libor "said a spokesman for the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA), in charge of guidelines on the quality of gold and silver traded on the London market. It does not handle the money.

Financial Analysis


These thoughts are centered on financial analysis and the creation of value for a commercial or industrial enterprise. Financial analysis is a method of analyzing the financial health of a company based on accounting documents, schedules, forecasts and intangibles such as a factory visit or experience managers. The objective of financial analysis is to answer two questions that may vary depending on where we place ourselves.

Shareholders: Does the company within the scope of my investment strategy?

Creditors: If I lend money, will I get it?

Attention, everyone can be an investor or creditor! Buy shares makes you a shareholder, subscribe to bonds makes you creditor. However, you have to analyze the company whoever you may be! I strongly emphasize this point, since the financial environment changes over time, the safe products become risky and that deserve analysis. Even in times of euphoria, a financial analysis is essential because even the best company’s of euphoria can fail. From my point of view, what I could see between schools, banks, investors and entrepreneurs, financial analysis is often incomplete. It is not enough to look at whether a company has been profitable for the last 3 years by adding liquidity ratios, management, structure, or even credit for a complete analysis.

 When a company makes a profit, we must always ask ourselves whether these profits can be converted into cash. It is only with cash that a company can repay its debt or pay its shareholders. Analysis of cash flow or cash flow-often forgotten-is an essential step in any financial analysis. A company may have an increase in its constant activity, an important benefit but have a severe shortage of cash. Most of the Americans investors know this and have invented one worship saying: Cash is king. While many start ups rely on equity funds that imply they lack the cash to finance their activity despite growth rates maddening.



Thursday, March 14, 2013

Good and Bad credit!



Normally, if you are in debt, you are not rich. This is the fact. The intention here is precisely to have no debt and enough money aside to buy what you want. In looking more closely, there are basically two types of debt, good debt and bad, as there are good and bad cholesterol, good and bad stress etc. A bad debt is a loan you take out for something that does not earn you money: a loan for your car, your home, your plasma screen etc. Because these assets do not generate money and you need to repay your credit from your pocket.

Most of the Rich people who are well aware of credit traps pay cash for these things instead of getting a bad debt. A good debt, you'll understand a credit contracted for a asset that generate income for your investment. For example, if you pay the monthly installments on your house rented and you are receiving the rent paid by your tenant, or the loan you take out to start a company will be repaid from profits. You do not take money out of your pocket to pay for a good debt. However, there are exceptions in the case of bad debt.

 When the rate of your credit is less than the rate of inflation, for example in the case of a zero-interest loan, it is better to credit. This is also the case when you put the money you were going to spend on your purchase that brings you more than the cost of credit that you will incur to complete this purchase. Now a day mortgage rates are low, you can benefited through that also.

Wednesday, March 13, 2013

ANZ Share Trading


ANZ, company has been in operation for over 175 years with their headquarters in Melbourne, catering to 32 markets all over the globe with representatives in America, Australia, Asia, Europe, Middle East, New Zealand and Pacific. It first started its operation as Bank of Australasia in the year 1835 in Sydney and in 1838 in Melbourne and has been steadily growing in business. They are committed in building a lasting relationship with their customers, communities and shareholders, providing them with a range of banking and financial products and services. Users can start an ANZ Share Trading account using the online application which is easy and free to join. Once registered, the user can access E trade’s superior tool as well as in depth independent research with one of the best online trading services which offers a lot of opportunities to earn Qantas Frequent Flyer points while trading. Useful information and step by step instructions are provided at the site for the benefit of the user to enable them to set up an account and start an online trading activity.


 Online trade services, an interactive internet based solution, enables the user to create, track and report any trade finance transaction. The electronic trade banking system helps individual to manage all online trade solutions from beginning to the end, thereby saving on paper and time besides the need to venture to the office or organization for the same. Moreover it is convenient since this activity can be performed from any location and at anytime by the individual having internet connection.. Besides this, real time updates on trade transactions with email notification is also available to the user. It also incorporates a security system which helps in protecting all trade information and utilizes the RSA tokens for two authentication factor. To protect the integrity of connection to ANZ sites, a firewall mechanism is used. 128 bit Secure Sockets Layer SSL encryption is used, to protect the log in session of the individual, with identity and access management controls to safeguard user’s account information. The user also has access to trade instruments which include trade finance loans, collections, letter of credit and international guarantees.