Gold Prices Ends Fluctuations As The Market Consolidates

Gold prices finally find a steady ground after the Friday US trading. The continued safe-haven demand and a lower U.S. Dollar index are limiting the selling pressure in gold which is a good sign. February Comex gold was last up by $1 at $122.20 an ounce while Spot gold was last down by $1.40 at $1226.50. March Silver last traded up by $0.048 at $17.155 an ounce. Both gold and silver near term technical had shown a considerable improvement this week.

Falling Price of Crude Oil

Market is still focused on the falling price of crude oil. January Nymex crude had hit another five year low $58.80 a barrel. International Energy Agency has released a report which predicted that the world demand for the crude would reduce in 2015. The consumers are cheering the falling of the gasoline prices at the pump while the traders and investors are greeting the decline with anxiety. World Stock markets are also not faring well either and they are under selling while the U.S. stock indexes are also seems to be lower in the pre-market trading on early Friday. The sell off trend in the world equities has benefitted safe assets mainly gold and U.S. Treasuries this week.

Other Markets Also Reels Under Pressure

The Bank Of Russia has once again intervened in the currency market to strengthen its ruble which had hit another record low against the U.S. dollar. The ruble is astonishingly down by 44% against the U.S. dollar this year. European Union also shows below the market expectation figures which are a cause of worry. EU industrial production rose by just 0.1% in October and was up by meagre 0.7% on year-on-year basis.
Among the Asian market China showed a stronger than expected bank loan activity in the month of November. On other hand Japanese Yen is suffering from selling pressure and volatile trading this week. Japan is soon to go through important elections from this Sunday.

Traders and investors are eagerly looking ahead for the next week when Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee (FOMC) will meet to discuss about U.S. monetary policy.

Gold Seems To Settle After Huge Fluctuations

February gold futures are showing sideways consolidation after large gains in Tuesday trading which is not unusual. The gold bulls are almost reaching out for price breakout objective to register a growth against the solid technical resistance and they had successfully ended the week at high of $1239.00. Bears’ next near-term downside price breakout objective is closing prices below solid technical support at $1,200.00. First resistance is seen at the overnight high of $1,228.90 and then at Thursday’s high of $1,233.40. First support is seen at the overnight low of $1,218.00 and then at $1,210.00.
This Wednesday the March silver futures hit its six week high. The Silver bulls’ next upside breakout objective is closing the prices above the solid technical resistance at the high of $17.825 an ounce while silvers ended their week low at $16.165. The First resistance was seen at the week high of $17.355 and next at $17.50. The next support could be seen at Thursday’s low of $16.945 and at 16.81.

Black Money Outflow From India Increases Nine-Fold

The Inside Story

There has been a nine-fold increase in the black money outflow from India to foreign countries. Whereas in 2003 it was $10 billion, in 2012 it elevated up to $94.7 billion. In the 10-year period of 2003-2012, India, replacing Malaysia, has been ranked the fourth largest black money exporter after China, Russia and Mexico. The outflow of the Indian black money has been on a constant upward trajectory, so much so that Mexico was replaced by India as the third largest illicit money exporter in 2012.

Increase of Black Money Outflow over the Years

A latest report released by Global Financial Integrity (GFI), a research and advocacy group based in Washington, called ‘Illicit Financial Flows from Developing Countries’ states that India sent only $10.17 billion of illicit money to foreign countries in 2003. It increased in 2004 to $19.41 billion, and in 2005 to over $20 billion. The increment trend followed in 2006, with a substantial rise in outflow of black money from India to foreign nations. In 2006 the outflow was $28 billion. 2007 and 2008 was no different, with black money outflow increment to $34.6 billion and $47.1 billion respectively. 2009, however, was a big surprise. The Indian black money outflow saw a sudden dip, when the GFI quoted that the outflow had decreased to $29 billion.

However, just in the next year the outflow of illicit money saw a sharp rise. The Indian black money outflow for 2010 was $70 billion, more than double. It further increased in 2011 to $86 billion, according to the GFI. The report was authored by the chief economist of GFI, Dev Kar, and Joseph Spanjers, junior economist.

Black Money Outflow is Greater than Remittances

It is also very shameful and depressing to note that the amount of black money being outflowed from India to the foreign countries is much larger compared to the hard-earned and labored money being remitted to India by the expatriate Indians (NRIs). In 2014, the expected remittances of India are $71 billion, According to a latest report published by the World Bank. It is also interesting to note the turn-around that has taken place over the years. In 2003, the remittances that India received were $16.39 billion against a $10.17 billion outflow of black money.In India, the black money issue has always been a matter of serious political debate. It was more of a political debate during the last general elections. The new government had then committed to tackle this ever-increasing menace. However, no official figures, regarding the overall size and amount of black money stashed by Indians within India or abroad, have been released by the government or any other authority.

Other Developing Economies’ Status

The top five illicit capital exporters over the last ten years, according to the GFI are: China, Russia, Mexico, India and Malaysia.In 2012, the total outflow of illicit money from the developing counties was $991.2 billion. It was markedly greater than the combined total of the net development assistance and the direct foreign investment these developing economies received that year.

Why Buying a Franchise is a Good Option

Individuals who are looking to open their own small business, but do not have the business background or desire to develop a new brand, should consider purchasing a franchise from a company with an already existing brand and image. Franchises can be purchased in a variety of different fields and can include purchasing an existing franchise or a brand new location. When looking to purchase a new franchise, it would be a good idea to consider a Cold Stone Creamery franchise as your investment.

One reason that Cold Stone is a good franchise option is that the company already has a very successful brand developed. Cold Stone has quickly become one of the largest and most popular ice cream retail stores and restaurants in the country. Those who are looking to purchase a franchise from Cold Stone will instantly be able to take advantage of the brand that has already been developed. Furthermore, Cold Stone will help to market and advertise your individual store, which will help to boost sales immediately.

Another reason why purchasing a Cold Stone franchise is that they are pretty affordable compared to other franchises. Cold Stone's corporate office is notorious for helping interested business owners find a way to start their own store. This includes finding a flexible fee and payment structure. Cold Stone will also provide a franchise owner with the ability to take advantage of Cold Stone's accounting, inventory control, human resources, and other departments which can help to reduce overhead costs and also ensure the franchise is managed efficiently. Cold Stone will also help successful owners to find ways to purchase additional franchises, which will ultimately lead to the owner's building an even stronger level of profitability.

Apple Market Cap Crosses $700 Billion Mark

The tech giant Apple has made new inroads by reaching the symbolic milestone of $700 billion of market capitalization for the first time. It is also major milestone for the CEO Tim Cook who saw the Apple through doubling its market cap in just three years. Tim Cook held the reigns of Apple in the August 2011 when its founder Steve Jobs officially stepped down from his post just two months before his sad demise due to cancer.

Apple Stocks Shows Advance Rise With This News

Apples stocks are getting stronger with each successful measure used by the company. In September after the launch of widely successful iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus the Apples share shown a record jump of 21%. The iPhone range has long been the principal company’s earning juggernaut. But Apple is now ready to bring new products and services for the first time in many years.

The technology market is buzzed with the arrival of the much-hyped Apple Watch and the new Apple Pay which mobile payment solutions. Apple Pay service became available in October while Apple Watch which is eagerly awaited by the consumers is set to debut for sale in 2015. Market analysts are divided regarding the potential of the popularity of the new wearable device but Apple shares are still going higher regardless of it.

Better Products and Service Behind Rising Valuation

The latest versions of iPhone released by the Apple a few months back have been driving up the company’s value. It even posted a record opening weekend through selling more than 10 million units. Market Analysts are predicting that the Apple would continue to sell its iPhone at an aggressive pace in the upcoming holiday season. Market analyst forecasts that Apple would be able to sell around 71.5 million iPhones in its fourth quarter.

Microsoft Still Hold The Record For Highest Market Cap

Apple has become the first S&P 500 company to reach the $700 billion market capitalization mark. However it still has a long way to go to become the most valuable company of all time. At present this feat is in the name of Microsoft which at its market cap peak was of $613 billion in 1999, on an inflation-adjusted basis it converts into a whopping $874 billion in 2014.

Apple Market Cap Bigger than GDP’s of 19 Countries 

Currently the Apple’s market cap is much higher than the gross domestic product (GDP) of as many as 19 countries in the world. According to the data released by the World Bank on GDP, it appears that Apple Inc is just behind the Saudia Arabia which has a GDP of $745 Billion and it is ahead of Switzerland which just has GDP of 650 million.

Apple Record Seem Cheap Through Historic Measure

When Microsoft was at its peak it was trading at 72 times earning according to the Nasdaq and Factset data. But Apple’s price-to-earnings ratio is just 18 even though Apple’s revenue is increasing by a healthy 15 % and its earnings by 20%.

U.S. Shows Impressive Growth in Third Quarter

U.S. economy is showing robust rate which has turned out to be beyond the expectation of the market analysts in the third quarter. Its better performance is accredited to the strengthening of its fundamentals which would help it in weather the slowing global demand. The U.S. economy has posted back-to back growth in second and third quarter for the first time in last 11 years. This shows that economy is in good health along with a great momentum which would help it generating more returns.

GDP Grows and Boosts Confidence

The Commerce Department has raised its estimate of the possible GDP growth to 3.9% annually from just 3.5 % which it assumed last month. If we combine the 4.6% gain of the second quarter then it would be best six-month growth stretch for the U.S. economy after 2003. The poor performance of the economy has been resulting from the Japanese recession, a weak and depleted euro zone as well the slowing Chinese economy.

Increased Consumer Spending

The consumer spending has increased considerably from just 1.8% to 2.2%. GDP report points out that the Households are spending at the retail stores than at on the auto fuels. Another major source of the economy’s growth is the increase in the business investment in procuring equipments from just 7.2 % to 10.7%. The national companies have also boosted their inventories which helped in adding $79.1 billion to the GDP instead of $62.8 billion.

U.S. economy has also suffered from the downside in the few months. Its exports growth has diminished from 7.8% to 4.9% due to slower growth in Europe and Asia chopping out a bite from the economy. Even the imports suffered and fell at a 0.7% annual rate which was earlier estimated to be 1.7%.

More Returns In Upcoming Days

The U.S. economy is right on track for adding more new jobs since 1999. Sectors related from manufacturing to retail would continue to gain strength in upcoming days. The decrease in the gasoline prices has fuelled to a renewed optimism about economy which is heading in the new year. Decrease in fuel price is helping the citizens to save $50 dollars more each year due to falling energy costs. Even the inflation rose at just 1.3% annual rate in the third quarter than the 2.3% in the last quarter.

Growth Momentum Likely To be Carried Forward

The second and third quarters have shown a commendable growth in wages and salaries. Economists believe that the bringing GDP based wages and salaries measures into line with the earnings figures had helped in forming a right response and idea.

U.S. stocks have shown a little change while the dollar has performed poorly against the other major currencies. Prices for the U.S. Treasury debt rose just marginally. U.S. economy is growing stringer by each passing day and it is clearly apparent from the rising numbers in the GDP. The economists believe that the economy is having a great momentum and this momentum could even be transferred into the final three months of the year.