Many people are increasingly thinking about taking control of their finances; especially in the light of the positives and negatives drawn from the economic crisis.Being more tax efficient with your investments and savings is always a good idea. Looking to adjust existing stocks and shares portfolios is another sensible area of focus. And then there is looking at new investment opportunities.I would imagine that most readers would benefit from...more
I like to trade stocks and shares but what do when unemployment in both the US and UK keep increasing? Interestingly the major stock markets are also increasing.Unfortunately, equity markets are completely detached from the real economy. So as unemployment continues to rise, and is expected to continue rising throughout 2010, we could see the Dow Jones and FTSE 100 continue to rally.Yes the stock markets are supposedly forward thinking and...more
The recent weakness of the US Dollar has certainly helped bolster the commodities futures markets. With most commodities, like Gold and Crude Oil, priced in dollars, any dollar weakness can help boost the commodity prices. Gold has shot up to $1,100 level. Whilst the price may have gone a bit too far, too quickly, the trend is firmly in favour of the bulls. Of course, if there is any currency strength it could quickly return the $900 level.Oil, is a different kettle of fish. When the price hovers around the $70-$80 level then it is firmly at the price level that OPEC is looking to achieve.There is some pressure though on the oil market to continue higher. Forecast price upgrades have been released by both the US Energy Department and Credit Suisse. Both forecasts point to higher prices through 2010, citing the main drivers as rising demand and falling inventories.However, it is not a clear one-way bet. If the US Dollar finds some strength then that could weaken the oil price.What should an investor do? First they should note that all forms of speculation or investment, from trading stocks and shares to having a pension to buying a house, have a negative side. Spread betting does...more
The rose tinted view of financial data continues to drive the markets as more and more reasons are found to speculate on shares even as the driving impetus of the actual economy seems to be stuttering once again. As far as I can see, much of the data over the past months has been rather less cut and dried in favour of a recovery than the headlines...more
In a recent statement, Simon Denham of London-based Capital Spreads said, Sterling remains popular for the moment and it is difficult to be too negative on a technical viewpoint as the downside is definitely an unproductive area for the moment. The Euro continues to hold, in the main, to its gains over the last few months but the upside is...more
Do you find yourself looking for your dream home, but do not know where to start? You need to have a plan in place as a first step to owning your own home. When you plan ahead, you can be take more informed investment decisions. After all, purchasing a home is a long term decision, and you need to invest right to make it count. The fact of the matter is that with some property investment analysis, you can take better and sounder investment decisions. The first step in property investment analysis is to asses your credit. A good credit rating can put you a few steps ahead of other investors and buyers. Sometimes, at this stage, you might find that your credit history a little bit of working upon. You can try and improve your credit rating to ensure that you do not end up paying tens of thousands of dollars as interest on your mortgage. How does one do that? You can maintain your scores by paying your bills on time and using your credit care wisely. You need to have less credit than you can afford. A poor credit rating could mean that your applications for mortgage would be rejected. The second thing you would need to do is start saving. After all, while buying a home, you would need...more
As the economic recovery continues, many people are considering gaining greater command of their investments. This is especially true after considering the good and bad points of how the credit crunch was handled.But what to trade, where to trade and...more
Investing in real estate can be quite frustrating at times. More often than not, the first time investors and buyers face a lot of problem in hunting down even the most basic information. The importance of online providers who assist in the entire...more
There are many of us who are very much eager and enthusiastic about procuring property for residential use or for our first business venture. For business owner, getting the right kind of space for setting up business is very much essential if they...more
Many people are increasingly thinking about taking control of their finances; especially in the light of the positives and negatives drawn from the economic crisis.Tax efficiency, opportunities in fluctuating markets, diversifying existing investment...more
Other than the pittance that The Globe and Mail pays me for my columns, I haven't received a paycheque in two years.Despite not getting paid by anyone, I never really retired in the work sense - initially I was sorting out what my new venture was...more
The Indian stock market is a mixed bag of advances and declines. But it is positivism that gains more consideration. The recession bug has no doubt hit all world markets including stock market in India, but things have changed for the better. With...more