Your investment success/survival is a series of smart decisions. For example, using a chip-enabled ATM and/or credit card bolsters your line of defense against cyber attacks. On our recent trip to Paris I was reminded how far ahead Europe is when it comes to chip readers. They are the norm—as you insert your card into the portable reader that they bring to your table. But that’s not the case here in the U.S. where waiters take your card from you (possibly copying it) and it’s swiped without you being present. Chip tech in the U.S. is becoming more prevalent, but can still be a slow process. … [Read more...]
Income Investing: These Bonds Can Help Reduce Interest Rate Risk
Many individual investors shy away from bonds that trade at a premium to par value because they don’t see the point in paying, say $11,000 for a bond that returns $10,000 at maturity. Here Fidelity offers a primer on premium bonds, why investors need not fear premium bonds, and how premium bonds can be used to reduce interest rate risk in a fixed-income portfolio. You can read the full post here. Some investors today would rather hold cash than buy bonds because they’re concerned that interest rates may rise and depress bond values. Premium bonds are not immune to rising rates—premium bond … [Read more...]
Is Over Regulation the Death Knell for U.S. Banking?
The Wall Street Journal details the potential death spiral for the over regulated U.S banking industry. The Institute of International Finance, which represents global banks, finds that since 2010, European, Japanese and U.S. banks have on average been earning less than their cost of capital. Regulation is part of the reason. To better buffer loan losses, banks must now hold more capital such as shareholders’ equity, which spreads profits across more shares. To deal with sudden outflows of funds, they must hold more highly liquid short-term assets, such as Treasury bills, which earn less … [Read more...]
Your Retirement Life: Sage Advice on How to Get Ahead
You don’t have to start your own business to be an entrepreneur. That was some key advice I recall from the late Tom Stemberg, founder of Staples, when he spoke at Babson College—known for its entrepreneurship programs. Stemberg felt that the best way to continue a business education was by working for a company that was already established—a leader in their field. His idea was to absorb as much as possible, and then, after seeing how the sausage was made, determine if you had the stomach to really do something on your own. I was reminded of this sage advice from Stemberg during a recent … [Read more...]
How much more Downside does the British Pound have?
According to Goldman Sachs, much more. Here's Goldman's take via Zerohedge: How Much More Sterling Downside? (via Goldman Sachs) 1. With the prospect of a 'hard Brexit' becoming a reality, investors who were previously expecting a 'soft' Brexit, or no Brexit at all, have updated their priors, and Sterling has depreciated about 5 percent over the space of a week against G10 currencies. GBP/$ is about 1.5 percent above 1.20, which is our 3-months forecast published on 5 July 2016. In a recent Global Markets Daily ("How Much Sterling Downside?, 6 Oct 2016), we highlighted that risks to our … [Read more...]
Can Cheap Money Continue to Fuel the Stock Market?
Low and negative interest rates have been a big factor in the magnitude and duration of the current bull market. As central banks yanked risk-free interest income from the world’s responsible savers and retired investors, many have been pushed (kicking and screaming if they are smart) into riskier assets. After years of getting bludgeoned by zero percent interest rates, the accepted wisdom on Wall Street now seems to be that as long as interest rates are held in the tank, the stock market will continue to float higher and higher. Stocks may be at one of their most expensive levels on … [Read more...]
You’ll be Astonished by the Epic Number of Billionaires in China!
The BBC reports that China has surpassed the number of billionaires in America. The Middle Kingdom recorded a list of 594 of the ultra-wealthy citizens, to America's 535. BBC writes: The annual list is compiled by Shanghai publishers Hurun and often compared to the Forbes list in the US. The Hurun Report's rich list is one of the most closely-watched and accurate assessments of wealth in China. The annual report has been published for the past 18 years. Earlier this year, the publisher released a separate, global list, showing that the number of billionaires in China outnumbered those … [Read more...]
Natural is Gas Fueling the Regional Pipeline Networks
The whole developing story unfolds at energy factor.exxonmobil.com To understand why natural gas is poised to become an even more predominant fuel in the 21st century, one has to also understand how the world is getting richer. This is especially true across large parts of Asia and China where, in a relatively short time, millions of people joined the ranks of the middle class. This economic expansion is igniting unprecedented consumption of energy as people tap some of their disposable income to purchase automobiles, refrigerators, or televisions, all of which require energy to operate. … [Read more...]
Amazon to Build Small Bricks-and-Mortar Stores
The Wall Street Journal lays out Amazon's big plans to become a central hub for shoppers. Amazon.com Inc. is pushing deeper into the grocery business with plans to introduce convenience stores as well as curbside pickup locations, say people familiar with the matter. The Seattle company aims to build small brick-and-mortar stores that would sell produce, milk, meats and other perishable items that customers can take home, these people say. Primarily using their mobile phones or, possibly, touch screens around the store, customers could also order peanut butter, cereal and other goods with … [Read more...]
This is why Lobster Prices are at an 11-year High
The Financial Times reports here that Lobster prices are at an 11-year high, up 50% from their level only three years ago. What is to blame for high lobster prices? Here the FT points to the rise in burger and lobster chains globally as the culprit. The demand for the crustacean comes as the success of burger and lobster restaurants has spurred popularity of the lobster roll which, along with the pork bun, has become a hipster favourite. In London, Burger & Lobster, which was launched in 2011, has been a pioneer in the genre and has expanded to other cities around the world. Its … [Read more...]
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