Monday, June 30, 2008
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Yikes!
My current favorite expression is Yikes! coined from a friend of mine it feels like the right word to use as I view the stock market indicies through the course of the day. Yikes the FTSE just went into 5500 territory again, oops no it's back up to 5600 again, ah wait a minute it's dropped again.
What a turbulent time this is, and what a great time for good advisers who are needed in these challenging circumstances.
Opportunities are around but the question is whether to buy into the top heavy markets such as oil, or to capitalise on others misery in the equity markets and pick up some bargains, or simply stay put or sit on the fence in cash.
Until then we could be in for a summer of Yikes!
What a turbulent time this is, and what a great time for good advisers who are needed in these challenging circumstances.
Opportunities are around but the question is whether to buy into the top heavy markets such as oil, or to capitalise on others misery in the equity markets and pick up some bargains, or simply stay put or sit on the fence in cash.
Until then we could be in for a summer of Yikes!
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
The Other Alternative
Confirmation that investors are seeking other safe havens for their capital was bourne out yesterday when an unknown investor paid £41,000,000 for Monet's Waterlilies. The painting which was estimated to fetch only half that price was bid on by 11 prospective buyers - that's 11 people willing to pay in the region of $80m for a painting!
This just shows that although the capital markets are struggling there are investors with liquidity and there are alternative markets for that cash.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Classic Car Investments
Has the classic car market peaked?
I bought this Porsche 356 in 2003 for $13,000. Today this car is worth about $75,000. OK, I spent a bit of money on it, but that's still a pretty dramatic increase in value, and one which I am very happy with. Who is going to pay $75,000 for my car? Most people expressing an interest are in the financial field - brokers, bankers, traders. These are the very guys that pushed car prices to their heady heights in the late '80's, a market which collapsed completely and has only recently recovered. If the bonuses and commission dry up then so will the spending power - no demand, price falls if I remember my O level economics correctly?
Have prices peaked, or are Classic cars still a good "alternative" investment. You decide. Me, I selling my 356. Well maybe.....
I bought this Porsche 356 in 2003 for $13,000. Today this car is worth about $75,000. OK, I spent a bit of money on it, but that's still a pretty dramatic increase in value, and one which I am very happy with. Who is going to pay $75,000 for my car? Most people expressing an interest are in the financial field - brokers, bankers, traders. These are the very guys that pushed car prices to their heady heights in the late '80's, a market which collapsed completely and has only recently recovered. If the bonuses and commission dry up then so will the spending power - no demand, price falls if I remember my O level economics correctly?
Have prices peaked, or are Classic cars still a good "alternative" investment. You decide. Me, I selling my 356. Well maybe.....
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Meyado Archie David Polo Tournament
The Meyado Archie David Tournament 2008
Held on 03/06/08.
This is the leading low-goal tournament in the country, attracting more than 30 teams. In fact, two years ago Rodolfo Ducos, a member of the winning Solajan/El Hassan team, said after the presentation: "The Archie David is very tough – one of the toughest tournaments to play in. It is a marathon.” The winners of the subsidiary final receive the Caterham Cup. A unique feature of this tournament is that Guards Polo Club teams that do not reach the quarter-finals have the opportunity to play in the Claude Pert Cup. The competition is sponsored by Meyado, a private banking firm founded by polo player MartinYoung. He is patron of the Meyado polo team and regularly competes in this competition.
For more information visit www.guardspoloclub.com
Held on 03/06/08.
This is the leading low-goal tournament in the country, attracting more than 30 teams. In fact, two years ago Rodolfo Ducos, a member of the winning Solajan/El Hassan team, said after the presentation: "The Archie David is very tough – one of the toughest tournaments to play in. It is a marathon.” The winners of the subsidiary final receive the Caterham Cup. A unique feature of this tournament is that Guards Polo Club teams that do not reach the quarter-finals have the opportunity to play in the Claude Pert Cup. The competition is sponsored by Meyado, a private banking firm founded by polo player MartinYoung. He is patron of the Meyado polo team and regularly competes in this competition.
For more information visit www.guardspoloclub.com
Commodity Markets
This is a summary of an article published by Bloomberg on the current high commodity prices;
1) Speculators are doing a favor for commodity consumers in the long term. The world, like during the 1950-70s industrialization boom, needs a massive change in the way it uses raw materials. Politicians had been too timid to bring that about (still heavily relying on subsidies as they are worried about the political backlash). Hence, the markets are now doing the job for them, and if it takes a bubble to change people’s energy consumption, then so be it.
2) While it is widely regarded by speculators had been blamed for the increasing volatility in commodity markets, the results speculators caused may not be a bad thing and here is one reason: Oil production needs to expand! The IEA estimates global daily oil consumption to rise by 16% by 2015 and 38% by 2030 (from 2006). To get that out of the ground and into the pumps is going to involve more exploration, production refining and distribution and that costs $$$. There is only one way that scale of investment will be mobilized: by causing a price increase that starts a buying frenzy in oil assets => Thanks to the speculators
3) Also, developed nations also need to start making themselves more fuel efficient. If China and India begin using as much oil as Europe and US in decades to come, we need more, much more supply and also lower consumption in rich countries. And if we are to combat climate change, we will need to cut down on pollution as well. All interlinked right? And => thanks to the speculators again for waking us up
4) In summary, the mother earth is telling us human needs to change our behavior. Our houses have to be re-designed to use less energy, and more of it should come from solar and wind power. Agricultural policies also need to change to cater to the obviously rising and non-reversible uptrend of demand of agricultural products if we were to head down the lane of bio-fuels. This is not going to happen unless a massive price increase forces it. And => thanks to the speculators again for helping up accept the fact we need to change our behavior
It always takes a big shock to the system to change behavior. That is just what the speculative bubble in commodity prices is delivering. It is not pretty or comfortable, but it is the FREE MARKETS doing the job for the timid politicians – which is why we should celebrate the bubble, and not to condemn it.
1) Speculators are doing a favor for commodity consumers in the long term. The world, like during the 1950-70s industrialization boom, needs a massive change in the way it uses raw materials. Politicians had been too timid to bring that about (still heavily relying on subsidies as they are worried about the political backlash). Hence, the markets are now doing the job for them, and if it takes a bubble to change people’s energy consumption, then so be it.
2) While it is widely regarded by speculators had been blamed for the increasing volatility in commodity markets, the results speculators caused may not be a bad thing and here is one reason: Oil production needs to expand! The IEA estimates global daily oil consumption to rise by 16% by 2015 and 38% by 2030 (from 2006). To get that out of the ground and into the pumps is going to involve more exploration, production refining and distribution and that costs $$$. There is only one way that scale of investment will be mobilized: by causing a price increase that starts a buying frenzy in oil assets => Thanks to the speculators
3) Also, developed nations also need to start making themselves more fuel efficient. If China and India begin using as much oil as Europe and US in decades to come, we need more, much more supply and also lower consumption in rich countries. And if we are to combat climate change, we will need to cut down on pollution as well. All interlinked right? And => thanks to the speculators again for waking us up
4) In summary, the mother earth is telling us human needs to change our behavior. Our houses have to be re-designed to use less energy, and more of it should come from solar and wind power. Agricultural policies also need to change to cater to the obviously rising and non-reversible uptrend of demand of agricultural products if we were to head down the lane of bio-fuels. This is not going to happen unless a massive price increase forces it. And => thanks to the speculators again for helping up accept the fact we need to change our behavior
It always takes a big shock to the system to change behavior. That is just what the speculative bubble in commodity prices is delivering. It is not pretty or comfortable, but it is the FREE MARKETS doing the job for the timid politicians – which is why we should celebrate the bubble, and not to condemn it.
FTSE Falls
The FTSE has now fallen to 5,700. It fell to just under 5,400 in March then shot up to 6,300 only to fall over the past couple of weeks back down to its' 2006 levels. FTSE tracker or index funds are available through most of our "wrapper" investments and private banking platforms and are cheap and easy to buy into.
Monday, June 9, 2008
June 2008
Lots of exciting things happening this month. As we experience the Dead Cat Bounce as expected with the false recovery of the markets last month repositioning of portfolios is keeping me busy.
If you are concerned about what you should be doing, feel free to contact me.
If you are concerned about what you should be doing, feel free to contact me.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Welcome to my Blog
Hi there,
Welcome to my new blog where you can ask questions relating to my published articles and make comments and suggestions.
Of course these are my own opinions and thoughts and don't necessarily represent those of the company I work for and none of what I say should be relied upon as advice to invest, these decisions should be made after careful 1 to 1 consultation with your adviser.
Thanks for looking and happy blogging!
Mark
Welcome to my new blog where you can ask questions relating to my published articles and make comments and suggestions.
Of course these are my own opinions and thoughts and don't necessarily represent those of the company I work for and none of what I say should be relied upon as advice to invest, these decisions should be made after careful 1 to 1 consultation with your adviser.
Thanks for looking and happy blogging!
Mark
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