Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in gizeh908's InsaneJournal:

[ << Previous 20 ]

Friday, November 18th, 2011
8:03 am	Invest in Gold Now will gold price come down in 2012 In the western countries, gold is being treated as the most royal commodity, these days! If you are stock market or a bullion follower, you would know about the sudden emergence of gold as a most valuable commodity! Should you really buy gold or should you not- this article will give you an insight. You need to understand that the worldwide investors are divided into two categories. One category goes by the theory of buying when prices are rising as they feel assured that their investments are not going to dry out. On the other hand, the second types of investors feel the need to buy commodities or stocks when markets are falling. They go by the theory that cheapest will always rise and that it cannot further fall significantly. The first types of investors are the dominant group for several good reasons. It is physiologically safer to go with the advice of the first type of investors. The gold rate has seen a rise in recent months due to the huge availability of gold all over the world what happens to the price of gold if government defauts. will gold price come down in 2012 Gold investment is often said to be a safe investment if you can afford to stay invested for a long time. It is seen that instability or inflation does not affect spot rate of gold. You can get gold information from various bullion market investors or advisors. The depreciation of the US Dollar is the prime reason for the increase in the price of gold. You should buy gold before it becomes too expensive a commodity to buy. Good luck for your next gold investment deal why are precious metals dropping in price. Current Mood: distressed (Comment on this)
Thursday, November 17th, 2011
4:35 pm	Why Invest in Bonds It's a common misconception to think of bonds as "plain-vanilla" investments that are appropriate only for certain types of people, such as financially conservative retirees. But in reality, bond investments may have the potential to add stability to a portfolio and help reduce overall investment risk - regardless of your age or financial outlook. What Is a Bond Bonds are investment securities issued by corporations or governments to raise money for a particular purpose. Basically, bonds are the "IOUs" of the business world. There are different types of bond funds, each with varying levels of risk and return potential. Generally speaking, the higher the risk, the better the return potential. will gold price come down in 2012 For example: Government Bond Funds are mutual funds that invest in bonds issued by the U. S. Treasury. For that reason, they tend to be among the safest types of bond investments. However, they typically offer lower returns than other bonds. How Safe Are Safes? gold -clark Corporate Bond Funds invest in bonds issued by private companies. They can range from "investment grade" (safer, lower return potential) to "below investment grade" (riskier, higher return potential). Know the Risks Bond funds are subject to several types of investment risk, including: Market risk - Like stock prices, bond prices move up and down. However, such fluctuations tend to be less severe in the bond market. Interest rate risk - when interest rates rise, bond prices may fall, and vice versa. Inflation risk - if the return on a bond fund does not outpace the rising cost of living, the purchasing power of your investment could decline over time. Managing Risk Despite these risks, investors may want to consider the potential benefits from putting some money in bond funds. Because bond funds tend to respond to market influences differently than stock funds, they may help balance out the risks associated with stock investing. In addition, lower-risk bond funds, such as government and investment-grade corporate bond funds, may help protect some of your money from losses during turbulent times. Government bonds and Treasury Bills are guaranteed by the US government and corporate bonds are guaranteed by their corporate issuers as to the timely payment of principal and interest and, if held to maturity, offer a fixed rate of return and fixed principal value. The market value of bonds will fluctuate and are subject to availability. Investing Gold ETF Funds If the bond is sold prior to maturity, the investor's yield may differ from the advertised yield. Mutual funds are offered with a prospectus. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses of the investment company carefully before investing. The prospectus contains this and other information about the investment company. You can obtain a prospectus from your financial representative. Read the prospectus carefully before investing. Arthur Kaplan invites you to visit to learn more about the stock market and what the financial world is currently undergoing. Feel free to write us directly on our website for any help and/or suggestions. Current Mood: pensive (Comment on this)
Wednesday, November 9th, 2011
2:31 pm	Best Companies to Invest In The firms that are economically strong and consistently deliver profits can be included amongst the best companies to invest in. the similarities of gold n silver investment Market share, profits, share market listings and other such parameters are applied in judging a company's performance. Below mentioned names bring with them the trust and security for investors money. One should therefore, consider names of these best companies to invest in. Best Investment Companies The descriptions of few of the best investment companies are presented in this article. Mosaic: This company is involved in the production of concentrated potash and phosphate. what double dip recession means for gold price? Formed in the year 2004, Mosaic was formed through a collaboration between Cargill, Inc. and IMC Global Inc. The different tasks that Mosaic is engaged in, ranges from resource mining to actual production of nutrients required by crops. Operating from its bases in 10 different countries, Mosaic provides service to 40 countries. The total number of employees working for Mosaic the world over, are 7500. In October, 2009, the company has announced a $1. 30/share special cash dividend. Investment in this company should be a good option us monetary system failure investing. The company has contributed generously in disaster relief programs. The Mosaic company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades with the name 'MOS'. Let us understand more about best investment options through following paragraphs. Amazon. com, Inc. : The largest online retailing company from America, Amazon what\s the mintage for the 2011 silver eagle burnished. com, Inc. is one of the best investment firms; it is based out of Seattle, Washington. Founded by Jeff Bezos in 1994, Amazon was launched in the year 1995 will gold price come down in 2012. Sales revenue generated by the company as per January, 2010 records were three times greater than the nearest competitor rich dad\s advisors: guide to investing in gold & silver - protect your financial future. According to a report dated 26th March, 2010, the market cap of Amazon was higher than many of the big companies including Home Depot, Target Corporation, Barnes and Noble, Costco and Best Buy. The information about best investments for 2010 should be useful. Owens-Illinois: One of the 'Fortune 500' companies, Ownens-Illinois manufactures container glass products. This company holds around 50% share of the glass container market. Investing in Gold Now After acquiring BSN Glasspack in the year 2004, Owens-Illinois became the largest glass container manufacturer in the entire region comprising of North America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific. AK Steel Holding Corporation: Founded in 1839 with its original name as Armco, the AK Steel Holding Corporation its the headquarters in West Chester Township, Ohio, USA. Amongst the products manufactured by AK Steel Holding Corporation are the carbon steels, electrical steels, stainless and aluminum-coated steels. This company was added to the Steel Sub-Industry index of Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS) maintained by 'Standard & Poor's', at the end of 30th June, 2008. Apple Inc. : This company manufactures personal computers, software needed for these computers and is also into the production of consumer electronics. The company headquarters is situated in Cupertino, California, U. S. By the end of fiscal year on 26th September, 2009, Apple had registered $42. 91 billion annual worldwide sale and a profit of $8. 24 billion. More information on best investment banks should prove to be useful. Best Companies to Invest in 2010 Amongst the best companies to invest in right now are the GoldCorp, Coca Cola and Proctor & Gamble. Going by the current market scenario, it would be a wise decision to invest in the above mentioned big firms. The best investment today is in gold, real estate, bonds, etc. These are also the options for best investments in a recession This is because, there is every possibility of recession to return. Factors that would contribute to worsening of the current situation are high rate of unemployment, consumer debts and budget deficit faced by the government. It is therefore, advisable to invest in big companies like the ones mentioned above. Reading on best investments for 2011 should also prove to be useful for investors. The information presented above, gives us an idea as to which are best companies to invest in. why are precious metals dropping in price These are the most reputed firms in the market and have maintained their performance over the years. One should therefore, find the activity of dealing with them to be profitable. Current Mood: disappointed (Comment on this)
Tuesday, November 8th, 2011
3:14 pm	British Sovereign Gold Coin Invest In These Aesthetic Gold Coins One of the celebrated yellow metal series throughout the planet is the British Gold Coins. Jim Rogers Investment The British Sovereign Gold Coin is a nickel-size bullion coin that emerged out in 1816. peter schiff silver These coins struck the world as the most vastly used ones. The usage of these coins grew with the British Reign and was minted in Ottawa, Bombay, Pretoria, Sydney, Perth and Melbourne. A huge supply of British Sovereigns and protracted trade and hoarding across the globe caused them to be available at current times at bullion value. The foremost one was 23 carat and comprised of 15. 6 grams of yellow metal. The minimal purchase of these British bullions is exactly 10 coins. will gold price come down in 2012 Buying Gold Coins are directly or indirectly a procedure for monetary investment and aesthetic pleasure. what celente says about Australia 2011 The worth of these gold coins can be determined by means of handling and wear & tear of these sovereigns that is available on them. How can I buy Gold Coin: Opposed to olden times, purchasing of these bullions is not a hobby anymore, it is instead an investment. what happens to the price of gold if government defauts Whenever a person buys yellow metal, the person is sure to avail more gains. Considering the turmoil present in the market, times have turned out to be highly uncertain and humans have shifted to buying these bullions as a means of safer option schiff silver price. Whenever a person determines to buy these coins, the vendor that a person selects to purchase from must be a reliable and authentic person will gold price come down in 2012. The purity of these sovereigns differs platinum palladium and iridium is noble metal because. Some people posses bullions that are 24 carat pure while others have 22 carat purity. why are precious metals dropping in price Although both these are regarded as reasonable but one must buy those bullions that are 100% pure because they feature more esteemed and also easily sellable superior quality. During the time of financial crisis, a person is able to easily swap them for any cash or currency, effortlessly why are precious metals dropping in price. Current Mood: exhausted (Comment on this)
Monday, November 7th, 2011
11:44 pm	How to Invest in Gold I recently wrote an article titled, "Why Gold Isn't Such a Great Investment" on Go Banking Rates. While my intention wasn't to bash gold investors, gold bulls certainly took it that way. I question if they even read the full article, or just reacted to the headline. In any case, my point is that gold has been on such a run, any investor looking to get into gold had to seriously contemplate whether the investment was still attractive or if a pullback was coming. Most novice investors believe gold is a great inflation hedge, but with prices soaring over 30% in the last year--most of the drivers coming from news regarding hyperinflation and economic turmoil--it's only logical to worry about some profit taking. Could gold go higher Most definitely. But it can just as easily dip. As I mentioned, I'm not a gold bear, just stating concerns that investors should look into if they're exploring the gold market. why are precious metals dropping in price In that case, here is a simple breakdown on ways to invest in gold. BullionBars- You could invest in physical gold bars like many of the super rich are doing, but from a practical standpoint, it's not necessarily the smartest idea for most people. A standard bar weighs 400 troy ounces, at about $1330 an ounce, that's over half a million dollars per bar. You may literally have to protect it with your life will gold price come down in 2012. Coins- Another way to own physical gold is by owning bullion coins. You'd have to protect these the same way you do with bars, most likely in a vault. Some investors prefer physical gold because it's 100% accurate in tracking the value of the precious metal. Also, in times of economic anarchy, it's actually worth it's weight in gold, unlike paper investments like ETFs and stocks. So there's that. Stocks- If the physical route isn't for you, you could always look into gold exploration and mining companies. Keep in mind, these are examples of gold stocks, not recommendations. There are the large cap names like Barrick Gold Corp. (NYSE: ABX), Freeport-McMoRan Copper Gold Inc. (NYSE: FCX) and Newmont Mining Corp. why are precious metals dropping in price (NYSE: NEM). If you're more adventurous, you can try smaller names like Allied Nevada Gold Corp. (NYSE: ANV), Richmont Mines Inc. (RIC), and Nevsun Resources Ltd what happens to the price of gold if government defauts. (NYSE: NSU). But beware, the smaller the market cap, the higher the risk. And if you venture into the pennystock realm--especially in this sector--you could open yourself to vulnerability of fraud, just like what the SEC accused CHiP's Larry Wilcox of doing. ETFs- Another way to go is to invest in gold ETFs. While it's not as accurate as owning physical gold, it does come pretty close. And compared to investing in individual gold stocks, ETFs provide investors a broader exposure, limiting downside risk, but also sometimes capping earning potential too. Some popular gold ETFs include the SPDR Gold Trust (NYSE: GLD), iShares Gold Trust (NYSE: IAU), Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: GDX), and PowerShares DB Gold (NYSE: DGL). There are many other ETFs out there. Just like gold stocks, they all have their advantages and disadvantages. There are also ETFs designed for trading gold like the ProShares Ultra Gold (NYSE: UGL) and ProShares UltraShort Gold (NYSE: GLL), which try to replicate twice the performance of buying or shorting gold. What are your thoughts on gold How are you playing the gold market. Current Mood: irate (Comment on this)
9:52 am	Who Should Invest in Tax Liens, Certificates and Deeds Investing in tax certificates has received alot of attention lately by investors and the general public Silver Investment Tips. One observation I've made is that this investment is not for everyone. There's a lot of hype and marketing out there that makes tax lien investing seem to be a low risk, high return investment that just about anyone can do. But, actually, tax lien investments are highly illiquid, time intensive and the high returns are sometimes associated with higher risk properties. So, whom is tax lien investing NOT for1. Silver Investment Tips You want to spend all of your investment dollars in buying tax certificates or tax deeds. 2. You do not have much time to see the properties yourself and do due diligence. 3. You've never invested in real estate let alone tax certificates before Gold Mutual Funds. 4 i am long on commodities short on stocks. You may need the cash within a couple years. 5. You think it's a great way to buy real estate Investing Gold ETF Funds. 6. You want to buy a lien on your neighbor's house because they parked an RV in their driveway Jim Rogers Investment Advice. 7. You bought a "make me rich" course from a TV ad or online pop-up. If you don't fall into one of the above categories, you're well diversified with your other investments and you have the time and some basic knowledge of real estate, then this investment might just be right for you. If done right, investing in tax certificates can be a safe investment that produces a return well-above what you can get in a money market account and without the volatility of the stock market. Most liens have a short life-span of a few months, so you can keep reinvesting your investment in other auctions and really ramp up your annual return. dont sell into selling For example, if you're in the Midwest, you can buy Indiana tax certificates in a March auction, earn a good return and reinvest those liens that redeem in the Illinois tax auction (or in another Indiana county tax sale). This is where you could make returns of 20, 30 or 40% annualized. You can also buy these liens in a retirement account saving yourself from paying taxes on the interest you earn. It's a great way to diversify away from your stocks, bonds and other investments that are very correlated with the overall economy. talks about inflation china Finally, tax liens investments are great for private equity or family funds. A portfolio of diversified tax liens can provide good returns that can be leveraged or securitized. Current Mood: pissed off (Comment on this)
Sunday, November 6th, 2011
3:26 pm	The Role of Investment Banks in Mergers and Acquisitions This article is taken from Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Restructuring Activities, 5th edition, 2009 by Donald M. DePamphilis. For more information about this book or to buy online, click here. Overview Amid the turmoil of the 2008 credit crisis, the traditional model of the mega independent investment bank as a highly leveraged, largely unregulated, innovative securities underwriter and MA advisor foundered. Lehman Brothers was liquidated and Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch were acquired by commercial banks J. P. Morgan Chase and Bank of America, respectively. In an effort to attract retail deposits and borrow from the U. S. Federal Reserve System (the "Fed"), Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley converted to commercial bank holding companies subject to Fed regulation. While the financial markets continue to require investment banking services, they will be provided increasingly through "universal banks" (e. g. , Bank of America/Merrill Lynch and Citibank/Smith Barney), which provide the customary commercial banking as well as investment banking services. In addition to those already mentioned, traditional investment banking activities also include providing strategic and tactical advice and acquisition opportunities; screening potential buyers and sellers; making initial contact with a seller or buyer; and providing negotiation support, valuation, and deal structuring guidance. Along with these investment banking functions, the large firms usually maintain substantial broker-dealer operations serving wholesale and retail clients in brokerage and advisory capacities. While the era of the thriving independent investment banking behemoth may be over, the role of investment banking boutiques providing specialized expertise is likely to continue to thrive. Fairness Opinion Letters and Advisory Fees Investment bankers derive significant income from writing so-called fairness opinion letters. A fairness opinion letter is a written and signed third-party assertion certifying the appropriateness of the price of a proposed deal involving a tender offer, merger, asset sale, or leveraged buyout. It discusses the price and terms of the deal in the context of comparable transactions. A typical fairness opinion provides a range of "fair" prices, with the presumption that the actual deal price should fall within that range. Although such opinions are intended to inform investors, they often are developed as legal protection for members of the boards of directors against possible shareholder challenges of their decisions. The size of an investment banking advisory fee is often contingent on the completion of the deal and may run about 1-2 percent of the value of the transaction. Such fees generally vary with the size of the transaction. The size of the fee paid may exceed 1-2 percent, if the advisors achieve certain incentive goals. Fairness opinion fees often amount to about one fourth of the total advisory fee paid on a transaction (Sweeney, 1999). Although the size of the fee may vary with the size of the transaction, the fairness opinion fee usually is paid whether or not the deal is consummated. Problems associated with fairness opinions include the potential conflicts of interest with investment banks that generate large fees. In many cases, the investment bank that brought the deal to a potential acquirer is the same one that writes the fairness opinion. Moreover, they are often out of date by the time shareholders vote on the deal, they do not address whether the firm could have gotten a better deal, and the overly broad range of value given in such letters reduces their relevance. Courts agree that, because the opinions are written for boards of directors, the investment bankers have no obligation to the shareholders (Henry, 2003). Selecting Investment Banks The size of the transaction often determines the size of the investment bank that can be used as an advisor. The largest investment banks are unlikely to consider any transaction valued at less than $100 million. Investment banking boutiques can be very helpful in providing specialized industry knowledge and contacts. Investment banks often provide large databases of recent transactions, which are critical in valuing potential target companies. For highly specialized transactions, the boutiques are apt to have more relevant data. Finally, the large investment banks are more likely to be able to assist in funding large transactions because of their current relationships with institutional lenders and broker distribution networks. In large transactions, a group of investment banks, also referred to as a syndicate, agrees to purchase a new issue of securities (e Silver Investment Tips. g. , debt, preferred, or common stock) from the acquiring company for sale to the investing public. Within the syndicate, the banks underwriting or purchasing the issue are often different from the group selling the issue. The selling group often consists of those firms with the best broker distribution networks. After registering with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), such securities may be offered to the investing public as an initial public offering (IPO), at a price agreed on by the issuer and the investment banking group. Alternatively, security issues may avoid the public markets and be privately placed with institutional investors, such as pension funds and insurance companies. Unlike public offerings, private placements do not have to be registered with the SEC if the securities are purchased for investment rather than for resale. Bao and Edmans (2008) find that, in selecting an investment bank as a transaction advisor, the average magnitude of the financial returns on the announcement dates for those deals for which they serve as an advisor is far more important than the investment bank's size or market share. . Current Mood: sleepy (Comment on this)
Friday, November 4th, 2011
2:31 am	Mergers, Acquisitions, and Investment Banking Payment Issues in Deal Structuring Source: For more about MA deal structuring, see Chapters 11 and 12 of Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Restructuring Activities, 6th edition, 2011 by Donald M. DePamphilis. To learn more about this book or to order online, click here. Share Exchange Ratios A share exchange ratio is the number of shares of acquirer stock offered for each share of target stock. A fixed or constant share exchange agreement is one in which the number of acquirer shares exchanged for each target share is unchanged between the signing of the agreement of purchase and sale and closing. However, the value of the buyer's share price is allowed to fluctuate. While the buyer will know exactly how many shares will have to be issued to consummate the transaction, both the acquirer and the target will be subject to significant uncertainty about what the final purchase price will be. The acquirer may find that the transaction will be much more expensive than anticipated if the value of its shares rises; in contrast, the seller may be greatly disappointed if the acquirer's share price declines. In a fixed value agreement, the value of the price per share is fixed by allowing the number of acquirer shares issued to vary to offset fluctuations in the buyer's share price. For example, an increase in the value of the acquirer's share price would result in the issuance of fewer acquirer shares to keep the value of the deal unchanged; a decrease in the acquirer's share price would require more new shares to be issued Jim Rogers dont sell into selling. Because of potential dilution to acquirer shareholders if more new shares than originally anticipated had to be issued, the buyer would usually want to ask for a reduction in the purchase price in exchange for a collar arrangement Investing Gold ETF Funds. Alternative Collar Arrangements Most stock mergers have a fixed share exchange ratio. To compensate for the uncertain value of the deal, some transactions allow the share exchange ratio to fluctuate within limits or boundaries. Such limits are referred to as a collar. Collar arrangements have become more common in recent years, with about 20 percent of stock mergers employing some form of collar as part of the bid structure. Collar agreements provide for certain changes in the exchange ratio contingent on the level of the acquirer's share price around the effective date of the merger. This date is often defined as the average acquirer share price during a 10-20 day period preceding the closing date. Investing Gold ETF Funds The two primary types of collar arrangements are the floating (also called variable) and fixed collar agreement. A floating collar agreement may involve a fixed exchange ratio as long as the acquirer's share price remains within a narrow range, calculated as of the effective date of merger. For example, the acquirer and target may agree that the target would receive . 5 shares of acquirer stock for each share of target stock, as long as the acquirer's share price remains between $20 and $24 per share during a 10-day period just prior to closing. This implies a collar around the bid price of $10 (i. e. , . 5 x $20) to $12 (i. e. , . 5 x $24) per target share. The collar arrangement may further stipulate that if the acquirer price falls below $20 per share the target shareholder would receive $10 per share; if the acquirer share price exceeds $24 per share, the target shareholder would receive $12 per share. Therefore, the acquirer and target shareholders can be assured that the actual bid or offer price will be between $10 and $12 per target share. A fixed payment or value collar agreement guarantees that the target firm shareholder receives a certain dollar value in terms of acquirer stock as long as the acquirer's stock remains within a narrow range, and a fixed exchange ratio if the acquirer's average stock price is outside the bounds around the effective date of the merger. For example, the acquirer and target may agree that target shareholders would receive $40 per share, as long as the acquirer's share price remains within a range of $30 to $34 per share. This would be achieved by adjusting the number of acquirer shares exchanged for each target share (i. Jim Rogers us never scraped out of 2008 depression e. , the number of acquirer shares exchanged for each target share increases if the acquirer share price declines toward the lower end of the range and decreases if the acquirer share price increases). If the acquirer share price increases above $34 per share, target shareholders would receive 1. 1765 shares of acquirer stock (i. e. , $40/$34); if the acquirer share price drops below $30 per share, target shareholders would receive 1. 333 shares of acquirer stock (i. e. , $40/$30) for each target share they own. Investing Gold ETF Funds The following table identifies the advantages and disadvantages of various types of collar arrangements. Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Collar Agreements Agreement Type Advantages Disadvantages Fixed Share Exchange Agreement Buyer: Number of acquirer shares to be issued known with certainty; minimizes potential for overpaying Seller: Share exchange ratio known with certainty Buyer: Actual value of transaction uncertain until closing; may necessitate renegotiation Seller Same Fixed Value Agreement Buyer: Transaction value known; protects acquirer from overpaying Seller: Transaction value known; prevents significant reduction in purchase price due to acquirer share price variation Buyer: Number of acquirer shares to be issued uncertain Seller: May have to reduce purchase price to get acquirer to fix value Floating Collar Agreement Buyer: Number of acquirer shares to be issued known within a narrow range Seller: Greater certainty about share exchange ratio; Buyer: Actual value of transaction subject to some uncertainty Seller: May have to reduce purchase price to get acquire to float exchange ratio Fixed Payment Collar Agreement Buyer: Reduces uncertainty about transaction value and potential for renegotiation Seller: Same Buyer: May still result in some overpayment Seller: May still result in some underpayment Collars May Preclude Renegotiation Both the acquirer and target boards of directors have a fiduciary responsibility to demand that the merger terms be renegotiated if the value of the offer made by the bidder changes materially relative to the value of the target's stock or if there has been any other material change in the target's operations. Merger contracts routinely contain -material adverse effects clauses,- which provide a basis for buyers to withdraw from or renegotiate the contract. For example, in 2006, Johnson and Johnson (JJ) demanded that Guidant Corporation, a leading heart pacemaker manufacturer, accept a lower purchase price than that agreed to in their merger agreement. JJ was reacting to news of government recalls of Guidant pacemakers and federal investigations that could materially damage the value of the firm. Renegotiation can be expensive for either party due to the commitment of management time and the cost of legal and investment banking advice. Collar agreements protect the acquiring firm from --overpaying'' in the event that its share price is higher or the target firm's share price is lower on the effective date of the merger than it was on the day agreement was reached on merger terms. Similarly, the target shareholders are protected from receiving less than the originally agreed to purchase price if the acquirer's stock declines in value by the effective date of the merger. If the acquirer's share price has historically been highly volatile, the target may demand a collar to preserve the agreed upon share price. Similarly, the acquirer may demand a collar if the target's share price has shown great variation in the past in order to minimize the potential for overpaying if the target's share price declines significantly relative to the acquirer's share price. Current Mood: jubilant (Comment on this)
Friday, October 28th, 2011
12:38 pm	Renewable Energy Stock Trading How To Invest In Renewable Energy Because going green is a trend that is being adopted everywhere, it is not difficult to see why almost all businesses have suddenly gone green. It is for this same reason why investors have now taken interest in the renewable energy stock market. Gold Backed Currency Indeed, everyone is now finding renewable energy stocks to buy and trying to determine what the top renewable energy stocks are. Among popular investors include Bill Gates and Pope Benedict XVI to name a few. According to Bloomberg, $8. 85 trillion is waiting to be invested in green energy. So what are some useful tips for investing in renewable energy stocks First is to decide on a specific type of green business. One can decide to focus on purely renewable energy companies or one can also opt to focus on low-carbon building materials, or on electric efficiency. Next step is to prepare for investing money that may not give back big returns. One should always remember that green businesses that have greater return on investment mean riskier investments. Therefore, only invest in an amount you are ready to lose. Another action to consider is to assess green mutual funds as the fund manager could give you information about the companies green practices as well as its finances. One can also choose funds by researching online to get a prospectus on certain funds financial past. One can also opt to pick renewable energy stocks to buy by browsing through socially responsible mutual funds and buying your chosen stocks from stockbrokers or online trading firms. However, socially responsible mutual funds cost more because of the extra research involved. Some other things to put in mind in looking for stocks in the renewable energy stock market: a precise and convincing executive summary; an active revenue and contracts; and projects that have ready permits. One should also try looking where the renewable energy stock trades. To avoid scams, one should always be on the look-out for green businesses that have no product on the market yet, as well as those that have unrealistic company growth prediction, and those that send unwelcome messages. Vince Trading Blog One can also try browsing Motley Fool CAPS to find out how renewable energy stocks will perform in the market and whether renewable energy stock prices will rise. Other considerations include: investing in green businesses that have significant progress over the past year; those that have strong balance sheets; and those that have revenues and are on their way to profit. Current Mood: sad (Comment on this)
Wednesday, October 26th, 2011
2:16 am	How To Invest Your Money Safely When it comes to making investments, most people know that there is always room for a possible loss. Stock market investments in particular are rather notorious for taking a rather well funded portfolio and emptying it rather quickly Why Invest Silver?. Of course, that does not happen all the time, otherwise no one would do it. If, on the other hand, you do not want to take what many consider to be an unnecessary risk, there are a number of other investments that are reasonably safer, can still bring a good return, and are definitely worthwhile. Here are a couple of them. A common phrase that is often used these days to refer to the making of your investments safer is having a balanced portfolio. This means that you are not putting all of your eggs into one basket. You know that some markets are a much greater risk than others, such as trading on the stock market, and so you put some of your investment capital into some that are much safer and less likely to be lost. This "balance," created by placing some of your investment into a variety of potential interest bearing accounts, should result in an overall gain. Investments Depend On The Person If you are a young person, then it should mean that you would be willing to take a higher risk (assuming you have some capital that may be lost) calls us debt ceiling talks. The possibility of the highest gains, unfortunately, also come from the markets with the potential for the highest change. This means that there is a much greater likelihood of a real loss - especially if you do not know what you are doing. By using the services of an experienced trader however, a stockbroker that has been doing it for years, you minimize the possibility of loss. But you should only invest a portion of your finances into the stock market. If, on the other hand, you are much closer to retirement age, then you do not want to take such a risk with your funds. Instead, you would want to place your soon to be needed funds into a much more stable growth account, where the loss can be minimized and yet still bring a return in interest. Stable Investing In Trust Funds If you are looking to stabilize your investments in the stock market with something that is relatively sure, then you need to consider mutual funds. This form of investing places your investment into the hands of investors that basically do the investing for you. They watch the market, manage the funds, and make the changes necessary in order to keep your account growing. Vince Trading Blog After you inform them of what level of risk you are willing to take, then the rest is done for you. They take your funds and spread them over a diverse sort of investments, and it gives you a much more stable package. The Most Stable Investment - Bonds Probably the most stable investment you can make is to buy bonds. The safest, of course, are the US Savings Bonds. These are purchased at a set price and guarantee a set interest amount in a specified time period calls us debt ceiling talks. You cannot get much safer than that - and probably not much is safer than the US Government - investment wise. If you are looking for the highest stability available, then you need to take some of your investment portfolio and add some bonds to it. Bonds are also available from other corporations, cities, etc. , but their strength is limited to the financial strength of the company. The longer the time period of your investment - the greater the risk that the company may not be around. In addition to creating a balanced portfolio, you need either to become very knowledgeable about financial investing, or you need to seek professional counsel. Many people lose a lot of money every year simply because of unnecessary risks. These risks would never have been taken if they had sought counsel from someone who knows much more than they did about the market and investing methods. A truly balanced portfolio will also have an expert to help guide you through the many potential hazards of the investment world. Current Mood: numb (Comment on this)
Sunday, October 16th, 2011
10:39 pm	Invest in an Ergonomic Computer Chair if You Spend Most of Your Time at Your Computer Are you spending a great deal of your time at your computer If so, you should certainly invest in an ergonomic computer chair. There are several designs to opt from including headrest computer chairs and high back chairs. Investing Gold ETF Funds The majorities of these are absolutely height adjustable and come with armrests, in order that you can set the chair in order that your feet are flat on the floor while you are seated on chair this assists with blood circulation and good sitting posture. Gold Backed Currency Computer chairs can be costly because of the manufacturing procedure, however since it helps you enjoy more time at your computer it is well worth investing on it. The kinds of chairs with a headrest are excellent if you experience neck problems since these support your neck while sitting and working on your computer, you can as well get high back computer chairs that are designed to provide your back full support. Idea is to ensure while you are sitting on the high back chair the top of the chair ends over your shoulders, this will help support your back and shoulders. If you are seeking a computer chair then it is vital to find an ergonomically designed computer chair since you spend a lot of time on your computer, these chairs are high quality things in recent times they improve your efficiency and take you to the next level of competence. There are various kinds you can get; there are swivel chairs that have turning seats, or you can have chairs with castor wheels that can move around on the ground for instance. If you have by no means tried a computer chair in that case it is suggested you try one, you will be surprised at the difference it makes to your work and you will enjoy sitting your working hours. Thus if you spend a lot of your time on your computer in that case ergonomic computer chairs should be on your list of requirements, if you have spent any span of time at your computer and found yourself uncomfortable then this is a certain indication that the chair is not ergonomically designed Vince Trading Blog. us never scraped out of 2008 depression While sitting on your chair you should feel comfortable so you can concentrate on what you are accomplishing, moving around in the chair will disturb you on anything you are trying to accomplish. Now, you can get an ergonomic computer chair that is designed to meet your needs, however these can get extremely costly to buy, if you have that kind of money then go for it. Investing Gold ETF Funds However any ergonomic computer chair will be better for you than an ordinary chair will be eventually. Buying computer chairs is now quite easy with the advent of internet. Like all the things in our life having shifted to the online world there are now online office furniture retailers selling these chairs. So you can from the comfort of your home do some comparison shopping and order one of these right now! Current Mood: relieved (Comment on this)
Saturday, October 8th, 2011
7:47 am	Why to Invest in Rural Property of Sugartree Falls, Tennessee Peaceful location, exotic recreations and affordable rates, Sugartree Falls (Tennessee) is the area where purchasing the land would surely be a profitable decision. Silver Investment Tips Considering some important factors while buying the under-developed property in this area, you can ensure a high rate of return against your investment. Offering great utility for today and high returns for tomorrow, land is considered the best investment option these days. Silver Investment Tips As the constantly rising prices have turned it a costly affair, purchasing property in under-developed areas would be the best option for the real estate investors. Surrounded by the beautiful landscaping and available at affordable rates, Sugartree Falls, Tennessee is such a location where land investment would really provide high returns against the investment. Purchasing land in under-developed area of Sugartree Falls, Tennessee, one can enjoy a peaceful life away from the noise, chaos and hectic life of an urban area Gold Mutual Funds Performance. The incredible property in this area offers stunning natural beauty surrounded by rolling hills and waterfalls. Whether you are purchasing the land for a vacation home or to earn profit on sale of it, buying property in this area ensures a high Rate of Return (ROI) against your investment. Buy Gold in Australia If you love outdoor activities like fishing, camping, hunting or trekking on hills, this area would be the perfect option for you. With growing economy and an easy lifestyle, Sugartree Falls properties have rapidly become a popular choice among the real estate investors. So, purchasing land in this area is no where a bad idea. Why to purchase a property in the underdeveloped area of Sugartree Falls, Tennessee There are a number of reasons making it a profitable venture. First of all, the area is incredibly beautiful and within an easy driving distance from Nashville and Memphis. In addition to the scenic beauty and the intense forest, there are many exotic lakes and waterfalls. The property can also be used to build a vacation home where you can enjoy your time with your whole family Investing Gold ETF Funds. Secondly, the region is developing with rapid pace that means your property value is going to increase further. As a large land area can be purchased at affordable price, you can invest some additional amount to develop your piece of land and can sale it further at a good profit. Thus, it is certain to earn profit if a person purchases land at right time and with some important considerations in this area. Although the property investment in Tennessee is a profitable venture, some important factors need to be considered to ensure high returns against the investment. It is well-advised to check out the property in terms of location, road connectivity, Internet accessibility, water & power supply and safety. You should confirm all these features from some local residents in that area. While purchasing land, make sure that you are dealing with a reputable dealer who has had a good record in past. As the deal involves a large amount of money, you need to do an extensive research before finalizing any deal. Visit some reputable websites and search the property as per your buying criteria. Make a wise decision after a careful analysis of the property and price. Select a reliable dealer and get the suitable TN land for sale. Current Mood: disappointed (Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 28th, 2011
7:34 pm	Before You Invest In A Country Land Whether you want it for personal use or commercial, investing in an underdeveloped land has many benefits. You can purchase a land at low prices in the secluded and tranquil vicinity of Oklahoma state which would later unfold better financial prospects. If you are thinking of investing in land, there are a few things to keep in mind. Whether the land you are purchasing is for personal use or merely an investment, you can get the best deals on the underdeveloped land Silver Investment Tips. There are many wonderful ranches in Oklahoma that you can purchase at comparatively low prices. With the land prices constantly rising, the underdeveloped land you purchase today will be worth much more in five years from now. The state of Oklahoma has it all from the forests and hills to the plains and ponds, the best place to live for anyone who likes the soothing settings of the nature. With a pleasant climate, Oklahoma has become a popular place among people. Silver Moon Ranch property is at easy driving distance from both Oklahoma City and Tulsa. It would, therefore, make a great getaway place for you to spend some quality time in the vicinity of the natural beauty Jim Rogers Investment Advice. The western part of the the land is covered by the sandstones that descend into the lake. During the rains, several creeks emerge at the bottom of the hills that are curtained by the woods. The gaps in between the trees are filled by the lush green native grass Investing Gold ETF Funds. The properties that are on sale are mainly the ones that have been possessed by the government under the legal process called foreclosure, if the owners failed to pay the mortgages. These are also seized by the government because of the reasons like tax evasion or any kind of illegal activities. Plenty of properties are seized by the government every year Silver Investment Tips. Due to the consistent influx of newly seized properties, these are sold at affordable prices. The reason government offers these properties at low prices is the cost and time required for the maintenance of these. The government tries to recover some amount of the money by selling these at reasonable prices. By purchasing a land for sale by the government, you save a heavy amount of money. You can use the land for any purpose such as building home for yourselves, raising livestock or making a poultry farm. There are some people who build homes and rent them to vacationers whereas others keep them as a second home for themselves to visit the place away from the hassles of the city. You can even purchase an underdeveloped land now at low prices and within a year or two, when the prices are up you can resell it and earn profit. Before putting down your money on a piece of land, you should examine the land properly. If possible, take along an expert who can check even the minute details of the soil in order to determine the quality of the land. Whether you plan to build a home or use the land for agricultural purpose, you must get assured of the quality as marshy land will cause problems while constructing and bad grade soil will not help with the vegetation much. If you have plans to raise cattle, opt for a land with a fertile pasture. To look for countryside land in low prices, you can find the listings for Oklahoma ranch land for sale with plenty of opportunities. Current Mood: indifferent (Comment on this)
Tuesday, September 27th, 2011
4:46 am	Best Stocks to Invest In It is a well known fact that success in the stock market is all about picking the right stock at the right time. Though there are many websites and experts to guide you about the best stocks to invest in short term and long term investments, you need to conduct a research yourself as ultimately you will be investing your own money in the stocks. So, go through the useful guidelines given below about the best stocks to invest in long term and near term. How to Choose the Best Stocks to Invest It is believed that the best stocks to invest in 2010 would be of those companies belonging to sectors such as information technology, real estate, and financial services which took a huge beating in the past recession Jim Rogers stop buying gold buy agriculture stocks. Those who track the stock market must have observed how drastically the stock prices fell in a very short period of time. This not only caused losses to many investors, but also caused many investors to stay away from the stock markets. However, over a few months, the stocks of these firms have shown a steady uptrend which is a sign of recovery Jim Rogers calls us debt ceiling talks. You can consider buying those stocks which are cheap in valuations as compared to their peers. Best stocks to invest in 2010 should not be selected only because they are available cheap. You should also consider the fundamentals of these companies Gold Backed Currency. Invest only in those stocks which have strong fundamentals and a fine track record of giving decent returns to investors. Look for the management of the company and their personal track record of handling businesses. Also, carefully study the business model of the company. This is because the business models of certain firms are subject to market fluctuations. For example, oil marketing companies can suffer with a decrease in oil prices as it can affect their margins. Stocks of cement manufacturing companies can go down in the phase when the cement rates and demand lowers. However, the demand for products of companies selling consumer goods such as electronic items and cosmetics will always be intact and so will be the business of health care and medicine providers. Infrastructure development, engineering and construction firms have a good future considering the healthy order inflow and cash reserves which they have Investing Gold ETF Funds. So, you can consider buying stock belonging to these sectors in this year. When you buy stocks, you should also ensure that the company does not have too much of a debt burden. There are many debt free and financially sound companies which you can invest in. Also, find out whether the company you have chosen to invest pays dividends and issues bonus shares regularly. Liquidity is also important for companies to survive in hard times. So, check for how much cash the company has in its books dont sell into selling. A company with a strong balance sheet is the one which you should invest your hard earned money in. A suggestion which is commonly given is to check if the price to earnings ratio of the stock is less than its peers for a good investment call. At the same time, the earnings per share ratio should be high for good returns. Stock trading, which involves investing in a stock for a short time should not be done in penny stocks which can fall considerably in a few minutes. Stock investing in a systematic manner can surely give you great financial returns in this year. Hoping that this article on best stocks to invest in 2010 will guide you well, I sign off here by wishing you all the best for your investments! DISCLAIMER: This article is just for reference purposes and does not recommend any stock market transactions. Current Mood: contemplative (Comment on this)
Sunday, September 25th, 2011
3:07 pm	Good Companies to Invest in 2011 Are you thinking of which would be the good companies to invest in 2011 If yes, then through a self stock research you must have shortlisted some names which can be potential investment options. However, it is always essential to cross check and verify from reliable sources, whether your stock picks are good enough, before you actually make your investments. Jim Rogers calls us debt ceiling talks By doing so, you can avoid any kind of unnecessary losses which are big hurdles in the wealth creation process. The data on top companies to invest in 2011 will give you the right details to proceed with your investments. Companies to Invest in 2011 The best companies to invest in 2011 would be those having free and positive cash flows and less debt. The interest rates in many countries are rising over the past few months and hence the outflow of money in the form of debt repayment would be high. Debt free companies having a stable and sustainable business model will do well in such a scenario. The stock predictions 2011 given by expert stock analysts have revealed that the pharmaceutical and banking sector would be the preferred investment choices, which will prove to be extremely profitable. With increased capacities and rising demand, pharmaceutical companies able to launch new medicines and drugs in time in the markets and which are able to maintain input costs at just levels, will benefit the most. Stocks of banking and financial majors would give better returns with increased lending activities and better scope for corporate finance. If you are searching for good investment ideas for this year, then the stocks of companies belonging to the consumer goods sector would be the best choice Buy Gold in Australia. If we decide to go by data reported by many business magazines, newspapers, and other forms of media, the retail consumer spending in the United States is quite up compared to the economic recession days, and hence these companies stand to benefit directly from this boom. Better the jobs people get, more would be the things purchased by them and more would be the revenues and profits of consumer goods firms. Power companies can indeed be amongst the top 10 companies to invest in taking into consideration their ambitious power generation targets and high sales and profits. Power utility and need is rising due to increasing number of industries, businesses and enterprises and hence these companies would be profitable bets for investors. In the power sector, there are many great companies to invest in. Jim Rogers us never scraped out of 2008 depression However, you need to have considerable amount of patience to reap the benefits from these best stocks for 2011. The good investments for 2011 or the top companies to invest in 2011 can also be the software giants where rising orders and cost control measures have begun to show an effect on the profitability of the entire sector. According to several experts, the information technology sector can be a clear outperformer in turbulent markets too, due to rising stability. After this explanation, you can refer to the data on best companies to invest in right now or hot companies to invest in given in the next section. Best Picks for 2011 Here is a list of the top companies to invest in 2011: Johnson & Johnson Microsoft Visa Inc Entropic Inc. Nvidia Corp Google OPNET Halliburton Bank of America Apple Sierra Wireless To know of some more best businesses to invest in and basic stock market tips, you can refer to the following Buzzle articles: Stock Market Investing for Dummies Best Investments for 2011 Best Investment Firms High Yield Stocks 2011 High Dividend Stocks 2011 Constantly updating yourself about the new companies to invest in, and upcoming companies is essential to grab attractive investment opportunities. The above data on good companies to invest in 2011 will certainly be a perfect guide for your investments. Good luck and do well! Current Mood: lazy (Comment on this)
Monday, September 19th, 2011
11:24 pm	How much money Should You Invest Many first time investors believe they should invest all their savings. This isn't necessarily true Investing in Gold Now. To determine the amount of money you should invest, you have got to first determine how much you undoubtedly can afford to pay out, and what your finance goals are. First, let's look into how much money you may currently afford to commit. Do you have savings which you can use If so, great! Then again, you don't want to help you cut yourself short when you tie your money up with an investment. What were a savings originally for You have to keep three to half a year of living expenses in the readily accessible savings profile don't invest this money! Don't invest any money that you may have to lay your hands on looking for an opportunity in the future. Thus, begin by determining what amount of of your savings should maintain your savings account, and how much should be considered for investments. Unless you might have funds from another origin, such as an monetary gift that you've recently gained, this will probably be the only thing that you currently have to invest. Next, determine how much its fine to use to your investments down the road. If you are applied, you will continue to receive an income, and you can plan to utilize a portion of that income to produce your investment portfolio after some time. Speak with a qualified financial planner to set up a budget and figure out how much of your future income it will be easier to invest. With the aid of a financial planner, you will be sure that you arent investing more than its best to or less than you should so that they can reach your investment targets. For many types from investments, a certain initial investment amount are going to be required. Gold Mutual Funds Performance Hopefully, you've done your research, and you have found an investment that will are sound. If this could be the case, you probably already know what the required initially investment is Buy Gold Coins in Australia. If the money that there is available for investments fails to meet the required original investment, you may have to see other investments. Never borrow money find, and never use money there is not set aside for investing! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post Recommend on Facebook share via Reddit Share with Stumblers Tweet about it Subscribe to the comments on this post. Current Mood: jealous (Comment on this)
Wednesday, September 14th, 2011
12:49 pm	Do you want to invest your money The answer is in Italy Different reasons contribute to this positive situation of housing market, first of all housing prices in this period are lower, there are also a wide range and offer with a better availability of banks, in fact banks can loan money with interesting rate of interest. Gold Mutual Funds The better guides of investment suggest it: invest in a new property. The secret for the experts is to search and find the best bargain; this is the right time to make a deal. Factors and elements that bring to this particular convenience are not to underrate: housing prices are competitive, not only in big cities, the situation is the same also in the little urban centers and in the urban agglomerate. The Italian regions are a good place for an investments: both in the richest and well off areas (an example are the cities situated in the north east of Italy like Vittorio Veneto or San Fior and Salgreda) and in the poorest ones. In addition there is a wide offer, in particular for the newest and recent houses (in Italy is estimated that more than 250 Buy Gold Coins in Australia. 000 houses are available in the territory in the last years) this phenomenon brings to a reduction of the final price, due to the competitors. Banks give better rates, and in this period they are favorable, for a loan with a fixed rate the percentage is around 2% and for a variable one is around 5%. The Italian economic situation, like other European countries is more than convenient and in medium and long term this situation could change and vary Gold Mutual Funds Performance. When you decide to buy a new house or an apartment is important to consider some elements, these details are fundamental also for the future situation; an example is when we buy a house and then we have to sell it because our familiar condition has changed. Gold Mutual Funds Performance In the first place is important to consider where the house is situated, the location, if it is situated inside a residential district, if means of transport lines are present, if there are some green areas closer and also services like schools and shops and services in general. When we think to invest in a foreign country we have also to consider the economical and political situation of the country. Buy Gold Coins in Australia When we think to buy a new house is better to have a clear situation of our needs and carefully count its dimensions, verify the possible changes in our future life, an example is when we buy an apartment and then we have sons and so it is necessary to sell it and buy a bigger one. In this case the advice of the experts is simple: rent the old one and pay a new loan for the other house with the monthly rental. This is a good advice, because we can capitalize this economical situation and invest in housing market. House is for most of us an important place in our life, we spend there a lot of time, and we spend lovely moments with our family. i am long on commodities short on stocks If you do not get on well with your current home you can change it easily, there are many houses and all are different. Current Mood: peaceful (Comment on this)
Saturday, September 10th, 2011
2:33 am	Advice For Invest on Cottage Invest on cottage property would seem to be a sound proposition now. The mortgage rates are fairly stable even as the gas prices mostly rise. The best place to look for cottages on sale would be online. There are several real estate agencies that specialize on the cottage selling and they can be found online as well. The common demand for cottages is usually for those with quiet and peaceful surroundings. Silver Investment Tips This is specially true for people looking for summer cottages for a vacation. Most preferred locations include river sides and quiet lakes and these are good choices. The benefits provided by these choices cannot be found in resorts which are popular and crowded. Some of the important factors that come under consideration are, the access to the cottage, presence of neighbors and the view. Access could be by land or water and both are equally preferred. Presence of neighbors is not a concern provided there is seclusion. Views of ocean or large lakes is given equal preference to river side settings. However, areas that are somewhat remote or those that have not yet been discovered, will often provide the best deals. The other factors important for determining could be the building code, the resale potential, taxes and the cost of building and property maintenance. The future value of the property is a very important consideration for the buyer. The value can either increase or even decrease after some time, depending on the importance to natural conservation or to urban development. A viable option is to let the cottages out when not using them. Many owners offset the cost of owning and operating cottages, by renting them out when they are not using it themselves. So, one more deciding factor is whether to buy the cottages or to rent one in the area of interest. Another possible alternative could be to buy cottages as a cooperative. However, all purchasers will need to be agreeable to the civil and the legal aspects. Other costs could involve access to the cottage and the beach or waterfront. If roads or water access paths are privately owned, they may add to the cost. Access to waterfront or the beach could likewise involve extra cost depending on whether they are private or public. If the cottage has to be remodeled for winter, then this will add to the expenses incurred. It may also be necessary to alter the internal plumbing to suit the annual change in water levels. This essential information may be important to know in advance. When investing in a building, it is always advisable to also invest in a building inspection. This will bring out the factors such as whether the building is over dry land, presently dry and its susceptibility to water rot or mold. Fresh, clean water for drinking, cooking and bathing is one more requirement that should not be overlooked. To get the best possible deal for the money being spent should be any buyer's goal. Therefore, researching all the aspects before committing to invest on cottage, should be given the maximum importance. Current Mood: cheerful (Comment on this)
Thursday, September 8th, 2011
7:18 pm	Who Should Invest in Tax Liens, Certificates and Deeds Investing in tax certificates has received alot of attention lately by investors and the general public. One observation I've made is that this investment is not for everyone. There's a lot of hype and marketing out there that makes tax lien investing seem to be a low risk, high return investment that just about anyone can do. But, actually, tax lien investments are highly illiquid, time intensive and the high returns are sometimes associated with higher risk properties. So, whom is tax lien investing NOT for1. You want to spend all of your investment dollars in buying tax certificates or tax deeds. 2. You do not have much time to see the properties yourself and do due diligence. 3. You've never invested in real estate let alone tax certificates before. 4. You may need the cash within a couple years. 5. You think it's a great way to buy real estate. 6. You want to buy a lien on your neighbor's house because they parked an RV in their driveway. 7. You bought a "make me rich" course from a TV ad or online pop-up. If you don't fall into one of the above categories, you're well diversified with your other investments and you have the time and some basic knowledge of real estate, then this investment might just be right for you i am long on commodities short on stocks. If done right, investing in tax certificates can be a safe investment that produces a return well-above what you can get in a money market account and without the volatility of the stock market. Most liens have a short life-span of a few months, so you can keep reinvesting your investment in other auctions and really ramp up your annual return Silver Investment Tips. For example, if you're in the Midwest, you can buy Indiana tax certificates in a March auction, earn a good return and reinvest those liens that redeem in the Illinois tax auction (or in another Indiana county tax sale). This is where you could make returns of 20, 30 or 40% annualized. You can also buy these liens in a retirement account saving yourself from paying taxes on the interest you earn. Buy Gold Coins in Australia It's a great way to diversify away from your stocks, bonds and other investments that are very correlated with the overall economy. Finally, tax liens investments are great for private equity or family funds Jim Rogers. Jim Rogers A portfolio of diversified tax liens can provide good returns that can be leveraged or securitized. Current Mood: busy (Comment on this)
Monday, September 5th, 2011
6:48 pm	Understanding Mergers, Acquisitions, Restructuring, and Investment Banking Terminology Source: This article is extractedfrom Donald M. DePamphilis' Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Restructuring Activities: An Integrated Approach to Process, Tools, Cases, and Solutions,6th edition, Elsevier Academic Press, 2011. For more information about the 6th edition or to buy it online, click here. Understanding Mergers, Acquisitions, and Other Corporate Restructuring TerminologyThis article is extracted from the textbook Mergers, Acquisitions and Other Restructuring Activities by Donald M. DePamphilis. For more information about this textbook, or to buy online, click here. 1. 0 Mergers and Consolidations Mergers can be described from a legal perspective and from an economic perspective. This distinction is relevant to discussions concerning deal structuring, regulatory issues, and strategic planning. 1. 1 A Legal Perspective This perspective refers to the legal structure used to consummate the transaction. Such structures may take on many forms depending on the nature of the transaction. A merger is a combination of two or more firms in which all but one legally cease to exist, and the combined organization continues under the original name of the surviving firm. In a typical merger, shareholders of the target firm exchange their shares for those of the acquiring firm, after a shareholder vote approving the merger. Minority shareholders, those not voting in favor of the merger, are required to accept the merger and exchange their shares for those of the acquirer. If the parent firm is the primary shareholder in the subsidiary, the merger does not require approval of the parent's shareholders in the majority of states. Such a merger is called a short form merger. The principal requirement is that the parent's ownership exceeds the minimum threshold set by the state. For example, Delaware allows a parent corporation to merge without a shareholder vote with a subsidiary if the parent owns at least 90 percent of the outstanding voting shares. A statutory merger is one in which the acquiring company assumes the assets and liabilities of the target in accordance with the statutes of the state in which the combined companies will be incorporated. A subsidiary merger involves the target becoming a subsidiary of the parent. To the public, the target firm may be operated under its brand name, but it will be owned and controlled by the acquirer. Although the terms mergers and consolidations often are used interchangeably, a statutory consolidation, which involves two or more companies joining to form a new company, is technically not a merger. All legal entities that are consolidated are dissolved during the formation of the new company, which usually has a new name. In a merger, either the acquirer or the target survives. The 1999 combination of Daimler-Benz and Chrysler to form DaimlerChrysler is an example of a consolidation. The new corporate entity created as a result of consolidation or the surviving entity following a merger usually assumes ownership of the assets and liabilities of the merged or consolidated organizations. Stockholders in merged companies typically exchange their shares for shares in the new company. A merger of equals is a merger framework usually applied whenever the merger participants are comparable in size, competitive position, profitability, and market capitalization. Under such circumstances, it is unclear if either party is ceding control to the other and which party is providing the greatest synergy. Consequently, target firm shareholders rarely receive any significant premium for their shares. It is common for the new firm to be managed by the former CEOs of the merged firms who will be co-equal and for the composition of the new firm's board to have equal representation from the boards of the merged firms. In such transactions, it is uncommon for the ownership split to be equally divided. The 1998 formation of Citigroup from Citibank and Travelers is an example of a merger of equals. Silver Investment Tips Research suggests that the CEOs of target firms in such transactions often negotiate to retain a significant degree of control in the merged firm for both their board and management in exchange for a lower premium for their shareholders. 1. 2 An Economic Perspective Business combinations also may be classified as horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate mergers. How a merger is classified depends on whether the merging firms are in the same or different industries and on their positions in the corporate value chain (see Figure 1 below). Defining business combinations in this manner is particularly important from the standpoint of antitrust analysis in which regulators often use the combined firms' market share as a measure of their ability to influence product/ service selling prices. Horizontal and conglomerate mergers are best understood in the context of whether the merging firms are in the same or different industries. A horizontal merger occurs between two firms within the same industry. Examples of horizontal acquisitions include Proctor Gamble and Gillette (2006) in household products, Oracle and PeopleSoft in business application software (2004), oil giants Exxon and Mobil (1999), SBC Communications and Ameritech (1998) in telecommunications, and NationsBank and BankAmerica (1998) in commercial banking. Conglomerate mergers are those in which the acquiring company purchases firms in largely unrelated industries. An example would be U. S. Steel's acquisition of Marathon Oil to form USX in the mid-1980s. Vertical mergers are best understood operationally in the context of the corporate value chain depicted in Figure 1. Vertical mergers are those in which the two firms participate at different stages of the production or value chain. A simple value chain in the basic steel industry may distinguish between raw materials, such as coal or iron ore; steel making, such as -hot metal- and rolling operations; and metals distribution. Similarly, a value chain in the oil and gas industry would separate exploration activities from production, refining, and marketing. An Internet value chain might distinguish between infrastructure providers, such as Cisco; content providers, such as Dow Jones; and portals, such as Yahoo and Google. In the context of the value chain, a vertical merger is one in which companies that do not own operations in each major segment of the value chain choose to -backward integrate- by acquiring a supplier or to -forward integrate- by acquiring a distributor. An example of forward integration includes paper manufacturer Boise Cascade's acquisition of office products distributor, Office Max, for $1. 1 billion in 2003. An example of backward integration in the technology industry is America Online's purchase of media and content provider Time Warner in 2000. In 2008, American steel company, Nucor Corporation, announced the acquisition of the North American scrap metal operations of privately held Dutch conglomerate SHV Holdings NV. The acquisition further secures Nucor's supply of scrap metal used to fire its electric arc furnaces. Recent research indicates that horizontal, conglomerate, and vertical mergers accounted for an average of 42 percent, 54 percent, and 4 percent of transactions globally since 1981. While pure vertical mergers are rare, studies suggest that about one-fifth of the all mergers during the same period exhibited some degree of vertical relatedness. Figure 1. Corporate Value Chain (note: IT refers to -information technology') 2. 0 Acquisitions, Divestitures, Spin-Offs, Carve-Outs and Buyouts Generally speaking, an acquisition occurs when one company takes a controlling ownership interest in another firm, a legal subsidiary of another firm, or selected assets of another firm such as a manufacturing facility. An acquisition may involve the purchase of another firm's assets or stock, with the acquired firm continuing to exist as a legally owned subsidiary. In contrast, a divestiture is the sale of all or substantially all of a company or product line to another party for cash or securities. A spin-off is a transaction in which a parent creates a new legal subsidiary and distributes shares in the subsidiary to its current shareholders as a stock dividend. An equity carve-out describes a transaction in which the parent firm issues a portion of its stock or that of a subsidiary to the public A leveraged buyout (LBO) or highly leveraged transaction involves the purchase of a company financed primarily by debt. While LBOs commonly involve privately owned firms, the term often is applied to a firm which buys back its stock using primarily borrowed funds to convert from a publicly owned to a privately owned company. This article is one of five available for free on Google Knol, including: The Role of Holding Companies in Mergers and Acquisitions Poison Pills as a Merger and Acquisition Defense Search on the name -Donald DePamphilis' or use the links on the right hand side to access and read the others. . Current Mood: disappointed (Comment on this)