Tag Archives: investments

South East Asia’s Eye on African Investments

Asia was one of those regions that profited from the opportunities of investing in Africa. It’s countries took early leads of doing business from the emerging continent. The most notable Asian country was China. The Sleeping Giant is currently enjoying its affair with Africa. They are gaining while creating rooms for growth among Africans by creating jobs. They’ve got investments in several sectors, the largest is on infrastructure. Middle East countries and those from other corners of the world’s largest continent are also spiraling their way to the Black continent. They became aware of what African needs and what they will get from it. By now, Asian countries were the most informed of the investment opportunities in Africa.

South East Asia and Sub Saharan Africa were two regions being always compared when it comes to their economy. Now, both areas are showing eagerness to progress, and their efforts are being paid off. Each regions are supporting each other shoulder to shoulder. By making more investments, especially in Africa, they are both ahead of better days.

One of those South East Asian country that has prospects in Africa is Singapore. Just last month, 31 Singapore-based firms cooperated in a business affair in the said continent. $66 million worth of deals under negotiation is what they brought home. The country become envious of what China has become because of their investments in Africa. Asia’s Lion city is eying the oils and minerals in Nigeria and other business sectors in South Africa and Ghana.

Malaysia is also a South East Asian country that has established good business relationship with Africa since 1990s. In fact during that time, both parties showed end up with very notable increase on their trade and investment sectors. Now, they are reviving what has transpired between them before. Just like many other nations, they are investing in Nigeria. Several Malaysian plantation companies are thinking of investing in the Black continent of the similarity of its soil condition with Europe. The country is thinking of expanding their oil palm sector, through the help of Nigeria. Malaysia, Indonesia and Nigeria were the top three largest palm oil producer in the world.

And speaking of Indonesia, they also have an eye at Africa. Business organizations think that there is a similar climate conditions between them. And so, aside from oil palm, they will also try to develop their rubber plantation industry. They think they have the advantage on the said sector since only few economies have noticed the potential of the region (Africa). Indonesia’s prospect countries were Liberia and Ivory Coast.

Vietnam and Algeria also have a good connection. The two countries are cooperating to boost energy production. This is after they agreed in a partnership between the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) and Sonatrach, an Algerian state energy group.

Other countries with and will do investment in Africa are Laos, Brunei,and Thailand.

Gold Investments

European Central Banks renew sales pact and Boost Gold

Europe agreed to renew their pact to cap sales of gold for another five years causing gold prices to boost.

This reaffirmed gold’s status as a key reserve asset. Also, the new Central Bank Gold Agreement reduced the maximum amount of gold that can be sold by the signatories.

Under a new deal to replace the current five-year pact, the limit for sales has gone down to 2,000 tons from 2,500 tons. Annual sales are now capped at 400 tons, down 25% from 500 tons – a quota that was not reached in recent years.

Gold sales were first capped by European in 1999 in an attempt to reduce market volatility. Their agreement to prevent markets being flooded with the gold has been an important factor in its rally over recent years.

Because of the recent economic plummet, gold’s status as a safe-haven asset has also helped boost the price of gold.

The new deal and its tighter sales quotas help cement a view that the days are over of central banks’ anti-gold stance and the kind of big sales announcements – notably by the Bank of England at the end of the 1990s – that led to wild swings in prices.

The World Gold Council welcomed the new deal. “The announcement is a clear endorsement of gold’s role in today’s global economic and financial architecture and a reflection of the success of the previous Central Bank Gold Agreements,” said chief executive, Aram Shishmanian.

“The agreement to limit the sale of gold over the five-year period to 2,000 tons demonstrates that, at a time of continued market volatility and inflationary fears, gold’s unique investment qualities provide the necessary hedge and protection that central banks are seeking.

“The reduction in the annual ceiling on sales … reflects an acknowledgment of the fact that the central banks’ appetite for sales is diminishing.”

Investing in the US

In the worst financial crisis since the great depression, the U.S. government has responded with $13.5 trillion in pledged or potential outlays. Meanwhile, rising unemployment and slumping corporate profits are crimping the U. S. Treasury’s tax revenue.

Because the credit worthiness of the U. S. government is raising concern, it’s no surprise that the eagerness of foreign governments and investors for dollar-denominated investments has diminished.

The dollar’s standing as the world’s de facto reserve currency is impaired. Nations are looking to diversify their foreign exchange reserves away from the dollar and showing a liking for gold. The combination of liquidity circulating through the U. S. economy and a tanking dollar stokes inflation. Gold is being sought out as a safe-haven by investors who sense the threat of inflation.

Gold Price Outlook

Gold is once again approaching the psychologically important $1,000 per ounce mark. Rallies in the price of gold have peaked in the $900-1,000 per ounce range three times since the start of 2008. I believe gold will crack the four-figure mark in 2009 and move on to exceed its 2008 highs. Given the state of the U. S. economy and the monumental challenges ahead, the $1,000 per ounce figure can well become a support or floor for a long time to come.

Forex Trading Online Needs Strategies But With Right UK Forex Brokers Handling The Investments

It is not without reason that forex trading online has been considered as one of the most lucrative investment in the online market nowadays. Forex trading UK has seen a lot of people coming for the pairs of currencies on a platform which acts as the UK forex brokers. Millions of money is invested in the forex market everyday which amounts to a lot of money.

With the FX UK market being open since Sunday night to Friday evening, and that too, 24 hours of the day, people get enough time to make their investments and keep an eye. But sitting down near the computer all day and keeping a mark on the changes is not possible. To help people in the forex trading UK, many forex trading strategies are required which can be found in the internet. These strategies are also provided by the platforms in which people register themselves to play their strikes.

Self understanding – In the process of investments in the FX UK, people will have to understand the forex market. This is best possible by demo platforms where people can learn to make their moves and know about the shifts in the currency prices.

Beware of brokers – With more and more foreign currency exchange investors coming into the market, it has become a lucrative prospect for the platforms to earn a good amount of money. Since they know about the vulnerability of the investors, many times, the UK forex brokers tend to provide a number of methods by calling them forex trading strategies. People should remain careful from such strategies which are claimed to be the best and providing 100% profits. This is because forex trading online is never fully understood by anyone and making a complete prediction is not at all possible. This means that brokers or platforms, who invite people by claiming full profit, should be given a go by.

Profit not everything – Many investors are going for the foreign currency trade by investing in the forex trading UK, where they will have to take care of their priorities and not be swayed by the profitability factor. The shift in currency prices is so quick that making the strike at the right points is, many a times, missed out. With the right brokering agency, people will be able to get the maximum profits by minimising the losses.

Stop loss and hedging is the technique that has saved many a people from undergoing huge losses.

Many functionalities of forex trading are required to be taken care of, if people want to have their investments in the right direction. Choosing a good trading platform and then going through various analysis and strategies is required. People on their part, should know a little about the investments at least, so that they can understand the terminologies associated with forex trading.

Fidelity Investments Mutual Funds

There are many smart ways of investing and earning more money. Mutual Funds is one of the ways to invest. Investing in a company which has good fundamentals and track record is a smarter way. “Fidelity Investments” is one of the top performing mutual fund companies in the United States.

There are many top rated mutual fund schemes that are available in Fidelity Investments. Some of them are:

* Fidelity Stock Funds
* Fidelity Europe Fund
* Fidelity Japan Smaller Companies Fund
* Fidelity Municipal Income Fund

There are also some more schemes which are top rated by the rating agencies. As a investor, it is your responsibility to safeguard your money and invest in the right scheme to earn more money. So you should spend some time to analyze the top rated schemes and spotting the best among them.

There is a basic criterion which you should check before investing in any fund. You should check the ratings given by morning star. If the rating is “Low Risk” then you can select the fund and analyze the other factors. You should check the 6 months, one year, 3 years and 5 years returns history and check for consistency. You should also check whether the fund manager of the particular fund has been changed in the past 5 years. This is an important measure because, if the same fund manager stays for 5 years, then he would effectively manage the scheme and generate more returns.

Next Step: Start analyzing the top rated fidelity mutual funds.

Make Your Investments Work For You Five Steps to Higher Money Market Rates

When you want an investment strategy that offers high interest without much risk, a money market account might be the perfect solution. Interest rates for money market accounts are generally based on rates that come from the Federal Reserve. Of course, the numbers can change daily, as the market goes up and down throughout the week. However, there are a few steps you can take to find an account with the best money market rates.

1. Do Your Research
Before opening a money market account, you should shop for offers from multiple banks. While rates fluctuate in accordance with the economy, some accounts also factor your rates based on your initial deposit or the amount you have invested. To find the best money market rates, determine how much you’re ready to invest upfront and how much you’ll be able to contribute in the future. With these numbers in mind, you can choose an account that offers great rates for your budget.

2. Have a Plan
You’ll typically find the best rates for your money market account when you’re able to make a large deposit upfront. Most banks have a general minimum balance requirement for your first deposit. Some banks also categorize your account based on your deposit amount or the amount you’re planning to invest later on. If you’re close to the minimum required amount for the next category, it might be worth waiting to invest until you have more saved, as you’ll be able to secure a higher rate.

3. Choose the Right Time to Invest
Keep an eye on money market rates before opening your account. Though you’ll never be able to get a guaranteed rate, you can predict what the market is likely to do in the short-term future. If the market is experiencing a low period, you might want to wait a couple months before putting your funds into a money market account. You won’t lose money by investing too early, but you could earn more by waiting just a little longer. Of course, you shouldn’t put off your investments indefinitely, as this causes you to effectively lose money you could be earning. Consult a financial adviser to determine the best time to open your money market account.

4. Watch for Better Offers
As you invest, look for offers that allow you to upgrade your account status. Many banks will raise your account to the next category when you reach a new investment tier. By paying attention to the amount you’ll need to invest, you can create an effective strategy for putting money into your account. It doesn’t hurt to look for deals from other banks, but you’ll typically have greater success by maximizing your existing account’s potential. Additionally, if a new investment will cause your rate to change, you should try to coordinate the deposit with a period of market growth.

5. Keep Your Balance Stable
Money market accounts are flexible, offering many of the same benefits as checking and savings accounts. You can withdraw money, write checks and make deposits like you would with a traditional checking account. However, you will find better results when you treat your account like a savings account. Avoid taking too much money out at once, as you should be careful to never let your balance drop too much. Maintaining a high balance can make you eligible for better money market rates and upgrades on your account. If your account has a maximum allowed balance, consider investing your surplus into another money market account or in another investment vehicle, such as a certificate of deposit or an individual retirement account.