Investment Articles

Foreign funds, particularly dollars, have been pouring into Brazil this year. The record influx indicates that investment in Brazil is seen as a safe haven for funds.

Brazilian investment ranked fifth in the world in 2010 for foreign direct investment (FDI). Amounts this year appear to be increasing on 2010. Flows of FDI into Brazil during the first six months of this year were the highest since 1947 when the Brazilian Central Bank records began.

Foreign investment in Brazil from January to June totalled US$32.5 billion, 67% of the total FDI in 2010. The business magazine Istoe Dinheiro attributes the rise in foreign funds to the forthcoming World Cup and Olympics plus big investment in Brazil’s oil and gas industries.

Investment Oasis

Against a background of global economic uncertainty, investment in Brazil is seen as an opportunity. Istoe Dinheiro calls Brazil “an oasis in the midst of the global drought”, a perception shared by many foreign investors, particularly because Brazil represents such good investment potential across a wide range of options.

These options encompass equity, commodities, agriculture and real estate in Brazil offering timescales for every portfolio. Funds for short-term investments are attracted to Brazil because of the profits to be made on high interest rates. Long-term investments find appeal in Brazil’s expanding consumer market.

Brazilian investment is also perceived as a safe haven from doubts over US debt and the second Greek bail out. The buoyant Brazilian domestic market with its fast-growing middle classes is a magnet for consumer-orientated investment and Brazil’s strategic position in Latin America brings many other emerging markets such as Chile, Colombia and Peru within easy reach.

Brazilian Investment Abroad

Parallel to the huge influx of FDI into Brazil is Brazilian investment abroad, also experiencing record levels. Central Bank statistics reveal a massive increase this year – from January to July, Brazilians invested US10.53 billion outside Brazil, 91% of the 2010 total. Total Brazilian assets abroad are expected to reach US$300 billion by the end of this year.

Most Brazilian investment outside Brazil is direct participation in foreign companies, followed by equity and portfolio investment. Perhaps surprisingly given the booming Brazilian property market is the size of real estate investment by Brazilians abroad. The largest group of foreign buyers of real estate in Miami are Brazilians who are buying 9% of property there.

For international investment experts, the latest FDI figures for Brazil are indicative of the country’s consolidation as an investment destination. Against a background of global economic insecurity, many analysts expect to see further investment in Brazil and other solid emerging markets. The phenomenon of bigger Brazilian investment abroad is seen as a sign of greater Brazilian wealth and of Brazil’s increasingly important international presence.

About Obelisk International: Obelisk International offers select investment opportunities in Brazil in a range of sectors such as residential real estate, construction and social housing. Obelisk gives investors security, profitability and diversity thanks to a combination of close attention to our clients’ investment requirements and high quality in-house research and analysis.

For more information on Brazilian investments and to find out about Obelisk International’s latest opportunities for investment in Brazil, contact us on 0034 952 820 319. Via email: info@obeliskinternational.com or visit our website: http://www.obeliskinternational.com. Follow us on Twitter – Obelisk International and Facebook.

What is investing?

Fewer people know what investing is than one would think. Even fewer actually practice it in the real world. To define what investing is I like to refer to probably the most successful investor of his time Benjamin Graham. His protégé Warren Buffet is the richest investor (per circa 2011) in the World.

In “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham he makes the distinction between investing and speculation. “An investment is an operation which through personal analysis promises safety of principal and an adequate return. Operations that do not meet these requirements are speculative.”

In simple terms, any investment you make as an individual that does not analyse and promise strong reasonable protection from risk and have a good return on investment is not an investment but speculation.

From the above definition it is clear that the financial collapse that happened over the last 4 years to some of the biggest world investment institution shows that some of the so called “experts” were doing nothing more than speculating rather than investing with the public’s money.

What is Your Style of Investing?

Once you have an understanding of what differentiates an investor from a speculator it is a good idea to understand what style of investing you will be using.

As you can probably tell I along with Warren Buffet to be fair am a great fan of Benjamin Graham’s rules. Graham states that there are 2 main types of Investors:

-Defensive Investors; Invest in a manner that stresses safety of investment, although still looking for return of investment

-Offensive/Aggressive Investors; investing in a way that looks primarily at potential high returns of investment but must also balance this with reasonable safety

For more detailed advice on what both Defensive and Aggressive investors should invest in read “The Intelligent Investor” by Benjamin Graham

It is worth noting that nobody is 100% defensive or 100% defensive but likely a mixture of the two. In “The Intelligent Investor” Graham talks about a 25%-75% bond investment and 25-75% common shares as a good defensive technique. The simplest option would be 50% in bonds and 50% in common stock. The more defensive you are the higher the bond % of investment would be.

If you do not understand the above just realise that bond investments are seen as “safer” investments (there is always risk)

You then have to decide which you are and choose your investments only when you are sure it is a good investment that fits your rules.

To learn more about investing, visit Learning Investor

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How many times have you seen the markets crash and watch portfolios shrink like a never washed cotton shirt? Before the market dives there are three methods that can help you preserve your shirt and your cash.

With the aid of computers and many software programs you can activate key signals that can tell you when to exit the market before your portfolio becomes totally at risk.

• Equity Curve

• Benchmark Exit

• Ticker Rank + Combo Charts

Equity Curve – Michael Carr, in his book “Smarter Investing in Any Economy” writes about using an equity curve to signal when to stop using a particular investment strategy.

This equity curve chart is a type of moving average chart. When the price line of the group’s strategy cuts down through the moving average of the groups tickers, then a sell or “don’t use” this strategy signal is generated. In other words, this strategy is not making money and it is either time to switch strategies with this group, switch to a different group of ticker symbols, OR move to cash or bonds to safeguard your money.

In his book, Carr writes about an equity curve based on 250 trading days, but in turbulent market times an equity curve based on 100 trading days or even a bit less will provide more safety.

Benchmark Exit – this exit signal is similar to an equity curve or moving average but is based strictly on the performance of a major index. I prefer to use the S&P 500 (SPX) but the Dow Jones index or the Nasdaq index could also be used.

The signal is based on the price line of the index as compared to the moving average of the index. When the price line cuts down through the moving average or equity line of the index it is a signal to exit the markets and move to either bonds or cash. In my experience I have found a setting of 100 trading days works extremely well and has consistently moved me out of the markets prior to major crashes.

Ticker Rank + Combo Charts – this technique is a bit more complicated yet is still easy and gives very strong signals for reducing risk and keeping your money safe.

The first element of this method is to see where the ticker symbol of your holdings or potential buys stands in comparison to the performance of the benchmark in your group of tickers. For Example: Is the ticker you hold or want to buy ranked above or below the S&P 500 based on your method of analyzing the data (relative strength, alpha, return, etc.). If your ticker is below the S&P 500 then it is under-performing and is most likely not a good investment choice.

The next step in this method is to examine two key charts: moving average and full stochastic. Both of these charts should be giving out buy signals if you are going to buy the particular position.

If the ticker ranks below the S&P 500 and both charts are giving sell signals then the best course is to protect yourself by either moving to cash or bonds.

These three methods will enable you to avoid losing large chunks of your portfolio. You can either employ all three or just one or two to protect yourself.

Author Raymond Dominick is the designer of Dynamic Investor Pro investment software for stocks, ETFs and mutual funds. He has been investing in the markets since his teenage years. An experienced business manager and journalist, he has been a registered investment advisor representative, also a professional photographer who loves escaping to the wonders of Glacier National Park in Montana. View his software at: http://www.dynamicinvestorpro.com

For the new investor, participating in the stock market can be a daunting experience. Lack of knowledge and risk assessment are the major issues that face every investor, especially the beginner. Here are some ideas to consider:

Know before you go. Information is valuable. You would do well to learn about the area of investing in which you have interest. The library, the bookstore and the internet are good resources for gaining knowledge. A basic understanding of how things work will allow you to take your first steps with a greater degree of comfort.
Understand the process. Everything has a beginning, a middle and an end. What are the practical circumstances that may affect your risk and your value? How do they occur and when? Try to avoid following others blindly. Their situation may not be the same as yours. It is better to rely on your own knowledge and to build your experience level.
Read the prospectus. An investment fund has a prospectus which describes not only the objective of the fund but also the portfolio, the fees and charges incurred, the management, the nature of the risk, the valuation process, and how you put your money in and take your money out. There is an ongoing effort to make prospectuses easier for the public to read. Take some time to over the basics.
Ask questions. Someone besides you has asked the same questions before. The investment company, the broker, the regulatory organization or an informed third party knows the answer. Follow up on your concerns until you are satisfied.
Start small. You are more likely to make mistakes in the first part of your learning curve. Keep your investments small. You will pay a lower price for the cost of learning. Investing is not a guaranteed activity. Seasoned investors lose money–usually because of a risk taken rather than because they lack knowledge. Informed risk-taking is better than uninformed risk-taking. Small losses are better than big losses.
Start simple. There are many investments and strategies that are complicated. Invest in what you understand. It is not enough that someone has explained how things work. You should understand the investment completely. “I didn’t realize that could happen,” is not a pleasant admission for an investor.
Choose a suitable investment. What is your tolerance for risk? Everyone has their own answer. Determine your comfort zone and make sure that the investment choice matches. A good investment is one that you can stay with over a longer period of time.
Set a goal. How much is enough? What is reasonable? Ask yourself what you want from your investment and what is your time frame. Periodically assess your progress toward the goal. Are you on track or should you change your expectations? Further research may help you answer these questions.
Assume responsibility. When you invest your money, you are responsible for what happens. Someone else may have given you information or advice but, in the end, the results are yours. Taking ownership of your choices heightens your level of interest and understanding. You also gain useful experience.
Admit errors and make changes. Sometimes impulse prevails over reason or you make a wrong choice. A small mistake is better than a big mistake. Be honest with yourself and take action.
Follow your own advice, avoid the herd. The herd mentality doesn’t take your situation into account. Examine your investment choices from your own vantage point:–what is good for you.
Become your own expert. Information or advice from others is often incomplete or misleading. Do your own research and assessment. Develop your own reasons for making choices. When it comes to your money, you will take the best care.

Howard Feigenbaum is Registered Principal and Owner of Sharemaster, a Broker-Dealer firm that specializes in monthly dividend income funds.

http://www.monthlydividendcheck.com/

Another aspect for binary options is through trading commodities. Commodities can also be called consumables as they are basically anything people use on a regular basis.

Oil is one form of commodity as is gold and silver. As anyone in North America knows we have quite the oil addicted society. Until we have a viable alternative to oil and gasoline it probably won’t be changing any time soon.

With regards to gold and silver being commodities, they aren’t just used in jewellery or for investment in coins and bars.

As highly conductive metals they make for great use in electronics like you computer. Their corrosion resistance makes for great use in cell phones or any other type of electronic that might come into contact with moisture as you go about your day. Just don’t go swimming with your new iPhone.

And hopefully it doesn’t give you any ideas to melt all the gold and silver in your old cell phone and computer as I don’t know if that’s legal.

The broker you choose for binary options commodity trading will have a list of the available commodities available to you for trading.

With precious metals investing they are usually are good investments when the economy does poorly. And they tend to tank when the economy is doing well. Note I said “tend” nothing is absolute 100% one way or the other.

To help decide what type of commodity to invest in lets say for example that a particular oil company has an oil spill from it’s oil field. A possible strategy to do would be do a put on that particular company and then a call on oil stocks in general.

The reason is that the company that had the spill will likely have a sell off of its stock and as you likely notice oil prices spike when a CEO of an oil company gets a hang nail. Imagine what happens to the supply and demand when there’s a spill.

Anything like that can affect the price of a commodity will give an indication of how to potentially engage safely in commodity trading. I’ve already stated in previous articles though that there is no 100% safe trading system, what I mean by “safely” is to do your own due diligence to make sure that something is right for you and to not use debt or your children’s university education funds for speculative investing.

For more information on binary options trading Click Here

One of the best ways to save for the future is to invest your money in the right products. Putting your extra money somewhere where it has a chance to grow in value is a good move. Any wrong move will only make you lose your hard earned savings.

What you should do then is to be extra careful in choosing investment products. Make sure it’s within your budget and not something that many people are investing in at the moment. Following the trend is never a good idea, according to the experts. It’s what they call “portfolio envy” which prompts people to be envious when they see the others around them making money. But instead of having this attitude, you should rather focus on your individual goals and not follow those of your neighbor’s actions.

Another move you should take is to make regular investments at specific intervals. While you are still earning a regular income, it would be ideal to consider the so-called target date funds. This type of funds usually adjusts its mix of investments according to your anticipated retirement date.

Reconsider your decision of investing in bonds. Putting your money in treasury bonds may be seen as a safe move but it isn’t always so. You should know that when interest rates go up or the fiscal situation in the U.S. deteriorates, for instance, you could lose money from your treasury bonds notably when you’ve invested on the long-term ones.

A good alternative is to continue to invest in stocks especially if you’re still young. If you want to go with bonds, make sure to choose the short-term ones only. Experts recommend the treasury securities which are inflation protected than the 30-year treasury bonds.

A word of caution, though. If you will be using your money in the coming years, it’s not ideal to invest in the stock market. It would be better that you put your money in an online bank savings account that provides a high interest.

In addition, be responsible enough and do your research in the investment products you buy. Don’t rely too much on a stockbroker who may just be making money from you and not giving you the right advice. There have been many cases of stockbrokers who just pushed their clients to invest in the more expensive products with the end goal of earning higher commissions. You would benefit more if you get a financial planner that charges you a set fee in exchange for his advice on investments.

Your retirement account is also a good investment opportunity. But don’t assume too much when it comes to the amount you’ll get for retirement. You have to adjust your expectations if possible.

Finally, your home can be a good investment as well but don’t just expect too much. You can beautify your home if you want to add value to the property but don’t think that you can sell it right away in the event the need arises. The housing market has its ups and downs so again, proper research is necessary before making any decisions.

For information on bankruptcy, finance, credit, bankruptcy lawyers and more, visit http://onlinebankruptcyblog.com.

In times of plenty, we seek safe haven for surplus cash that will generate passive income for the future. In times of need, some of us take desperate steps to increase our money supply to meet the demands of the day. Both actions necessitate investment decisions, decisions that many of us are oftentimes not qualified nor experienced to make wisely without help. Thus, begs the need to know the answers to the four “wives” (why, when, where, who) and one “husband” (how) questions with respect to investing and financial planning. This article will discuss the two most important pre-requisites to making wise investments.

As a licenced financial planner and a business and financial advisor to small and medium companies, I am often asked to give investment tips or advice. Whether I am a fantastic investment guru or tipster or not is immaterial as I would always avoid answering such questions without knowing and understanding the financial background, status and financial goals of the questioner. This article is not intended to be a primer in investing or financial planning as one can select a book on the subject in any good high street or online bookstore. Rather, I would like to share what I consider to be the top two amongst the many pre-requisites an investor should consider before making an investment decision.

1. Have a Financial Plan with SMART goals

Planning in general is an activity we engage in all the time – planning for a holiday, planning for a wedding, or planning for any other event or planning to achieve a particular objective. However, how many of us really get involved in developing a truly comprehensive personal financial plan and implement the same? If not, why not?

The Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc (CFPBSI) defines financial planning as “the process of meeting your life goals through the proper management of your finances”. Life goals are goals dear to us that we would like see come to pass, especially during our lifetime. Such goals can be as simple as saving to buy a car or for a cruise around the world, or a bit more challenging in investing to mitigate the effects of inflation in planning for retirement.

In goal setting, it is imperative that we be rational and do not set goals that will be too difficult to achieve in the timeframe required else we can be truly discouraged and discard the plan altogether. Thus, it is good to follow the SMART principle, taught in Management 101, which states that our goals should be Specific (say, save to buy our particular dream car), Measurable (say, save $50,000 to buy a car), Achievable (say, plan to buy a car costing a sum we can afford), Realistic (as in planning to buy a car and not a trip to the moon although it can come true for some), and Timely (say, achievable within a reasonable time period).

Knowing our SMART financial goals will enable us to plan how to achieve them. If we are not sure how to develop a financial plan that is workable for us, we can seek the services of a financial planner. A point to note is to ensure that we consult a financial planner that is adequately qualified (say, having the CFPBSI’s Certified Financial Planner certification that is recognized worldwide) and experienced (and perhaps licenced to practice as a financial planner by the appropriate authorities to ensure accountability and ethical behavior).

2. Understand your personal financial risk profile

Prior to making any investment decisions, it is necessary that we understand ourselves in relation to our individual financial risk profile. All of us take risks in our daily lives and these could include crossing a busy street, or taking a flight somewhere, or even getting married considering the increasing number of separations/divorces. It is important to note that different people have different thresholds in the level of risk they are willing to take for any number of reasons.

Assuming a risk that we are not prepared or capable to cope with may result in adverse consequences and detrimental to our health. Similarly, the level of financial risk we are willing to assume or can tolerate should be carefully evaluated and such an exercise will normally be based on a set of criteria relevant to each individual. In addition, the risk profile of an individual can change as his or her personal status changes and it is generally accepted that a younger person can assume a higher financial risk compared to a person nearing retirement as the former has time to accumulate or recoup losses due to investment decisions not realizing their desired potential.

Thus, it is wise to understand our financial risk appetite and risk profile so that the investment decisions we make will commensurate with our risk profile. Investment opportunities abound in the marketplace for all risk profile types, whether one is considered a conservative or can take high risk.

In summary, the above are what I consider the two essential pre-requisites to investing and the others mainly pertain to details in understanding investing, investment strategies, and investment opportunities that can be found in any good investment text books or articles, advice from investment professionals or financial planners, or perhaps can be the subject of a follow-up article by this writer. A last piece of advice is to re-emphasise the fact that we should not make any investment decisions that can adversely impact our financial well-being until we have a sound financial plan, and if professional advice is required, do always consult a qualified and licenced financial planner to help develop one’s personal financial plan. Always remember this well-known adage – FAILING TO PLAN IS PLANNING TO FAIL.

This article is written by Christopher Chew. He is a licenced financial planner and part-time lecturer with a passion to share information to enrich lives. Follow his blog on ( http://www.trustyoucan.blogspot.com ) or Facebook page (”financial freedom and legacy”).

Finding a sensible place to invest your money is one of the most terrifying experiences in many peoples lives, the horror of watching all of your life’s saving disappear in seconds because someone wasn’t paying attention is the number one fear of the middle class today. Good investments are not always obvious. Since for many people it is their future, the importance cannot be overestimated.

Investing in a well established and trusted company is a nice secure way to make sure that your money probably won’t disappear overnight. Safe stocks are more expensive because they are less risk. It has been said that property is theft, and to some degree that remains true today as if you have a good portfolio of property and find a letting agent you are paid for doing literally nothing.

The bond market is a more safe version of the stock market where money is invested in the future in the same way but is not so closely linked to market fluctuations up or down making a safer investment. A mutual fund allows you to join a group of similar investors led by financial experts who will reinvest the groups money into the stock market. This way you can be involved in the actual investment but with expert help.

Exchange Traded Funds or EFTs work in the same way as mutual funds but they will be limited to one industry allowing for a greater level of expertise. Great if you share this expertise. A private pension is for the most part an incredibly safe and reliable way to invest money for the future although obviously the profit is much lower along with the risks

Art is a good investment for those who have an interest in the art world or an eye for a piece with the possibility to make some truly staggering returns with the advantage of actually owning a thing. Private equity is the practice of investing in companies that are not publicly traded. This is a good option if you find the stock market a terrifying and insane place sucking the life out of all human endeavor that it comes into contact with.

A trust fund is investing your money directly into your family or a group of your choosing to be drawn on according to conditions set by the investor. They are not a good investment for profit but can have high human rewards. Motivation is often a key stumbling block.

Government bonds work exactly the same as private bonds but they allow the government to make use of private money for social programs as well as providing a fair interest rate so you can give back while saving. There are a number of options for good investments out there, be sure to choose the right one. Don’t rush, be sure you know what you are getting into.

There are plenty of investment tips available on our website. Click on this link for more information on what makes good investments

Planning your investments according to the need is the most important investment advice you can receive. If you have a short term need, such as one where the money is necessary within a three-year period, you’ll want different investments than you’d have for a long-term need that takes place 20 years in the future.

Short term needs require two things when you invest. Liquidity when you need the money and safety. Since you only have a limited time, higher risk investments that fluctuate dramatically can go down and not recover in time for your specific goal. This means you find another way to finance your project, either often costing you in interest payments, or selling your investment for a loss.

Those who seek investment advice find that stocks are not the way to invest for a short-term goal. No matter how stable the company seems, the stock price will fluctuate with market conditions. In a bad economy, the drop can make a difference between a profit and a loss.

Bonds with a maturity date set within your period can provide one means of financing a need that is short term. Don’t be fooled into thinking a traditional bond fund will do the same. The bond market rises and falls just like the stock market. However, a short-term bond fund, filled with bonds that mature within a year, often has little fluctuation and offers a higher rate of return than traditional savings. Be aware of the load if you invest in a short-term bond fund. The load can erode any gain you might see. Some funds offer a reduced load or no load if you leave the funds for at least a year. Other no load funds don’t have the peril of higher charges.

Money market funds are also another way to achieve higher returns without the risk associated with stocks or other types of investments that fluctuate in price. You’ll never make a 20 percent return on your money but you will often receive a higher return than you’d get in a savings account. You can also find money market accounts with tax-free instruments if you’re in a higher tax bracket. Since the returns are tax-free, they’re often lower so make sure your tax bracket is high enough to offset the loss of return if you use a tax-free money market fund.

Shorter term CDs are also great ways to invest if you have a short-term goal. Be aware there’s a difference in bank CDs and brokerage CDs. The principal on bank CDs don’t fluctuate, while the brokerage CDs vary just like stocks and bonds. Often, brokerage CDs are longer term and if you select one that comes due within a year, it probably will be stable. Even though the return on a brokerage CD looks better, consider all costs of the purchase before you make your final decision. Ask for investment advice from someone you trust before investing into any product you don’t understand.

Short-term notes can also be another good investment for goals that occur in less than three years. Short-term notes are often under a year and of several different grades. If you want safety, look for those with the highest credit rating. If you want a higher return, you can purchase those with a slightly less than the best rating, but be aware, the lower the rating on the note, the higher the risk.

Alex Roca is the creator, founder and editor of http://smart-personal-finance.com – a popular website that provides free education on personal finance. For more information on money management, investing, budgeting, saving, and retirement visit http://smart-personal-finance.com

Are you confused on what investments you should do? Has the financial analyst had you stumped because there opinions on the market vary by the minute? In this time of uncertainty who can you trust to invest your money?

If you are anything like me you are sick of the one size fits all investment advice answers. You are smart enough to know that each person is different and what’s good for Joe Sloe to invest in may not be a good investment for you.

As you read this article you will get key points to think about before investing in anything. This is critical your money is important this article will let you know for yourself how to invest when you are not sure who to believe.

Before we begin lets clear up an investment myth to help you start off on the right track. It’s a mishap that many people fall into and what many analysts don’t know or understand themselves. What I am referring to here is disclosing what investing really is.

Investing is a plan foremost in which you perform certain procedures to get the result of income that you can access now not in the future. The result or goal is to earn money daily monthly quarterly, or yearly anything outside of this is not really investing it is something else. Understanding this concept is pivotal especially when you are not sure who to believe or invest in. Every investment decision you make should be centered on this idea.

So many times people find their money is lost because they invest on hot tips, fly by night pipe dreams and sometimes even good investment concepts but they don’t center around the fact that they have to generate income on a regular basis.

Let’s take stocks for instance if you use a broker does his investment plan for you focus on you earning a dividend? Is his or her suggestion of stocks based on companies that consistently pay dividends or are they based on recommendations of stocks that may exhibit a huge spike. One recommendation is for cash flow and the other for capital gains. If you are unsure about who to trust in investing your strategy should be on the cash flow play aka earning a dividend.

The same is true for real estate are you buying properties to rent or to sell? Again one is focused on investing and the other is not. There is nothing inherently wrong with either approach but when it comes to investing when you are not sure it’s better to focus your energy on receiving income regularly not in bursts or spurts that may or may not happen.

Now please pay attention because this is very important: Are you making any of the three classic mistakes that will prevent you from ever investing properly? I hate to admit it but I have made all three find out what they are and how to avoid them go to http://www.actualrealmoney.com