Investing/Trading
Veblen Goods Investment
As the world’s economy rights itself in fits and starts there is one group of products that will likely outperform the rest. Veblen goods are luxury items which sell better the higher they are priced. The Veblen goods effect is named for the economist, Thorstein Veblen, who talked about how conspicuous consumption and status seeking […]
Interest Rate Rise
As the economy mends itself we may see a long overdue rise in interest rates. If you have been holding onto US bonds you may see their value drop with the rise in interest rates. You also may not be ready to commit your funds to more risky investments. Utility stocks have always been secure […]
Very Long Term Investment in the Green Revolution
Norman Borlaug passed away this last year. The man many call the father of the “Green Revolution” is credited with starting and leading the “Green Revolution” that allowed the world’s food production to keep up with its population growth in the later half of the 20th century. Borlaug was an Iowa boy who came to […]
Talking about Retirement Dividends
Now that the markets are recovering the focus for many has switched from survival to thoughts of retirement. High quality stocks that pay good dividends have always been a major portion of retirement directed portfolios. After last year’s economic disaster when so many supposedly strong stocks lost value the question is just what will qualify […]
Investment in Oil Stocks
The largest oil company, ExxonMobil, has not joined the price increase in oil stocks this year despite the price of oil being nearly twice what it was January 1. At just over $70 a share this is a fair market price, if you don’t believe in future growth of the world economy. It is very […]
High Tech Warfare
The cost of the defense establishment becomes increasingly hard to pay for by a nation strapped by debt. Defense stocks are down as investors worry about the withdrawal from Iraq and cutbacks in military spending in general. However, the old joke about “military intelligence” being a contradiction in terms may have a new wrinkle for […]
About Emerging Markets
As the world’s economies right themselves so called emerging markets are becoming more and more attractive. The problem is that many investors still think of emerging markets as being in small, backward countries whose primary attraction is cheap labor and raw materials. Emerging market investment in Latin America and investment in Asia is attractive. But, […]
Investment in Asian Reits
As the world comes out of the recession some economies are doing better than others and some economies have remained pretty stable. A pertinent question is how to invest safely and profitably in stable overseas markets. Investment in Singapore, for example, is attractive as it is economically successful and stable as well as politically stable. […]
Regional Investment Opportunities
The Dow Jones is back over 10,000 and economic recovery is on its way. Now the question is where to invest for the future. As in all growing or recovering markets there will be growth sectors and regional investment opportunities. The high tech areas of the Silicon Valley and the Pacific Northwest beacon for regional […]
Investment in Disinfectants
Fear drives a lot of human activity, if not most of it. The current influenza epidemic is a case in point. Experts tell us that the flu is more contagious than the yearly seasonal flu but less dangerous. Nevertheless, people are buying face masks and disinfectants in increasing numbers. In a world where air travel […]