Invest Offshore tag:www.investoffshore.com,2009:/blog/1 2009-10-06T14:55:27Z Offshore Investing Guide Movable Type 3.35 Uruguay Real Estate Continues To Levitate tag:www.investoffshore.com,2009:/blog//1.441 2009-10-06T14:49:29Z 2009-10-06T14:55:27Z Uruguay is a place that people fall in love with. The extensive, untouched beaches, old-world charm of capital Montevideo, and warm Uruguayan attitudes towards foreigners all play their part. In fact the most trouble tourists have in Uruguay is when... Patrick Winters http://www.capitalconservator.com uruguay real estate. Beautiful houses at the best prices. Find the latest news on property purchases and rentals in the real estate section of Uruguay's only English news digest.]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2009/10/uruguay_real_estate_continues.php Capital Conservator tag:www.investoffshore.com,2009:/blog//1.440 2009-10-06T13:41:12Z 2009-10-06T14:31:26Z Capital Conservator is not a bank, nor is it a bank introduction or bank account opening service. The Capital Conservator Group is composed of multiple financial services companies, holding deposits and making investments for its clients using its own accounts... Patrick Winters http://www.capitalconservator.com Capital Conservator is not a bank, nor is it a bank introduction or bank account opening service. The Capital Conservator Group is composed of multiple financial services companies, holding deposits and making investments for its clients using its own accounts in order to protect the privacy of its clients. This means: * Your funds are held in CC accounts at partner banks; * Your investments are held in CC accounts at partner investment houses; * Your gold and silver are held in CC accounts at bonded repositories; * You ATM card is funded from a CC master account for enhanced privacy. * Your affairs remain private between you and CC CC requires modest and sensible due diligence and is pleased to welcome: * accounts from offshore companies, trusts, and foundations; * other non-resident accounts; * customers without bank references; * special account needs; * escrow accounts; and * short-term transit accounts.]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2009/10/capital_conservator.php Best Offshore Investments: How to Maximise the Potential of Your Offshore Bank Account tag:www.investoffshore.com,2009:/blog//1.439 2009-04-01T12:46:04Z 2009-04-01T13:00:07Z Privacy, Asset Protection and greater freedom of movement are just some of the qualities that lure investors offshore. Some people are happy to have their money safely locked away, an insurance policy against volatile stock markets, currency fluctuations and avaricious... Patrick Winters http://www.capitalconservator.com Gold – In addition to being one of best financial reserves you can get, gold can actually increase in value during a bear market. If you had bought an ounce of gold in 2003 you would by now have nearly tripled your investment in only 6 years!!! Gold has its own intrinsic value unlike paper monies which can fluctuate wildly, especially in economic downturns when countries ‘compete’ to devalue their own currencies. Imagine having your very own offshore gold ‘plan b’ stored in a safe deposit box, anonymously, out of reach of creditors, greedy lawyers, the taxman and anyone else with a covetous eye on your assets. Best of all its value is quietly multiplying… Certificates of Deposit – Rather than let your offshore assets sit idly by while inflation gobbles them up, invest in a certificate of deposit. Ranging from a couple of months to several years, these will pay you interest, usually based on a fixed annual rate. Sometimes you can get much better interest rates in a different country – this is one of the primary reasons for moving offshore – but remember to do your research beforehand. There have been countless cases of scams where investors were promised fantasy interest rates and ended up losing everything to a ponzi scheme. Part and parcel of ‘soft-touch’ regulation in tax havens is that you will come across schemes like these. The best method of research is to ask other banks who have had contact with the institution to give their professional opinion. Always remember the maxim – ‘if its sounds to good to be true, it probably is’. A bank offering interest rates of 10% when the benchmark is set at 2% is either a fraud or in serious financial trouble. Tax-Free Trading - Once you have invested in an offshore bank account, think about expanding further and trading stocks. Most banks and brokerages will charge you for opening an anonymous investment account, but some might even do it for free! From a trading account you can buy and sell shares in all the major markets- anonymously- and since your account is offshore your gains are also tax free! Fees will vary greatly depending on the brokerage, but the best ones will give you an online platform so you can manage all your trades from the comfort of your own home, and with low overheads they can afford to charge nominal premiums on each trade. Exotic Investments – Exotic investments are usually more risky than average, and may consist of financial instruments such as sovereign & corporate debt, high-yield investment schemes and other investments which are outside of your domestic reach. The best bet here is to find a broker you can trust to advise you in this area. If you are willing to accept a high degree of risk, exotic investments may just be for you, since in return for high risk the results can be spectacular. Are you ready to take a giant step forward, and start making your money work for you? Click to get started with Anonymous Offshore Investing ]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2009/04/best_offshore_investments_how.php Stanford Financial: Black Clouds Ahead? tag:www.investoffshore.com,2009:/blog//1.438 2009-02-13T13:48:52Z 2009-02-13T14:08:01Z Financier Allen Stanford, the man famous for promoting grassroots cricket in the West Indies, finds himself in the spotlight once again - but this time the attention isn't welcome. His Stanford Financial Group is facing a visit from regulators after... Patrick Winters http://www.capitalconservator.com precious metals. But skeptical federal and state regulators are now taking a hard look at Stanford's operation—especially those CDs, whose underlying investments seem questionable. Over the past 12 months, the stock market and hedge funds have lost huge amounts of value even as Houston-based Stanford Financial Group continued to pay out above-average returns and claimed to have boosted the assets it oversees by 30%, to more than $50 billion. BusinessWeek has learned that the Securities & Exchange Commission, the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, a major private-sector oversight body, are all investigating Stanford Financial. The probes focus on the high-yield CDs and the investment strategy behind them. According to people close to the investigations, the three agencies are also looking at how Stanford Financial could afford to give employees large bonuses, luxury cars, and expensive vacations. Selling CDs typically is a low-margin business. Stanford Financial vigorously defends its practices. "All three [agencies] have stated to us they were visiting our offices as part of routine examinations," says company spokesman Brian Bertsch. The firm, he adds, "follows industry standards for marketing and generating sales." With post-madoff markets still jittery about the possibility of another big revelation it will be interesting to see how this one plays out. More on offshore investment accounts]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2009/02/stanford_financial_black_cloud.php EU Executive Targets Bank Secrecy tag:www.investoffshore.com,2009:/blog//1.437 2009-02-04T18:32:40Z 2009-02-04T18:38:46Z Every day it becomes increasingly more evident that investing offshore requires professional guidance. European Union states won't be able to fend off tax evasion inquiries by hiding behind bank secrecy rules under a proposal to be adopted on Monday. The... European Union states won't be able to fend off tax evasion inquiries by hiding behind bank secrecy rules under a proposal to be adopted on Monday. The measure is part of wider EU efforts to snare people who exploit loopholes in rules to escape the taxman. Continue reading EU Executive Targets Bank Secrecy]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2009/02/eu_executive_targets_bank_secr.php Seychelles Liberalise Foreign Currency Dealings tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.436 2008-11-05T22:53:42Z 2008-11-05T22:59:44Z The Seychelles government has decided to remove all restrictions on foreign exchange dealings and has set up new regulations to allow the national currency (Rupee) to float, APA learns on Wednesday in the Seychellois capital Victoria. According to a communiqué... Seychelles Liberalise Foreign Currency Dealings]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2008/11/seychelles_liberalise_foreign.php Wealth Management Summit Tips tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.435 2008-10-16T18:38:29Z 2008-10-16T18:57:16Z During a Wealth Management Summit being held this week in Boston, Singapore and Geneva, private banking executives provided some investment tips. Jennifer Tay, Citi Private Bank, Asia-Pacific Head of Portfolio Counselling "We tell clients, markets are not going to stay... Jennifer Tay, Citi Private Bank, Asia-Pacific Head of Portfolio Counselling
"We tell clients, markets are not going to stay down forever. There will come a time when you have very decent recovery and typically even when you look at the (past) since the 1950s, you had nine recessions and after a recession markets just spike upwards.
Continue reading Investment tips from private bankers]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2008/10/wealth_management_summit_tips.php Offshore Business Workshop tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.434 2008-10-13T21:07:52Z 2008-10-13T21:09:08Z If you are an entrepreneur and thinking about doing business offshore, you are faced with a choice between an unincorporated branch operation, a foreign LLC or IBC or corporation that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. tax purposes... Offshore Investing Workshop]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2008/10/offshore_business_workshop.php The Global Economy and OECD tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.433 2008-10-03T00:08:24Z 2008-10-03T00:12:22Z In a speech on the outlook for the world economy, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría spoke about the impact of the financial crisis and OECD's work to produce a more inclusive globalisation. The financial system is a conveyor belt through which... The financial system is a conveyor belt through which the economy works. And if the financial system is partially blocked or paralysed, as it is now, then the economy cannot work normally. Continue reading: The Global Economy and OECD]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2008/10/the_global_economy_and_oecd.php Wealthy Investors Hoard Bullion tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.432 2008-10-01T23:59:19Z 2008-10-02T00:01:54Z Investors in gold are demanding “unprecedented” amounts of bullion bars and coins and moving them into their own vaults as fears about the health of the global financial system deepen. Industry executives and bankers at the London Bullion Market Association... Wealthy Investors Hoard Bullion]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2008/10/wealthy_investors_hoard_bullio.php American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.431 2008-09-22T13:11:44Z 2008-09-22T13:18:00Z New Date: Chicago Investor Briefing on Southeast Asia's New Expanded Special Economic Zone (off Coast of Singapore) to be Held - Oct. 31, 2008 The Province of Riau Islands in cooperation with Baker & McKenzie, the American Indonesian Chamber of... New Date: Chicago Investor Briefing on Southeast Asia's New Expanded Special Economic Zone (off Coast of Singapore) to be Held - Oct. 31, 2008 The Province of Riau Islands in cooperation with Baker & McKenzie, the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago invite internationally-focused investors, executives, financial and service professionals, journalists and other interested individuals to attend an Investor Forum highlighting emerging trade and investment opportunities within Southeast Asia's New Expanded Special Economic Zone (SEZ), located 12 miles off the coast of Singapore in Indonesia.]]> CLICK HERE to forward a registration or information request or contact the individual indicated below. Registration will commence at 8:30 AM at which time a continental breakfast will be served and the program will begin promptly at 9:00 AM. Speakers will include: Drs. Ismeth Abdullah, Governor of the Kepri Riau (Riau Islands) Province and Former Chairman of the Batam Industrial Development Authority where the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is located; Barry Metzger, Senior Partner, Global Banking & Finance Practice Group, Baker & McKenzie and Former General Counsel, Asian Development Bank; Richard N. Pigossi, Founder & Chairman of Pegasus Capital, a Singapore-based financial advisor and long-time investor in Indonesia; Wayne Forrest, President of the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce; Stephanus M. Suwaryanto, Acting Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago and Diono Nurjadin, Chairman, US Committee, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President, Cardig, Indonesia. The event will conclude at 11:30 PM, followed by scheduled one-on-one meetings with Governor Ismeth Abdullah and other members of the Riau Island / Batam delegation. Strategically located adjacent to the Indian and Pacific Oceans off the coast of Singapore, the Riau Island/Batam New Expanded SEZ is composed of the three islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun. It is perhaps the most attractive manufacturing, industrial and logistical platform in ASEAN and the second most popular international tourist destination in Indonesia. Collectively these three islands exported goods worth a total of $4.24 billion during 2006, and during the first four months of 2007 exports rose dramatically to $2.19 billion from $1.86 billion in the same period in 2006. Southeast Asia's New Expanded SEZ builds on the prior success of Batam, which has enjoyed limited Free Trade Zone status since 1978. Due to its strategic location and proximity to Singapore, low cost structure, skilled work force, excellent logistical facilities and tax and other investment incentives, over 600 foreign companies have invested billions of dollars and are presently operating in sectors including technology, medical equipment and electronics, telecommunications, agribusiness, textiles, industrial assembly and fabrication, shipbuilding and tourism, oil and energy services. Examples include McDermott International, AT&T, PerkinElmer, Bechtel, Seagate Technology, Babcock & Wilcox, Holiday Inn, Matsushita, Kyocera, Hitachi, Sanyo, Nippon Steel, Hyundai, Sony and Philips. "We look forward to briefing Chicago-based firms about the many trade and investment opportunities now emerging following adoption of new legislation by the Indonesian Parliament last October and a July 2006 agreement between Indonesia and Singapore to jointly transform Batam, Bintan and Karimun into an expanded SEZ investment magnet," notes Drs. Ismeth Abdullah, Governor of the Kepri Riau (Riau Islands) Province and Former Chairman of the Batam Industrial Development Authority. "These developments build on the success Batam has achieved over the past three decades. Our achievements include $9bn in foreign investment that has already been generated within our province. In addition to the basing of manufacturing, industrial and distribution facilities, investment priorities include infrastructure, port and road development, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, alternative energy, and healthcare, education and other services." "US companies are joining their counterparts in Asia and Europe in recognizing the business and investment potential of ASEAN, a rapidly growing region composed of ten nations with a combined population of about 500 million. It has a total area of 4.5 million square kilometers, a gross domestic product of almost US$ 700 billion and a total trade of about US$ 850 billion," comments Wayne Forrest, President of the AICC. "The Riau Island / Batam New Expanded SEZ offers an ideal platform from which to operate both in regional and global terms. This includes cost competitiveness, close proximity to Singapore and excellent transportation links in addition to six international standard golf courses, beautiful beaches, and a wealth of ecotourism possibilities." "Baker & McKenzie is pleased to host the Riau Island delegation during their Chicago visit and to invite locally-based firms and professionals to hear how they can directly benefit from this new expanded SEZ," states Barry Metzger, Senior Partner, Global Banking & Finance Practice Group, Baker & McKenzie and Former General Counsel, Asian Development Bank. "Providing -- within a 12 mile radius -- access to the world-class city, quality of life and services of Singapore and the cost structure and efficiencies available in Indonesia, the Riau Island / Batam New Expanded SEZ offers the physical, service and operating infrastructure US firms and investors need to enhance their global competitiveness and to expand into one of the most rapidly growing regions in the world." To attend the Riau Island/Batam New Expanded Special Economic Zone Investor Briefing in Chicago on October 31, 2008 or to obtain more information, please CLICK HERE to forward a registration or information request or contact the individual indicated below. KWR International, Inc. Keith W. Rabin email: riaubatam@kwrintl.com tel./fax +1-212-532-3005 / 212-685-2413 This material is published and disseminated by KWR International, Inc. on behalf of the Province of Riau Islands, Indonesia.. Additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2008/09/american_indonesian_chamber_of.php Gold Traders Take Profits tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.430 2007-11-19T16:02:49Z 2007-11-19T11:03:50Z After four months of a resilient uptrend in the Gold market, it appears traders are beginning to feel the pressure to take profits. I believe Gold traders are keeping a close eye on the recent turmoil in the Stock Market... After four months of a resilient uptrend in the Gold market, it appears traders are beginning to feel the pressure to take profits. I believe Gold traders are keeping a close eye on the recent turmoil in the Stock Market and it brings back memories of the mass Metals liquidation to cover margins in their Stock portfolios. Despite a very weak U.S. Dollar, Geopolitical tension, and the signs of a weakening economy, it is my belief the gold trading community is content to take profits. After all, the Holiday markets are just around the corner. I do not believe the BULL market is gone. In fact, I was of the belief the market was overbought and very top heavy and needed to retrace. If you look at a December Gold chart you will see that since August 16th the Gold market has been in a significant uptrend from the $652.00 level. Most Gold traders see these profit-taking sell-offs as a buying opportunity. The prices of Bull spreads and options just got a lot less expensive. I am not the eternal Bull, however with all that is going on in the world -- Housing market woes, record Crude Oil prices, and fear of a recession, just to name a few, I am a firm believer the trend is your friend. Many traders still believe the U.S. Dollar is in serious trouble and will need further assistance from the FOMC. The next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, December 11th. Trade Smart There is a substantial risk of loss in futures, futures option and forex trading. Furthermore, Manduca Trading LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained on linked sites. Manduca Trading LLC is a registered Independent Introducing Broker with the NFA and CFTC. http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2007/11/gold_traders_take_profits.php Wealthy Moving to Hedge Funds tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.429 2007-10-24T20:29:14Z 2007-10-24T16:39:17Z The world's wealthiest private investors are planning to put more money into alternative investments over the next three years, a report says. The study said the global rich are increasingly attracted by private equity schemes and hedge funds as they... The world's wealthiest private investors are planning to put more money into alternative investments over the next three years, a report says. The study said the global rich are increasingly attracted by private equity schemes and hedge funds as they offer more stable returns than shares. September Best Month for Hedge Funds in Years Hedge Funds Return +3.27% in September 2007 and +9.40% Year-to-Date Early estimates show the HFN Hedge Fund Aggregate Average, an equal weighted average of all single manager hedge funds and CTA/managed futures products in the HedgeFund.net database, was +3.27% in September 2007. The increase was the largest in over four years, and the second largest month for hedge funds in eight years. The HedgeFund.net database consists of over 7,700 current hedge fund, fund of funds, and CTA products. Hedge funds across most strategies benefited from the U.S. Federal Reserve's attempt to ease extremely tight credit markets. Strategies which fared worst in August came back strong to erase previous month's losses. Commodity related funds performed extremely well as the Fed rate cut spurred inflationary concerns. The HFN CTA/Managed Futures Average, with 234 products reporting September performance, was +6.15% and is +7.11% YTD. Energy sector funds also took advantage of oil rising above $80/barrel and the HFN Energy Sector Average finished September +4.99% and is +13.95% YTD. Emerging market funds returned an average of +4.60% and the HFN Emerging Markets Average is +16.79% YTD. Excellent performance wasn't limited to commodity related strategies. Equity markets surged after the U.S. Fed rate cut and strategies which typically maintain long biases were rewarded. Long only funds were +3.15% in September while long/short equity managers were +2.98% and the HFN Long Only and Long/Short Equity Averages are +10.55% and +10.66% YTD, respectively. The fact that long/short equity managers are outperforming long only funds YTD is likely a testament to maintaining short exposure during volatile periods. Other equity related strategies which performed well in September include technology sector funds +8.33%, small/micro cap funds +4.32%, and healthcare sector funds +3.50%. Macro funds which often position themselves across multiple asset classes appear to have taken advantage of the strong moves seen in interest rate, currency and commodity markets. The average macro fund was +3.93% in September and the HFN Macro Average is +9.18% YTD. The global macro strategy was one of a handful of strategies tracked by HFN to outperform broad equity markets in the third quarter, returning +3.97% during the difficult three month span. Distressed managers returned an average of +0.57% in September, ending a two month streak of negative performance, but were still -2.06% in Q3 2007 and +5.85% YTD, their worst nine month start since 2002. Short bias funds were the only strategy posting negative returns in September, -2.45%, and the HFN Short Bias Average fell back to negative territory YTD, -1.43%. A full report on September performance will be available at http://www.hedgefund.net later in the month. The table below is a summary of September 2007 returns for a selection of HFN Averages: September* YTD 2007** Full Year HFN Aggregate Averages 2006** HFN Hedge Fund Aggregate Average 3.27 % 9.40 % 11.99 % HFN Regional Averages*** HFN Asia Average 4.33 % 14.84 % 8.22 % HFN Europe Average 1.00 % 6.37 % 15.37 % HFN US Average 3.17 % 8.47 % 11.04 % HFN Latin America Average 3.83 % 20.81 % 29.86 % HFN Single Strategy Averages HFN Convertible Arbitrage Average 1.68 % 4.73 % 12.84 % HFN CTA/Managed Futures Average 6.15 % 7.11 % 6.89 % HFN Distressed Average 0.57 % 5.85 % 14.90 % HFN Emerging Markets Average 4.60 % 16.79 % 22.46 % HFN Energy Sector Average 4.99 % 13.95 % 13.32 % HFN Event Driven Average 1.01 % 7.13 % 13.76 % HFN Long/Short Equity Average 2.98 % 10.66 % 12.10 % HFN Macro Average 3.93 % 9.18 % 10.46 % HFN Market Neutral Equity Average 1.46 % 5.32 % 6.58 % *Estimated results of funds reporting September 2007 performance as of October 9, 2007 **Estimated results for all funds having reported performance as of October 9, 2007 ***Regional averages derive performance from returns of funds investing primarily in those regions. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS HedgeFund.net (HFN), a division of Channel Capital Group Inc, is a leading source for hedge fund news and information. Investors who meet HedgeFund.net's accreditation standards are eligible for access to an online database of more than 7,700 hedge funds, funds-of-funds and CTA/managed futures products. HFN serves a rapidly growing user base of more than 35,000 accredited investors worldwide. Registered users include a wide range of institutional investors and high net worth individuals. For more information or to register, please go to http://www.HedgeFund.net. HedgeFund.net Contact: Joel Schwab Managing Director Channel Capital Group Inc. t: (212) 381-8065 e: joel.schwab@hedgefund.net SOURCE HedgeFund.net ]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2007/10/wealthy_moving_to_hedge_funds.php World Asset Bubble: Jeremy Grantham Speaks tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.428 2007-06-02T13:29:02Z 2007-09-30T12:32:45Z “From Indian antiquities to modern Chinese art; from land in Panama to Mayfair; from forestry, infrastructure, and the junkiest bonds to mundane blue chips; it’s bubble time!” By now you have probably heard this quote by Jeremy Grantham in his... “From Indian antiquities to modern Chinese art; from land in Panama to Mayfair; from forestry, infrastructure, and the junkiest bonds to mundane blue chips; it’s bubble time!” By now you have probably heard this quote by Jeremy Grantham in his letter to investors (which includes vice president Dick Cheney and a host of other high profilers) discussing a six week trip around the world and the pending bubble popping events to come (at least by his predictions). Grantham is not the only forecaster that has mentioned the overvalued prices of assets across the globe. Most recently (May 23rd), in one of Alan Greenspan’s consulting appearances he mentioned that Chinese markets were at unsustainable levels. (There are several other markets that are within a few percentage points of their all-time highs, but I decided to only list some of those that actually broke records.) So what exactly gives? Well, the markets have been driven by steady worldwide growth (see chart below) over the past several years and a liquid credit market making it easy to borrow money and put it to work. U.S. markets have been held up by earnings growth, which has slowed in this past quarter, and a record number of private equity deals or mergers and acquisitions. See the chart below for an overview of the world’s GDP growth from 1980-2008 projections provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As you can see, since 2003 we have been at a growth rate higher than any of the previous 27 years. That has helped propel worldwide equity markets to the record levels of today. World GDP Growth.gif It is easy to get caught up in all the attention given to markets that are propelling to new highs. Really, who would want to miss out on a major bull market? The problem (as is usually the case) is the timing of the Grantham’s so called “worldwide bubble”. The markets are flatter than ever in terms of connectivity, communication and correlations mainly due to the internet’s rise in accessibility. Does that mean that if our market were to tank the emerging markets will follow? Not likely, as the U.S. markets have been one of the weakest performers over the past 12 months. With that said, we also have the most stable and predictable economy in the world. Many analysts believe a shock to the Chinese markets may cause a windfall of turbulence for other world markets much like it did in late February. With that said, the Shanghai index fell 6.5% on May 30th. Those same analysts would have expected a drop in the U.S. markets due to the shock. However, all major U.S. indices opened at the lows only to post record highs. Now, the activity we saw that day is now merely a blip on the screen. Although the world is more globalized and has a horizontal marketplace, one can not assume that market shocks will have worldwide impacts. May 30th is a great example of the isolation to a single financial market with no overflow effects. If we are truly in an asset bubble at this time, there is always a catalyst to burst the bubble; what is it going to be this time? Jeremy Grantham says that “We (GMO, his investment firm) haven’t agreed yet on a catalyst for 1929, 1987, or 2000, or even the South Sea bubble for that matter.” He does however offer two main areas of concern; inflation and lower profit margins. Inflation may prompt the Federal Reserve to take monetary policy actions; whereas, the drop in profit margins over time could hinder financial market’s ability to maintain these high levels. It will be interesting to see if either of these two factors come to fruition, but one thing is for sure…market’s around the globe have enjoyed a great amount of growth in the past five years. Whether we come to a screeching halt or slowly contract these gains over time and the timing of either of these scenarios is the question that no one really knows. That is why the financial markets intrigue so many intelligent individuals. Until next time, enjoy the ride. By Charlie Santaularia Managing Director Parrot Trading Partners, LLC cell 785.766.0773 office 303.284.9232 www.parrottradingpartners.com charlie@parrottrading.com]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2007/06/world_asset_bubble_jeremy_gran.php Best on the Street Analysts Survey tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.427 2007-05-24T00:32:16Z 2007-09-30T12:32:45Z Thomson Financial, an operating unit of the Thomson Corporation and leading provider of information and technology solutions to the global financial community, and The Wall Street Journal have teamed for the eighth consecutive year for the Best on the Street... Thomson Financial, an operating unit of the Thomson Corporation and leading provider of information and technology solutions to the global financial community, and The Wall Street Journal have teamed for the eighth consecutive year for the Best on the Street Analysts Survey published in today's Journal. According to the survey, Merrill Lynch & Co. regained the top after falling from the No. 1 spot in the survey last year. The No. 2 position was taken by smaller research group Sidoti & Co., showing that while big Wall Street firms continue to perform well, other research outfits are gaining ground. http://www.wsj.com/). This year, more than 4,000 analysts from more than 280 firms were considered for the survey. The 223 award winners in 45 industry groups were drawn from among 1,705 analysts who met the survey requirements and qualified to have their research analyzed in detail. "We are pleased to partner once again with The Wall Street Journal to provide investors with the industry's most comprehensive independent ranking of the best analysts on the Street," said Suresh Kavan, president, Corporate Services, Investment Banking, Investment Management, Thomson Financial. "Thomson Financial is committed to providing customers with the knowledge and tools needed to help them improve their performance and enhance their competitive advantage in the marketplace. This survey is a great example of how we leverage our substantial asset base to provide not just proprietary content, but analytic expertise and market insight." Thomson Financial delivers a broad portfolio of industry names in content, analytics and transaction services via Thomson ONE, a flexible open application framework configured to the individual needs of analysts, institutional investors or retail wealth managers. Thomson ONE easily integrates with a firm's preferred infrastructure and across virtually all applications, operating systems and interfaces. About The Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal, the flagship publication of Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ; http://www.dowjones.com/), is the world's leading business publication. Founded in 1889, The Wall Street Journal has a print and online circulation of nearly 2.1 million, reaching the nation's top business and political leaders, as well as investors across the country. Holding 33 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism, The Wall Street Journal provides readers with trusted information and knowledge to make better decisions. The Wall Street Journal print franchise has more than 600 journalists world-wide, part of the Dow Jones network of nearly 1,800 business and financial news staff. Other publications that are part of The Wall Street Journal franchise, with total circulation of 2.6 million, include The Wall Street Journal Asia, The Wall Street Journal Europe and The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com, the largest paid subscription news site on the Web. In 2007, the Journal was ranked No. 1 in BtoB's Media Power 50 for the eighth consecutive year. About Thomson Financial Thomson Financial, with 2006 revenues of US$2 billion, is a provider of information and technology solutions to the worldwide financial community. Through the widest range of products and services in the industry, Thomson Financial helps clients in more than 70 countries make better decisions, be more productive and achieve superior results. Thomson Financial is part of The Thomson Corporation (http://www.thomson.com/), a global leader in providing essential electronic workflow solutions to business and professional customers. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, scientific research and healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). Website: http://www.thomsonfinancial.com/]]> http://www.investoffshore.com/blog/2007/05/best_on_the_street_analysts_su.php