| Mary Holm: Let sleeping offshore holdings lie
Q. (Letter received exactly a year ago). In a column in September 2001 you stated that "at any time the dollar is just as likely to fall as rise". I took the bait and responded - part of which you published and, as I remember, rubbished. I am glad that you now concede, indirectly of course, that I was right, in your column of March 18 last year where you state, "But the likelihood that the kiwi will fall in the next few years should help things along". You - correctly this time - advise readers to leave their money offshore - to take advantage of the falling kiwi. This is indeed contrary to "at any time the dollar is just as likely to fall as rise", where you were plainly wrong. If the 2001 reader had taken my advice and invested in the domestic market and then sent his/her money offshore in the past few months - when you'd have to have been an idiot to not see all the factors and read all the advice lining the kiwi up for a fall - he/she would have been substantially better off.
Ready to Trade-In Your Home?
Each year, millions of Americans move into the home of their dreams. As time goes by, families expand, kids grow older, and suddenly that home isn't quite so perfect anymore. Or perhaps you still love your home, but you really want a gourmet kitchen and a larger master bedroom. Should you start looking for a new house? Or would it be better to stay where you are and remodel instead? Both options involve a significant investment of time and money, so it's important to take your time and make an informed decision. You'll also want to be sure to consider both the financial and the emotional sides of the equation. Let's begin by examining the financial factors involved. Moving: A good local real estate agent should be able to assist you with estimates on these numbers. • How much will it cost to purchase a home that will meet your needs? • How much could you sell your existing home for? Don't forget to subtract the agent's commission from this total.
Should You Lend Money to Family Members?
Lending money to family often is not a good idea, say many financial experts, but with interest rates at some of their lowest levels in years, families may find it difficult to resist. Family loans also can be a way to pass on part of the family estate. So if you decide to lend money to a family member, proceed with caution, say certified financial planning professionals. Even with the potential advantages to your child or other relative and yourself, you should treat intra-family loans very carefully. Loans gone sour can create much bad blood in families and could end up in the courts. Before you hand over the check, ask a couple of questions. First, is the family member receiving the loan a good credit risk, or does he or she have a history of not fulfilling promises? Lending money for a mortgage might earn you better money than a Treasury security, but the loan isnt guaranteed.
Pound Rises on Speculation Rates Will Rise, Japanese May Invest
April 10 (Bloomberg) -- The British pound gained against the dollar and the yen on speculation the Bank of England will keep raising interest rates and Japanese investors are seeking higher yielding assets. The pound rose last week even after policy makers left the benchmark rate unchanged at 5.25 percent for a third month. House- price gains, above-target inflation and increasing optimism have led investors to place more bets on higher borrowing costs. ``Economic fundamentals are supporting the pound and it's doing well as a high-yielding currency,'' said Ian Stannard, currency strategist at BNP Paribas in London. ``Against the yen, the pound is underpinned by the view Japanese investors tend to invest their money abroad in search for higher yields at this time of the year.'' The pound, which has gained 13 percent against the dollar in the past 12 months, traded at $1.9727 as of 4:15 p.m.
Senate Should Put Stem Cell Research Money Where It Will Do Good ...
WASHINGTON, April 9 /Christian Newswire/ -- Fr. Frank Pavone, National Director of Priests for Life, issued a statement today on the upcoming U.S. Senate vote this week on the public funding of embryonic stem cell research. "All of the successful advancements in stem cell research have come from using stem cells whose derivation did not require the destruction of lives," said Fr. Pavone. "A vote for S. 5 is not only a vote for killing human beings in the name of research; it's a vote for wasting money. Congress should invest the funds in research that will do moral and practical good." Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro-life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia. For more information, visit www.priestsforlife.org.
Get ready to step into the future
Over the past four years, there has been a multi-fold upsurge in commodity investments. Increased interest from hedge funds, mutual funds, high networth individuals and retail investors across the world have helped to develop the market. With equities playing spoilsport, investment in commodities seems to be a worthwhile option. However, there should be a disciplined approach to any kind of investment. One must work with strict stop-losses to mitigate risks and for profitable positions, a trading stop-loss should be put to allow participation in the entire rally. There can be various modes of taking exposure in the commodity market. Broadly speaking, positions can be taken both on international and domestic exchanges. The international bourses offer futures, as well as options, to invest in, whereas on the domestic front, only futures are available for investment.
New Overseas Recruiters Swarm IIM-B Campus Offering Foreign ...
IIM Bangalore lived up to its reputation of finishing its final placements in record time. This year, IIMB again created history when its entire batch of 233 second year MBA students got placed within 5 days of placements. This year, close to 90 companies visited the campus during the Final Recruitments week. Overseas Offers Job offers at foreign locations were given by companies across profiles, something unmatched across IIMs and certainly an indicator of IIM Bangalore's growing clout. The campus was swarmed by new overseas recruiters like Arthur D. Little, Al Ghanim Industries, CiC International and Development Bank of Singapore, in addition to recruiters like GM Shanghai, McKinsey, British Petroleum, American Express, Citigroup, Procter & Gamble and the Arcelor-Mittal Group.
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