Sunshine-Empire & EmMax

Carbon credit prices are set to rise from the beginning of the third phase of the EU's Emissions Trading scheme if, as expected, parties are obliged to buy their full quotas via auction, rather than the current system of free allocation. There is also talk of a baseline being implemented for carbon credit prices, fixing a minimum price, in the fight to reach the 2020 target of 5.2% lower emissions on 1990 levels.

The Emissions Trading Scheme has come in for criticism for not effectively enough fulfilling its purpose of resulting in true reduction in emissions from heavy polluters across the EU. Phase one of the EU ETS ran from 2005 to 2008. Polluters were given a carbon quota with one credit representing one ton of carbon emissions, or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases. Emissions to the equivalent of one ton of one ton of carbon meant one carbon credit had to be retired, with the number of credits allocated to the particular emitter, being their ceiling for emissions over the three year period. In the event that an emitter used up their allowance of carbon credits, they would have to buy additional credits from either other emitters with a surplus, or carbon reducing projects allocated with carbon offsets. The idea was that this carbon trade would put a monetary cost on emissions above the allowed level, and pay for the offsetting of these emissions elsewhere, creating an overall gradual reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions.

The criticism of phase one, and two a lesser extent the current phase two, where the carbon credit allowance runs from 2008 to 2012, is that emitters were handed allowances large enough that there was a carbon credit surplus and no real reduction in emissions took place. In reality, carbon allowances were such that emissions actually rose slightly over phase one. Phase two has seen a slight reduction, but emission levels are still around the 2005 baseline. Proponents of the scheme argue that phase one can be considered an implementation period where emitters were essentially trained in the carbon credit system and its mechanics while giving them time to plan for more stringent emission quotas. Phase two has seen carbon credit quotas reduced and emitters beginning to tighten their belts in terms of emissions.

Phase three is where things really kick in. The industries and emitters covered by the scheme will be widened. One prominent example of this widening reach of industries which will come under the carbon credit system, is the airline industry. Also, whereas in phase one and phase two, initial carbon quotas were allocated, not paid for, it is mooted that in phase three the overall carbon credit pool will be auctioned off, with polluters bidding for the level of emissions they will be entitled to make. Between 2013 and 2020, the overall pool will be reduced by 1.75% annually, with the aim of hitting a 21% reduction on the 2005 emissions baseline for EU emissions, by 2020.

Whether or not some reduced degree of allocation will remain, or whether a full auction system will be implemented, carbon credit prices will almost certainly rise as reduced quotas invert the supply and demand ratio which has so far existed in the more lenient first and second phases.

The balance between establishing a higher market-based carbon price, and not making EU exports uncompetitive due to the additional cost burden compared to regions without a carbon cap, or a less strict one, will be delicate. With the EU fully committed to the EU ETS system it will have to be found if the carbon system is to be justified as a truly effective means to reducing global emission levels.

With the EU fully committed to the EU ETS system it will have to be found if the carbon credit system is to be justified as a truly effective means to reducing global emission levels. More details about carbon credits you may find on carbon-investments.co.uk

Labels: Carbon, Credit, Prices, Prospect

If you're feeling pangs of concern about your retirement nest egg and the increasingly volatile stock market, you're not alone.

The last 6 or 7 years have been filled with uncertainty for people whose serious retirement money is tied up in traditional retirement accounts like IRAs and 401(k)s. Some have seen as much as 30% of their retirement funds disappear into thin air.

The question on everyone's mind is how to protect your money from market uncertainty and how do you instead create stability?

Will Rogers is quoted as saying that "people are more concerned with the return of their money than with the return on their money." This is especially true for those who are still smarting from the losses they've experienced over the past few years.

Douglas Andrew of Missed Fortune has been a financial strategist and retirement specialist for the past 34 years. In his experience, the best vehicle for growing your serious money while avoiding the risks of market volatility is indexed universal life insurance.

This strategy requires you to maximum fund an insurance contract and the return the insurance company credits is then linked to an index such as the S&P 500, the Euro Stock Index or the Dow Jones. If the particular market your money is linked to loses value, you don't actually lose money because your money is not invested in the market itself.

This means that you're still getting a guaranteed 0-2% rate of return, even when the market goes down.

On the other hand, if the market is having a great year and growing, you get to participate 100% up to a certain cap of perhaps 12-15%. This strategy absolutely works in your favor for cash accumulation.

If a Vegas casino was to tell you that you could play there all day and they would cover your bets and even if you lost money, you'd still walk out of there at the end of the day with 1-2% more money than you came in with, you'd take notice, right? Now consider that if you actually won money, you still get to keep whatever you made, up to a cap of 12 or 15%, you'd probably choose to play in that casino.

You don't have to be a gambler to recognize that you're likely to come out ahead under those circumstances.

In essence, that's what an indexed universal life strategy can do for you.

By participating in the market indirectly, you eliminate the uncertainty and risk while still being able to benefit when the market grows. Your money isn't actually in the market, but the insurance company credits you when the market does well.

Here's an example to illustrate how this works:

From 2000 to 2007, if you would have invested $100,000 in the S&P during those volatile years, you'd have lost as much as 14-17% in the years 2001 and 2002. At the end of 2007, after the markets had rebounded, your account would only be worth $111,000 for an average annual return of 1.45%.

If you had used the indexing strategy instead, with a 1% guarantee in a down market and a 15% capped return in an up market, your account balance would be $164, 840. That's a full $53,800 more in just 8 short years for a 7.4% average annual rate of return during a period when most people were losing money.

If you had been using this Missed Fortune strategy of Lock & Reset since 1950, starting with that same $100,000, you'd have a cool $11 million in your nest egg vs. only having $8 million if that money had been at risk in the market.

That extra $3 million equals a great deal of certainty and peace of mind, doesn't it?

Labels: Market, Reset

Strategy 1 - Covered call writing and Naked Put Selling

Assuming you don't already own any stock, you can start off by doing naked put selling. With this strategy, you basically can get paid a commission to buy a stock from someone. With this strategy I would suggest you start off with a margin account. Note, you will need a minimum of $2,000 to open and maintain a margin account. With this strategy you can conservatively make 10-15% per month.

Strategy 2 - Call option buying and Put option buying

Buy a call option if you think a stock is going to go up. Buy a put option if you think a stock is going to go down.

With this strategy you do not need a margin account and you can start with as little as $100 if you find the right stock. With this strategy you can make upwards of 300% per trade!

Strategy 3 - Bird Dogging

This is also referred to as being a property scout for real estate. Basically you do the leg work to find and broker real estate deals. Once you have a contract signed, (for a price) you assign it to an investor/buyer who has the funds to close the deal. For example, let's say you find a motivated seller (let's call her Anne) that has a property worth $200,000. Because Anne is anxious to sell, she is willing to sell the property to you for $120,000. You tell Anne that you would like to buy her property but you just need two months to come up with the cash. Anne says this is fine as she won't need the cash for two months anyway. You draw up a contract with Anne saying that she will sell the property to you for $120,000 and she will not accept any other offers during a two month time frame. You can make the contract official by placing $100 in an escrow account. Another thing you do is place two clauses in the contract. The first clause will state that you can get out of the deal if your business partner or advisor does not support it. This first clause gives you a way out if you can never come up with the money. The second clause states that the contract is assignable. What this means is that at any time during the two months, you can assign/give your rights to the contract to someone else. With contract in hand you find a real estate investor (let's call him Bill) or someone looking for a house.

You tell Bill that you have a deal on a property. The property is worth $200,000 but you have a contract that will allow you to get the property for $120,000. Bill already has a potential $80,000 equity and can keep the property or sell it right away for a nice profit. You tell Bill that you don't plan to buy the property but you can assign the contract to him for $5,000. Because you have done all the leg work and the property has the potential to make around $80,000, this idea would be appealing to Bill and he gives you $5,000, gets the contract and purchases the property. So you made $4,900 on an investment of $100.

Strategy 4 - Tax Lien Investing

With this strategy you can get paid to pay other people's taxes. If someone falls behind on their property taxes, you as an investor can pay the property tax amount and once the person gets caught up, you collect what they have to pay in penalties. In states like Texas, a delinquent person has 6months to get caught up and once they get caught up they have to pay fines of as much as 50%. At least 25% of whatever they pay will go to you. For example, if someone had property taxes of $5,000, they would have to pay about $7,500 to get caught up. If you had paid $5,000 for that tax lien, you would be entitled to $1,250 or 25%. In the worst case scenario if the home owner never gets caught up, you are allowed to foreclose on the property.

So there you have it, 4 strategies that you can do with little money. To be successful in investing you need to have a combination of three things. The three things are knowledge, money, and/or time. You do not need to have all three and you can probably get by with one if you do your homework.

Dale K Poyser has been investing for 11 years and has done meticulous research on various strategies that can add residual streams of income to your life.

Not only does Dale personally practice the methods he writes about, he has also coached many others in these methods to show how easy it is to make money with residual streams of income. You can read more about Dale's strategies at http://creatingresidualincomestreams.blogspot.com/

Labels: Investment, Options, Spare

"...Move out of stocks or gold because I think they've been too hot and will crash soon", or "put some money in X because I think it's going to be hot soon." If I had a dollar every time I heard such things from clients, prospective clients, or people at a gathering after they find out that I'm a financial adviser, I could retire to the French Riviera right now, only to be seen by my family and friends during the holidays and hunting season.

In the past 20 or so years, the general public has gained access to various information, tools, and calculators that in the past were only available to financial professionals. Go to the website of a major discount broker and punch in some basic information and all the work will be done for you without having to understand all of the nuts and bolts. Most people get so much educational material thrown at them by their 401k/403b plan, one might begin to wonder how we're able to replace all the trees that had to be cut down to print it all. Data dating back to the beginning of financial markets shows that guessing market movement consistently is just not doable Couple that with the often repeated fact that 80% of mutual fund managers fail to beat their indexes, and the table that shows how being out of the market on a small handful of days in a decade or two decade span will miss most of its gains, one wonders how an individual can overlook such facts, but they do so again and again to their own chagrin. Why? I don't know but I'm going try and tackle it. Bear in mind though, I have no PhD in Psychology, just empirical observation.

WHAT IS MARKET TIMING?

One might think it includes pulling all of your money out of a particular asset class (stock/bonds/gold/real estate etc.) when one thinks or feels it's going to go down and re-investing it back in when one thinks it's going to rise, and while that is definitely market timing, it's an extreme version that not many people engage in due both to better education, and various rules and penalties that were put in place to dissuade this type of behavior. The definition of market timing that I go by is to change the strategic allocations of one's portfolio based on an "ungrounded" barometer such as market gyrations or a recommendation by an "expert" in some type of media, instead of by a more "grounded" barometer such as a change in life situation or a genuine change in risk tolerance. If, for example, your portfolio has a current stock allocation of 40%, but you decide that the market is due to rise due to some perception you have or some talking head on CNBC has, and you change the allocation to 45 or 50% based totally on that perception, you are a market timer, like it or not.

WHY DO WE TIME THE MARKET?

Better yet, why do we try timing the market when we logically know it has resulted in failure time and time again? Partly, because of the same reason we buy lottery tickets or visit the casino when we know the odds are stacked against us, optimism. We inherently believe that we're special. Besides, mom told us so. We're smarter, and have better resources than our neighbor, our "experts" are better than his "experts." Why else would the actively managed mutual fund market still be raking in new money? Why else do huge sums of money move out of said funds AFTER the market tanks, and move back in AFTER the major move upwards? Because we know when the turnaround is coming, and no matter how wrong it turns out to be we continually do it.

Another reason is control. In today's turbulent times, people's yearning to be in control is greater than ever. With all of the stuff out there that is out of our control, wars, the national debt, natural disasters, disease and sickness, we all desire one or two portions of our life be controllable, our money is one of those portions. The only trouble with this belief is that the global financial juggernaut is so huge, that trying to fight it is futile at best. Even if you could get information as timely than the Big Boys (pension funds, insurance companies), your tiny little order falls down at the bottom of the pecking order getting filled.

HOW DO WE STOP?

Well if I knew the answer to this exactly I'd probably be on the payroll of every pension plan in the world, but unfortunately all I can to is offer some personal suggestions. First, don't get a steady diet of cable business news or constantly spend time on financial websites. That's just as bad as going in to your favorite store to look around when you're tight on cash for the month. In either case you're going to convince yourself you need something and the time to buy is NOW! Go into an online broker's site or pay an independent adviser or financial planner a flat fee to help you set up an allocation (if that's all you want the planner to do.) Once you implement the plan, re-balance the portfolio on a regular basis (quarterly, semi-annually, or annually) but other than re-balancing LEAVE IT BE! I don't care if Ahmadinejad is threatening to blow up Israel, Congressmen and women are having an old west style shoot out in the Capitol Building, and Obama is shooting over par in his golf game that day! DON'T TOUCH THOSE ALLOCATIONS!

Another thing you can do is be honest about your risk tolerance. While stocks have the highest real rate of return over time, they do fluctuate, and while most people can stomach a little market turbulence with at least a small portion of their money, maybe you can't. If stock market volatility in any measure is to much for you to bear, DON'T INVEST IN THE MARKET. Yes, it pains me to say that, and no,you may not have as much money in retirement because you weren't able to keep pace with inflation. But if market gyrations cause you not to eat or lose a lot of sleep, you won't make it to retirement age anyway, better to be poorer but still alive I would say.

In closing, pick a strategy, stick with it, and don't confuse brains with a bull market. You, nor I, nor the gurus that try and sell you their stock picking course at 2 a.m. are that good that we can predict where that market is going to go on a regular basis.

Christian Halas is owner and wealth manager with Halas Consulting located in Pittsburgh, PA. Halas Consulting prides itself in providing unique and objective solutions to various insurance, investment, banking, tax, and estate issues faced by individuals and small businesses. Investment services provided in conjunction with Venn Wealth and Benefit Services, a PA Registered Investment Advisor. Christian can be reached via email at chalas@venn.us with any questions or comments on this article.

Labels: Heres, Market, Should, Trying

Unfortunately the truth is that when it comes to investments, what goes up must come down. Most people are one step behind, by starting to worry the market it already falling. However the real secret is to knowing when the market has peaked, because this is the optimum time to sell. By peaking, the stock is reaching the highest level and no stocks will keep rising forever. By paying close attention to the market, investors can see the signs of an investment peaking, before it starts drastically falling.

An investment isn't something you take for granted and forget about. It is ever changing, and you must constantly analyze the market or you could end up making a huge loss.

Obviously it is best to sell at the peak, however there are many things to watch out for to avoid getting caught in rapidly falling stock, even after the investment peaks. If you are thinking of making an investment because the stocks appear to be doing well, it is best to hold off and wait for it to balance out. Trying to make fast money when the market isn't a good idea. You'll either make a small gain or a huge loss.

Your investment strategy should be detailed and well prepared, and you should stick to it. This is especially important when deciding when to sell. If you have a goal, and you meet that goal, don't be greedy in the hope the market will keep rising. Give yourself a break and get the invaluable help of a financial advisor.

You will have to watch for the signs of an over-extended market to now when an investment will peak. Here are some tips on what to look for:

Extreme Influx or Outflow

A sure warning sign for investment peaks in the market are when stocks are being traded in high quantity. If a company unexpectedly has extreme influx or outflow of money then you need to sit up and take notice. To be on your game you will have to constantly be watching the market as it can change so quickly.

Know When To Sell

If you knew when investments were going to peak then you'd be able to see into the future. The truth is that nobody knows when investments will peak and the only way to call it is to watch the market like a hawk. People who always make money from their investments are the people that don't wait till the very last minute to sell. You should have a goal you want to reach and then once your there sell, sell, sell! Being greedy is a certified way to lose all your money. If that happened it would put you on a real downer, or worse make you so anxious to make it back again you take bigger risks!

Having goals and sticking to them does not mean you are playing it too safe, because you already investing in a risky business to begin with.

Your strategy is not to wildly see into the future, but to have a detailed plan of action and to stick to it. This may inevitably mean you lose out on some money when stocks keep on rising after you've sold, however you will also avoid potentially bank breaking falls. Get yourself a good financial advisor and use their help to make the most of investment peaks.

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Labels: About, Investment, Peaks

The whole idea behind making financial investments is to get a good return on your investment. Making smart investments should be your goal. Not researching your options can possibly be the biggest mistake you can make. You want to learn as much as you can understand. Taking the time to find the most lucrative investment strategy can make the difference between you losing or winning.

How you choose to invest your money will most likely be based on how much risk you're willing to take. As with all investment endeavors, there is a loss risk. Having a good financial plan from the start is essential. Researching the various investment strategies can help you figure out what you feel safest with.

Buy Long

Buying stock long is not a lucrative investment strategy. With this particular strategy, you can only lose what you have put into it. It may sound good to know that it offers minimal risk; it also offers the least return.

Buy short, sell long

This strategy has a little bit of risk attached to it but can be lucrative if it's used properly. With this particular type of investment, the assets or securities that are being sold have been borrowed from a third party; intending on buying the same assets later on. The seller unloads the assets at a higher price. When the price of the assets drops, is when they pay the original owner. The seller is simply profiting from the drop in price. This strategy is profitable as long as the drop in price is substantial enough.
Buy and Hold

A passive technique, the "buy and hold" can be considered a lucrative investment strategy. The investor buys the stock and holds onto it, no matter what happens with the market. Equities to yield a higher return than assets do. This strategy is also beneficial tax wise because long term investments are taxed at a lower rate than short term investments.

Set triggers

This is not an investment technique but can also be considered a lucrative investment strategy. Set triggers for yourself. For example, a downturn in the market can be used as a trigger to buy stock that may have been too rich for your blood before. This strategy can aid in you acquiring very lucrative assets. However, you should set guidelines and limits and be sure to stick to them.

These are only four investment strategies among many. Only a professional truly understands how any of them work. Before you make any investment decisions, it would be wise to seek counsel. Let them guide you on how to make your money grow. Keep in mind however, that it is your money being invested. Just because they recommend it, doesn't mean you have to do it if you're uncomfortable with their suggestions.

Finding a lucrative investment strategy is a key factor in making your investments worth anything. The idea is to yield a return that is noticeable. As was stated before, with any investment there is risk. The right strategy should decrease the risk factor for you.

Are you for a low risk high return investment! If so download a true Rags to Riches story and learn how to double your money every week with little to no risk. Click the link below to learn HOW you will begin compounding your capital towards your first Million Dollars at the easy corporate money program. http://www.thenetmillionaire.com/

Labels: Investment, Lucrative, Strategy

If your retirement account is in good shape this year, you are ahead of Wall Street's finest. One of the world's largest hedge funds has nearly been cut in half.

John Paulson made billions with a huge bet on the housing bubble. His success attracted a flood of capital. At the peak, Paulson's funds managed a whopping $38 billion.

In 2011, though, John Paulson made another huge bet on economic recovery -- a forecast that never came to pass.

His conviction, and the size of his bets, turned against him with a vengeance in 2011. At the end of September, Reuters reports, Paulson's largest fund was down 47%. (His other funds are down double digits too, in varying amounts.)

Salida Capital, a Toronto-based hedge fund with a focus on energy and gold, was also cut in half as of September's end (down 49.4%). Three-quarters of that decline came in a single month. Salida had extreme exposure to gold and gold stocks (as did Paulson), and the two-edged sword of leverage cuts deep.

It isn't just those two, though. Many big-name investors are taking lumps in 2011, Institutional Investor magazine reports. Mark Mobius of Templeton Emerging Markets -- down 22%. Bill Ackman of Pershing Square -- down 17%. Value investor Whitney Tilson of T2 Partners -- down 29%. (All these numbers are on an end-of-September basis.)

"Where's the hedging?" jokes Institutional Investor.

A dirty secret of the managed money industry is that, while some funds actually do "hedge" (i.e. take pains to guard against large losses), many of them do not. Given this reality, it might make sense to call them "levered funds" instead.

For investors, it might be useful to distinguish between funds that truly guard against loss, and those whose idea of risk control is "picking the best stocks" or simply "being right."

One could further say there is a style of investing -- call it hero investing -- where the manager bets the farm on a very specific worldview. If that worldview comes to pass, and does so in the right time frame, the result is champagne and roses. But if things turn out other than expected, the results can be awful.

It's been a hard year for heroes. Those making big wagers on economic recovery have seen their investment portfolios battered by top-down macroeconomic shocks. And those expecting full-on collapse have been repeatedly thwarted by last-minute hope jags.

("Stocks rise on Europe optimism," a recent headline read. "Stocks rise on same old B.S.," it should have said, "likely soon to jag down again.")

Are there any useful lessons here? Yes. The first one being, "Don't be a hero -- except in very selective circumstances."

For example: Many who make the long-term gold and silver case advise avoiding too much leverage... or at the very least, keeping it on a tight leash. For most investors, leverage is like dynamite. A little bit goes a long way, and skillful handling is required. Too much leverage, like too much dynamite, is an invitation for blowing up.

The inverse of leverage is staying power. It is very hard to lose a third of your money in a month (as Salida did) if you are focused on staying power. A key aspect of winning the game is making sure you play for a long time -- that you are never carried out.

There are traders and investors who understand this, and hedge funds that understand it too. They maintain staying power by considering the risk first, keeping leverage in check and focusing on asymmetric bets. (This is exactly the kind of thing my colleague Zach Scheidt does, for instance, in Hedge Fund Strategist.)

An asymmetric bet is one in which the downside is low, or limited, but the potential gain is attractive.

Trading strategy examples for limiting risk include cutting losses quickly or structuring trades with options, such that the potential gain is many multiples of the potential loss. Investing strategy examples include a deep value focus, purchasing assets for less than their true worth, and emphasizing staying power (not using too much leverage) so as not to be shaken out.

More than ever, 2011 has proven itself a year for focusing on risk. Fortunately this is a specialty of Insiders Strategy Group, with multiple tools available for limiting downside and maximizing upside.

Justice Litle is editorial director for Taipan Publishing Group. He is also a regular contributor to Taipan Daily, a free investing and trading e-letter, and editor of Taipan's Safe Haven Investor and research advisory service, Macro Trader.

Labels: Heroes, Power, Staying

The recent Arab Spring shook the Middle East. However, the UAE remains stable and safe, with business activities at a normal level. There as been no such uprising in the region and the country has become a default refuge from unrest. These aspects lead to a trend slightly different then the usual: more traffic from Arab countries to the UAE and more business. Europe's growing sovereign-debt crisis and the unstable US economy could well be the cause of this "regionalization" - Arabs investing their petrol dollars in other Arab countries, the UAE being the center of such activity.

Dubai has seen none of the violence that has destabilized the region. Its hotel, retail and residential real estate sectors are enjoying a boost from general stability of the country. According to Reuters, anecdotal evidence suggests that Arabs, middle class and above, are buying Dubai property to hedge their risks in other countries.

Similarly in India, a weaker currency is encouraging Indian expatriates in the Gulf to invest in domestic markets. According to the Economic Times, non-resident Indians, especially those living in the Gulf, have invested about Rs 75 crore in August and September of this year in the region, the largest pay-in in over 2 and a half years.

Recently, Russell Investments classified the UAE as an emerging market as opposed to the frontier market designation given by MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) and Standard and Poor's. The UAE is the first Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country to graduate from frontier to emerging market status within the Russell Global Index series. The market in the UAE seems to be welcoming investments. In addition, articles say that those willing to invest in the UAE, have a longer term approach to investing and are not phased by short-term market fluctuations. This clearly demonstrates the relatively higher comparative value of investing in the UAE over other parts of the world.

According to the UAE Investor Attitudes Index as published in UAE daily - The National, about 60 per cent of the investors surveyed said it was a good time to put money in gold, and half said fixed-rate bank deposits were smart investments. The survey was based on interviews with over 750 people in the UAE, who are market investors, majority whom were expatriates. Dubai's roar and rumble has always been connected to the real estate market. There is still over-supply in the market and investors seem to not want to invest heavily in real estate. Though there are still a number of challenges to overcome, it seems stability is on its way up.

Supporting that, Kabir Mulchandani, UAE real estate veteran says that pessimism is just in people's minds. "I transfer property every day. My optimism comes from real demand and real purchasers with real money. I see a steady growth in prices until 2014 but then I see a significant jump between 2014 and 2016. Then probably in 2017 and 2018, when suppliers are against us to come back, hopefully we will have some stabilization."

Once pending infrastructure projects are near completion, more investors are likely to look into investing in the property market which is certainly taking an upturn. According to a recent survey of the industry by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and INSEAD Abu Dhabi, the private equity industry in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has emerged stronger from the global financial crisis and the recent political turmoil in the region. In addition, the survey showed the small-and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) sector has emerged as new investment target for the regional private equity players.

All in all, there seem to be enough good reasons to invest in the UAE in the long-term. The rest, time will tell!

Kabir Mulchandani
Skai Holdings
Dubai-UAE

My writings are to share my thoughts and opinions, and to engage in a conversation about the property market, entrepreneurship, new books and new ideas about how to change things for the better.

Labels: Invest, Question

At the end of September 2011, the occasion being the World Tourism Day (27th September), the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), an organisation of which the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is also a member, promoted its view on the positive influence that ecotourism has on forestry. Moreover, an increasing number of governments are considering ecotourism as a means to promote sustainable forestry management and support local communities.

Despite the grave economic situation in the last couple of years, according to the World Tourism Organisation (WTO), international tourism has demonstrated healthy growth, with almost 5% in the first half of 2011, setting a new record of 440 million arrivals, according to the UN WTO. Moreover, in the UNWTO long-term forecast, Tourism Towards 2030, released in October 2011, international tourism is expected to continue to grow in a sustained manner in the next two decades. Ecotourism, as a niche within the larger tourism industry, is one of the fastest growing segments of tourism worldwide, according to the FAO. Therefore, the perspective for long-term sustainable economic growth has the potential to stimulate also forestry funds to participate on the forest ecotourism market. In addition, through forest ecotourism, private companies will have the opportunity to make profit out of socially responsible investments.

Ecotourism involves responsible travelling to natural areas, with the purpose to educate the traveller without the environmental and cultural impact that may come as a negative consequence of traditional tourism. By definition, the more preserved a tourist site or object is, the more attractive it will be for potential visitors. And as forests and their wildlife are among the primary settings for ecotourism activities, it is only natural to assume that promoting forest preservation and investing in ecotourism would be the way to attract more ecotourists.

Forest ecotourism may be particularly beneficial in developing countries, which generally experience more difficulties in promoting sustainable forest management and obtaining much needed investments through forestry funds or other sources of financing. According to Edgar Kaeslin, Forestry Officer in Wildlife and Protected Area Management at FAO, "Ecotourism has a far greater potential for contributing to income and livelihoods in poor rural communities than what is realised". Therefore, the possibilities that ecotourism provides in terms of forest preservation and local economy need to be looked into, especially considering the extent to which some indigenous communities depend on forests for their livelihood. In addition, ecotourism brings more income to local population than commercial conventional tourism that relies mainly on mass hotel chains and large tourist companies.

One of the most famous examples of ecotourism in developing countries is the interest attracted by the endangered mountain gorilla species in Uganda. Ecotourism activity surrounding the gorillas significantly helped to boost the economy of the country and at the same time led to a rise in the numbers of mountain gorillas. Another African country where forest tourism is likely to benefit from increased governmental support is Tanzania, since the Ministry of Natural resources and Tourismrecently introduced the Tanzania Forest Fund among whose purposes is to support sustainable utilization of forest resources.

Despite its indisputable benefits, however, ecotourism still poses certain dangers to natureand local communities. A lot of activities which are advertised as eco-friendlymay lead to damage of natural sites and there is always the risk that due to the growing popularity of ecotourism, possible participation of forestry funds and involvement of larger tourist companies may diminish the financial benefits to local communities.

Nevertheless, at present, the benefits of ecotourism seem to outweigh the risks, specifically with regards to forest tourism, which has turned into a successful way of promoting forest conservation. One of the ways to further increase the positive influence of ecotourism is to ensure the involvement of local population into ecotourism services, which may be achieved through training and education. In addition, income from forest tourism should be used in order to promote sustainable forestry management.

In the last few years, the UN FAO has been providing technical assistance to various countries such as Laos, the Philippines and Tunisia to develop ecotourism as a sustainable forest use and recently started implementing an $18 million programme in collaboration with Pacific islands (Fiji, Niue, Samoa and Vanuatu) aimed at developing ecotourism as a major component of sustainable forest management. This is undoubtedly a clear sign for the potential benefits of forest tourism.

The international community has indicated that forest tourism is an excellent way to increase the non-timber value of forests and therefore it will continue attracting the attention of both governments and private forestry funds.

Labels: Forest, Forestry, Green, Sustainable, Tourism, Toward

Sustainable timber investments are generating some good press lately as Wood for Good, a UK organisation working to increase demand for sustainable wood products, released at the 2011 Timber Expo last month the first ever Timber Industry Manifesto. Through this document, Wood for Good "aims to promote the suitability and sustainability of wood as a building material to the construction and logistics sectors and associated professionals such as architects and design engineers."

This new declaration clearly shows that the UK timber industry is committed to cultivating and utilising domestic timber resources in a manner that is safe for the environment, beneficial for the consumer and good for the economy.

But what does the Manifesto mean for people, who are new to the industry and are yet to put their money into timber investments?

First and foremost, the Manifesto sheds light on the economic scope of the industry in the UK. With its annual value of £18 billion and over 150,000 jobs, the timber industry is showing no signs of slowing down, even when other commodities are seeing volatility in prices and profits. This proves that these investments are great for balancing out your investment portfolio and providing revenue when stocks and bonds are not performing all too well.

In addition to the financial value of timber investments, the Manifesto presents the environmental benefits of sustainable forests. These projects not only help maintain the biodiversity within certain areas, but also provide a variety of ecosystem services. Add to that the carbon sequestration capacity of forests, and you get a genuine feel-good business venture.

Investors in sustainable forestry can help the UK increase its wooded land surface from 12 per cent to 16 per cent. This way, by 2050, the natural carbon sink might be able to compensate for as much as 10 per cent of UK's national carbon emissions, bringing them closer to the emission reduction goals under the Kyoto Protocol.

The quality of timber as a building material is an added benefit, which explains the high demand domestically and internationally. Wood production is much more energy-efficient than the manufacturing of other common materials, such as concrete and metal. To get a better idea of its competitive advantage, consider that it takes 24 times less energy to produce timber than it does to make steel.

But the products from your potential investment won't be a preferred construction material only because of its energy efficiency. Wood has the ability to prevent heat leakage through building walls, thus, providing for good thermal insulation. The Manifesto claims that wood's thermal insulation properties are five times better than those of concrete, 10 times better than brick and 350 times better than steel.

Last, but not least, the Manifesto makes a seven-point proposition addressed to the UK government. The purpose of the proposition is to advise officials on ways to support existing and encourage new sustainable timer investments. Among them are a reduced value-added tax on sustainable timber and timber products; a government endorsement of the eco material and making it the material-of-choice for public construction projects; recognition for its carbon sequestration qualities; government incentives for recycling timber products.

While most of these recommendations, if approved, will give a huge boost to the industry as a whole, subsequently giving greater incentives for investors to place their money on green, some of them do seem a bit impractical. They call to governmental favouritism toward the timber industry, which goes against common capitalist market forces. This, in turn, may place other industries at serious disadvantage on the competitive market, especially in tough economic times. Government officials will also be less likely to side with one industry due to potential conflict among lobbyists. So investors should not rely exclusively on heavy political support.

With that said, there are a number of government incentives available for the development of forestry investment projects across the UK. For example, revenues from timber investments are exempt from inheritance and income tax. Also, the Woodland Improvement Grant (WIG) provides funding for forestry investment projects to support the benefits that these initiatives deliver to the public - biodiversity, scientific advancements and accessibility to the public. Therefore, some of the funds under WIG are the Woodland Biodiversity Action Plan, Woodland Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) Condition Improvement and Woodland Public Access.

The Woodfuel WIG is a new grant, which supports the sustainable production of woodfuel and other timber products. It is designed to fund the development of roads and inventory that are essential for harvesting and transporting timber out of the forest. At the local level, the Scotland Rural Development Programme (SRDP) provides grants, which can be used towards buying equipment to harvest and process woodchip or pellets.

The Timber Industry Manifesto is a must-read for prospective investors. They will gain some insider information on what makes forestry an attractive alternative to traditional investments.

Timber Investments is an information portal keeping you up to date on timber market facts, trends, news and forestry investment opportunities. The value of investments can go up or down according to market conditions.

Labels: Calls, First, Industry, Investments, Manifesto, Sustainable, Timber

The anticipated worldwide economic recovery is yet to materialise and the key financial markets from Tokyo to New York are still in an unfavourable state. Confused investors who are being forced to look for secure havens that will prove to offer good returns during recessions and financial commotion, are looking narrowly at the high returns yielded over the past few years from Fine Wine investment.

Few know that Fine Wine has outperformed almost every major financial index in the last two decades, and in some periods has even outperformed gold and crude oil investments. 5 year average performance of wines quoted on the Liv-ex 50 and Live-ex100 indices, the global marketplace, have showed growth of 270% and 192% respectively, effortlessly matching returns from other riskier investments.

Wine investment is not a new trend, however historically this lucrative division was traditionally the province of the knowledgeable few, but now an increasing number of investors are taking their first steps into this exciting market.

There is a wide choice of fine wine investment companies to assist people get into the market and help them throughout the process, whereby investors need not know anything about vintage wine. Buying investment wine from a reputable source and having it correctly stored is the very first step to ensuring the investment potential of a fine wine.

Generally, it is recommended investors consider Fine Wine as a medium to long term investment. Recent years have seen major price growth in the short term for specific wines, however, an investment period of 3-5 years should allow investors to benefit from the opportunities of a full market cycle and a longer phase of 8-10 years or more could see maximum returns.

Prices per case vary, but the top performers will demand over £5000 per case which can double in money. Given the current nature of the market first time investor's budget should ideally contain a mix of traditionally good performing wines, such as one of the so called Big Nine most prestigious Bordeaux's along with less well established, vintages.

Prices of cases may go down as well as up, and the ultimate endeavour is to depart at a profit. The catchword for any canny investor in these difficult economic times diversification and fine wine makes a great addition to any investment portfolio. What better companion could be asked for as we navigate through this rough economic period than some fine wine!

Article written on behalf of Vin-X, fine wine investment brokers - http://www.vin-x.co.uk/.

Labels: Investing

As The Bank Of England base rate rests at its unprecedented low of 0.5%, savers may be wondering which savings and investments will provide the most lucrative return, or if investing in new products is even worth it at all. With a gloomy financial forecast, our savings and investments are now more important than ever and it pays to be clued up about the best saving products on the market.

THE BOND BASIC

Just as the public will find themselves in a position of needing to loan money at some point or another in their life (mortgages for example), companies and the government also occasionally need a financial lending hand. The substantial amount of money that such large infrastructures require is best accumulated through issuing bonds to the public market. A bond then, is a loan in which a member of the public becomes the lender to the borrower, or issuer of the bond, such as a bank. The number of investors, sometimes thousands, each provide a portion of the capital needed by the issuer. In exchange for the bond the investor is rewarded with interest payments.

THE FIXED RATE BOND

If you have a financial lump sum to invest then a fixed rate bond could be the perfect investment vehicle. As the title implies, a 'fixed-rate' will pay a guaranteed amount of interest for a set length of time. You will have the security of knowing in advance what your savings will earn.

FIXED RATE BOND FACTS

- Gives exactly what it says on the tin; the advantage or guarantying a set or 'fixed' amount of interest. This gives a sense of security that if the Bank of England base rate drops, and therefore your issuers interest rates also, then you will remain on a higher interest rate. In this case your investment will be working hard for your money.

- The interest rates offered in bonds are usually higher than instant access savings accounts.

- Fixed rate bonds are especially good for savers that are easily tempted as you will not be able to touch your money until the fixed term is completed.

- There is usually a a minimum deposit ranging from £1 to anything even over £50,000.

- There is also a set length of time in which you will be contracted into your bond usually ranging from 6 months to 5 years.

- Depending on which bond and provider you are with, you probably will have no access your savings during the fixed term. It is important to invest money you can only afford to lock away.

- Early closure, withdrawals or deposits may not be allowed or result in an additional charge.

- Having a set rate means that you know exactly how much you will receive by the end of your return so you can plan and organise your finances.

- A fixed rate bond could be used as an income or income growth in retirement. Its set rate means you know exactly how much you will receive so you can plan and organise your finances.

- It is low risk investment as you are guaranteed a fixed, steady interest rate, even if interest rates drop. Alternatively, the national rate of inflation could increases higher than the interest you will earning in a bond.

Interest rates are constantly fluctuating and there are always new fixed rate bonds being released onto the market. As with any kind of investment or saving, comparing the market for the best fixed rate bonds will reward you in the long term.

Searching for the best fixed bond rates can be a headache. A bond comparison website is one way to search for the best fixed rate bonds and may help you to secure a competitive interest rate for your savings.

Labels: Fixed, Guide

The best investment strategy for 2012 and beyond will differ from the popular investment strategy offered by most investment advisers and financial planners today. The investment landscape has changed. Here's a strategy for making the best of it.

Up until recent times you could stay out of serious trouble by simply allocating about half of your investment assets to stocks and the other half to bonds. That's the traditional investment strategy often recommended for average investors, and most people deal with it by putting their money in stock funds and bond funds. Stock funds are the growth half of the equation and the risky part of the strategy. Bond funds are considered the relatively safe investment designed to pay higher interest income. Over the years losses in one fund type were usually offset by good returns in the other.

Welcome to the year 2012, where bonds and bond funds will likely not be such a safe investment. Stock funds are never safe and 2012 will be no exception to the rule. Asset allocation will be only half of the story going forward. Selecting the right funds within each category will be the other key to success. Let's look at your best investment strategy in both fund categories, and the reason why certain funds will be your best choices.

Two things stand out about the so-called recovery the USA has supposedly experienced over the past few years. First, the economy did not recover as it has in the past after a recession - 9% of the working force is out of work. This makes for a weak economy and puts pressure on the stock market and stock funds. That's why you'll need to be careful about which stock funds you include in your investment portfolio.

Second, interest rates have been driven down to historically low levels to stimulate the economy in general and the pathetic housing market. Even with a 4% mortgage rate average folks can not qualify for a mortgage or afford to buy a house. Today's ridiculously low interest rates mean savers can not earn a respectable interest income in truly safe investments. It also means that bond funds could be a trap in 2012 for people who don't really understand bonds and bond funds. Let's look at the best bond fund strategy first.

Even the best bond funds of the past few years could be big losers in 2012... if they hold long term bonds in their investment portfolios. When interest rates turn around and go back up the bonds they hold will lose significant value because new bonds will become available that pay more attractive (higher) interest income. Your best investment strategy for bond funds is to own funds that hold corporate bonds that mature in about 5 years to 7 years. CORPORATE BOND FUNDS pay more interest income than similar funds that invest primarily in government bonds. Funds that hold bonds maturing in 5 to 7 years (intermediate term bond funds) will be much less affected by rising interest rates than long term funds holding bonds that mature in 20 years or more. That's a fact, and that's how bonds work.

Your best investment strategy for stock funds will be to go with GROWTH AND INCOME funds that invest in high quality companies with a history of paying 2% or more per year in dividend income. If the stock market gets truly ugly in 2012 and beyond these funds will be your best bet to sidestep huge losses. In a bad stock market funds that pay little or nothing in dividends are usually the big losers.

Sometimes it pays to be aggressive and take on more risk. The year 2012 looks like a time to get more conservative and live to be a risk taker another day. Most investors need to hold stock funds and bond funds as well as truly safe investments like bank CDs. Your best investment strategy for 2012: allocate your investment assets with 40% going to INTERMEDIATE TERM CORPORATE BOND FUNDS and the same going to high quality GROWTH AND INCOME STOCK FUNDS paying 2% or more in dividend income. The other 20% of your investment portfolio goes to safe investments like bank CDs.

Author James Leitz teaches investment basics, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and how to invest in his investing guide for beginners called INVEST INFORMED. Put Jim's 40 years of investing experience to work for you and get up to speed at http://www.investinformed.com/. Learn how to invest.

Labels: Beyond, Investment, Strategy

There appears to be a proliferation of what are termed penny auction websites evolving quickly across the Internet. The quality is mixed so I thought it would be of value to create a review of what I believe to be the best penny auction sites. Before I do that, it is worth spending just a little time to get a proper and definitive understanding of the purpose of these websites and why they are becoming a very popular attraction for the online bargain hunter. For information purposes you may also see this website genre referred to as "pay to bid" auctions, or bidding fee auctions. Irrespective of the name, the characteristics remain the same and I will explain the core principle below.

Items are placed on a site and then bidders pay a small fee to be able to bid against one another and also against a clock that has started to count down. The person who places the last bid before the time runs out wins the item. Typically this is well below any price you will find in a High Street Retail Store. The actual website generates its profits as it keeps all of the money that the group of bidders had placed. So you can see there will be a few losers in this process, but because the amount lost is so small, combined with the excitement of the auction, the loss is not really that important. If you are particularly keen to win something then a clever bid at the right moment will get you what you want. There are many of these sites so you really need to use the best penny auction sites to avoid being ripped off and to get the better range of products.

The other reasons why you need to find the penny auction sites is that these types of business are volatile and not generally subject to any type of regulation. That process is now being addressed slowly, so you need to search out those ethical businesses that are managing this type of venture. Here are my recommendations for the best penny auction sites.

Bidito.com is one that is recommended and they have reverse auctions, auctions for beginners and free auctions. The free auction option is good but if you bid at the last minute the site extends the time making it at times an annoying and prolonged event. Bidcactus.com is also good and probably one of the easiest to navigate and follow. They seem to keep things simple and there are good customer support and advice and are one of the best penny auction sites. They do however seem to focus a lot on gift cards for the leading brand stores.

Dealdash.com is a well accredited site and they have good product choice. They have shipped over 70,000 products and the site is clean and easy to use. Pennypurses.com is another site that has stood the test of time and is aimed at the female shopper. Once again very good customer support and easy to contact and do business with. These are four of the best penny auction sites and they have been around for a long time unlike many others who simply come and go.

To Find out more information about penny auction site visit the authors website on penny auctions.

Labels: Auctions, Penny, Principles, Sites

Internet has brought great revelations in the world. A number of people have turned their attention towards online money making opportunities. Though there are a lot of sources that can fulfill one's needs, but one has to make sure the source is legit and authentic. Many individuals want to earn online and adopt it as a constant source of their regular income. The only thing that stops them is the risk of fraud and scams. In the further discussion, I would let you know about a few proven money earning opportunities.

You might have been told about MLM and other quick cash making possibilities. They are also very efficient techniques of earning good income from home. But there is something that you might not know much about. That is the online investment. There are a few companies that allow you to make investment and earn benefits from it. You have to do nothing, but to deposit the money. It works in a very simple way and you do not have to pay anything prior to starting your venture.

These organizations are basically trading corporations that invest your money in trading and give your money back at a defined interest rate. There are no delays in the payments as you can withdraw your money at the end of the day, when the trading period finishes. Moreover, there are diverse ways of earning money from online investment. The best part with this method is the win-win situation as you do not lose anything. They have professionals that invest your money and earn great benefits for you in return.

This whole setup works in two different ways. First one is the online investment that is being made through any reliable payment processor. You have to wait for 24 hours to receive the benefits. After your funds have been loaded into your account, you can immediately withdraw your funds. There are different interest rates that are usually based on the membership level.

The second way of earning good benefits from such sites is through affiliate program. You have to get new clients for them and in return, you get the commissions from their investment. You are provided with the promotion material and other important advertising tools to achieve your goals. So you can start earning immediately without paying anything. Thus, online investment is the best option for those people who want to earn a lot of money regularly.

Online Investment is a best way to earn great benefits. Najam is currently associated with Macrotrade.
He has attained huge rewards.

Labels: Aspects, Investment, Online, Significant

The new Junior ISA scheme, also known as the JISA, will be up and running in November and will give parents a way of being able to make tax free investments on behalf of their children. This article looks at some ways that parents could look at this opportunity to benefit their child once they turn eighteen and how you don't need to maximise the JISA allowance for it to make a difference.

One thing some parents did when the child trust fund was in operation was to pay the child benefit they received on behalf of their child into their child trust fund. If you can afford to forego child benefit you could do this with the Junior ISA. For their first child parents currently receive £20.30 a week, with a £13.40 payment for all other children. Paying £20.30 into a Junior ISA every week over an eighteen year period will add up to £1,055.60 a year and over £19,000 in total. This is a significant amount of money that a child could have put aside for them.

A lot has been made of the £3,600 a year allowance, but you don't need to use this full amount every year for your child to greatly benefit from the scheme. £10 a week, for example, could make a big difference over the lengthy period of eighteen years. That would be the equivalent of £520 a year, which is over £3,000 less than the allowance, but still almost £10,000 in total. And that is before interest on any investments is taken into consideration.

What about those who aren't able to put aside £10 a week? Would £10 a month be enough to make a difference? The answer is yes - that would be over £2,000 in total. It may not enable your child to buy a home but it could pay for driving lessons, for example, which is something many teenagers struggle to find the money for.

Utilising the advantages of the Junior ISA scheme could pay for your child's living costs while at university. The way tuition fees are paid for will be changing with parents no longer able to fund this for their children. Instead they must take a loan out (something the majority are already having to). There are, of course, also living costs that need to be paid for, something parents can help with. This will mean not having to borrow more above what they need for their fees. If you can invest £500 a year the Junior ISA should cover this. That is just under £42 a month.

The average price of a second hand car is currently around £5,000, and saving towards a Junior ISA could effectively be the equivalent of you buying your child a car when they turn eighteen. £23 a month will result in around £5,000 being paid in the JISA. Car prices will go up, but the interest on the Junior ISA investment should take care of any rises in inflation.

If you are in the position of being able to put £185 a month towards your child's Junior ISA it could be enough to pay for the deposit on a home. With the average first-time home owner now thirty-eight years of age being able to buy one at eighteen could be a major benefit to a young adult.

As the above shows, you don't need to be able to maximise the Junior ISA payments to significantly help your child as he or she approaches adulthood. Anything is better than nothing, and even investing a small amount per month could make a big difference over an eighteen year period.

Andrew Marshall ©

Jump Savings will be offering JISA accounts from November.

Labels: Advantage, Allowance, Junior

The United Nations recently achieved a new milestone in its innovative environmental policy by approving a New Delhi metro system for carbon credit issuance. The metro in the capital of India was first launched in 2002. According to the UN, during its nine-year run, it has contributed to the annual reduction of 630,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions in the city with 14 million residents.

The passenger rail system, which runs partly underground and party on elevated tracks, is one of the most successful public transportation projects carried out by the Indian government to date. It is estimated that, thanks to the metro, about 90,000 carbon-emitting vehicle trips are kept off the roads.

The rail system is able to achieve its emission reductions by employing an innovative regenerative braking technology, which cuts energy use by almost 30 per cent. Over the next seven years, the new UN carbon credit program will earn $9.5 million for the New Delhi metro. The initiative is part of the UN goal to encourage developing countries to invest funds in transportation networks, which help reduce greenhouse gas emission.

"No other Metro in the world could get the carbon credit because of the very stringent requirement to provide conclusive documentary proof of reduction in emissions," according to the official statement issued by the UN. The international organisation further claims that each passenger, who, instead of jumping into their car or on the bus, chooses to hop on the metro, can help save about 100gm of carbon dioxide for every trip of 10km.

In addition to being environmentally friendly, subways have been the most commuter-friendly means for public transportation in metropolitan cities for years. In Tokyo, for example, more than 3.1 billion people use the metro system each year. In New York City, that number is over 1.6 billion, and in London, 1.1 billion take advantage of the convenient tube network annually. The more the passengers, who opt for the metro, the higher the amount of GHG emissions that are being prevented from entering into the atmosphere.

Typically running underground, metros are a time-saving alternative to buses and on-road rail cars, which, just like regular vehicles, often fall victims of grueling morning and after-work traffic. Underground rail systems, on the other hand, run independent of traffic jams caused by long waits at traffic lights and, in some cases, car accidents. Being underground, their operation is also relatively unaffected by severe weather conditions such as snowstorms and heavy rains, which can seriously impair above-ground traffic.

Metro systems are probably the most expensive transportation systems to build and maintain. As a result, many developing countries are falling behind in establishing solid underground rail infrastructure. According to Dr. Jean-Paul Rodrigue, professor at the Department of Economics and Geography at Hofstra University, only about 80 large urban agglomerations have built a subway system, and the majority of them are located in developed countries.

Recognising metro systems for their capacity to keep city environments clean and city roads less congested, and rewarding them accordingly, can benefit local economies and commuters alike. Financial incentives such as carbon credit issuance can make it possible for governments to build additional tracks and expand the underground infrastructure in places where such tracks wouldn't be financially viable in the absence of a carbon credit incentive. It will also encourage innovation in the area of transportation, while cost effectiveness and energy efficiency climb up on the list of priorities.

But the responsibility should not fall exclusively on the international community to make financial incentives available. It is ultimately up to the metro systems to take responsibility in proving their effectiveness in GHG emission reductions, so that they can qualify for carbon credits. As the UN points out in their statement, only the New Delhi system has so far provided documented proof of its energy efficiency. Local governments have to establish verification entities, which monitor and report emission reductions by their metro systems. The process can take time and resources, but the benefits should potentially outweigh the expenditure.

Local governments and international bodies such as the UN need to show equal commitment in keeping the air clean from polluting vehicles while developing eco- and commuter-friendly public transit systems. Only then can global warming and its potentially catastrophic effects can be stopped in their tracks. For further details on carbon credit please visit http://www.carbon-investments.co.uk/

Labels: Benefit, Carbon, Countries, Credit, Developing, Infrastructures, Program

The Solar Panel Process

Long before a solar panel (called a module in the industry), can be installed on a business or household rooftop, there are some steps that must take place. It all starts with plain ol' sand, from which silicon is extracted via various chemical processes. The refined and nearly pure silicon, called polysilicon or poly, is then heated and cast into cubes, called ingots. Cube-shaped ingots are then sawed into square wafers. Then the magic happens. The polysilicon wafers are then placed on a substrate, usually glass, to make a solar cell. A number of cells are then arranged together and set in place to form a panel. The final package is called a module. That's how a solar panel is made in a nutshell. But hidden in those few steps are hundreds of companies, thousands of patents, and more than a few investment vehicles that can make those "in the know" a lot of money.

For nearly a decade, the industry surged ahead with a compounded annual growth rate over 40%, and investors made a lot of money on the companies making it happen.

The solar market is still set to triple in size in the next five years. By 2015, installed solar capacity will grow another 347% to over 72 gigawatts as utilities worldwide are incentivized and forced to adopt sustainable production assets, and as solar energy reaches price parity in a growing number of markets. In order for those forecasts to hold true, improved policy is going to have to do battle with current economic conditions. The Current State of the Solar Market is currently facing rapidly falling prices, both for its raw material and its finished product. A seasonal dip in demand and the related oversupply of panels coupled with the general economic slowdown and restricted lending has led to an up to ~30% decrease in selling prices for solar modules. Of course, the operating costs of solar companies have not fallen as quickly, forcing companies to reduce profit margins as they sell discounted panels. In fact, in the recent price scramble, Chinese manufacturers have opened an advantage over historically dominant European companies. Established Chinese producers are currently offering contracted prices of about ?2.00 per watt, while European suppliers are struggling to break below ?2.50 per watt.

As such, Chinese solar companies are poised to gain some European market share. You should see that reflected in their share prices over the next few quarters. Even with the economy in the pits, the German solar market--the largest in the world--is still set for steady growth, thanks to renewed lending by German state bank KfW and national political commitment. Funding for rooftop and small ground installations is also flowing again from large European investment banks and local savings banks. Other countries in the European Union will take longer than Germany to heat their solar markets back up. Any astute investor should thus ensure that they have exposure to the German market, which is predicted to be one of the earliest to recover from the current economic downturn. Only the most highly efficient panels with the best prices and best warranties will be purchased. Smaller Chinese companies are probably the most at risk. Balance sheets for all solar companies will be off for the next few quarters as reduced demand from the recession and cyclical seasonal patterns works its way off balance sheets.

In addition to Germany, the U.S. considered the sleeping giant of the solar industry is also doing much to ensure a robust solar rebound. Here's a snapshot of what the U.S. recent stimulus did for the solar industry: Investors are now able to take a 30% federal refund on the value of a new installation before deducting any state incentives. So a theoretical $100.00 dollar solar system in North Carolina (35% state credit) now only costs the investor $35.00-because both federal and state incentives are now calculated from the full price. Best part is, those federal incentives have no cap and the project need only be finished by 2017 to qualify. This incentive alone will rapidly increase solar demand as homeowners and investors a like rush to get discounts on solar installations on the taxpayers' dime. But there are many more solar provisions in the stimulus that will only magnify the gains that can be taken on the right solar stocks. There's also $6 billion dedicated to paying the fees on guaranteed loans. This clause is aimed at encouraging banks to make loans for renewable projects. Most estimates say that $6 billion in guarantees will translate into $60 in new loans.

Labels: Energy, Future, Investment, Opportunities, Solar, Trends

Here are two strategies that will generate low risk residual income with minimal effort.

1. Network Marketing

This is basically where you get paid a commission to recommend a company's product(s) to the everyday consumer. In everyday network marketing you get paid whenever a sale is made, but let's take this a step further. Imagine network marketing companies that do not only pay for a one time sale, but pay recurring commissions? By this I am referring to companies that pay commissions on memberships.

If you get involved with network marketing, I recommend only looking for companies that pay recurring fees on memberships or something similar. Here is an example: let's say Joe's gym has a rewards program to encourage membership referrals. Monthly membership dues at Joe's gym are $60 per month. For every person you can refer that signs up for a membership, Joe will split the membership fees with you and pay you $20. Not only will Joe pay you $20 when your friend signs up, Joe will continue to pay you $20 every time your friend pays their $60 each month.

If you can find ten friends that want to be in better health, you will have added $200 per month to your income stream. Do you know 10 or twenty people that would be interested in going to the gym? Or buying a book? Or taking a trip somewhere? This is network marketing in a nutshell. You find a product that you personally like and use, you tell your friends (or strangers if you're brave enough) about it, and you get paid a commission every time your friend uses the product.

Before you choose a network marketing company, make sure you do some research on the company and understand their business plan and payout structure. The big downside to this is getting wrapped up with a pyramid scheme company. True network marketing is NOT a pyramid scheme strategy. Think about 5 things you really enjoy, then find network marketing companies that offer "recurring" commissions for you to tell people about their products. It's that simple.

2. Selling options

Statistics show that 80% of options sellers make money while 80% of options buyers lose money. Being an options buyer is a VERY lucrative way to make triple digit gains (200%-300%) in a matter of hours or even minutes. I have experienced triple digit returns as an options buyer firsthand. However, I think greed, leverage and inexperience cause a lot of options buyers to lose money. As you approach retirement age, I think it is better to go with low risk options trading strategies that are stacked in your favor. With an 80% chance of success, I think being an options seller is a better investment choice in the long run. There are many people that use money received from selling options as their primary source of income. With a few mouse clicks you can be on your way to making 20% or more per month.

Stocks can only move in three basic directions, they can go up, down, or stay flat. As an options seller you can still guarantee profits if the stock moves in two out of the three directions. Profiting in the third direction will be determined by the strike price that you choose for your option. To be safe I sell options two strike prices below the current stock price for a bullish strategy, and two prices above for a bearish strategy. You receive less money, but your risk goes down... A LOT. As an options buyer you will only profit if the stock moves in one direction and by a significant amount.

If you don't have options investing as a part of your retirement strategy, get started on this now!

Dale K Poyser has been investing for 11 years and has done meticulous research on various strategies that can add residual streams of income to your life.

Not only does Dale personally practice the methods he writes about, he has also coached many others in these methods to show how easy it is to make money with residual streams of income. You can read more about Dale's options trading strategies at http://easyoptionstradingstrategies.blogspot.com/

Labels: Generate, Investing, Month, Strategies

Investment Objectives: Having an investment aim and objective determines how much you intend to succeed or profit into any kind of investment you venture into. This could be summed up as your reason for investing. You have to make extensive research into the areas of specific business.Having a detail feasibility study into the area of business investment keep you focus as to the capital to be employed in investment, net present values, payback period, anticipated risk factors, etc. without understanding why you are taking the decision to invest, you may not know for how long to hold such an invest mentor when you have achieved your aim. If it is a particular field of business you've chosen to invest. Do you have the needed knowledge or experience? It is important to have a basic knowledge in the field of business you want to make investment by reading books and articles concerning the investment. No matter how many books you have read or seminars you have attended on investment, you cannot say you have learnt the nitty-gritty; at best you only possess limited knowledge until you are involved in actual investing. For a beginner investor, it is necessary to read books and gain fundamental knowledge before engaging in any type of investment. The experienced investor still has room for improvement by utilizing the feedback from both profitable and not so profitable investments to refine his or her investment style and methods

Investment Principles: For you to succeed in any investment, be it stocks, real estate, Forex, mutual funds, commodities etc, there are needs to have investment principles or you could call it investment style. It also includes how long you hold any investment. Your style of investment is largely determined by your investment goals, knowledge and experience. Your style helps you make decisions on opening and closing deals, which instrument to invest in, when and how much. The most important factor in your style is your method of analysis, there are fundamental and technical analysis for investments, generally the best analysis involves a good blending of the two methods of analysis based on your investment goal. Instruments are your investment tools or vehicles. They are the things you invest in, such as stocks, indexes, funds, real estate, commodities etc. To be a successful investor you should have a broad knowledge of investment instruments because no instrument can be said to be the best on a general basis. The successful investor having this knowledge allocates funds to different instruments at any given time based on analysis, knowledge, and experience and market trend.

Disciple/Psychology: There is need for you as an investor to exercise good discipline in stating your investment goal, keeping your emotions under control, acquiring the required knowledge and experience, building an investment style and sticking to it, identifying the right instrument and allocating adequate funds at the appropriate time. The game of investment is not played with emotions. It is a known fact that every market in the world is ruled by the emotions of greed and fear. Most losses encountered in investments result from these two emotions. People have lost fortunes they made as a result of holding on to an appreciating investment, believing that it would keep going up (greed) only to watch it go down and sell off due to fear when the capital would have been almost wiped out. This also involves solid money management techniques without which any gains made could easily be wiped out. In fact, developing strong discipline in the art of investment is half way towards succeeding. To be a successful investor, you have to build your income streams and cut down your expenses. In other words you should have a high income/expenditure ratio. Before spending money on anything consider the following: Do you really need the item? Are there cheaper and even better alternatives? Can you wait a little longer before acquiring the item? Remember, one of the success secrets of self made millionaires is delayed gratification. Always look out for ways and means of creating multiple streams of income. Above all, cultivate the habit of saving at least 20% of your income, by so doing you will have funds for investment purposes. This also involves solid money management techniques without which any gains made could easily be wiped out. In fact, developing strong discipline in the art of investment is half way towards succeeding. Never allow your emotion to have an upper hand in any investment you undertake. Aim at having a detached view of any investment you make, that is the successful investor's mindset.

I am not a billionaire yet, but am doing considerably well with my online and offline business.i am here to show you how and the necessary buttons you need to press, basic and most vital business information you need to shoot your business into limelight.
Adams Amana is a business consultant,internet marketer,freelance writer,journalist,and a professional accountant.

http://www.cash4wealthng.com/

Labels: Either, Investment

Futures are basically contracts used to trade an investment instrument for a certain price on a specified date, sometime in future. In non-technical words, it is a bet placed on price of an instrument in future. Such is trading is technically, called 'Futures Trading'. 'Futures trading' is done using 'Futures Contract'. Futures contract is a standardized legal contract that mentions the specifics finalized for trading of futures. It mentions the instrument which traded (either sold or bought), the specified price and a pre-agreed calendar date in future.

Futures trading can be practiced on any of the options, including: trading commodities using futures, trading currencies using futures and trading in stock markets using futures. The futures trading involves two parties i.e. a seller party and a buyer party. Both the parties involved, make an attempt to predict the value of the instrument, in recent future (till a specified date). All these details are mentioned in the futures contract. There is no actual transfer of the instruments rather their price is predicted and based on the prediction money transfer takes place from one party to another.

In case, the expected price is reached on the specified date, the investor earns the profit. But, if there is a mismatch then, it ends in a loss. This kind of futures trading in India is governed by SEBI. This is a high risk involving investment and hence, only experienced professionals are advised to take a plunge into it.

Next, in contrast to the futures, there exists a second type of investment channel termed, 'Options'. More information on basics and options trading is provided in the next few paragraphs.

Options are a type of investment which involves trading of a security, based on a mutually agreed price on a specified date. 'Options' predict the price of the security in near future in comparison to 'futures trading'. This information is gathered from the stock market only. There are two types of 'Options' - one is called a 'Buy' or a 'Call' and the second is called a 'Sell' or a 'Put'.

A 'Call' provides the instrument holder with the right to buy an instrument on a mutually agreed price on the specified date. Contrastingly, a 'Put' provides the instrument holder with the right to sell an instrument on a mutually agreed price on the specified date.

In short, this is a very important type of investment that if done wisely and reap good benefits.

Labels: Future, Introduction, Options

If you are thinking of investing you are probably hoping, or even expecting to get high returns. The whole point to investing is to make a good deal of money and you want to get as much out of any investment as possible. Some people mistakenly think that to make a huge amount of money from investments you have to wait years, if not decades. However there are high return investments that can show huge returns in months or few years. As a general rule the more money you are willing to bring to the table, the more money you will get in return. Here are some high return investments:

Real Estate

This is definitely a high return investment and there are many options to choose from with real estate. You can choose to purchase a property at a low cost, do the house up and then sell it for a decent profit. This is an excellent way to make money, however it takes up a massive amount of personal time to do to a high standard. Alternatively you could opt to invest in rental properties, and reap the income they bring indefinitely. This is an excellent method if you have the money to buy numerous properties.

Corporate Bonds

Corporations issue corporate bonds in an attempt to gather money to expand a business. The maturity date associated with them is in excess of a year. Obviously there is a fair amount of risk associated with corporate bonds, as if the company fails, then so does your investment but this also means high return investments.

Municipal Bonds

These are bonds that are issued by a cities government. It is a high return investment because the interest gained does not get taxed. They are also free to trade.

Dividend-yielding Security

A Dividend-yielding security is a perfect high return investment. You invest funds in companies that have a lot of capital. This means down turns in the market will usually not have a huge effect on them. If you do decide to invest in long-term dividends you could make a massive profit on high yielding stocks.

There are other investment options that offer a good return. To decide which is most appropriate to your situation you will need to talk to a financial specialist. They will be able to explain the risks to you in more detail. Remember that long-term high return investments are great from the perspective of taxes.

If you manage to decide on the right high return investment you will have a secure future and a safe retirement. In the short term you can use the rewards gained from initial investments to make new ones. This could be the start of a new income for you.

Are you looking for a high return low risk investment? If so download a true Rags to Riches story and learn how to double your money every week with little to no risk. Click the link below to learn HOW you will begin compounding your capital towards your first Million Dollars at the easy corporate money program. http://www.thenetmillionaire.com/

Labels: Investments, Return, Rewards, Risks

A lot of people have taken up the hobby of collecting stamps as a means to grow and protect wealth, ever since the recession of 2008 that sent traditional investments into a downward spiral. Unlike the gold index or housing market or the stock, economic conditions do not affect such collectibles. As far collecting stamps is concerned, the great part is that there are minimal rules, as per the National Postal Museum. However, the stamps which need to be collected and those which are necessary for the preservation of collections must be learnt by potential collectors, if they will be collecting stamps as an investment.

To acquire an immense return on investment, familiarizing themselves with the types of stamps that should be collected is necessary for potential collectors. A scale that ranges from poor to superb and centering, is used to determine the value of stamps that is based on condition, as explained by the Smithsonian Postal Museum. Centering is another criterion that also concludes the value of a stamp. The stamp image's position with the outer edges is inspected when checking the centering of a stamp. Stamp with 'poor ratings' should be avoided by those who are collecting them as an investment, while only the stamps belonging within the 'fine' to 'superb' categories are worth collecting.

A complete stamp kit that includes a detector dish, magnifying glasses, tongs, watermark detector fluid and any extra tools needed to identify and handle stamps must be procured. Additionally, not only should collectors be knowledgeable on how to soak stamps but should also procure a soaking kit, if they ever might need to save stamps from mailed envelops. When it comes to lifting a stamp from an envelope intact, they should be soaked in a bowl of cool water for about fifteen to twenty minutes. Often it might take a lot more time since certain stamps do not soak well and at times to prevent discoloration, some of them even need to be soaked with a different approach.

In regards to identifying rare and valuable stamps, apart from reference books and collecting periodicals, additionally the Standard Postage Stamp Catalogue should also be used. Limited-edition stamps are quite worthwhile if identified, while other valuable ones also include those that commemorate distinguished people and topics of today.

Those in search of rare stamps to purchase should be visiting local stamp dealers. Rare stamps can also be found at estate sales or online. Checking the membership lists of the American Philatelic Society, the Internet Stamp Dealer Association, or any other national stamp dealer associations is an ideal option for finding a reputable dealer, for those who decide to purchase stamps from them. To keep stamps clean and organized so they can be quickly identified, they should be placed in a special collector's display book. A higher resale value is earned by well-organized stamp collections. While collectors of great art never consider their purchases an investment, but it cannot be denied that a good stamp collection is indeed a valuable investment.

To learn more about collecting stamps as investment, visit: http://www.stampexchange.com/

Labels: Collect, Investment, Stamps

We talk a lot about the Old vs New World in the wine industry, so it was interesting to read Graham Holter's article on the Harpers site on 19th August, revealing that a leading wine merchant believed that the top wines from California and Australia, as well as Europe's finest, would soon challenge Bordeaux's dominance of the fine wine market. The research by Slurp Investment, Holter says, shows that the current premium commanded by Bordeaux is "unsustainable", and that the wines of California and Australia are undervalued and consequently not sufficiently represented.

This argument has always interested me - at times when I've been fortunate enough to taste great Californians, I have been simultaneously impressed and surprised and part of me is rooting for them to get the recognition they deserve. But - and I think this is a personal thing - I can't help thinking that the best of California lies around the £30-£40 mark. Beyond this, there are some excellent wines, but I am not sure they stand up to Bordeaux's offerings for the equivalent price.

The article goes on to say that the best New World wines are being made with ageing in mind whereas modern Bordeaux wines are often being made to be more accessible at a young age. There is an interesting argument about the structure of wine here - It has long been thought that Bordeaux producers were leaning towards ripe, fruit-forward, sumptuous Parker-pleasing wines that could be enjoyed young, and the Chinese certainly love to pop the corks on wines that are still in their youth. Could it be the case that Bordeaux producers have been getting it wrong, while the New World have slipped under the radar, making wines that will just be hitting their peak at the height of the New World boom 30 years from now?

Of course, this is simplifying things greatly - Yes, corks are being popped on young Bordeaux, but the phenomenal structure of the top wines will ensure that the bottles that remain are capable of great age. And it is great to see the New World producers thinking ahead and producing ageworthy wines. But how much do we really know about these ageworthy wines? The answer is, not enough - we have to take their word for it that the wines will age, to some extent. And despite the expertise and innovation that goes into making these wines - it still seems to be a world far removed from the safety of Bordeaux's rich history. If we pop the corks on them 30 years from now, they might be in good condition and ready to drink. But, will we like them as much as we like Bordeaux?

I used to stand staunchly with the belief that there was nothing that the New World could do to rival Bordeaux at the top end of the market - the best New World reds will make fleeting appearances at auction but the limitations of production will always ensure that they remain a niche market. But I don't feel so strongly anymore - I believe that given time, it will be an important market for the alternative investor as new wines emerge. But therein lies the problem for the New World - time. Right now the market is Bordeaux, and it will be a long, long time before there are enough New World wines to take a significant chunk of the market away.

Sometimes, as investors, we forget that wine is not just a commodity to buy and sell. It has structure and finesse and flavour and longevity, and even if we choose not to drink it ourselves, the reality is that the Chinese, as well as wine lovers globally, are going to drink it, rather than just move it from cellar to cellar for a profit. And so, fundamentally, the wine has to be really, really good. It has to gain critical approval from the press in order to gain recognition from the emerging markets. This is what makes Bordeaux so successful, it is not just an accident of history that the famous wines are still considered to be the best. Their quality has remained high but they have also moved with the times, making wines that will impress their key audiences and continuing to court them while always identifying and penetrating new markets as they emerge.

Vimal is a professional Fine Wine Trader and is the Managing Director of IGW Brokers LTD

He also owns and writes for the leading wine blog - http://www.12x75.com/ - a blog that revolves around interviews with prominent profiles in the wine industry.

To contact Vimal, email him on vimal@igwbrokers.com or vimal@12x75.com

Labels: Structure

Let's suppose you wanted to borrow $100,000.

As your lender hands you the check, you ask them exactly when you'll be required to pay this loan back. They respond, "Don't worry, I'll tell you when it's time to pay it back."

You enquire further about the interest rate you'll be paying and the response is much the same, "Don't worry, I'll tell you the interest rate I'm charging when it's time to start paying the money back."

Under these conditions, how safe would you feel in endorsing that check? Most people would have alarm bells going off in all directions. Yet this is essentially what most people are doing when they place their money in an IRA or 401(k).

They're putting money into those accounts and it's entirely up to the government through Congress or the IRS to tell you when it's okay to pull that money out and how much in taxes you'll be paying on it. This is because Congress can change the tax laws to reflect the government's need for your tax revenue.

In the next year or so, taxes will likely be going up 5-8% if the Bush tax cuts are allowed to expire at the end of 2012. In the next decade, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is predicting that taxes could go up to 50-60%.

This means that an IRA or 401(k) is not the best place to put your money. Higher taxes will whittle your nest egg down faster than you can imagine once you start to withdraw your money.

Students of the Missed Fortune strategies know that better alternatives exist.

You're much better off to put your serious money into cash value insurance contracts that accumulate tax-free under rules that have been grandfathered into the IRS code for decades. This is where you can use the strategy of Indexing where you lock into your gains every year and it resets.

Here's what that means: If you were to invest $1,000 per month and you felt that the economy was going to have a rough year, you could say, "I want to lock this in at 5% this year because I don't want to lose."

On the other hand, if you said, "I think the economy is going to go up more than 5%", and you linked your money to the S&P 500, your return could be even higher. If that particular index did 5%, you'd get 5%. If it did 10% you'd get 10%, etc. The better the economy does the better you'd do, up to a certain cap of say 15%.

Now if the economy did much worse than you expected, you don't lose money because you locked in at that 5% rate and you're protected even if you did guess wrong.

The bottom line is that with this Missed Fortune strategy, you are credited, up to a cap of 15-16%, whatever the Index your money is linked to achieves. But the best part is that if the economy or Index goes down, you don't lose money.

Labels: Conservative, Investments