Global Mining Investing $69.95, 2 Volume e-Book Set. Buy here.
Author, Andrew Sheldon

Global Mining Investing is a reference eBook to teach investors how to think and act as investors with a underlying theme of managing risk. The book touches on a huge amount of content which heavily relies on knowledge that can only be obtained through experience...The text was engaging, as I knew the valuable outcome was to be a better thinker and investor.

While some books (such as Coulson’s An Insider’s Guide to the Mining Sector) focus on one particular commodity this book (Global Mining Investing) attempts (and does well) to cover all types of mining and commodities.

Global Mining Investing - see store

Click here for the Book Review Visit Mining Stocks

Download Table of Contents and Foreword

Saturday, August 24, 2013

Understanding inflation in the current context

David Gallaher: "I'd like opinions on the future of inflation in US dollars".'
You won't see inflation (as its measured through the Consumer Price Index) since wage levels are low (because of global wage disparity causing jobs offshoring) and low interest rates. Interest rates are not just to generate new credit/loans, its to keep asset prices high. High asset prices mean less spending on non-assets, more saving, so avoids current account issues. That's why they subsidize interest rates. The question is what can undermine asset prices which they can't control?  Bird flu? The government doesn't care where the money goes, as long as it keeps asset prices high. So it's invested in derivatives. For financial institutions this is appealing for a number of reasons:
1. They expand earnings
2. They can defer taxation by not selling,   but simply opening a contrary position.
Credit keeps growing as long as asset prices are stable and that means low interest rates.

So what would end this state of affairs?
Well, there are a number of potential sources for a financial collapse:
1. Evaporation of wage disparity - When third-world labour is fully absorbed this will result in a rebalancing of labour costs. It will make sense to work. This could however be expected to result in more workers in the West, with the discretion not to work, deciding to re-enter the workforce. Of course people don't at the high-end work just for the money, but they tend to at the 'low end', and it can be construed as partially resulting in the casualisation of labour, as well as the employer's desire to avoid 'added costs' of medical care, super contributions.
2. Serious collapse of confidence. Hard to think of what might cause this other than a run on the banks and a bird flu. If people stopped spending for a sustained period, this would cause a loss of jobs. Personally, I don't see this because of inability to undermine confidence, and the inability for a viral outbreak to get far. i.e. Its too easy for people to hoard food and stay at home. It would have to be a 'well engineered' pathogen with a long latency in the human body. i.e. Like AIDs but airborne.
3. Computer hacking of banks. Might some foreign government or anarchist undermine the Western banking system by plundering them through the international banking system. Hard to believe. Crisis of confidence? Govts would probably just guarantee the paper, which is of course backed by tangible assets, which greatly outweigh the 'paper'.
4. Rise in interest rates. You might wonder whether there might be some reason for interest rates to rise. It would be hard to believe that the banks don't know what the governments are doing; indeed I'd expect that the govt would have orchestrated its current policy with the banks. Basically, governments are favouring the banks with current policy because its injected funding into banks, who have used that funding for portfolio investment rather than home loans. Why? Because interest outlook can only deteriorate, because lack of confidence means jobs at risk. Institutional financing made more sense because derivatives gives investors long & short exposure to the market. Those positions get unwound when interest rates rise. There is however a 'systematic risk' caused by this since institutions pay tax on profits. In a trending market, they are destined to 'sell' losing positions to cover profits.
It is mooted that Chinese, Arab withdrawal of financing would be a possible cause for a collapse. I don't see that because China and Arabs have a vested interest in persisting with such support. Might they invest in their own countries? Yes, but that is the next phase, pursued by Japan to the extent that Japan's depopulation makes investing locally possible or plausible. The same issue for China. It cannot just spend money on infrastructure if there are insufficient Chinese people able to afford those expenditures. That just creates an expensive maintenance burden on the govt. Instead they have financed US government debt. Wise move? You could consider it a diversification strategy.
5. Financial failure is considered to be a reason for higher interest rates. I would doubt that unless precipitated by 'systematic tax' issue because these instruments are destined to 'balance risks', so it will take a systematic risk to undermine them. This government imposition is not something they can avoid; particularly as these large institutions can't so readily expand interest deductions to offset tax.

Asian property markets outperforming Japan Foreclosed Guide Philippines Property Guide
Profit from mining with Global Mining Investing eBook

No comments:

Japan Foreclosed Property 2015-2016 - Buy this 5th edition report!

Over the years, this ebook has been enhanced with additional research to offer a comprehensive appraisal of the Japanese foreclosed property market, as well as offering economic and industry analysis. The author travels to Japan regularly to keep abreast of the local market conditions, and has purchased several foreclosed properties, as well as bidding on others. Japan is one of the few markets offering high-yielding property investment opportunities. Contrary to the 'rural depopulation' scepticism, the urban centres are growing, and they have always been a magnet for expatriates in Asia. Japan is a place where expats, investors (big or small) can make highly profitable real estate investments. Japan is a large market, with a plethora of cheap properties up for tender by the courts. Few other Western nations offer such cheap property so close to major infrastructure. Japan is unique in this respect, and it offers such a different life experience, which also makes it special. There is a plethora of property is depopulating rural areas, however there are fortnightly tenders offering plenty of property in Japan's cities as well. I bought a dormitory 1hr from Tokyo for just $US30,000.
You can view foreclosed properties listed for as little as $US10,000 in Japan thanks to depopulation and a culture that is geared towards working for the state. I bought foreclosed properties in Japan and now I reveal all in our expanded 350+page report. The information you need to know, strategies to apply, where to get help, and the tools to use. We even help you avoid the tsunami and nuclear risks since I was a geologist/mining finance analyst in a past life. Check out the "feedback" in our blog for stories of success by customers of our previous reports.

Download Table of Contents here.

'Buying Philippines Property – Download a free sample chapter!

The Philippines property market remains one of the strongest in Asia thanks to rising incomes, rising population and rapid rates of urbanisation. The administrative reforms of the Arroyo government have given way to improved administration under Aquino. ASEAN countries can be expected to achieve even greater price gains than Western markets, demonstrating that this super cycle is far from over.

Buying Philippines Property 2010
- Download the table of contents or buy this 2-volume eBook at our online store for just $US19.95.



Investment Strategy

If you are investing for the long term, you still need an investment strategy. Dont be fooled by the rhetoric of fund managers. The reason they advise you to 'buy & hold' is because they dont want to compete with you in sell-offs. Markets and industrial sectors are cyclical, so they demand trading to get the best returns. Fund managers actually cant hope to match the performance of small investors (if you are half good) because they have to manage huge amounts of funds and charge you a fee besides.
MY ADVICE is (i) look at a range of market indices and decide upon what level of correction would give you the justification you need to get in & out of the market. It might be a 5-10% retracement or a break of trend. (ii) Diversify if you dont have an intimate knowledge of the company or management. More than 30% in one company is aggressive.

'Buying NZ Property – Download the free sample readings!

The NZ property market is shaping up as one of the most attractive property investment markets for the next few years. High yielding property and the collapse of the NZD make NZ the perfect counter-cyclical investment if you buy right! In addition, there is no capital gains tax, transfer taxes, VAT/GST or wealth taxes in NZ, so rest assured that NZ property is tax-effective! Learn more now!

New Zealand Property Report 2010 - Download the table of contents or buy this report at our online store for just $US19.95.