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.

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Download Table of Contents and Foreword

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Outsourcing and offshoring

If I listen uncritically to these clowns at The Economist I might be forgiven for thinking that the Universe is about to tilt on its axis. Again? Well, I think not. Listen to this video post by The Economist and think about what they say. I acknowledge that there is some truth, and certainly value in what they say, if only by being wrong, but I'll offer the following rebuttal.


There are some problems with these arguments:
1. Guangzhou is expensive - there are still rural China and other countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Africa.
2. Just land costs can be a big factor for some companies in West
3. Western labour prices are cheap because they have not been used...so unskilled labour is cheaply priced in West compared to the runaway high cost of skilled labour.
4. The productivity upside in emerging markets is greater
5. Automation is not a new benefit - it will always be there.
6. There are strategic reasons why you invest in third world - accessing new growth markets
7. A great many components are still made in China...so don't you want to establish near your component source? If not your market for strategic reasons.
8. They take a case of a Lenovo plant to be built in USA - ignoring the fact that Lenovo will have many plants around the world, and its parts will mostly come from China/Taiwan/Malaysia. They ignore the strategic motivation for US basing for US customer customised assembly. This is not common, and true for high-value, customisable product.
9. The high cost of shipping is reason for localised production and the focus of global growth is towards Asia & emerging markets, not back to uncompetitive, cost-stripping developed countries, which have zero-population growth. If they greatly expand their immigration programs, this will make a difference. My guess though is that these Asian immigrants will buy much of their products from Asia on their annual trips there.

I acknowledge that this trend is occurring. I would however suggest that it will take 20 years rather than 2015 as they suggest. It is in fact in the service sector where this is happening the greatest. Now consider that Asians are increasingly being allowed to come to Western countries on a work visa if they are under 30yo. This is a great opportunity to develop language skills and cultural appreciation. Of course the appeal is lost if you end up speaking your native language in a souvenir shop. Certainly the ready access to global cable is not enough for people to speak English well. But its a big start on their parents. The biggest obstacle for the people in these cultures is values I would suggest....and the internet is transformational. The Philippines is a clear leader in this regard.


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


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Equity market outlook and retirement

The Dow Jones Index is currently trading at 13,896 points. For some of you, this number is not so significant, and fair enough, but its important because you need to consider the implications for your future savings & investments. This point is just 100+ points short of the record Dow index level of 2008, when the market went into recession. There are of course analysts projecting trouble. Most however are not expecting a setback in the market.
I suggest the Dow Jones will struggle to break through the 14,000 level. I think it will be a tentative break, but ultimately the outlook for the US and the global market place is rather good. We have Japan about to embrace stimulus, we have a buoyant Asian market, reasonably buoyant commodity prices. Get ready for the next leg of this 'boom'. Not ready for a boom? Well, you will end up paying high prices if you wait for your apprehensions to be comforted. Anyway, the fundamentals for the global market place are very good. Care though that Western markets are struggling because:
1. Higher costs of living
2. Wage restraint for the low income earner

You therefore need to ensure you invest in the right stocks; thats stocks with resource exposure; Asian exposure, and indeed all emerging markets. Property in emerging markets makes sense, and you might do ok in Western property markets in the cities as well, as long as you buy in sought-after areas. There will be a lot of people who simply cannot afford to buy into the cities because of wage restraint. No problem, there will be plenty of emerging market retirees, whether doctors, professionals or their parents, as Western immigration standards relax for these people. Expect outer-city development as well as large cities get bigger.

I would suggest this is a great time to capitalise your homes for future retirement by investing in things like solar power, growing your own vegetables. There is no hurry; but there are incentives around to do these types of things, and in the next 20 years it will become more popular as emerging market labour rebalances its pricing with Western pricing. In the interim however, expect low-wage earners to struggle. This is why I say, capitalise your costs if you are retiring in the next 20 years because you will otherwise be impacted by higher food prices. You won't be able to absorb these costs with higher income, unless you work beyond the nominal retirement age.

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


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.