Investment Postcards from Cape Town

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Investment Postcards ? a make-over of which to be proud!
2008-01-30 01:00:00
The big moment has arrived ? a new-look blog site for Investment Postcards from Cape Town! Since launching my international investment blog at the middle of last year, traffic has increased measurably, causing me to revamp the site. I hope you share my enthusiasm for this exciting project that has been immensely fulfilling and has enabled me to make so many new friends all around the world.
More About: Business , Economy , Money , Markets

Words from the wise for the week that was (Jan 21 - Jan 27)
2008-01-27 10:54:00
The past week witnessed an extraordinary set of events on the financial front, a rogue trader creating havoc at Société Générale, and wild swings on global stock markets as mounting concerns about a recessionary US economy and the implications for global growth continued to weigh on investor sentiment. This regular weekly article highlights some thought-provoking news items and quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money

The Year of the Rat: How to Invest
2008-01-23 08:47:00
The Chinese calendar proclaims this as the Year of the Rat. Based on the behavior of economies and financial markets over the past few months, investors would be forgiven for thinking that a plague has descended upon the financial system. But on occasion it is useful to step back from the day-to-day shenanigans of markets and take a bird's-eye view of events. And there is nobody better to assist with this than Donald Coxe, Global Portfolio Strategist of BMO Financial Group.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money

Words from the wise for the week that was (Jan 14 - 20, 2008)
2008-01-20 09:33:00
This regular weekly article highlights some thought-provoking news items and quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money

Words from the wise for the week that was (7 ? 13 Jan, 2008)
2008-01-13 10:36:00
This regular weekly article highlights some thought-provoking news items and quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money

US stock market confirms primary downtrend
2008-01-09 08:27:00
Following yesterday's sell-off, the US stock market seems to be topping out and embarking on a primary downtrend. This view is confirmed by both the fundamental and technical pictures and calls for inordinate caution with investment strategy.
More About: Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money , Stock Market

Stock market an excellent predictor of US recessions
2008-01-08 10:57:00
An analysis of the movements of the S&P 500 Index just prior to and during a US recession, shows that the index is a leading indicator par excellence. Using the historical relationship between the stock market and economic cycle as a guide, a rough ride could be in store in the months ahead.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money

Words from the wise for the week that was (Dec 31, 2007 ? Jan 6, 2008)
2008-01-06 09:26:00
This regular weekly article highlights some thought-provoking news items and quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money

Byron Wien?s Ten Surprises of 2008
2008-01-04 11:22:00
Dead on the first day of the New Year, Byron Wien again published his annual list of surprises to expect in the coming year. His economic, market and political predictions make for interesting reading.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money

Investment strategy: guidelines from 2007?s performance
2008-01-03 16:17:00
The overriding message of an analysis of last year's investment performance is the strong emphasis on defensive asset classes and sectors. There also does not seem to be any indication of 2007's primary trends reversing as we enter 2008, although some of last year's laggards may bottom out during the course of this year.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Performance

Gold glitters brightly at start of 2008
2008-01-02 08:58:00
Waving the old year goodbye with a few new records under the belt is no mean feat, but the real glitter for gold bullion is that most indicators seem to point to more good news down the line.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Money , Investment

Words from the wise for the week that was (Dec 24 ? 30, 2007)
2007-12-30 09:34:00
This regular weekly article highlights some thought-provoking news items and quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Words , Week , Wise

Investment recommendations for troubled times
2007-12-28 17:09:00
When an investment report by a highly-acclaimed investment strategist is entitled "Double, Double, Greed and Trouble, CDOs and Housing Bubble" it is worth a second look, especially when it comes from Donald Coxe. His latest research report, in which he summarizes specific investment recommendations for these rather difficult times, is highlighted in this blog post.
More About: Investment , Times , Troubled , Dati

Gold bullion ? a belated Christmas gift
2007-12-27 16:25:00
True to form, just as traders were bargaining on a quiet Christmas period, gold again startled with a $15 jump, taking the price well clear of the $800-level. Interestingly, gold has never in its history recorded a month-end price above $800. It would seem that gold bulls may very well have reason to toast bullion next week, saying goodbye to 2007 having achieved the $800 month-end milestone.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Money

Season?s greetings
2007-12-24 00:00:00
Here?s wishing you a great festive season full of fun, laughter and joy. It has certainly been an eventful year, especially as far as financial markets were concerned. Thank you for your friendship and support in making Investment Postcards such a fulfilling experience, and here?s to a wonderful 2008.
More About: Humor , Money , Markets , Season

Words from the wise for the week that was (Dec 17 ? 23, 2007)
2007-12-23 09:32:00
This regular weekly article highlights some memorable / thought-provoking quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Words , Week , Wise

Season?s greetings
2007-12-21 22:17:00
Here?s wishing you a great festive season full of fun, laughter and joy. It has certainly been an eventful year, especially a far as financial markets were concerned. Thank you for your friendship and support in making Investment Postcards such a fulfilling experience, and here?s to a wonderful 2008.
More About: Humor , Money , Markets , Season

China and the Arabian Peninsula as market stabilizers
2007-12-21 12:18:00
Why are stock markets not tanking against the background of the sub-prime meltdown and an increasing number of "experts" calling for a US recession? One explanation for this seeming anomaly has been offered by George Friedman, CEO of Stratfor, in an article entitled "China and the Arabian Peninsula as market stabilizers".
More About: Market

Japanese sub-prime woes
2007-12-21 11:36:00
The following humorous sketch ended up in my inbox a few days ago: ?Following the problems in the sub-prime lending market in America and the run on Northern Rock in the UK, uncertainty has now hit Japan. ?In the last seven days, Origami Bank has folded, Sumo Bank has gone belly up and Bonsai Bank announced plans ...
More About: Business , Economy , Humor , Finance , Money

Is this the end of the stock market party?
2007-12-19 05:19:00
Somebody once remarked that "risk is often lowest when it is most visible". Why do I have a niggling suspicion that a considerable dose of bad news has yet to surface and therefore not yet been discounted by stock prices? These are unusually treacherous times and any rally should, in general, be used to lighten holdings. And avoid hope, rather embrace the cold reality of a situation that has possibly not yet seen its darkest hour.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Party

Words from the wise for the week that was (Dec 10 ? 16, 2007)
2007-12-16 15:07:00
This regular weekly article highlights some memorable / thought-provoking quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Words , Week , Wise

Words from the wise for the week that was (Dec 3 ? Dec 9, 2007)
2007-12-09 12:39:00
This regular weekly article highlights some memorable / thought-provoking quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Words , Week , Wise

Words from the wise for the week that was (Nov 26 ? Dec 2, 2007)
2007-12-02 10:53:00
This regular weekly article highlights some memorable / thought-provoking quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Words , Week , Wise

Words from the wise for the week that was (November 19 ? 25, 2007)
2007-11-25 06:49:00
This regular weekly article highlights some memorable / thought-provoking quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Words , Week , Wise , November

Words from the wise for the week that was (November 12 ? 18, 2007)
2007-11-17 19:14:00
This regular weekly article highlights some memorable / thought-provoking quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a few performance charts.
More About: Words , Week , Wise , November

The carry trade ? is this it?
2007-11-12 08:16:00
Market sentiment did an about-turn last week as uncertainty mounted on the back of the credit situation going from bad to worse. The deteriorating outlook resulted in a reassessment of risk as evidenced by the continued appreciation of the Japanese yen as investors unwind their carry trades, triggering the liquidation of assets.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money

Words from the wise for the week that was (November 5 ? 11, 2007)
2007-11-11 10:06:00
This regular weekly article highlights some memorable / thought-provoking quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a few performance charts.
More About: Words , Week , Wise , November

Dow?s 361-point decline ? the writing is on the wall
2007-11-08 10:02:00
My take of the market situation is that in order to clear out excessive leverage and over-speculation we will probably be faced with more than a routine pull-back and that further downside is in store (obviously not precluding short-term relief rallies from time to time). Although the magnitude of further stock market declines is difficult to gauge, it may take a while before investors? appetite for risk is revived.
More About: Business , Economy , Writing , Finance , Stocks

Is Bernanke facing a death spiral?
2007-11-05 12:49:00
It is perhaps too early to conclude that Bernanke is facing a death spiral, but it would appear that he is confronted with the proverbial Hobson?s choice ? inflate or die. With stocks still in overvalued territory and bonds looking equally toppish, this points to gold (although overextended in the short term) remaining the ultimate reflation / safe-haven play for the foreseeable future.
More About: Death , Facing

Words from the wise for the week that was (Oct 29 ? Nov 4, 2007)
2007-11-04 09:31:00
This regular weekly article highlights some memorable / thought-provoking quotes from market commentators during the past week, and briefly reviews the week?s market action on the basis of economic statistics and a performance chart.
More About: Business , Economy , Finance , Stocks , Money