| Title insurance offers more than just fraud protection
When it comes to the single largest investment most of us will make - buying a home - consumers want to make sure they've protected that investment to the best of their abilities. As realtors, providing them with sound, knowledgeable advice will maintain their confidence, perhaps their business. When it comes to protecting that investment, one option to consider is title insurance - a cost effective protection that shields home buyers from many of the major risks that can affect the ownership and/or future marketability of title to the property. Like all insurance policies, title insurance is a contract of insurance that comes with terms and conditions. To get the most value out of the title insurance policy, it's important that buyers understand how title insurance works, and what risks title insurance does and does not cover.
Clubs nurture investment savviness
CRANBERRY — Mike Berman got the bug about 15 years ago and since then, he's spent a lot of time helping others catch the fever: organizing and/or joining an investment club."I've started four clubs, been involved with six, just helped form one a couple weeks ago," said Berman, 48, of Cranberry. "Sometimes you can lose money in a club, but this also helps you learn about stocks, about investing."Berman's latest venture, the Absolut Club (named after the vodka maker) has three members, including Berman, his neighbor John Bowers and former fellow worker Dennis Pichette. The name was selected after the trio saw an Absolut poster in an Applebee's restaurant while discussing club formation and figured Absolut's a premium vodka; this, hopefully, will be a premium investment club.In late 1999, six friends from Ross and nearby decided they should be investing in what at the time was a booming, high-tech-driven market.
Hedge funds provide liquidity
MUMBAI: The whole issue of hedge funds has been blown out of proportion partly because their role has not been fully understood by the market, says Martin Wheatley, CEO, Securities and Futures Commission (SFC), which regulates the Hong Kong Securities market. Mr Wheatley is of the view that the introduction of retail hedge funds provides investors with an access to a wider range of investment choices. Excerpts from Mr Wheatley's interview with ET. What has been your experience regulating a developed market like Hong Kong? Hong Kong securities market is witnessing a lot of activity these days. Chinese companies are keen to list in Hong Kong. We are competing with Shanghai exchange; and at the same time, we have increased co-operation (on various regulatory issues) with the Chinese regulator.
PC Flashcards are Just What the Doctor Ordered
Are those index cards showing their age already (even if it's only been a week)? If your standard flash cards are showing signs of abuse, misuse, or any other symptoms of outdated studying techniques, then the PC Flash Cards may be for you. The PC Flash Cards works by applying a multi-step system that does away with cumbersome index cards. Organize your digital flash cards by major, sub-major, minor and then individual classes. After that's done you can start making index cards for the individual subjects and even add pictures. Afterwards, you can test yourself, view the answers first, and then retake the test while only quizzing yourself on whatever flash cards you were unsure of. These flash cards can link to your PDA and if you still require the use of paper you can also print them out.
Speaking Of Silver
It's been awhile since we wrote about the silver market. There are some good reasons for it and then there are ones that can and should be dealt with. That is what this article about. We'll start with the bad news. The bad news is that there are very few people who know much about the silver market on both sides of the argument: bulls and bears. That is our unequivocal conclusion. It's also meant to be a warning. There are some very influential people with good track records and credentials in various aspects of investing and analysis who have spoken out on silver in the last year or two. Some of them were bullish, which of course, we tend to like. Then there were a few bearish ones. Mind you, all these articles and speeches came from people known as experts in investment business.
MP confident of investment from TN, Karnataka
Madurai, April 11 (PTI): Madhya Pradesh is confident of attracting investments worth Rs two lakh crore from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu and providing jobs to three lakh people before the end of 2008, according to industries and commerce minister of that state, Babulal Gaur. Gaur, on a tour of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu to attract investment, told reporters here on Monday that the state, besides having the advantage of good power availabilty, also has coalmines, plenty of water, good road access, cotton availability and raw material for Food Processing Units. The government had ensured 24 hour power supply and better infrastructure for industries in the last two years. "The cost of land is just Rs 100 per square metre, compared to Rs 7500 in Gurgaon and Rs 2,300 in Faridabad," he said. Madhya Pradesh has also the manpower cost advantage,which, he claimed was 30 to 35 per cent cheaper than elsewhere.
Kenya: Strong Shilling Burns Stanbic IPO Investors
When Mr Pius Kilango Mshana applied for the Stanbic Uganda shares during the Initial Public Offering (IPO) a few months ago, his intention was to buy as many shares as he could, then sell when the market was still hot. He applied for shares worth Sh600,000 (USh15 million). But, as the offer was oversubscribed, he and other foreign applicants were allocated a maximum Sh304,000 (USh7.6 million) worth of shares. It took slightly over four months for Mshana to get his refund, and when it finally came, he realised he had lost about Sh27,500 because to currency fluctuations. .
Odds Shifting in Growth Stocks' Favor
Years after the dot-com crash left investors with heavy losses in previously highflying technology shares, these and other "growth" stocks continue to be stock-market laggards. But some investment professionals believe this is the year that growth stocks -- shares of companies with potential for strong revenue and earnings growth -- are going to once again be stock-market stars. Besides technology, classic growth sectors include media, telecommunications and health care. In recent years, growth stocks have been outpaced by "value" stocks, which look cheap relative to the companies' prospects and which are often in less dynamic, more stable industries such as ... .
Think Long-Term to Avoid Market Shift Anxiety
March was a difficult month for many investors as changes in the market often evoke a sense of uncertainty, anxiety and sometimes anger in even the most savvy investor.
However, during such times of stock market volatility, investors are reminded just how important it is for their investment strategy to be consistent. Maintaining an investment portfolio that is structured with your long-term financial goals and objectives in mind is critical both before and during periods of market changes.
A consistent approach to investing means that your portfolio is diversified into different asset classes and not simply comprised of just one asset class, i.e. stocks. Unfortunately, reallocating a portfolio in reaction to a market decline that was not properly diversified beforehand may not provide the same growth opportunities as a well-structured portfolio previously in place.
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