Year: 2019

  • The Low-Interest Rates Could Lead You to Great Earnings

    The Low-Interest Rates Could Lead You to Great Earnings

    3 min read

    The Low-Interest Rates Could Lead You to Great Earnings

    When interest rates are low you may think:  Oh, what a good opportunity. Loans are cheaper, banks or and peer to peer sites will fight for loan clients. Yes, at some point of view and for a short time it is favorable.

    But on the other side, the low-interest rate means lowering returns for lenders. If interest rates are low for a long time, where is the benefit for lenders? That is the very clear relationship between demand and supply. Low-interest rates can damage lenders, and the borrowers can be damaged too because borrowing money becomes difficult.

    In periods when the interest rate is low, banks are in a difficult situation. They don’t have a strong deposit base, the income from loans is lower too which causes the banks to don’t want to take a risk by giving cheap loans to borrowers with the lower credit rating.

    And here we come to the point. It is difficult to finance, for example, small businesses, and investing becomes more difficult too. But not impossible yet.

    Low-interest rates inhibit investors from putting money in savings accounts. They rather use the funds to pay their debts or use their money to invest in shares or buy some property. 

    For example, if the interest rate on deposit is about 1%, why would you put your money on savings? The better choice is to buy shares, the return is bigger.

    Instead to put your money on your saving account, invest it

    The Low-Interest Rates Could Lead You to Great Earnings

    When the interest rate is low, investing is a great opportunity for many people. The truth is, if you put your money in the bank, the returns will not follow the inflation rate. Investing demand more risk, that’s the fact. But the returns, if not defeat the inflation, will follow the speed of it.

    You don’t want to miss this: Economic downturn – How to prepare for it

    The point is that you will take more risks to get bigger returns. How much risk you should take and stay calm? You can decrease risk by diversifying your investment portfolio. Investing in higher-risk assets gives higher returns. 

    So, where to invest when you withdraw your money from the bank account? 

    The most popular are bonds and stocks that are paying dividends.

    The yield is what every single investor wants, no matter if it is an individual investor or institutional. The aim is the same.

    Invest in fixed income assets, that will give you a high return. But if you invest in different asset classes, meaning you build a diversified portfolio which is the best strategy, you may be sure you will have increased yields.

    In any case, bigger than if you leave your money in the bank while the interest rate is low.

    The stock market is one of the best long term capital raising opportunities. 

    Yes, the stock market levels are high at this moment. To explain this. When interest rate drops, people will think they are safe and accumulate their capital or savings into stocks.

    This action is driving the markets higher. The demand is bigger and the prices are high.

    Increased stock markets are a difficulty for many people. So, what you have to do is to keep your money for a while, just wait for the market correction or invest for the long term. The long-term investing is a good choice because how could you know the market will weaken. 

    The stock market doesn’t like high-interest rates but likes the low-interest rates. High-interest rates can boost costs for companies which can lead to lower profits, hence lower stock prices. But it is a great opportunity for everyone who wants to buy. Low-interest rate rises the price of the stocks because the people will rather invest in stocks than to keep their money in the banks. So, the demand is bigger, hence stocks prices are higher.

    The worse scenario is to leave the money in the bank during the period of low-interest rate or inflation. You don’t want to watch how smart people defeated inflation and you were the victim. Don’t be the looker-on, take your place in the game.

  • The Boys Are Not All Right

    The Boys Are Not All Right

    3 min read

    The Silicon Valley Mentality of Boys

    History of the Silicon Valley goes as far back to ancient 1951 when the dean of the School of Engineering at Stanford, Frederick Terman, has spearheaded the creation of the Stanford Industrial Park. Place where Stanford University was leasing the office space to nascent high-tech companies. Hewlett-Packard, General Electric, Eastman Kodak, and Lockheed were some of the very first tenants.

    It was also a place where the silicon transistor was born, integrated circuits, MOSFET, the concept of the Intergalactic Computer Network, video games, and many other things without which we couldn’t imagine the modern life. Once it was a hotbed of innovation, the forefront of technological progress, today it is a shadow of its former self. 

    Silicon Valley today is more of a state of mind

    Though the southern part of the San Francisco Bay still exists, and towns like Palo Alto, Cupertino, Menlo Park, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and others of the Santa Clara County; Silicon Valley today is more of a state of mind than a physical place.

    Back in the day, it was inhabited by people who had extraordinary talent and knowledge of everything techy and sciency, the geeks. Today, by know-it-all Bros who will from time to time get some very bright ideas. 

    For example to make a steel one person cigar-shaped submarine for rescuing people trapped in an underwater cave. And to pretend that it can swing around the bend in a submerged tunnel, where a U shaped bend is roughly twice the circumference of the submarine. And when subjected to the public criticism of such an “ingenious” piece of engineering, the Silicon Valley mentality demands that one hurls the most abhorrent insults at one’s critics. After all the Bro knows it all, he’s a software engineer.

    We come to Elon Musk

    And yes, Elon Musk is a prime example of everything that is wrong about the Silicon Valley mentality. That, born in the primordial soup of buzzwords and overhyped software applications, arrogant attitude that any problem in the world could be solved by a software engineer.

    But reality has a nasty habit of rearing its ugly face. Especially when software engineers try to solve hardware problems. 

    For example Tesla Model 3’s rear wheel arches.

    The Silicon Valley Mentality of Boys

    According to Sandy Munro of Munro and Associates, a manufacturing analyst company with analyzing more than 400 models of various manufacturers under their belt, they are made out of 9 separate parts which are welded, glued or riveted to each other. Other car manufacturers make this body part out of a single piece of sheet metal.

    Also, Model 3 features some of the body sub-assemblies which are made out of parts joined together in several ways, welding, glueing, riveting or bolting. Sometimes using all four of them. Something which is utterly foreign to other car manufacturers, who prefer to use one joining technique throughout the sub-assemblies as such a solution keeps manufacturing costs as low as possible. Overall, Mr. Munro has suggested 227 practices which are standard for car manufacturing, and which would lower production costs of Model 3 by at least $2,000. “This body is their single biggest problem. It’s killing them.” Those are the words of manufacturing analyst, Sandy Munro.

    But, why is it so? 

    By all appearances because Tesla has a corporate mentality characteristic for Silicon Valley. From what an observer can deduce, they prefer to hire software engineers over car engineers. While in the past five years many big engineering names from the likes of Ferrari, Mercedes, BMW, Peugeot… were poached by their competitors, none of them was snatched by Tesla.

    By all appearances, Tesla is throwing software engineers at car manufacturing problems. And those boys lack the old school knowledge of car engineering and production. But they have a quite ample attitude. For example, about their Autopilot system. On the official webpage, it is described quite dubiously capable, even though featuring a warning that the Autopilot features “do not make the vehicle autonomous”.

    Fake it till you make it

    The system is touted as having 40x computing power of the previous system, features the Autosteer+, it is twice this and thrice that, and all “new Tesla cars have the hardware needed in the future for full self-driving in almost all circumstances”. And that is the lingo of Silicon Valley mentality, overstate everything no matter what, and curb the confusing and often misleading language just enough to satisfy the regulators. Convince the potential customers that your widget is the life-changing experience, without which their lives have no meaning.

    The Silicon Valley Mentality of Boys.

    Disruptiveness, insurgent, start-up, “fake it till you make” it are the epitomes of it. It’s a place where everyone can be miserable. Where working “9 to 5” means from 9 am to 5 am. Place where every CEO is the man who will fundamentally change our world and way of life with his “disruptive app”.

  • Leonardo DiCaprio As Environmentally Responsible Investor

    Leonardo DiCaprio As Environmentally Responsible Investor

    Leonardo DiCaprio Investor
    Celebrities like to be connected to famous brands but only a few are investors. This is one of them.

    By Gorica Gligorijevic

    Leonardo DiCaprio became an investor and advisor to an environmentally responsible financial business this spring.

    The Aspiration company seeks to provide users with a socially responsible option to conventional banks.

    “Each year, $100 billion worth of pipelines, drilling, and other fossil fuel-extraction projects are funded with money deposited at traditional banks,” DiCaprio said in a comment. “To bring about long-term solutions for our planet, we need alternatives that empower everyday consumers to take action against climate change,” added the famous actor.

    This investment is the latest in a series of environmental aims for the actor. DiCaprio also signed on to advise a climate technology fund, a venture capital firm Princeville Capital. DiCaprio already has experience as an advisor, he helps to the same profiled start-up Bluon Energy.

    Leonardo DiCaprio’s investment portfolio is wide-ranging.

    He supports businesses from virtual reality ventures to organic drinks companies. Moreover, he founded the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, an organization committed to the stability and “wellbeing of all Earth’s inhabitants.”

    Leonardo DiCaprio Investor

    Mobli

    In 2011, DiCaprio managed a $4m funding round in Mobli. It is a company founded by Israeli businesspeople and Moshe and Oded Hogeg. It is a website for sharing photos and videos providing users to interact with visual data. Di Caprio was very excited about this investment.

    “I’m very excited to be a part of Mobli,” he said. 

    Unfortunately, Mobli bankrupted in 2016. The race against rivals Vine and Instagram were lost.

    Cue

    Only three years later,  DiCaprio contributed to a $7.5m funding round in start-up Cue.

    In an effort to develop a home health monitoring system, the company develops a variety of technologies with that purpose. One of the most important products is wireless diagnostic equipment that enables users to monitor their own health.

    Runa

    DiCaprio invested in organic beverage firm Runa.

    The company uses guayusa (gwhy-you-sa), a leaf that is found practically only in the Amazonian forests in Ecuador to produce tea and energy drinks. That was a support to the 3,000 families that grow it and the Runa company hired them all.

    “Sustainable farming practices are key to helping ensure a brighter future for so many local people,” stated DiCaprio.

    MindMaze

    MindMaze is a Switzerland-based high-tech start-up. We found on their website:

    “MindMaze builds intuitive human-machine interfaces through its breakthrough neuro-inspired computing platform. Our innovations at the intersection of neuroscience, mixed reality, and artificial intelligence are poised to transform multiple industries.”

    This product can be very helpful in the movie industry, and that was DiCaprio’s opinion too:

    “I am excited about the possibilities of MindMaze’s technology, especially for its potential to be a driving force in media and entertainment in the years to come.”

    He invested in this company in 2017.

    Casper

    In the same year, he took part in a $55m funding round for this online mattress company. Thanks to his engagement along with Tobey Maguire, 50 Cent, and Adam Levine, the company surpass $500m in value that year.

    Casper is founded in 2013 in New York-based. They are selling mattresses, pillows, and sheets online.

    Diamond Foundry

    Two years before Casper, DiCaprio invested in the Diamond Foundry.

    The company creates diamonds by using plasma reactors and eliminates human labor, which is usually connected to this process.

    After he invested,  DiCaprio posted on his Facebook profile: “I’m proud to invest in Diamond Foundry – a company that is reducing the human and environmental toll of the diamond industry – by sustainably culturing diamonds without the destructive use of mining.”

    Kingo

    Last year, in 2018, DiCaprio invested in a solar power company Kingo based in Guatemala.

    The company installs solar capacity in rural regions. In that way produced energy costs less per hour than the people would have to pay for a single candle.

    Kingo is currently powering 60,000 homes and every month has a new 7,000 users.

    As we can see Leonardo DiCaprio investor is focused on environmentally responsible businesses. This famous actor, born in 1974 in Los Angeles is known for his roles in Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time in Hollywood today, or previous Catch Me If You Can, The Wolf of Wall Street, Blood Diamond, The Great Gatsby, Gangs of New York, and many others, is a socially responsible investor. Respect!

    You would like THIS

  • LUPA Stocks –  Four Stocks Funded by Venture Capital

    LUPA Stocks – Four Stocks Funded by Venture Capital

    4 min read

    LUPA Stocks - Four Stocks Funded by Venture Capital

    LUPA stocks are Lyft, Uber, Pinterest, and Airbnb stocks. This makes LUPA nickname. The other nickname for these stocks is PAUL stocks. Some of them are already publicly traded but some are waiting to be in the coming future, for example, Airbnb. The common thing for all of them is that they all are companies funded by venture capital and private capital. They have become well-established brands and widely recognized businesses. The other common thing is that all of them enjoy users’ support, but profits have been mysteriously absent. 

    LYFT

    Lyft went public in March this year. In August its shares dropped 30% compared to their $72 initial IPO price. But there’s good news too, as not everything is bad for Lyft.

    Several days ago, actually one week ago, Guggenheim Capital declared it’s improving Lyft’s shares advisory from neutral to buy. At the same time, they announced a targeted price is at $60 which is a 19% increase. 

    The main reason behind is calming down of the price war with Uber.

    LUPA Stocks

     

    Uber is expanding its business to several new fields like food delivery in the domestic market, but more importantly, Uber is expanding its operations internationally. So, the price war with Lyft now seems pretty much tricky. Uber is making loses in these parallel business and has to cover them somehow. The price war with Lyft is exhausting and without the expected result. Moreover, Uber has to earn money in the domestic market to cover losses caused by international competition and the intention to expand the business. It likely went about it too early. 

    The consequence is that Uber has to raise its prices for ride-sharing if they want more cash. That is an opportunity for Lyft to do the same.

    Lyft is still an unprofitable company. Its share price is five times its annual sales. But Guggenheim claims that it is the question of the day when Lyft will start to earn profits from its business. Lyft is targeting a valuation of $21-23 billion. Fidelity Capital Markets holds about 7% of the Lyft’s non-public shares.

    Uber Is part of LUPA stocks

    Uber is Lyft’s main rival in the ride-sharing industry. The last decade was pretty eventful for them. This ride-sharing app is funded by venture capital. Their first appearance on the market was under the name UberCab in 2009. They expanded their business internationally and now they have food delivery, trucking, and scooter rental included domestically. Uber is one of the biggest tech IPOs and became publicly traded since May 2019.

    The early investors made millions, maybe even billions of dollars since the company came into the stock exchange. Anyway, their investment is increased in value.

    This somewhat controversial company has many challenges. Uber market cap on August 30, 2019, was $55.69B. 

    Honestly Uber, which is not posting profits, is an overvalued company.

    LUPA Stocks

     

    In Jun this year, Uber predicts that the value of its initial public offering will be from $44 to $50 per share. That would mean a valuation of up to $91 billion. But it is lower than $100 billion what was prior expected. Still, Uber is one of the highest offerings in history.

    Uber has another problem. Their attitude toward drivers was the subject of many scatting news reports and even strikes.

    Drivers have complained about their pay. The criticism of unfair labor practices has caused a public resentment toward the company. 

    Shares of Uber were at $33.96 in mid-August, which was the lowest since the stock’s appearance in May. And Uber shares continued to slip and the shares dropped below $36. 

    Pinterest is one of LUPA stocks

    Pinterest, another one among LUPA stocks, is a popular photo-sharing social-media online platform.

    The company claims that it has 250 million active users every month. The company started to be publicly traded in April this year and its stock price registered more than 28% rise on its first day of trading. The company’s stock started trading at $23.75, above the initial offering price of $19 and finished the day at $24.40 in April this year.

     

    It will anyway be tough for this social media company to be able to be a real rival of Twitter or Facebook. However, Pinterest management has reaffirmed a much less competitive path to growth than its rivals. 

    Their market cap is $18.68 billion and stocks are traded at $34.42 in August this year.

    Airbnb is LUPA stock

    The company was launched in 2008 and probably surpassed the founders’ expectations.

    This popular short-term apartment rental platform has upset the whole travel industry. For example, the best example of how huge it can be is the case of New York. This city has limited Airbnb’s ability to operate. The powerful lobbying forces from the hotel industry caused that.  

    This service has long been in the spotlight for an IPO. Now it looks the Airbnb is reading for its market debut. The company declared they made “substantially more” than $1 billion in revenue in the 3rd quarter of 2018. Some experts claim that the company’s profitability makes it a top candidate for the direct listing.

    It looks that the Airbnb can be the next big play. And their IPO may happen in 2020.

    Bottom line

    These four companies are among the most important ‘unicorns’. All of these LUPA stocks are startup companies valued at more than $1 billion. LUPA stocks are interesting to investors who are currently willing to reward tech businesses that lose money. They already did so with Amazon or Netflix in their beginnings. LUPA has been able to develop their businesses with the support of venture capital and private investments. But the public markets are not so welcoming to them at the moment. The stock prices show that. Still, they are worth investing. Maybe now more than ever as their current low prices suggest large raises in the future. And the future currently belongs to the tech companies.

  • The Stock Market prediction Is Possible or Not?

    The Stock Market prediction Is Possible or Not?

    The Stock Market prediction Is Possible or Not?
    Everyone would like to know everything about this

    By Guy Avtalyon

    Stock market prediction is the intention since the beginning of the stock market. The reason is clear. Every single participant in the stock market aims to gain huge or decent returns and to avoid losses. Sounds logical, indeed. In early days traders and investors were just guessing, to say it simply. Well, frankly, not just guessing. There were some estimations, judgments, listening to the rumors, asking. But today, traders and investors may employ different tools, machine learnings, and AIs to help them in stock market predictions. 

    Is the stock market prediction possible or not? 

    We already learn that past performances can’t show future trends. But is this truth 100%?

    Of course not.

    Watching past performances can help you with a high level of certainty to predict how some stock will act in the future. This is very important because based on that data you will determine and decide what to do with some stocks. Would you buy or sell, would you stay on position or leave.

    The modern stock market prediction is often based on machine learnings and AI technologies varying from very simple to complex ones. Those stock market prediction tools or techniques, whatever would you like to call them may help you a lot to secure your investments. Even the simplest can give you an insight into the future stock market trends. 

    Using robust algorithms has benefits, of course. But not every trader or investor can afford them. Some are very expensive and the result is very often almost the same if you use the simple version or some simple tool.  

    The crucial thing about stock market prediction is to have quite enough historical data to be able to make a conclusion, to have a basic sense of some stock’s nature.

    How to predict the stock market movements?

    The relationship between supply and demand is what dictates the stock price. And this works very simply. If there is in the market more sellers, that means the supply is greater than demand, so the price will decrease. And vice versa. That is the easy part of the stock market. Things become more complicated when you try to understand why some investors like one stock more than the other. But that is another question. We want to know is the stock market prediction possible or not.

    The algos, tools, learning machines deliver their predictions based on historical data. This means that all of them show the prior values of some stock and based on that give the future estimation of stock price action. 

     

    And that is exactly what you need as an investor. To get some info with the highest level of possibility on how some stock will perform in the future. To have that kind of info you don’t need to spend a fortune. Some simple tools may benefit you too. Such a tool must have historical data about prior performances, for some limited time, for example during one year. Based on that info you will be able to check your trading or investing strategy. And that is crucial. The possibility to check your strategy on your own and not to put all in the “hands” of some algorithm, because we want to be honest with you, algos can make fails. Algos, as like your trading strategy, depends on inputs that some other implemented in it. To say simpler, it is based on other people’s knowledge about the stock market prediction and investor expectations.

    Le’s check one example. Let’s say you have a strategy and you want to check how it works on a particular stock.

    How efficient your strategy is?

    If it shows your strategy isn’t good you can easily change the strategy or test it on some other stock. Moreover, the possibility to test different strategies on numerous stocks is extremely important when it comes to choosing the stock to invest in or strategy to employ. What is the main point of trading? To gain a nice return. And how to provide that? You have to find the best possible to take a profit point and stop-loss point.  

    Based on the info you can obtain from such a tool you can easily decide about your future trading. 

    Very simple and very helpful, don’t you think? 

    What Traders-Paradise wants to say is just stay tuned.

  • Where to look for startup funding: the Silicon Valley or funds of Europe?

    Where to look for startup funding: the Silicon Valley or funds of Europe?

    2 min read

    Where to look for startup funding

    When you have an idea about business it is always a question where to look for startup funding. Of course, if you are not an heir to family wealth.   

    One of the most difficult hurdles meeting any ambitious European startup is how to choose the right VC firm. Someone to support your next funding circle. According to Dealroom and LocalGlobe’s report, it is better to seek the vicinity of the home. The report reveals that smaller funds always show more interest in your development.

    “Smart founders understand that you want investors who are not absentee landlords and can sit down and meet you,” said LocalGlobe cofounder Saul Klein.

    This report from Dealroom and LocalGlobe validated and examined 257 of the Series A arrangements. 

    The most unexpected conclusion is that European venture capital companies supported all 257 of the Series A arrangements between 2014 and 2018. Despite alleged increasing interest in Europe, US companies didn’t support a single one.

     

     

    But this sound somehow logical. When you are at an early stage of fundraising, the first thing you would do is to look around the neighborhood. 

    That is the reason why some of Europe’s most prosperous startups are in small towns, not in capitals.

    According to the report, the initial stage investment market in Europe is in strong form. The total number of Series A rounds rose from 40 to 73 between during the past 4 years. Their total value increased from $332m to $731m.

    Where to look for startup funding

    The well-known fact is the major startup hubs are in Berlin, London or Paris. But colonies of these activities are also Munich or Milan. Tel Aviv in Israel is also an extremely welcoming place for domestic startups. Speaking about Europe, have you ever heard that some of the most successful startups are in small towns like Montpellier in France, or Oulu in Finland? 

    This is data from the research company PitchBook.

    Traders-Paradise introduces some of the top cities for startups that are not capitals.

    Okay, we mentioned Tel Aviv with 1,900 startups.

    Barcelona in Spain has 474, Munich in Germany 331, the next is Milan in Italy with 238 startups closed deals. These cities are followed by Cambridge, Hamburg, Manchester, Glasgow, Gothenburg, Cardiff, Rotterdam, etc.

    In small towns, you can find a wide specter of companies that raising money. For example, Espoo in Finland supported a mobile phone company HMD Global, the MariaDB, a database management company also. Or the other example, Leuven in Belgium, supported Parkwind, a builder of offshore wind farms.

    How to find investors for your startup?

    You can call the nearest university with an entrepreneurial program. They usually have a powerful web of investors. Just ask them if they want to give you some advice about resources. The other source can be AngelList.

    Social networks can be useful sources to locate angel investors. Just look for investors in your niche. We highlight AngelList because it classifies investors by area or business.

    However, the best way is to get linked with the other founders in your neighborhood, to say that. Meet other people. Ask for guidance, give information, talk about the difficulties that every entrepreneur meets.

    And you will see, the things will roll on. So, when you ask where to look for startup funding, just look around you.

  • We Have Reasons To Believe That Bitcoin Is Back On Top

    We Have Reasons To Believe That Bitcoin Is Back On Top

    2 min read

    Bitcoin Trend Indicator Shows the Same Pattern As In Mid-2016

    Bitcoin trend indicator shows almost the same pattern as in the middle of 2016. It was just before Bitcoin started its bull run and led BTC into the spotlight. Only a year and a half later, Bitcoin hit its highest price at the end of 2017.

    This Bitcoin trend indicator is noticed by one of the most respectable analysts known as PlanB

    PlanB pointed out the Bitcoin trend indicator shows that the current price performance almost exactly matches a pattern from the mentioned period.

    Bitcoin trend indicator

     

    Bitcoin’s relative strength index is similar to its last bull run

    Does the current setback really mean a big uptrend?

    PlanB is very important and one of the most respected crypto analysts. He has made comprehensive research into Bitcoin price. Moreover, he stands behind the Bitcoin stock-to-flow model. A frequently quoted by extremely honored people from the financial sector.

    PlanB had a great influence and still has, on crypto-skeptics. It was like a miracle watching how he turned skeptics into fans. For example CNBC’s  Squawk Box hostJoe Kernen. 

    PlanB’s fresh analysis, the chart of Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (take a look again) shows a forceful indicator.

     

     

    Can you see an extraordinary similarity? Just compare the year 2016 and nowadays action.

    After a decline in RSI from the high 60s to low 60s, BTC RSI then climbs higher to approximately 75, stands there for a while to take a breath, then proceeds to rise over, crossing out just a bit below 90 on the RSI scale.

    The point of this similarity is the strength of Bitcoin to stay on this level long enough to take a new breath and start a true bull run to the highest high.

    The history should replicate itself.

    Bitcoin is recognized as a safe asset. BTC does not connect to any single country’s policy determinations. Bitcoin is indeed a great advantage in these times of economic uncertainty.

    Don’t miss THIS! LEARN HOW TO MONETIZE BITCOIN

    Check your knowledge about crypto

  • Singapore Stock Market – Why To Invest?

    Singapore Stock Market – Why To Invest?

    Singapore Stock Market - Why To Invest?
    Singapore stock market is strong and that fact causes investors from all meridians to invest in with a high level of safety.

    By Gorica Gligorijevic

    Singapore stock market is healthy and that fact brings investors from all meridians. The reason is that Singapore’s market provides them to invest with a high level of trust.

    According to the IMD World Competitiveness Rankings 2019, Singapore is rated as the world’s most competitive economy. In 2019,  it rose from third place to the top. This progress was caused by educated professionals, excellent technological base, and, most important, advantageous tax policies. 

    The global investment community is observing Singapore for its trade and financial areas. According to some researches, this country could easily catch nearly a third of the world’s agri-commodity trade by 2025.

    This success came due to geographical position, low tax rates, absence of corruption, experienced workforce, etc. Singapore stock market is the largest in Southeast Asia and works for more than 700 companies.

    You would like: Trade on the Indian stock market and win

    Is the Singapore stock market is cheaper?

    The Singapore stock market begins with the Singapore stock exchange or the SGX exchange. SGX Singapore is one of the 30 parts of the Straits Times Index (STI).

    Singapore’s benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) didn’t avoid the global sell-off last year, but the STI kept better so, Singapore’s shares are still cheaper. According to leading wealth managers, they are extremely attractive.

    This year, Singapore’s stock market delivered beautiful returns to investors. This can confirm major investors such as UBS Global Wealth Management and Citi Private Bank. If you take a dividend as a referent, Singapore ranks very high. 

    To show you the Singapore stock market is cheaper, let’s take a look at some data.

    The STI’s average PE ratio from 1973 to 2010 was 16.9 but in 1973 it was 35, which was the historical highest. The lowest P/E ratio was in 2009, and the current P/E, since August, 16, the ratio of 10.3.

    So, you can see that Singapore stocks are cheaper than average.

    We can also use the other method. The net-stock number shows that there is a lot of net-stocks, more than usual, which lead us to conclude they are cheap right now. You know that when supply is bigger than demand…

    Where to invest in Singapore?

    Let’s say you want to buy Singapore stocks right now. Our suggestion is to find, for example, 10 – 15 cheapest shares and keep them to the next ranking. It is usually for one year. Of course, you shouldn’t buy any share just because it is cheap. The odds to hit the rotten are surprisingly high.

    Traders-Paradise gives you a track to follow. We made some selection, but maybe you will pick different.

    UOB-Kay Hian Holdings Limited with a market cap of 977.8 and a P/E ratio at 0.689 is a good choice. The further is SLB Development Ltd, market capitalization – 105.0, P/E ratio – 0.697. Or Sing Holdings Limited with a market cap 158.4 and with P/E ratio 0.899.

    These are just three suggestions and criteria to employ when investing in the Singapore stock market. But you are the one who has to decide where to invest in. We are here to give you a hint.

    The benefits of investing in the Singapore stock market

    * open and free economy

    * favorable tax rates

    * excellent technological infrastructure

    * high-skilled professionals

    * favorable P/E ratio

    * plenty of cheap net-stocks

    But there are some risks involved.

    Singapore’s economy depends on foreign trade. And, Singapore is deeply connected with China’s economy so the trade war between China and the US influences Singapore’s economy too.

    If you want to invest in foreign markets, the Singapore stock market is one of the best. Singapore has succeeded to develop an excellent business-friendly atmosphere.

  • The value of investments is falling – What to do?

    The value of investments is falling – What to do?

    The value of investments is falling - What to do?
    This can be a big issue, try not to panic, and follow these steps to protect your capital invested.

    by Gorica Gligorijevic

    The value of investments is falling and you are worried. Don’t be, it’s normal from time to time but also, you may profit from it. Let me explain this.

    In stock investing, you have to respect a few general facts. You may face the value of investments fall, as first. What you have to do? To find the reason behind. When you determine the reason you will have a powerful weapon in your hands: you will be able to decide should you sell or hold your stocks. Moreover, you’ll be able to buy a new stock of shares. Well, you can see it isn’t the end of the world. Just think about other opportunities and try not to panic.

    Put your emotions aside and turn on your brain. Your investments are not your sweetheart.

    So, when (notice there is nor “IF”) the value of investments falls, don’t jump immediately to sell them. Yes, the news comes, but just stay cool because it can be temporary. Do you know how many investors lost their fortune reacting impulsively?

    It is painful to watch at stocks are falling in price, that’s true. But take a closer look at historical data of stock you hold. Maybe you can notice some patterns. When and why their value has had fallen before? 

    When the value of investments is falling, identify the pattern

    Yes, it is very important to identify the pattern

    Past performances don’t guarantee the future behave but at some point, you will figure out the causality. Most stocks respond to market movements in a logical pattern. And you’ll be ready for the next move. 

    Besides, just looking at the charts can make you more nervous. You must have more information. You must have a clear picture of how the whole industry is performing. Industry in which your beneficial company is working, of course. You are holding its stocks and you have to know something about the sector it is working on. What is about the overall market appearance, what is happening there? Is the market volatile maybe? Moreover, did you read at least one quarterly report from the company whose stocks you hold?

     

    The value of investments is falling don’t get panicked

    Okay, let’s talk about this a bit more. Let’s assume you have all the info. So, what would you do with this?

    The key is to recognize what forces the value of your investments to fall. If you cannot identify the reason behind, you should exit your position.

    Sometimes the gap in the market can cause the value of investments to fall. Or it can happen due to the market’s weakness. If you find this case, you should stay in a position. It isn’t rocket science, it is just market: supply and demand relationship. If you are on the market it is reasonable to have a diversified portfolio, right? This is very important, especially in today’s market. A diversified portfolio will produce a positive return to you. But more importantly, it will allow you to have a return higher than the inflation rate is. So, if you are a long-term investor, just stay cool when the value of investments is falling. Your investment horizon is what is really important. 

    Temporary drops shouldn’t concern you. 

    The question is, what is the main goal of any investing strategy? To gain returns bigger than the overall market for some level of risk. It is always a good concept to check how the performance of your stock is in comparison to the overall market. 

    But what if the value of investments is falling suddenly and it different from past performances? The company is still good as it was when you bought your stock! Think! Maybe the reason for the value of investments falling is exactly there. The company is too good and maybe many investors are willing to buy a stake of its shares. If you are not among them, leave your position and invest in some other company.

  • Who Is The Richest Person That Ever Lived?

    Who Is The Richest Person That Ever Lived?

    the richest person ever lived
    It is always an intriguing question. Here is what Traders-Paradise found.

    By Gorica Gligorijevic

    Some of you may think that Bill Gates is the richest person ever lived. Well, he is one of the richest today with $77.8 billion. Also, there was much fanfare when Amazon boss Jeff Bezos was marked as the wealthiest person ever lived with his $105.1 billion fortune. But it is a small part of what some other man held.
    That title is assumed to go to Mansa Musa. Who is Mansa Musa? 

    He was a West African ruler with wealth valued at $400 billion. This isn’t a fairytale and you will see why.  

    “Contemporary accounts of Musa’s wealth are so breathless that it’s almost impossible to get a sense of just how wealthy and powerful he truly was,” Rudolph Butch Ware, associate professor of history at the University of California, said the BBC.

    And Jacob Davidson wrote about the African king for Money.com in 2015  Musa was “richer than anyone could describe”.

    Do you know who were the greatest stock traders of all time

    Why Mansa Musa is the richest person that ever lived?

    His wealth is estimated at $400bn, but historians admit that his wealth is difficult to pin down to a number. That’s how huge it was.

    Mansa Musa was born in 1280 in a family of rulers.  His brother, Mansa Abu-Bakr, ruled the empire until 1312 when he abdicated and went on an expedition with a fleet of 2,000 ships and never returned.

    Mansa Musa inherited the kingdom of Mali. He was an impressive ruler. 

    The kingdom of Mali was from the Atlantic Ocean to Niger, with parts of Senegal, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, the Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, Burkina Faso, Guinea covering almost 2,000 miles. That large landmass gave great resources, for example, gold and salt.

    According to the British Museum, under Mansa Musa ruling, Mali possessed almost half of the Old World’s gold. And everything belonged to the king.

    “As the ruler, Mansa Musa had almost unlimited access to the most highly valued source of wealth in the medieval world,” said Kathleen Bickford Berzock, who specializes in African art at the Block Museum of Art at Northwestern University, to the BBC.

    “Major trading centers that traded in gold and other goods were also in his territory, and he garnered wealth from this trade,” she figured.

    The empire of Mali had so much gold that Musa was the world’s greatest gold producer and seller. 

    Who was Mansa Musa?

    To meet one of the five pillars of Islam, Mansa Musa made a pilgrimage to Mecca. This adventure cost huge amounts of cash. This “Lord of the Mines of Wangara” had to travel stylish and luxurious. The 60,000 big caravans had 1,000 helpers, 100 camels with gold packages, countless musicians for Musa to enjoy, and more than 500 slaves.

    Mansa Musa came back from Mecca bringing several Islamic teachers. Among them were direct descendants of the prophet Muhammad, for example, and an Andalusian poet and architect, Abu Es Haq es Saheli, who designed the famous Djinguereber mosque. Musa allegedly paid the poet 200 kg in gold. Counted today, it is about $8.2 million.

    Besides his legacy, Musa’s property is estimated to be worth an inconceivable amount, to around $400 billion. According to Time magazine: “There’s really no way to put an accurate number on his wealth.” 

    Some believe that Mansa Musa’s unbelievable fortune may have been somewhat overstated. Nevermind, he is still the richest person that ever lived.

    Don’t tell to the Rothschild Family.