Category: Investment

Many of us purchase gold jewellery because – it looks good, our mother said so, it compliments the color of our clothes, its a great possible investment, yaddy, yaddy yah. The reasons are as plentiful as the overly honest dealers who would sell you the gold jewellery.

Perhaps I shouldn’t pass too quickly over the “great investment theme” because its or can be somewhat important to know that “10 Carat gold” all the way up to “18 Carat gold” is generally not considered to be great investment material. And unfortunately the fact that your home insurance will cover it still doesn’t make it investment grade material.

If investment is your reason and you don’t want to buy gold bars or certificates, and of course you want to flaunt your investment on your skin during special occasions then go for jewellery that is at least 22-24 Carat Gold. Typically, the areas of the world where stronger than 18 Carat Gold can be purchased are parts of India,Philippines,Hong Kong and the Middle East

Most jewellers who don’t sell 24 Carat gold are likely to tell you that there is no such thing in jewelry since its too soft for most applications. They do have a point there however from experience I can tell you that 22 Carat Gold necklaces of 110 grams have been known to support the pull of a 22 klg child.

I first started buying gold in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. It was, at one time very cheap there. Then I moved on to the gold souks of Dubai and the other middle east commercial centers. Genuine 24K stuff can be purchased there – not the 10K worthless stuff sold in england or the 14K **not-to-die-for* stuff sold as gold jewelry in Canada and the United States.

Truth was, I thought it was 24, but it was often only 97-98% pure, but hey, still better than the 14k fluff sold in North America.

Then I found them. These were the massive jewellery stores on both the Hong Kong and Kowloon side. They sell fantastic pearl, emerald and exquisitely carved gold pieces. We are told and shown paper that indicates that, the HK government certifies what they are selling, but a few of these tourists traps have all kinds of interesting motivational **deals** especially in Kowloon. Anyway, they have certificates claiming their 24 Carat Gold is 99.999% pure, but when I took their stuff to Toronto, I was told oh no, its only 22K not 24.

When I took this material to an internationally known goldsmith to melt down, he again informed me that the material was only 22 to 23 Carats Gold purity. I keep thinking about how embarrassing it would be to pull out one’s own little gold volume/weight measurement tool in one of those massive elite stores and proudly if not loudly proclaim that their 99.999% gold isn’t truly what it claims to be – I am also imagining that one would be set on not unkindly by the police for creating such a golden disturbance.

I am expecting a counter plug where someone will say I am from HK and the government certifies these big shops blah blah but I have purchased big items 4 times in 6 years and each time while trying to sell elsewhere in North America and the UK have been told similar bad news ( Even when I presented the govt stamped HK certificate|It made no difference to the buyers even when presented with the certificate of authenticity which comes with each piece purchased from HK ) Can authenticity certificates be faked? Certainly. Might certain shops fake them? I can’t say.

The lesson to learn perhaps is when buying gold internationally don’t ever fully 100% trust your seller or your buyer because the value of the metal is so high, understand that if either of the two groups can sucker you for even 2-3% of the value, they will, they can and they won’t stop – irrespective of govt certifications blah blah blah.

Lesson learned, when buying precious metals in the form of jewelry internationally don’t ever fully 100% trust your seller or your buyer because the value of the metal is so high, understand that if either of the two groups can sucker you for even 2-3% of the value, they will, they can and they won’t stop – irrespective of govt certifications blah blah blah.

If your goal is truly for investment and you have no real need to put on your bling then buy a regulated certifiable gold bar from a western based dealer who is very much liable in western courts and has both insurance and liability coverage.

If what you are looking to purchase is 14 Carat or below, ignore everything said above since, 14 Carat is not investment quality anyway.

If you are in Hong Kong and not sure if you should buy. Don’t hesitate, just understand that very rarely ever will a street vendor sell you absolutely 24 Carats, even if he/she believes that is truly the gold carat. Dicker the purchase price with the knowledge that what you are getting is substantially more than 22 Carats but really not 24 Carats. Compare this to the North American or even UK experience where you are most likely being sold only 14 Carats.

Wear it, enjoy it, don’t lose it and have fun.

One of the easiest and quickest ways of smartening up the appearance of your home is by having patio canopies installed. Not only are they quick and simple to have fitted, but they also represent a very economical way of lifting the appearance of your home, and creating an inviting look which adds a great deal of kerb appeal. Adding patio roofs or door surrounds is certainly an effective way of making sure that your home stands out from others in the same neighbourhood, and in todays dog eat dog world of property buying and selling, its certainly worth considering.

Patio canopies are usually made of a special PVC material which offers a number of significant advantages over alternative materials such as wood or metal. Although wood and metal may seem to offer advantages of their own, it is over the long term that it can be seen that PVC offers far better value for money. A wooden door surround may look attractive to begin with, but as it is exposed to weather and external climatic conditions, it is likely to warp, crack and split, causing leaks and unsightly peeling. In this regard long term maintenance has to be considered, and painting your door surround or patio canopy every few years may prove to be a tiresome task.

Metal may offer several benefits of its own, and when compared to wooden canopies or surrounds certainly offers protection against cracking or warping over time. However, metal comes with two points worth considering – firstly its weight, and secondly its maintenance. A metal canopy or surround is heavy, and this will dramatically increase the cost of manufacture and fitting. A heavy metal canopy will probably take several fitters, and may take a long time to install, requiring a large amount of drilling, damage to the wall, and bolts running deep inside your cavity wall. Over the long term metal will still require painting, although unlike with wood, it will be necessary to use paints which are specially designed for metal – an expensive task in itself.

However, when it comes to PVC door canopies and surrounds, there are many clear benefits both in the short term and over the longer term too. To begin with PVC can be manufactured quickly and cheaply, meaning that youre unlikely to have to wait very long after placing your order, yet safe in the knowledge that it will be created to the exact measurements of your home, providing a precise fit. Being lightweight it will be quick and easy to transport, and often only requires one or two fitters and a few minutes to install, keeping costs and disruption to a bare minimum.

Over the longer term, too, the benefits of PVC patio canopies and patio roofs is clear, since they need virtually no maintenance. PVC doesnt warp or crack, and is fully resistant to the weather were likely to experience in this country. Although youre free to paint a PVC canopy or door surround should you wish, theres really no need, and if you are happy with the colour and finish of the PVC canopy, then you can simply forget any maintenance. A quick wash with a hose or a sponge once in a while will ensure that your patio canopy will continue to look in pristine condition for many, many years.

Many people seem to think that a PVC patio canopy or door surround will come in any colour you like so long as its white. Its certainly true that many PVC doors, window frames, canopies and surrounds are white, but thats by no means the only option available. With a range of colours available, and even wood effect finishes, you can be sure that your canopy will not only match your existing decor and colours, but will look natural and attractive. From a distance many visitors will probably assume your canopy was built at the same time as the house, and may even assume it is made from wood. This is kerb appeal without the maintenance, at a low cost, creating a home that is truly as unique as you are.

We spend a great deal of time and effort decorating the inside of our home to reflect our tastes and preferences, but all too often we neglect the outside. Since the outside of our home is what people see first, and since it is naturally exposed to a great deal more weather and wear and tear, it makes sense to make the right choices when choosing patio canopies and patio roofs. Without doubt a PVC patio canopy or door surround represents a sound financial investment, without any of the long term commitment on your part thats often necessary with alternate solutions.

Shipping industry is the backbone of global trade and has now freed itself from clutches of the recession and downturn. According to shipping analysts the future looks bright for the shipping industry in India. The continuing investment in new ships and commitment for development of its infrastructure and network will make it a more contributing sector towards economic growth.

According to the recent news, Indias shipping tonnage crossed 10 million GT mark in the last year. Indian Registrar of Shipping (IRS) has also got membership in International Association of Classification Societies (IACS). The ministry of shipping said that the capacity of major ports has increased from 574.77 million tonnes as on March 31, 2009 to 616.73 million tonnes as on March 31, 2010. The Indian tonnage crossing the 10 million is a truly creditable performance and this indicates the optimistic future prospects of shipping industry. The INSA member said that the achievement of getting IRS the membership of IACS is a turning point of countrys maritime industry.

As the operating environment of shipping industry appears to be promising, Indian shipping administration is making considerable efforts for the development of this sector. In order to build a strong platform for driving long-term growth in shipping sector, an increase in governments thrust on shipping and port sector can be seen. Indian Marine Casualty Investigation Cell has been established to investigate marine causalities such as sinking or collision of vessels, groundings or death or injury omission reports of seafarers. The shipping industry is anticipating rapid growth and considerable interest from investors.

Pacific Tycoon is a leading investment management firm that offers investors an excellent opportunity to invest their money in the most promising sector of shipping and earn excellent profits. It provides various investment plans such as 12% guaranteed return and Aggressive plan which offers more than 30% return on shipping investment. Avail yourself of the benefits of their high yield investment opportunities and earn very good profits. For more details, please browse through www.pacifictycoon.com.

Who does not want to have a large sized bank balance? It is the need of the hour, looking at this inflation. The ever rising rates of every commodity, is driving in demand of investing in something or the other, to secure ones future, to be able to face the bad days.

Investments may seem a scary thought for many, as investing involves saving a certain set of amount from their hard earned money, and pay premiums every month to secure their future. there are many financial institutions who offer the best scheme for investing. The investment plans they bestow their customers with, proves very helpful for many, as many would not be aware of all the available investment schemes. These institutions provide them the right plan and advise them on how they can go by it and make the right choice, which would not just fit their pocket but even prove beneficial in the longer run. There are varied platforms through which one can invest, may it be through mutual funds, pension plans or many others, all they focus on, is securing their customers future, so that in their bad days they need not depend upon anyone else. To be independent even at that time, is what they look forward to, and guide the individuals to make the right choice. Investing on gold is one such factor, which would never diminish or would ever run out of fashion, due to many benefits it offers to individuals who rely on it for security.

Banks provide the best possible gold investment plans, which would provide gold to their customers in any form, may it be in the form of coins or bars. They are available in varied denominations, allowing one to own any of them, which would fit their pocket. This is one such investment an individual can afford to own, as gold is such a thing, whose value never dies, instead the gold rates are always elevating, increasing its value as the years pass by. Many banks import gold from renowned suppliers from other countries, who would guarantee excellence and quality. These financial institutions offer the best price for their customers, with regard to gold, which comes with a unique number on every certicard that comes along with gold when imported. This number is provided to be able to maintain the records of how much is being imported and the quality of the gold. Gold is the most secured investment as it provides a long term value, no matter how many ups and downs hit the market making it difficult for the investors to fight for even survival. It being tangible and liquid, both, values to be an asset to an individual, allowing them to make the right use of it, when in need of money. It would provide the best possible value to the investment made.

If you plan to grow your business or extend your network of contacts as an investment consultant, you should be building a mailing list of your leads. These are usually leads to people who have shown an interest in what you do and have given you permission to contact them by email. There are many ways for investment consultants to gather leads or subscribers and this article looks at several of the best ways to build a targeted list.

By getting these people into your list you will be able to stay in regular contact with them and some of them will probably go on to become your best prospects and loyal customers.

Who Do You Want To Join Your Mailing List?

There are several categories of people who you should want on your mailing list as an investment consultant, and these include existing clients, potential investors, and in fact anyone else who might be looking for a good investment consultant.

Make it easy for them to subscribe to your newsletter or other announcements. Set up a web page with a simple sign up box where they can easily send you their name and email address.

Write Some Related Articles

One of the keys to building a successful mailing list is attracting targeted prospects to your mailing list, and one of the best ways to source those targeted leads is through article marketing. With article marketing you write an article related to investing that editors and publishers can use free of charge if they show your About The Author paragraph at the bottom of the article. The advantage is that your articles get read by people who are interested in your topic, in this case finance and investment.

You can make your investment articles available at article directories like EzineArticles and ArticleDashboard.

Participate in Forums and Discussions

Another good way to attract targeted leads to your mailing list is to participate in online forums, discussions and even Questions and Answers sites. Look for discussions and questions on related topics such as stock markets, business trends, and investments with good returns. The great thing here is that you can find people who are seeking answers to specific questions to which you can provide answers.

Your active participation in these discussions also helps to build your reputation as an expert in the field. In your signature or profile be sure to include a link back to your own web page.

Place Advertising in Traditional Publications

Take a minute to consider what magazines and journals are typically read by your target audience? Perhaps it is Smart Money or Businessweek. Perhaps there are also some smaller or local magazines that are popular. By taking out advertising in publications like these you can obtain highly targeted leads for your own mailing list.

Do Some Pay-Per-Click Advertising

Advertising through a search engine like Google or Yahoo is another way to reach a highly targeted audience who are searching for particular information. For example you might target people who are searching for keyword phrases related to investment advice, top stock picks, or investment funds.

With pay-per-click advertising networks you decide how much you will pay every time someone clicks on your advertisement and visits your web page. Two examples of advertising networks are Google AdWords and Yahoo Sponsored Search.

These are just a few of the ways you can gather new targeted leads for your mailing list. There are many more ways if you really want to build a big, responsive mailing list.