Daily Investment Tips

Every day I get up and look through the Forbes list of the richest people in America. If I’m not there, I go to work.

by Robert Orben

If you are not feeling like going to work remind yourself the reason why you need to go to work, morgage payment, meals, vacation & kids college education. 

The best way to remind yourself is to write on a piece of paper, 10 Reasons why I need to go work. Then pin the list on the wall next to your bed so that everyday you wake up in the morning you can give yourself a lift.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Amp, College Education, Forbes List, Kids College, Millionaire, Morgage, Motivation, Piece Of Paper, Richest People In America, Robert Orben

If your strategy for making money from greece financial turmoil was shorting Greece bank shares, you are to late.

The latest news from Greece is, Greek regulators have announced a ban on short-selling on Greece stock market, following steep falls in bank shares.

The reason why the banks are targeted is because they are the biggest buyers on greece debt. If Greece defaults, the banks will be hit with huge losses.

Since Greece has banned any short selling on Greece stockmarket, investors should look at international banks that might be carrying Greece debt.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Financial Turmoil, Greece, International Banks, Investors, Latest News From Greece, Losses, Making Money, Reason, Regulators, Selling Shares, Selling Stock, Steep Falls, Stock Market, Stockmarket

We know Greece in a financial hole and investors are already betting that Greece will default on its bonds sooner or later. The investosr who think a default akin to Russian default in the 1990s is on the cards are shorting Greece bonds.

When Greece Economic minister was asked by a BBC report about the possibility of a default this is what he said, They will lose their shirt!

But the reality on the ground is that Greece is a sinking ship. They are running out of time, they need to find 9 billion euros by 19th May just to pay off due debt. The public is strongly opposed to any attempts by the Government to cut spending to raise funds. They cant borrow money, lenders are demanding reforms first before any new lending. The greece government is dead broke.

Worse still, on April 26, Greece debt was downgraded to junk status by rating agency standard & poor.  In the report S &Pwarned holders of Greek debt that they only had an “average chance” of between 30% and 50% of getting their money back in the event of a debt restructuring or default.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 1990s, Amp, Attempts, Bbc, Bbc Report, Betting, Bonds, Cards, Debt Restructuring, Financial Hole, Greece, Greece Government, Investor, Investors, Junk Status, Money Lenders, Running Out Of Time, Russian Default, Sinking Ship

Another word for financial crisis is making money. Because during financial crisis clever investors roam like vultures looking for opportunity to make money.

History of Making Money In a Financial Crisis

Back in the early 1990? George Soros pounced on British financial crisis, shorting the British pound and walking away with a cool US$ 1 Billion in the process. In the late 90′s he rode the Asian crisis all the way to the bank. The then malaysian Prime Minister referred Soros as “A Criminal”

When the US housing market crashed back in 2007 many sub prime moergage borrowers were crying but one hedge fund manager was having a laugh. John Paulson a hedge fund manager in New York had bet against the sub prime market and made billions.

The two above investors made money by shorting the market. Talk to your financial advisor and see how you to can profit from fianancial crisis.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: 1 Billion, Asian Crisis, Billions, Borrowers, British Pound, Financial Advisor, Financial Crisis, George Soros, Having A Laugh, Hedge Fund Manager, Investors, Making Money, Malaysian Prime Minister, Money Back, Money History, Opportunity, Pounced, Shorting The Market, Sub Prime Market, Us Housing Market

The goal of every seller of house is to sell at the highest price possible. Selling at the best possible price is not a matter of luck but a case well planned sale. You have to prepare your house for a sale and the best way to do that is to do some simple fixes.

Five Quick Fixes Before Selling A House

1. Landscaping.

You dont hsve to break the bank to change the look of the ground surrounding the house some as simple as placing big flowers or antique bench outside the house can give your house the wow factor.

2. Paint

A coat of new paint can give your house a big lift.

3. Fix the Kitchen and the Bathroom

This rooms are so critical especially if the potential buyer is a Lady. All else might be okay but she doesnt like the bathroom and the kitchen she will walk awy and you might never hear from her again.

4. Fix the wiring

Fix any loose electric sockets.

5. Hire a home inspector.

Since all buyers are seeking a maintenance free living show them you have done your best to make sure their life will smooth sailing. Show them the receip of home inspection.

Remember the only way you can ensure you maintain an upper hand in any negotiation of a house sale is eliminating all possible negative issue that the buyer will point at.

Do the above and the potential buyer wont have a strong case while bargaining for a lower price.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Bench, Best Possible Price, Electric Sockets, Flowers, Home Inspection, Home Inspector, House Price, House Sale, House Value, Landscaping, Matter Of Luck, Negotiation, New Paint, Paint House, Quick Fixes, Receip, Sailing, Selling A House, Selling Your House, Wow

According to Halifax, UK Mortgage lender, homes have been a good long-term investment for some people. The average home has almost quadrupled in value, having risen by 273% since 1959 in real terms.

UK Housing Booms

Four big house price booms have occurred in the last 50 years. They were: 1971-73, 1977-80, 1985-89, and 1998-2007.

House Price Rise England, Wales & Scotland

Over the last 50 years, the biggest rise in prices was in greater London, whereas the smallest increase was in Scotland.

Read the full detailed article at BBC Business

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Amp, Bbc, Big House, Booms, England Wales, Greater London, Halifax Homes, Halifax Uk, House Price, Housing Market, Long Term Investment, Price Trend, Scotland, Uk Mortgage Lender

The four most expensive words in the English language are, ‘This time it’s different.

– Sir John Templeton

Whenever a a new bull market starts we all rush to participate in it. Investors continue to buy higher highs insisting the market will continue to rise higher and higher. The justification for this reasoning is that this time things are different but history shows that whatever goes up eventually comes down.

A perefect example was during the dot com bubble. Some grossly optimistic Economist even went as far as claiming that business cycle were dead and that America was poised on a permanent trend of prosperity but the dot com mania eventually came to an end like all other great bull market.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Business Cycle, Economist, English Language, Investment Tip, Investors, Justification, Prosperity, Rush, Sir John Templeton

If you are interested in investing your money on Platinum  you need to know one factor that drive the metal is industrial demand.

Platinum is used in making catalytic converters. Half of all cars made around the world need these converters.

Forecasting the price of platinum metal

The metal is linked to the rise and fall of motor industry. The more cars sold the more the demand.The fewer cars sold the lower the demand of platinum.

To track the price of platitum follow the trend of car companies production.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Car Companies, Catalytic Converters, Fewer Cars, Money, Platinum Metal, Rise And Fall, Term Trend

The consensus in wallstreet is that mortgage rates in US will continue to rise in 2010, 2011 and beyond.

According to this New York times article, this is what the analyst had to say:-

Bill Gross (he has made millions, NO! billions, investing in bonds) – It’s been a great thrill as rates descended, but now we face an extended climb.

The Mortgage Bankers Association expects the rise to continue, with the 30-year mortgage rate going to 5.5 percent by late summer and as high as 6 percent by the end of the year.

Morgan Stanley, are predicting that rates could rise by a percentage point and a half by the end of the year.

JPMorgan Stanley are forecasting a more modest half-point jump.

They cant agree mortgage interest rates will go up by how much but the consensus is up.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Bill Gross, Billions, Consensus, Half Point, Interest Rate, Interest Rates, Investing In Bonds, Morgan Stanley, Mortgage Bankers Association, Mortgage Interest Rate, Mortgage Interest Rates, Mortgage Rate, Mortgage Rates, New York Times, Percentage Point, Wallstreet, Year Mortgage, York Times Article

If you are interested in being a day trader you may consider educating yourself or paying someone else to train you.

The following two companies claim they can train you to be a day trader.

Today Trader.

A two-year-old Internet venture that is “about helping traders find success through virtual technology,” as it says on the company’s Web site. The company is run by two day traders, Mr. Lindloff and a Steve Gomez.

The company charges aspiring traders $199 a month for a live, real-time view of Mr. Lindloff’s computer screen, along with the running banter, commentary and advice that he and Mr. Gomez provide through the morning.

Long Term Short Term

This is an Atlanta company which offers two-day investment seminars, as well as DVDs, CDs and online tutoring, in cities across the country. Price: $3,995 a person.

Before paying for these courses do your own due deligence. Check out the companies website and read testimonials.

written by Constantine Njeru \\ tags: Atlanta Company, Banter, Computer Screen, Day Trader, Day Traders, Day Trading Courses, Internet Venture, Investment Seminars, Mr Gomez, Online Courses, Online Trading, Online Tutoring, Real Time View, Testimonials, Virtual Technology