This mass exodus is real, it is occurring and it is has left the country in a perpetual state of shock after thinking that those days were behind us. It is one of the great travesties of an economic collapse and one that is not given the attention by the global press that it deserves.
Gold Price Forecast For 2012: A Rise Seems Likely, But It's Not Guaranteed [View article]
Hi Steve. Indeed. There are some issues which were not mentioned. QE3 would certainly have an effect. Gold market investors will no doubt be keeping tabs on its development
Greek Default And Devaluation: Would It Even Matter? [View article]
Ok thanks for clarifying. The question, "does it even matter" in reference to Greece´s possible departure from the EZ is ambiguous though.
On the contrary, I think the amount of media attention has been more than appropriate given the very real threat of a spread if Greece were to leave. "Loss of nerve", as you have spoken about, could and very likely would spread across Europe. The mentality that is keeping Greece from defaulting, which kept Ireland, Italy and Portugal from defaulting, would be lost. Who knows where that would leave Europe.
We are seeing China and Japan now chipping in to the IMF war chest to deal with the European crisis as it now stands. If a chain effect were to happen, it would be a disaster for Europe and the world. Would it even matter? More than most analysts know
Is 2012 Silver's Year? February Update On Silver Price, Stocks To Consider [View article]
Possibly, but you sound conspiratorial.
I understand what you mean, I am talking about the same companies as usual but the article is an indicator for 2012 and these are silver´s biggest companies. It is a progress report and what is tipped to come for the year ahead. It was never intended to be some sort of groundbreaking, revelatory article. If this is what you are looking for, you should probably think about steering clear of a large portion of seekingalpha articles, and indeed, finance articles in general. If you want to keep tabs on how precious metals are doing, I will be writing regularly on the issue
Is 2012 Silver's Year? February Update On Silver Price, Stocks To Consider [View article]
Italy rated ahead, if these stats are correct, is a surprise. They are over 2 trillion USD in debt, 120% of GDP compared to the US´s approx. 15 trillion USD debt, 85% of GDP. As Barclays Capital said too, "Italy could be beyond the point of no return."
Is This The Beginning Of The End For Facebook? Reasons For Concern For Investors [View article]
Of course it's healthy now, as was Apple last year and now the common consensus is that they're past their best and on the way down. There are "what ifs", as you say. That's exactly what I'm saying. FB is healthy now, but it's not in an environment with more threatening competition than ever before and that could be a cause for concern for investors considering FB long. Can you honestly say FB three or five years from now is a sound investment? To me there are too many risks
Gold And Silver Prices Will Rise Despite Ben Bernanke's QE3 Announcement [View article]
"approximately 1,000 young Irish people are leaving Ireland for work abroad"- My apologies. This should include "every week" at the end of the sentence
Greek Default And Devaluation: Would It Even Matter? [View article]
Though you touch upohn the subject, I don´t think you highlight its importance: Contagion is high up on the list of reasons s to why Greece must not default. If Greece goes, the rest of the PIIGS could follow suit. So it wouldn´t just be 1% of EU GDP. It would include Italy and Spain, two of the EU´s largest member states.
You wrote this: "Other peripheral nations such as Portugal, Spain and Italy are not competitive, are not able to grow sustainably within the euro framework, have too much debt, and are therefore essentially insolvent." Are you talking about current market competitiveness? If so, this would hardly be fair on these countries considering they are largely still reeling from the 2008 crisis. Before 2008 Spain for one grew every year from 1994 to 2008. They just elected a new government in protest at the handling of the debt crisis by the Zapatero govt. Spain for one are trying to get their house in order.
Also, something that is rarely mentioned in any commentary about the EU crisis is that one of the main reasons to bring Europe together under a common union and monetary system by extension was to bring nations together, to prevent any potential future outbreak of war and to grow the continent together to face ever changing global challenges.
My own two cents too: Historically modern Europe owes much to Greece. To leave it by the wayside would be a travesty and cannot happen
The Consequences Of A Greek Default [View article]
Flight to the US dollar would be almost a certainty.
Look at my article again though. I do not mention an "immediate benefit", as you have paraphrased. In the short term (immediate reaction) it remains to be seen how precious metals would (will?) react, but in the longer term, a Greek default could bring down the Euro, which would in turn adversely affect the U.S. Gold holders in such a scenario would hold on to their tangible assets and any other gold would likely quickly be snapped up, driving up prices.
I´m reading this article six months after publication and I enjoyed it and indeed, the discussion in the comments section.
Apple´s stock is seen at such a low valuation so people are inevitably going to say, "there must be a good reason for it" so they stay away. Something that´s too good to be true usually is etc, though in the case of AAPL it isn´t too good to be true. It is unbelievable and it is true.
One thing that hasn´t been mentioned is Apple´s adept marketing skills. The company has consistently conveyed a cool factor through their advertising. Added to this, they have successfully transmitted to the public that they are the best far and away. Even looking back to their "I´m a PC, I´m a Mac" advertising campaign, they are even streets ahead when it comes to making themselves look the business while leaving their competitors far behind.
Add to this their Apple Stores, which is really one big marketing ploy. All their products are there to be interacted with. You just roll up and off you go. This way their products pull you in. Their help team are called "geniuses". They consistently market themselves as the best, in everything they do. No matter how old a person gets, they are still swayed by marketing like this. Everyone wants the latest gadget and when it is sold as the best and most innovative on the market, they will buy it.
The majority of investors are tunnel.visioned. Finace guys talk about finance, tech guys about technology etc. They don´t take into account other areas of influence outside of what they know.
Spain Must Address Low Labor Productivity To Resume Economic Growth [View article]
Thanks very much!
Thanks everyone for all your comments and for taking a n interest in my article.
It is indeed true what you say R We There Yet. Changing cultural norms is extremely difficult but elsewhere and having spoken at length about this and the topic of my article in general with many Spanish people from all over the country they have all agreed that it would be an uphill battle. The party in government would certainly face a popularity struggle but what I am trying to convey is that as the current economic situation is extraordinarily bad on a scale not seen before, desperate times call for desperate measures (we are talking about a country with 40% youth unemployment here. A lost generation is not only on the cards, it is more than likely to occur) and this could be used to sway the country to accept some modernisation.
Cheers and happy New Year
I´m taking this opportunity to address a few comments on the article. I reiterate that I spoke with many Spanish people from different age groups about this issue which was actually the reason for writing it. To say that I am not in contact with reality is misguided and sensationalist. Unfortunately there are always parochial-minded attention-seekers out there who use any excuse to go on a quick rant.
I live in Spain, I have lived in 3 different Spanish cities as well travelling throughout the country. I work in the heart of Barcelona. For two and a half years I have been afforded the opportunity to get to know the Spanish way of life and its peoples closely. So, while I am a mere "guiri" foreigner, my views on Spain are not simply lifted from the history books like so many others. This is actually a sensitive topic in itself in Spain. Since the Civil War there has always been a foreign glare on Spain, which for the most part is dismissed by the Spanish as foreign, and for that reason foreign journalists and historians cannot and will never understand how the country works.
I emphasized family in the article as it is the centre of Spanish culture. Before making such comments Tuckfinitee, I would suggest you do some research or even visit the country. Try reading "Ghosts of Spain" from Giles Tremlett, that´s a good start.
@ Aaron Ashcraft. It is certainly exceedingly difficult to open a business here. I have seen this first-hand. Like you say, it puts off so many would-be investors.
Is This The Beginning Of The End For Facebook? Reasons For Concern For Investors [View article]
Combatcorpsman, you own FB and you're biased. Every recent article you've commented on that was not saying "buy FB", you troll.
What's more, based on your comment above and this one on a previous article written by another contributor - "I have to laugh when a young day trader adopts the mantle of an expert on any stock" - shows your clear penchant for ageism, namely the young. Next time you comment, you may want to do it from an impartial perspective, or nobody will believe you have credibility
Gold And Silver Prices Will Rise Despite Ben Bernanke's QE3 Announcement [View article]
Thanks for the comment.
References:
http://bit.ly/zWfesI
http://tgr.ph/w3w2dY
This is more up-to-date and frankly, brings it home more- http://bit.ly/ySPNd8
This mass exodus is real, it is occurring and it is has left the country in a perpetual state of shock after thinking that those days were behind us. It is one of the great travesties of an economic collapse and one that is not given the attention by the global press that it deserves.
Gold Price Forecast For 2012: A Rise Seems Likely, But It's Not Guaranteed [View article]
Greek Default And Devaluation: Would It Even Matter? [View article]
On the contrary, I think the amount of media attention has been more than appropriate given the very real threat of a spread if Greece were to leave. "Loss of nerve", as you have spoken about, could and very likely would spread across Europe. The mentality that is keeping Greece from defaulting, which kept Ireland, Italy and Portugal from defaulting, would be lost. Who knows where that would leave Europe.
We are seeing China and Japan now chipping in to the IMF war chest to deal with the European crisis as it now stands. If a chain effect were to happen, it would be a disaster for Europe and the world. Would it even matter? More than most analysts know
Is 2012 Silver's Year? February Update On Silver Price, Stocks To Consider [View article]
I understand what you mean, I am talking about the same companies as usual but the article is an indicator for 2012 and these are silver´s biggest companies. It is a progress report and what is tipped to come for the year ahead. It was never intended to be some sort of groundbreaking, revelatory article. If this is what you are looking for, you should probably think about steering clear of a large portion of seekingalpha articles, and indeed, finance articles in general. If you want to keep tabs on how precious metals are doing, I will be writing regularly on the issue
Is 2012 Silver's Year? February Update On Silver Price, Stocks To Consider [View article]
Is This The Beginning Of The End For Facebook? Reasons For Concern For Investors [View article]
I want to reiterate, the article points more to the potential and likely dangers for FB. It is not a FB-bashing piece at all. Thanks
Is This The Beginning Of The End For Facebook? Reasons For Concern For Investors [View article]
Gold And Silver Prices Will Rise Despite Ben Bernanke's QE3 Announcement [View article]
Greek Default And Devaluation: Would It Even Matter? [View article]
You wrote this: "Other peripheral nations such as Portugal, Spain and Italy are not competitive, are not able to grow sustainably within the euro framework, have too much debt, and are therefore essentially insolvent." Are you talking about current market competitiveness? If so, this would hardly be fair on these countries considering they are largely still reeling from the 2008 crisis. Before 2008 Spain for one grew every year from 1994 to 2008. They just elected a new government in protest at the handling of the debt crisis by the Zapatero govt. Spain for one are trying to get their house in order.
Also, something that is rarely mentioned in any commentary about the EU crisis is that one of the main reasons to bring Europe together under a common union and monetary system by extension was to bring nations together, to prevent any potential future outbreak of war and to grow the continent together to face ever changing global challenges.
My own two cents too: Historically modern Europe owes much to Greece. To leave it by the wayside would be a travesty and cannot happen
The Consequences Of A Greek Default [View article]
Look at my article again though. I do not mention an "immediate benefit", as you have paraphrased. In the short term (immediate reaction) it remains to be seen how precious metals would (will?) react, but in the longer term, a Greek default could bring down the Euro, which would in turn adversely affect the U.S. Gold holders in such a scenario would hold on to their tangible assets and any other gold would likely quickly be snapped up, driving up prices.
Thanks for commenting
Is 2012 Silver's Year? February Update On Silver Price, Stocks To Consider [View article]
Apple: Undervalued at $400 [View article]
Apple´s stock is seen at such a low valuation so people are inevitably going to say, "there must be a good reason for it" so they stay away. Something that´s too good to be true usually is etc, though in the case of AAPL it isn´t too good to be true. It is unbelievable and it is true.
One thing that hasn´t been mentioned is Apple´s adept marketing skills. The company has consistently conveyed a cool factor through their advertising. Added to this, they have successfully transmitted to the public that they are the best far and away. Even looking back to their "I´m a PC, I´m a Mac" advertising campaign, they are even streets ahead when it comes to making themselves look the business while leaving their competitors far behind.
Add to this their Apple Stores, which is really one big marketing ploy. All their products are there to be interacted with. You just roll up and off you go. This way their products pull you in. Their help team are called "geniuses". They consistently market themselves as the best, in everything they do. No matter how old a person gets, they are still swayed by marketing like this. Everyone wants the latest gadget and when it is sold as the best and most innovative on the market, they will buy it.
The majority of investors are tunnel.visioned. Finace guys talk about finance, tech guys about technology etc. They don´t take into account other areas of influence outside of what they know.
Spain Must Address Low Labor Productivity To Resume Economic Growth [View article]
Thanks everyone for all your comments and for taking a n interest in my article.
It is indeed true what you say R We There Yet. Changing cultural norms is extremely difficult but elsewhere and having spoken at length about this and the topic of my article in general with many Spanish people from all over the country they have all agreed that it would be an uphill battle. The party in government would certainly face a popularity struggle but what I am trying to convey is that as the current economic situation is extraordinarily bad on a scale not seen before, desperate times call for desperate measures (we are talking about a country with 40% youth unemployment here. A lost generation is not only on the cards, it is more than likely to occur) and this could be used to sway the country to accept some modernisation.
Cheers and happy New Year
I´m taking this opportunity to address a few comments on the article. I reiterate that I spoke with many Spanish people from different age groups about this issue which was actually the reason for writing it. To say that I am not in contact with reality is misguided and sensationalist. Unfortunately there are always parochial-minded attention-seekers out there who use any excuse to go on a quick rant.
I live in Spain, I have lived in 3 different Spanish cities as well travelling throughout the country. I work in the heart of Barcelona. For two and a half years I have been afforded the opportunity to get to know the Spanish way of life and its peoples closely. So, while I am a mere "guiri" foreigner, my views on Spain are not simply lifted from the history books like so many others. This is actually a sensitive topic in itself in Spain. Since the Civil War there has always been a foreign glare on Spain, which for the most part is dismissed by the Spanish as foreign, and for that reason foreign journalists and historians cannot and will never understand how the country works.
I emphasized family in the article as it is the centre of Spanish culture. Before making such comments Tuckfinitee, I would suggest you do some research or even visit the country. Try reading "Ghosts of Spain" from Giles Tremlett, that´s a good start.
@ Aaron Ashcraft. It is certainly exceedingly difficult to open a business here. I have seen this first-hand. Like you say, it puts off so many would-be investors.
Is This The Beginning Of The End For Facebook? Reasons For Concern For Investors [View article]
What's more, based on your comment above and this one on a previous article written by another contributor - "I have to laugh when a young day trader adopts the mantle of an expert on any stock" - shows your clear penchant for ageism, namely the young. Next time you comment, you may want to do it from an impartial perspective, or nobody will believe you have credibility
3 Stocks To Consider Investing In; 1 To Avoid [View article]
Maybe you are right. Let´s see. If so, I shall eat my humble pie.
Just one question, do you own RIMM?! A "massive" drop. That´s quite a big call. What do you see it dropping to?