jse17

On Dubai's Default, CRE Loans and Frugal U.S. Consumers

In retrospect, the mother of all ridiculous, wasteful, and useless projects constructed by the Dubai “brain trust” unequivocally gravitates to the indoor ski slope project. How could otherwise prudent (term used generically) financial types lend unmanageable sums to those without a scintilla of long term foundational economic acumen (no offense to our Middle Eastern friends).

Attempting to morph Dubai from a rapidly oil depleting hulk into the “fun” center of the area at first brush appears interesting. Unfortunately, food costs and assorted other essentials of human survival now materially consumes the coin formerly delegated to frivolity. Lastly, even in the best of times, an active imagination and disassociation with daily reality is a must when projecting lighthearted decadence in anything other than the world’s garden spot in far too many venues!

Best of luck to those that bought the brewery when a 6-pack purchase had substantive risks!

Report: BlackRock Wins BGI Bidding War

It matters little who the iShares title holder becomes in that we are dealing exclusively with ETFs and subsequently basic accounting services. Let us all keep our eye on the management fee in play moving forward.

Barclays for the majority of its funds charges 0.5%. If this not inexpensive but reasonable fee structure is violated, run out the door! Who knows, perhaps even Vanguard and their low ETF fees will get the idea that single country and creative sector ETF construction is a money maker. It is not too late to enter the 21st century before it is over!