Invest Offshore tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog/1 2008-11-05T22:59:37Z Offshore Investing Guide Movable Type 3.35 Seychelles Liberalise Foreign Currency Dealings tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.436 2008-11-05T22:53:42Z 2008-11-05T22:59:37Z The Seychelles government has decided to remove all restrictions on foreign exchange dealings and has set up new regulations to allow the national currency (Rupee) to float, APA learns on Wednesday in the Seychellois capital Victoria. According to a communiqué... Seychelles Liberalise Foreign Currency Dealings]]> Wealth Management Summit Tips tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.435 2008-10-16T18:38:29Z 2008-10-16T18:57:16Z During a Wealth Management Summit being held this week in Boston, Singapore and Geneva, private banking executives provided some investment tips. Jennifer Tay, Citi Private Bank, Asia-Pacific Head of Portfolio Counselling "We tell clients, markets are not going to stay... Jennifer Tay, Citi Private Bank, Asia-Pacific Head of Portfolio Counselling
"We tell clients, markets are not going to stay down forever. There will come a time when you have very decent recovery and typically even when you look at the (past) since the 1950s, you had nine recessions and after a recession markets just spike upwards.
Continue reading Investment tips from private bankers]]> Offshore Business Workshop tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.434 2008-10-13T21:07:52Z 2008-10-13T21:09:08Z If you are an entrepreneur and thinking about doing business offshore, you are faced with a choice between an unincorporated branch operation, a foreign LLC or IBC or corporation that is treated as a foreign corporation for U.S. tax purposes... Offshore Investing Workshop]]> The Global Economy and OECD tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.433 2008-10-03T00:08:24Z 2008-10-03T00:12:22Z In a speech on the outlook for the world economy, OECD Secretary-General Angel Gurría spoke about the impact of the financial crisis and OECD's work to produce a more inclusive globalisation. The financial system is a conveyor belt through which... The financial system is a conveyor belt through which the economy works. And if the financial system is partially blocked or paralysed, as it is now, then the economy cannot work normally. Continue reading: The Global Economy and OECD]]> Wealthy Investors Hoard Bullion tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.432 2008-10-01T23:59:19Z 2008-10-02T00:01:54Z Investors in gold are demanding “unprecedented” amounts of bullion bars and coins and moving them into their own vaults as fears about the health of the global financial system deepen. Industry executives and bankers at the London Bullion Market Association... Wealthy Investors Hoard Bullion]]> American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce tag:www.investoffshore.com,2008:/blog//1.431 2008-09-22T13:11:44Z 2008-09-22T13:18:00Z New Date: Chicago Investor Briefing on Southeast Asia's New Expanded Special Economic Zone (off Coast of Singapore) to be Held - Oct. 31, 2008 The Province of Riau Islands in cooperation with Baker & McKenzie, the American Indonesian Chamber of... New Date: Chicago Investor Briefing on Southeast Asia's New Expanded Special Economic Zone (off Coast of Singapore) to be Held - Oct. 31, 2008 The Province of Riau Islands in cooperation with Baker & McKenzie, the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce (AICC) and the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago invite internationally-focused investors, executives, financial and service professionals, journalists and other interested individuals to attend an Investor Forum highlighting emerging trade and investment opportunities within Southeast Asia's New Expanded Special Economic Zone (SEZ), located 12 miles off the coast of Singapore in Indonesia.]]> CLICK HERE to forward a registration or information request or contact the individual indicated below. Registration will commence at 8:30 AM at which time a continental breakfast will be served and the program will begin promptly at 9:00 AM. Speakers will include: Drs. Ismeth Abdullah, Governor of the Kepri Riau (Riau Islands) Province and Former Chairman of the Batam Industrial Development Authority where the Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is located; Barry Metzger, Senior Partner, Global Banking & Finance Practice Group, Baker & McKenzie and Former General Counsel, Asian Development Bank; Richard N. Pigossi, Founder & Chairman of Pegasus Capital, a Singapore-based financial advisor and long-time investor in Indonesia; Wayne Forrest, President of the American Indonesian Chamber of Commerce; Stephanus M. Suwaryanto, Acting Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago and Diono Nurjadin, Chairman, US Committee, Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and President, Cardig, Indonesia. The event will conclude at 11:30 PM, followed by scheduled one-on-one meetings with Governor Ismeth Abdullah and other members of the Riau Island / Batam delegation. Strategically located adjacent to the Indian and Pacific Oceans off the coast of Singapore, the Riau Island/Batam New Expanded SEZ is composed of the three islands of Batam, Bintan and Karimun. It is perhaps the most attractive manufacturing, industrial and logistical platform in ASEAN and the second most popular international tourist destination in Indonesia. Collectively these three islands exported goods worth a total of $4.24 billion during 2006, and during the first four months of 2007 exports rose dramatically to $2.19 billion from $1.86 billion in the same period in 2006. Southeast Asia's New Expanded SEZ builds on the prior success of Batam, which has enjoyed limited Free Trade Zone status since 1978. Due to its strategic location and proximity to Singapore, low cost structure, skilled work force, excellent logistical facilities and tax and other investment incentives, over 600 foreign companies have invested billions of dollars and are presently operating in sectors including technology, medical equipment and electronics, telecommunications, agribusiness, textiles, industrial assembly and fabrication, shipbuilding and tourism, oil and energy services. Examples include McDermott International, AT&T, PerkinElmer, Bechtel, Seagate Technology, Babcock & Wilcox, Holiday Inn, Matsushita, Kyocera, Hitachi, Sanyo, Nippon Steel, Hyundai, Sony and Philips. "We look forward to briefing Chicago-based firms about the many trade and investment opportunities now emerging following adoption of new legislation by the Indonesian Parliament last October and a July 2006 agreement between Indonesia and Singapore to jointly transform Batam, Bintan and Karimun into an expanded SEZ investment magnet," notes Drs. Ismeth Abdullah, Governor of the Kepri Riau (Riau Islands) Province and Former Chairman of the Batam Industrial Development Authority. "These developments build on the success Batam has achieved over the past three decades. Our achievements include $9bn in foreign investment that has already been generated within our province. In addition to the basing of manufacturing, industrial and distribution facilities, investment priorities include infrastructure, port and road development, tourism, fisheries, agriculture, alternative energy, and healthcare, education and other services." "US companies are joining their counterparts in Asia and Europe in recognizing the business and investment potential of ASEAN, a rapidly growing region composed of ten nations with a combined population of about 500 million. It has a total area of 4.5 million square kilometers, a gross domestic product of almost US$ 700 billion and a total trade of about US$ 850 billion," comments Wayne Forrest, President of the AICC. "The Riau Island / Batam New Expanded SEZ offers an ideal platform from which to operate both in regional and global terms. This includes cost competitiveness, close proximity to Singapore and excellent transportation links in addition to six international standard golf courses, beautiful beaches, and a wealth of ecotourism possibilities." "Baker & McKenzie is pleased to host the Riau Island delegation during their Chicago visit and to invite locally-based firms and professionals to hear how they can directly benefit from this new expanded SEZ," states Barry Metzger, Senior Partner, Global Banking & Finance Practice Group, Baker & McKenzie and Former General Counsel, Asian Development Bank. "Providing -- within a 12 mile radius -- access to the world-class city, quality of life and services of Singapore and the cost structure and efficiencies available in Indonesia, the Riau Island / Batam New Expanded SEZ offers the physical, service and operating infrastructure US firms and investors need to enhance their global competitiveness and to expand into one of the most rapidly growing regions in the world." To attend the Riau Island/Batam New Expanded Special Economic Zone Investor Briefing in Chicago on October 31, 2008 or to obtain more information, please CLICK HERE to forward a registration or information request or contact the individual indicated below. KWR International, Inc. Keith W. Rabin email: riaubatam@kwrintl.com tel./fax +1-212-532-3005 / 212-685-2413 This material is published and disseminated by KWR International, Inc. on behalf of the Province of Riau Islands, Indonesia.. Additional information is on file with the Department of Justice, Washington, D.C.]]> Gold Traders Take Profits tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.430 2007-11-19T16:02:49Z 2007-11-19T11:03:50Z After four months of a resilient uptrend in the Gold market, it appears traders are beginning to feel the pressure to take profits. I believe Gold traders are keeping a close eye on the recent turmoil in the Stock Market... After four months of a resilient uptrend in the Gold market, it appears traders are beginning to feel the pressure to take profits. I believe Gold traders are keeping a close eye on the recent turmoil in the Stock Market and it brings back memories of the mass Metals liquidation to cover margins in their Stock portfolios. Despite a very weak U.S. Dollar, Geopolitical tension, and the signs of a weakening economy, it is my belief the gold trading community is content to take profits. After all, the Holiday markets are just around the corner. I do not believe the BULL market is gone. In fact, I was of the belief the market was overbought and very top heavy and needed to retrace. If you look at a December Gold chart you will see that since August 16th the Gold market has been in a significant uptrend from the $652.00 level. Most Gold traders see these profit-taking sell-offs as a buying opportunity. The prices of Bull spreads and options just got a lot less expensive. I am not the eternal Bull, however with all that is going on in the world -- Housing market woes, record Crude Oil prices, and fear of a recession, just to name a few, I am a firm believer the trend is your friend. Many traders still believe the U.S. Dollar is in serious trouble and will need further assistance from the FOMC. The next scheduled meeting will be Tuesday, December 11th. Trade Smart There is a substantial risk of loss in futures, futures option and forex trading. Furthermore, Manduca Trading LLC is not responsible for the accuracy of the information contained on linked sites. Manduca Trading LLC is a registered Independent Introducing Broker with the NFA and CFTC. Wealthy Moving to Hedge Funds tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.429 2007-10-24T20:29:14Z 2007-10-24T16:39:17Z The world's wealthiest private investors are planning to put more money into alternative investments over the next three years, a report says. The study said the global rich are increasingly attracted by private equity schemes and hedge funds as they... The world's wealthiest private investors are planning to put more money into alternative investments over the next three years, a report says. The study said the global rich are increasingly attracted by private equity schemes and hedge funds as they offer more stable returns than shares. September Best Month for Hedge Funds in Years Hedge Funds Return +3.27% in September 2007 and +9.40% Year-to-Date Early estimates show the HFN Hedge Fund Aggregate Average, an equal weighted average of all single manager hedge funds and CTA/managed futures products in the HedgeFund.net database, was +3.27% in September 2007. The increase was the largest in over four years, and the second largest month for hedge funds in eight years. The HedgeFund.net database consists of over 7,700 current hedge fund, fund of funds, and CTA products. Hedge funds across most strategies benefited from the U.S. Federal Reserve's attempt to ease extremely tight credit markets. Strategies which fared worst in August came back strong to erase previous month's losses. Commodity related funds performed extremely well as the Fed rate cut spurred inflationary concerns. The HFN CTA/Managed Futures Average, with 234 products reporting September performance, was +6.15% and is +7.11% YTD. Energy sector funds also took advantage of oil rising above $80/barrel and the HFN Energy Sector Average finished September +4.99% and is +13.95% YTD. Emerging market funds returned an average of +4.60% and the HFN Emerging Markets Average is +16.79% YTD. Excellent performance wasn't limited to commodity related strategies. Equity markets surged after the U.S. Fed rate cut and strategies which typically maintain long biases were rewarded. Long only funds were +3.15% in September while long/short equity managers were +2.98% and the HFN Long Only and Long/Short Equity Averages are +10.55% and +10.66% YTD, respectively. The fact that long/short equity managers are outperforming long only funds YTD is likely a testament to maintaining short exposure during volatile periods. Other equity related strategies which performed well in September include technology sector funds +8.33%, small/micro cap funds +4.32%, and healthcare sector funds +3.50%. Macro funds which often position themselves across multiple asset classes appear to have taken advantage of the strong moves seen in interest rate, currency and commodity markets. The average macro fund was +3.93% in September and the HFN Macro Average is +9.18% YTD. The global macro strategy was one of a handful of strategies tracked by HFN to outperform broad equity markets in the third quarter, returning +3.97% during the difficult three month span. Distressed managers returned an average of +0.57% in September, ending a two month streak of negative performance, but were still -2.06% in Q3 2007 and +5.85% YTD, their worst nine month start since 2002. Short bias funds were the only strategy posting negative returns in September, -2.45%, and the HFN Short Bias Average fell back to negative territory YTD, -1.43%. A full report on September performance will be available at http://www.hedgefund.net later in the month. The table below is a summary of September 2007 returns for a selection of HFN Averages: September* YTD 2007** Full Year HFN Aggregate Averages 2006** HFN Hedge Fund Aggregate Average 3.27 % 9.40 % 11.99 % HFN Regional Averages*** HFN Asia Average 4.33 % 14.84 % 8.22 % HFN Europe Average 1.00 % 6.37 % 15.37 % HFN US Average 3.17 % 8.47 % 11.04 % HFN Latin America Average 3.83 % 20.81 % 29.86 % HFN Single Strategy Averages HFN Convertible Arbitrage Average 1.68 % 4.73 % 12.84 % HFN CTA/Managed Futures Average 6.15 % 7.11 % 6.89 % HFN Distressed Average 0.57 % 5.85 % 14.90 % HFN Emerging Markets Average 4.60 % 16.79 % 22.46 % HFN Energy Sector Average 4.99 % 13.95 % 13.32 % HFN Event Driven Average 1.01 % 7.13 % 13.76 % HFN Long/Short Equity Average 2.98 % 10.66 % 12.10 % HFN Macro Average 3.93 % 9.18 % 10.46 % HFN Market Neutral Equity Average 1.46 % 5.32 % 6.58 % *Estimated results of funds reporting September 2007 performance as of October 9, 2007 **Estimated results for all funds having reported performance as of October 9, 2007 ***Regional averages derive performance from returns of funds investing primarily in those regions. PAST PERFORMANCE IS NO GUARANTEE OF FUTURE RESULTS HedgeFund.net (HFN), a division of Channel Capital Group Inc, is a leading source for hedge fund news and information. Investors who meet HedgeFund.net's accreditation standards are eligible for access to an online database of more than 7,700 hedge funds, funds-of-funds and CTA/managed futures products. HFN serves a rapidly growing user base of more than 35,000 accredited investors worldwide. Registered users include a wide range of institutional investors and high net worth individuals. For more information or to register, please go to http://www.HedgeFund.net. HedgeFund.net Contact: Joel Schwab Managing Director Channel Capital Group Inc. t: (212) 381-8065 e: joel.schwab@hedgefund.net SOURCE HedgeFund.net ]]> World Asset Bubble: Jeremy Grantham Speaks tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.428 2007-06-02T13:29:02Z 2007-09-30T12:32:45Z “From Indian antiquities to modern Chinese art; from land in Panama to Mayfair; from forestry, infrastructure, and the junkiest bonds to mundane blue chips; it’s bubble time!” By now you have probably heard this quote by Jeremy Grantham in his... “From Indian antiquities to modern Chinese art; from land in Panama to Mayfair; from forestry, infrastructure, and the junkiest bonds to mundane blue chips; it’s bubble time!” By now you have probably heard this quote by Jeremy Grantham in his letter to investors (which includes vice president Dick Cheney and a host of other high profilers) discussing a six week trip around the world and the pending bubble popping events to come (at least by his predictions). Grantham is not the only forecaster that has mentioned the overvalued prices of assets across the globe. Most recently (May 23rd), in one of Alan Greenspan’s consulting appearances he mentioned that Chinese markets were at unsustainable levels. (There are several other markets that are within a few percentage points of their all-time highs, but I decided to only list some of those that actually broke records.) So what exactly gives? Well, the markets have been driven by steady worldwide growth (see chart below) over the past several years and a liquid credit market making it easy to borrow money and put it to work. U.S. markets have been held up by earnings growth, which has slowed in this past quarter, and a record number of private equity deals or mergers and acquisitions. See the chart below for an overview of the world’s GDP growth from 1980-2008 projections provided by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). As you can see, since 2003 we have been at a growth rate higher than any of the previous 27 years. That has helped propel worldwide equity markets to the record levels of today. World GDP Growth.gif It is easy to get caught up in all the attention given to markets that are propelling to new highs. Really, who would want to miss out on a major bull market? The problem (as is usually the case) is the timing of the Grantham’s so called “worldwide bubble”. The markets are flatter than ever in terms of connectivity, communication and correlations mainly due to the internet’s rise in accessibility. Does that mean that if our market were to tank the emerging markets will follow? Not likely, as the U.S. markets have been one of the weakest performers over the past 12 months. With that said, we also have the most stable and predictable economy in the world. Many analysts believe a shock to the Chinese markets may cause a windfall of turbulence for other world markets much like it did in late February. With that said, the Shanghai index fell 6.5% on May 30th. Those same analysts would have expected a drop in the U.S. markets due to the shock. However, all major U.S. indices opened at the lows only to post record highs. Now, the activity we saw that day is now merely a blip on the screen. Although the world is more globalized and has a horizontal marketplace, one can not assume that market shocks will have worldwide impacts. May 30th is a great example of the isolation to a single financial market with no overflow effects. If we are truly in an asset bubble at this time, there is always a catalyst to burst the bubble; what is it going to be this time? Jeremy Grantham says that “We (GMO, his investment firm) haven’t agreed yet on a catalyst for 1929, 1987, or 2000, or even the South Sea bubble for that matter.” He does however offer two main areas of concern; inflation and lower profit margins. Inflation may prompt the Federal Reserve to take monetary policy actions; whereas, the drop in profit margins over time could hinder financial market’s ability to maintain these high levels. It will be interesting to see if either of these two factors come to fruition, but one thing is for sure…market’s around the globe have enjoyed a great amount of growth in the past five years. Whether we come to a screeching halt or slowly contract these gains over time and the timing of either of these scenarios is the question that no one really knows. That is why the financial markets intrigue so many intelligent individuals. Until next time, enjoy the ride. By Charlie Santaularia Managing Director Parrot Trading Partners, LLC cell 785.766.0773 office 303.284.9232 www.parrottradingpartners.com charlie@parrottrading.com]]> Best on the Street Analysts Survey tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.427 2007-05-24T00:32:16Z 2007-09-30T12:32:45Z Thomson Financial, an operating unit of the Thomson Corporation and leading provider of information and technology solutions to the global financial community, and The Wall Street Journal have teamed for the eighth consecutive year for the Best on the Street... Thomson Financial, an operating unit of the Thomson Corporation and leading provider of information and technology solutions to the global financial community, and The Wall Street Journal have teamed for the eighth consecutive year for the Best on the Street Analysts Survey published in today's Journal. According to the survey, Merrill Lynch & Co. regained the top after falling from the No. 1 spot in the survey last year. The No. 2 position was taken by smaller research group Sidoti & Co., showing that while big Wall Street firms continue to perform well, other research outfits are gaining ground. http://www.wsj.com/). This year, more than 4,000 analysts from more than 280 firms were considered for the survey. The 223 award winners in 45 industry groups were drawn from among 1,705 analysts who met the survey requirements and qualified to have their research analyzed in detail. "We are pleased to partner once again with The Wall Street Journal to provide investors with the industry's most comprehensive independent ranking of the best analysts on the Street," said Suresh Kavan, president, Corporate Services, Investment Banking, Investment Management, Thomson Financial. "Thomson Financial is committed to providing customers with the knowledge and tools needed to help them improve their performance and enhance their competitive advantage in the marketplace. This survey is a great example of how we leverage our substantial asset base to provide not just proprietary content, but analytic expertise and market insight." Thomson Financial delivers a broad portfolio of industry names in content, analytics and transaction services via Thomson ONE, a flexible open application framework configured to the individual needs of analysts, institutional investors or retail wealth managers. Thomson ONE easily integrates with a firm's preferred infrastructure and across virtually all applications, operating systems and interfaces. About The Wall Street Journal The Wall Street Journal, the flagship publication of Dow Jones & Company (NYSE: DJ; http://www.dowjones.com/), is the world's leading business publication. Founded in 1889, The Wall Street Journal has a print and online circulation of nearly 2.1 million, reaching the nation's top business and political leaders, as well as investors across the country. Holding 33 Pulitzer Prizes for outstanding journalism, The Wall Street Journal provides readers with trusted information and knowledge to make better decisions. The Wall Street Journal print franchise has more than 600 journalists world-wide, part of the Dow Jones network of nearly 1,800 business and financial news staff. Other publications that are part of The Wall Street Journal franchise, with total circulation of 2.6 million, include The Wall Street Journal Asia, The Wall Street Journal Europe and The Wall Street Journal Online at WSJ.com, the largest paid subscription news site on the Web. In 2007, the Journal was ranked No. 1 in BtoB's Media Power 50 for the eighth consecutive year. About Thomson Financial Thomson Financial, with 2006 revenues of US$2 billion, is a provider of information and technology solutions to the worldwide financial community. Through the widest range of products and services in the industry, Thomson Financial helps clients in more than 70 countries make better decisions, be more productive and achieve superior results. Thomson Financial is part of The Thomson Corporation (http://www.thomson.com/), a global leader in providing essential electronic workflow solutions to business and professional customers. With operational headquarters in Stamford, Conn., Thomson provides value-added information, software tools and applications to professionals in the fields of law, tax, accounting, financial services, scientific research and healthcare. The Corporation's common shares are listed on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges (NYSE: TOC; TSX: TOC). Website: http://www.thomsonfinancial.com/]]> China Investment Confidence tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.426 2007-05-09T20:58:23Z 2007-09-30T12:32:45Z Confidence in China as a place to invest has reached new heights, but before the country can fully benefit from substantial additional investments, it needs to make further progress in introducing global standards of governance in legal systems, particularly in... Confidence in China as a place to invest has reached new heights, but before the country can fully benefit from substantial additional investments, it needs to make further progress in introducing global standards of governance in legal systems, particularly in contract enforcement and taxation law, a survey of multinational businesses carried out by KPMG International has found. According to KPMG, business leaders spoke of a “ring of money” surrounding China, held by companies keen to invest in a booming economy, but wary of being caught up in the quirks and uncertainties of the Chinese legal and taxation system. The survey was carried out among delegates from over 70 multinational companies attending KPMG’s Asia Pacific Tax Summit in Beijing on April 18 and 19, 2007. Delegates welcomed the planned changes to China’s corporate taxation law. When they are introduced on January 1, 2008, these will raise tax rates for foreign companies to the new national level of 25% and will introduce internationally recognized concepts around transfer pricing and taxation of offshore profits (controlled foreign companies legislation) to protect what is expected to be a growing tax base. The proposal of unifying the tax treatment of domestic and international enterprises is a signal of intent to give equal treatment to all investors, says KPMG. This is significant because 34% of delegates chose an independent judiciary as the most important institution necessary to establish long term confidence in a country’s economy, ahead of good financial regulators and a modern banking system, and 33% said that legal uncertainty is their single biggest concern over investing in China. “The Chinese authorities are clearly aware of the need to modernize their business infrastructure,” observed KPMG’s Asia Pacific Region Head of Tax, Lloyd Deverall. “Their new tax law sends all the right signals to the international community that China is becoming a modern economy where they can do business." “But this law has been more than ten years in the making, and there are other issues over matters like contract enforceability and intellectual property rights. These need urgently to be addressed to send consistent signals to foreign investors in line with the change in the tax law," he added. Asked where they thought China would be in ten years from now, 57% of the delegates said that it would be further advanced, but would still be developing its full potential. “This may underestimate the gathering pace of change in the country,” suggested Mr. Deverall, concluding that: “29 percent of our delegates thought that in ten years’ time China would be a world power to rival the US. That is a prospect to focus the mind of any international business looking for serious growth.” The 6 Giants of Global Profits tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.425 2007-04-26T23:03:55Z 2007-09-30T12:32:45Z Martin Weiss, Ph.D. examines the global marketplace and the six giants leading the economy. In this issue of Money and Markets, Dr. Weiss discusses the high demand for natural resources due to the booming global economy. Jupiter, Fla. (PRWEB)... Martin Weiss, Ph.D. examines the global marketplace and the six giants leading the economy. In this issue of Money and Markets, Dr. Weiss discusses the high demand for natural resources due to the booming global economy. Jupiter, Fla. (PRWEB) April 26, 2007 -- Martin Weiss, Ph.D. examines the global marketplace and the six giants leading the economy. In this issue of Money and Markets, Dr. Weiss discusses why China, India, Japan, Brazil, Australia and Canada continue to outperform the Dow. www.moneyandmarkets.com/press.asp?rls_id=757&cat_id=6& About Dr. Martin Weiss & Money And Markets Money and Markets (www.moneyandmarkets.com) is a free daily investment newsletter from Dr. Martin Weiss and Weiss Research analysts offering the latest investing news and financial insights for the stock market, including tips and advice on investing in gold, energy and oil. Weiss Research, Inc. is located in Jupiter, Florida. For more information about our editors, or to set up an interview, please contact Jennifer Moran at 561-627-3300 or visit www.moneyandmarkets.com.]]> Investors Superconference 2007 tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.424 2007-04-24T21:00:36Z 2007-09-30T12:32:44Z Options University Presents the 1st Annual Online Trading & Investors Superconference 2007 with Leading Financial Experts on Wednesday, April 25 with Renowned Worldwide Financial Experts On Wednesday, April 25, the media will have the rare opportunity to hear from the... Options University Presents the 1st Annual Online Trading & Investors Superconference 2007 with Leading Financial Experts on Wednesday, April 25 with Renowned Worldwide Financial Experts On Wednesday, April 25, the media will have the rare opportunity to hear from the seven top financial trading experts - under the same roof and to conduct one-on-one interviews with experts in the field. Violent swings on Wall Street have prompted an 'Emergency Profit Protection Bootcamp', featuring seven of the world's top stock and options traders.]]> www.investorsuperconference2007.com/ or call Robert Weneck at 954-683-1518 to secure interviews with the experts. About The Options University About The Options University, LLC: The Options University is the leading source for options education for safer investing and better profits. Co-founder Ron Ianieri was a floor trader for 15 years on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, and 'The Specialist' in DELL computer options, one of the busiest books in history. While on the floor, Ron built one of the most comprehensive training programs used to teach and train professional option floor traders. Today, he uses that same course to teach individual investors as well as institutions. Maximizing his experience, the educational company is uniquely qualified to teach investors how to make consistent profits while limiting risk. For more information on The Options University, visit www.optionsuniversity.com.]]> Market Comments by Derek Frey tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.423 2007-04-24T00:20:04Z 2007-09-30T12:32:44Z This week we will see the stock market grabbing most of the headlines as it cruises through 13,000 on the Dow. We are seeing a trend develop in the soft complex that is worth mentioning. We are seeing all but... This week we will see the stock market grabbing most of the headlines as it cruises through 13,000 on the Dow. We are seeing a trend develop in the soft complex that is worth mentioning. We are seeing all but one of the major soft markets trending down which could be foretelling of an overall slowdown in the pace of growth commodities have enjoyed in recent years. Markets like OJ were leading indicators on the way up and are now likely to be leading indicators on the way down. This in no way implies that the commodity boom is over but rather just a normal correction or slowdown within a larger bull market. Financials Stocks: This week we will see the Dow trade over 13,000. That should bring in a fresh round of money chasing this high. We see a blow off top coming in the month of May or early June so be warned. This week will see many headlines about stocks being back again that should bring in a fresh round of new money that will lead to the blow off top mentioned above. Bonds: Bonds are now consolidating around the 111 handle. We expect more upside this week in bonds as the Dollar bounces. Overall we see a bond market that is having a huge internal war between those that expect the Fed. to cut and those that expect them to raise. We stand in the middle and expect the Fed. to do nothing for all of 2007. This tug of war is keeping bonds from trending in one direction or the other for very long but once that battle is won, look for a major trend in bonds to develop. This week we will likely test resistance at the 112 handle and then drift sideways again. Energy Crude oil took off again today and this could very well be the beginning of the push back above $70. We see 67.50 being tested mid week when the API report comes out. If that report shows a significant drawdown in stocks of crude the $70 and beyond could be seen by Months end. Natural gas will likely move up to $8.00 by the end of the week as well in sympathy with crude. The talk of $4.00 at the pump could be and understatement, we see the possibility of $5.00 per gallon at the pump this summer if Hurricane season is even half as bad a s forecasted. Metals Gold continues to trend up but for some reason seems reluctant to test the $700 level. The market is almost acting like it is afraid of that level. We should see volatility in this market increase exponentially as we hit the $700 mark. Silver did correct back to just above 13.50 and then bounced right back to $14.00. This shows the underlying strength in these metals and we see 14.50 as the target to shot for this week. Copper is building a classic bull flag and that should lead to a move back above $400 in the not too distant future. I must again say that Palladium is one of the best long term buys of the year. We believe this market could rally above $500 later this year. Grains Grains continue to be volatile. Beans are building what looks to be a bear flag on the daily charts. Corn can't seem to get it together and move one way or the other. Wheat, on the other hand has seen a very nice uptrend, but seems to have hit a wall at $5.00. Grains have been tough to trade in recent weeks and we have stood aside most of this. This week we see the above trends continuing. Softs OJ continued to break down last week and traded almost all the way down to 150. Since then we have bounced and should see a dead cat bounce this week that carries us back to the low 170's. The trend is now down so look at this bounce as another short entry opportunity rather than a buy the dip long opportunity. Cocoa briefly traded above 1950 last week but since then has corrected back below 1900. Last week was likely a temporary top which means this market should drift lower over the weeks ahead. Coffee did break down as we expected and continues to drift lower. The pace of the sell off is very slow and therefore we feel there are better trading opportunities elsewhere. Sugar continues to trend lower but much like coffee the pace is slow and downside is limited. We will wait for the market to turn back up before attempting to trade this market. Cotton much like coffee and sugar is drifting lower, but trading opportunities are limited at best. Meats Both live and feeder cattle staged bounces today mostly due to weakness in grains. We see these bounces as temporary as the trend is still down for both of these markets. Lean hogs and pork bellies on the other hand are both trending up and we see these trends continuing this week. by Derek Frey Odom & Frey www.odomandfrey.com Call us at 1-866-636-6378]]> China Energy Production Plans tag:www.investoffshore.com,2007:/blog//1.422 2007-04-20T22:47:51Z 2007-09-30T12:32:44Z SHANGHAI (Interfax-China) -- China aims to produce 193 million tonnes of oil and 92 billion cubic metres of natural gas by 2010, according to an energy blueprint released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on April 10. While... SHANGHAI (Interfax-China) -- China aims to produce 193 million tonnes of oil and 92 billion cubic metres of natural gas by 2010, according to an energy blueprint released by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on April 10. While the target represents a mere 5% growth in oil output compared to last year, or 2.12% in annual growth, the gas target represents a 56% jump in natural gas production, necessitating growth of 12.6% a year. Crude Oil Pipeline The crude oil pipeline linking resource-rich Xinjiang Autonomous Region's Urumqi and northwestern Gansu Province's Lanzhou, with an annual transmission capacity of 20 million tonnes, will be ready for commercial operation in June this year, state media reported today. The pipeline will help transport crude oil produced in Xinjiang, which is home to 30% of China's onshore oil reserves, as well crude oil imports from Kazakhstan through the Sino-Kazakh crude pipeline that went into operation in May last year to supply oil-poor central and southwestern regions, according to state-run Xinhua news agency . It was reported by state-backed China Petroleum Daily's online portal earlier in the month that a new pipeline is currently being planned from Lanzhou to Sichuan Province's Chengdu at a cost of RMB 3.53 billion ($457 million), in part to feed the proposed oil refinery of China National Petroleum Corp. in the province's Pengzhou City. The West China Pipeline Project, which includes the Urumqi-Lanzhou crude pipeline and an oil product pipeline, started construction in March 2005 with a total investment of RMB 15 billion ($1.94 billion). It is so far the country's longest pipeline with the largest transmission volume. The 1,842-kilometer oil product pipeline, with an annual transmission capacity of 10 million tonnes, went into operation in October last year. Xinjiang ranked as China's third largest oil producer last year with 25 million tonnes of output. It is expected to produce 35 million tonnes annually by 2010. With the 10 million tonnes imported from Kazakhstan, the region will supply one-fifth of the country's oil demand by then. CNOOC The China National Offshore Oil Corp. (CNOOC), the country's leading offshore oil producer, announced late yesterday that its oil and gas output from northern China's Bohai Bay reached 15.6 million cubic metres last year. The figure represented an increase of over 56% compared to its 2004 output, the company claimed. By 2010, CNOOC aims to produce 25 million to 30 million cubic metres of oil equivalent in Bohai Bay annually, nearly double the amount it produced last year. "It is clear that the Bohai Basin will continue to be a focus in China's offshore oil and gas exploration efforts," associate research fellow with the Ministry of Land and Resources, Pan Jiping, said earlier this month. Although oil and gas prospecting within the region has accounted for 29% of its potential reserves, the region is still considered to be in the early stages of development as it falls below the 30% development benchmark, Pan explained. PetroChina, the listed arm of the China National Petroleum Corp., the country's largest oil and gas producer, recently made a large discovery in the Bohai Basin. Although the company announced that it had discovered the nation's largest oil find in a decade, it is yet to reveal detailed reserve figures for the find. CNOOC Ltd., CNOOC's listed arm, produced 167 million barrels of oil equivalent of crude oil and gas last year, while PetroChina's oil equivalent production reached 1,059.4 million barrels. CNPC China National Petroleum Corp. (CNPC), the country's largest oil and gas producer, will build a 10 million-tonne oil refinery in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing, the municipal government said on its website today. According to the report, the oil giant is still deciding between the two districts of Changshou and Wanzhou. The refinery will start processing crude oil in three years. Chongqing has also reportedly been chosen as the destination for the long-touted Sino-Burma oil pipeline, with construction on the pipeline potentially beginning within the year, which could serve as a crude oil source for the proposed refinery. The move came shortly after the oil giant struck deals with nearby Sichuan Province and Guangxi Autonomous Region to build large-scale oil refineries and chemical plants, marking its further penetration into the downstream oil business, traditionally dominated by rivals China Petroleum and Chemical Corp. (Sinopec). CNPC's expansion into the sector was driven by robust demand for fuel and chemical products in the region, and its abundant upstream resources and accumulated capital would help feed the refineries with crude oil supplies, according to analysts. It is also likely that the government will adopt a new oil product pricing scheme within the year that guarantees decent profit margins for refineries. China's southwestern region currently does not have any sizable refineries due to its lack of oil resources. The Guangxi refinery will mostly process crude imports from CNPC's Sudan oilfield, while the refinery in Sichuan is likely to take advantage of resources from western regions such as Xinjiang Autonomous Region, one of China's largest oil producers. China's petrochemical industry recorded rapid profit growth last year, hitting RMB 437.7 billion ($56.7 billion), up 18.3% from the previous year, on the back of soaring market demand driven by a runaway economy. © Interfax-China 2007. This article comes from Interfax China Commodities Daily, a daily digest produced by Interfax News Agency in Mainland China. To receive 10 free copies of this, please e-mail david.harman@interfax-news.com.]]>