swissie

If only used "for more efficient use of capital" fine. But the temptation to enter the "leaverage game" is great. Numerous are the incscriptions on tombstones that read "He died of too much leaverage".

Not a bad idea. Make sure that the ETF is covered by physical Gold. Also: How much is the annual "administration/management" fee, because there is also the "carrying charge" incorporated.

Ah..... the US$. US citizens investing in US Dollars must not read on. All others, not calling the US$ as "home currency" should read on. No matter who wins in November, Democrats as well as Republicans have "economic growth" on their agenda. Sluggish domestic demand can only be offset by increasing Exports. Fastest way to do it: Make products cheaper by lowering the value of the currency. Therefore be prepared, that the positve yields that US equities offer today, will be greatly curtailed by a depreciating US$ versus your "home currency". Or even turn into "negative yields". In the olden days, major currencies fluctuated maybe 5% per year against each other. Today this can happen within 2 months. Due to this increased volatility, a "hedge" (insurance) against further US$ depreciation costs 5% per year. Crazy, but that says it all. Don't say "nobody told me before" after the fact. Remember: You read it here first.

It could be worse: When your Doctor tells you that "singing" is the only thing allowed anymore.

"Naked short selling" is common on all futures exchange products. The short sellers are the future buyers, as they will (sooner or later) have to buy back their "shorts". Therefore, only short term effects resulting from this practice. When Richard Nixon detached the $ from Gold, I bought all of the Fort Knox Gold and stored it next to my wine cellar. In return, Richard Nixon accepted that I deliver him the same amount of Swiss Cheese to be stored in Fort Knox.

Every mobile phone or other electric gadgets have a little Gold inside. Other than that, Gold is useless. Or is it? For the last 4000 years, Gold was accepted as "currency". Not sure if the $ or the swiss franc will be accepted as currency for the next 4000 years. Humanity has understood that EVERYTHING is transient. Except for Gold and Diamonds. Therefore, humans are fascinated by something "that lasts forever". - Give a girl a golden ring and see how her face lights up and her eyes are getting a bit moist. That's the magic of Gold. Never gone out of style for 4000 years.

Don't know if the quoted Gold prices include "carrying charges". Not producing any interest, but to store Gold costs money. Depending of the "mode of storage". Probably the most expensive way to "store" Gold is a long position in futures contracts. There, the carrying charge currently is almost 7% per year.

Where is the rest having survived? Depending on statistics, the success rate on new "start-up's is dismal. Unless one is involved in "digitalisation". That's where the money is today. 100 years ago, mining and Railroads were the place to be. All others (fired employees from McDonalds) trying to re-invent the Hamburger have no chance to succeed. As well as some guys in Detroit trying to re-invent the automobile.

How many "start-ups" from the year 2000 are still around? The Russell 2000 index (small caps) can't keep up with "new entries" versus companies that have to be "trown out", not fulfilling minimum requirements anymore.

That's what they said in the summer of 2000. Gold costing 260 US $ per Oz.

I suppose you have read all of my posts. Not able to reach any "conclusions". At any rate, I will not start any "ping pong" game with you concerning economics. Those "ping pong" games take place on "social media", a place where I am not present.

Of course I am. I take my clues from gammaglobulin. Strongly supported by AI (artificial intelligence). It's practically my "home turf" here. I am quite sure that "your home turf" is rather located somewhere in the universe of "social media". You may want to stay there.

Your comment brings back memories. Currently I am rolling on the floor, crying like a baby as I know those times will never come back. Once upon a time there was "a men's paradise". A short "window of opportunity". Never before, never after. Best of all, formerly, the Girls felt very comfortable in this "mens paradise". Until somebody came along and told the girls that it is not Ok to feel comfortable in a "men's paradise". Convincing them that your body parts below the belt are much more worth than 500 Bht. Explaining to them, that the lower parts of an European women are valued at 2000 Bht minimum. That's when "Adam" was thrown out of paradise for the second time.

ST sex in most European cities is around 2000 Bht these days. Not having to sit in an Airplane for 12 hours. AND: Plenty of "Thai Salons" have closed all over Europe. Why? Because Thai Ladies can make close to the same amount of money working in Thailand.

When even in non financial newspapers the price of Gold makes the headlines, a bit of caution is advisable. Also: For decades, Gold was recommended as part of a portfolio (safe harbor, offsetting losses in other equities). Gold has a life of it's own, in the past as well as today. Especially today, as Gold follows other equities like a good dog follows his master. So, the concept that Gold would "offset" the losses in an other playing field is in question. Explainable by the current concept of eighter "risk on" (buy everything) or "risk off" (sell everything). PS: If your life expenctancy is more the 10 years, this should not stop you from buying Gold. If your life expenctancy is less then 10 years, I recommend that you spend your money on "wine, women and song".

The party will go on because the party MUST go on. Economic "recessions" are no more allowed. If necessary, the Central Banks will provide enough "liquidity" once more to prevent this from happening. "Soft landings" are todays gospel. "Recession" has become a dirty word. I remember times when recessions were "allowed". Helping to "self clense" economies. The Central Banks only acting to "soften" downturns at best. The world economy has turned into a drug addict. = free money/low interest rates. Like a heroin addict, higher doses are required to maintain a certain level of "happyness". Both addictions have one thing in common: There will be no "happy ending".

At some point, we must come down to the "nitty gritty". I can tell, you despise war as I do. Formerly involving "Armies" on the battlefield only. Since WW2 "civilians" are part of "warfare". But looking back 2000 years, most "victories" were won by armies that were able to "outgun" the opponent. A repetiton of ths constellation will happen in the case of the Ukraine. Borders to western countries are now strictly guarded. Too many Ukrainians between the age of 18 to 40 do not want to join the Ukrainian army anymore. Spartakus, the American Indians, even Napoleon and Hitler were finally "outgunned". Of course the capability to "outgun" an opponent will change over time, but the chances that Russia will "outgun" the Ukraine today are frightenly high. -------------------------------------------------- But more of importance: As I have raised the question before, "Who will pay for the rebuilding of the Ukraine, or what's left of it after the war"? Unfortunately, I have not received any "remedies" concerning this matter by contributors of this forum, nor by the "western political elite". That's the "hot potato" that nobody wants to touch in the west. But Vladimir will, at a discount price.

Western "war-reporting" leaves a lot to be desired for. So, from time to time, it is helpful to comment what is ACTUALLY happening in the Ukraine. -The Ukraine is in the process of orchestrating some kind of "Battle of the Bulge" in the Northeast. Designed to draw away Russian troops away from the Donbass. Not working. - The Russians advance steadily in the Donbass. The Ukraine has established a line of defense, declaring several strategic cities as "fortresses". (Like pearls on a string). 2 pearls of that string are the cities of Pakowsk and Selydowe. Both are likely to "fall" soon. Civilians leaving already. With this line of defense perforated, the Russians will be able to advance much faster. All of this not of much interest to the "western press", mesmorised by the Ukrainian "Battle of the Bulge" currently. Surely, the Ukrainian soldiers trying to hold the Donbass defence line miss their comrades sorely that have been sent to a public-relations stunt on Russian territory.

You folks don't get it, do you? Nobody get's it. This is nothing but another "cry for help" by GG. The man lives entirely in his digitalised world, afraid to participate in the real world anymore. Never have I read comments of a more "detached" individual than GG's posts. The man needs help, not "internet approval". Every post of GG is a "cry for help". Asking for a helping hand, that will enable him to "join the world again", explaining to him that a computer screen is only a small part of the world. The man needs help, urgently. Crying out for help, not approval.

Above, I wondered what this "correction" caused. Now we know: The "carry trades" that have turned sour was the perpetraitor ! Margin calls, forced liquidations. Fine. But: Having to sell your stocks to offset your losses in an other "playing field"? How much intertwined "leaverage" can the financial world stand? I find, we are standing on "shaky ground". All of us, as we all are part of the "world economy". Depending on "free money" (low interest rates), to keep the financial "merry go round" turning.

Will cause a lot of "negative press" in "the west". = Confiscation of property etc etc. They might issue some "Grandfathering rights" for older "Contracts". At the same time declaring, that such "contracts" will no more be allowed as of today.

Thai "officialdom" has realised, that after an initial "burst of investment" (buying house, car etc etc) for the queen of their hearts, their monthly outlays become relatively modest, compared to what tourists spend. So, no wonder that some official "Thai-Thinkers" came to the conclusion that Expats should pay more for the privilege to stay in Thailand. Actually, allowed to stay in Thailand is the ony privilege/right that Expats have in Thailand. This not stopping thousands of elderly Farangs every year to settle in Thailand.

I assume that the Hemp will be grown in Thailaand. You would have to offer Thai Farmes a price that is higher than their traditional crops. Giving them a "price guarantee" beforehand. An obstacle might be, that Thais (Thai Farmers) are not known to welcome change/innovation. You would need to be "well connected" with rural "power-brokers", that can take a sufficient number of Farmers "aboard". All that will take a substantial amount of "seed money", before the first crop is harvested. I find this start-up interesting. Although I think you would find a more fertile ground for this project in Vietnam. The pupulace not afraid of "innovation", and "the government" willing to partially fund projects that they consider "worthwile". At any rate, I wish you success.

The trees absorb a lot of CO2. During it's lifetime that is. A dead tree laying in the forest will give back all the stored CO2 back into the athmosphere. Wood for construction purposes will not last forever, ending up as firewood. Also giving back the CO2 into the athmosphere. In order to neutralize my livelong CO2 "footprint", I would have to plant 800 trees. ------------------------ - "Pivot-points" have entered the discussion. Some far away, others nearer. The "nearest" pivot point is when the Gulf Stream stops circulating (constantly slowing down). If that happens, nobody would want to live in Ireland, England, Norway and Sweden anymore. Getting too cold. Ironically, this in a period of global warming. While in other regions it will become "too hot". Overall, buying some real estate in northern Canada sounds good.

Well, "the moral of the story can only be": Look before you leap. No sense to avoid taxes in Thailand, only to find out that the taxes in the "new country of my choice" are equal or even higher than in Thailand.