swissie

I started investing in commodities in 1973. I made and lost a lot of money in commodities. Plenty of short term trading going on. BUT HOW ABOUT LONG TERM INVESTING IN COMMODITIES? Here is the problem: To store commodities costs money. This is called the "carrying charge". This is why normally futures prices reflect this. More distant contracts are more expensive than nearby contracts (contago situation). Producing constant "roll-over" costs. What does that mean in Dollars and Cents? Here a few current "Carrying Charges", per year and in US$: - US Indicies 7%. Gold 7%. Copper 6%. Corn 20%. Natural Gas 20%. For example. This makes long term investing in commodities so problematic. REMEDY? Yes. One can buy Stocks of "Commodity Producers" and collect dividends. OR: Fill your garage with 20 Barrells of crude oil and park your car outside of your garage. Risking that your wife and neighbors will not understand the concept. Ahhhhh. The plight of commodity investors.

Quote;"All the economic forecasts are that Asian countries GDP will outstrip those in the West plus Chinese shares are very cheap right now, that will certainly change at some point". Let's focus in on China. China is confronted with some internal (temporary) problems. = A growth rate of less than 5% seems to alarm "investment advisors". (Most developped Economies in the West can only dream of such growth rates). Let's apply the "measuring stick" in form of the P/E Ratio. US = around 21. China = around 8. China is cheap! China will not stop being the economical powerhouse of the world. Food for thaught.

High Dividends come in 2 ways. Traditionally, Utilities, Beer brewers and other very basic industries with not much "upward potential" come to mind. Might as well buy their bonds. Have looked at other "high yield " stocks. Have found out that 1/3rd of them can not maintain their dividends if an economic downturn should occur. - Dividends can be cut. As fast as your "honey" tells you:"I dont love you anymore".

One would think that this is a good time to bring this issue to a "Congressional-Hearing" at least. With the aim of finding out if the ancient slaves were better off than todays 3 job slaves. Will not happen as todays slave-owners want to keep it that way. Or even expand the concept. Quote from Warren Buffet: "We are in a class-warfare. The rich against the poor. We (the rich) are winning".

Will be interested to know your definition of an investment. Perhaps I can help. An investment is something that you buy for 1$, hoping to sell the same thing to a greater fool for 1.50$.

Basically I agree. But lo and behold, there is an "investment-industry", telling investors what to do with their money. 10 thousand of "investment advisors" in the city of London, on Wall street etc etc etc. Comes to mind: "Look at all the yachts of investment advisers. But where are the yachts of their customers?"

As a footnote: Slaves were expensive to buy. The owner had every reason to keep the slave haealthy and productive. Free food and housing. Healthcare provided by the slave owner. Today: Low income earners need 2 to 3 jobs to stay alive. No free food or free lodging. Healthcare? The question remains: Are the ancient slaves or the modern day slaves better off? PS: Among the "founding fathers", George Washington was also a slave owner.

Grrr. "Let your profits run and cut your losses" comes to mind. Or: Buy when everyone is selling and vice versa. Easy. So how come we are not all millionaires? Because "timing" was an invention of the devil.

It's always the same: If an investment goes well, I regret that I have only invested so little in it. (leading to self flagellation for days). If an investment goes not so well, I regret that I invested so much in it. (Leading to self flagellation for days). With the result that I have reason to self-flagellate constantly. My back is always full of scars. My Doctor does not belive my "investment story". He says that I and my lady are not the only ones that like "kinky sex". Ahhhhhhh.....

The thing about diversification. By buying an Index, maximum of diversification is achieved. Drawback: One carries a lot of stock that one doesn't really want. Seems to me, 10 different positions is enough diversification. Even Warren Buffet is holding more than 1 position.

To find deptors in Thailand that have "dissappeared", there are only 2 ways to go: - Hire a Private Detrective. - Involve the Police (RTP). Offer them a "FINDERS FEE" of 50% of the outstanding amount. If the "finders fee" is large enough, they will find anyone in the Kingdom of Thailand within 2 weeks.

AFAIK there is already a crypto sub-forum here.

This sub-forum covers a very wide range of issues concerning "money". A large part of threads only concerning "how to send money to Thailand". How about adding a seperate sub-forum that might be called "Investors Corner". Of interest to existing or future investors, living in Thailand or elsewhere. A forum to exchange opinions/views/ideas concerning this matter only. Hello Mods, how about it?

Swissie did finish Swiss Army Foundation School. While the Russians (partially) recruited "alternative fighting units" in the beginning, the Ukraine recruited basically all men up to the age of 60. But they mainly recruited "Money from the west" in the Billions of Dollars. Their main defense. But the well is running dry. Swissie does not glorify Russia or the russian army. But his pocket calculater still says: 2+2=4.

At the end of the day, it usually helps if the discussion is reduced to bare facts, replacing subjective "gut-feelings". - Who has more manpower. The Ukraine or Russia? - Who can produce their own weaponery, not having to rely on "outside help". The Ukraine or Russia? Mathematically: 2+2=4. Still. Generally: Was the Ukraine ever part of "the West"?. No, but part of todays Russia since the 9th century. Cemented by Katharina The Great. NATO: Without the US, NATO is a toothless tiger. Ever since 1989, European armies have been stripped to the bone. Throwing the wisdom of the old Romans to the wind: "SI VIS PACEM, PARABELLUM". Unfortunately, this is exactly what we did NOT do.

This is about "Europe" not about Switzerland in particular. It may have escaped you.

Unfortunately, Europeans have not yet understood that the US is entering a new age of "Isolationism". Even without Donald Trump at the steering wheel, Republicans refuse to be the "Policemen of the world" anymore (and pay for it). Without the "approval" of the Republicans: Nothing goes. Without the US, Nato is a thoothless tiger.

Inventory list of the German armed forces concerning ammo supplies. Confirmed by Defense Minister, Mister Pretorius.

Old stereotypes never die. Rats! The Cockoo clock was not invented in Switzerland but in southern Germany. In their hearts, all Americans are still cowboys.

You, an Expat living in Thailand having certain Assets in Europe? Some food for thaught: Let's face it: Without US support, it's "game over" for the Ukraine. After that, the only question remaining is: Will the Russians stop at the Hungarian border or march into the heart of Europe, as the Hungarians will not shoot at any Russians? European armies have been stripped to the bone, running out of ammo after 2 weeks. Real Estate can't be moved out of a country. But "liquid assets" can. As an Expat are you considering moving your liquid assets to a trusted Thai Bank as long as this is still possible? Easily returned if this scenario should not unfold. -Not during the Tsarist age nor during the Soviet age has Europe been so militarily vulnerable. The temptation for Putin to become the new age "Alexander The Great" is high. Needless to say, that under the rule of Tsar Putin, any sort of pension-money transfers will come to a grinding halt. All just food for thaught.

I don't want to hide my bushel under a sheffle (or is it the other way around?) I made ample contributions to local temples, having gotten the assurance by the monks that I most likely will return according to my wishes. - I will return as the chief W*ore Monger in Pattaya. Giving guided tours to newcomers. With the approval and sponsoring of the local police.

That's what I thaught also. But Donald Trump told me that I am stupid.

ASAP? Folks living in Japan have a high life expectancy. Besides, you have not charmed all your female surrounding in your neighborhood. You have got work to do.

He He. If you stumble over a rattlesnake she could not tell you that she was a Taxi driver in Bangkok before. The ones that come back as humans are not very talkative, but probably thinking to themselves "Oh no, not this S*it all over again".

With a 50% divorce rate among heterosexual couples, all those have "no long term future" as well.