swissie

7 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

I am sitting on cash, waiting for the next stupidity from the Oval Office to send sharemarkets into a tailspin again.

 

Nothing better than buying a good stock cheap, which is paying a good dividend.

 

I have done quite well out of silver, but it pays no dividend. As you say, riding a tiger.

Good on you. Same as you, Warren Buffet is also sitting on a lot of cash. IMO  the time when everyone is crying "fire" rushing for the fire exit is not too far off.

4 hours ago, mania said:

Lots of folks say this or that about silver & gold here are the realities....Posted in images below

 

Both are good IMHO & I have been involved with both for a long time.

 

Back around 2011 I did exceptionally well with the G/S ratio . At the time I was swapping a truckload of silver I bought at $9/oz

when G/S ratio was 75/1 & was swapping into gold at 35-40/1

 

It was like buying $1500 gold ounces for $315

 

So aside from buying to sit & wait...also  watch the G/S ratio & use that to grow your stacks. The old rule of thumb use to be G/S ratio above 55/1 buy silver below buy gold

 

Of course in recent year that has changed....a lot! But I would say personally Silver is very under valued or manipulated at the moment. That won't last & silver will likely take off this fall.

 

This is just my opinion & worth exactly what you paid for it 😉 

Like this post. It shows how those metals have fared in form of potential "home currencies".

Precious metals are priced in US Dollars. So every time one buys those metals, one must be aware that he has automatically turned into a currency speculator as well. (home currency versus the US $).

9 hours ago, Stocky said:

Silver isn't particularly rare, there's a lot of silver still in the ground.

Silver is mostly a by-product of copper mining.

10 hours ago, Lacessit said:

IMO silver has already had its surge, when it rose by 30% about a year ago. It's been marking time since then.

Quite correct. Silver goes in "spurts" on the upside as well as on the downside. When it starts to move, it moves dramatically. Investors waiting for a "little setback" to buy may wait for the little setback in vain because the little setback never comes.

To me: Eighter one is involved in Silver or NOT. Like I said before: ""All-in" on Silver right now? Why not. But one must be aware that one is riding on the back of a Tiger.

Leaving politics aside and what policies Donald applies for a change.

For the first time in their history "the little people of America" have a guy in office that talks like them, acts like them and thinks like them. Furthermore they admire him for his wealth, considering the fact that he had to start out with only with a measaly 200 Million $ from his dad to realise his American Dream. (How much of his wealth consists of bank loans is not of interest to his worshippers).

Except for Elon Muskrat, few intellectuals and few helmsmen of large US companies see any long therm benefits resulting from Donalds economical "visions".

Worldwide, news commentators have been asking the Oracle of Delphy "why was Donald voted into office once more"?

The Oracle of Delphy replied: No one before talked, acted like us "little people before". "HE IS OUR GUY", at last. Not to forget, that before Donald, since the birth of the US, presidents originated mostly from a east coast elitarian "pseudo aristocracy" or people with massive financial backing.

But not one of them talked and acted like Donald. That's Donald's "magic potion" that has mesmerised half of the voters. For the first time, the "little people" of the US feel truly "represented".

I sincerely hope that Donald's Magic will help the little people of the US that they will not need to work 2 to 3 jobs by persueing the American Dream.

2 hours ago, CanadaSam said:

I am hesitating to buy gold right now, hoping that trump gets thrown out of power, or assassinated by one of his maga followers who lost their job, house, and family. 

 

And hoping that will inspire re-confidence in the dollar, and the stock exchanges in merica, dropping gold back down a bit.

 

Crypto is new (for me) and interesting, ethereum seems to be solid, as is xrp for a long term large gain, so I am slowly increasing my investments in them.

Only buy Cryptos if you are sure someone will buy a series of numerical combinations from you at a higher price.

22 hours ago, Peterphuket said:

Silver is a worthless investment, if you look at its value in recent months you will see that there have been minimal changes, unlike gold, but to invest in it now with its high prices does not seem wise to me either.

"Minimal changes"?????

On 5/14/2025 at 9:55 AM, Unamerican said:

What is this ratio? What are G and S here? 
Thanks! 

G/S = Gold Silver Ratio. OR: How much 1 oz of Gold will buy how many  oz of Silver.

Fluctuates widely. For example:

Recent low on Jul 6 2024 was 72. Recent high on Apr 25 2025 was 108. Today it's at 99.

Gold and Silver have corrected "nicely". Recent lows must hold, otherwise one can not qualify the recent downturn as a thechnical correction anymore, rather a change of trend. Easily taking both metals down another 10% or more.

Silver is special. A store of value as well as an Industrial Metal. Inevitably, one must also keep an eye on what other Industrial Metals are doing. That does not make future price predictions any easier.

Silver peaks of the past have always been in connection with "market manipulation" in one form or the other. (Cornering the market).

"All-in" on Silver right now? Why not. But one must be aware that one is riding on the back of a Tiger.

When it comes to problems "below the belt", male prostate problems mostly arise. Among so many other things, that can affect the performance an well being of a mortal male.

I would like to direct certain "Female Bodily Activities" below the belt.

For example: Ladyfriend of mine (64 years old) drinks a cup of Coffee or Tea, after 15 minutes she needs to "pee". (urinating). Why? Otherwise she is in perfectly good health.

I am confident, that male contributors practise a certain amount of restraint, awaiting "Sheryls" comment, as this is a "female-matter" only.

21 minutes ago, Furioso said:

Well, we're living in a world with over 8 billion people, adding 70 or 80 million people each year. It's possible the only driving force into the worlds future will be chaos and disaster. 

It will self-correct. Too many rabbits, not enough food. Not enough food, less rabbits. AI and the Silicone Valley Wizards will no change this fundamental constellation.

1 hour ago, Furioso said:

America has been on the decline since the 60's, which was the U.S's last great decade. And there's lot's of reasons, 10? 20? literally dozens and dozens. What's sad is the entire west is crumbling as well. Did the other western countries copy America's template for failure? It sure looks like it. Germany is taking the whole Eurozone down. London isn't even London anymore. Maybe countries like France, Spain, and Portugal are doing good idk. 

 

We're lucky the rest of the world is a mess, the next 10-20 years are going to be unprecedented in history and I have a prediction that the world population will go from 8 billion down to 3 or 4 billion by the end of the century. Heck, we might actually be in the best of times right now. The future might literally be hell on earth. 

It does not take any Clairvoyancy to relise that "the west" is in a "peak" situation. Arriving at a historical Pivot Point.

"The West" has done quite well over the centuries. Giving the rest of the world things like the Renaissance, the Industrial Revolution, scientific advancement, while the rest of the world was in hybernation for centuries.

"The West" needs not to be ashamed of it.

But now, the West is mentally exhausted. The social fabric dissolving. The rich are getting richer, the poor are getting poorer.

Who will replace "the West" as a driving force into the worlds future? Most likely China, India S/E Asia. Certainly not Africa.

- In so many post before, I have claimed that todays "pensionners", regardless if they live in their home country or Thailand, are the last ones that reap the benefits of "the Golden Generation", as there will be no financial resources left, to finance an other old age "golden generation".

Let's be thankful. Those happy circumstances will not apply for the next generation.

40 minutes ago, topt said:

Sorry I am feeling a little antagonistic but please enlighten me as to which specific "financial companies" fall within your definition from your OP as a "boiler room'...............in terms of posters on here having issues with them..........

 

 

I would like to refer to my opening post. Noticing, that most threads here are in connection with some sort of "payment problems". No more no less. The very fact that this seems to be the main subject here should be reason enough to be very careful when it comes to entrust money transfers to a "organisation" that has not been in business 3 months ago, but offering unrelistic low cost money transfers.

That's all.

3 minutes ago, topt said:

If you are referring to a Thai bank when was the last time you spoke to one of their hotlines? 

My interactions with the SCB call centre suggests they speak and understand English in sufficient depth that I can only call your post  "politely"  misguided......

 

If you mean a "financial company" like Wise or Revolut then I have no experience.

I refer to "financial companies" , not well established banks that have been in business for decades.

It's the low cost operators, residing in exotic places like Eastern Timbuktu etc etc etc.............. An internet presence plus a PO Box number in Panama as the only link to their customers.

22 hours ago, bravo19 said:

Nobody needs a bank to show up in person. For what? The last time I have been in a bank branch was about 5 or 6 years ago. Online banking is the king!

Unless something goes wrong and you have to call their "service hotline" (if available that is).

- Likely one will be talking to a banking specialist who speaks "pidgin english", him/her letting you know that you just woke them up from their merlin sleep.

On 5/9/2025 at 2:37 AM, simon43 said:

@PPMMUU and Lorry - thanks very much for your explanations.  Indeed, my exhaling ability is reduced, but the degradation has not changed in 25 years.  I have never had a CT lung scan - since the doctors that I previously consulted in the UK and Thailand all stated that there was nothing wrong with my lungs and no further investigations were therefore necessary!  I do keep up to date with the various vaccinations against pneumonia (13 and 23), and flu etc.

 

Right now at Khanom Beach, my bronchitis from the smoky air in Laos some 3 weeks ago has almost disappeared and my lung mucus is minor and thin, so all good news 🙂

So glad to hear that the OP is doing better near the beach, with an ocean breeze blowing "inland". How is that away from the ocean breeze in Jomtien/Pattaya?

Even as a smoker, I found the air pollution (car exhausts) in those places comparable to the "burning season" up north. Remedy: OP staying near the beach 24/7?

58 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

Agreed, and most new banks are virtual only so no chance of "showing up in person".  OP out of touch with reality again.

Most major banks have e-banking plus branches that you can show up in person. Would never deal with a financial institution where I can not show up in person.

That seperates me from posters here, that are seeking advice, when their transaction has "dissappeared".

I have nothing against folks that persue a frugal lifestyle in Thailand. But trying to save a little money by (mostly) important financial transfers, to me, it's saving at the wrong place.

"Penny wise and Dollar foolish" comes to mind.

1 hour ago, Cameroni said:

 

Probably not. Markets are already up as China has cut interest rates to loosen liquidity to aid the Chinese economy and Bessent and Co are to meet with China's top economics offficial in Switzerland.

 

https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/articles/2025/5/china-cuts-policy-rate-bank-reserve-requirement-ahead-of-us-trade-talks-88862982

 

SP has also said that the US' credit rating is likely to be unaffected by the trade war.

 

https://www.reuters.com/world/china/sp-global-sees-credit-rating-breathing-room-trade-war-rivals-us-china-2025-04-29/

I diden't say that the US credit-rating will suffer in the short term. But investors will ask for higher yields as far as T-Bills/Bonds are concerned. Regardless what the FED will do.

The Issue: American politics and the monetary "helmsmen" want the Dollar lower. Once international investors should suffer another 7% decline in the value of their US $ holdings against their home currency could initiate a new "Bretton Woods" agreement.

The new currency consisting of a basket of Gold, the price of Wheat, the price of shell Eggs and the price of services of the prostitutes of Amsterdam. The new "world currency" = BUT STILL MEASURED IN US DOLLARS.😂

For better or for worse, the US dollar will remain the Sun of the monetary universe, other currencies (like planets) only orbiting around the sun.

But then: Not long ago, the British Pound was the monetary "sun" of the world.

The Swiss Franc the most stable currency for the last 180 years. But not enough in circulation to buy Greenland, not to speak of Canada.

It strikes me that most posts on this sub-forum are connected with some sort of "payment problems". But I am not surprised as long as everyone in the possession of a PC can implement a "international payment service". Operating from a boiler room. Receiving little or no support from the "Boiler Room" when something goes wrong.

I recommend the old fashioned bank to bank transfers via your "home bank". If something goes wrong, you can show up in person, spewing fire and brimstone if necessary. It costs more than platform boiler room banks. But in the end: You get what you pay for. Once again.

As long as this tariff BS stays in place, future worldwide growth will be stifled. Resulting in a "lost decade", if not worse. Certainly a S&P P/E ratio of 26 will no more be sustainable.

"Getting ugly in China"? Under these circumstances it won't be long before things get "ugly" in Europe and the US as well. Worldwide it will get "uglier".

Warren Buffet wasn't a buyer recently, he was a seller. A "red flag" was just hoisted.

Ok, Donald get's part of future mining rights in the Ukraine. Lovely.

Problem: It takes years of test drilling to find out where future mining will be commercially feasable. Next: According to "Glencore" it will easily take 10 years to start up a major mining operation and will cost so much, that even the biggest mining companies can not stem it alone.

So, Donald will have to wait 15 years to reap the benefits of future Ukrainian exloitation. Just in time for his 93rd birthday.

And this in a time, (after the power grid in the West has been successfully sabotaged), Putin can spend his future summer vacation in the south of France. Something that will not take 15 years, 2 months if he want's it, as currently we have no western armies left that could oppose such a plan.

On 5/1/2025 at 12:57 PM, simon43 said:

Thanks - I plan to order one asap - I'm just changing my shipping address in Thailand.

 

Sheryl, I certainly haven't noticed any degradation in my lung health over the past 25 years.  The 'flare-ups' (chronic bronchitis, excess mucus etc), were reduced in number since I left the UK climate to south-east Asia, but are definitely exacerbated by smoky air.  I have no plans to consult any medical doctors about this because a:my condition has not degraded in 25 years and b) I have little confidence nowadays in the medical profession and c) use of huff coughing, avoidance of smoky air, use of mucus thinners and use of other mucus-clearing aids seems to be enough for me to maintain reasonable lung health.  Were my illness due to COPD, I think that the narrowing of my bronchi would (by now) have resulted in shortness of breath etc.  My lung function seems almost normal, except for the excess mucus and throat infections created by the bacteria in this excess mucus.

I have a fundamental question concerning "caughing". As I understand it: By coughing, the lungs try to get rid of something that does not belong in the lungs. Right?

But I know a zillion cigarette smokers that do not caugh. The lungs appearantly not seeing cigarette smoke as something that does not belong in a lung.

This comment is in direct connection with the OP's problem, that even a slight increase in air pollution worsens his condition. While at the same time, plenty of cigarette smokers can stand the "burning season" up north without ill effets.

AND: Why are the OP's lungs producing such excessive amounts of "mucus"? Why is just "regular coughing" not enough? Finally: Why the production of such incredible amounts of mucus? The "immune system" overreacting to something trivial?

28 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Internet is everywhere.

Yes, these days it is. But not in 2011.

20 minutes ago, simon43 said:

Yes indeed!  Having suffered from this condition for so many years, and having met with 'blank looks' by every single doctor whom I have consulted in the UK and Thailand, I'm pretty confident (with my scientific hat on), that the diagnosis by Dr Google is correct.  (The part that actually convinced me are my clubbed toenails!)

I too have consulted Dr. Google. I was amazed how many varieties of clubnails there were. (including pictures).
As mentioned above, we all should patiently await "Sheryls" assessement.

Otherwise we run the risk that contributors here will classify clubnails are harbingers of cancer, cholera and tropical yellow fever.

I just hope that certain contributors here can await "Sheryls" assessement, avoiding endless and pointless speculations.