swissie

Plenty of major purchases in rural Thailand still by cash. Even real estate. But we live in "Modern times". Such cash transactions are filmed with smart phone. The buyer clearly states that he has paid xxx amount to the seller. In turn, the seller confirms that he has received xxx amount from the buyer. Of course, RE transactions will still have to be recorded at the land office.

There are many economical factors that will shape 2024. But the ONE major event that will shape the word (the world economy) will happen in November. If a certain republican candidate should win the presidential election, we will wake up to a new world. The ramifications that this would have would not only affect investors, but every living person on this globe. The ultimate game changer, dwarfing all other factors.

Commercial RE in the US is the "soft underbelly" within the RE universe.

Not only that. They will overtake all the glorious German Auto Makers. They missed the train. Same with Solar-Panels. No more European manufacturers. All made in China. The list is long for products no more "Made in Europe".

The recipie to create poverty/homelessness is as follows: - With legislation, make sure that the rich are getting richer. - With legislation and economic policies, make sure that the factor "labor" becomes cheaper all the time. Therefore: If one has only "labor" to offer with no "Capital", one can only lose in this game. Conclusion: The only true "Growth-Industry" in the West will be "poverty".

Going into the new year, a few thoughts are going thru my head. It seems to me, all the possible good news are already incorporated in US stock prices. = (A "soft landing" very likely, interest rates very likely coming down, the assumption that a certain candidate will not be elected president, increasing geo-political tensions "don't matter much"). So I wonder what unknown good news can come into play to further "feed the bull"? Will buy some "insurance" in form of out of the money S&P puts. Just in case if even one of the "pillars" that have upheld/driven the recent bull market starts to show some cracks.

Every Gold Mine will eventually become a mere hole in the ground. But to have a gold nugget in your hands is magic. Everything will eventually turn to dust, but knowing that Gold, Silver and Diamonds will outlast us has fascinated humans for thousands of years. Gold represents something "that lasts forever". Very appealing to people, that live in a world where "nothing lasts forever" is a blunt and sobering fact. PS: Upon marriage, we exchange golden rings. So "it may last forever". With a divorce rate of 50%, clearly Gold has limitations to it's magic. But as a store of monetary value Gold will still be around after all the marriages have failed and future generations will not know what a US$ or a Swiss Franc once were.

Upon my demise, my remaining assets will go to a foundation called "Support your local hookers".

Physical ETF's is a good way to go. But precious metals must be stored in vaults. That too costs money. This storage cost is usually priced into the price of the ETF. Softly, spread out over time. Let's face it: Unless stored on your property, storage costs money. Even the stocks one holds with a broker or a bank costs a certain amount of money annually. Althoug negligeable in most cases. It remains. Carrying charges DO matter as far as commodities are concerned. US Natural Gas as an extreme example: Within weeks total carrying charges can shoot up to over 100% just to shrink down to 20% within a few weeks.

Clear proof that the God's don't like men. Even if below the belt nothing much is happening anymore. We must still constantly evaluate passing by females as far as beauty, behavior etc etc etc. Clearly, the God's don't like old men.

For thousands of years it was the consensus that we live "in a mans world". Fighting for wealth and power. And why all this? = The one that accumulates most of the above mentioned, will get to copulate with the most beautiful females. "P*ssy power" has always ruled the world. Today, more so than ever before, fuelled by "feminism". -Imagine a world without the quest to chase P*ssy? Us men would rest under a fuzzy tree, consuming liberal amounts of Beer Chang and singing joyful songs. Not having to compete for nothing, especially not for females. Finally: Peace on earth.

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.