I'm currently watching Bitcoin from afar, but I do see the rise of
digital currencies, independent of government as a thing of the future.
In fact, Bernard Lietauer talked about community currencies existing
alongside gold in his book many years ago and that's what got me
interested in this whole thing in the first place. I guess Bitcoin does
fulfill many of the criteria defining true money, such as limited
quantity and infinite divisibility but it is lacking one thing....(call
me a traditionalist here)...asset backing. Long term, my money (now
there's a paradox..!) is on the rise of one or more online digital
currencies backed by gold and silver. Bitgold and BitSilver, anyone?
Sadly, governments and whoever else benefits from controlling the
national currencies will do anything they can to maintain the status
quo. So until it becomes mainstream expect many more stories about
people using Bitcoin to buy guns or drugs and evade their "social
responsibility" via taxes. Conveniently neglecting to mention that one
of the most common ways to buy guns or drugs is a suitcase of dollar
bills!
Friday, 19 April 2013
Wednesday, 17 April 2013
Diversifying Your Portfolio
Sometimes it's worth diversifying your portfolio outside the world of
ISAs. After all, some things can't be held within these accounts :
physical gold, silver, property, a lot of foreign shares and...domain
names.
Yep, I've been feeling for some years domain names are the ultimate virtual landgrab (more on virtual money such as Bitcoin another day!), but to give you an insight into the kind of domain name portfolio I feel might perform well the next ten years, check this domain name portfolio out.
Yep, I've been feeling for some years domain names are the ultimate virtual landgrab (more on virtual money such as Bitcoin another day!), but to give you an insight into the kind of domain name portfolio I feel might perform well the next ten years, check this domain name portfolio out.
Tuesday, 5 March 2013
Unit Cost Averaging into Physical Gold with Bullionvault
For years, I have wanted to be able to set up a fixed monthly saving into physical gold (and silver, take please, Goldmoney and Bullionvault), but it's never been possible. Also galling is the fact that with Goldmoney it is possible if you are a US citizen.
However, Bullionvault just sent me this :-
The great thing is, you can also make your payments in Dollars, Euros or Pounds!
However, Bullionvault just sent me this :-
You can now build up regular savings in gold without needing to place orders yourself or deal directly on BullionVault's online market.
BullionVault's new Automatic Gold Investment Plan allows you to buy gold regularly with minimum effort.
Simply enable the new feature in your account settings and arrange for a monthly deposit into your BullionVault account from your bank. Each payment will then be used to buy gold automatically at the price set at the next London Fix, the global benchmark used in the professional wholesale markets.
A dealing charge of 0.8% applies. Your gold will be stored at the usual costs in the Zurich vault. You can stop making deposits or sell your bullion and withdraw your funds at any time, without notice or penalty.
Find out more about the Automatic Gold Investment Plan and get started today.
The great thing is, you can also make your payments in Dollars, Euros or Pounds!
Dow Jones and FTSE Climb to New Highs
Or so goes the BBC headline today.
And so great eh, the world is saved? Hmm I very much doubt that it is. What has fundamentally changed? Nothing, except the worldwide currency creation continues. That more than anything else - oh and some money probably exiting the bond market early before it crashes too.
I'll be the first to admit that I actually took advantage of some favourable investment trust discounts during December, especially for my pension (for disclosure, some of those trusts and their prevailing discounts when bought : JP Morgan UK Smaller 25%, Japanese Smaller 18%, European Smaller 18%, Henderson Opportunities 25%). So, yes, I am counting the paper gains too. Nice. Or it will be if I find the right time to exit. I don't think it's quite yet, as the aforementioned trusts are all now on 15% discounts, so still feels to me like there is some gain up to May.
Sell in May and Go Away
If the stock market hasn't tanked by then and the trust discounts have narrowed to sub-10%, I will definitely cash out of a lot of these. I really feel this rise is unexpected (to me, but there again I don't go to Davos or Devil's island).
What to Buy Instead?
Obviously, top up on your gold and silver holdings. I will start buying gold again soon after a 3 year pause. Especially to minimise my exposure to the British Pound. I figure I can convert back later now and make a profit on that too.
Golden Prospect Investment Trust is my favourite. This invests in gold and silver miners and has plummeted from a premium to a 14% discount in about 2-3 months. What amazing value!
Fidelity Japanese Investment trust also sits on a 16% discount. Yes, that's quite a way out there, but in a world of such financial uncertainty, it might make weird sense to have the most stock market exposure to the very market that has least participated in the rallies. especially when the Yen is still, weirdly, considered a sound currency.
And so great eh, the world is saved? Hmm I very much doubt that it is. What has fundamentally changed? Nothing, except the worldwide currency creation continues. That more than anything else - oh and some money probably exiting the bond market early before it crashes too.
I'll be the first to admit that I actually took advantage of some favourable investment trust discounts during December, especially for my pension (for disclosure, some of those trusts and their prevailing discounts when bought : JP Morgan UK Smaller 25%, Japanese Smaller 18%, European Smaller 18%, Henderson Opportunities 25%). So, yes, I am counting the paper gains too. Nice. Or it will be if I find the right time to exit. I don't think it's quite yet, as the aforementioned trusts are all now on 15% discounts, so still feels to me like there is some gain up to May.
Sell in May and Go Away
If the stock market hasn't tanked by then and the trust discounts have narrowed to sub-10%, I will definitely cash out of a lot of these. I really feel this rise is unexpected (to me, but there again I don't go to Davos or Devil's island).
What to Buy Instead?
Obviously, top up on your gold and silver holdings. I will start buying gold again soon after a 3 year pause. Especially to minimise my exposure to the British Pound. I figure I can convert back later now and make a profit on that too.
Golden Prospect Investment Trust is my favourite. This invests in gold and silver miners and has plummeted from a premium to a 14% discount in about 2-3 months. What amazing value!
Fidelity Japanese Investment trust also sits on a 16% discount. Yes, that's quite a way out there, but in a world of such financial uncertainty, it might make weird sense to have the most stock market exposure to the very market that has least participated in the rallies. especially when the Yen is still, weirdly, considered a sound currency.
Friday, 15 February 2013
A Fresh look at Gold and Silver Investing
It's been about 7 years since I started this blog and, being honest, I have not updated it as much as I should have since I find myself thinking about Gold and Silver daily. To help refresh my thoughts, I have decided to publish my book How to Invest in Gold and Silver online for FREE.
I know this is a big decision which could deny me a few royalties, but I think it's worth doing to review what was written and look ahead to the next few years.
You can read How to Invest in Gold and Silver for FREE here.
I know this is a big decision which could deny me a few royalties, but I think it's worth doing to review what was written and look ahead to the next few years.
You can read How to Invest in Gold and Silver for FREE here.
Friday, 18 January 2013
Precious Metal Mining Shares to Watch
Fresnillo is
the world's largest silver producer and has two things going for it as
far as I can see (1) It is in Mexico, the only country left in the world
that still uses silver in it's currency and (2) It's next to the USA,
which is still a huge consumer of silver and where a lot of the world's
silver, both paper and the real stuff is transacted, through COMEX.
Sunday, 6 January 2013
Goldmoney Special Offer - UNMISSABLE
I have for a long time been a great fan of Goldmoney and right now they are doing a rather unmissable special offer.
Until January 11th you can invest in gold or silver in their Singapore vault and pay a reduced commission of only 1.99% for silver and 0.98% for Gold.
The way I see it, this has several benefits :-
- For new gold investors, it provides the opportunity to take a gold and/or silver stake with one of the most reputable providers out there at a reduced price.
- For established gold investors, it provides the opportunity to diversify your holdings into a new location. This is something most investors greatly advise. Especially when the location is one of the world's new financial centres, with none of the baggage associated with New York, the City of London or Switzerland. Three countries whose reputation for financial freedom is becoming somewhat tarnished lately.
- Singapore definitely feels like a safe location to me and when one of the world's greatest investors, Jim Rogers decides it's the best place for him to make his home, you have to take notice. You can check out their offer and open an account here. Fill your boots!
Until January 11th you can invest in gold or silver in their Singapore vault and pay a reduced commission of only 1.99% for silver and 0.98% for Gold.
The way I see it, this has several benefits :-
- For new gold investors, it provides the opportunity to take a gold and/or silver stake with one of the most reputable providers out there at a reduced price.
- For established gold investors, it provides the opportunity to diversify your holdings into a new location. This is something most investors greatly advise. Especially when the location is one of the world's new financial centres, with none of the baggage associated with New York, the City of London or Switzerland. Three countries whose reputation for financial freedom is becoming somewhat tarnished lately.
- Singapore definitely feels like a safe location to me and when one of the world's greatest investors, Jim Rogers decides it's the best place for him to make his home, you have to take notice. You can check out their offer and open an account here. Fill your boots!
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