China Stocks Make Wonderful Investments

By Michael Swanson

Despite much chatter in London, New York and Hong Kong throughout the 80s and 90s, it is only now that the predicted growth of the Chinese economy is being seen. But what growth and what a rate has it been. If you are looking to take a cut of this success for yourself, and invest in China, it is important you go in armed with a few basics.

Growth has been most noticeable in several key areas. Most noticeably for the early protagonists that chose to invest in China, is in clothing. Always a sound investment, consumers in the western world are both in need of, and in desire of clothes; male and female alike. Computers too are popular and, to a lesser degree, furniture.

Conversely, (and possibly the best market to consider when looking at viable opportunities to invest in China), is within the toy industry. The culture of the western world to pander to its offspring shows no signs of abating any time soon. That the most popular toys can be produced in high numbers, at low cost makes for a great investment.

Many other opportunities to invest in China are out there and clearly signposted. For example, China is second only to the US in its consumption of oil; whilst being both the biggest consumer and producer of coal. Indeed, investment in this sector is booming despite the global collective towards environmental concerns.

In their railways too; where investment has always been high, further adventurous plans are ongoing. With many contracts being passed to private western contractors, this is certainly a new opportunity to watch with interest.

A word of warning is necessary when considering opportunities to invest in China however. Markets are always volatile as they first emerge and, in today's global economic crisis, China is very exposed; as was proven in the veritable collapse of the Shanghai Composite Index towards the end of 2008. - 23210

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How to Trade Forex? It's a Snap!

By Steve Maenshel

How to trade Forex? Trading Forex is actually quite simple. Forex trading involves merely choosing a currency pair, the amount of the base currency and the buy or sell action. Next you place your order and wait for the favorable time to perform a counter transaction to derive profits. How to trade Forex and make profit? Learn to place your orders correctly by trading on a demo account for a period of time.

Demo Account Trading

Demo account trading is the safest way to learn how to trade Forex. Making mistakes is inevitable, especially in the beginning of your trading career. However, if you make mistakes, while trading on a demo account, you will not have to pay for your mistakes. Most common mistakes will be choosing the wrong time of entering and exiting the trades. Being unfamiliar with the system may also result in mistakes. That's what demo accounts are for - to teach you without incurring losses. 90% of the traders fail in the very beginning of their trading career. Demo account trading will safeguard you from becoming one of them.

Currency Pairs in Forex Trades

There are lots of different currency pairs, and you should choose the right one. It is a good idea to choose the most traded currency pair, when you are just starting to learn how to trade Forex. This currency pair is USD/EUR. No matter what currency pair you select, you should try to learn its distinctive features well, before proceeding to trading other currency pairs. This is very important because every currency pair will have its own distinctive features as well as the reasons behind the fluctuations of this currency pair, such as various fundamental factors.

Currency Quotes

Learn to understand the currency quotes, because Forex trades are done in terms of quotes. Quotes are two-sided, and involve two prices: Bid price (price at which base currency will be sold, simultaneously buying the counter currency) and Ask price (price at which base currency will be bought, simultaneously selling the counter currency). Understanding of Bid/Ask is one of the first steps in learning how to trade Forex.

First currency in the quote is the base currency, and second currency is the counter currency (also called quote currency or terms currency). In the example of the USD/EUR currency pair, USD is the base currency and EUR is the counter currency. The value of the base currency is always 1. The value of the counter currency is calculated against the base currency, i.e., 1 USD = 0.7422 EUR. Prices in the terms of quotes are expressed through pips, which are usually the 4th decimal point. Once you understand the currency pairs, you will be well on your way in the process of learning how to trade Forex.

Margin and Leverage

In order to safeguard your capital, learn how to trade Forex without taking leverage from a broker. If you can put down a small amount of your own money (called margin), the dealer will provide you with more money (called leverage). Leverage will allow you to trade with more lots. Is margin trading good or bad? Same as bank loans and mortgages, margin trading may be both good and bad. While providing you with more opportunities, it will also tremendously increase the possibility of losses.

No matter what dealers may say, they often do not care much about the outcome of your trades. Dealers are similar to banks, which are willing to provide you with a loan, and they do not care much if you will lose your property for example. You will still have to pay back the loan, as well as the interest to the bank. You should try to never trade on a margin since the outcome may be frightening. You should consider trading on a margin only after you gain sufficient knowledge of how to trade Forex.

How to trade Forex? Well, if you understand the above terms and concepts learning how to trade will be a snap. More important is: How to trade Forex successfully? Simply practice on a demo account until you start deriving profits regularly. - 23210

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About the author: Steve Maenshel can you help you navigate how to trade the forex markets. For more information, visit his forex resource center.

What Is IRA Investment

By Mr Christopher Latter

Are you an employee earning enough to accommodate all your expenses? You might be happy with the money you have in hand now. But what after retirement when you do not have any income and after the earning ability has greatly reduces? The prices of all the commodities are ever growing these days. The expenses are getting higher and higher. It would be very hard to manage all the expenses with out having any money after you retire. So it is a must to plan now itself in order to be secure then. You might be thinking about the best plans available. You might be thinking of the various pension schemes, numerous social security supplements. There is a better option available than all these things. IRA Investment is the new trend for many in their retirement planning. IRA the Individual Retirement Account has replaced most of these less profitable traditional schemes. The IRA's differ with their max deposit limits and also with withdrawal limits.

IRA Investment is very simple. All it takes is to open an IRA account and start depositing in to it. The money would be used by the caretakers or the custodians to make various investments. These people are appointed by the companies that are managing your accounts. When can I get the money back? You would definitely get this doubt. You can have it once you reach an age as per the policy of the IRA. How are the IRA accounts more profitable than many other schemes? The thing is simple. The money can not be taxes until the time of withdrawal. Retired people are charged with fewer taxes. So once you retire and withdraw the money from the account, the tax rate on that money would be very less. So, you would profit from this loop hole.

Which IRA should I choose? Which IRA investment is more profitable? These questions would be bothering your mind now. The suggestion is to make a choice depending on your needs. The IRA's can be basically divided in to three categories. Education IRA or simply the ESA (Education Savings Account) is for he education purposes of kids. The parents or the beneficiaries have to deposit money in to the account so that the future of their children gets secure. This applies only to children whose age is less than 18. The traditional type of IRA allows you to deposit money in which you can get some amount as deductions each time you deposit. If the deposits are made with after tax paid amounts then the amount thus accumulated would free from tax. The Roth IRA has a slightly different policy. It is very simple. You would not have advantage of deductions on your deposits but the growth amount is not taxable.

In order to get the best rates in IRA Investment, you have to diversify you're your investments. You have to invest in the mutual funds and other type of traditional investments and also look forward to investments which are less-traditional to be richer after your retirement. For example real estate is also a very good investment for the IRA Investment accounts.

Is it possible to divert the deposited amount to investments of your choice? Yes you definitely can if your IRA policy agrees to do so. Which type of IRA's has this advantage? The Self Directed IRA Investment accounts have this policy. You can invest any where with the money you have saved.

So the IRA Investment has various benefits, one of them is tax benefit. It's up to the individual to choose the perfect IRA Investment plan based on his requirements and future plans so as to be wealthy enough after retirement and avoid the scenario of having an empty bank account when money matters the most. - 23210

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Learn more on the subject of IRA investment by being directed an archive of articles on this subject and other sources closely related to IRA investment.

What Are Stock Indexes? (Part II)

By Ahmad Hassam

The Nasdaq-100 is a modified capitalization weighted index. Modified cap weighting involves adjustments to the capitalizations of the various components of the Nasdaq-100 index. The NDX contract at the CBOE is based on Nasdaq-100 as is the MNX.

Frank Russell Company is one of the leading global investment consultants. It is also involved in performance measurement, analysis and investment management. Russell 2000 is the well known benchmark for small capitalization sector. Several Russell Indexes have become benchmarks for specific areas of investment management.

Russell 3000 Index as the name implies includes 3000 issues. These 3000 companies represent 98% of the investable US equities. The index is adjusted for certain factors such as cross holdings and the number of pairs in hands.

Russell 3000 is further split into subsets like Russell 1000 Index. It covers the top 1000 about 92% of the value of the entire 3,000 stock index. The Russell 2000 Index is the smallest 2000 companies in the Russell 3000 Index.

Dow Jones is the publisher of the Wall Street journal. The Wall Street Journal is probably one of the most perfect business franchises from the business point of view. The net worth of most of its readers is in seven figures. Wall Street Journal is a franchise that is very hard to duplicate.

Over the year, DJIA became an important business barometer. It grew to encompass 30 large industrial companies. Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) comprising 12 smokestack companies made its debut in the year 1896.

The DJIA is still one of the worlds best known stock measures. The average is maintained by the editors of the Wall Street Journal. It consists of 30 largest and most liquid blue chip stocks in the US.

Recently Microsoft and Intel were added to the DJIA. The DJIA unlike the S&P 500, Nasdaq-100 or Russell 3000 Indexes is a price weighted average. The highest price issues hold the most influence over the average.

A 1% move in a $100 IBM stock would have a greater impact than a 1% move in a $40 Wal-Mart stock. ETFs exit on many Dow Indexes like the DJIA, the Dow Jones Total Market Index, the Dow Jones Global Titan Index and various sector indexes.

Wilshire serves over 400 organizations in over 20 countries representing over $2 trillion in assets. Wilshire flagship index is the Wilshire 5000 Total Market Index.

It has increased to 6500 issues over the years representing the increase in the number of companies in the US. It represents the broadest index for the United States equity market.

The Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI) database contains nearly 25,000 securities covering 50 countries. One of the advantages of MCSI and its foreign indexes is consistency. It calculates nearly 3,000 indexes daily and services a client base of over 1,200 worldwide. - 23210

About the Author:

Mr. Ahmad Hassam is a Harvard University Graduate. He is interested in day trading stocks and forex. Do Penny Stock Trading. Learn Forex Trading!

What You Need To Know About Foreclosure Scams

By Doc Schmyz

Home foreclosure is becoming a far more common problem. Often it originates from one missed payment which soon spirals out of control. Before you know it you have missed three or four payments and the mortgage lender or bank wants you to pay everything you owe all at once, right then and there. This sounds like a very difficult feat and many are lead to believe that they have no other choice. When the homeowners realize that they have made a grave mistake they resort to anything they can to get out of a tight situation.

Foreclosure scams are very common as much as the problem itself. Since homeowners believe that they have no choice they fall for these traps, which of course make their situation much worse than it was. Not only is the stress of the foreclosure an issue, but then the fallout from the scam starts...and brings additional stress.

The people who work these scams advertise online, publish advertisements in the local newspaper, distribute flyers, and call houses which are included on the foreclosure list. Sometimes they call themselves "mortgage consultants/real estate investment planners" who offer foreclosure services or advertise with "We buy houses" signs.

Some of the more common scams.

Bankruptcy Foreclosure Scam

The promise here is that the house will be saved. In return they will either ask for the homeowner to pay their mortgage directly to them, hand over their deed and pay rent, or obtain refinancing. of course they don't do ANYTHING to fulfill the other end of the bargain, they don't contact your lender or obtain refinancing for you. They keep all the money and file bankruptcy without your knowledge.

Since the homeowner is not aware that bankruptcy has been filed, they fail to participate in the case. The case is dismissed and the house continues onto foreclosure. Apart from loosing money and your home, you will also have a bankruptcy on your record.

"Skimming" or also called Equity skimming

The scammer poses as a buyer. They then promise the homeowner to pay the mortgage or given them a sum of money once the property has been sold. The operator then convinces the homeowner to sign over the deed and move out. The homeowner can stay but they have to pay rent. If they opt to move out the operator lets a third party rent the property. The scam operator of course does not pay the mortgage and lets the mortgage lender foreclose all the while stemming off questions from the original home owner about where they are in the "process."

If the house has equity, the operator sells the property and pays off the debt. Then the operator keeps the equity that the homeowner could have had if they sold it

Should you find yourself facing ANY of the above mentioned situations....contact a local mortgage office and ask them if they have ever heard of a "program" like the one you would be offered...if they say no....call the local police and ask for the consumer fraud division. - 23210

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Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US and Canada. He owns a free website that shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find Real estate investing information by state