Monday, January 31, 2011

Fwd: Jason on radio, fm96.1, today 6pm,



* Sent from my Apple iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Wang, Jason (VANCOUVER)" <jason.wang@rbc.com>
Date: 31 January, 2011 2:09:23 PM PST
Subject: Jason on radio, fm96.1, today 6pm,


http://www.am1470.com/scheduler_am.php?type=fm
Radio program: 加居生活 Q & A 邵蔚華 Picture (Metafile) , on air in richmond, 6pm,
To discuss new mtg new measures:

    • Reduce the maximum amortization period to 30 years from 35 years for new government-backed insured mortgages with loan-to-value ratios of more than 80 per cent. This will significantly reduce the total interest payments Canadian families make on their mortgages, allow Canadian families to build up equity in their homes more quickly, and help Canadians pay off their mortgages before they retire.
    • Lower the maximum amount Canadians can borrow in refinancing their mortgages to 85 per cent from 90 per cent of the value of their homes. This will promote saving through home ownership and limit the repackaging of consumer debt into mortgages guaranteed by taxpayers.
  • Withdraw government insurance backing on lines of credit secured by homes, such as home equity lines of credit, or HELOCs. This will ensure that risks associated with consumer debt products used to borrow funds unrelated to house purchases are managed by the financial institutions and not borne by taxpayers.

<<MINGPAO.JAN.18.2011.CMHC.CHG.pdf>>
-----------------------------------------------------
Jason.Wang@rbc.com,
Mortgage Development Manager,
RBC Royal Bank of Canada | T. 604-809-9264
http://mortgage.rbc.com/jason.wang
http://services.rbc.com/advice/main.xml
-------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Fwd: My 13 Reasons Why Gold Still Has Further to Go



* Sent from my Apple iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Money and Markets" <eletter@e.moneyandmarkets.com>
Date: 26 January, 2011 4:33:01 AM PST
Subject: My 13 Reasons Why Gold Still Has Further to Go
Reply-To: support@e.moneyandmarkets.com

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Wednesday, January 26, 2011
YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR THE UNBIASED MARKET COMMENTARY YOU WON'T GET FROM WALL STREET
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My 13 Reasons Why Gold Still Has Further to Go
by Claus Vogt

Dear Subscriber,

Claus Vogt

Financial history teaches that market prices are not just subject to cyclical fluctuations — mainly following the business cycle. They are also liable to much longer lasting secular trends, often spanning 15 years, 20 years or longer. These secular cycles are visible in stocks, commodities, bonds and precious metals.

Take gold as an example ...

Gold experienced a secular bull market starting in the late 1960s and culminating in a spectacular high in 1980. What followed was a severe secular bear market lasting roughly 20 years. Then, around the turn of the millennium, another secular bull market got going.

Gold 1960-Current

I believe gold's current secular bull market probably has much further to go. And since bull market corrections are buying opportunities you should use them as such.

That might sound easier than it is to do. Buying into nerve wrenching corrections can be a tough pill to swallow. But it's much easier if you have some strong arguments at hand.

Let me give you 13 of them:

Reason #1
A Global Debt Crisis
Has Broken Out

No matter where you look — Europe, Japan, or the U.S. — the same dire picture shows up: Mountains of government debt plus larger mountains of unfunded liabilities. Many of the modern welfare state's promises will be broken sooner or later. The easiest way to kick this can down the road is by printing money.

The second option is outright default ...

In that case government bondholders would have to bear the losses. This is a much more honest and evenhanded way of dealing with the inevitable, because those who have willingly taken the risk of lending money to over-indebted governments and have received interest payments as long as the going was good should bear the losses if things turn sour. Unfortunately our political elite seem set on averting this outcome at any cost.

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Reason #2
The Quest for a Weak Currency
Has Become Respectable

Not too long ago most economists and even everyday people knew that economic development and the creation of wealth went hand-in-hand with a strong and strengthening currency.

This knowledge seems to be lost. A global currency war has started; sabotaging thy neighbor's policies via currency depreciation is common.

Gold is insurance against this loss of relative wealth on an international scale.

Reason #3
Derivatives Are Hanging Like a "Sword
of Damocles" over the Financial System

Derivatives have grown exponentially during the past 20 years. They have yet to withstand a real stress test. The panic after hedge fund LTCM went bust in 1998 or the case of AIG may be harbingers of what to expect.

Reason #4
U.S. Fed Chairman Bernanke
Is a Stated Inflationist

Fed chairman Bernanke has no qualms in keeping the printing presses rolling  24/7.
Fed chairman Bernanke has no qualms in keeping the printing presses rolling 24/7.

Alan Greenspan, Ben Bernanke's predecessor as Fed chairman, tried to cultivate an image of being a sound money advocate. Covertly he did the exact opposite!

Not so Mr. Bernanke ...

From the beginning of his career as a central banker he has openly declared his clear convictions as an inflationist. For him the printing press is the universal remedy of each and every economic problem as he made clear in his famous November 2002 speech: "Deflation: Making Sure It Doesn't Happen Here."

Reason #5
The Current Monetary System
Has Entered Its Endgame Phase

History shows that monetary systems are mortal. They come and they go. The current system of fiat money backed by government monopolies has been in existence since August 1971. And it's a huge economic experiment, probably the largest since communists took over Russia in 1917.

The weaknesses of this monetary system, especially the ease of government manipulation, are getting more obvious by the day.

Reason #6
Markets May Force the Return
to a Sound Monetary System

When confidence in a monetary system is lost, it is very difficult to regain it. A disappointed and deceived population won't fall for the same political promises that were just broken. They'll insist on something reliable.

If this were to happen, gold would naturally reemerge as the basis of a new and sound monetary order. This reasoning may actually explain why gold is still in the coffers of most central banks, even the Fed's.

Reason #7
Gold Is Coming Back
as an Asset Class

Globally, gold holdings make up only 1 percent of all financial assets. Not too long ago 5 percent to 10 percent was typical for conservative investors. And most institutional investors are totally out of gold. With the above mentioned problems gaining more and more publicity gold may see a revival as an asset class.

Demand  for gold in emerging markets is exploding.
Demand for gold in emerging markets is exploding.

Rising gold prices have also sparked interest. And the introduction of ETFs has paved the way for individual investors to easily add gold to their portfolios ... even their IRAs.

Reason #8
Growing Emerging Market Wealth
Leads to an Increase in Gold Demand

China, India, Brazil — the largest emerging economies — are booming. And it looks like a durable long-term shift to more growth and wealth has emerged. Consequently, investment and jewelry demand for gold are also growing.

Plus, China has step-by-step allowed its citizens to buy the precious metal.

Reason #9
Central Bank Bureaucrats Are
Rethinking Their Stance

Global gold supply did not match demand in the recent past. Sales by central banks filled the gap. But now, with rising gold prices, central bank bureaucrats have started to rethink their stance ...

Most have actually stopped selling. And those of emerging economies — India, South Africa, China, Russia and Argentina — have started buying relatively huge amounts.

Reason #10
Gold Mining Production Is
Stagnating at Best

Despite rising prices, gold mining supply has hardly budged during recent years. The easy to exploit mines — the huge deposits — are already in production. In short, it's getting more and more difficult to find enough new gold.

It's  becoming more difficult and more expensive to mine gold.
It's becoming more difficult and more expensive to mine gold.

Reason #11
Gold Mining Is Getting More
and More Expensive

It's not only getting harder to find new exploitable deposits, it's also costing more to get the metal out of the earth. The most important factors of production are becoming more expensive, especially energy, the same for manpower in emerging countries. Environmental costs are also soaring.

Plus miners have to use more expensive technology for extracting gold from difficult locations, since the easy ones, as noted above, are already in production.

Reason #12
Gold Is Still Cheap

The global money supply has increased dramatically during the past decade, especially since 2008. And if you use money supply as a reference to value gold, the precious metal is still very cheap.

For example, if M1 were taken as the basis of a new 100 percent gold standard monetary system in the U.S., gold's price would be anchored at $6,910 per ounce.

The same reasoning for Euroland gets us to €13,628 per ounce using Europe's M1 money supply.

Relative to other asset classes gold is also cheap. The Dow to gold ratio is currently at 8.3. Historically it has been as low as 1 and even lower.

Reason #13
The Current Secular Up
Trend Has More Leeway

During secular bull markets prices usually go up by a factor of at least 10 to 15.

Just think, during the last secular bull market the Dow rose from 800 in 1982 to 12,000 in 2000. Same thing for gold during the 1970s: From $35 per ounce to $850. And based on all the reasons I've given you today, gold's current bull market should achieve similar magnitude.

Of course, there will be corrections along the way — even cruel ones. To give you an example: In 1974 gold declined more than 40 percent. But since the drivers of that bull market were still valid, even that slump turned out to be a buying opportunity.

Make sure you don't miss this one!

Best wishes,

Claus


About Money and Markets

For more information and archived issues, visit http://www.moneyandmarkets.com

Money and Markets (MaM) is published by Weiss Research, Inc. and written by Martin D. Weiss along with Nilus Mattive, Claus Vogt, Ron Rowland, Michael Larson and Bryan Rich. To avoid conflicts of interest, Weiss Research and its staff do not hold positions in companies recommended in MaM, nor do we accept any compensation for such recommendations. The comments, graphs, forecasts, and indices published in MaM are based upon data whose accuracy is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Performance returns cited are derived from our best estimates but must be considered hypothetical in as much as we do not track the actual prices investors pay or receive. Regular contributors and staff include John Burke, Marci Campbell, Amber Dakar, Maryellen Murphy, Jennifer Newman-Amos, Adam Shafer, Julie Trudeau, Jill Umiker, Leslie Underwood and Michelle Zausnig.

Attention editors and publishers! Money and Markets issues can be republished. Republished issues MUST include attribution of the author(s) and the following short paragraph:

This investment news is brought to you by Money and Markets. Money and Markets is a free daily investment newsletter from Martin D. Weiss and Weiss Research analysts offering the latest investing news and financial insights for the stock market, including tips and advice on investing in gold, energy and oil. Dr. Weiss is a leader in the fields of investing, interest rates, financial safety and economic forecasting. To view archives or subscribe, visit http://www.moneyandmarkets.com.

From time to time, Money and Markets may have information from select third-party advertisers known as "external sponsorships." We cannot guarantee the accuracy of these ads. In addition, these ads do not necessarily express the viewpoints of Money and Markets or its editors. For more information, see our terms and conditions.

View our Privacy Policy.

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© 2011 by Weiss Research, Inc. All rights reserved. 15430 Endeavour Drive, Jupiter, FL 33478

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Fwd: Set Your Intention for The New Year: January Newsletter

Y yoga. 

* Sent from my Apple iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "YYoga" <news@yyoga.ca>
Date: 3 January, 2011 9:31:49 AM PST
Subject: Set Your Intention for The New Year: January Newsletter
Reply-To: "YYoga" <news@yyoga.ca>

  YYoga    
January 2011

YYoga Newsletter

Monday, January 3, 2011

 

our promise. to provide an environment centered on wellness, committed to quality and rooted in community. we are providing more than yoga; we are supporting a commitment to healthy living.
Set your intention for the New Year and design your own mala!

Set Your Intention For The New Year & Design Your Own Mala

A mala is a string of 108 beads with one bead as the sumeru (summit bead) often used to help set intentions and in meditation and mantra. Design your own mala and you could win your design ($108 value) and see your mala as the exclusive YYoga mala offered in our eco-boutiques! Enter by January 31st, 2010.
 » Learn more
 
New Winter 2011 Schedules in Effect January 3rd. Thank you for your feedback on our tentative schedules, click here to view new winter schedules!
 
Lead With Love

By Donation Charity: Lead With Love
Beginning January 1st until March 31st all 'By Donation' classes at our centers will raise money for Lead with Love, a charity that is part of the "Off the Mat, Into The World" movement lead by Seane Corn. 
» Read More

 
A New Year, A New You

New Year Detox
Whether it means finally shedding off those few extra pounds, feeling more energetic, getting more restful sleep, treating an old injury or chronic pain, or finally getting to the bottom of your digestive issues, this could be the year that you could determine your food sensitivities and allergies.

» Read More

 
Foundation Teacher Training
Facebook Twitter
Teacher Training
 

Teacher Training
Meet the Faculty: Rachel Scott, Director of Teacher Training
» Read More

 
Maya Tulum
 

New: Maya Tulum 2011
Thanks to feedback from the community, dates are now set for Nov. 5-12, 2011.
» View 2010 Images

South Granville Book Club
 

S.Granville Book Club
Combine your love of yoga with reading.
» Read More

 
Workshops
 

Upcoming Workshops
View all upcoming workshops for January.
» Read More

Listen to Understand
 

Listen to Understand
This special charity CD is now in eco-boutiques within centers!
» Read More

 
 

Presenting International Guest, Reema Datta

Register now $50 / workshop
Jan.28 - Sky Dance
Jan.29 - 
Mahamudra
Jan.30 - Mantra & Pranayama

Good Vibrations

Jan 8: Don't miss this unique healing experience where yin asanas are paired with sacred sound, vibration & colour light therapy.
» Register Now

 

The Art of Flying

Jan 15: This workshop demystifies the art of flying, bringing you tools to float through vinyasas & find lightness in challenging arm balances.

» Register Now


Roll Your Tension Away

Jan 16: Using a variety of props (balls, dowels & foam rollers) we will work on opening deep seated tension to prevent injury & increase range of motion.
» Register Now

 

Yoga for Little Ones
Why babies should do yoga by Lara Kozan, YYoga Co-Founder

Flow Wellness Highgate Neoalpine Northshore Elements Richmond South Granville Yaletown
© 2011. YYoga. All rights reserved.
1650 W. 2nd Ave Vancouver, BC V6J 4R3
news@yyoga.ca | www.yyoga.ca
 
Sent to Computerdiy@yahoo.com. Unsubscribe | Update Profile | Forward to a Friend

Fwd: Four steps to a richer retirement



* Sent from my Apple iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Money and Markets" <eletter@e.moneyandmarkets.com>
Date: 18 January, 2011 4:34:01 AM PST

Subject:
Four steps to a richer retirement
Reply-To: support@e.moneyandmarkets.com

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MONEY AND MARKETS »
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR THE UNBIASED MARKET COMMENTARY YOU WON'T GET FROM WALL STREET
[«] Money and Markets 2011 Archive View This Issue On Our Website [»]
Four steps to a richer retirement
by Nilus Mattive

Dear Subscriber,

Nilus Mattive

Take a quick survey of the retirement landscape and things look pretty darn dire.

According to a survey conducted by Wells Fargo last month, the average American has managed to save a meager 7 percent of the amount they'd like to have in their Golden Years.

That fact alone is bad enough. But what's worse is that I think even their "ideal" amount is WAY too low!

The average "middle class" survey respondent said they would need $300,000 to fund their retirement. Keep in mind, this is how Wells Fargo defined "middle class" ...

  • Ages 30 to 69: Household income between $40,000 and $100,000 or investable assets of $25,000 and $100,000

  • Ages 25 to 29: Household income or investable assets between $25,000 and $100,000

If we take the median of this definition, we get a household making about $70,000 a year and with a nest egg worth $62,000 or so.

Let's imagine there are two adults in the home, roughly 50 years old each based on this survey.

Even if they're not carrying any serious debt, they haven't managed to save anywhere near their targeted amount ... so it's safe to say they're spending almost all of their annual income as it comes in.

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Now, are they likely to slash their expenditures as they continue to age? And is it reasonable for them to expect health care costs, energy prices, and food bills to stay what they are today?

I'd say no to both of those questions. Yet even their magical target of a $300,000 nest egg represents just a bit more than four years of their current expenditures.

No wonder one in every three respondents also said they will have to keep working during their golden years to support themselves!

I'm probably preaching to the choir here, and I'm sure you're in much better shape than the typical American retiree-to-be.

At the same time, I think it's fair to say that there's no such thing as being TOO prepared or having a nest egg that's TOO big. Which is why I want to give you ...

Four Simple Steps to a Richer Retirement Nest Egg,
Whether You're Already Ahead or Trying to Play Catch-Up

It doesn't matter what age you are right now ... how much you've already saved ... or how far away from your goals you are right now. You absolutely want to make sure that you've got a plan in place, and that you're sticking to it.

And the following four basic steps are a great starting point for building a better retirement nest egg without sacrificing safety ...

Step #1: Before you do anything else, make sure you have a safe, liquid emergency cash fund.

Sure, I encourage 401(k) participants to at least contribute enough to get the maximum company match. And yes, I implore people to take maximum advantage of other tax shelters like IRAs, too.

But I don't think anyone should be retirement rich and cash poor!

It simply doesn't make sense to plow your money into long-term accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs if there's a chance you may have to withdraw those same funds in short order in the event of an emergency. Not only will you likely be invested in less liquid investments but you could possibly face additional taxes and penalties, too.

So you absolutely want to make sure you have a solid emergency fund in place before you contribute another penny to your retirement nest egg.

Ideally, it will represent a full years' worth of your current expenses or income but I would recommend three months as the bare minimum.

And even though you'll get near-zero returns, I suggest keeping your emergency funds in a plain vanilla savings account, Treasury-only money market fund, or similar cash equivalent.

After all, the goal here is maximum safety and liquidity. You never know when you or a family member might need money due to a job loss, illness or busted water heater!

Once you have your liquid fund in place, of course, it's time to start investing the rest of your nest egg for maximum income and growth ...

Step #2: For your U.S. investments, stick mostly to conservative dividend-paying stocks right now.

I've said it before, but it bears repeating: With interest rates still near record lows, most bonds, CDs, and money market funds simply aren't paying enough to warrant owning them in your long-term investment accounts.

Plus, given the fiscal mess here in this country — at the federal, state and local levels! — there is a substantial risk of further losses for many government bondholders going forward.

So if you want the biggest, safest yields here in the U.S., I continue to think conservative dividend shares represent your best option.

As I've pointed out time and again — these types of investments not only kick off stable, growing cash streams ... they also offer you the chance for long-term investment gains, too.

And even if you don't to go about picking individual companies, you can always own a broad swath of solid income stocks through vehicles like the PowerShares Dividend Achievers (PFM) exchange-traded fund.

Step #3: Add some foreign dividend shares, too.

It's no longer enough for us to invest solely in the U.S. — the world is becoming a smaller and smaller place ... some economies overseas are expanding at much faster rates than those in the traditional places ... and it's getting more important to diversify your portfolio as much as possible.

This is precisely why I've been recommending select foreign dividend stocks even for my own father's retirement account!

By holding the U.S.-listed shares of foreign corporations you can quickly and easily access new worlds of growth.

Better yet, because your shares (and dividends) are originally priced in foreign currencies, you have the unique opportunity to profit further whenever the U.S. dollar moves lower relative to the listing company's home currency.

Again, there are even exchange-traded funds that will give you all-in-one-shot access to these global dividend stocks — including the S&P International Dividend ETF (DWX).

And that brings me to a bigger point ...

Step #4: Learn all you can about other alternative investments and strategies, too!

It's important to stay on top of the latest investments that are becoming available ... especially if you're looking for unique new ways to hedge your traditional holdings or for new vehicles to use in the more aggressive part of your portfolio.

For example, my colleague Rudy Martin specializes in emerging markets stocks. And as he explains in his latest video presentation, the potential for big capital gains is absolutely huge in certain overseas markets right now!

Best wishes,

Nilus


About Money and Markets

For more information and archived issues, visit http://www.moneyandmarkets.com

Money and Markets (MaM) is published by Weiss Research, Inc. and written by Martin D. Weiss along with Nilus Mattive, Claus Vogt, Ron Rowland, Michael Larson and Bryan Rich. To avoid conflicts of interest, Weiss Research and its staff do not hold positions in companies recommended in MaM, nor do we accept any compensation for such recommendations. The comments, graphs, forecasts, and indices published in MaM are based upon data whose accuracy is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Performance returns cited are derived from our best estimates but must be considered hypothetical in as much as we do not track the actual prices investors pay or receive. Regular contributors and staff include John Burke, Marci Campbell, Amber Dakar, Maryellen Murphy, Jennifer Newman-Amos, Adam Shafer, Julie Trudeau, Jill Umiker, Leslie Underwood and Michelle Zausnig.

Attention editors and publishers! Money and Markets issues can be republished. Republished issues MUST include attribution of the author(s) and the following short paragraph:

This investment news is brought to you by Money and Markets. Money and Markets is a free daily investment newsletter from Martin D. Weiss and Weiss Research analysts offering the latest investing news and financial insights for the stock market, including tips and advice on investing in gold, energy and oil. Dr. Weiss is a leader in the fields of investing, interest rates, financial safety and economic forecasting. To view archives or subscribe, visit http://www.moneyandmarkets.com.

From time to time, Money and Markets may have information from select third-party advertisers known as "external sponsorships." We cannot guarantee the accuracy of these ads. In addition, these ads do not necessarily express the viewpoints of Money and Markets or its editors. For more information, see our terms and conditions.

View our Privacy Policy.

Would you like to unsubscribe from our mailing list?

To make sure you don't miss our urgent updates, add Weiss Research to your address book. Just follow these simple steps.

© 2011 by Weiss Research, Inc. All rights reserved. 15430 Endeavour Drive, Jupiter, FL 33478

Fwd: Gold Isn't All That Glitters in ETF Land



* Sent from my Apple iPhone

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Money and Markets" <eletter@e.moneyandmarkets.com>
Date: 20 January, 2011 4:33:01 AM PST

Subject:
Gold Isn't All That Glitters in ETF Land
Reply-To: support@e.moneyandmarkets.com

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MONEY AND MARKETS »
Thursday, January 20, 2011
YOUR BEST SOURCE FOR THE UNBIASED MARKET COMMENTARY YOU WON'T GET FROM WALL STREET
[«] Money and Markets 2010 Archive View This Issue On Our Website [»]
Gold Isn't All That Glitters in ETF Land
by Ron Rowland

Dear Subscriber,

Ron Rowland

When most people think "precious metals," they mean gold. Sure, some other metals are valuable too. But gold is where the real action is, right?

Maybe. But now thanks to continuing innovation by ETF sponsors, it's getting easier to own and trade some of the lesser-known precious metals. Gold isn't being left behind, of course. There are new ways to get in on that sector, too.

Today I'm going to tell you about some precious metals alternatives you might not have heard about elsewhere ...

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Leveraged and Inverse
Gold Mining ETFs

In my November 11, 2010 column, Go for the Gold with Mining ETFs, I discussed several ways you can use ETFs to get a piece of the worldwide mining sector. We've had a new development since then.

New ETFs let you trade the gold miners in both directions with added leverage.
New ETFs let you trade the gold miners in both directions with added leverage.

In December, DirexionShares came out with 2x leveraged long and short ETFs for the gold mining industry. Here are the names and symbols:

  • Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bull 2x Shares (NUGT)

  • Direxion Daily Gold Miners Bear 2x Shares (DUST)

These are basically piggybank ETFs that own (or short) shares of Market Vectors Gold Miners ETF (GDX). You can, of course, do the same thing yourself by trading GDX in a margin account. The Direxion ETFs make the process a little simpler.

"Physical" Metals ETFs

ETFs that let you buy exposure to gold and silver are nothing new. SPDR Gold (GLD), iShares Gold (IAU) and iShares Silver (SLV) have been available for years.

Some people fear the gold isn't really there for ETFs.
Some people fear the gold isn't really there for ETFs.

I like all these ETFs and think they do a fine job achieving their objectives. They have, nonetheless, faced criticism from some elements of the "gold bug" population for allegedly not keeping close enough track of the gold bullion that stands behind their share values.

Enter a new face to take advantage of this niche ...

London-based ETF Securities is a big player in the global commodity-based ETF business but only recently expanded into the U.S. market. The firm tries to distinguish its offerings by stressing the "physical" backing of ETF shares by actual bullion.

ETF Securities has physically-backed ETFs covering gold, silver, platinum and palladium.

  • ETFS Physical Swiss Gold Shares (SGOL)

  • ETFS Physical Asian Gold Shares (AGOL)

  • ETFS Physical Silver Shares (SIVR)

  • ETFS Physical Platinum Shares (PPLT)

  • ETFS Physical Palladium Shares (PALL)

All are good ways to gain exposure to uptrends in metals. Accurately tracking spot prices is another great feature of these physically-backed funds — something that most ETFs based on futures contracts don't have much luck with.

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For investors who would like to own all these metals but want to keep it simple, ETF Securities offers the ETFS Precious Metals Basket Shares (GLTR). It holds gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in specific fixed weightings.

Each share of GLTR gives you an allocation approximately like this:

  • 0.03 ounces of gold

  • 1.1 ounces of silver

  • 0.04 ounces of platinum

  • 0.006 ounces of palladium

You could do the very same thing by buying SGOL, SIVR, PPLT, and PALL in the right weightings, but then you would have four times as much paperwork. GLTR is a good way to keep your precious metals portfolio both diversified and simple.

"White" Precious Metals
ETF Now Available

"White" metals is a nickname for the precious metals that are not yellowish like gold: Silver, platinum, and palladium.

Platinum is one of the
Platinum is one of the "white" metals.

ETF Securities has you covered there, too. ETFS Physical White Metal Basket Shares (WITE) is similar to GLTR, but it excludes gold and has a bigger allocation to platinum and palladium.

Why would you want a precious metals fund with no gold? Possibly because you already own gold in some other form via an ETF or actual bullion buried in your back yard. Also, the white metals have more industrial uses than gold. This ties their price more closely to world economic growth.

Like GLTR, the appeal of WITE is that it gives you quick exposure to this niche. Investors who want to control their specific allocations can buy separate ETFs covering each metal.

Is now the time to jump into precious metals of any color? We've seen big gains in the last few years. I think the long-term uptrends can continue, but I also won't be surprised to see substantial corrections. As always, timing will be critical if you buy any of these ETFs.

Best wishes,

Ron

P.S. For details on getting specific buy and sell instructions on harnessing the world's most profitable stock markets, exclusively with ETFs, be sure to watch my special new presentation ... completely free of charge!

Just turn up your computer's speakers and click here to view it now.


About Money and Markets

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Money and Markets (MaM) is published by Weiss Research, Inc. and written by Martin D. Weiss along with Nilus Mattive, Claus Vogt, Ron Rowland, Michael Larson and Bryan Rich. To avoid conflicts of interest, Weiss Research and its staff do not hold positions in companies recommended in MaM, nor do we accept any compensation for such recommendations. The comments, graphs, forecasts, and indices published in MaM are based upon data whose accuracy is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Performance returns cited are derived from our best estimates but must be considered hypothetical in as much as we do not track the actual prices investors pay or receive. Regular contributors and staff include John Burke, Marci Campbell, Amber Dakar, Maryellen Murphy, Jennifer Newman-Amos, Adam Shafer, Julie Trudeau, Jill Umiker, Leslie Underwood and Michelle Zausnig.

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