August 2009

Weekend reading: Beware of bonds edition

August 29, 2009
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My weekly commentary followed by my weekend news and blog links round-up.

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Why borrowing to invest is a bad idea

August 28, 2009
Borrowing to invest is a bad idea

Borrowing to invest in stocks looks like a good idea but is a really bad one. This special week-long series will try to explain why.

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Historical returns from corporate bonds

August 26, 2009
Corporate bonds

The data shows corporate bonds have beaten equities over the past decade. It won’t last.

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What is mark to market?

August 25, 2009
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While it’s primarily an accounting practice, mark to market is relevant for private investors in several ways.

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Weekend reading: Summer BBQ edition

August 22, 2009
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A quick introduction to this week’s suggested articles, as I’ve got to get outside – the sun is shining and it looks like the Great British Indian Summer of 2009 is underway.

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Here’s a great way to boost your income in an hour

August 21, 2009
Employ yourself

I’ve hit upon a motivational technique that’s really made a difference to my earnings and my outlook that quick to do and well worth trying.

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Share trading is hard: Worked example

August 19, 2009
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It’s extremely easy to fool yourself when it comes to share trading. My Lloyds trade could hardly have looked better at first blush, yet it’s barely broken even.

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Theo Paphitis: Enter the Dragon review

August 18, 2009
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More happens to Richard Branson in Losing My Virginity in a page than happens to Theo Paphitis in whole chapters of Enter The Dragon.

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Weekend reading: Recession cessation edition

August 15, 2009
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This week we saw more positive signs that the world was moving out of recession. Even the gloomy French were forced to shrug and admit things looked better.

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Buying small caps to gear up for the recovery

August 14, 2009
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I’ve put money into several small cap investment trusts. The aim is to make out-sized gains when the bull market really kicks in.

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Seven unusual ideas for a better value wedding

August 13, 2009
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Your wedding is naturally important but it’s only one day of the rest of your life, and nobody will ever remember what you spent on it.

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You don’t have to be rich to treat yourself

August 10, 2009
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Once you’re aware of the process of your perception of the value of money changing over time, I believe you can take steps to try to master lifestyle inflation.

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Weekend reading: Banks are back edition

August 8, 2009
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This week provided plenty of laughs for those of us baffled, bemused and bored by the general public and big media’s approach to capitalism. The cause of all the fuss were bank earnings, which in the UK has become a political football. Commentators didn’t know whether to be pleased UK banks were making money, or [...]

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Investment trusts explained

August 7, 2009
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Investment trusts are companies that invest money in other companies, both listed and private, and/or other assets like bonds and property.

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Bad debts are rising at Zopa

August 5, 2009
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I have now seen a third debt go ‘bad’ at Zopa, the peer-to-peer lender. This time it was in the A market, which is supposedly pretty safe.

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Get an ISA, get a life

August 4, 2009
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ISAs and SIPPs enable you to avoid tedious paperwork, as well sheltering your cash from tax.

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Weekend reading: David Swensen interview edition

August 1, 2009
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Video interviews with Yale fund manager David Swensen, plus my usual links to some great reads in the financial blogosphere.

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