by Michael Barton | Alternative Investments, Economics
Before answering the question, I want to review the main factors that dictate the price of gold at any given time. Firstly, if you look throughout history, gold price tends to move counter to the values of other assets. Equities, bonds, and property prices increase...
by Michael Barton | Economics, Index Funds, Portfolio Strategy
A Potted history of Eurozone Debt. The Euro was introduced in January 1999 as a virtual currency, and in 2002 was introduced in its physical, ‘real’ form. The overriding aim of the single currency was, and remains, to foster closer political and economic ties between...
by Michael Barton | ETF, Index Funds, Investing 101
Being easy to trade and easy to understand, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) are perfect for speculation, or hedging a portfolio. You can even mix and match different ETF’s to achieve short term gains from difficult market conditions, and take a view on a wider global...
by Michael Barton | Derivatives, Options
Plenty of investors hold shares that hardly seem to move. I’ve held them myself. The stability is relaxing, the lack of profit punch frustrating. And holding a stock that’s range bound, or trading through a period of consolidation, harms your comparative return during...