Friday, December 15, 2017

Forbes: Why Business Leaders Shouldn't Mimic USA Today Editorial

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Earlier this week a USA Today published a blunt attack on President Donald Trump which does a great job of declaring how the paper feels.
The phrase catching most attention is the following:
[The president] is not fit to clean the toilets in the Barack Obama Presidential Library or to shine the shoes of George W. Bush.
However, I'd caution business leaders not to follow suit with broad generalizations about people and the paying jobs that they hold. Read more here.

Forbes: Even Leftist Scots Understand Low Tax Rates Are Better

By SIMON CONSTABLE

Scottish income taxes are going up, but not by much.
While any increase in what people must pay their government isn't genuinely welcome, there is some promising news hidden inside the announcement. Read more here.

Wednesday, December 13, 2017

U.S. News: Trading Bitcoin Is a Bad Way to Invest

By SIMON CONSTABLE

The surge in bitcoin prices is causing a buzz that likely won't end well for many. But what's happening serves as a useful and cautionary lesson for long-term investors.

In short, fun and investing don't mix well. Read more here.

Middle East Eye: Middle East economies trend upward as war against ISIS winds down

By SIMON CONSTABLE
Things are looking up in the Middle East.
Despite the long war against the so-called Islamic State (IS) group, the outlook for much of the region looks brighter.
Three broad factors are behind it: a rise in the price of oil to sustainable levels, a victory in the war against IS itself and improvements in credit availability, analysts say. There are some factors that are specific to individual countries as well. Read more here.

Monday, December 11, 2017

Forbes: Make Your Life Better Reading Howard Bloom

By SIMON CONSTABLE
By any standards, Howard Bloom has achieved great things. Scientist, publicist, and author barely begin to describe it. His latest book, How I Accidentally Started The Sixties, adds mightily to the oeuvre. It also has some lessons for the rest of us. Read more here.


Forbes: Why Bitcoin Still Isn't Money

By SIMON CONSTABLE

When Bitcoin futures started trading on the CBOE options exchange late Sunday, the crypto-currency joined the big leagues of financial instruments.
But, despite its name, it still isn't money. Read more here.
Photo by Kanchanara on Unsplash

Tuesday, December 5, 2017

U.S. News: How Rising Interest Rates Will Hurt the Stock Market

By SIMON CONSTABLE

It's all but certain that the Federal Reserve will increase interest rates, perhaps as early as this month and several times in 2018. And that will likely change the dynamics of investing in the stock market.
It may mean that investors should think about changing how much of their portfolio they should allocate to equities, and how much they have invested in bonds. Read more here.
Photo by Donald Giannatti on Unsplash