Nifty Outlook For 30 August 2016
As we have predicted that US Fed's Chair Janet Yellen's comment about possible rate hike in September wouldn't be market moving and end up as non event, as most asian markets have consolidated throughout the day, except Nikkei, which was up more than 2%, thanks to the BoJ's comments about more stimulus. ( 29th August, Monday ).
Read Our Previous Comments Here.
Nifty Trading For 30 August 2016
For Traders, We recommended buy on dips strategy yesterday, rather than going short, which worked almost perfectly as Nifty has bounced back from 8550 levels and closed above 8600, as last hour rally, led by heavyweight Reliance, helped to stay above 8600. We will continue to hold long positions in Nifty with a stop loss of 8550 with a target of 8680-8700 ( Spot levels ).
For new positions, we would recommend only at 8600 spot levels, would be a stop loss with a target of 8680-8700. If you don't get a chance to enter at 8600, you can make an entry below 8630 levels, don't buy Nifty above 8650, as the levels are not favourable for risk reward.
As we have predicted that US Fed's Chair Janet Yellen's comment about possible rate hike in September wouldn't be market moving and end up as non event, as most asian markets have consolidated throughout the day, except Nikkei, which was up more than 2%, thanks to the BoJ's comments about more stimulus. ( 29th August, Monday ).
Read Our Previous Comments Here.
Nifty Trading For 30 August 2016
For Traders, We recommended buy on dips strategy yesterday, rather than going short, which worked almost perfectly as Nifty has bounced back from 8550 levels and closed above 8600, as last hour rally, led by heavyweight Reliance, helped to stay above 8600. We will continue to hold long positions in Nifty with a stop loss of 8550 with a target of 8680-8700 ( Spot levels ).
For new positions, we would recommend only at 8600 spot levels, would be a stop loss with a target of 8680-8700. If you don't get a chance to enter at 8600, you can make an entry below 8630 levels, don't buy Nifty above 8650, as the levels are not favourable for risk reward.
Nifty Outlook:
Finally Nifty has broken the 8600-8680 range on the lower side and closed at 8592. Profit booking was seen in Bank Nifty as well. The noticeable thing is FII were net buyers in index futures of more than 1000 cr and cash market of more than 300 cr, which helped index from deeper cut. Also, US fed commentary on friday at Jackson Hole, Wyoming was nothing more than confusing. It has reignited a fear of rate hike in September, which might trigger an outflow from Ems ( Emerging markets ).
1) For Investors, Who are waiting on sidelines.
Start focusing on your buy list and pick them slowly. Don't worry if markets headed south. Just keep buying.
2) For traders, Apply buy on dips strategy but be cautious as 8500 levels on Nifty might not stay due to US fed rate hike prospect. Focus on dollar index, gold and US treasury, to get idea of strength or weakness in Nifty. 8450-8480 will be a good zone to buy for target of 8620. Don't go short, as FII are still buying every dip, means liquidity will trap you. Also, if Nifty doesn't dip more, then no trade left Nifty above 8620-8640 levels.
Finally Nifty has broken the 8600-8680 range on the lower side and closed at 8592. Profit booking was seen in Bank Nifty as well. The noticeable thing is FII were net buyers in index futures of more than 1000 cr and cash market of more than 300 cr, which helped index from deeper cut. Also, US fed commentary on friday at Jackson Hole, Wyoming was nothing more than confusing. It has reignited a fear of rate hike in September, which might trigger an outflow from Ems ( Emerging markets ).
1) For Investors, Who are waiting on sidelines.
Start focusing on your buy list and pick them slowly. Don't worry if markets headed south. Just keep buying.
2) For traders, Apply buy on dips strategy but be cautious as 8500 levels on Nifty might not stay due to US fed rate hike prospect. Focus on dollar index, gold and US treasury, to get idea of strength or weakness in Nifty. 8450-8480 will be a good zone to buy for target of 8620. Don't go short, as FII are still buying every dip, means liquidity will trap you. Also, if Nifty doesn't dip more, then no trade left Nifty above 8620-8640 levels.
Condoms are one of the widely available OTC products in pharmacy stores and general stores. It is available in different size, packages, and texture and designed for special pleasure and feel. For example, lubricated, dotted, thin, flavored, applied with local anesthetics to increase time men’s performance, Regular size , XL size etc. also, female condoms are available, too.
Female Condoms: It is also known as femidom, It is worn internally by the female partner and provides a physical barrier to prevent exposure to ejaculated semen or other body fluids.The female condom is a thin, soft, loose-fitting sheath with a flexible ring at each end. They typically come in various sizes.
There are lot of variety and brands in each of the above type. It’s really hard to make a proper choice that which one is better for you. So here we try to point out few points that will help you to choose the right size, shape, texture and cost effective condom for you. It will help you to give maximum pleasure.
Couple of points to be considered in general
Avoid storing condoms in hot places e.g. wallet, pocket. It will decrease condom’s effectiveness
Always check the expiry date before using it.
Condom Size
Which size of a condom fits you, is being decided by penis girth. You should choose the size of condom as per fit. Standard sizes of condoms are fit for four to five inches of penis girth. There are large sizes available for those whose girth is above average. For less than average sized girth, condoms may fall off during sex.
Condom Texture
Thin or Thick, Dotted, Extra dotted, ultra thin etc.
Texture of condom can be selection criteria as it affects sensation during sex. Thin textured condoms give more sensual feeling while thick are more secured from being torn apart. Ultra thin material and dotted material gives you more pleasure. Also condoms are available with vibrating ring to give additional sensation. Despite the label, all condoms that are FDA-approved are effective.
Example of brands: Kamsutra ultrathin, Moods dotted, Durex extrapleasure, Moods ultrathin, Manforce extradotted, Durex fetherlite,Kohinoor extra ribs.
Condom material:
Latex
Most of condoms manufactured and used are made of latex, or synthetic latex, and do not contain pores. This type of material is carried by a wide selection of brands. It’s the least expensive, and it’s also the most regulated type of condom. These condoms are durable and won’t rip if they are used with water-based lubricant.
Polyurethane
This is a synthetic material that is recommended for people who are allergic or sensitive to latex. These condoms are clear in color, but not as elastic as latex, and are wider than the average sized condom. The FDA says they can be used with water- or silicone-based lubricants.
Lambskin
Lambskin condoms — made of the intestine of a lamb — are the oldest type of condoms that are effective in preventing pregnancy, but not in preventing STDs or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. These condoms also offer a more natural feel and can be used with both water-based and oil-based lube. They are more expensive and do not offer protection against infections.
Lubricated condoms:
Condoms with a water-based or silicone-based lubricant coating are intended to ease penetration and minimize friction and the risk of ripping.
Example of water based lubricated condoms brands: Durex Natural Feeling, Kamsutra smooth,
Spermicidally Lubricated
Condoms that contain spermicidal lubricant, Nonoxynol-9 (N-9), were thought to reduce sperm movement and therefore, prevent pregnancy. In 2007, the FDA issued a final notice that required manufacturers to state the chemical N-9 does not provide protection against infection from HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). N-9 can also cause irritation, small sores in people, and can actually provide the breeding grounds for HIV transmission.
Local anesthetic Lubricated
Condoms are available to claim to help in long duration of sex by locally blocking local sensation of friction and increase duration time for ejaculation. It might negatively affect person with erectile dysfunction. Also topical gel ( e.g. manforce staylong gel ) containing local anesthetics e.g. lidocaine, prilocaine are also availabe to increase climax time in men. Some herbal gels are also availabe, which contains Jyotishmati and Musk mallow (Lathakasthuri), for the same purpose e.g Himcolin gel.
Example of brands: Durex performa, Durex Pleasuremax,
Non-Lubricated
These condoms are mainly used for oral sex, and for those who have allergies or sensitivities to lubricants.
Novelty Condoms
Condoms that glow in the dark, or are flavored, are considered to be novelty condoms. According to research, flavored condoms can change the vagina’s pH and possibly lead to yeast or bacterial infection. Typically, these condoms are not recommended for vaginal or anal sex, but are deemed OK for oral sex on men. Be sure that these condoms are labeled as FDA approved to meet the agency’s standards for protection against pregnancy and STDs.
Example of flavored condoms Manforce Coffee flavor, Manforce strawberry flavor, Manforce chocolate flavor, Manforce black grapes, Kamsutra Excite Butterscotch, Durex Apple
Source: Rxcues
Find out more cool stories at http://rxcues.com/news.html
Female Condoms: It is also known as femidom, It is worn internally by the female partner and provides a physical barrier to prevent exposure to ejaculated semen or other body fluids.The female condom is a thin, soft, loose-fitting sheath with a flexible ring at each end. They typically come in various sizes.
There are lot of variety and brands in each of the above type. It’s really hard to make a proper choice that which one is better for you. So here we try to point out few points that will help you to choose the right size, shape, texture and cost effective condom for you. It will help you to give maximum pleasure.
Couple of points to be considered in general
Avoid storing condoms in hot places e.g. wallet, pocket. It will decrease condom’s effectiveness
Always check the expiry date before using it.
Condom Size
Which size of a condom fits you, is being decided by penis girth. You should choose the size of condom as per fit. Standard sizes of condoms are fit for four to five inches of penis girth. There are large sizes available for those whose girth is above average. For less than average sized girth, condoms may fall off during sex.
Condom Texture
Thin or Thick, Dotted, Extra dotted, ultra thin etc.
Texture of condom can be selection criteria as it affects sensation during sex. Thin textured condoms give more sensual feeling while thick are more secured from being torn apart. Ultra thin material and dotted material gives you more pleasure. Also condoms are available with vibrating ring to give additional sensation. Despite the label, all condoms that are FDA-approved are effective.
Example of brands: Kamsutra ultrathin, Moods dotted, Durex extrapleasure, Moods ultrathin, Manforce extradotted, Durex fetherlite,Kohinoor extra ribs.
Condom material:
Latex
Most of condoms manufactured and used are made of latex, or synthetic latex, and do not contain pores. This type of material is carried by a wide selection of brands. It’s the least expensive, and it’s also the most regulated type of condom. These condoms are durable and won’t rip if they are used with water-based lubricant.
Polyurethane
This is a synthetic material that is recommended for people who are allergic or sensitive to latex. These condoms are clear in color, but not as elastic as latex, and are wider than the average sized condom. The FDA says they can be used with water- or silicone-based lubricants.
Lambskin
Lambskin condoms — made of the intestine of a lamb — are the oldest type of condoms that are effective in preventing pregnancy, but not in preventing STDs or human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission. These condoms also offer a more natural feel and can be used with both water-based and oil-based lube. They are more expensive and do not offer protection against infections.
Lubricated condoms:
Condoms with a water-based or silicone-based lubricant coating are intended to ease penetration and minimize friction and the risk of ripping.
Example of water based lubricated condoms brands: Durex Natural Feeling, Kamsutra smooth,
Spermicidally Lubricated
Condoms that contain spermicidal lubricant, Nonoxynol-9 (N-9), were thought to reduce sperm movement and therefore, prevent pregnancy. In 2007, the FDA issued a final notice that required manufacturers to state the chemical N-9 does not provide protection against infection from HIV (the virus that causes AIDS) or other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). N-9 can also cause irritation, small sores in people, and can actually provide the breeding grounds for HIV transmission.
Local anesthetic Lubricated
Condoms are available to claim to help in long duration of sex by locally blocking local sensation of friction and increase duration time for ejaculation. It might negatively affect person with erectile dysfunction. Also topical gel ( e.g. manforce staylong gel ) containing local anesthetics e.g. lidocaine, prilocaine are also availabe to increase climax time in men. Some herbal gels are also availabe, which contains Jyotishmati and Musk mallow (Lathakasthuri), for the same purpose e.g Himcolin gel.
Example of brands: Durex performa, Durex Pleasuremax,
Non-Lubricated
These condoms are mainly used for oral sex, and for those who have allergies or sensitivities to lubricants.
Novelty Condoms
Condoms that glow in the dark, or are flavored, are considered to be novelty condoms. According to research, flavored condoms can change the vagina’s pH and possibly lead to yeast or bacterial infection. Typically, these condoms are not recommended for vaginal or anal sex, but are deemed OK for oral sex on men. Be sure that these condoms are labeled as FDA approved to meet the agency’s standards for protection against pregnancy and STDs.
Example of flavored condoms Manforce Coffee flavor, Manforce strawberry flavor, Manforce chocolate flavor, Manforce black grapes, Kamsutra Excite Butterscotch, Durex Apple
Source: Rxcues
Find out more cool stories at http://rxcues.com/news.html
Now..You need to pay $1 per message, if you want to contact someone non-friend on Facebook. Will it be good for Facebook? Will it help the Facebook stock to go even higher? It seems like Facebook is trying to restrict the people from interaction..which might help another start up to take advantage and promote their own social network.
Launched in 2011, the "other" folder is where Facebook routes messages it deems less relevant. Not quite spam, these include messages from people you most likely don't know, based on Facebook's reading of your social connections. Many users ignore this folder.
Now, users will be able to pay $1 to route their messages to non-friends. Facebook said on Thursday that it is testing the service with a small percentage of individuals - not businesses - in the US.
Facebook said it is testing the service with a small percentage of individuals in the US.
"For example, if you want to send a message to someone you heard speak at an event but are not friends with, or if you want to message someone about a job opportunity, you can use this feature to reach their Inbox," Facebook said in an online post. "For the receiver, this test allows them to hear from people who have an important message to send them."
The company says charging for messages could help discourage spammers.
In October, Facebook unveiled another feature that lets users pay if they want more people to read their updates. For $7, users can promote a post to their friends, just as advertisers do.
Imagine getting email and data over the radio. A 22-year-old has developed a software that lets one do just that. Radio reaches every corner of India. Small transistors are cheap and easily available. Vinny Lohan has found a way to send computer data over normal radio waves. He believes that the idea could get all India online in a jiffy.
"Computers are all about zeros and ones. Be it video or text or music, to a computer, it is all zeros and ones. Since that's so, we asked ourselves, can we take a book or a video and convert it into music. And then send it over the airwaves. Turns out the answer was yes," Vinny said.
All it needs is OneBeep, the special software that Vinny and his friends wrote together. To send a file, be it video or text, the broadcaster simply selects and drags it into the software. OneBeep converts that data into an audio file, which is then transmitted over the airwaves.
Listeners can plug in their radio to a laptop or a cheap tablet computer, using a normal headphone jack. OneBeep software installed on their machines, will automatically convert the audio files back into data. It's like getting email over the radio.
OneBeep CEO Vinny says, "It's a bit like bit-torrent. When you are downloading something, the software is intelligent enough to know when something is paused and when it is restarted. We break digital data into packets. The software is converting audio into packets of data on the computer. Say your signal is weak or your battery died. When it restarts, it starts from the place it left off."
OneBeep needs absolutely no changes to the existing radio stations. And so, it's got attention. In 2010, Vinny and his team bagged the third prize in Microsoft's Imagine Cup - a worldwide contest for tech innovators. But their idea does have a few drawbacks.
First off, it's slow. Sending just 2 MB of data can take upto 40 minutes. Second, the idea itself isn't new. HAM radio operators have used a somewhat similar software since the 1970's. Third, it could be misused by terrorists. But Vinny thinks he's got that base covered.
"Each radio frequency transmission needs a government licence. Most amateur transmitters have a range of 20-30 metres. Anything stronger than that can easily be traced. If any unauthorised frequency transmissions take place, the army will be privy to that," Vinny says.
But because it's so simple and easily adaptable, Vinny's idea still has potential. Rural school kids can use OneBeep to download assignments overnight. Community radio stations in villages can also use it to transfer panchayat related files.
India will soon adopt Digital Radio Mondiale, a new technology which besides great sound, offers file transfers on the radio. But that is still a few years away. OneBeep already works and Vinny wants to offer it for free on the web. He wants to kick off a tiny revolution and give rural India a taste of the internet over the radio.
( IBN Live )
"Computers are all about zeros and ones. Be it video or text or music, to a computer, it is all zeros and ones. Since that's so, we asked ourselves, can we take a book or a video and convert it into music. And then send it over the airwaves. Turns out the answer was yes," Vinny said.
All it needs is OneBeep, the special software that Vinny and his friends wrote together. To send a file, be it video or text, the broadcaster simply selects and drags it into the software. OneBeep converts that data into an audio file, which is then transmitted over the airwaves.
Listeners can plug in their radio to a laptop or a cheap tablet computer, using a normal headphone jack. OneBeep software installed on their machines, will automatically convert the audio files back into data. It's like getting email over the radio.
OneBeep CEO Vinny says, "It's a bit like bit-torrent. When you are downloading something, the software is intelligent enough to know when something is paused and when it is restarted. We break digital data into packets. The software is converting audio into packets of data on the computer. Say your signal is weak or your battery died. When it restarts, it starts from the place it left off."
OneBeep needs absolutely no changes to the existing radio stations. And so, it's got attention. In 2010, Vinny and his team bagged the third prize in Microsoft's Imagine Cup - a worldwide contest for tech innovators. But their idea does have a few drawbacks.
First off, it's slow. Sending just 2 MB of data can take upto 40 minutes. Second, the idea itself isn't new. HAM radio operators have used a somewhat similar software since the 1970's. Third, it could be misused by terrorists. But Vinny thinks he's got that base covered.
"Each radio frequency transmission needs a government licence. Most amateur transmitters have a range of 20-30 metres. Anything stronger than that can easily be traced. If any unauthorised frequency transmissions take place, the army will be privy to that," Vinny says.
But because it's so simple and easily adaptable, Vinny's idea still has potential. Rural school kids can use OneBeep to download assignments overnight. Community radio stations in villages can also use it to transfer panchayat related files.
India will soon adopt Digital Radio Mondiale, a new technology which besides great sound, offers file transfers on the radio. But that is still a few years away. OneBeep already works and Vinny wants to offer it for free on the web. He wants to kick off a tiny revolution and give rural India a taste of the internet over the radio.
( IBN Live )
A judge has denied US technology giant Apple an injunction that would have allowed it to continue selling iPhone-branded products in Mexico, ruling that the company iFone had the rights to that brand name earlier, an attorney for the Mexican firm told EFE.
The Mexico City-based court handed down the ruling last Thursday, Eduardo Gallastegui said. "It's the third time Apple has lost," Gallastegui said, adding that "iFone is fully entitled to the use of its brand name."
In 2009, Apple filed a complaint against iFone with the Mexican Industrial Property Institute, or IMPI, demanding that firm stop using its brand name because the phonetic similarities could confuse users.
iFone - a provider of software for call centers - had registered its trade name in Mexico in 2003.
But the petition was denied after authorities found that iFone - a provider of software for call centers - had registered its trade name in Mexico in 2003, four years before Apple did.
The Mexican firm later filed a countersuit for damages and to block Apple from selling its flagship smartphone product in Mexico. Major telecom companies in Mexico could also be affected by the court ruling.
Leading Mexican cellphone provider Telcel began marketing the iPhone in 2007, offering a plan that included unlimited Internet access. Telcel and No.2 wireless operator Movistar, a unit of Spain's Telefonica, announced that they would begin selling the much-awaited iPhone 5 Friday.
The Mexico City-based court handed down the ruling last Thursday, Eduardo Gallastegui said. "It's the third time Apple has lost," Gallastegui said, adding that "iFone is fully entitled to the use of its brand name."
In 2009, Apple filed a complaint against iFone with the Mexican Industrial Property Institute, or IMPI, demanding that firm stop using its brand name because the phonetic similarities could confuse users.
iFone - a provider of software for call centers - had registered its trade name in Mexico in 2003.
But the petition was denied after authorities found that iFone - a provider of software for call centers - had registered its trade name in Mexico in 2003, four years before Apple did.
The Mexican firm later filed a countersuit for damages and to block Apple from selling its flagship smartphone product in Mexico. Major telecom companies in Mexico could also be affected by the court ruling.
Leading Mexican cellphone provider Telcel began marketing the iPhone in 2007, offering a plan that included unlimited Internet access. Telcel and No.2 wireless operator Movistar, a unit of Spain's Telefonica, announced that they would begin selling the much-awaited iPhone 5 Friday.
( IANS )
RxCues "The Permanent Address for Every Medicine"
A new online listing platform exclusively designed for promotion of Pharmaceutical and other Licensed Medical Products. It's unique for listing of medicines.
End users ( Consumers ) can easily search the available medical products from all different companies ( as the listing grows ) and sort them based on quality and cost. They can have alternative list of products with similar contents and sort them as per requirement and availability.
It is useful for the promotion of unique branded products especially for small research firms with small marketing budgets. Manufacturers can list down their product catalogue at free of cost.
The criteria for search is based on either brand name or content with its strength. One can easily find the detailed listing of products with similar contents by just single click.
A new online listing platform exclusively designed for promotion of Pharmaceutical and other Licensed Medical Products. It's unique for listing of medicines.
End users ( Consumers ) can easily search the available medical products from all different companies ( as the listing grows ) and sort them based on quality and cost. They can have alternative list of products with similar contents and sort them as per requirement and availability.
It is useful for the promotion of unique branded products especially for small research firms with small marketing budgets. Manufacturers can list down their product catalogue at free of cost.
The criteria for search is based on either brand name or content with its strength. One can easily find the detailed listing of products with similar contents by just single click.
The summer this year has so far provided some level of respite (though not from the unusually hot weather!) against uncertain markets, with the S&P index ranging in a 10% band compared to 15% in 2010 and 20% in 2011. The relatively low volatility in markets has occurred despite a host of negative factors prevalent as in the previous two years– with the current factors being continued turmoil in Europe, the fiscal cliff in the US, the China slow-down to name a few. Why the relative calm? It is the commitment to provide adequate monetary support by both the Fed and the ECB (and the PBOC) which has effectively taken out the downside tail risk in markets and provided support for the "risk on" trade. Global central bank behaviour (in form of both commitments as well as actions) will be the critical factor over the coming weeks and months in providing further impetus to a cyclical bull market phase which could last twelve to eighteen months - albeit with continued volatility as some of the risk factors outlined above are likely to remain.
The Chicago Fed's National Activity Index, is based on 85 economic indicators drawn from four broad categories of data, and is produced monthly. The four categories are:
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As always, the famed value investor Jeremy Grantham did not disappoint with his latest quarterly newsletter - with this one focussed on the critical long-term issue of rapidly declining natural resources. This is likely to be the most important theme to play out over the next several decades and will have broad implications on every aspect of our lives going forward. So I would urge you to read the attached (long!) piece carefully - a brief summary to whet the appetite follows below:
-The world is five years into a severe global food crisis which is threatening global stability and growth, but is unfortunately underestimated by almost everybody.
-As analysed in a note last year, we are currently 10 years into a paradigm shift from a century long phase of falling prices to rapidly increasing real prices.
-We need to increase food production by 60% to 100% by 2050 to feed a projected population of 9 billion, with more meat to cater to the needs of the fast growing middle class in the developing world.
-However, we are unlikely to reach the lower end of the above estimate (unless under a very optimistic scenario) as there are many factors which are providing a headwind as outlined below:
1)Grain productivity has fallen from 3.5% in 1970 to 1.5% today. Even the most efficient producers are reaching a limit, as increases in productivity per acre reaches zero for various grain species.
2)Shortages of underground water and increased soil salination will offset the gain in production due to increased irrigation.
3)Continued bad farming practices causing land degradation is reducing our sustainable productive capacity.
4)Fertilizer use has increased five times over the last 50 years and is unlikely to provide the same impetus to increased production as in previous years.
5)Increased weather instability causing floods and droughts and increased heat, as we have see over the last three years, will negatively impact agricultural production.
6)Rapidly increasing cost of fertilizers and fuel will also have a severe negative impact on production.
-Even if we are able to raise food production to a level to feed the increased population, the significant rise in the cost of inputs will make it unaffordable to an increasing segment of the population.
-On a positive side, scientists now are optimistic that they will be able to introduce more efficient photosynthesizing genes into vital plants such as wheat and rice, in 20 to 30 years. This would increase production by 50% and buy some time.
-The rapid increase in food prices in 2008 and 2011 reflected these difficulties, but the rise in food prices over the last six weeks is more problematic as it occurred despite a significant increase in plantations. This has been caused by rapidly rising global demand which has made agriculture more prone to price shocks.
-Several countries dependent on foreign food grain imports have still not recovered from the 2008 food price shock, with food rising to 40% of households budgets in some cases. These high levels put immense social pressures and may have contributed to the Arab Spring. Any price increases from these levels would be catastrophic and could cause social collapse and unprecedented mass immigration.
-Strong countermeasures taken by the rich countries would be effective in curtailing the developing crisis but are unlikely to be taken as the they are not yet adversely affected by the crisis and is therefore not a top priority.
-Continued food pressures, exacerbated by fuel price increases, dramatically increase the risk of international confrontations - China is particularly concerned about resource scarcity, in particular food.
-Increased supply of natural gas will buy (mainly for the US) some time but also create more complacency and dependency on hydrocarbons. While the energy problem is less critical in the short-term than the food crisis, with sufficient supply causing only a slow and erratic increase in prices, it does make the food problem worse by increasing cost pressures on poorer countries.
-However, in the long term, increasing energy costs (particularly oil) and shortages are second only to the food problem and will result in very high prices which will negatively impact global growth and the viability of current economic models.
-Theoretically though, the energy problem can be contained through large investments in renewable and smart grids. The countries which are able to do this will emerge stronger with advantages in lower costs and energy security – most countries (including the US) will be unable to muster the political will and courage to implement this programme and counter the enormous political power of energy interests.
-Metals are a relatively minor problem in the next few decades with only steadily increasing prices. However, in the long run they are the most intractable problem as there are no research-intensive solutions like for agriculture or capital-intensive and technology-intensive solutions like for energy. We will slowly run out of metals eventually leading to dramatic price rises.
-We are currently ill-equipped to address the above problems in an effective manner – being ill-informed, manipulated, full of inertia and corruptible. The global stakes are very high and we must try harder.
-The portfolio implications of all this , for a personal portfolio without career risk, and a time horizon of 10 years and beyond, are:
1)expect resource stocks (with resources in the ground) to outperform over the next several decades as resource prices continue to rise.
2)farming and forestry are on top of the list .
3)long term investors should have at least a 30% weighting in a resources package.
4)a relative beneficiary would be high quality companies which have a smaller exposure to resources in terms of final sales and high profit margins.
5) More importantly, the resource squeeze combined with other growth-reducing factors(to be covered in the next quarterly) is likely to reduce returns from the rest of the investment portfolio.
Fascinating piece with serious implications for investment portfolios and quality of life in general! I have repeatedly emphasised the importance of having a high allocation to natural resources, and gradually accumulating a position which would reach 30% of your portfolio over the course of this decade (starting now if you haven't already got some exposure) would provide a reasonable level of protection against rising resource prices. In addition, having a high weighting in countries like China which are taking the natural resource issue more seriously than other countries would make sense. Exposure to resource stocks and underlying commodities via funds, etfs and single stocks would be appropriate, while farmland and forestry could be accessed via some funds and direct purchases.
As highlighted in the first paragraph, central bank monetary policy actions and commitments are going to be critical over the next few weeks and months in terms of reinforcing the bullish momentum for stock markets and other risk assets. This becomes even more important given the inability to provide more fiscal stimulus (outside of China) making economic growth anaemic. The chart below highlights clearly what ails the US economy:
1)Production and Income 2)Employment, Unemployment, and Hours 3)Personal Consumption and Housing 4) Sales, Orders, and Inventories |
It is the third category which has been holding back the economic recovery and is likely to do so for a while longer. So failing further fiscal stimulus, we can expect continued monetary stimulus (and commitments to that effect) to keep the markets and the economy afloat until consumer demand and housing recover to trend levels.
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US military experts have demonstrated a new smartphone app that can turn your mobile's camera into a spying tool for cyber criminals, secretly beaming images of your house, chequebook and other private information back to them.
The software can even build up a 3D model of your house, from which the hackers can inspect your rooms, potentially gleaning information about valuables in your home, calendar entries as well as spying on you.
The app 'PlaiceRaider' was created by US military experts at Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana, to show how cybercriminals could operate in the future, the Daily Mail reported.
The creators even demonstrated how they could read the numbers of a cheque book when they tested the Android software on 20 volunteers.
As long as the app could be installed on the users phone, it can instantly begin beaming back images from the phone when it senses the right conditions, and software on the other end can then re-construct maps of the visited room.
The team gave their infected phone to 20 individuals, who did not know about the malicious app, and asked them to continue operating in their normal office environment.
The team said they could glean vital information from all 20 users, and that the 3D reconstruction made it much easier to steal information than by just using the images alone.
Researcher Robert Templeman said their app can run in the background of any smartphone using the Android 2.3 operating system.
Through completely opportunistic use of the phone's camera and other sensors, PlaceRaider constructs rich, three dimensional models of indoor environments.
"Remote burglars can thus "download" the physical space, study the environment carefully, and steal virtual objects from the environment (such as financial documents, information on computer monitors, and personally identifiable information)," researchers said.
PlaiceRaider will silently take photographs, recording the time, location and orientation due to the sensors within most modern smartphones.
It will then delete any blurred or dark shots, before sending the rest back to a central server, which can reconstruct the user's room, based on information such as phone orientation.
Then the hacker can explore the user's property at will - for instance, scanning the room for calendars, private details on computer screens, and cheque-books or card details.
"We implemented on Android for practical reasons, but we expect such malware to generalise to other platforms such as iOS and Windows Phone," Templeman said.
The software can even build up a 3D model of your house, from which the hackers can inspect your rooms, potentially gleaning information about valuables in your home, calendar entries as well as spying on you.
The app 'PlaiceRaider' was created by US military experts at Naval Surface Warfare Center in Crane, Indiana, to show how cybercriminals could operate in the future, the Daily Mail reported.
The creators even demonstrated how they could read the numbers of a cheque book when they tested the Android software on 20 volunteers.
As long as the app could be installed on the users phone, it can instantly begin beaming back images from the phone when it senses the right conditions, and software on the other end can then re-construct maps of the visited room.
The team gave their infected phone to 20 individuals, who did not know about the malicious app, and asked them to continue operating in their normal office environment.
The team said they could glean vital information from all 20 users, and that the 3D reconstruction made it much easier to steal information than by just using the images alone.
Researcher Robert Templeman said their app can run in the background of any smartphone using the Android 2.3 operating system.
Through completely opportunistic use of the phone's camera and other sensors, PlaceRaider constructs rich, three dimensional models of indoor environments.
"Remote burglars can thus "download" the physical space, study the environment carefully, and steal virtual objects from the environment (such as financial documents, information on computer monitors, and personally identifiable information)," researchers said.
PlaiceRaider will silently take photographs, recording the time, location and orientation due to the sensors within most modern smartphones.
It will then delete any blurred or dark shots, before sending the rest back to a central server, which can reconstruct the user's room, based on information such as phone orientation.
Then the hacker can explore the user's property at will - for instance, scanning the room for calendars, private details on computer screens, and cheque-books or card details.
"We implemented on Android for practical reasons, but we expect such malware to generalise to other platforms such as iOS and Windows Phone," Templeman said.
( PTI )