I could cite a lot of statistics but suffice it to say Asia is booming. Europe is growing and so are Latin America, Australia and Canada. Of the major countries only the U.S. is sluggish.
The world economy is growing and growing very fast. In our opinion it is not time to fear. It is time to "seize the day", "make hay when the sun shines" and all of those trite but true sayings that have persisted because they correctly describe an era of opportunity. If there is a cloud on the horizon it is the potential for inflation, not the problem of slowing growth.
THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM
The conventional wisdom is that the U.S. will be unattractive for investment during the summer due to rising interest rates, the subprime mortgage crisis and the fact that the stocks have risen enough in the last few years. Many in the U.S. think that if the U.S. market is unattractive, then the world must be unattractive.
NOTHING COULD BE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH
We do not watch markets per se but rather we watch economies and the growth of sectors of the world and national economies.
It is clear that globally, many economic sectors are in stunningly good shape. Basic materials, energy, industrial products, farm products, commodities, transportation products and defense products are in demand worldwide. There are many opportunities in the countries that are growing rapidly throughout Asia, Australia, Canada and Eastern Europe.
CURRENCIES
The dollar is going to start to decline in the not too distant future and we continue to favor other currencies than the U.S. dollar.
ENERGY
A FEW OBVIOUS POINTS ON ENERGY
1. OIL WILL NEVER BE CHEAP AGAIN.
2. GLOBAL DEMAND increases about 2 per year. Non OPEC suppliers make up the difference. The question is how much do non OPEC suppliers have and how much are they willing to sell to others? We believe they will hoard more and more of their production, further exacerbating the oil price increase.
3. ETHANOL WILL NOT HELP IN A BIG WAY. Ethanol is a political carrot thrown to the farm lobby. Ethanol will increase farmers? income by transferring money from all the other citizens to the farmers? pockets. As we have written in the past, it will be ineffectual and very costly on several levels. For ethanol to have any impact on oil demand and help lower energy prices, the amount of corn and other materials required for cellulosic production would cause food prices to rise.
4. SOLAR AND WIND WILL PROVIDE SOME ENERGY SUPPLY. However, believe it or not, most of our power when the oil runs out will come from nuclear and coal.
5. There is the possibility that solar panels can be made more effective allowing solar to play a bigger role.
OIL AT $100
1. We still believe that oil will go to $100 over time. If we get some explosion in the Middle East or an expansion of the continued problems in Nigeria, it could be at $100 in 2008.
2. Today, oil is harder to find, demand is increasing and supply is diminishing; thus, the price is rising.
OIL SERVICE COMPANIES
We favor those companies who are OUTSIDE THE U.S. AND IN DEEP WATER, where the biggest demand will be in coming years.
We own deep water drillers, floating production, storage and offloading companies who operate offshore facilities and we own high tech seismic companies serving the deep water market.
Recent declines in the price of some oil service companies and deep drillers are a good buying opportunity in our opinion.
METALS
Fear has spread that a slower U.S. economy will cause demand for gold and base metals to diminish.
We could not disagree more. The dominant variable impacting the price of gold and base metals is global economic growth. Gold goes up when the global economy grows because more people get wealthy and use gold in jewelry and for hoarding (to protect themselves from the insecurity presented by certain government behaviors). Confiscation of assets, uncertain economic outlook and weak currencies are among the many potential government created problems.
IN OUR OPINION....OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND
We see many opportunities in the areas of our focus. We will use all declines as buying opportunities, and we believe that the next few years will continue to provide good profits in these areas just as the last few years have.
We are concerned about inflation over the longer term. Historically, inflation is good for metals, energy and also for foreign nations that have low production costs and can pass along price increases.
Therefore, most of our favorites benefit today and will continue to benefit if inflation arises.
For More information on global investing visit http://www.howtoinvestglobally.com
For More information on Guild Investment Management Services visit http://www. guildinvestment.com
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You pick up a copy of your new ad. It sure is different than anything you've put together in the past. It doesn't even look like what the directory service comes up with....its different from almost any ad you've seen.
And then the phone rings. You take the call, give directions, and put it down. It rings again ...while your talking on the phone customers start to fill the shop.... your Fax machine hums and spits out another page....and another....and another... people are asking to speak with you...
Customers are coming in - asking about your most expensive products and services - and nobody is badgering you for discounts. Then It all gets to be a bit of a blur because you just had the best day you've ever had the whole time you've been in business.
The cash drawer needed deposits to the safe more times today than you can remember ....you're worn out and exhausted....but it's the good kind of tired.
For once the day was filled with eager customers of a different kind. These folks seems knowledgeable and there was almost no mention of the competitors prices for a change. No haggling over nickels and dimes and an appreciation for the uniqueness of what YOU offer.
How did THAT happen?
Imagine how much different your life and your entire business would be if every day was like this. Just picture what it would be like to know that from now on, the customers would be of a different, higher caliber.
Compare that with the "Price Shoppers" you deal with now. It seems like the folks with the most money are determined to get the lowest prices from you and they have no problem telling you where they can get a better deal somewhere else.
Well, all that can be left behind you.
You see, the folks who put together your Yellow Page Ads down at the directory service are not good at direct response advertising. And its deliberate.
If they slap together a bland ad that blends in with all the other bland ads they've created... then next year all they have to do is call you up and offer you more colors, or a bigger ad. It is true, a bigger ad will get more customers.
But a larger, better designed ad with effective copy will do both...get more customers and bring in better customers.
The kind we were talking about earlier. Customers that make the day go smoothly, who appreciate what you do.....who are LOYAL to your business!
Right now, you're being ripped off royally. Your best customers are getting sucked away to some other business because they made a better case for their business than you. Or most likely, for no good reason at all. Hey, its time to turn the tables!
Others are making money from customers that should have been your clients. I am mad at somebody, on your behalf. There are people who call you every year, who have kept critical information from you in order to suck money out of your pocket.
Somebody may have told you that they would create your yellow page ad for free.
But They Lied To You. A Bald-Faced Lie!
A poorly designed or even an average ad - is never free. Even if they don't charge you anything extra to create it for you.
You're paying money every month, with rate increases every stinking year, and they're not doing anything to increase the response rate! Have they ever even offered to improve your ad design at no extra cost?
They could have improved the response to your advertising by at least 50% at NO additional cost to you!
There are over 67 ways to increase the response rate to your advertising. If you expect to have Paris Hilton calling, you'd better bone up on what it takes to get things goin.
Both Monty Guild & Chuck Masterson are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Monty Guild has sinced written about articles on various topics from Investing and Trading, Investments and Stock. Mr. Guild founded Guild in 1971. Prior to founding the company he was an analyst at a bank and a hedge fund. Mr. Guild is a recognized expert in the areas of international investing and economics. He has been a writer and speaker on economic issues.. Monty Guild's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Chuck Masterson has sinced written about articles on various topics from Advertising Guide, Finances and Advertising Guide. About the Author - Chuck Masterson is the Director of R&D at and has assembleda team of the nations top. Chuck Masterson's top article generates over 9900 views. to your Favourites.