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admin — Sun, 28 Nov 2010 01:41:27 +0000

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The Holy Grail of Trading: Chapter 1

Finding under valued Stocks are a great way to make money. Depending on the stocks that you invest in, you can make money quickly. The problem that most investors run into is that they did not know which stocks to invest in. There are so many stocks to chose from. How can you tell if a stock is a good investment? How can you tell if a stock is priced at price well below its value? Here are a few ways to help you select the best under valued stocks.

The financial statistics that are provided online can be very good places to find some under valued stocks. They provide very good historical data that contains the most recent Stock Information as well as Stock Data from the past years. One of the first things that you can do is to compare the stock prices over the period of a couple of years based upon the data provided. This can tell you if you have reached a low point within the Stock Price.

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All of these methods are ways that you can look for under valued stocks. However, remember that proper research is the key in selecting stocks to invest in.

So, how eager are you to make money in the Stock Market?

Under Valued Stocks is a great resource for you to learn how to pick stocks that will give you substantial profits!

I followed their recommendations and have made relatively HUGE profits.

What are Five stocks that would go up the most by May?

I am in college and for one of my classes our teacher has asked the class to pick 5 stocks to invest $5000 in pretend money in… we have to keep track of them on an excel spreadsheet through out the semester then the person who does the best gets extra credit. I know I should not pick safe stocks, more high risk for a higher return. I was thinking Oil, Energy, Pharmaceticals maybe Tech Stocks??? But I really know nothing. Please help!?!?

solar and green companies are going to do well.

Vanguard Total International Stock Market Index

admin — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 11:04:22 +0000

vanguard Total International Stock Market Index

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Vanguard International Index Fund ETF Video “VGK” Chart Trading Analysis

Toyota Land Cruiser

Chronology

Prehistory

In 1941 the Imperial Japanese Army occupied the Philippines, where they obtained a Bantam Mk II, and promptly brought it to Japan. The Japanese military authorities commanded Toyota to make a similar vehicle but to not model the appearance on the American Jeep. The prototype was called the Model AK and was formally adopted by The Japanese Imperial Army as the Yon-Shiki Kogata Kamotsu-Sha ( The Imperial era 2604th model compact cargo-truck ).

Later in 1941 the Japanese government asked Toyota to produce a light truck for the Japan military campaign. Toyota developed a 1/2 ton prototype called the AK10 in 1942. The AK10 was built using reverse-engineering from the Bantam GP. There are no known surviving photographs of the AK10. The only known pictorial representations are some rough sketches. The truck featured an upright front grille, flat front wheel arches that angled down and back like the FJ40, headlights mounted above the wheel arches on either side of the radiator and a folding windshield.

The AK10 used the 2259 cc, 4-cylinder Type C engine from the Toyota Model AE sedan with a three-speed manual transmission and two-speed transfer gearbox connected to it. There is no mechanical relationship between the AK10 and the postwar Toyota “Jeep” BJ. Most of the AK10’s were not actively used (unlike the U.S. Jeep) and there are almost no photographs of it in the battlefield.

BJ and FJ

Production

1951-1955

Assembly

ARACO

Yoshiwara, Aichi, Japan

Body style(s)

2-door Softtop

Layout

FR layout

Engine(s)

3.4 L I6 B petrol

3.9 L I6 F petrol

Wheelbase

2,650 mm (104.3 in)

1950 – The Korean War created demand for a military light utility vehicle. The war put a Jeep on Japan’s doorstep. The United States government ordered 100 vehicles with the new Willys specs and Toyota was asked to build them.

1951 – The Toyota “Jeep” BJ prototype was developed in January 1951. This came from the demand for military-type utility vehicles, much like the British Land Rover Series 1 that appeared in 1948. The Jeep BJ was larger than the original U.S. Jeep and more powerful thanks to its Type B 3.4-liter six-cylinder OHV Gasoline engine which generated 85 hp (63 kW) at 3600 rpm and 215 Nm (159 lbft) torque at 1600 rpm. It had a part-time four-wheel drive system like the Jeep. Unlike the Jeep, however, the Jeep BJ had no low-range transfer case.

1951 – In July 1951, Toyota’s test driver Ichiro Taira drove the next generation of the Jeep BJ prototype up to the sixth stage of Mount Fuji, the first vehicle to climb that high. The test was overseen by the National Police Agency (NPA). Impressed by this feat, the NPA quickly placed an order for 289 of these offroad vehicles, making the Jeep BJ their official patrol car.

1953 – Regular production of the “Toyota Jeep BJ” began at Toyota Honsya Plant (Rolling chassis assembly), and body assembly and painting was done at Arakawa Bankin Kogyo KK, later known as ARACO (now an affiliate of Toyota Auto Body Co.). The “Toyota Jeep BJ” Series was introduced alongside the following:

BJ-T (Touring),

BJ-R (Radio),

BJ-J (Cowl-chassis for a fire-engine).

1954 – The name “Land Cruiser” was created by the technical director Hanji Umehara. “In England we had another competitor – Land Rover. I had to come up with a name for our car that would not sound less dignified than those of our competitors. That is why I decided to call it ‘Land Cruiser’,” he recalls.

1954 – The 125 hp, 3.9-liter Type F gasoline engine added for the fire-engine chassis. Models are renamed as:

BJ-T (Touring),

BJ-R (Radio),

BJ-J (Cowl-chassis for a fire-engine),

FJ-J (Cowl-chassis for a fire-engine).

20 Series

Production

1955-1960

Assembly

ARACO

Yoshiwara, Aichi, Japan

Body style(s)

2-door Softtop

2-door Hardtop

2-door pickup truck

4-door Station wagon

Layout

FR layout

Engine(s)

3.9 L I6 F petrol

Wheelbase

2,710 mm (106.7 in)

1955 – The Second generation, 20 Series was introduced. It was designed to have more civilian appeal than the BJ for export reasons. It also had more stylish bodywork and a better ride thanks to longer four-plate leaf springs which had been adapted from the Toyota Light Truck. It had a more powerful 3.9-liter six-cylinder Type F gasoline engine. The interior of the vehicles were made more comfortable by moving the engine 120 mm (4.7 in) forward. The 20 Series still had no low range, but it had synchromesh on the third and fourth gears.

1958 – The first Station wagon Land Cruiser was introduced with an even longer 2,650 mm (104.3 in) wheelbase (the FJ35V; wagon and van). The FJ25 production started in Brazil being the first Toyota vehicle built outside Japan.

1957 – A 4-door Station Wagon was added as the FJ35V. Land Cruisers were first imported into Australia by B&D Motors as FJ25/28 cab chassis with Australian made bodies. They were the first Japanese cars to be regularly exported to the country and were initially used in the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Scheme.

40 Series

Also called

Toyota Macho (Venezuela)

Production

1960-1984

Assembly

ARACO

Yoshiwara,Aichi, Japan

Body style(s)

2-door Softtop

2-door Hardtop

2-door pickup truck

4-door Station wagon

Layout

FR layout

Engine(s)

3.0 L I6 B diesel

3.9 L I6 F petrol

4.2 L I6 2F petrol

3.6 L I6 H diesel

Wheelbase

90 in (2286 mm)

Length

151.2 in (3840.5 mm)

Width

65.6 in (1666.2 mm)

Height

Softtop 76.8 in (1950.7 mm)

Hardtop 78.8 in (2001.5 mm)

Curb weight

Softtop 3,263 lb (1,480 kg)

Hardtop 3,427 lb (1,554 kg)

Fuel capacity

18.5 US gallons

Main article: Toyota FJ40

1960 – The 20 Series was upgraded to the now classic 40. Toyota made many production changes by buying new steel presses. Mechanically, the FJ40 was given a new 125 hp, 3.9 liter F engine and the Land Cruiser finally received low-range gearing. The Brazilian model was rebadged the Bandeirante and received a Mercedes-Benz built Diesel engine generating 78 hp.

1965 – Global production surpassed 50,000 vehicles.

The Land Cruiser was the best selling Toyota in the United States.

1968 – The 100,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide.

1972 – The 200,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide.

1973 – The 300,000th Land Cruiser was sold worldwide.

The first diesel Land Cruiser was introduced for export on long wheelbase models with a six-cylinder H engine[citation needed].

1974 – A four-cylinder 3.0-liter B diesel was offered. The introduction of this engine boosted sales in Japan by putting the Land Cruiser in a lower tax compact Freight-car category than its 3.9-liter gasoline version. Note: the new B diesel engine was different from the B gasoline engine used in the original BJ.

1975 – The 3.9-liter gasoline engine was replaced by a larger, more powerful 4.2-liter 2F unit.

The FJ55 received front disc brakes.

1976 – United States-version FJ40 Land Cruisers received front disc brakes like the FJ55.

The Toyota Land Cruiser Association was founded in California.

1977 – The Irish Army took delivery of the first of 77 FJ45 Land Cruisers. Although fast, reliable and with good off-road performance the type tended to rust excessively in the wet Irish climate. A few which did not succumb to the effects of weather were repainted in gloss olive green and survive as ceremonial gun tractors at military funerals.

1978 – The first BJ / FJ40 and FJ55 models were officially sold in West Germany with both diesel (BJ40) and petrol engines (FJ40 /55).

1979 – United States-version FJ40s were updated this year with a new wider, square bezel surrounding the headlights.

Power steering and cooler were offered in FJ40s for the first time.

The diesel engine was improved, evolving into the 3.2-liter 2B only in Japan.

The 3.6-liter H diesel engine was optional in some markets.

1981 – the Diesel version received front disc brakes and the more powerful 3.4-liter 3B engine.

50 Series

Production

1967-1980

Assembly

ARACO

Yoshiwara, Aichi, Japan

Body style(s)

4-door station wagon

Layout

Front engine four-wheel drive

Engine(s)

3.9 L I6 F petrol

4.2 L I6 2F petrol

Transmission(s)

3 or 4-speed manual (J30, H41 or H42)

Wheelbase

2,710 mm (106.7 in)

Length

4,673 mm (184.0 in)

Width

1,710 mm (67.3 in)

Height

1,864 mm (73.4 in)

1967 – Production of the FJ55 began. The FJ55 was a 4-door station wagon version based on the FJ40’s Drive-train, replacing the 4-Door FJ45V (I). It was colloquially known as the “Moose”. It has also been referred to as a pig or an iron pig. The FJ55 had a longer wheelbase 2710 mm and was designed to be sold in North America and Australia.

Jan 1975 saw the F engine replaced by the 2F engine. Unusually for Toyota, the model (eg FJ55) did not change.

Model 56 is in Japan only, with 2F engine ( Jan. 1975 – Jul. 1980 ).

60 Series

Also called

Toyota Samurai (Venezuela)

Production

1980-1990

Assembly

ARACO

Yoshiwara, Aichi, Japan

Body style(s)

4-door station wagon

Layout

Front engine, four-wheel drive

Engine(s)

3.4 L I4 3B diesel

3.4 L I4 13B-T diesel turbo

4.2 L I6 2F petrol

4.0 L I6 3F petrol

4.0 L I6 2H diesel

4.0 L I6 12H-T diesel turbo

4.2 L I6 1HZ diesel

4.2 L I6 1HD-T diesel turbo

Transmission(s)

4-speed manual H41F or H42F

4-speed automatic A440F

5-speed manual H55F (non-US)

Wheelbase

2,730 mm (107.5 in)

Length

4,675 mm (184.1 in)

Width

1,800 mm (70.9 in)

Height

1,750 mm (68.9 in)

The original Toyota Land Cruiser FJ 60 was available for purchase from 1981 through 1987. It is a front engine four door wagon which has available seating of five to seven. It is well known in the off-roading community for it’s tremendous 4X4 capabilities, despite being somewhat limited by its poor departure angle. The FJ 60 was offered in the following solid exterior colors: Alpine White, Brown, Desert Beige, Freeborn Red, Royal Blue; and in the following metallic exterior colors: Charcoal Gray, Cognac, Gray-Blue, Rootbeer, Sky Blue, Stardust Silver. In contrast to the FJ 62, the FJ 60 exhibits the classic round Land Cruiser headlights which are replicated now on the retro-style FJ Cruiser.

1980 – The 60 series was introduced. While still retaining the rugged off-road characteristics of previous Land Cruisers, the 60 was designed to better compete in the emerging sport utility vehicle market. The 60 was given a variety of comforts like air conditioning, a rear heater and an upgraded interior. The FJ60’s “2F” petrol engine was left unchanged from the “40″ series while six-cylinder 4.0 litre 2H and four-cylinder 3.4 litre 3B diesel engines were added to the product line.

1981 – Land Cruiser sales surpassed 1 million and a high-roof version was introduced. The 60 was introduced to South Africa when a stock Land Cruiser competed in the Toyota 1000 km Desert Race in the punishing wilds of Botswana.

1984 – This was the final year for the 40. Specialist suppliers of aftermarket parts and restorers who return old FJ40s to better-than-new condition replace Toyota dealers as the main source of Land Cruiser expertise.

1984 – Alongside the 60, the Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series were introduced.

1985 – The Direct-injection 12H-T and 13B-T turbodiesel engine were introduced.

1988 – The petrol engine was upgraded to a 4.0-litre 3F-E EFI engine. The FJ62G VX-Series was introduced allowing the Land Cruiser to be sold in Japan as a passenger vehicle.

1990 – The 80 series station wagon was introduced, replacing the 60. The 80 was initially offered with a choice of three engines; the 3F-E six-cylinder petrol engine, a six-cylinder the 1HZ diesel and 1HD-T direct injection turbodiesel.

1990 – All 80s sold in North America and Europe now have a full-time four-wheel drive system. In Japan, Africa and Australia, a part-time system was still available. 80s produced between 1990 and 1991 had an open centre differential which was lockable in 4HI and automatically locked in 4LO. From 1992 onward, vehicles with anti-lock brakes had a viscous coupling that sent a maximum of 30% torque to the non-slipping axle. The differential was lockable in 4HI and automatically locked in 4LO.

Toyota Land Cruiser facelift (U.S.)

19871990 Toyota Land Cruiser (FJ62RG) GX (Australia)

70 Series

Also called

Toyota Machito [2 Doors model](Venezuela)

Production

1984-Present

Assembly

ARACO

Yoshiwara,Aichi, Japan

Body style(s)

2-door pickup truck

2-door softtop / hardtop / troopie

4-door van

Layout

Front engine, rear-wheel drive / four-wheel drive

Engine(s)

4.0 L I6 3F petrol

4.5 L I6 1FZ petrol

4.2 L I6 1HD diesel turbo

4.2 L I6 1HZ diesel

2.4 L I4 2L diesel

2.4 L I4 2L-T diesel turbo

3.4 L I5 PZ diesel

3.4 L I4 13B-T diesel turbo

2.4 L I4 22R petrol

4.5 L V8 1VD diesel turbo

Transmission(s)

5-speed manual

Wheelbase

2,980 mm (117.3 in)

Length

4,995 mm (196.7 in)

Width

1,415 mm (55.7 in)

Height

2,070 mm (81.5 in)

Fuel capacity

1 or 2 90-litre tanks each

Main article: Toyota Land Cruiser 70 Series

BJ74 Mid wheel base FRP-top 3.4D-T LX (Japan)

HZJ75LV Troop Carrier 4.2D

HZJ79R Cab-chassis 4.2D

New South Wales Rural Fire Service Toyota Land Cruiser Personnel carrier

1984 – 70 Series was introduced. 70Heavy as a soft-top, hard-top, FRP top, utility, cab-chassis, and Troop Carrier (inward facing rear seats).The petrol engine was replaced with a 4.0-litre 3F engine. The 70 Light had a four-wheel coil spring solid-axle suspension for better ride quality. This lighter duty version of the Land Cruiser had the 22R 2.4-litre gasoline engine, 2L and 2L-T ( turbo ) 2.4-litre diesel engines commonly found in the Toyota Hilux. The 70 Light was sold in some markets as the Bundera or the Landcruiser II, later called 70 Prado. The 70 Prado eventually became popular and evolved into the 90. An automatic transmission (A440F) was introduced making it the first four-wheel drive Japanese vehicle with an automatic transmission.

1990 – New-generation diesel engines were introduced including a five-cylinder SOHC naturally aspirated motor (1PZ),and a six-cylinder SOHC naturally aspirated motor (1 HZ).

1993 to 1996 – the KZ 3 litre turbocharged diesel engine replaced the LJ in the 70 series in European markets where this model was known as the KZJ70.

1993 – An advanced 24-valve, 4.5-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, 1FZ-FE was introduced.

1999 – Toyota updated the 70 series in several ways. The solid front axle received coil-spring suspension. The rear leaf springs were lengthened for increased ride comfort and wheel travel. The six-bolt wheels were replaced with five-bolt wheels. Several smaller modifications to the drivetrain provided increased durability. The long-wheel-base models received new designations: 78 for the troop carrier, and 79 for the pick-up.

2002 – HDJ79 is introduced to Australia with the 1HD-FTE 4.2-litre six-cylinder 24-valve turbodiesel EFI engine.

2007 – Toyota’s first turbodiesel V8 engine, the 1VD-FTV was released in some countries for the 70 Series Land Cruiser. Other modifications include the addition of a 4-door medium-wheel-base model (the 76) and a significantly altered front look on all models.

The Sixth and Seventh generations of the Land Cruiser are still being produced and sold in African and Latin American regions, Venezuela is one of them, the Sixth generation is sold under the nickname of “Machito”(MACHO in Spanish is a very strong man, MACHITO is his son) and the Seventh being nicknamed “Autana” (After a mountain in the Gran Sabana region of Venezuela). NOTE: Production of the seventh generation of the Land Cruiser in Venezuela ended in 2008.

The 70 series (6th generation) is also still marketed in Australia as 4-door medium wheelbase, 2-door ‘Troop Carrier’ and 2-door utility.

80 Series

Also called

Toyota Burbuja (Colombia Ver.)

Toyota Autana

Lexus LX

Production

1990-1997

Assembly

ARACO

Toyota City, Aichi, Japan

Cuman, Venezuela

Body style(s)

4-door SUV

Layout

Front engine / four-wheel drive

Engine(s)

4.0 L I6 3F petrol

4.5 L I6 1FZ petrol

4.2 L I6 1HD diesel turbo

4.2 L I6 1HZ diesel

Transmission(s)

4-speed automatic

5-speed manual

Wheelbase

2,850 mm (112.2 in)

Length

4,780 mm (188.2 in) (1990-94)

4,820 mm (189.8 in) (1995-97)

Width

1,830 mm (72.0 in) (1990-91)

1,930 mm (76.0 in) (1992-97)

Height

1,785 mm (70.3 in) (1990-91)

1,860 mm (73.2 in) (1992-94)

1,870 mm (73.6 in) (1995-97)

The Land Cruiser 80 series was introduced in late 1989. It had swing-out back doors, which were replaced by a winch door in 1995. The Land Cruiser was nicknamed the Burbuja (Bubble) in Colombia and Venezuela due to its roundness, but it was officially released as Land Cruiser Autana in both countries (In reference to Venezuelan Tepuys).

A 80 Series Land Cruiser

with swing-out back-doors

( Model HZJ81V Japan)

1995-1997 Toyota Land Cruiser (US)

1995-1997 Toyota Land Cruiser

with an electric winch

(HDJ81V Japan)

1990 – New-generation diesel engines were introduced, a six-cylinder SOHC naturally aspirated motor (1HZ) , and a six-cylinder SOHC turbo-charged engine (1HD-T). Land Cruiser sales reached 2 million vehicles. The 80 was introduced to the Australian market with two diesel and a four litre inline six-cylinder petrol carb engine 3F.(derived from the earlier 2F petrol motor from the 60 series.) By mid 1991 the 3FE was introduced which was a fuel injected version of the 3F.

1993 – An advanced 24-valve, 4.5-litre six-cylinder petrol engine, 1FZ-FE was introduced. Larger brakes were added from October 1992 and the total wheelbase was made slightly longer.Front and rear axle lockers (code k294) appeared as an option.

1994 – A limited edition Land Cruiser Blue Marlin FZJ80R was introduced into the Australian market. They have 4.5 L straight 6 petrol motors with double overhead cams, automatic or manual transmission and 158 kW (215 PS; 212 hp) at 4600 rpm. The car is blue from the Blue Marlin fish and they have the Blue Marlin logo throughout the car. Some of the features that the Blue Marlin included were altimeters, power windows, disk brakes, leather gear knob and steering wheel, central locking, leather trim, chrome handles and sidesteps, 16″ alloy wheels, limited slip diff, ABS (antilock brakes), power steering, CD and cassette players, flares and a limited edition bull bar. Only 500 were made.

1995 – Driver and passenger airbags were introduced as were adjustable shoulder-belt anchors and an anti-lock braking system. The “T O Y O T A” badge was replaced with the modern Toyota logo (which is sometimes described as a “bean with a hat” aka “the sombrero”).

1996 – In the Dakar Rally, a pair of Land Cruisers finished first and second in the unmodified production class. All American and British 80s adopted anti-lock brakes and airbags as standard equipment. Alongside the 70 and 80, the 90 Prado was added. The 90 Prado was made by Tahara Plant, available as a 3-door short wheelbase and 5-door long wheelbase version with either the 5VZ-FE petrol engine (24-valve six-cylinder, 3.4-litre), the 3RZ-FS (four-cylinder 2.7-litre) petrol engine or the 1KZ-TE turbodiesel (four-cylinder 3.0-litre) and 5L diesel(four-cylinder 3.0-litre). The Land Cruiser was withdrawn from Canada this year and was replaced by the Lexus LX.

1997- A limited run of Land Cruiser 80s was built specifically for collectors and therefore called the Land Cruiser Collector’s Edition. The Collectors Edition sported Collectors Edition badging, “Collector’s Edition” embroidered floor mats, automatic climate control, wheels with the “D” windows painted dark grey and special grey side moldings, and black pearl badging. The Collectors Edition was only available for the 1997 model year and the package was added to many of the available body colors.

1997- An unknown number of FZJ-80 Land Cruisers were sold in the United States as “40th Anniversary Limited Edition” models. They were available in 2 colours; Antique Sage Pearl (Often referred to as Riverrock, Pewter or Grey) and Emerald Green. The 40th Anniversary models included apron badging, a serial number badge on the centre console, black pearl exterior badges, “40th Anniversary Limited Edition” embroidered floor mats, automatic climate control, two-tone tan and brown leather interiors and wheels with the “D” windows painted dark gray. Many were manufactured with the optional electric front and rear locking differentials, keyless entry, port-installed roof racks and running boards. There are some examples that did not have many of these extras.

2008- Last 80-Series vehicle was built in Venezuela which was the only country producing the vehicles after production ended in Japan in 1997.

90 Series

Also called

Toyota Mer (Venezuela)

Production

1996-present

90=Short wheel base

95=Long wheel base

100 Series

Also called

Lexus LX,

Toyota Land Cruiser Amazon (UK 1998-2003)

Production

1998-2007

Assembly

ARACO

Yoshiwara, Aichi, Japan

Body style(s)

4-door SUV

Engine(s)

4.5 L I6 1FZ petrol

4.2 L I6 1HD diesel turbo

4.2 L I6 1HZ diesel

4.7 L V8 2UZ petrol

Transmission(s)

6-speed manual,

5-speed automatic

Wheelbase

2,850 mm (112 in)

Length

4,890 mm (193 in)

Width

1,941 mm (76.4 in)

Height

1,849 mm (72.8 in)

Curb weight

2,320 kg (5,100 lb)

Fuel capacity

80 l (21 US gal)

Toyota Land Cruiser (US)

19982002 Toyota Land Cruiser (FZJ105R) GXL.

1998 – Toyota introduced the 100 Land Cruiser to replace the 80.

At launch the UZJ100 featured the first eight-cylinder engine (4.7-litre 32-valve 2UZ-FE petrol engine) in a Toyota four wheel drive.

Other engines in non-US markets included the 1HD-FT/E turbodiesel.

For the first time in Land Cruiser history, the 100 Series featured independent front suspension for increased on-road handling. In Africa and certain other markets, Toyota offered a 105 model, which retained the solid front axle for more demanding off-road use.

The Land Cruiser won Australian 4WD Monthly’s “4×4 Of The Year” award for the third time in a row.

It was called the Land Cruiser Amazon in the UK until 2003.

1999 – In 1999 Toyota worked with Sega to produce an advertising tie-in for the Land Cruiser 100/Cygnus and other vehicles using the Sega Dreamcast. These featured detailed 3D models of the cars and other promotional video.

2000 – 50th Anniversary of the Land Cruiser. Total global production to date is 3.72 million vehicles.

90 Prados get active traction control (Active TRAC), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC), and electronic brakeforce distribution (EBD) systems as standard equipment in some markets.

2002 – All new 120 Prado is released and the 100 is restyled.

The centre of gravity was lowered by 30 mm, ensuring better stability and dual fuel tanks with a total capacity of 180 L in the new 120 Prado.

Downhill Assist Control and Hill-start Assist Control enhance the vehicle’s stability under difficult off-road conditions.

2007 – Toyota unveils the Lexus LX570 URJ200 at the 2007 New York Auto Show.

For model year 2007 on Japanese models only, G-Book, a subscription telematics service, is offered as an option.

200 Series

Also called

Toyota Roraima (Venezuela)

Production

2008-present

Assembly

Toyota Auto body

Toyota City, Aichi, Japan

Tahara, Aichi Japan

Tianjin China

Body style(s)

4-door SUV

Layout

Front engine / four-wheel drive

Engine(s)

4.0 L V6 1GR petrol

2.7 L I4 2TR petrol

4.6 L V8 1UR petrol

5.7 L V8 3UR petrol

4.7 L V8 2UZ petrol

4.5 L V8 1VD diesel turbo

Transmission(s)

6-speed automatic

5-speed automatic

5-speed manual

Wheelbase

2,850 mm (112.2 in)

Length

4,950 mm (194.9 in)

Width

1,970 mm (77.6 in)

Height

1,880 mm (74.0 in)

Lexus LX

The Toyota Land Cruiser was redesigned for 2008. Known as the 200 Series, it will share the 2008 Lexus LX’s platform and overall design. Though many time-honored Land Cruiser supporters have welcomed the re-invigoration of the mechanical aspects of the vehicle, the 200 Series has encountered criticism due to its controversial body restyling, with some claiming that Toyota has ‘overdeveloped’ the classic trademarked Land Cruiser identity in its efforts to fit the Land Cruiser in to modern 21st century motoring. Toyota presented its completely redesigned Land Cruiser in October at the 2007 Australian International Motor Show in Sydney. The vehicle entered production in September and was available for sale in November 2007. Although the new Land Cruiser was presented at its first motor show in Sydney, it was already on sale in Japan, launched there in September 2007. It also became available in Venezuela for sale early in November under the local nickname of “Roraima” (Taken from Mount Roraima in Venezuela). The 200 Series is offered in three different levels of trim in Australia and Oceania:

GXL

Sahara

The 200 Series, offered numerous features and upgrades over its predecessor not limited to the cosmetic changes made to the body and interior, including:

Smart Entry – A sensor is triggered when the remote is brought near the vehicle, allowing the user to simply touch the door handle to open it.

Smart Start – Start/Stop push button for ignition; a key is not required.

4-zone climate control on Sahara models, with outlet vents increased from 18 to 28

10 airbags (VX & Sahara)

Stronger and lighter frame

Various driver assist technologies not offered on previous models including:

CRAWL; a four-wheel drive control system that operates like an off-road cruise control, automatically maintaining a low uniform vehicle speed using brakes and throttle.

Downhill Assist Control

A newly developed ABS system, the multi-terrain anti-lock braking system (ABS)

Kinetic Dynamic Suspension System (KDSS), allows for greater wheel articulation

Engine and transmission improvements include:

An all new optional V8 Diesel engine, the Toyota VD engine (A Twin-turbo version of the engine used in the 70 Series since 2007).

Automatic transmission standard across all levels of trim of the 200 Series, 5-speed manual transmission is offered only with the 4.0L GX models (in selected regions). A five-speed automatic gearbox is assigned to the 4.7L petrol models, while the 4.5L diesel models receive a six-speed automatic.

Sales numbers

Calendar year

United States

2000

15,509

2001

7,591

2002

6,752

2003

6,671

2004

6,778

2005

4,870

2006

3,376

2007

3,251

2008

3,801

Vanguard Total International Stock Market Index Fund

admin — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 11:47:32 +0000

vanguard Total International Stock Market Index fund

Authors@Google: Burton Malkiel

United States Utility Exchange Traded Funds

One area of the economy is so basic that it’s often overlooked by investors.

However, we all use its products every day of our lives. Demand for them slows down during bad economic periods but never stops. Furthermore, they are legal monopolies. And their profit margins are guaranteed by local and state governments.

For all those reasons utility Stocks have traditionally been considered so safe they’re most appropriate for widows and orphans who have no other source of income.

When investors think of “growth,” they never consider utilities. However, the demand for electricity, natural gas and water grows at least as fast as the population. The invention and spread of high tech gadgets from PCs to big screen TVs has fueled a tremendous surge in the use of electricity.

Utility companies do have disadvantages for investors. They’re capital-intensive. And the same regulatory agencies that guarantee their profit margins are subject to political pressures to reject rate hike requests and to force utilities to spend money on environmental considerations. Because of the fear of global warming, utilities are under pressure to find ways to reduce carbon emissions. Water utilities are faced with aging pipes and competition from bottled drinking water (but still provide the water for most showers, baths, dish washers, and clothes washers).

Therefore, as always, the safest course for investors is to diversify their utility portfolios. Three exchange traded funds make that simple and easy.

The first is iShares Dow Jones U.S. Utilities: IDU. IDU tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Utilities Index. It includes electric (about 75% of the total), natural gas, water, and multi-utility companies. It includes regulated utilities, unregulated merchant power generators, and unregulated independent power producers.

IDU’s top holdings are Exelon Corporation, Southern Company, Dominion Resources Inc, Duke Energy Corporation, FPL Group Inc, American Electric Power, PG&E Corporation, Public Service Enterprise GP, Entergy Corporation, and Spectra Energy Corporation. It owns a total of 76 companies. IDU’s expense ratio is 0.48%. Its distribution yield is 3.75%.

Vanguard Utilities ETF: VPU tracks the MSCI (Morgan Stanley Capital International) United States Investable Market Utilities Index. This is made up of large, medium sized, and small utility companies in the U.S. It includes electric, natural gas, and water utilities, and companies that act as independent producers or distributions of power. It includes both nuclear and nonnuclear utilities. Its SEC yield is 3.74%. Its expense ratio is 0.25%. VPU has eighty-eight holdings in total.

PowerShares Dynamic Utilities: PUI tracks the Dynamic Utilities Intellidex Index. That includes thirty utility stocks. Its expense ratio is 0.6%. Its distribution yield is 8.13%.

PUI’s top holdings are PG&E Corporation, Southern Company, Edison International, Public Service Enterprise Group Inc., PPL Corporation, Exelon Corporation, Sempra Energy, FPL Group Inc., Southern Union Co., and CenterPoint Energy Inc.

Therefore there is a lot of overlap among the three funds. Therefore, there’s no need for investors to buy shares in more than one of these ETFs. IDU is the most diversified and has the lowest expense ratio.

However, PUI now has the highest yield. That can change, however, so investors much check on current yields when they’re ready to invest.

About the Author

Next, if you’re depending on “growth” stocks to grow, your portfolio could remain dead for another 11 years! Profit from the secrets of investors who make money during both bull and bear markets. Send today for free report on income Investing secrets . Learn more about passbook savings accounts right now.

Vanguard Total International Stock Index fund?

I own Vanguard Total Stock Market fund and it has been performing well I was thinking about investing in the International Fund for my ROTH IRA for the long term. Is this a good idea, or could I do better?

The standard (and good) strategy is to invest in US, international, and bond Mutual Funds. The ideal is to shift your allocation of each type over time to achieve strong gains with minimum volatility.

Vanguard lets you shift allocations quarterly. I put a chart out on the web for you showing 15-years of quarterly allocation shifting.

http://www.fasttrack.net/answers/vanguard.gif

The yellow line is the result. The detailed explanation is at

http://www.fasttrack.net/vanguard_trading_strategies.asp

Europe Stock Market Holidays

admin — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 23:05:11 +0000

europe Stock Market holidays

J.A. Henckels International Provence 45-Piece Stainless-Steel Flatware Set, Service for 8

$87.95

The Provence flatware set from Henckels International Flatware Collection will add elegance to your table%2E The classic%2C timeless European design will complement any decor%2E The flatware is made from heavy gauge 18%2F10 stainless steel for superior strength and duribility%2E The continental size is larger than traditional flatware%2C adding to the elegance and sophistication of the flatware%2E…

Jim Rogers interveiws President of the Iceland Stock Market

Pet Friendly Holidays

Training Holidays

Every dog owner knows the heartache of leaving your faithful friend behind when you go away for that well-earned holiday.

We’ve all driven away from the boarding kennels promising ourselves it’s the last time and that in future we’ll only go on holidays where the dog can come, too. That’s one reason why more and more of us are taking our pets with us when we enjoy a break.

The current economic climate and concerns over the environmental impact of jetting off for far-flung places also mean it’s a boom time for the dog friendly holiday market in Britain. And despite the bureaucratic hoops of the Pet Passport Scheme, even those parts of Europe that can be easily reached by car are experiencing an increase in enquiries from dog-owning holiday makers.

But rather like the perennial family holiday problem of “what shall we do with the kids today?”, dog owners still need to be armed with a few ideas for keeping their pets amused and stimulated when they go away together. Walking holidays are a great way to see the country, top up your fitness levels and keep our four-legged friends interested. But not everybody – and certainly not every dog – wants to spend every single day of a holiday foot-slogging it up hill and down dale.

One alternative is to combine a trip away with your dog with a short training course. You could try almost anything from basic obedience and good behaviour to advanced skills such as agility and stock work. There are plenty of courses on offer, varying in length from a couple of hours to several days. Some are residential courses, where you can stay “on-site” at the training centre. But if not, most parts of Britain boast a range of dog friendly places where you can stay from plush country house hotels to cosy self-catering cottages and welcoming B and Bs.

The Paws For A Walk website carries details of a selection of the many training courses available in Britain and abroad as well as a wide range of accommodation possibilities. So why not combine a well-earned break in wonderful countryside with a bit of canine self-improvement?

Cumbria, for example, can offer magnificent scenery and walking opportunities – plus two of the country’s foremost trainers!

Katy Cropper, the first woman to win BBC television’s One Man and His Dog, is now based in the Cumbrian hills on the eastern edge of the Lake District, where she offers a range of courses in sheepdog handling. Drawing on her huge success in the field, Katy provides courses lasting from just an hour to three days and promises to get well and truly inside your dog’s head. For the frustrated pastoral dog as much as for the owner , it is guaranteed to be an unforgettable and life-changing experience.

Pembrokeshire Sheepdogs is run by Anna Lou Daybell and Marion and Brian Loverig at Tremynydd Fach, a working sheep farm in this beautiful part of Wales. Courses cover all aspects of sheepdog handling, from basic training for farm work, to advanced tuition for trials.

Self-catering cottage holidays and bed and breakfast in the farm are available. Private lessons, half day up to 4 day courses . Training is tailored to suit you and your dogs level in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Situated 3 miles from St Davids and close to the beautiful Whitesands Bay.

Debbie Connolly is an Animal Behaviourist with over 27 years experience. She believes in a natural approach, teaching owners to understand and sometimes mimic the pet’s behaviour to get the right result. Safepets offers residential holidays with behavioural help and training, lessons are also offered in sheep herding and trials.

Holiday training opportunities don’t have to be totally serious or goal-orientated, of course. These days it’s not so uncommon to find dog friendly holiday lets which provide fun activities for keeping your pet active and occupied.

Burnells Gardens is a small family run farm bed and breakfast, situated in the beautiful Aville Valley on Exmoor. Close to Minehead and Dunster and with moorland, valleys and beaches within easy reach this is a lovely place from which to explore Exmoor. The agility course is available for guests to use.

In County Durham, close to Barnard Castle, Mandy and Mark Bainbridge have self catering accommodation in this Area of Oustanding Natural Beauty. Laverock Holiday Cottages are part of a working sheep farm where they offer agility and sheepdog training lessons.

Ashleygrove Gundogs is based in the Hertfordshire countryside. They offer handling skills to gundog owners through private lessons and group courses. Avis Boreham has developed training methods which are based on building a sound relationship with your dog and learning some basic canine communication skills to achieve trust on both sides.

Working Canines are based in South West Fife, near to the Forth road bridge. They offer basic obedience and gundog training. An area of lochs, beaches, fields and woodland make this a lovely base for a holiday.

Further afield France offers relaxing gites and friendly and welcoming Chambre d’hotes, and whichever part of France you choose you will find plenty to do, plenty of villages and towns to explore and bring back some wonderful memories. La Belle Vilaine has friendly, family run gite accommodation in South Brittany. Located in the heart of the picturesque Morbihan countryside the area offers an authentic flavour of France. The owners have dogs of their own and this is a great place for a dog friendly holiday, with walks directly from the cottages, beaches close-by and even an agility course to have a go at under supervision.

Paws for a Walk
www.pawsforawalk.co.uk
info@pawsforawalk.co.uk

About the Author

Vanguard Total International Stock Market Fund

admin — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 04:05:13 +0000

vanguard Total International Stock Market Fund

Thomas Sowell on Intellectuals and Society

The Three-ingredient Recipe for Cooking Up Profits

Natalie’s Three-Ingredient Investment Recipe for Cooking Up Profits

1. Start with what you know and love.

2. Pick the leader in the sector (in real estate, it’s location, location, location).

3. Buy low; sell high (easy to say; hard to do).

Any time a potential investment seems too complicated and twists your mind into endless debates, go back to the simplicity of this formula. If it doesn’t pass this test, just say, “Not now.” You still need more information before you can make a well-informed decision.

Be disciplined about following the recipe. You need all of the ingredients, and if you take the steps out of order, you could end up with a brick that sinks your profits rather than a cake that rises light and fluffy to Cloud 9. Since we all want to vacation on Cloud 9 before we’re ninety, let’s sharpen your skills and start cooking.

Step One: Start With What You Know and Love

The first ingredient is easy enough. If you want to invest in infrastructure in India, and you’ve never been there, you have to commit to visiting India and doing a lot of research or be disciplined enough to just say no to the investment.

Warren Buffett, one of the most successful investors of all time, is notorious for not Investing in NASDAQ. He didn’t understand or care about technology enough to compete with his buddy Bill Gates (and conversely, Bill Gates is heavy in technology and lighter in insurance — one of Buffett’s fields of expertise). In the latter part of the 1990s, Warren was ridiculed for missing out on the rocket ship gains that the NASDAQ enjoyed. He missed the high and he missed the crash landing, and meanwhile, his returns chugged along for steady, reliable, strong gains.

What few people realize is that Trading individual Stocks is a tennis match. One person wins (buys low; sells high) and the other loses (buys high; sells low). A novice is a sitting pigeon for the master. Imagine stepping out on the tennis court with Roger Federer (who by the fall of 2008 had already won thirteen Grand Slam tennis titles) and expect to even see a ball coming at you. Very unlikely.

If you don’t know the first thing about a company or its product and you’re not excited enough to get savvy, why step on the court and humiliate yourself with a devastating loss to the pros? Instead, focus on long-term results and proper nest-egg diversification strategies, find the perfect broker (who is your second most important life partner), and tithe to the plan from every paycheck. The average returns of The Stock Market over the last twenty-five years have been over 11 percent (higher than real estate), so that discipline alone could make you a millionaire.

Over the years, I’ve come across a lot of people who say that they don’t know anything about anything, which is completely untrue. My police officer cousin found Taser International, my 2003 Company of the Year, which went on to earn up to 9,000 percent gains over the next three years. Whatever you do for a living gives you an insider’s view of something. Your cleaning lady or people on the janitorial crew where you work know why they like certain cleaning products over others. I use a carpet cleaner who has taken the trouble to become the expert on organic cleaning products. You have some passion and some expertise. I’m simply giving you a framework within which to use it.

Of course, just loving the product or the store doesn’t prove the stock is a good deal or that the company will continue to beat out the competition. That’s why there are two other steps.

Step Two: Pick the Leader in the Sector

The second ingredient is easy to come by when you line up the numbers in my Stock Report Card (see Chapter 6) and ask the Four Basic Questions for Picking Winning Stocks (Chapter 5).

For those of you who really have a taste for investing in individual stocks — and who hasn’t wanted to invest in some product that s/he loves! — picking the leader in a sector is not overly complicated. Picking the leader means that you have to take a devil’s advocate approach to the product that you know and love. There were people who were buying an interest in the leading maker of horse-drawn carriages just when Ford was releasing its first motor car. People were Buying Stock in Worldcom the year before Skype began giving away free long distance over the Internet. You have to determine whether or not the product, company or real estate will be valuable to buyers in the future.

Every month, I go through the exact same research and analysis on a different sector, employ this exact recipe, ask my four questions and inevitably there’s one company that’s leading the pack. And that company is usually pretty easy to identify because it shines in more than one category. Better yet: none of these strategies require earning a Ph.D. in economics or sitting at your computer watching the markets every day at the crack of dawn.

Interview your friends and neighbors on whether or not they like the product or service or prefer the competition. (Don’t ask your friends about the stock; ask them about the product. It’s their preferences as consumers/users of the good that you want to know, not their layman’s opinion on Wall Street strategies.) Ask them the four questions if you really want to get them to deeply consider their love of the product.

Remember: the CEO is the soul of the company. Get to know the CEO of the company you love and the competition a little better by researching some of her speeches online and/ or reading the CEO’s Note to Shareholders in the company’s annual report. (The annual reports should be available on the SEC.gov web site, as well as the company’s web site.)

Once you pick the leader in a sector, the final determination is simply whether or not you’re buying for a good price or paying through the nose.

Step Three: Buy Low, Sell High

The third ingredient in the recipe is largely a game of mastering your emotions as much as employing strategies for identifying the low and high prices.

Buying low and selling high is completely against human nature. Buying low means that when everyone is crying Apocalypse, you’re seeing Opportunity. Selling high means that you’re leaving the party at midnight (sober), while all the punch drunks are screaming that the party is going till dawn, and you’re going to “Miss out, man. If you just hang out a little while longer, imagine how much more fun you’ll have.”

No one has a crystal ball on when the low and high of an investment will occur, but there are a number of factors you need to consider before you make a buying or selling decision.

Calendar Trends
• Santa Rally
• Back-to-School Stock Sales
• Summer Doldrums
• Preelection Year Rally

Other Considerations
• Natural Disasters
• Small Caps for Performance
• Large Caps for Stability
• Exchange Traded Funds versus Mutual Funds
• Diversification and Asset Allocation
• Happy People Make Better Products Faster and Cheaper
• The Economics of Freedom
• Emerging Markets

Historical Performance

If you already have some market experience, you might be stunned to notice that I haven’t included P/E — price-to-Earnings ratio — on this list. Yes, price-to-earnings ratio counts, but the above factors can be as important to determining the optimum buy/sell time as P/E is. When you read the P/E discussion later in these pages, you’ll start understanding why.

If you don’t know price-to-earnings ratio from hieroglyphics, don’t worry. It’s not difficult to understand “Never Pay Retail” and “Buy Low, Sell High.” It’s pretty easy to find out what the 52-week high and low prices are or even what the five-and ten-year highs and lows are, to use as a gauge. Start now with what you understand and accept that you will continue to gain knowledge as you keep reading.

Mastering The Three-Part Recipe-Water Your Money Tree: Your Brain

Write out the Three-Ingredient Recipe on an index card and stick it up in your office — or wherever you do your investments — until thinking about investing this way becomes second nature. This recipe works every time — except in an apocalypse . . . and if one of those comes, you’ll have much bigger problems to worry about.

The Bottom Line

You already have the tools you need to become successful in investing. The reason you might have lost money in the past is that you didn’t trust your wisdom (you placed blind faith in someone else’s), or you didn’t tithe regularly, or you didn’t have a disciplined approach to profit-taking (like the recipe offers), or you didn’t ask enough questions before jumping in (like the four questions force you to do), or you didn’t have the fundamentals of a diversified, asset allocation plan in place that changes as you age.

Investments are like a mosaic. The more tiles you uncover, the clearer the picture. If you plunge your head in the sand and rely solely on the plan of a broker you hardly know, or on a single hot tip, or any other single piece of the puzzle, don’t be surprised if your nest egg lies broken in pieces, never quite assembled into the life of your dreams.

Following the ups and downs of a Stock Price is not educating yourself. It’s obsessing and may lead to an ulcer or, worse, a heart attack. Do your research and evaluation before you buy, and you’ll be able to sleep soundly when the markets are unruly. Many investments treat you to a jittery period of volatility before they go on to great gains. Successful investors almost always go through a price roller-coaster before the stock soars. The roller-coaster ride can be totally worth it in the end, if you’re not having a heart attack. (If you have confidence that your investment is a winner, the ups and downs of the market will seem more like a child having a temper tantrum than Apocalypse Now.)

If your potential investment passes all three criteria of the investment recipe, odds are in your favor to start getting rich the easy way — by following your heart and adding your brain.

Natalie’s Three Takeaway Tips

1. The path to investing wisdom is like learning a foreign language. The words sound like gobbledygook in the beginning, but as you keep talking, you start understanding more and more words, and soon enough you can master the language. There’s no shortcut. Just start talking.

2. Investments are like a mosaic. The more tiles you turn over, the clearer picture you’ll have of the health of the investment.

3. Picking the leader in the sector is the most difficult task. It pays to fill out a Stock Report Card and ask the four basic questions, which are outlined in Chapters 5 and 6.

The above excerpt is a digitally scanned reproduction of text from print. Although this excerpt has been proofread, occasional errors may appear due to the scanning process. Please refer to the finished book for accuracy.

Author Bio
Natalie Pace, is adding a splash of green to Wall Street and transforming lives on Main Street. She is the founder and CEO of one of the most respected independently owned financial news organizations in the world. She has been ranked as a #1 Stock Picker from TipsTraders.com and has partnered with Forbes.com. She has repeat guest appearances on Fox News, Good Morning America, Time Magazine, More Magazine, USA Today, NPR and Kiplinger’s Personal Finance. She currently lives in Southern California.

About the Author

For more information please visit, http://www.nataliepace.com/

What is Vanguard Asset Allocation?

The Vanguard LifeCycle funds invest in “Vanguard Asset Allocation” I was wondering what exactly is that fund, and what is its purpose when coupled with the Total Domestic Stock Market and Total International Stock Market?

Vanguard® Asset Allocation Fund seeks to maximize long-term total return (share price plus income) while incurring less stock market risk than a fund made up entirely of stocks.

In other words this is a balanced fund investing in blended stocks and long term Treasury and agency bonds

Total International Stock Market Fund

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 10:10:53 +0000

total International Stock Market Fund

Inside Look – Alpine International Real Estate Equity Fund – Bloomberg

Stock Market in India

The bull-run in the Indian stock market came to a halt on May 18, as the Bombay Stock Exchange recorded its worst fall.

The benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange closed at 11,391 down 826 points, which is the highest ever fall for the Sensex. The NSE Nifty closed with a loss of 246 points at 3388. Taking cues from both global and domestic developments, the markets entered their first correction mode in two years.

These were the figures on May the 18th when The Stock Market came down crashing. This was one of the biggest crashes that Stock Market had suffered over a long period of time. But this was speculated by most of the stock experts and largely by the investors at large. Foreign funds have invested huge amount in India’s stock market and are currently driving the stock market rally. Fears of further rises in US interest rates, increasing inflation and growing risk aversion among international investors are driving the Asian markets down and the Indian market has followed the trend. But currently The Stock Markets are running on a rampage bull kissing the magical figure of 20K a dream come true for most share Traders

It serves as the best investment option for the following reasons:

* Possibility of high returns

* Easy liquidity

* Unbeatable tax benefits

* Income from dividends

Bombay Stock Exchange is the largest, with over 6,000 Stocks listed. The BSE accounts for over two thirds of the total Trading volume in the country. Established in 1875, the exchange is also the oldest in Asia. Among the twenty-two Stock Exchanges recognised by the Government of India under the Securities Contracts (Regulation) Act, 1956, it was the first one to be recognised and it is the only one that had the privilege of getting permanent recognition ab-initio.Apart from the BSE SENSEX, which is the most accepted stock index in India, BSE uses other stock indicators as well. These are BSE 500, BSE 100, BSE 200, BSE PSU, BSE MIDCAP, BSE SMLCAP, BSE BANKEX, BSE Teck, BSE Auto, BSE Pharma, BSE Fast Moving Consumer Goods, BSE Metal, BSE Metal and BSE Broadcast. The BSE Broadcast is a large timepiece on the wall of the BSE, which constantly exhibits the most recent Stock Quotes from the market. It is also displayed on one of the foremost business-news channels in India — NDTV Profit. The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has already made a strategic investment in Bombay Stock Exchange (5%) for US$42

Visit for more info

About the Author

Peter Frank
SEO – Internet

Which of the following is a true statement?

A. The bank and thrift share of total financial assets has increased dramatically since 1980.
B. The vast bulk of investment in the major nations in financed, not from internal saving , but from funds from abroad.
C.The worlds financial markets have become increasingly integrated.
D.International stock and bond fund cannot be sold in the United States.

C is definitely true.

Wall Street Stock Market Paintings

admin — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 17:35:55 +0000

wall street Stock Market paintings

Nektarios – Wall Street

Churchill From 1914-1939, and the Unnecessary War

In modern times it is useful to learn the travails of the past. Churchill at war, is a perfect example of someone defending the Anglo-Saxon heritage of freedom, division of powers, open markets, and life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Only Bush, Blair, Brown it is alleged, and some other leaders understand Islam’s threat to Western Civilisation. It is very similar to the universal designs that predatory Nazism and corrupt Communism had upon unsupspecting states.
=====

In his own recorded history of the First World War Churchill charges that, like the Second World War, the first was completely unnecessary and could have been prevented if wiser counsels and less weak and pathetically Byzantine alliances were in existence. Britain through covert arrangements finalised before 1914, had committed itself to the French-Russian side of the European chess board though it was never spelled out why or how Britain could or should support either France or Russia in a general engagement against Germany – the predetermined enemy. It was generally agreed in the 3 or 4 years preceding 1914 that Germany would strike for pan-European mastery when her fighting strength was able to contain two fronts – one on the east with Russia and the second in the west with France. The German army was by most accounts superior to the French and her fleet though not nearly as large as the British could still cause deep anxiety at the British admiralty. In fact there never was a decisive engagement between the British and German navies during the First World War, the only notable tangle being the battle of Jutland which gave neither navy an increase in fighting reputation.

It was obvious that pre-1914 Britain could bring little influence to bear on the Continent and its small volunteer force was tiny compared to the great conscript armies of Europe. Whether the Liberal government in power in 1914 would have entered the war at all without Germany invading Belgium is open to question. However with typical arrogance Germany ignored the usual British concern over the strategic importance of the Low Countries smashing the Belgian defences and forcing the British to intervene. Unlike their Teutonic cousins the British are not a warrior race and the unpreparedness of British war capacity both in 1914 and 1939 well illustrate this point. British success in the world was premised on free trade and peace and not upon martial prowess and in both world wars the British nation was psychologically unprepared for the conflict.

Besides the pending Armageddon in Europe the maintenance of the empire in 1914 was a full task in itself. In 1914 there were 200.000 men under arms in Ireland where a revolt over Home Rule seemed inevitable; in England the miners, the railwaymen and the transport workers were each claiming union recognition for the railwaymen who had thus far been excluded from the TU; and all workers were appealing for a 48 hour work week. As well British forces had to face nationalist troubles in Egypt and India and not to mention in August 1914 the armed and deranged power of a grasping degenerate Germany.

The British in short were being racked by the evolutionary and even Darwinian strains of liberalism which its democratic institutions could barely contain and affront. Thankfully for the British war effort many of the domestic squabbles were delayed while the death dance with Germany played on. Domestic problems were sidelined due to the early misfortunes in the war for the British and French forces. The Allies suffered many military reverses and only a stubborn French resistance at the Marne in late 1914 prevented a quick German victory. In fact in 1911 Churchill had predicted this very occurrence in the advent of a Continental war. Churchill had predicted that on the 40th day of the German attack the German line would be thrown back due to Allied resistance and logistical difficulties. On day 41 the French won the battle of the Marne preserving Paris and French freedom. After the battle of the Marne the British nation settled in for a long war.

At the outbreak of the hostilities the Navy was more than ready. It transported the British army to France without loss of life and under Churchill’s constant prodding attacked the island of Sylt off the north coast of Germany, sinking a destroyer, a cruiser and crippling five more ships. Churchill at the request of the Secretary of State for War Lord Kitchen, undertook the air defence of the British Isles and dubbed this airfleet the Royal Naval Air Service. He also sponsored the development of the tank, and thanks to his efforts the British were able to use the land carrier with devastating success in the final two years of the war. Without Churchill’s innovative demands and constant championing of the tank concept it may never have seen the battlefield, and may never have played such a decisive part in the fall of Germany in 1918.

Churchill began the war as Asquith’s golden boy. But his triumphs were short lived. The first cause for concern was something called the ‘Dunkirk’ Circus. This project was conceived from the trepidation’s that the Huns might capture the channel ports. The French requested assistance in the defence of the Dunkirk perimeter. Kitchen asked Churchill’s help and Winston sent across the channel his naval marines replete with 50 motor omnibuses from London to give them the requisite mobility. The Dunkirk Circus appeared in various towns in the area, giving the Germans the impression that a large force of British regulars was co-operating with the French in the area. It was successful and Churchill spent a good deal of time in France with his marines, much to the chagrin and anger of his colleagues, the Conservatives and the press, who wondered in scathing public rebukes why the First Lord was not at his desk in London doing his job ? The Prime Minister Asquith was not amused with his Alcibiades.

Then in late September 1914 Churchill delivered a flamboyant and damning speech in which he made a very unwise observation that soiled his name for years to come, “So far as the Navy is concerned we cannot fight while the enemy remains in port….If they do not come out and fight they will be dug out like rats from a hole.” Well, the very next day three British ships were torpedoed off the Dutch coast and sunk. This was a ‘bait’ squadron which had been ordered 3 days previously to return to England. If this order had been immediately obeyed the loss would have been avoided. His speech posed him in a ridiculous light and coupled with the Dunkirk Circus gave his enemies plenty to hurl his way. The next step of mishappenstance, though again not the direct fault or cause of Churchill, was the fall of Antwerp.

In 1914 war tidings were grim. The early German successes in the war in 1914 led Churchill to cross the channel to Antwerp to stiffen the Belgian and Allied defence of the city so crucial for the control of the Channel ports and the north western European coast and indeed in some respects for the safety of Britain, which would lie imperilled if the seaboard was controlled by a violent foe. The Antwerp escapade though it ultimately did not prevent the Germans from taking the city was crucial for defence of the coast since it delayed the German advance down the coast by 3 or 4 vital days allowing the British and French to re-deploy and organise their defences to hold the key channel ports. But this very sound decision of Churchill to lead the defence of Antwerp was vitiated by his clumsy offer to Asquith and the Cabinet to resign and take field duty if he were given the command of sufficient forces to satiate his military ambition. It was a very rash and improbable communication much hailed by his critics as an example of his unreliability.

Churchill was forced then to keep himself close to the rudder and he forced himself to remain in London. In so doing came to rely on the productivity and innovation casted off by his relationship with the brilliant old sea dog Jackie Fisher. The Fisher – Churchill combination continued to work at a frenetic rate, Churchill’s political diminishment notwithstanding. After a sharp defeat of a British naval squadron off the coast of Chile, spirit and prestige was revived when the German admiral Von Spee was killed off the Falkland Islands with the loss of his whole squadron. It was a smashing victory and redemption for the Churchill-Fisher combination. Then suddenly Turkey entered the war on the side of Germany, and Russia demanded that the Allies take action in the Middle East to draw off some Turkish pressure on Russian forces. Churchill at once seized upon the idea – offered on many occasions – of forcing the fortresses that flanked the narrow straits of the Dardanelles by a naval operation alone that would allow the Allies to capture Constantinople and push Turkey out of the war.

The attack was given Cabinet approval and went ahead at first as a naval operation. On February 19 the fleet opened up the bombardment of the straits. Kitchen a short while later promised troops. For the first 10 days the attack went well with the outer fortresses falling. Then suddenly the progress stopped. Turkish resistance was much stiffer than anticipated and sea mines were causing damage and anxiety to the British and French navies. On March 18th 1915 the Allied navy massed for a decisive attack and blasted the shores with such a cannonade that most of the defences were swept away. The navy steamed on to what seemed to be victory when the vessels struck a row of mines sinking 3 older ships and crippling four more. The attack was called off and the naval officers after some deliberation refused to continue the attack unless the army intervened and commenced a land campaign.

Churchill was apoplectic. He felt that victory was in sight but he could not force his naval commanders to reengage. Local commanders had ultimate authority and direction at the scene and the military command in London which was not organised properly to enact final decisions or reach a connected vision of strategy, could do little to impress its views on men thousand of miles away. Five long precious weeks were wasted until the French, Anzac and British troops stormed the Gallipoli shores. Surprise as a variable was cast away, the Turks and their German allies had mounted an intricate and obdurate system of defences and German submarines began to appear in the domain complicating the operation. Gradually the Navy pulled out and left the whole task to Kitchener’s army which straggled and floundered on the rocky shores locked in strife with a desperate enemy in control of the high points of the landscape. In December 1915 Gallipoli was evacuated with well over a quarter of a million French, British and Anzac casualties.

Churchill supported by later historians and enemy documents makes a very convincing argument for himself and the Gallipoli attack in his fascinating book on World War One, The World Crisis. It is known that the Turkish gunners during the last naval assault of March 18 had only enough ammunition to fight one more such action. The Turkish and German defenders were astonished that the British had not pushed forward. In fact the German naval gunners had already determined that the Navy would win and that holding out much longer was hopeless. Most experts agree that a combined land-sea operation would have succeeded. Churchill should be faulted for not being patient enough to wait until the army was ready for such a combined assault. He was too enamoured of a naval-only success. However, in his defence it is certain that the amateurish, haphazard decision making around the operation, with no clear cut authority and overall plan was not his fault. Remarkably no machinery of consultation existed between the naval and army departments and consequently Churchill’s power to persuade and help control complex co-ordinated operations was severely limited. This was not helped by the absolute dominance of the war lord, Kitchener. He was not just a hero, but a god, a famous general with great successes recorded in Egypt, the Sudan and South Africa. If the government had been better organised and more cohesive the war could have conceivably ended in 1915, with Turkey knocked out of the war, the Russian armies fighting the Turks in the Caucasus liberated to direct their fury against the Germans, the Balkans enlisted on the side of the Allies and Allied armies pouring into the soft, unprotected ‘underbelly’ of Germany. If successful Gallipoli could have saved millions of lives.

However Fisher resigned over the Dardanelles fiasco and this coupled with Antwerp, the Dunkirk circus, the apparent loss of paramount naval supremity and Gallipoli all forced Churchill to resign. Ten months earlier he was one of the most powerful men in England. Gallant, brave, an accomplished writer and orator, blessed with boundless energy and close relationships with key politico’s, his star’s lustre was dazzling and its light appeared to shine far into the future. Yet by 1915 though he was only 40 it appeared to many that his career was finished. He still had a quality of immaturity possessed of great ideas but with no real or stable sense of proportion. The relinquishment of power was bitter as Churchill wrote “I knew everything but could do nothing.” Little else can describe the painful forfeiture of power better. What brought about this rapid de-elevation ?

The answer lies in his personality. Much of the blame was unfair. He was the most important and vital minister in Britain during this period and had rendered valuable service in the cause of freedom. His small but gallant Naval Air Force was scouting German Zeppelins with increasing success, the Dunkirk Circus had fooled the Germans into believing that forty thousand British regulars threatened their flank and forced them into retreat, and the prolongation of the Antwerp defence had saved the channel ports from Hunnish occupation. It was more the flamboyance and self-assuredness of the First Lord that aroused suspicions and opposition. Churchill forgot that he was a politician and therefore had to tie either the Conservatives or Liberals to his tail to create a following. Not doing so appointed the day for his expulsion from the government when the vicissitudes of fate came calling.

The Conservatives still hated him and some of his Liberal colleagues were overwhelmed by the man’s ambition and capacity. From most accounts it is safe to say that Churchill was not a well liked fellow in either a political or personal sense. His parliamentary colleagues recognised his genius but he offended their amour-propre. People did not interest Churchill but ideas. His absorption in his own affairs illuminated a vanity that was hard for some to accept. Churchill’s incisive, compelling monologues tended to disregard the feelings and opinions of his audience and created the aura of gross insensibility which is a determined flaw in a democratic statesman who must not only expand ideas but impel others to accept them.

To assuage his sorrow Churchill headed to the front lines in 1915 in command of a brigade and experienced life and very nearly death in the trenches. Though it was a political difficulty, his scope of power was increased to that of a battalion commander in Belgium, though Churchill knew that a substantial military career was not to be his. His battalion – the Royal Scots Fusiliers – were nonplussed that a politician had been thrusted into their midst. On his second day with the group Churchill won over his men by gathering the officers together and announcing solemnly; “War is declared, gentlemen, on the lice.” This was followed by an erudite and expanded lecture on the origin, growth, and nature of the louse, with particular emphasis on its decisive role in the history of warfare. The officers were not only amused and shocked, but fascinated.

With the spectacle of a great and creative mind bursting with hard work and focused on the comparatively small needs of a battalion, excitement and activity was assured. Churchill especially impressed his men by his coolness under fire and the complete lack of nervousness with bullets spluttering about as he would almost recklessly expose himself to enemy fire. By all accounts he was a trusted and quite effective Leader – interested in all details of the men, their methods and wants, the operations and the enforcement of military discipline and fairness. Though only at the front for over four months it gave Churchill a comprehensive experience of the horrors and follies of war and the undeniable bestial conditions that the men at the front fought, lived and died in.

Churchill was however a Leader and a statesman and not a warrior at the core of his being. When the combination of battalions ended his military career he took the opportunity to race back to London to participate in political opposition and await the detailed investigation of the Dardanelles event by a special commission. Churchill was anxious that his character and public career should receive a fair hearing. The Dardanelles report was published in 1917 and gave Churchill a rather favourable press, severely criticising the Prime Minister Asquith, for his handling of the War Cabinet and for Kitchen who as Secretary of War did not send troops sooner. Churchill was not exonerated but importantly for him not crucified by the commission. A resuscitation of his political career was now possible.

In 1916 Lloyd George claiming a liberal-democratic war, based on crusading moral principles and responsibilities, became Prime Minister and was masterful in his management of the British war effort. Indeed many historians have suggested that without his leadership of Britain during the war, victory may have come later if at all. Domestic disputes were still quiescent though less so after the 1917 Russian revolution, where Russia was ripped open by the wolfish, bloodthirsty Bolsheviks which knocked it out of the war and gave Europe the misguided but enthusiastically received messianic appeal of bolshevism in its war weary nations. This dulled the appetite of Britain and France to fight on.

Men of mettle. intelligence and dedicated to ultimate victory were therefore needed and George wanted Churchill’s energies and imagination and great leadership capacity working for the government and not skulking on the opposition benches tearing holes in government policy. Though the opposition to Churchill was extremely intense especially in Conservative circles, Churchill was appointed as Minister of Munitions in 1917. The noise against his appointment was deafening especially astonishing Churchill who was deeply unaware at the amount of hostility that he had created in political circles. Since Churchill was officially an independent candidate and not a member of either the Liberal or Conservative Party he was not included in the War Cabinet which curtailed his activities probably to his own benefit. As George recorded in his memoirs, “Unfortunately genius always provides its critics with material for censure — it always has and always will. Churchill is certainly no exception to this rule.”

At the Ministry of Munitions Churchill took over the control of a huge organisation composed of 12000 civil servants in 50 departments. Churchill combined the 50 groups into less than a dozen new ones and he set up a Council of business men somewhat like the Board of Admiralty and over the business men he put a clamping committee, small and powerful to direct affairs. The organisation was a triumph. This Ministry covered an enormous field – it was not only responsible for guns and shells but for all sorts of rolling stock and the design and production of aircraft as well. Churchill had to appreciably increase the munitions for the tank and machine gun corps which he did extraordinarily quickly and also to supply the American military with supplies until the USA could bring their factories onto a war footing. He in effect made a gentlemen’s agreement by which the UK promised not to make a profit and the USA promised to make good a loss. The deal worked spectacularly. Winston established extremely cordial relations with his counterpart in Washington – Bernard Baruch – who was to become indispensable for Britain in its World War Two efforts to receive American armaments during the dark days of 1940 and 1941.

The appalling and senseless First World War sank deep into consciousness of the British nation and explains why bolshevism was granted receptive audiences throughout Europe and why the nations of Europe were eager to appease Hitler 20 years later. At the Battle of the Somme a British offensive in 1916 claimed 420.000 British casualties in one month. From August to September 1917 at Paaschendaele Belgium, 300.000 Empire soldiers were wounded or killed in a campaign to claim a few square miles of territory with many of the victims drowned in torrential rains. Even after the successful conclusion of the war with the dramatic and sudden German disintegration in the early summer of 1918 the British and French populace could never erase the carnage and mindless mutilation of 4 years of war and became profoundly anti-war and pro-pacifist.

This pacifist feeling and urge to rebuild a better world was manifest in the 1918 election where Lloyd George and his coalition government retained power. At this juncture the Liberal party, once the prime mover in all that was progressive and enlightened, was all but finished, weak, divided and without firm mass support. The Conservatives took the urban vote, and the Labour party the worker vote. The Trade Unions on which Labour depended became enormously strengthened by the war experience and their membership doubled to roughly over 8 million by 1919. Given the voting reforms in 1918 this power became effectively used as the electorate was extended from about 8 million in 1914, to over 21 million in 1918.

After the successful close of the First World War the Imperial mystique was powerful and even enhanced. British possessions in the Middle East and Africa grew, with concomitant increases in raw material resource including oil. It appeared that British economic strength given the severity of the peace reprisals hoisted upon Germany and the minimisation of her once severe economic threat, could enjoy something of a comeback. In the 1920’s under Lloyd George all major industries were returned to private hands. The Government also began trumpeting a consistent financial policy to ensure an eventual return to the Gold Standard, meaning that the City of London, the British class system, and private capitalism all appeared to continue unchallenged.

However fiscal reality overshadowed the blissful feeling of Empire grandeur. Financial and military constraints to manage the Empire were severe and India with its growing nationalism was becoming ever more of a moral and financial burden. There was a huge increase from the war effort in national debt and the subsequent loss of foreign markets especially in Germany and France. Lloyd George had also committed his government to the necessary but costly endeavour of building 200.000 houses for immediate public purchase in 1919. Massive post-war unemployment was fast becoming a crippling political problem for the British government, as was the realisation that perhaps the greatest threat to international stability was the narrow minded, nescient Versailles Peace Treaty effected in 1919. Covert, secret treaties concluded during the war between Britain and its allies, with unjust terms for financial reparations from Germany as described by J.M. Keynes’ ‘Economic Consequences of the Peace’ written in 1919, showed conclusively that the reparations imposed on Germany would lead to its financial ruin and thereby to the permanent weakening of the European economy. Keynes also devoted eloquent, penetrating prose, in describing the corrupt atmosphere of the Versailles arrangement and in particular Lloyd George’s debasing and unstatesmanlike conduct.

Churchill though he was the most visible advocate of better social conditions was assigned by George as the Secretary of State for War and Air. This was a key position in post war Europe, a Continent which was far from stable and where, the insipidity of Bolshevism was threatening to take over Germany. Churchill and others promulgated that given these internal disruptions a certain magnanimity towards Germany would be prudent since she was and is the central player in the concert of Europe. In fact the Bolshevist menace occupied a great deal of Churchill’s energies in 1919 and 1920. He firmly believed that if enough Western material and support were offered to the non-Bolshie forces in Russia, Lenin’s precarious revolution which during these years was in great danger of being eclipsed by military forces loyal to the Russian monarchy and to a lesser degree supportive of democracy could be eradicated.

That Bolshevism was foul baboonery was obvious to any but the most ardent and simple socialist utopian. Lloyd George however considered that the Russian anti-Bolshevist generals were not liberal democrats and that foreign intervention counter-productive and expensive. And though Churchill was right about Bolshevism being imposed by force, Britain was too exhausted by the Great War to intervene militarily or even spiritually. The prospect of another conflict was too horrifying to consider and most of the volunteers in the army were clamouring to be disbanded. Thus in part through Western weakness the irrationality of Bolshevism laid its clawed hand on the heart of Russia. A tragedy still apparent in the mindset, lost integrity and general disarray of the Russian people and nation today.

After dispensing with his duties as Secretary of War, Churchill was directed by George to sort out painful and essential problems in the Colonial Office. In the brief 18 months of 1921-22 when Winston was Secretary for the Colonies he justly claimed the mantle of peace maker. He enacted two very important settlements. The first was in the Middle East. Churchill still carried the great hope that Britain would conduct itself in a pure manner regarding native or colonial populations and government. His experience taught him that democracy was not applicable at all times in all locations to all peoples, yet fair government rested not on military power but on moral law. Churchill in effect cut military deployment and largess in the colonies especially in the newly acquired territories in the Middle East where Air power was substituted in some measure for troops to garrison the Empire. It was in this quarter as well that Churchill strove gamely within the British protectorate of Palestine to broker peace between the Jews and Arabs, and to push the idea of a Jewish state in the region in accordance with the Balfour declaration of 1917 which stated that the Jews were to be accorded a national home in the Middle East. Churchill was convinced that Zionism would bring with it prosperity if only peace could be arranged between the implacable parties.

He called upon the aid of the amazing Englishman Lawrence of Arabia, and settled in Cairo during a conference, the grievances of all concerned parties. The proposals were sent to Cabinet. First, the British must appease Arab emotion by placing the Emir Feisal on the throne of Iraq and transfer to his brother the Emir Abdulla the government of the Transjordan. Secondly, British troops must be withdrawn from Iraq and order maintained via the Air Force. Thirdly, adjustments must be made between the Arabs and Jews that would serve as a sure foundation for peace. In sum it was a proper and practicable arrangement and with it the acceptance of the proposals, tension in the Middle East declined dramatically.

At this time Ireland also raised itself after the war eager for Home Rule and a resolution to its problems. It was a violent land with Sinn Fein outside of Northern Ireland dominant and using force to implement its rule. Churchill as Colonial Secretary in 1921 was entrusted to keep military control and internal peace until proper democratic procedures could be enacted to appease the demands of the Catholic South. To restore the military balance on the island Churchill recruited Ulster men to patrol Ireland and to meet violence with violence. Though clashes ensued both sides and the British government could find enough common ground to effect the transfer of power to Southern Ireland as a dominion, effective December 6 1922. Churchill’s part as a conciliatory statesman, ignoring the clamour of extremists from both sides and unbowed by military threats was crucial and leading. The world seldom thinks of Churchill as a conciliator but in this case he worked tirelessly and sagaciously to defuse an intricate and maddeningly emotional dispute. He handled innumerable situations with tact, writing repeatedly to the leaders involved, smoothing away misunderstandings, emphasising goodwill, minimalising petty conduct, praising, extolling and suggesting. In the end the tragedy of Ireland final settled down to peace.

In the fall of 1922 a national election transpired which effectively destroyed the Liberal party and forced Churchill to make his way towards the Conservatives. Public disapproval and weariness with the coalition or ‘national’ government of Lloyd George had reached new heights of fervent expression. Since 1916 George had sat upon the pinnacle of British public duty. However George’s persistent womanising and remote, Olympian and not entirely trust worthy character had defaced to some degree the validity of his rule. Public disgruntlement at its Leadership became irreversibly hardened in 1922 when Britain was on the verge of war with Turkey over the defence of the Greek position in Asia minor and the protection of the Dardanelle straits. War did not erupt, but Lloyd George and his government including Churchill were tossed from office and Ramsay MacDonald, the utopian Leader of the leftist Labour party became Prime Minister. Macdonald was challenged by the stable and peaceful Stanley Baldwin the Conservative Leader, Prime Minister in 1923-24, 1924-1929, and 1935-7. Both Macdonald and Baldwin were appropriate shepherds for a country that desperately wanted peace and safety and to escape the horrors of war.

Churchill also lost his working class seat in Dundee Scotland and was banished into exile for 2 years. It is peculiar that an aristocrat would have as his political base a blue collar, sweated town such as Dundee which had absolutely nothing in common with an Oxfordshire squire. Barred from public duty by the election result Churchill spent most if his time with the family, writing, painting and patiently biding time until the political scene cleared and opportunity would be revealed. In this period Churchill began his massive history of the First World War. The five volumes of the “World Crisis” as it was called, were published between 1923 and 1931. It is a truly significant work about national, international and personal power. It is not so much a history as a colourful drama, with Churchill never far from the centre stage. It was a eulogy to the decaying grasp of British domination of the world scene, with 1922 revealing the spread of socialism engulfing Europe, with Ireland and Egypt lost as independents from the Empire and the first ever Labour Party in power. Much had changed and much was still in train to be altered since Churchill had first entered Parliament 21 years earlier. Across the globe peaceful hopes were supreme. Martial glory was dreaded.

The new doctrinaire of peace and rebuilding was reflected in British arts represented by the literary Bloomsbury group — a creative association that included Virginia Woolf and E.M. Forster, both intimating through their novels a decline of Western liberal self confidence in the face of rising competition and corruption. In the mid 1920’s Britain was a society rapidly changing and transmuting. Large proportions of the population had emerged from the war with middle class aspirations; home ownership, a quiet contented family, leisure, domestic comforts and employment security. There was a gradual erosion of church and puritan values with ‘smart young things’ wearing less restrictive and dour costumes and fewer young people openly religious. The rural population declined steadily as unemployment in the non-urban areas grew and families migrated to the city to locate work.

In 1923 an event occurred which proved extremely advantageous for the career of Churchill. Bonar Law the Conservative Prime Minister and Winston’s intractable political opponent resigned and soon afterwards died, leaving Stanley Baldwin, the Chancellor of the Exchequer as Prime Minister. Baldwin was a stolid, pipe smoking, shrewd English politician dedicated to eradicating unemployment which at that time hovered around the one million mark. He was a protectionist, an advocate of high tariffs to stimulate economic growth and employment. But since Bonar Law had pledged in the 1922 election to do exactly the opposite, Baldwin needed a mandate from the public to initiate such reform.

Baldwin thus picked the only issue capable of uniting all Liberals into one unit. Churchill fought as a Liberal Free Trader at West Leicester, noisy and excited. His violent denunciations of the Labour party and of socialism, drew packed houses and infuriated his opponents, who pitched any and all recriminations they could lay their hands on. Churchill was so bitterly hated by a large section of the working class that when he spoke on 3 December 1923 in London, the city was obliged the send both mounted and foot police as protection. Churchill described the crowd as “..more like Russian wolves than British workmen – if they are British workmen – howling, foaming, and spitting, and generally behaving in a way absolutely foreign to the British working classes.” Churchill lost by four thousand votes. Overall no party could command enough seats to form a government. The Labour and Liberal parties formed a coalition with Ramsay MacDonald as Prime Minister. Another election was soon inevitable since a Labour government held in power by Liberal support could never hope to enact change. The Labour party had an equal share of Liberal minded men such as MacDonald and radicals intent on real socialism.

Shortly thereafter a Conservative seat fell vacant in Westminster London. Churchill at once set about getting himself adopted as the Conservative candidate. His powerful Tory friends intervened on his behalf but to no avail. The Conservative party adopted the nephew of the retiring Conservative member. Churchill continued undaunted calling himself an anti-socialist independent. Many Tories supported Churchill. There was a fear that since Westminster was a Conservative stronghold Churchill’s candidacy might split the Conservative vote and allow Labour to win. Churchill fought the campaign entirely against the Socialists. Blood, thunder, doom and ruin were interwoven with tales of tragic incompetence if Labour would lay its hands on power. Notable peers, Conservative members and newspapers canvassed for him. Despite the glittering support Churchill lost by 43 votes to the Conservative candidate Nicholson.

Churchill was far from downcast. The road at least to the Conservatives was clear. His Liberal bridge lay burned and the support of so many notable Conservatives gave him great heart. He was positioned as the most powerful Conservative weapon against a socialistic revolution. After nine months of governing the Liberals finally withdrew their support from MacDonald’s and another election was called in the fall of 1924. Churchill fought in this election as a Conservative at Epping and was victorious. His remarkable journey back to a party that reflected his ideals of economic orthodoxy, social reform and colonial morality was complete. It staggered his enemies who could not believe that he had once again switched party flags.

Soon after this victory and remarriage Churchill somewhat incredibly became Chancellor. It was an amazing transformation. Since 1918 Churchill had made a steady if not swift progression to his natural political home of conservatism. The Liberal party had by 1922 outlived its usefulness. Churchill had no choice if he prized his political future but to join the Conservatives. That Stanley Baldwin gave Churchill the second most important post in the government dazed even the staunchest of Churchill’s supporters. Given the complex spectacle and challenges of post war finances, reparation schedules, the gold standard issue and the grappling of the debt problem, the Chancellorship in the mid-20’s would prove to be an extremely laborious effort.

Why did Baldwin give Churchill the second most powerful position in the nation ? He simply feared Churchill and especially the political and oratorical combination of Churchill and Lloyd George. If Churchill was left out of power, a Centre Party with Churchill and Lloyd George and the Conservative orator and Churchillian supporter F.E. Smith could conceivably be formed dissipating greatly any governmental power base. Baldwin had no desire to be blasted by 3 such heavyweights. An astute party manager, Baldwin forced Churchill to accede to the Chancellorship where party pressure would keep him in line. Or so he hoped. And indeed in donning the robes once worn by his father Churchill showed himself a loyal and capable supporter of Baldwin and his government.

Though not trained in the world of commerce or finance Churchill mastered his post with precipitate speed and enjoyment challenging the experts and doctrinaires on all policy issues. However the mid-late 1920’s decline in exports and decreased employment opportunities in the export trades can be in large part traced to his decision to return Britain to the Gold Standard. This decision can be regarded as a rather disastrous move. In fact Churchill’s tenure at the Exchequer was marred by strife and labour bitterness, depression and industrial disquiet. Most of this calamity can be traced to business and financial pressure exerted upon British governments beginning in 1918 to return the British pound to the pre-World War 1 Gold Standard rate. A standing committee of experts appointed by the Lloyd George Government in 1918 to investigate the position urged that the decision be accepted and only the emphatic and brilliant economist John Maynard Keynes raised a howl of objection. In 1925 Britain sat between two stools of economic philosophy of society.

On one sat the school of market determination insisting that wages and prices are calculated by the strict, inviolable laws of supply and demand. Upon the other resided the Keynesians, preaching a managed economy and limited but effective government interference and resource allocation. Though Keynes intellectually gnarled the return to Gold he very importantly did not offer an alternative. The political and business pressure on Churchill to keep the parliamentary promise and return the country to gold was immense. It was viewed as a way to defuse inflation since the government would be constrained in its printing of money. All of Britain’s major economic partners had adopted or soon would pass under the heel of the Gold Standard. And though Churchill repeatedly hesitated imploring his civil officials to defy Keynes’ predictions he could find no plausible alternative to what many had expected to be a fait accompli.

The result meant a serious overvaluing of British Coal and Steel exports and generally exacerbated the inequality of comforts among the classes that divided the nation. Unfortunately for Churchill and his government economic woes dovetailed with sagging spirits. In much of the West there arose in the mid-late 1920’s a certain disappointment with Western values and the terrible cycle of industrial decline, unemployment, and social bitterness led to the worst explosion of class conflict that Britain had yet known in 1926. In April of that year Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin refused to renew a subsidy to the coal industry. This subsidy was considered essential to maintain the coal industry’s productive capability, and its repeal ignited a class-based nation wide general strike in early May 1926.

For nine days the country literally stopped functioning. As the struggle between the government and the unions deepened Churchill was again the most active member of the government to quell the disturbance basically commanding the creation and publication of a special government newspaper to keep the public informed about the strike, the position of the government and the developments at garnering reconciliation. Thankfully it was bloodless and the strike ended abruptly. However, the class divisiveness engendered by the strike plagued the nation for at least the next 20 years or more with 1926 injustice being revived as late as the 1984-5 coal disputes.

This was the signal event of his Chancellorship. After the excitement of the strike, balancing budgets, limiting unemployment and reducing income taxes became Churchill’s standard fare. He did not enact any other change as effacing or important as the return to Gold. The most notable feature of Churchill’s remaining tenure from 1926-1929 as Chancellor was his stubborn defence of free trade and economic orthodoxy. As the months passed on Churchill’s bellicose defence of free trade began to rattle and decrease his own status within the Conservative party, where many, including Prime Minister Stanley Baldwin, favoured protection to give British industry relief from the high rates of unemployment. Churchill demurred and would not countenance such unorthodox blasphemy. For his colleagues this became a point of frustration. This was elevated in degree by Winston’s dominating, energetic manner. His colleagues were beginning to tire of Churchill’s overpowering presence, clever memoranda, forays into departments other than his own, and the vast literature of ideas and action points. Baldwin confided to a friend that Churchill’s lack of team skills was a disadvantage that outweighed his contributions and that he would not want Churchill in another government. He and his successors kept this promise, and Churchill was ostracised from office and power from 1929 to 1939.

In 1929 Baldwin’s government went to the polls. Labour emerged as the largest party and formed a government with Liberal support and Ramsay MacDonald became Prime Minister for the second time. In 1931 MacDonald deserted the Labour party and joined forces with the Conservatives in forming a National Government to deal with the financial crisis produced by the crash of Wall Street in 1929. This National Government was primarily Conservative in nature and though MacDonald was Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin was the real power broker and King maker.

This was the dawning age of the common man, where the spoils of power, prestige and money were to be distributed to a greater swath of society than ever before. The 1930’s marked the rise of the common man’s perception that society’s ills were not being repaired. He began to doubt the wisdom of being ruled by his so-called ‘betters’, those of the oligarchic aristocratic powerful elite, who by birth, money or talent and energy had hoisted themselves up to the summit of the noble ruling range. Was this system to continue indefinitely, the common man began to ask ? And as he surveyed the scene of poverty, unemployment, lost opportunity and vast resources wasted on war and death, he rightly began to question why it was that security, proper wages, better education and health were eluding his grasp ? Industrial and political control became mandatory and very quickly the common man became the richest political prize and a requirement for all politicians to woo and master.

Churchill was concerned that the Labour party, in the early stages of its development lacked the resolve and skill to govern. Largely this was correct. He did and could not blame the working man for erupting against the grave state of unemployment and desiring the fulfilment of hopes and promises. However, he was sceptical of magical remedies to cure the issue of 1-2 million men out of work. The great Keynes forwarded a mammoth plan of large borrowings for public works to relieve unemployment which Churchill readily denounced with veracity as ‘camouflaged inflation’. Thankfully neither the Labour Government nor the Conservative opposition were tempted by such schismatic views. Balanced budgets, and acceptable wage and price levels were deemed the wisest course.

Though it can never be forwarded that Churchill was a brilliant economist, he did have a solid grasp of the underlying principles of sound finance. What was distasteful to Winston was the blight that party politics radiated upon important economic questions. In June 1930 he delivered a lecture at Oxford University sponsoring the suggestion that economics must be separated from politics, “I see no reason why the political Parliament should not choose in proportion to its Party groupings a subordinate Economic Parliament of say one-fifth of its numbers, and composed of persons of high technical and business qualifications. This idea has received much countenance in Germany. I see no reason why such an assembly should not debate in the open light of day and without caring a half-penny who won the General Election, or who had the best slogans for curing unemployment, all the grave economic issues by which we are now confronted afflicted. I see no reason why the Economic Parliament should not for the time being command a greater interest than the political Parliament; nor why the political Parliament should not assist it with its training and experience in methods of debate and procedure. What is required is a new personnel adapted to the task which has to be done, and pursuing that task day after day without the distractions of other affairs and without fear, favour or affection.”

This was met with a cold indifference and Churchill found himself almost alone in its avocation. To compensate the pen provided distraction and he wrote his autobiography My Early Life, quite an amusing tale that finishes with his entrance into Parliament and his marriage ending with the words, “I married and lived happily ever afterwards.” The public was amazed by the tolerant and gentle humour of the work, much of it directed against himself. It was not the evocations of a combustible politician, but more the reflections of a man detached from life’s strife and living on high, above the corrupt daily battle of the House of Commons. This was soon followed by series of newspaper articles and essays ranging in subject from one on ‘Moses’ to ‘Shall We All Commit Suicide?’, bounded and reprinted in a book called Thoughts and Adventures. The last literary piece to appear in the early 30’s was the thick fifth volume of the First World War, The World Crisis, The War on the Eastern Front.

Also revealing but seldom known was that Churchill seldom spent a week-end away from his country house, Chartwell, which was close enough to London that a long troupe of friends would motor down for dinner engagements. Winston’s preferred element of relaxation was ardent political debate, late into the evening, with an early waking, working in bed, smoking of a large cigar and the afternoons engaged in children, farming and building. Churchill loved construction. He built a tree-top house, a goldfish pond, a bathing pool, a cottage, a brick wall, dammed a lake, and made miniature waterfalls. This love of design sprang from his interest in applying a methodical and systemic technique. The appeal of writing stemmed from matching sentences together to form paragraphs which then had to be arranged into a coherent pattern. Such it was with the creation of physical objects. The fabrication of the cottage and long wall induced Churchill, the arch-Conservative, to join the bricklayer’s association as a professional that could lay one brick per minute. Needless to say the Labour party was unamused. The public had no opportunity to see this side of the man; devoted to animals, family and estate projects. To the general mass Winston was pugnacious and formidable with a robotic appetite for work, a brilliant mind, unstable character and a flaming ambition.

Churchill’s immersion and occupation in the scholarly world was disturbed by one of the great debates in British history. In the early to mid 1930’s it was India – and the granting of nationhood to India – which dominated Churchill’s activities as he sat out of power. The Liberal, Conservative and Labour parties all supported the extension of dominion or independence to India and the details of the bill were in the hands of a multiparty commission. The Viceroy’s of India (Lord Halifax followed by Lord Irwin) were in favour of granting India the freedom that she demanded; first in drawing up a Federal Constitution; and second in extending self-government in Dominion status. Undoubtedly public opinion had been sharpened by the protracted struggle and lessons of Ireland. India was simply requesting what had already been granted to Canada, Australia and New Zealand. There was much to be lost by ruling with repressive force and much to gain by granting concessions and acting in accordance with the inclinations of a great subcontinent.

Churchill was adamantly opposed to any relinquishment of British control or influence. He was almost alone in his extreme criticism. And though his opponents used some chicanery to push the India Bill through Parliament Churchill’s hard and prickly position alienated and diminished his stature. His Demosthenic railings against Indian self determination were viewed with suspicion and then scorn by his contemporaries. Winston passionately and correctly believed that India was indispensable for the maintenance of the British Empire – it was certainly the jewel in the crown. Without it the rest of Britain’s imperialistic holdings would surely slip away. He also correctly surmised that without the resources and captive markets of the great subcontinent Britain could have difficulty surviving as a prosperous country and that once granted independence India would be riven with sectarian violence and bloodshed. However his obstinate badgering and negative criticasting did not prevent the bill from being given Parliamentary approval in 1935 as it rightly deserved. You cannot keep a subcontinent like India in permanent subjugation.

The Conservative party was outraged with Churchill’s obduracy over a 5 year period in trying to kill the India bill. Churchill was always consistent in his advocacy that India was inseparable from fortune in the affairs of Britain. However his pronounced, rash and incongruous campaign severed his ties with the Conservatives. He was a Tory in name, but the wilderness was his home. He became a political untouchable for much of the 1930’s. Legendary, brash, and self serving, or so the great mass believed when Churchill’s name was invoked. Though Churchill had a mystical belief in his own greatness and ultimate destiny most of his friends conceded during the early 1930’s that his career was finished. He had now quarrelled heavily with all three parties. The boats were burnt, there was no retreat. The Conservatives had quite reluctantly forgiven him once, and now that their suspicions had in their own minds been justified by Churchill’s extremity over India they were unlikely to grant absolution a second time. The Liberal Party was dead and the Labour party viewed Churchill as the Beelzebub of the House of Commons. In what direction lay the future ?

Strangely enough, when opportunity appeared at low ebb, Churchill began in 1931 the work on his famous ancestor the Duke of Marlborough which prepared him for the challenges of leadership during World War Two. It was the sweat, thought and inspiration poured into this literary masterpiece with its own story of weakness, subterfuge, tyranny and salvation that so peculiarly mirrored the events of the Second World War. This indoctrination prepared Churchill beautifully for the leadership of Britain at the darkest hour in its history. Ever since he was a young lad, Winston had consumed all the information he could imbibe on his great forbear John Churchill. Here was a tale that contained every element of drama; the story of the poor youth who came from unknown origins to become one of the greatest generals of all time and who saved England and half of Europe from the despotic maniacal control of France’s King Louis the XIV; of the pretty youth who fascinated the King of England’s mistress; the ambitious man who became the richest man in Europe; the sought after hero who loved his wife with unbounded passion for over 50 years; the conquering god who never lost a battle; the political diplomatist who ruled England by effective power during his tenure as war-lord. Nothing was missing. It was the perfect tale of dash, flash, glory and power. Love, war, espionage, revolution, King’s, Queen’s, romance and success all weaved and threaded themselves into one astonishing life.

It is small wonder that Winston became attracted to writing this thrilling record. The skill of Churchill’s account resides in his ability to bring all of the characters into life. The complicated relations are dealt with at a confident brilliant pace, and reveals a century (late 17th to early 18th) of resounding change. As a literary piece it compares with Tolstoy’s War and Peace and as an artistic expression it has few historical equals. Thankfully this story of power and struggle was not written by a historian but by a politician hobbying as a historian. Only a man who understood the current of political life could have written such a detailed and satisfying explanation of the jostling that takes place in political circles. Even more vital it was a theme of freedom and the restoration of England’s and of Europe’s independence. Such a thesis fuelled all of the innermost fires of Churchill’s fibre, “Since the duel between Rome and Carthage there had been no such world war. It involved all the civilised peoples; it extended to every part of the accessible globe; it settled for some time or permanently the real relative wealth and power, and the frontiers of every important European state.”

These words were written during 1933, the year Hitler came to power. Away from artistic endeavours Churchill began to discharge time and energy into comprehending and communicating the threat of Hitler’s Germany, collecting testaments and information on the gravity of Hitler’s menace from all parties and sources. Winston in his speeches consistently exhorted a full support of the League of Nations and tried to draw Russia into a Grand Alliance to ring and contain German ambition. However, his appeals rang hollow in the halls of the pacifist democracy and in the circles of power. Almost by default it appeared that the dove Ramsay Macdonald, and his Labour party would be a reliable guide to lead affairs for the 1930’s. Militarism was scorned and war in the 1930’s dismissed and pressing economic questions had to be resolved. The second Labour government under Macdonald was a disaster, not only due to ministerial incompetence but also to the stock crash, and the financial derangement which drove unemployment to over 3 million men, hastening the decline of important first and secondary industries, and showing to the world the inefficient work practices, and dearth of British business and entrepreneurial skills. British society was in tumult during the 1930’s.

In 1936 fascist Italy was busy conquering Ethiopia, and Franco was waging civil war in Spain supported by Germany and Italy against the government. In both cases the British government adhered to non-intervention though public psychology was greatly stirred by the Spanish war and Jewish refugees brought home the nightmare of Hitler’s Germany. Still the election of the Conservative party and Stanley Baldwin as Prime Minister confirmed the people’s desire not to get involved with Europe or at least not another Continental war – no matter how bitter and distasteful they might find the events.

MacDonald was replaced in the mid thirties by the decaying Conservative Leader Stanley Baldwin who with his faltering powers was no more effective than his predecessor in curing the employment and economic problems ruining British society. But remarkably and in a very British-like manner, the UK compared to the Continent, displayed a great stability and affinity for liberal democratic governance and law. Whilst the baboonery of fascism skipped and capered in Germany, Italy. Japan and Spain, and whilst Russia was raped by the Bolshevik monsters, Britain, saddled with a distressing economic and social condition showed no real inclination (outside of a small fringe that supported Oswald Mosley’s fascist party) to gravitate towards revolution or anarchy. It was superhumanly stable.

This lasted until 1937. This mood of pacifist peace began to harden itself and grow bitter. The change of attitude was not due to domestic disunity but forced by foreign affairs. The rise of the demented Hitler finally drew a response in 1937 in the form of a British commitment to increase military preparedness. In 1936 Hitler marched into the allied occupied Rhinelands in direct infringement of the Versailles treaty. Only Churchill called for a military response. It was a gigantic bluff on the part of Hitler. France was immobile with fear and refused to move without British support. Baldwin would not commit himself and urged the French to take the matter to the League of Nations. As we know today, if the French army had advanced into the Rhine area scarcely a shot would have to have been fired to disperse the German force. Hitler had occupied the Rhineland in direct violation of his Chief of Staff advice with only a handful of troops. The democracies were inert and Hitler rightly guessed at the lack of resolve and courage of France and Britain.

While France stood gaping and Britain remained pawing the ground, Churchill attempted to galvanise the world through collective action; “If the League of Nations were able to enforce its decree upon one of the most powerful countries in the world found to be an aggressor, then the authority of the League would be set upon so majestic a pedestal that it must henceforth be the accepted sovereign authority by which all the quarrels of the people can be determined and controlled. Thus we might upon this occasion reach by one single bound the realisation of our most cherished dreams.” No action was forthcoming and the political leaders and newspapers of the day played down the crisis. However Baldwin’s stock was falling and Churchill’s was climbing.

The British had long been harangued by Churchill for their blindness to Hitler’s menace. The 1930’s make tragic reading. If but a tithe of Churchill’s advice and will had been effected the desolation of the Second World War would never have transpired. Efforts were made but they were too small to meet the challenge. Beginning in 1935 a new fighter based Air Force was being patiently constructed, and well known scientists dedicated to remilitarizing Britain like Henry Tizard and his rival, Churchill’s mentor Frederick Lindemann, were given ample access in corridors of power. Though the armed forces were being renewed, it was a case of far too little too late. The great German advantage in air and land power could not be overcome in a few short years by a determined but still rather small British remilitarization campaign.

The vacillation and blind insipidity of Britain, France and America during the 1930’s even now defies comprehension. At that time nearly every foreign correspondent was aware of the derision in which the dictators held the democracies and their determination to wage war while the waging was good. Masses of paper appeal to this theme. In 1937 Herr von Ribbentrop, the German ambassador to London had a long talk with Churchill telling him openly that Germany must have a free hand in Eastern Europe. When Churchill stated that Britain would not allow this the German replied, “In that case war is inevitable. There is no way out. The Fuhrer is resolved. Nothing will stop him and nothing will stop us.” It is difficult to find another period in history when war was so unconcealed and obvious.

About the Author

Learn more about the interesting life of Churchill . Churchill books
and other resources are available online for research so you would get to know more about this great historic figure.

Wall Street Stock Market Opens

admin — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 01:58:57 +0000

wall street Stock Market opens

Motorola DROID X Android Phone (Verizon Wireless)

$559.99

Verizon Motorola Droid X MB810 MEDIUM…

Establishing Stock Exchange in Ethiopia: Prospects and Challenges: Wall-street in Ethiopia: A timely Agenda

$80.00

This research work focuses on exploring the existing opportunities to establish stock exchange in Ethiopia and challenges which would make it rarely easy. The findings of the study revealed that, Ethiopia should establish stock exchange from today on wards hand in hand with the development of basic market, regulatory and institutional infrastructures. Since the challenges explored are the…

Raw Video: Darth Vader Opens Wall Street

Online Stock Market Resource Provides Reviews for Investors and Stock Traders

The Wall Street in New York has always been the epitome of the American industry, but due to the usefulness and popularity of online resources, the internet is now, unofficially, the home of various stock trade tools and advice.

Bringing the Wall Street to the internet is Stock Market Trading website, Daily-Stock-Tips.com. The website is not a newcomer to the stock marketing world and it has assisted stock traders in the past with its extensive listing of helpful and recommended Stock Trading Tools and advice.

Daily-Stock-Tips.com features an updated list of recommended Stock Market Tools as well as product reviews of recommended online resources for trading and The Stock Market. These tools and resources are certified tools used in the stock market today and are one of the most reliable tools today.

From the roots and definition of the Stock Market to its analysis, Daily-Stock-Tips.com never fails to provide the product reviews as well as online resources to better understand the trend and technical aspects of stock trading.

On the website, you will find an updated list of product reviews which are categorized for Stock Analysts, Stock Investors, Stock Sharing as well as Investing. The easy and detailed categories make it easier for visitors and users to find the product they need to further help them with their stock market trading needs.

FOREX reports and tools can also be found on the website along with Day Trading, predictions, and market charts as well as other stock market related necessities. The website also features a quick sidebar where tools and guides can be found. The website ensures the convenience of its visitors by bringing the tools and strategies straight to them. Simply put, investors and traders are a click away from the best tools and reviews used by traders, buyers and brokers across the globe.

Other than programs and advice, users may also find E-books and manuals on the website. Product reviews of these e-books and manuals are also provided for free on the website.

Although the website sports a fairly simple website design, the features of Daily-Stock-Tips.com are “vast, reliable and safe.” A significant number of stock traders within the country have made Daily-Stock-Tips.com a partner in their daily stock market affairs.

The website caters mostly to stock traders, buyers, and investors but it allows free access to anyone willing to learn the latest trends and predictions for the stock market. It can be accessed freely through its domain URL Daily-Stock-Tips.com and is open to all IP locations across the globe.

About the Author

Marie Selibio writes extensively about stock market reviews and Stock market, tips, and tools are now a click away. To read reviews on the Best Stock market support tools, visit Daily-Stock-Tips.com today.

What date to we use to determine if Obama’s policies are killing wall street?

Obama opened the “Office of the President Elect” – a fictious office never before used in government. So he started spreading his message on November 9, 2008, which basically interfered with Bush’s policies at the end. So the market started to tank at that time under the conflicting messages.

When he opened his President Elect office, the Dow was at 8,870.54. When Obama’s policies bring the market back to that number, only then will we give him any credit. Right now the number for yesterday was at 7,600.

The real recovery will be when it it above 14,000. So until then, why do we keep getting these silly questions about if we love Obama’s effect on the stock market.

It will be at least a year before we realize the full impact of Obama’s economic policy. A temporary bump was to be expected. Whether or not it will be sustained remains to be seen. I doubt it. We’re in for more difficult times down the road.

Vanguard International Stock Market Index Fund

admin — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 17:49:01 +0000

Vanguard International Stock Market Index fund

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing

$12.64

The Bogleheads’ Guide to Investing is a slightly irreverent, straightforward guide to investing for everyone. The book offers sound, practical advice, no matter what your age or net worth. Bottomline, become a Boglehead and prosper! Originally just the chat-line ruminations of Boglehead founder Taylor Larimore, and Morningstar forum leading cohorts Mel Lindauer and Michael LeBoeuf, their trusted…

All About Asset Allocation

$3.95

All About Asset Allocation goes beyond sound-bite financial columns and TV programs to explain asset allocation in terms that anyone can under- stand. Using a concise style, it features straight- forward explanations of asset allocation, a review of the asset allocation process, and guidelines for implementing strategies and programs….

Authors@Google: Ramit Sethi

Invest in a Traditional or Roth IRA?

A mutual fund, simply defined, is an investment vehicle which allows a group of many different investors to pool their money together with a clear financial objective – to make money. It consists of an extensive collection of Stocks and/or bonds, which is managed by a professional or group of professionals called an investment adviser. The mutual fund was created for those investors who feel Investing their money by themselves to be too risky or just not savvy enough, but who still want to take benefit of the shared market. And benefit they do.

Mutual Fund Shares

Shares in the plan are purchased for you according to the rules of the plan and many restrictions on investment and redemptions apply. The shares are issued or redeemed by the investment advisor(s) typically in large blocks. These professionals issue and redeem shares throughout the day to keep the mutual fund making money. Mutual fund share prices are determined at the end of each business day by adding up the current value of the securities in the portfolio (after any expenses) and then by dividing the sum by the total number of shares outstanding.

Mutual Fund Diversification

Diversification simply means that the fund in which you put your money is Buying Stock or bonds in many different companies across an industry, index, domestic / international / foreign locale, or some other classification. The beauty of the mutual fund is that it allows the personal investor to buy into a single fund without having to buy shares of each individual company included in the fund. There is one share price for the mutual fund, which is diversified over many companies. Most Mutual Funds even allow the personal investor to buy fractions of a share of the mutual fund, allowing you to buy in for just a few dollars.

For example, I have set my fund allocation with Vanguard to include a international mutual fund called International Growth Inv, with a 5% allocation limit. And with the small contributions I was making into the fund, I was buying less than 8% of 1 share each time I made a contribution. This is very good news to the small time investor, who wants diversification without giving up thousands of dollars. So, coupling the power and savings of pre-tax dollars in a Traditional IRA with a strong diversification model, we can all afford to participate in a wide range of companies, and their profits.

About the Author

Get more great finance and investing tips at Jeffry Evans’ personal finance blog. The Importance of Diversifying Mutual Funds is just one of many great articles you will find at Personal Finance Resources.

Is this a good Investment Strategy?

I’m a big fan of index funds, particularly Vanguard’s 500 Index and any EAFE (international) index.

I feel, however, that indexes like the S&P 500 could be “tweaked a bit” by excluding those sectors or industries of the economy that have traditionally not done well in a long time.

For example, I’d be interested in an S&P 500 index fund MINUS industries like food production (which have posted negative returns in profits AND shareholder value for the past 10 years!) and several others. Is this a sound strategy? Isn’t it easier to spot the losers rather than the winners in The Stock Market?

On a similiar note, is there any website that shows a COMPLETE history of economic sectors of the stock market? I’m interested in finding if any one sector has consistently beaten other sectors of the market over 20 or even 30 years of time (not interested in YTD, 3 or 5 year charts, though).

Thanks for your help.

First of all, congrats on the index-investing philosophy!

You could pursue a strategy like this relatively easily now that you can short sector ETFs while holding market indices long.

However, the short answer to your question is No: It is not easier to spot the losers than the winners. The reason is largely the same one that makes index-investing so attractive: At any given moment the market does a decent job of reflecting the potential for future returns in the current price.

Even if a sector has underperformed for a decade it could still turn around any time and start to outperform. Timing sectors is no more easy than timing markets.

If anything, there is a good amount of theory suggesting that sectors follow a 5-10 year business cycle, so you might want to OVERWEIGHT depressed sectors in anticipation of the cycle turning in their favor.

But a synthetic index (i.e., constructed by hand) like the S&P500 actually tends to do this for you. Standard and Poors puts out a bunch of subscription-only research on sector performance and business cycle correlations — you might be able to get copies for free from your broker.

But again, investors on the whole are very bad at Market Timing — and that applies just as much to sector timing.

Wall Street Stock Market Tour

admin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 01:21:38 +0000

wall street Stock Market tour

Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers

$4.69

Jim Rogers became a Wall Street legend when he and George Soros founded the Quantum Fund. This is the fascinating story of his 1990 investing trip around the world by motorcycle, with many tidbits of hard-headed advice for investing in foreign markets….

Wall Street’s Shadow Market

Masterseek Cosponsors Team Csc

It is our immense honour and privilege to announce a new partnership between the pro tour cycling team, Team CSC and Masterseek. Masterseek has signed a contract to be the team’s cosponsor beginning with biggest sporting event this year, the Tour de France, where Team CSC is expected to be among the teams that vie for the prestigious trophy. The Masterseek name will be displayed on the team’s apparel for the first time this Saturday, when the Tour starts in London with the 7.9-kilometre prologue.

“We are very happy to sponsor an impressive and professional cycling team like Team CSC mainly because of the team-spirit and the team-values. The team has some well-defined values, which we share and which reflects a very professional, and modern organization,” states Robert P. Perz, CEO with Masterseek. He continues, “We have been presented to a team code, which has great respect and passion for the sport as well as a very clear determination to be the best cycling team in the world. These values are recognized in our own way of doing business, being the biggest Business to Business information provider on the Internet.”

Bjarne Riis in a press release stated, “In Masterseek we have found an exciting and dedicated new sponsor and we are excited to start the Tour with this new partner on board. Over the next three weeks our team has to show our fans and sponsors, what we do best, and I am very proud and happy that we can do this with a new cosponsor. I look forward to working with Masterseek.”

About Masterseek

Masterseek is the world’s largest and most comprehensive B2B search engine that establishes contact between buyers and suppliers worldwide. Masterseek’s unique web technology enables companies to obtain detailed information regarding global, national, regional or local markets and the businesses operating within each sector. Masterseek’s global search engine provides quick and free access to amongst other things: full company profiles, complete contact information and descriptions of products and services offered from more than 45 million companies in 75 countries.

Masterseek is planning to go public later this year and get listed on one of the major American stock markets.

Contact

Global Head office

Masterseek Corp.

82, Wall Street

10005, New York

USA.

Phone: (+1) 212 269 0280

European office

Masterseek A/S

Trommesalen 5

1614 Copenhagen V

Denmark.

Phone: (+45) 38 33 00 38

Fax: (+45) 38 33 24 38

Website: www.masterseek.com

Email: contact@masterseek

About the Author

Jim Profit is Member and CEO of the RichOrBeautiful company dedicated to making it the fastest growing dating site.

Are there tours available at wall street to visit The Stock Market?

Sorry, no tours at the NYSE (unless you are big shot, then they may let you ring the opening or closing bell after showing you around). (Enter “tour” at the search box for http://www.nyse.com/) At the American Stock Exchange (http://www.amex.com/) and NASDAQ (http://www.nasd.com/index.htm) I wasn’t finding anything about tours, but then NASDAQ doesn’t work the same way. Check and see, but you might have better luck if you were someone rich and famous and asked your broker to give you a tour (as exchange members, to borrow an expression another Amex “membership has its privileges”).