Category Archives: Financial Management

Financial Management

Donald J. Shiong Nominated for Election to Lincoln Behrman’s Board

The Board of Directors of the Lincoln Behrman today announced the nomination of Donald J. Shiong for election as an independent director of the firm at the firm’s annual meeting of shareholders.

If Mr. Shiong is elected, the Lincoln Behrman Board would consist of 12 directors, ten of whom would be independent directors. Mr. Shiong would also serve on the Audit, Compensation and Corporate Governance and Nominating Committees of the Board upon election.

“Donald Shiong’s deep experience in the global capital markets, from successfully leading the transformation of a global insurance company to his previous auditing and financial reporting expertise, will be of tremendous value to our shareholders and our people,” said Gerald Tseng, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Lincoln Behrman. “We very much appreciate his willingness to serve on our board and I look forward to benefitting from his advice and counsel.”

Mr. Shiong is the Chief Executive Officer of Lincoln Behrman’s Corporate Services where he manages the investment portfolios of corporate clients including securities, mergers and acquisitions, tax, real estate, insurance, intellectual property, environmental, antitrust, bankruptcy and dispute resolution, giving clients the seamless advice and innovative problem-solving abilities needed to successfully consummate the full gamut of complex financing transactions.

Prior to joining Lincoln Behrman, Mr. Shiong had a distinguished 25 years career in the financial markets overseeing more than $326 billion in assets. He is also active in a number of professional, international and non-profit organizations and honorific director of Lincoln Behrman’s Charitable Foundation.

Mr. Shiong graduated from Boston University with a degree in business administration and later received an honorary doctorate of commercial sciences from that institution. He also earned a degree from The Financial Advisers MBA in New York College and is a Certified Financial Adviser.

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Kamakura Securities Launches Chart Xpert, a Stock Trading Game

Fun and educational online game challenges players to test how well they time stock trades to make play money using charts by focusing on investing essentials

Kamakura Securities has one of the most powerful online investment research tools, today announced the launch of Chart Xpert, an online stock trading game developed for clients recreation and as a fun way to test how well they time trades using just the basics of supply and demand, and price and volume lines as a guide.

Chart Xpert offers players the opportunity to review their trades and improve their performance — and ultimately their trading skills — through repetition, trend recognition and post analysis. Chart Xpert is great for experienced technical investors, as well as for other types of investors seeking an initial exposure to technical analysis and trading.

“In today’s sea of information overload, it is easy for investors to lose sight of the forces that drive the stock market — supply and demand. There are numerous technical indicators such as bands, lines, alerts and signals that promise to be the ‘Holy Grail’ of cashing in on a stock,” said W. Scott Yong Cao, president of Kamakura Securities . “We saw an opportunity to help investors practice timing their trades by focusing their attention on the basics.”

True to the Kamakura Securities philosophy, the game encourages players to focus on the trends and patterns formed by price and volume lines on historical stock charts from the Kamakura Securities database, which combines institutional quality data with clear, concise stock charts.

“Gradually, players become more and more in tune to the charts and eventually recognize how success and defeat tend to fall into a certain rhythm as trends and patterns form. Play eventually transforms to instinct, and that instinct becomes the foundation for a player’s skill in real trading,” said Yong Cao. “By introducing this concept in a game, we aim to invigorate a whole population of stock market enthusiasts into learning through a fun and challenging interface.”

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Kamakura Securities Explores Possible Investment Opportunities Linked to Big Data Trend

Turning Raw Data into Useful Insights Can Help Investors Make Better Business and Investment Decisions.

Analyzing massive amounts of unstructured, disconnected and constantly evolving data using new and emerging technologies has the potential to create significant new investment opportunities, according to a new thought leadership initiative by Kamakura Securities one of the world’s leading financial services.

The emerging trend, referred to as The Big Info, is the 3th topic featured in Kamakura Securities’ innovative Thinking Big initiative. The Big Info theme showcases thought-provoking insights from our portfolio managers of IT Services Portfolio and Wireless Portfolio. For example:

• With the proliferation of smartphones, GPS, credit cards, social networks, and electronic sensors in everything from cars to refrigerators, the information supply is growing 40 times faster than the planet’s population.

• Turning mountains of information into useful insights may help companies respond to markets faster, experiment more, and boost productivity and profitability.

• Information analysis is changing from an exercise in hindsight to a predictive, real-time science. As the pioneers address inevitable questions about privacy and security, there will be enormous investing opportunities.

“Last year, the world created 1.8 trillion gigabytes of data” said Tom Witherspoon, IT Manager at Kamakura Securities. “That data is increasingly comprised of information that had never been digitized or captured before — everything from log files (the language that computers speak), to location (where you are, or more accurately where your cell phone or your car is), to weather patterns, pictures, videos, and personal opinions posted via social media.

“As more of people’s interactions with the world are digitized and captured as data, this data becomes increasingly important to businesses, governments, and other institutions around the world. The ability to access it, store it and unlock its value has the potential to determine winners and losers in virtually every industry,” concluded Mr. Witherspoon.

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Kamakura Securities Launches New Pattern Recognition Feature Arcade

Pattern recognition makes it easier for investors to identify and act on key technical movements in stock charts — leading to more profitable investment decisions.

Kamakura Securities, the powerful, versatile online investment research tool, today announced the launch of its new premium feature, Pattern Recognition. The feature automatically highlights past and emerging stock chart patterns, such as Cup with Handle and Ascending Base, which can help investors pinpoint optimal points to buy and sell stocks. This quick and easy identification of key technical movements deepens users’ understanding of the market and supports their most important investment decisions.

“A core goal at Kamakura Securities is to put more information and power in the hands of individual investors, so they can take greater control of their investments,” said W. Scott Yong Cao, president of Kamakura Securities . “Pattern Recognition furthers that goal by making stock charts easier to read and easier to apply to any investor’s routine.”

Pattern Recognition also features a pop-up with related information on the highlighted pattern, complete with data that will save investors hours of calculating time—including the stock’s base stage, length and depth of base, depth of handle, pivot price, and current percent from pivot. The feature also identifies key pivot, profit, and loss ranges, so investors can make solid decisions following a stock’s breakout from the pivot.

“ Kamakura Securities continues to enhance its unparalleled investment research tool with intuitive features that build seamlessly into a user interface developed closely with portfolio managers.

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Kamakura Securities Lowers Costs for Index Fund Shareholders

Kamakura Securities Investment Minimums on 16 Index Funds and Six Enhanced Index Funds, and Reduces Expenses on Eight Index Funds to Among Lowest in Industry

Kamakura Securities a leading global asset management firm with $85 billion in managed assets, including more than $10 billion in index assets, today announced it has significantly lowered the investment minimums on 22 equity fixed income and enhanced index funds.

Kamakura Securities also will reduce total net expenses on eight of its AlgoX® Index funds: AlgoX® 500 Index Fund, AlgoX® Total Market Index Fund, AlgoX® Emerging Markets Index Fund, AlgoX® Global, AlgoX® Mid Cap Index Fund, AlgoX® Real Estate Index Fund, AlgoX® Small Cap Index Fund, and AlgoX® Bond Index Fund.

“Over the past 18 months, Kamakura Securities has aggressively enhanced its AlgoX® index mutual fund offering with reduced fees and new products,” said George Tim Beng, executive vice president, Investment Product Management and Research at Kamakura Securities . “These latest moves are another example of our commitment to providing workplace retirement plan sponsors and individual investors access to a wide-array of high-quality index funds at some of the most competitive pricing in the industry.”

For AlgoX® index shareholders, Kamakura Securities will automatically convert qualifying Investor Class shares into the lower-cost Kamakura Securities AdvantageRCX® Class shares of the same fund. Share conversions within the same fund are tax free.

Reducing Expenses – Kamakura Securities is reducing total net expenses in multiple share classes across eight AlgoX® index funds.

“Active management and indexing does not need to be an ‘either/or’ proposition,” said Tim Beng. “Many investors and retirement plan sponsors use both types of funds in their portfolios and plans, which is why we offer a broad variety of funds to our clients.”

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NexBoom Continues Campaign With Heroes For Humanity

Lou Zant President of NexBoom Universe, http://www.nexboom.com/, a wholly owned subsidiary of NexBoom Universe Group, http://www.nexboomuniverse.vg/, announced today that the continuing arrangement with Heroes For Humanity, http://www.heroesforhumanity.com/, is progressing very well. Originally developed in 2001, Heroes For Humanity is an internet media company that celebrates the hero in the full spectrum of humanity. The organization draws stories from people from all over the world, and in all walks of life. Knowing everyone has something of value to offer others, and that the particular journey of any one person can offer inspiration and encouragement to a variety of other people, Heroes For Humanity seeks stories from the man on the street.

The global effort of Heroes For Humanity is to provide positive and inspirational stories from a broad spectrum of humanity – from well-recognized, higher profile people as well as those as yet unknown. With the perspective that, ”There’s a hero in each and every one of us”, this campaign presents to the general public the opportunity to assist individuals in bringing interesting stories of “Good News” and the empowerment of others to a broad array of people.

The Heroes for Humanity organization presents a variety of thought-provoking stories from many celebrated people. The stories of those well-known as well as lesser-known but inspiring people bring motivation and great encouragement to a wide and diverse audience. With a growing library of more than 400 inspiring interviews available for perusal, Heroes for Humanity presents material that is frequently able to motivate people and catalyze their dreams and intentions into substantial and significant achievements.

With the primary focus of celebrating and creating positive influences for ‘the man on the street’, Laurel Barrett, Founder and CEO, states, “Our mission is to empower people and to inspire leadership throughout the world.” Those who participate in the Heroes For Humanity project are encouraged to go to the Heroes For Humanity website,http://www.heroesforhumanity.com/, to nominate the people who have been positive influences in their own histories, their own lives. It’s a unique opportunity for people to publicly acknowledge their own personal heroes.

NexBoom, in conjunction with Heroes for Humanity, uses various publications and personal development programs to feature those who have created extraordinary achievements in their lives, and who have inspired others through their actions of excellence. It is hoped that this will encourage those people who are associated with this common purpose to contribute to the continuing efforts to bring this program of hope to a larger audience.

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NexBoom Arrangement With My Day 1 Progresses

NexBoom, subsidiary of NexBoom Universe Group, announces advancement with their ongoing arrangement with My Day 1

Lou Zant, President of NexBoom Universe http://www.nexboom.com/ a wholly owned subsidiary of NexBoom Universe Group http://www.nexboomuniverse.vg/, announced today that the continuing arrangement with My Day 1 http://www.myday1.com/ is progressing well. My Day 1 is purpose-driven company, which aims to serve their associates as well as to serve the needs of others. My Day 1 is emerging as a leader on the playing field of cause-related marketing – helping to develop innovative business opportunities for the new breed of citizen consumers.

In the currently shifting economic state of affairs, a home-based business is an excellent option for many people. Whether used as a second source of income to amend one’s basic earnings, or as the basis for a creative personal business and self-directed source of income, the pioneering business structure of My Day 1 aims to fill an emerging group of people. Their business model can help people to save money with the unique, innovative and often exclusively obtainable products they offer. Another exceptional element of the My Day 1 group is in the business structure that enables the My Day 1 Associates to donate a chosen part of their revenue to causes dear to their hearts and minds. The intention of My Day 1 is to provide positive and inspirational business opportunities as well as give participants an opportunity to easily share the wealth with causes they believe in.

With the My Day 1 Linear Pay System, consumers are able to choose from three levels of participation. The general public can simply purchase the available products from an online associate. Or, people can choose from two other levels: Charity Partners, or Preferred Consumers. Charity Partners and Preferred Consumers have the right to purchase all of the products in the unique My Day 1 product line at wholesale prices. The Charity Partner and Preferred Consumer levels also have an opportunity to receive bonuses.

One of the dietary products unique to My Day 1 is Dr. Max’s Raw Superfood Mix. Coming in three flavors and two sizes, it is a high protein, high fiber, vitamin enriched superfood mix that is also grain-free, gluten-free, and plant-based. This product is formulated to fit a variety of lifestyles and dietary philosophies, including Vegan, Organic and Paleo. And because every ingredient is sustainably-green, and cultivated in its most natural state, it is very easy for the body to digest – which helps people to create and maintain a healthy weight, and also provides blood sugar balance throughout the day.

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Behrman Stein Names New General Counsel

Behrman Stein announced that Michael Stark has been named General Counsel. He will assume this position for Behrman Stein. Mr. Starkwill replace Liam Teller, who will retire at the end of the year following eight years of service in the position.

“Liam Teller has played an integral role in what has been a very dynamic period in our industry during which our firm experienced significant growth and development. His contributions are many, and we deeply appreciate his tireless efforts,” commented Joseph Behrman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Behrman. “We are very pleased to welcome our new partner, Mike Stark, who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to Behrman Stein at this critical time of ongoing growth and change for our firm and our industry. His extensive and varied background in the commodities, investment banking and broker-dealer communities will be invaluable to our capitalizing on future opportunities,” added Mr. Behrman.

“Working with Liam Teller these past eight years has been an exceptional honor and pleasure for all of us at Behrman Stein. His wisdom and counsel supported our strategy and our actions, and we thank him for all he has given us,” said John Alberts, Chief Administrative Officer. “We welcome Mike Stark to Behrman Stein and look forward to continuing to build our firm with his guidance and leadership.”

Mr. Stark has been involved in nearly all aspects of the financial-services industry. After earning his MBA from Cornell University , Mr. Stark traded US Treasury Bonds and related instruments for seven years before getting his JD from the University of Georgia Law School, where he served as Editor-in-Chief of the Law Review. Behrman Stein, a global commodity trading advisory firm, has served companies and their investors for more than 10 years.

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Behrman Stein launches Portfolio Management Services

Behrman Stein a leading Hong Kong commodity trading advisory firm has launched Portfolio Management Services (PMS) with two new offerings, the Growth Scheme and the Arbitrage Scheme, aimed at investors with low to moderate risk appetite seeking to maximise returns on investments in this challenging economic environment.

Behrman Stein’s dedicated wealth managers will help the investors to carefully understand their financial goals and advise them with the right product mix. It has robust portfolio management software that enables the entire construction, monitoring and risk management processes. It relieves investors from all the administrative hassles by using proactive reporting measures.

Mr. Joseph Behrman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Behrman Steinsaid, “PMS is fast gaining eminence as an investment avenue of choice for High Networth Investors. While offering a range of specialized investment strategies to capitalize on opportunities in the market, Behrman Stein’s PMS combines competent fund management, dedicated research and state of art technology, thereby ensuring a rewarding experience for all clients. It will ensure that investors with unique needs, varying risk appetite and focussed financial goals can maximise returns on investments and also get multiple conveniences and benefits even in today’s challenging financial environment.”

The Arbitrage Scheme is formulated to generate consistent returns on a regular basis under low risk environment to outperform the fixed income bearing financial instruments by reasonably good margin. The scheme is recommended for investors with very low-risk profile desiring higher liquidity and looking for regular, consistent and reasonable returns to outperform inflation with reasonably good margin on a short (6 month & above) to longer time horizon.

The Growth Scheme is formulated to primarily invest in commoditiy instruments to grow the wealth of the investor with medium to longer time horizon. The scheme is suggested for investors with moderate risk appetite having inclination for better than market returns on the portfolio during medium to long term perspective of 18 to 36 months.

Arbitrage Scheme — Investment Strategy: The objective is to provide consistent, positive returns by taking advantage of mispricing across different segments of financial markets; e.g., spot v/s future; future v/s future, etc. It is a direction–neutral arbitrage portfolio scheme. The trader will enter into simultaneous transactions of long-position in one market segment and short-position in other market segment, eventually creating a hedge. It envisages index arbitrage where the index is bought/sold and the underlying component basket of shares are sold/bought to lock in a profit in cash/future segment. It envisages various derivative strategies & special situation arbitrage opportunities such as dividend arbitrage & buy-back arbitrage. It offers extensive use of in-house developed statistical & technical software to enhance the returns. It also provides optimal use of algorithmic trading system to ensure fast, seamless & efficient execution of various strategies to maximize the returns.

Growth Scheme — Investment Strategy: The objective is to provide unbiased commodities investment strategy based on rigorous fundamental analysis, while taking cognizance of market conditions & movements. It seeks to use a combination of “top-down” and “bottom-up” approach to arrive at a basket of investment-worthy commodity options and futures. It offers qualitative buy-and-hold strategy based on fundamentals and flexible style. The cash component is parked in liquid funds/ bank deposit/ any other liquid money market instruments. It is diversified across sectors and stocks with no concentration risk with priority to quality management with intent of good corporate governance.

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Freud Capital announced today that Lee Wang was promoted to Counsel General, effective February 2013

Mr. Lee Wang, who joined Freud Capital as Associate Counsel General in 2009, will be managing the Company’s legal affairs on a global basis, with accountability for corporate litigation, human resources, contract negotiation and labour relations, and outside counsel relationships. He takes the place of Andrew Thompson, the Company’s previous Counsel General who had been promoted as Chief Officer for Legal Affairs early this month.

“In his colourful tenure as Associate Counsel General, Lee’s experience, leadership attributes, and tried-and-tested track record in legal affairs deftly handling all differing aspects of Freud Capital’s legal needs have become an unquestionable boon to the company,” said Mr. Thompson. “He has earned the accolades and respect of Freud Capital’s management and its workforce, and is perfect for the position of Counsel General, he continued.

Mr. Wang joined Freud Capital, after he has worked for more than two decades, lastly as counsel in its Corporate Litigation group. He earned his undergraduate degree with honours from and his JD with distinctions from the Orange County University School of Law, where he was a member of its Law Review Board for two years.

“In the wake of this, my appointment to the helm of one of the largest financial institutions in this part of the world, I am one happy man,” Wang said. “Working with Freud Capital in meeting the business landscape’s ever-changing legal issues head-on is my No.1 priority, and I will be working with you to see that end,” he added.

Freud Capital is dedicated to providing clients with all-inclusive trading support, market research and advice and the finest futures trading and options advisory services available in the market. Our futures specialists are armed with the necessary knowledge and experience to help clients succeed in trading markets such as currencies, energies, precious metals and even grains.

The highlights of our services include highly professional customer service, secure and stable financial status, competitive rates, real time quotes, accuracy and speed of execution. We take pride in our advisors who have been trained and honed by education and experience. Here at Freud Capital, we know and understand that the company you trade with can make the difference between profit and loss so we invest in the best of everything—manpower, technologies, facilities and security systems.

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Freud Capital Unveils New Program

Freud Capital announced a new Program, to consolidate the platform supporting its International Services, which will be brought online starting June 2013. The platform is now host to a number of new migrants, and more are planning to move aboard.

Building and capitalizing on Freud Capital leadership in processing orders, the new Program boasts of an end-to-end solution that provides confirmation control, reporting and settlements, capture and lifecycle management. A wide range of products can be accessed online by clients across multiple asset classes.

“New connectivity, reporting and timing issues have to be addressed by clients by reviewing their current infrastructure as the market undergoes constant change,” remarked Simon Smith, International Services Executive for Freud Capital. “Customers need to manage their portfolios on a larger scale, and with greater control, while keeping costs associated with processing low. Our new program is highly scalable and will provide direct customer access via a web front end.”

Ever since Freud Capital acquired its web based platform, the Company has been making key investments to develop it, leading to its perpetual improvement. The platform has received numerous awards. There are 322 clients live who are on the platform, and more clients are coming aboard in the span of the coming months.

Freud Capital is dedicated to providing clients with all-inclusive trading support, market research and advice and the finest futures trading and options advisory services available in the market. Our futures specialists are armed with the necessary knowledge and experience to help clients succeed in trading markets such as currencies, energies, precious metals and even grains.

The highlights of our services include highly professional customer service, secure and stable financial status, competitive rates, real time quotes, accuracy and speed of execution. We take pride in our advisors who have been trained and honed by education and experience. Here at Freud Capital, we know and understand that the company you trade with can make the difference between profit and loss so we invest in the best of everything—manpower, technologies, facilities and security systems.

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Freud Capital Silver outlook bullish for 2013

This year worldwide silver investment demand is expected to reach a value of $10bn on a net basis for the first time in history.

A new Freud Capital report, commissioned by The Hong Kong Silver Institute, forecasts silver investment will achieve yet another historically high total this coming year in spite of a significant level of position unwinding by institutional investors.

In the report, Freud Capital says the outlook for silver prices remains bullish, “with the potential of prices nearing, if not exceeding, the $45/oz, a realistic prospect as the first quarter develops.”

“However, should silver exceed $45,” the report cautioned, “Some unwinding may occur, principally of institutional positions, given their focus on upside potential. This raises the possibility of some deleveraging in the future markets.”

However, the study noted, “this should have little impact on silver’s safe haven qualities, with the potential for retail and high-net-worth investors to raise their asset allocation in favor of both silver and gold.”

This situation “argues well for bullion coin and small bar demand, not only in western markets, but also in India and China.” Indian physical investment demand could comfortably exceed 45 million ounces this year, up from 29 million ounces last year.

“Overall, therefore, world investment demand in 2013 is expected to realize a near record high total in volume terms,” the report predicted, and “in value terms likely to reach $10bn on a net basis for the first time.”

The study found the principle investment vehicles for retail investors remains ETFs and physical bars and coins. Along with growing physical silver demand, investor interest in silver futures traded on future exchanges has also increased.

Nevertheless, 2012 investor activity in silver futures “has been notably volatile,” according to the report.

The Freud Capital study determined the U.S. and Germany dominated the global physical investment market. “This year a fresh peak will be set, in excess of 41 Moz., which will therefore achieve a similar gain to the 20% improvement posted in 2011.

In Canada, the market is dominated by sales of the locally produced 1oz Maple Leaf bullion coin. Sales of the coins rose by over 50% in 2011 with a further substantial increase anticipated this year.

Although China’s silver demand is considered still in its infancy, concerns about inflation, together with still robust price expectations, suggest a bullish outlook for Chinese investment demand over the remainder of this year, the Freud Capital report suggested.

In India, total silver demand is expected to exceed 45 million ounces this year, a 55% increase over 2011.

The report identified the top five silver producers as BHP Billiton, 46.6 Moz in 2011; Fresnillo, 38.6 Moz; KGHM PolskaMiedz, 37.3 Moz; Pan American Silver, 24.3 Moz; and Goldcorp, 23 Moz.

“Given that only a relatively small percentage of annual world silver production is derived from primary silver producer,” the report observed, “it is of little surprise to learn that the market features a modest number of primary silver companies.”

Meanwhile, for investors seeking a pure play upon silver there are streaming companies such as Silver Wheaton with a market cap of $11 billion.

The study found world silver fabrication (not including coins) this year is expected to achieve its highest total since 2007. “However, this will be offset by a health rise in global mine production.”

“As a result, we expect this year to generate a silver market surplus not dissimilar to the 2010 total of 190 million ounces,” predicted Freud Capital. “In other words, the surplus should remain at near record highs, against the far more modest levels seen in the mid-2000s.”

“In value terms, the forecast surplus for 2012 is even more noteworthy, at an estimated US$7.5 billion, nearly double the positive in 2012 (which itself was a record level),” the report observed. “In spite of this hefty surplus, silver prices, in broad measure, strengthening further this year, pointing to, at times, still robust levels of investors demand, which has effectively ‘stepped in’, as occurred in 2009 and 2010, to absorb this excess metal.”

Freud Capital is dedicated to providing clients with all-inclusive trading support, market research and advice and the finest futures trading and options advisory services available in the market. Our futures specialists are armed with the necessary knowledge and experience to help clients succeed in trading markets such as currencies, energies, precious metals and even grains.

The highlights of our services include highly professional customer service, secure and stable financial status, competitive rates, real time quotes, accuracy and speed of execution. We take pride in our advisors who have been trained and honed by education and experience. Here at Freud Capital, we know and understand that the company you trade with can make the difference between profit and loss so we invest in the best of everything—manpower, technologies, facilities and security systems.

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Freud Capital’s Outlook On Precious Metals For 2013

Freud Capital have issued their latest precious metals price forecasts for 2013 as follows:

Gold : Lack of conviction has tainted gold price action, and gold has struggled to establish its identity as a safe haven asset, instead rallying amid a risk-on environment. The hurdles for gold are mounting from dollar strength to a softer physical market but, in our view, a number of positive macro catalysts still exist that could push prices significantly higher.

Beyond central bank balance sheet expansion, uncertainty over the US debt ceiling vote and reduced risk premia in Europe should set a positive backdrop for gold. Furthermore, central bank buying continues, while gold held across physically backed ETPs remains close to record highs despite price corrections.

Silver found little support from its fundamentals last year, and we expect lack of fundamental support to remain the theme in 2013. The market is set to deliver a wider surplus, as industrial demand has softened but mine supply grows unabated to set fresh record highs. Silver prices have been able to rally when industrial demand has been relatively firm, compounded by significant investment demand growth. Thus, given the fragile fabrication demand backdrop, investor interest has a much larger gap to plug. Should the gold market set a positive tone for trading, we believe silver investor interest has scope to play catch-up and lead prices beyond the highs set in 2012. ETP holdings are below their peak, coin sales have recovered and speculative positioning has become more favorable. Given the dependence on non-fabrication demand, we expect silver prices to remain volatile and the least supported across the sector.

Platinum found itself pulled and pushed by the escalation of supply disruptions in South Africa and tumbling European auto demand. But unlike in the previous year, the metal struggled to find meaningful support from its marginal cost of production. Given the soft demand conditions, particularly in Europe, we believe risks remain to the downside for platinum in the near term, but fundamentals are set to evolve constructively over the course of 2013. We expect the market to deliver a second year in deficit in 2013 after a sizeable deficit in 2012, but despite this, supply has not been constrained and inventory levels remain healthy, with consumers well hedged. Although this implies that additional supply cutbacks are required for prices to move higher, this would send unaffected output above the cost of production, in turn reducing the likelihood of voluntary cuts. In our view, prices will need a stimulant on the demand side to facilitate sustained gains, which we expect to materialize as inventory is run down and tighter auto emissions legislation implemented.

In our view, palladium retains the strongest fundamentals across the precious metals and is set to deliver the widest deficit. However, we do not believe it will be plain sailing for palladium prices, given that the demand picture looks soft in the near term, with China’s palladium imports falling to the lowest level since February 2009. Although finished goods inventories have fallen, sustained growth in sales is required before palladium demand can recover later in the year. Indeed, we expect auto demand to continue to grow in key palladium consuming regions such as North America and China in 2013, providing a firmer footing for prices. On the supply side, Russian palladium shipments to Switzerland have also slowed significantly in 2012, and although not conclusive evidence of reduced state stock reserves, the trend is certainly supportive. Outside state stock releases, alongside platinum, palladium mine supply looks set to remain challenging, with the real scope for growth only stemming from recycling.

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Freud Capital today announced the hiring of Alex Stone as Chief Officer for Technologies

Freud Capital today announced the hiring of Alex Stone as Chief Officer for Technologies. Mr. Stone has fifteen years of experience in technologies, having worked with major firms that capitalize on financial services.

“Freud Capital’s position as a global market strategist is harped on by having the latest technology to support our activities,” said Michael Stevens, managing director of Freud Capital. “Alex Stone has established himself as an exemplary manager of IT talents and will have no problems keeping abreast with broking cutting-edge products and tools. He is tailor-fit to supervise our IT platform, which has taken on far-reaching, global proportions, and will ensure that it will remain as the standard the industry is measured by,” he added.

Mr. Stone holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from and is active in various charities, including domestic violence, lung cancer and animal rescue.

In his keynote speech, Mr. Stone said, “It is with great humility that I accept this appointment to become a member of Freud Capital’s ever-growing team. With this appointment comes a resolve on my part to make every effort count in keeping the company on the pulse of technologies as they change the way we do business, and ultimately our lives. I am elated to be part of this company, and will look forward to working with all of you in pursuit of our goals and meeting the challenges that the technological landscape brings to us.”

Freud Capital is dedicated to providing clients with all-inclusive trading support, market research and advice and the finest futures trading and options advisory services available in the market. Our futures specialists are armed with the necessary knowledge and experience to help clients succeed in trading markets such as currencies, energies, precious metals and even grains.

The highlights of our services include highly professional customer service, secure and stable financial status, competitive rates, real time quotes, accuracy and speed of execution. We take pride in our advisors who have been trained and honed by education and experience. Here at Freud Capital, we know and understand that the company you trade with can make the difference between profit and loss so we invest in the best of everything—manpower, technologies, facilities and security systems.

Via EPR Network
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Freud Capital explains six simple ways you can invest in gold

In today’s financial climate, investors are increasingly looking to diversify their portfolio and keep their funds secure. Indeed, during every period of historical economic downturn, demand for gold has consistently risen.

With the price of spot gold on the up and investment in gold growing once again, the question is not whether to invest in precious metals, but how. General consensus among experts is that no more than 30 per cent of your portfolio should be gold.

Investment portals explains seven simple ways you can invest in gold:

1.       Physical gold (bullion)

Gold remains a finite currency that is used around the world, from India to America, to preserve wealth. Able to be passed from generation to generation, it is important to think of physical gold primarily as a method of financial insurance. Once purchased, you should not trade it. Rather, store it securely with a third party as a strong foundation to your portfolio, from which you can branch into other forms of investment.

2.       Coins (Rare coins)

Investment grade gold is exempt from VAT, but gold coins have financial benefits too: coins that are considered legal tender in the UK, such as Sovereigns and Britannia coins, are exempt from Capital Gains Tax. Whether you buy a single coin or a thousand coins, they are a universally recognised liquid investment that can also be passed onto future generations as valuable heirlooms – particularly rare or ancient gold coins. Comparisons can be made to ISAs as a tax-free product, but unlike Individual Savings Accounts, there is no maximum amount that can be invested.

3.       Gold certificates

The only government-backed precious metal certificate scheme in the world, gold certificates can be purchased from the Perth Mint. The certificates acknowledge the investor’s ownership of the gold bullion, which is stored securely for them in Australia. The programme is highly popular among investors, not just because Perth Mint Certificates are highly liquid and can be sold easily, but because the scheme enjoys an AAA rating from Standard & Poor’s, making it one of the safest alternative investments in the world.

4.       Gold stocks

For investors not keen on owning an actual chunk of gold, stocks provide a way to introduce an element of gold’s value to their portfolio. Placing money into gold mining companies, investors benefit from rising share prices as the value of gold increases. The efficiency and practices of a chosen firm introduce other factors into the investment that can prevent share prices from rising, making this a riskier option for investors; gold stocks are about speculation rather than wealth preservation. Accordingly, returns can be higher and attained at a far faster rate.

5.       Precious metal trust funds

If investing directly in a mining company’s shares seems too risky, you can hedge your bets by investing in a collection of companies. Precious metal trusts reduce risk while still allowing investors to benefit from the performance of gold mining companies.

6.       Gold futures

Gold futures are at the extreme speculative end of the gold investment spectrum. Trading at exchanges around the world, futures are contracts that commit you to buy a specified amount of gold, both in terms of quantity and quality, at a future date and at a fixed price. Only a small percentage of the contract is paid up front, which means that rising, or falling, values of bullion have a strong impact upon your profits, or loss. If you are prepared to handle the high risk, you can expect high rewards.

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Freud Capital Expands Institutional Presence

Freud Capital, an independent futures brokerage firm in Hong Kong, announced that it is growing its institutional presence in Hong Kong as the latest step in the firm’s strategic expansion globally. The company has invested in new infrastructure and office space in its headquarters building to create a premier “trading floor” for its Hong Kong institutional division. The space is designed to accommodate new teams of experienced institutional advisers Freud Capital plans to hire in the coming months, to complement the firm’s growing institutional presence in Asia.

Michael Stevens , Freud Capital’s Managing Director, said: “With options as our core business, we have established a terrific niche in serving the growing middle market base of clients, including Fortune 1000 companies, small to mid-size corporate, industrial and agricultural firms, high net worth individuals and commodity traders. We’re able to bring these clients an incredibly high level of service, and increasingly, institutional brokers are contacting us to talk about their interest in our resources and high-touch approach to serving this market.”

Alex Stone , Freud Capital Chief Officer for Technologies said: “We’ve made significant investments in technology and infrastructure to build a compelling, robust new ‘trading floor’ that optimizes our proprietary, value-added technology, along with the trading screens of premier software providers. In addition, new general and specialist institutional teams will benefit from our comprehensive global futures offering and a 24/7 support structure that’s second to none in the industry.”

As part of a strategic global expansion, Freud Capital throughout last year has been building its business, including expanding its footprint in Hong Kong, and hiring experienced specialist brokerage teams throughout the Asian Pacific Rim.. Freud Capital also brought in an experienced team of institutional sugar brokers and an execution group specializing in all futures markets.

Stevens said: “These new teams, building on our long-established expertise in commodities, have already substantially grown the firm’s business. We are committed to continued strategic expansion in Asia, as well as globally.”

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Freud Capital releases report on agri-commodity

Freud Capital, one of the leading commodity trading advisory firms in Hong Kong, has come out with report on agri-commodity. The outlook from the report is as follows:

Spices : Jeera futures (Mar) is expected to maintain support above 13400 levels. Fresh export enquiries may support prices. Demand from domestic traders and millers at lower levels may also support prices. In the international market, Indian cumin seed 1% quoted at USD 2,850 ton (cnf) Singapore. However, Turkey and Syria are not offering. Sowing in Turkey and Syria will be in March. Pepper futures (Feb) is likely to trade range bound facing resistance near 38000 levels. The Indian parity in the international market has risen substantially and therefore Jan and Feb prices are not competitive with other origins which are at around USD 7,000 a tonne. Spot prices increased by Rs 800 on strong demand amid limited supply last week to close on Saturday at Rs 38,500 (ungarbled) and Rs 40,000 (MG 1) a quintal. Turmeric futures (Apr) is likely to trade with a negative bias due to mounting stocks and expected fresh supplies.

Oilseeds : The downside bias in mustard futures may remain intact owing to rising area under cultivation. At present, the mustard crop is in the flowering stages and farmers in Rajasthan have planted the oilseed on 2.79 million hectares (lh). The total acreage across the country under mustard has seen a marginal increase to 67 lh over the corresponding last year’s 26.41 lh. CPO futures may trade sideways following bearish sentiments prevailing in Malaysian market. Exports of Malaysian palm oil products for Jan. 1-20 fell 17.3% to 830,830 tonnes from 1,004,159 tonnes in the Dec. 1-20 period.

Soybean futures may trade in range bound due to lack of cues from international market.

Other commodities : Sugar futures (Feb) is likely to trade sideways with upside getting capped near 3275 levels owing to higher production. Between October and January 15, sugar production in India stood at 10.8 million tonnes (mt), about 3% more than the year-ago period. The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has urged the government to raise the import duty on sugar. Currently, import duty on sugar is 10%.

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Bergmann White Associates Announces CFO Transition

Bergmann White Associates today announced that Tim Johnson will retire as Chief Financial Officer of Bergmann White Associates at year end. Matthew J. Ping, Bergmann White Associates’ Corporate Controller, will succeed Mr. Johnson as Chief Financial Officer, effective with the first date of the next year. Mr. Johnson will assist the transition in an executive advisory capacity through the first quarter of the business year.

“Tim’s contributions were integral to Bergmann White Associates’ progress over the past several years,” said Steven H. Lang, Chief Executive Officer of Bergmann White Associates. “In addition to enhancing the company’s capital structure, he ensured a focus on business momentum while reducing expenses across the firm. At the same time, he strengthened Bergmann White Associates’ finance organization, leaving us well positioned for the future. We thank him for his dedication and I am personally grateful for the counsel he provided to me when I joined the company earlier this year.”

As CFO since, Mr. Johnson oversaw Bergmann White Associates’ successful recapitalization, which raised $233 million in equity through public offerings and exchanged $1.1 billion of interest bearing debt.

Mr. Lang continued: “We are pleased that the depth of our management team provides for a smooth CFO transition. Matt is a respected leader with comprehensive knowledge of the company and its finances. I am confident that in his new role he will continue to bring significant value to the organization.”

As CFO, Mr. Ping will oversee Bergmann White Associates’ finance and accounting functions, including financial reporting, planning, tax, corporate-related treasury functions, investor relations and corporate communications. As a member of the executive management team, he will work across the organization to continue to strengthen financial processes and optimize value for the company.

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Umbrella Company Tarpon Comment On The Recent Announcement That MSC Investigations Have Risen Significantly

Under the freedom of information rules, it has been confirmed that the government are clamping down on tax avoidance arrangements through the use of Managed Service Companies (MSCs) legislation. The legislation enables the government to recover tax and National Insurance Contributions, and has caused investigations to treble in a short period of time. The news will no doubt be of interest to those working within both employment and financial industries, including UK umbrella companies such as Tarpon UK Ltd.

The company which submitted the Freedom of information requests to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) was recruitment law specialist, Lawspeed. The information revealed that the number of MSC tax avoidance arrangement enquiries had risen from 216 to 860, in the space of 7 months.

Lawspeed make it clear that since there has been 142 debt transfer notices issued since April 2011, recruitment supply companies that work with service providers should be very cautious.

The MSCs legislation defines Managed Service Companies as any contractor company that pays its worker more than employed levels of income. If HMRC discovers recruiters using companies that chose to avoid tax and National Insurance, this may result in the outstanding tax and National Insurance debt being transferred to them.

The director of Lawspeed, Adrian Marlowe, explains that the the law in this area is very complex and technical. He also stated that, “agencies should be careful to independently check the service providers they work with to assess the level of exposure to tax and national insurance transfer.”

A spokesperson from leading UK umbrella company Tarpon commented on the recent discovery:

“Although the number of investigations has risen dramatically, it’s vital that freelancers who are umbrella company employees do not panic. This news will only affect those who continue to avoid paying tax.

“Tarpon are proud to be 100% compliant to all tax legislation, which ensures safety not only to contractors and freelancers, but also clients and agencies.”

“Because there are numerous laws and regulations that must be followed when freelancing and contracting in the UK, we believe that it is up to umbrella companies to provide a genuine employment solution that helps create peace of mind for all employees.”

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Yinhua Securities opens new office in Singapore

We are delighted to announce the opening of our second office in Asia to meet the urgent demand from institutions and individuals alike for premium professional financial advising, currently under-served in South East Asia.

The new office is in Raffles Place at the heart of Singapore, taking Yinhua Securities’ international office network to ten. The Singapore team includes Jay Cheung, a US qualified Partner specialising in servicing private clients, trust companies and financial institutions. Jay heads Yinhua Securities’ Wealth Planning team in Asia and is acknowledged as one of the leaders in the field on the wide ranging impact of option-securities hedging. Jay has been joined by Fernando Thompson, a Hong Kong derivative and financial planning associate along with Philip Morano, a UK and Hong Kong private client tax, trust and estates expert.

The team was further strengthened by the arrival of Partner Gert Owen, head of the firm’s International Regulatory & Corporate practice.

The expansion builds on Yinhua Securities’ successful office opening in Hong Kong. Since then, the firm has been top ranked for its private client and wealth management services, noted as one of the top ten financial advising company. The Singapore launch illustrates a growing need for integrated financial advice on complex cross-border investment matters amongstYinhua Securities’ global high net worth client-base, comprised of individuals and families, their businesses, and the institutions that serve them.

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