Posts by Adam Baratta

July 1, 2016 |

Lower Rates for Longer?

Graph map

Heading into the June FOMC meeting, investors were primarily focused on whether or not the Fed would hike rates again. Following the dismal May jobs report, the likelihood of a June hike declined significantly and the central bank did, in fact, remain on hold. The question then became: Would the Fed hike in July or possibly September? Things can change quickly in global financial markets and this past week investors have seen a great example of just how quickly things can head south. The aftermath... Continue Reading

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June 23, 2016 |

What Might A “Brexit” Vote Mean For The U.S.?

Brexit_date

As the highly anticipated “Brexit” referendum approaches this Thursday, markets could see ongoing volatility. Now that the latest FOMC meeting is out of the way, this key vote is likely to garner the majority of financial headlines this week. While the two sides in Great Britain have traded time as the front-runner, the election could be very close and markets may be on edge until a clear winner is determined. While a vote to remain in the EU may calm markets in the short-term, the... Continue Reading

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June 17, 2016 |

Chinese Bank Buys “Secret” London Gold Vault

Machine

In another indication of Chinese demand for physical gold, China’s ICBC Standard Bank has reportedly agreed to buy a London vault from Barclays. The ICBC Standard Bank is the largest bank in the world by assets, and the vault being purchased is one of the largest in all of Europe. While the exact whereabouts of the vault are unknown, it reportedly is within the M25 road and can allegedly hold up to 2000 metric tons of gold and other precious metals. Mark Buncombe, head of commodities... Continue Reading

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June 13, 2016 |

10 Reasons You Should Own Physical Gold

Central Banks Are Still

Physical gold carries no counterparty risk: Gold coins or bars cannot go bankrupt or default. You will not wake up one day the proud owner of a worthless piece of paper. Physical gold can be transacted privately: While certain reporting requirements may exist, physical gold can be bought and sold privately and anonymously. Gold has been considered a reliable store of wealth and value for thousands of years: Gold has been used as a store of value and medium of exchange for centuries. Try to... Continue Reading

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June 8, 2016 |

Could Be Harder Times Ahead For China

Heard this before

Much has been made of the slowdown currently being experienced by China. This makes perfect sense, after all, since China is the world’s second largest economy. Stock markets have whipsawed along with Chinese equities, and any increases in volatility seen in China tend to spread quickly. The People’s Bank of China has taken measures to boost its economy and stabilize its equity markets. From interest rate cuts to bans on short selling, the central bank has not been afraid to take the steps it feels... Continue Reading

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June 3, 2016 |

3 Questions to Be Asking Yourself Right Now

umbrella coin

Global markets could potentially see significant volatility soon, and U.S. stocks could see the multi-year bull market come to an end any day now. Are you prepared? Investors will likely have to grapple with several key issues in the coming months and years, and now may be a good time to reflect and ready yourself for what could lie ahead. Here are three key questions you should be asking yourself right now, and if you don’t have the right answers, it may be time to take... Continue Reading

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May 30, 2016 |

A Storm on the Horizon

don't wait any longer

The equity bull market that began in 2008 has been dubbed the most hated bull market in history by some. The run higher in equities over the last several years did, indeed, leave many scratching their heads. While many equity investors have enjoyed some strong returns during this period, there are ominous signs pointing to the possible end of the party. Consider current interest rates and bond yields. Since getting off to a terrible start to 2016, stocks have come roaring back in the last... Continue Reading

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May 25, 2016 |

Gold and Your Financial Future

Gold Resilience

It’s no secret that diversification is critical to a long-term investment strategy. And no, we don’t mean buying a few different stocks and then pouring a ton of cash into your company stock. Effective diversification includes different asset classes. These asset classes may include stocks, bonds, real estate, precious metals, and more. Unfortunately, many investors suffer a false sense of security as they are not aware of many of the options available to them and mistakenly believe they are well-diversified. To illustrate this point, the... Continue Reading

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May 18, 2016 |

The Least Expensive Way to Begin Acquiring Silver

Silver Coins

So you have decided to begin investing in silver. The question now is what types of silver products should you be buying. There are numerous choices available to investors when it comes to silver, and what you decide to invest in may be determined by your investment goals. We believe that various forms of coinage certainly have their place within your portfolio. We also believe, however, that the key to building a long-term financial fortress using precious metals is to buy and hold as much... Continue Reading

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