Euro looking scary, where to put one's money?

[Eddie Dane]

Disclaimer 1:
Before you all waste bandwidth berating me for seeking financial advice on an Internet forum; I don't just do what strangers tell on-line, so don't worry.

Disclaimer 2:
Goldbugs, Ron Paul fans and other gold-standard lovers: I already own some gold. No need to spread the gospel in this thread.
Got in nice and early, gold has doubled since I bought it.

Anyway,

There is an ongoing discussion about the stability of the Euro, and I'm looking to put my savings elsewhere.
I have some ideas which I will throw at the mercy of more knowledgeable forum members. Any advice and criticism is appreciated

The Dollar?
Quite frankly, the Dollar isn't looking so good.

Remnibi?
Can you even buy that?

Nuclear energy
I believe Nuclear is the wave of the future because it is a nice safe alternative to eating raw food in the dark.
However, I don't know if this is the right time, or in what way to invest in Nuclear energy.

Resources
resources are limited and more economies need more of it.
But mining stocks and such go down the tubes if the economy stalls.

State Obligations
I'd say from countries that are stable and have natural resources.
Canada, Australia, Norway...

Real estate
Another classic place of refuge. I could buy an apartment.

In closing:
Are there any good investor publications that forum members can recommend?

[DC]

Schwizer franke denk :D

[Eddie Dane]

Schwizer franke denk :D

Not a bad idea, actually.
plus I can spend them in your hideously overpriced supermarkets when I go skiing.

[timhau]

Resources
resources are limited and more economies need more of it.
But mining stocks and such go down the tubes if the economy stalls.

... and then they come back up when the demand picks up. Of course, the best time to buy mining/resource stocks is when they've just gone down the tubes, which was like 1.5-2 years ago.

I read an interview with some guy from Goldman Sachs in a Finnish economics-oriented newspaper, and he recommended emerging market consumer-related stocks. Recommendations from even major players like GS can be all over the map as far as eventual success is concerned, but that to me sounded like reasonable advice. If the average Brazilian gets seriously middle-class in the next 10 years or so, someone somewhere is going to make a lot of money getting them what they want. That's even more true with India and China, but they have a much longer way to go.

[DC]

Not a bad idea, actually.
plus I can spend them in your hideously overpriced supermarkets when I go skiing.

i dont know, since months the Machineindustry is asking the National Bank to weaken the swiss franc, so they have better prices for export.

[DC]

and skiing in switzerland? are you to rich? go to Austria, just as nice but less expensive. and alot swiss people there making vacation :D

[The Central Scrutinizer]

I read an interview with some guy from Goldman Sachs in a Finnish economics-oriented newspaper, and he recommended emerging market consumer-related stocks.

I read somewhere recently that emerging markets is the ONE and ONLY sector to put your money. :)

[timhau]

and skiing in switzerland? are you to rich? go to Austria, just as nice but less expensive.

... and even cheaper when the Euro reaches parity with the Swiss Franc, and almost free when it reaches parity with whatever-it-is-the-0.01-Franc-unit-is-called.

[timhau]

I read somewhere recently that emerging markets is the ONE and ONLY best place sector to put your money. :)

Fixed.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Fixed.

I fixed it already! :)

[Eddie Dane]

and skiing in switzerland? are you to rich? go to Austria, just as nice but less expensive. and alot swiss people there making vacation :D

I know somebody who lives there, and I smuggle a week's worth of food and booze in every time.

[Foolmewunz]

Well, if you're worried about the Euro, then the RMB is probably a good play. When China unpegged it slightly this summer, the RMB actually lost ground against the Euro. If you feel the Euro's going south, then with the RMB bound to rise (the only question is how fast they let it appreciate), it'd sound like a good move.

I don't know about Europe, but I can get all the RMB I want, here. HSBC and Standard Chartered both allow RMB savings and have special RMB services, and you can exchange any currency in the world (just about) here into HK $ and then convert as many of those as you want into RMB. I think they're required to take your passport number if you exchange over 10,000 HK$ (about 1000 Euros), but you can go to fifty exchange places and convert HK$ 499,950 without raising an eyebrow.

[DC]

I know somebody who lives there, and I smuggle a week's worth of food and booze in every time.

oh sure, i forgot you are from the Netherlands, when they go to vacation they bring with them everything, not only food and beer, also their house (caravan) ;)

[Arthur Mann]

Personally I don't think it matters what you do with your money, money is just a game anyway.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Personally I don't think it matters what you do with your money, money is just a game anyway.

So is love. And football.

[Arthur Mann]

So is love. And football.

Both good points. We don't go to war over football, though of course there are plenty of people willing to engage in riots over it. Are such people rational? And when's the last time we went to war because our President fell in love with an arch-rival's beautiful, nubile daughter? That baloney doesn't exist outside fairy tales. Yet we routinely go to war "over money". Really it's over resources and control of people, enforcement of a social paradigm or indoctrination scheme, it's never really about "money" per se. Money is just a game these psychotic people, popularizing and promoting war, invented to control us.

[The Central Scrutinizer]

Both good points. We don't go to war over football...

The people of El Salvador and Honduras might disagree.

And when's the last time we went to war because our President fell in love with an arch-rival's beautiful, nubile daughter? That baloney doesn't exist outside fairy tales.

What on earth are you blathering on about?

Yet we routinely go to war "over money". Really it's over resources and control of people, enforcement of a social paradigm or indoctrination scheme, it's never really about "money" per se. Money is just a game these psychotic people, popularizing and promoting war, invented to control us.

Ummmm....yeah. OK. :rolleyes:

[Puppycow]

Have you looked into Korea, Vietnam or Australia? (Stocks of course).

Another possibility is resource extraction companies.

[Eddie Dane]

Both good points. We don't go to war over football, though of course there are plenty of people willing to engage in riots over it. Are such people rational? And when's the last time we went to war because our President fell in love with an arch-rival's beautiful, nubile daughter? That baloney doesn't exist outside fairy tales. Yet we routinely go to war "over money". Really it's over resources and control of people, enforcement of a social paradigm or indoctrination scheme, it's never really about "money" per se. Money is just a game these psychotic people, popularizing and promoting war, invented to control us.

I'm glad you took a break from subsistence farming to get on the net and share your mature wisdom with us.

[Eddie Dane]

Have you looked into Korea, Vietnam or Australia? (Stocks of course).

Another possibility is resource extraction companies.

I think I missed the boom in resources (as another poster already pointed out).

The government in China is apparently hiking wages, so Vietnam might have a better chance in the export market.

So, that sounds interesting.

[timhau]

The government in China is apparently hiking wages, so Vietnam might have a better chance in the export market.

So, that sounds interesting.

Apparently you're not the only one who thinks so (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Eleven). If you want a long-term investment with high risk and a potential for high reward, the 'Next 11' might be now what the BRIC-countries were 10 years ago.

[Foolmewunz]

Apparently you're not the only one who thinks so (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Eleven). If you want a long-term investment with high risk and a potential for high reward, the 'Next 11' might be now what the BRIC-countries were 10 years ago.
Yeah, if only it was 2005 again (when that article was written) you could get in on the ground floor. ;)

Several of those of those N11 are not quite making it - and have been on everyone's "Sure To Grow Like a Weed List" since 1985: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines(and all have proved to have too much internal corruption and too many challenges to their infrastructure.)

Another, Mexico, has some major problems that it needs to deal with.

Nigeria? Who wrote that list? Worst idea for investment I've encountered in many a moon.

Pakistan - too hard to back anything in Pakistan, both because of the political situation and because their economy is not exactly traded freely. I'm pretty adept at Asian trade and I don't know where I'd go to back a commercial entity or investment in Pakistan.

Iran? Without the nuclear controversy/crisis, and with the moderate government that everyone thought they'd be voting in (but which never materialized), .... might be a play.

South Korea. Weren't they one of the original Seven Dragons? I guess this was a vote for the rebound following the IMF crisis in the late 90s. I'd say that was a pretty obvious play.

Today? Viet Nam and Turkey would be my plays on that list.

I think the list included several countries that GS must've thought would liberalize - both their politics and economy - and which did not.

[Eddie Dane]

Yeah, if only it was 2005 again (when that article was written) you could get in on the ground floor. ;)

Several of those of those N11 are not quite making it - and have been on everyone's "Sure To Grow Like a Weed List" since 1985: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines(and all have proved to have too much internal corruption and too many challenges to their infrastructure.)

Another, Mexico, has some major problems that it needs to deal with.

Nigeria? Who wrote that list? Worst idea for investment I've encountered in many a moon.

Pakistan - too hard to back anything in Pakistan, both because of the political situation and because their economy is not exactly traded freely. I'm pretty adept at Asian trade and I don't know where I'd go to back a commercial entity or investment in Pakistan.

Iran? Without the nuclear controversy/crisis, and with the moderate government that everyone thought they'd be voting in (but which never materialized), .... might be a play.

South Korea. Weren't they one of the original Seven Dragons? I guess this was a vote for the rebound following the IMF crisis in the late 90s. I'd say that was a pretty obvious play.

Today? Viet Nam and Turkey would be my plays on that list.

I think the list included several countries that GS must've thought would liberalize - both their politics and economy - and which did not.

I've always wondered why Iran doesn't go the China route and get into manufacturing.
Maybe the wacko government and the rampant corruption scare the investors off too much.

Also, I read an old Robert Kaplan book which painted a picture of the Iranian revolution where the revolutionaries weren't just against the Sjah and westernisation, but were heavily backed by the "bazari's" or market traders who were afraid of developments like supermarkets and department stores.

[Eddie Dane]

oh sure, i forgot you are from the Netherlands, when they go to vacation they bring with them everything, not only food and beer, also their house (caravan) ;)

I'm afraid I fit that stereo type.
All I add to the Swiss economy is buying my ski-pass and beer (too bulky to smuggle)

I cook at home with friends.

Funny story: I've been caught twice now with the food at the Swiss border.
Both times they let me just go.

The last time, the guy stopped me and asked if I had something to declare.
I felt confronted, but decided to just lie and very confidently said 'no sir'.
He gave me a tired look, sighed and waved me through.

My friend in the passenger seat just exclaimed 'Jesus, you have some balls!'
I looked behind me and saw that there was crate on the backseat with bananas and bottles of Cognac sticking out. I had thought it was covered up.

I'm glad he didn't take it personal.

[timhau]

Yeah, if only it was 2005 again (when that article was written) you could get in on the ground floor. ;)

Several of those of those N11 are not quite making it - and have been on everyone's "Sure To Grow Like a Weed List" since 1985: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines(and all have proved to have too much internal corruption and too many challenges to their infrastructure.)

Another, Mexico, has some major problems that it needs to deal with.

Nigeria? Who wrote that list? Worst idea for investment I've encountered in many a moon.

Well, it's kind of like Russia in the 1990s -- a terrible investment idea, unless it somehow manages to become brilliant. I'm not holding my breath, but if you really want to get in on the ground floor, you'll have to boldly go when nobody else goes. Chances for a real stinker of an investment will be high.


Today? Viet Nam and Turkey would be my plays on that list.

I think the list included several countries that GS must've thought would liberalize - both their politics and economy - and which did not.

Yeah. I also wonder why South Africa isn't on the list. It's also odd that the entire continent of South America is unrepresented; Colombia, Peru, and Argentina are apparently uninteresting (or at least less interesting than Pakistan or Nigeria).

[Foolmewunz]

Good point on South Africa. I'd certainly include it. And everyone I know who's been to Colombia in the past couple of years is touting it, but I don't know if that's a real belief in the growth of the economy or just relief that they didn't get gunned down.

[Eddie Dane]

Is there a website which tracks development of counties, preferably with graphics?

the economist is good for backgrounds, broken down by continent/country
http://www.economist.com/world/americas/

I hear Chile is doing well.

[dudalb]

I'm glad you took a break from subsistence farming to get on the net and share your mature wisdom with us.

He should get together with Jihad Jane. A match made in Heaven.

[dudalb]

I've always wondered why Iran doesn't go the China route and get into manufacturing.
Maybe the wacko government and the rampant corruption scare the investors off too much.

Also, I read an old Robert Kaplan book which painted a picture of the Iranian revolution where the revolutionaries weren't just against the Sjah and westernisation, but were heavily backed by the "bazari's" or market traders who were afraid of developments like supermarkets and department stores.

That, and Iran is simply not as rich in natural resources as China is once you take away oil.

[Eddie Dane]

He should get together with Jihad Jane. A match made in Heaven.

They could have as many children as possible, of which half would die in the first year.
The remaining kids could start helping out with the hunting an gathering around age four.

I could totally go for this simpler, more honest lifestyle if I wasn't so attached to being warm, well fed, healthy with a good life expectancy.

Ah, to each his own, I say.

[daenku32]

I put my dollars into rent.

[oggiesnr]

Ten years down the road we'll all look back and say "It's obvious, XXXXXX was the best investment". The only thing is that none of us (unless drunk or in love) will have invested in it!

Steve

[Segnosaur]

Had you thought of Canada?

Consider that Canada:

- Is resource rich, not only in Oil, but in minerals, agriculture, etc.
- Well educated work force
- Weathered the recent financial crisis fairly well (probably due to our cautious banking system.)

It may not have the high growth potential as some emerging markets, but its relatively safe and you're less likely to loose your shirt

[Foolmewunz]

<snip>
- Weathered the recent financial crisis fairly well (probably due to our cautious banking system.)

It may not have the high growth potential as some emerging markets, but its relatively safe and you're less likely to loose your shirt

I remember reading something a couple of years ago and it had columns for the growth and stability of various countries and in the plus column for Canada it had "Banking system not run by a bunch of crazies." :D

[Soapy Sam]

Give it to me.
I'll invest it in alcohol.