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Florida Aquarium Selects Pacific Timesheet

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 17:55:10 +0000

Las Vegas, NV – November 9, 2009 – Pacific Timesheet has announced that The Florida Aquarium, based in Tampa, Florida, has selected to use its award-winning timesheet and time tracking software.

According to Paul Anderson, Florida Aquarium Conservation & Research Coordinator, “We needed a robust web-based time tracking system for project time tracking for a large number of projects and employees at The Florida Aquarium.” With a large range of aquatic habitats from wetland marshes to the coral reefs, The Florida Aquarium is one of the leading aquariums in the United States.

According to Anderson, the Florida Aquarium needed to track projects that are funded by grants, foundations, and philanthropists in order to document matching contributions from The Florida Aquarium, and the staff time we dedicates to these projects. Anderson stated, “Because project time tracking will also enable us to track the investment of staff time in each of our projects; this information will help managers make informed decisions about project growth and personnel assignment.”

Anderson emphasized, “We chose Pacific Timesheet because of its User-friendly interface, flexible system for building a project hierarchy, many options to classify personnel at different categories of access, and its versatile and comprehensive reports.” He also added, “The customer service associated with this software is exceptional.”

Jim Dickerson, VP of Operation stated, “We are proud to add Florida Aquarium to our growing list of customers. Our growth in the non-profit sector this year has been substantial due in part to Pacific Timesheet’s superior usability and enterprise class feature sets.” Dickerson went on to explain, “A variety of non-profit and for-profit organizations are taking advantage of the breadth of Pacific Timesheet’s offering: payroll time tracking and labor distribution, project time tracking and job costing, time off requests and scheduling, multiple holiday schedules and more. “

About Pacific Timesheet Enterprise

Pacific Timesheet is a leader in providing timesheet software as a service and time tracking software. Its flagship product, Pacific Timesheet, provides unprecedented ease-of-use, flexibility and reliability for time and attendance, time off and absence management, payroll timesheets and project/job time tracking. Built on platform, database, and browser-independent technologies that can be implemented either on-premise or on-demand, Pacific Timesheet provides an enterprise-ready solution that is easy to use and implement for companies across the globe.

The Company is headquartered in Las Vegas, Nevada, and has offices throughout North America and Europe. Pacific Timesheet is an equal opportunity employer always in search of talented professionals interested in the development and application of proven software technologies. Pacific Timesheet’s Time Management Systems are used by some of the world’s leading organizations such as Applied Materials, BCD Travel, Joy Mining, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, NOAA, New Visions for Public Schools, University of Massachusetts and many more. If you need additional information about Pacific Timesheet go to www.pacifictimesheet.com, or call 866-416-2061 ext. 1.

Pacific Timesheet

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Himfr.com Reprinted Steady Upturn of China Economy Strengthened

admin — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:55:51 +0000

In the first three quarters of 2009, the various localities and departments have conscientiously implemented the arrays of plans by the central government and the State Council on dealing with the international financial crisis and maintaining stable and fast development of the economy. We have attained obvious achievements, and further strengthened the steady upturn trend of the economy. The overall situation of national economy was good.

According to preliminary estimation, the gross domestic product (GDP) of China in the first three quarters of this year was 21,781.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 7.7 percent, which was 0.6 percentage points higher than that in the first half of this year. In terms of growth by quarters, it was up 6.1 percent for the first quarter, 7.9 percent for the second, and 8.9 percent for the third quarter. In terms of growth by sectors, the value added of the primary industry was 2,250.0 billion yuan, up by 4.0 percent; that of the secondary industry was 10,647.7 billion yuan, up by 7.5 percent; and that of the tertiary industry was 8,884.0 billion yuan, up by 8.8 percent.

1. The situation of agricultural production was steady with expected bumper harvest of grain. Given the increase of summer grain for six consecutive years, the total output of early rice reached 33.27 million tons, an increase of 1.67 million tons over that in the same period of last year, up 5.3 percent. A bumper harvest of the grain for the whole year is to be achieved. The output of meat maintains steady growth, with 52.80 million tons of port, beef and mutton output in the first three quarters, up by 5.6 percent. Of this total, the output of pork was 34.95 million tons, up by 6.3 percent; the total stock of pigs was 468 million, up 2.2 percent, while the number of slaughtered pigs was 463 million, up by 6.4 percent.

2. The growth rate of industrial production increased on a quarterly basis and the decrease rate of profits made by industrial enterprises slowed down. In the first three quarters of this year, the total value added of the industrial enterprises above designated size was up 8.7 percent year-on-year, or 6.5 percentage points lower than that in the same period of last year. Of this total, the growth in the first quarter was 5.1 percent, the second quarter 9.1 percent, and that in the third quarter was 12.4 percent. Analysis on different types of enterprises showed that the value added growth of the state-owned and state holding enterprises went up by 4.1 percent; collective enterprises, 7.9 percent; share-holding enterprises, 11.0 percent; and 3.4 percent growth for enterprises funded by foreign investors or investors from Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan province. The year-on-year growth of heavy industry was 8.7 percent, and 8.7 percent for the light industry. Among the 39 industrial divisions, all were increased over the same period of last years. In terms of different areas, the growth in eastern, central and western regions went up by 7.5 percent, 8.7 percent and 13.8 percent respectively. The production and market of industrial products went on well. In the first three quarters of this year, the sales ratio of industrial products was 97.43 percent.

In the first eight months of this year, the profits made by industrial enterprises above designated size stood at 1,674.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 10.6 percent, narrowed down by 12.2 percentage points as compared with that from January to May. Among the 39 industrial divisions, 36 divisions registered narrowed year-on-year growth or decrease with profits.

3. Investment in fixed assets enjoyed fast growth with acceleration of growth in investment in real estate. In the first three quarters of this year, the investment in fixed assets of the country was 15,505.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 33.4 percent, or a rise of 6.4 percentage points as compared with the growth in the same period last year. The investment in urban areas reached 13,317.7 billion yuan, up by 33.3 percent or 5.7 percentage points higher while that in rural areas was 2,188.0 billion yuan, up by 33.6 percent, or a rise of 10.3 percentage points. The investment in the primary industry, secondary industry and the tertiary industry in urban areas went up by 54.8 percent, 26.9 percent and 38.1 percent respectively. In terms of the areas, the investment in eastern, central and western regions grew by 28.1 percent, 38.3 percent and 38.9 percent respectively. The investment in infrastructures was increased by a large margin. In the first three quarters, the investment in infrastructure (excluding electricity) went up by 52.6 percent, of which, that in the railway transportation, up by 87.5 percent, that in road transportation, up by 50.7 percent, and that in health, social security and social welfare up by 72.9 percent. In the first three quarters, the investment in real estate development was 2,505.0 billion yuan, up by 17.7 percent year on year, or a 7.8 percentage point higher than that in first half of this year.

4. Sales on domestic markets continued to steadily accelerate with higher growth rate at or below county level than that in cities. In the first three quarters, the total retail sales of consumer goods reached 8,967.6 billion yuan, a year-on-year rise of 15.1 percent; the real growth was 17.0 percent after deducting the price factors, which was 2.8 percentage points higher than that in the same period last year. The retail sales in cities reached 6,101.3 billion yuan, up by 14.8 percent, and the retail sales at and below county level stood at 2,866.3 billion yuan, up by 16.0 percent. Grouped by different sectors, the sale by wholesale and retail businesses was up by 15.0 percent and that by lodging and catering industry was up by 17.4 percent. Among the sales by wholesale and retail businesses above designated size, apart from the telecommunication devices, the sales of all the other 20 categories of commodities realized positive growth. Of these, the sale of furniture increased by 32.3 percent, and that of the automobile up by 24.5 percent.

5. The month-on-month changes of consumer price and producers’ price reversed from decreasing to increasing while the year-on-year decrease narrowed. In the first three quarters of this year, the consumer price index went down by 1.1 percent. Of which it dropped by 1.3 percent in cities and 0.7 percent in rural areas. Grouped by commodity categories, three out of eight went up while the rest five dropped: prices for tobacco, liquor and articles rose by 1.6 percent, price for household facilities, articles and maintenance services up by 0.6 percent, health care and personal articles up by 1.0 percent; prices for food down by 0.1 percent, clothing down by 2.3 percent, transportation and communication down by 2.6 percent, recreation, education, culture articles and services down by 0.7 percent, and housing down 4.4 percent. The month-on-month change of consumer price in July reversed from decreasing to maintaining the same level, the month-on-month change in August and September was up 0.5 percent and 0.4 percent respectively. In the first three quarters, the retail prices of commodities dropped by 1.6 percent year-on-year. The producers’ prices for manufactured goods went down by 6.5 percent year on year, by the end of September the month-on-month changes enjoyed growth for six consecutive years, it was up 0.6 percent in September. In the first three quarters of this year, the purchaser’s prices for raw material, fuel and power decreased by 9.5 percent year-on-year. The year-on-year growth of the prices for housing in 70 large and medium-sized cities went up by 0.1 percent.

6. The foreign trade continued to drop but the decrease rate obviously lowered. In the first three quarters of this year, the total value of imports and exports was US$ 1,557.8 billion, down 20.9 percent year-on-year. Of this total, the value of imports and exports in the first quarter down 24.9 percent, second quarter down 22.1 percent, and third quarter down by 16.5, with obviously narrowed declining rate. In the first three quarters of this year, the value of exports was US$ 846.6 billion, down by 21.3 percent; the value of imports was US$ 711.2 billion, down by 20.4 percent. The trade surplus was US$135.5 billion, down by US$ 45.5 billion year-on-year.

7. The income of urban and rural residents continued to grow with rapid increase in transfer income. In the first three quarters of this year, the per capita income of urban households was 14,213 yuan. Of this total, the per capita disposable income of urban population was 12,973 yuan, a year-on-year growth of 9.3 percent, or a real growth of 10.5 percent after deducting price factors. Of the total per capita income of urban households, the income from wages and salaries was up 10.2 percent year-on-year; transfer income was up 15.7 percent; net operating income up 5.0 percent; the property income up 12.3 percent. The per capita cash income of rural population was 4,307 Yuan, up by 8.5 percent year-on-year, or a real growth 9.2 percent after deducting price factors. Of this total, the income from wages and salaries was up 9.9 percent; income from the sale of agricultural products up by 4.0 percent; income from production operation in secondary and tertiary industry up by 10.5 percent; property income up by 11.7 percent; transfer income up 26.4 percent.

8. The money supply grew rapidly with continued increase in loans of financial institutions. By the end of September, the supply of broad money (M2) was 58.5 trillion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 29.3 percent, which was 11.5 percentage points higher than that at the end of last year; that of the narrow money (M1) was 20.2 trillion yuan, a rise of 29.5 percent, or 20.5 percentage points higher; the cash in circulation (M0) was 3,678.8 billion yuan, up by 16.0 percent, or 3.3 percentage points higher. The amount of outstanding loans of all financial institutions was 39.0 trillion yuan, increased by 8.7 trillion yuan over that at the beginning of this year, or an increase of 5.2 trillion yuan as compared with the same period last year. The amount of outstanding deposits of all financial institutions was 58.4 trillion yuan, an increase of 11.7 trillion yuan over the beginning of the year, or 5.2 trillion yuan more than the same period last year.

At present, it’s the crucial stage for the national economy to realize a stable growth, yet the basis of the economic recovery still needs to be consolidated, and the insufficient external demand is still severe, with the arduous task of expanding domestic demand and adjusting the structures. In the following period, we should continue the implementation of the scientific outlook on development, maintain the consistency and stability of the macro-economic policies in accordance with the central government’s decisions and deployment of economic activities, insist on the proactive fiscal policies and moderately lenient monetary policies, fully implement, enrich and optimize the arrays of plans and policy measures to deal with the international financial crisis. At the same time, we should improve the relevance, flexibility, effectiveness and consistency of the macro-policies, and strive to realize stable and fast development of the national economy.

I am a professional editor from http://www.himfr.com/, and my work is to promote a free online trade platform. http://www.himfr.com/ contain a great deal of information about of wooden furniture,cleaning coffee makers,picture of keyboard, welcome to visit!Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/himfrcom-reprinted-steady-upturn-of-china-economy-strengthened-1432768.html

HOW IMPORTANT WAS THE OCTOBER JOBS REPORT? November 6, 2009

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 17:56:03 +0000

Being Street Smart

Sy Harding

HOW IMPORTANT WAS THE OCTOBER JOBS REPORT? November 6, 2009.

The Labor Department reported on Friday that 190,000 more jobs were lost in October, only slightly worse than the consensus forecast of 175,000 lost jobs, and job losses for August and September were revised to fewer losses than previously reported. Good news. The negative surprise was that the unemployment rate shot up from 9.8% in September to 10.2% in October, considerably worse than expectations that unemployment would rise to 9.9%.

But should the report influence thinking in either direction regarding the prospects for economic recovery?

I don’t think so.

As I have noted in this column before and is widely understood, employment is a lagging indicator. Businesses won’t need more employees until well after the economy has bottomed, recovered, and consumers are buying their products at a brisk pace again.

When an economy begins to recover from a recession, which it apparently did this time in the third quarter, businesses are suspicious of the sustainability of the recovery and reluctant to hire additional workers until they absolutely must. Meanwhile, in efforts to cut costs during a slowdown, most businesses begin by cutting the hours of employees, and then are forced to cut costs further by firing workers. That process reverses as an economy recovers, with the first step to meet improving sales being to increase the hours of remaining workers, first back to normal, and then to put them on overtime hours, before hiring more workers.

This time around, as could be seen by Thursday’s Productivity Report (productivity in the U.S. rose an astounding 9.2% in the third quarter), businesses have also been unusually successful in getting more production out of fewer employees. So employment is liable to lag even further behind the economic recovery this time than normal.

Yet pundits continue to either worry or rejoice over each report that involves the jobs picture, even including the weekly ups and downs in the number of new unemployment claims.

It doesn’t make a lot of sense, since economists, the Federal Reserve, and most of those same pundits expect the employment picture to continue to worsen even as the economy recovers (as is normal in recoveries). Prior to Friday’s jobs report the consensus forecast, including that of the Fed, was that the unemployment rate will continue to rise as the economy recovers, peaking at 10.5% in mid-2010. (With unemployment unexpectedly already at 10.2% in October that forecasted peak will no doubt be raised).

So if the employment picture is not the place to look for signs of whether the third quarter recovery is sustainable, where should we be looking?

A few weeks ago in this column I said the economic problems began in the housing industry and the recovery will begin in the housing industry. Home sales and home construction did pick up in the summer months, and were important to the 3.5% GDP growth (the end of the recession) reported for the third quarter. So I suggested that we needed to watch for reports of housing activity in October, as this quarter was getting underway.

Consumer spending in general is also of much more importance than jobs reports as an early sign of a sustainable economic recovery. According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, consumer spending accounts for 71% of U.S. GDP (up from the long-term average of 65% since business spending has declined even more than consumer spending in the recession).

Unfortunately the most recent reports from the housing industry and consumer spending are mixed and indicate more evidence is needed one way or the other.

For instance, new home sales unexpectedly declined in September, and permits for future new home starts plunged, even though the government bonus program to first-time home-buyers was still in effect. However, existing home sales continued to rise in September, as they had in the summer. We need to see housing numbers for October, the first month of this quarter.

There are some October reports in on consumers. Unfortunately, they show that consumer confidence fell sharply in October, after rising through the summer. That’s not a good first impression that consumer spending will drive GDP growth this quarter, as it did in the third quarter.

We do need October reports from the housing industry and consumer spending, but I believe we can ignore the debates over the October jobs report (although the headlines reporting the unemployment rate has spiked up to 10.2% is not likely to be a positive for consumer confidence).

Sy Harding is president of Asset Management Research Corp, publishers of the financial website www.StreetSmartReport.com, and the free daily market blog, www.syhardingblog.com.

Sy Harding is CEO of Asset Management Research Corp., author of 1999′s Riding the Bear and 2007′s Beat the Market the Easy Way, editor of www.StreetSmartReport.com, and www.SyHardingblog.com.

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How To Buy Gold Successfully

admin — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:55:52 +0000

In the past decade, crumbling mainstream investment markets have caused many investors to seek safe-haven assets amidst this contracting economy, and the majority of them have learned how to buy gold as their ultimate tool for profit and wealth preservation amidst “the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.” This comes as no surprise, especially since the metal has increased in value more than 400% since 2001 while many mainstream investments lost more than 25% of their initial value as a result of large economic contractions. History has proven time and time again that when paperbacked assets lose value, wise investors learn how to buy gold as a means of preserving themselves with one of the world’s most recognized stores of wealth.

Learning how to buy gold is a lot easier than many investors think, and modern technology has made it a very simple diversification. When you do decide to purchase, it’s very important that you only diversify with physical possession bars and coins because riskier precious metal investments like gold stocks and exchange traded funds have proven to be just as volatile as traditional stocks and shares. Just like with most other investments, thorough research could lead you to success with gold investments, thus I have outlined a three-step plan below that could lead you on your way to success with the metal:

Research Gold Market = There are several different factors that affect the gold market on a daily basis, and understanding these factors is the first step to success with a precious metal diversification. The spot price is the base price of one-ounce of gold on commodities exchanges worldwide, and it is the most important factor because it is influenced by external economic factors ranging from the strength of the United States Dollar to investor sentiment about the economy, stocks, bonds and real estate. You can track this spot price on reputable websites like www.GoldPrice.net.

Research Gold Bars And Coins = When learning how to buy gold, it’s important to know that there are hundreds of different bars and coins that could benefit certain types of investment portfolios. All these products are split into two major categories; modern-day bullion and pre-1933 certified rare coins. Investors who purchase modern-day bullion typically seek short-term profit from their investment while investors who purchase certified rare coins typically seek long-term wealth preservation from their investment. An excellent award-winning resource that can help you learn more about these bars and coins is www.Gold-Investment.info.

Research The Best Dealers = There are literally hundreds of gold dealers scattered across the nation, some of the reputable but most of them not so reputable. Conducting background reputability checks is important because you always want to deal with companies that hold long-standing histories of excellent service and pricing. The Better Business Bureau website is an excellent resource because simply by inputting the name of a gold dealer, you can see their BBB rating as well as any comments and complaints they may have. Precious metal firms such as www.CertifiedGoldExchange.com have held A+ ratings with the BBB since 1992, thus making them one of the industry leaders in this flourishing market.

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Why A Gold Investment?

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 17:55:23 +0000

2007 marked the beginning of what has been commonly referred to as “the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression,” and this weakened economy has caused mayhem with mainstream investments like stocks, bonds and real estate. Newspapers, magazines and articles from various sectors have reported trillions of dollars lost with paperbacked assets as a result of major economic contractions. Between 2001 and 2008, the majority of mainstream investing markets spiraled downward, and during this same period the gold spot price increased more than 300%. Masses of wise American investors have begun looking for the ultimate safe-haven tool that could help them protect wealth and even profit, and what better protection than a gold investment?

For decades, investors who have owned a gold investment have been able to store their wealth while profiting from upward fluctuation with history’s most cherished precious metal. The reason that investors turn to a gold investment during troubling economic times is because the metal is considered to be an asset that holds true value, as opposed to paperbacked assets like stocks that are dependent on company strength as well as the overall strength of the United States Dollar. With inflation and deflation continuously threatening paperbacked assets and the United States Dollar, doesn’t it make sense to own gold as a backup plan in the event that the economy collapses? Just like with backup generators in the offices of major corporations, a gold investment backup could help you keep your lights on in the event that the economy gets much darker.

Skyrocketing gold investment demand has driven gold’s spot price to record highs, and increasing demand continues pushing the metal’s value even higher. Many market analysts, financial planners and institutional investors believe that gold may continue climbing similar to movement that was seen in the late 1970’s when the spot price increased more than 800% in two years. If this were to happen, wouldn’t you like to know that your hard-earned wealth could be safe from major losses, while at the same time profiting if spot prices reach projected levels?

When beginning a gold investment, it’s very important that you fully understand how the market works in order to maximize profit and wealth preservation potential. A proven method for diversification success is working with experts that can guide you in the right direction. Explore your options with a gold investment today by researching the award-winning online tutorial at www.Gold-Investment.info. When you are ready, contact one of our experts at www.CertifiedGoldExchange.com and let us guide you on the road to peace of mind with the security of gold in your hands.

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FORWARD AND FUTURE CONTRACTS—AN APPRAISAL

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 05:56:54 +0000

FORWARD CONTRACTS:

Forward contracts do not have to conform to the standards of a particular exchange. The delivery date in the contract can be any date mutually convenient to the two parties. Usually, in forward contracts, a single delivery date is specified, whereas in futures contracts, there is a range of possible delivery dates. Forward contracts are not marked to market daily like futures contracts. The two parties contract to settle up on the specified delivery date. Whereas most futures contracts are closed out prior to delivery, most forward contracts do lead to delivery of the physical asset or to final settlement in cash.

FUTURE CONTRACTS:

A future contract is an agreement to buy a particular product at a particular price on a particular future date. Apparently, it looks similar to a forward contract. However in futures contract the defects of the forward contracts are removed. A futures contract is an instrument which has particular product as an underlying asset. The buyer of the futures agrees to buy the underlying asset on the specified date. Similarly, the seller of the futures agrees to sell the underlying asset on the specified date.

Future contract is a legally binding agreement to buy or sell the underlying security on a future date. Future contracts are the organized / standardized contracts in terms of quantity, quality (in case of commodities), delivery time and place for settlement on any date in future. The contract expires on a pre-specified date which is called the expiry date of the contract. On expiry, futures can be settled by delivery of the underlying assets or cash. Cash settlement entails paying / receiving the difference between the prices at which the contract was entered and the price of the underlying asset at the time of expiry of the contract. Further, in futures transactions there is no one to one transaction. All the transactions are routed through exchange and the exchange acts as a counter party to all the contracts i.e. if one of the parties fails to perform the other party would not suffer.

Forward Vs. Futures

Forwards

Futures

Private contract between two parties

Traded on an exchange

Not standardized

Standardized contract

Usually one specified delivery date

Range of delivery dates

Settled at end of contract

Settled daily

Delivery or final cash settlement usually takes place

Contract usually closed out prior to maturity

Types of Futures:

Index Futures:

Index Futures are futures whose value is based on the value of Index i.e. SENSEX in the case of BSE and NIFTY in the case of NSE. Index Futures were introduced for the first time in July 2000. The underlying asset in the case of Index Futures is Index itself. Index Futures work in the same manner as the commodity futures discussed above. However, since the underlying asset i.e. Index can not be delivered the settlement is always in the form of payment of differences in cash.

Specific Scrip Futures:

Futures on specific scrips (i.e., futures on shares of a particular company) were introduced in the market w.e.f., July 2001. The underlying asset in this case is the shares of a particular company. To begin with the settlement of specific scrip futures was cash settlement i.e. by way of payment of difference. However, gradually it would become compulsory to settle contracts by way of actual delivery of underlying shares. Thus futures contracts in the Indian Capital markets can be broadly divided in three categories as follows:

Index Futures

Specific Scrip Futures _ settlement in cash

Specific Scrip Futures – settlement by actual delivery, of underlying shares

Players in futures market

Issuer:

It is interesting to note that the futures are issued by no one. Although it may be futures on shares of a company, the company does not issue such futures. The company only issues shares which are traded in the market. Futures are written by the participants in the market.

Participants:

Participants in futures consist of all types of investors i.e. individuals, financial institutions, mutual funds, foreign institutional investors, banks etc. Since, the amount required to be invested is comparatively low (i.e., only margins) it is possible even for the small investors to participate in the market.

A general view prevailing amongst the investors is that the futures transactions are speculative transactions and various reports appearing in the media also give an impression that futures transactions are speculative. The then requirement for classifying a transaction as speculative transaction is that the transaction for purchase or sale of delivery is settled otherwise than by actual delivery or transfer of the commodity or the scrip.

OPTIONS

Option contract is a type of derivatives contract which gives the buyer/holder of the contract the right (but not the obligation) to buy/sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price within or at end of a specified period. The buyer/holder of the option, purchases the right from the seller/writer for a consideration which is called the premium. The seller/writer of an option is obligated to settle the option as per the terms of the contract when the buyer/holder exercises his right. The underlying asset could include securities, an index of prices of securities etc.

Option is a right but not an obligation to do something. The Options can be divided in two parts i.e. Call Option and Put Option. A Call Option is a right but not an obligation to buy the underlying asset at a predetermined price. A Put Option is a right but not an obligation to sell the underlying asset at a predetermined price. The person who buys the Option is called the buyer of the Option. The person who sells the Option i.e. the person who has agreed to perform or who takes up the obligation is called the seller of the Option.

Players in OPTIONS

Issuer: It is interesting to note that the options are issued by no one. Although it may be options on shares of a company, the company does not issue such options. The company only issues shares which are traded in the market. Options are written by the participants in the market.

Participants: Participants in options consists of all types of investors such as individuals, financial institutions, mutual funds, FIIs, banks, etc. Since the amount required to be invested is comparatively low, it is possible even for the small investors to participate in the market.

Utility of options market: It is widely used to hedge instruments and improves quality of market. Worldwide options form integral part of the capital markets and add depth to the market. Further, badlas are withdrawn from the Indian capital market and options are introduced as a sophisticated product.

SWAPS

Swaps are private agreements between two companies to exchange cash flows in the future according to a prearranged formula. They can be regarded as portfolio of forward contracts. The study of swaps is, therefore, a natural extension of the study of forward and futures contracts. In US the first swap contracts were negotiated in 1981. Since then, the market has grown very rapidly. Hundreds of billions of dollars of contracts are currently negotiated each year.

Dr.R.SRINIVASAN is a Post graduate in commerce and Management. He received his doctoral degree from Alagappa University in 1997. He is now Working as an ASSOCIATE PROFESSORin Post graduate and Research Department of Corporate Secretaryship at Bharathidasan Government College for Women (Autonomous), Pondicherry University, Puducherry.He currently teaches Accounting ,financial management and Research Methodology Subjects. Before Joining BGCW, he was teaching in SNR College, Coimbatore, Sindhi college, Chennai& T.S.Narayanasamy College, Chennai for eight years. He was with the industry for a short term at Salzar Electronics Pvt. Ltd, Coimbatore. He has about 20 years of teaching experience and having research experience of 15 years. His interests are in Accounting and finance, Capital Market, Quantitative Methods. He underwent the Faculty Development Programme at Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad during 2000-01. He has presented 20 papers in national and international conferences and has published twenty papers in the areas of Finance and Human resource Management in National Journals. Co-authored a book titled, ‘Investors Protection, published by Raj Publications, New Delhi He has delivered lectures in contemporary finance topics at Pondicherry University. He is involved in consultancy projects for Godrej Saralee, Chennai in the areas of Statistical Applications. He has supervised a number of research projects in the area of corporate finance and Human Resource Management. He is the Board of examiner in corporate Secretaryship and Management for the past two decades.
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Jungle Smokes Launches New Online Store for Affordable, High-Quality Honduran Cigars

Wed, 16 May 2012 19:30:02 +0000

Saint Paul, Minnesota (PRWEB) January 31, 2012

Why waste money buying “high-end” cigars or risk breaking the law smuggling Cubans, when Jungle Smokes’ Honduran Cigars provide an unmatched sensory sensation?

Jungle Smokes’ hand rolled cigars have three types of carefully selected tobacco, which impart a full-bodied aroma that everyone from the aficionado to the beginner can enjoy. The online cigar shop sells everything from singles to packs of 50, with prices starting as low as $ 1.60 per cigar. The combination of fine flavor and low cost is unexpected, but much appreciated by those looking for the perfect “daily cigar” and those hesitant about shopping online.

Every Jungle Smokes product is made in a small Honduran village by artisans with centuries of cigar tradition and know-how. The cigars are densely packed and uniform, which ensures a long, slow burn. Since every cigar is crafted by hand, no two look exactly alike, and each one has its own unique feel (unlike boring, homogenized machine cigars).

Their online store is one of the few offering 100% hand rolled cigars from Honduras, but what makes them truly exceptional is the type of tobacco included in the product. Each cigar contains the same tobacco leafs prized by the Mayans and discovered by Columbus hundreds of years ago. There is a reason this tobacco has withstood the test of time, and Jungle Smokes is honored to be part of that heritage.

The owners of Jungle Smokes are excited to share their extraordinary product with the world and are proud to say their cigars are made with responsibly grown plants and created and shipped using renewable resources. Those wanting to enjoy some of Jungle Smokes Honduran cigars can buy cigars online confidently through their store at http://www.junglesmokes.com. To maintain quality, all cigars are hermetically packaged and orders always arrive quickly.

Jungle Smokes is proud to use Spark Logix Studios, a MN web design company.

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Best Mutual Funds, Tips On How To Select The Best

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:55:51 +0000

Finding a mutual fund that suits your needs can sometimes be tedious but once you get the right one, then you can have years of success and peace of mind. It is also important that you put the reason you want to invest and the kind of return you are expecting into consideration before committing yourself to this type of investment. The best mutual funds have the characteristics of low costs, steady returns and reliable fund managers whose actions are based on facts and logic.

These types of funds are actively managed by qualified professionals. It is also advisable that you analyze the past performance of the funds and the fund manager. It is important that when you are assessing a company that you connect the past performance to the current or past fund manager. This means that just because a fund has been doing well in the past and gets a new fund manager that it will continue with this good progress. You can also find information on the best mutual funds when they are tracked and rated by many organizations.

One of the well known organizations that rate mutual funds is Morning Star which rates funds using the star system. When a fund has five stars it means that it is in the category of the best mutual funds. The best mutual funds offer a variety of services that add value to their investors’ financial knowledge and are of great importance to them.

These are switching privileges, periodic investing plans, periodic investing plans etc. When looking for the best funds it is also important that you take your time and research carefully so that you can get one that is if you have a high tolerance for volatility or risk.

Mercy Maranga writes content on Finance and Finance Management. Visit her site here for more information on Mutual Funds and how to effectively invest your money. Mutual Funds

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/best-mutual-funds-tips-on-how-to-select-the-best-1427269.html

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Compare Mutual Funds, The Easy And Smart Way To Do It

admin — Wed, 16 May 2012 05:54:56 +0000

It can be difficult sometimes to find a reliable and safe way of investing. This is because many people may not be fully aware of the options that they have available in the market. However, the best thing to do when you decide to invest is to ensure that you are equipped with the necessary and proper facts. It is important that you are fully aware of what your investment option entails so that you do not get any surprises along the way. Mutual funds are a popular investment option and have the advantages of professional management, convenience and liquidity.
It is also vital that you understand that mutual funds are not entirely risk free. When you have the proper information, it is easier for you to make an informed decision and compare the different mutual funds so that you can get the right one for you. This will depend on your goals, the length of time you want to invest and your risk tolerance.

It is also essential that you also put funds sales charges, fees and expenses, the age and size of the fund, the fund’s risk and volatility into consideration. You can also compare funds by measuring them by their returns. This way you will be able to see how much the fund has gained over a certain period of time. The fund’s benchmark is also another way for you to compare mutual funds.

It will provide you with a standard for you to make your assessment. This will help you assess what the fund has made against what it should have earned. It is also advisable that you compare returns. When doing this, ensure that the time period is equal and also the product is similar as far as risk is concerned.

Mercy Maranga writes content on Finance and Finance Management. Visit her site here for more information on Mutual Funds and how to effectively invest your money. Mutual Funds

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/compare-mutual-funds-the-easy-and-smart-way-to-do-it-1427282.html

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Why Successful Rehabbing is Not All About the Repairs

admin — Tue, 15 May 2012 17:55:13 +0000

One of the most popular ways to invest in real estate is to do rehabbing projects. Using this type of real estate investing, which is also known as fixing and flipping properties, to earn money is a dream-come-true for those people who are knowledgeable at handyman jobs. It is because they get to earn tons of cash and while doing the job they love the most.

To become a successful rehabber of fixer upper homes, there is a simple formula that you should always remember: all the repairs you made on the property should significantly raise its market value. However, there is more to rehabbing than refurbishing and beautifying an old house. While doing repairs on the investment property is very important, it is but a single aspect of an elaborate process.

Many real estate investors believe that they earn money the moment they sell the rehabbed property. Experts in the fix and flip business, however, believe otherwise. According to them, you gain profit when you buy the investment property. Therefore, you have to make sure that the house you will buy has marketability even before you fix it.

You can do this by obtaining fixer upper homes that have great location and make sure that you buy them at below the market price. You also have to make certain that your target selling price can be achieved once you compute repair costs and other expenses.

Having sufficient cash on hand is also an important aspect of rehabbing houses. You shouldn’t get ahead of yourself and expect to earn at least $100,000 without spending money up front for your bills. Always remember that the amount of money you possess will determine the type of investment property you buy and the quality of repairs you make.

If you think the process of fixing and flipping properties is over once the renovations are done, think again. You have to sell the house, remember? Therefore, you need to have a sound marketing plan to catch the attention of buyers. Let the people know that you are selling a rehabbed property by running an ad on the newspaper or online, as well as by distributing flyers.

Although some rehabbers warn against advertising the property if the repairs are still incomplete, another good way to catch the attention of potential buyers is to prioritize the renovations on the property’s exterior. By fixing up the house’s walls, roofing, and siding, you are giving passersby a “subtle hint” that you are a rehabber and that you want them to contact you as soon as the repairs are done.

Indeed, being a successful rehabber is not just about putting up a good handyman job on a property. It requires research, a lot of preparation, and a great deal of patience and dedication on the investor’s part. Meanwhile, if you want to know more rehabbing tips, you can log on to REIWired.com, a website that features top-notch real estate write-ups and videos.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/why-successful-rehabbing-is-not-all-about-the-repairs-1421429.html