Rainer's Investment Insights

When I decided to advise on taking profit in early April, the USD still bought SGD 1.255.  Decisions like these are taken as much for pragmatic reasons (sideways markets typically unrofitable for equity investors) as for strategic reasons (such a phase is often used by big & savvy investors to switch to another favourite asset class and bank the profits in overbought holdings).   I also noticed that the decision by the MAS to re-value the SGD seem to coincide with such periods, too.  True enough, an announcement mid-April resulted in a prompt adjustment of the SGD into the high 1.23 range.  Now, we are at 1.2255 (today's level as of 11.30h a.m.)  We could argue that through the rosy specs of a USD investor our cash positions rose 2.6% or thereabouts in less than a month... by taking 0 risk (according to the iFAST risk measure for SGD Cash fund)! Whereto for the Greenback? USD - YEAR-To-DATE Is this the end phase for the USD? Or is it sliding no en...

With gold breaking out of its existing price range - a little earlier than anticipated, I thought it high time to tell you what makes gold prices move the way they do.  Of course, many people have views, like "it's a hedge against inflation", "China is buying up all the gold to bolster its reserves", "India, as the world's jeweller, needs more of it, because of the high demand", " you can buy gold from vending machines in Dubai Airport". Gold Prices in March- bullish momentum If you are satisfied with such airy-fairy stories, then don't bother reading on! A few weeks back I published comments as to where I would see gold prices go to. Quite uncannily, that is where the prices ended up.   I also said that for a while prices would stay in a range between US$ 1405 and 1450, - well realising that prices could go as far as 1460 as maximum, - but not really believing that we would hit this level just now! Gold prices in...

Here is an interview, iGP generated for the speakers on the occasion of their iGP client event on January 25, 2011.  This one is what I had to contribute to their standard questions.  Only 6 minutes, - not an inclusive comment of what 2011 investors will experience this year... ENJOY