Employment Boost in September in Canada

Not only was there good news in the United States last week, on Friday last week our amigos at Stats Canada published some very heartening news about the Canadian Labour Force Survey for September 2012. Luckily for political pundits (and financial bloggers) the message is mixed again this month from Stats Canada: Employment increased for [...]

---

Employment Boost in September in Canada is a post from: Canadian Personal Finance Blog and follow me on twitter as well: Big Cajun Man, daily updates from all over the Blogosphere. Subscribe to my comments feed as well!

Your advertisement could be here, contact me for info Big Cajun Man

---

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CanadianFinancialStuff/~3/NLJIicUSvXk/

to learn more

Aides Say Romney at Peace as Vote Nears

Scott Conroy, RealClearPolitics
After a lifetime of meticulous planning, relentless self-discipline, and a potent brew of hard work and good fortune, Mitt Romney has the presidency nearly within reach.The pursuit of that ultimate political prize, which he first caught whiff of when his father chased it more than four decades ago, has been Romney's sole vocation over the last half-dozen years.He has pursued it with rare vigor, slogging through a nomadic existence of takeout meals, countless handshakes and canned speeches.Over that time, there have been more than a few moments when his quest seemed like it might come to...

Source: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2012/10/18/behind_closed_doors_romney_at_peace_as_vote_nears__115825.html

webpage website

Apple Loses a Round to Samsung

Filed under: Investing

The intellectual property lawsuits between Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) and Samsung continue to go back and forth. The latest court decision hurts Apple. A U.K. court said that the Samsung Galaxy tablet did not infringe on any Apple patents. According to Reuters:

The Court of Appeal upheld its judgment that despite some similarities, Samsung did not infringe Apple's design, in part because its products were "not as cool" as the iPad.

The U.S. company was instructed to run ads saying the Korean company did not copy the iPad, both on its website and in selected newspapers.

Douglas A. McIntyre

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/10/18/apple-loses-a-round-to-samsung/

this one this site

Friday's Circle of Friends - October 12

Happy Friday!

Wow...another week over. We woke up to a couple of inches of snow this morning and it stayed quite cold all day. We baked a delicious Apple Crisp with lots of cinnamon and raisins so the house smells amazing! The kinda thing that Realtors always say you should do just before an open house. Honestly, all I really feel like doing lately is baking. I don't bake much in the summer months because it gets quite hot in our kitchen in the afternoon and I don't like to add to it by having the oven on. But now that it is cooler I have so many recipes that I want to try.

A couple of weeks ago Kim@Eyesonthedollar left a comment on Friday's Circle of Friends saying that she was reminded of a song titled "Circle of Friends". I did a quick search on YouTube and found one. It sounds like a country song, and although I am not a big fan of country music, I do like it. Hopefully Kim will let us know if this is the tune she was thinking of.

Please take a listen while you scroll through this week's Friday's Circle of Friends blog posts, and see if you like it too.

 

Why It is Important to Have a Good Credit Score By: Debt and the Girl

How 2 PF Bloggers Saved Me $420 And Got Me A New Bed! By: Plunged in Debt

House Shopping: The Addiction Continues By: Club Thrifty

I hate making payments against my debt. So I got rid of the debt. By: MoneyafterGraduation

12 Crazy Disney Facts You Never Knew By: The Savvy Scot

Fun, Fabulous, Free Things To Do in My Favorite Vacation Cities By: Eyes on The Dollar

So you want to open a Tim Horton’s franchise By: Vanessa’s Money

How I paid back $25,653.87 in student loans two months after I graduated. By: Cents of A Country Girl

Best Mixed Drinks You’ve Probably Never Heard Of By: Add Vodka

Budgeting Tips: How to Menu Plan Like a Kindergartner By: ReadyForZero

When to Quit Being an Entrepreneur By: Thirty Six Months

5 Steps To Take Towards Getting Financially Fit By: YoungAdultMoney

4 Easy Ways to Avoid Holiday Debt By: Frugal Rules

Saving Money While Job Hunting By: Making Sense of Cents

What do you have planned for the weekend? Something fun?

Have a great weekend Everyone!!

 

Source: http://tacklingourdebt.com/2012/10/12/fridays-circle-friends-october-12/

link main page

Venture capitalist Roger McNamee on investing in media

Over a 24-year career, Roger McNamee has been one of the most successful investors in Silicon Valley, having made venture investments in Electronic Arts, Flextronics, Intuit, and Rambus, among many others. Then, in 2004, he launched Elevation Partners, a private equity partnership focused on media and entertainment content. Following his interview onstage at this week's Emerging Technologies Conference at MIT, he spoke with us about his much-discussed investment in Forbes and how he hopes that technology will liberate entertainment.

Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/VideoPosts.aspx?id=17428

to learn more twitter

Tax Credits for Seniors

With age comes wisdom — and tax breaks such as the age amount, which is available exclusively to older tax payers. Other tax credits, such as medical expenses or the disability amount, are available to all taxpayers but tend to be used by Canadians as they get older. Let’s look at how these tax credits work. ► MORE

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GetSmarterAboutMoney/~3/uEApEgdvhSQ/robin-taub-tax-credits-for-seniors

redirected reference

Renewable Energy Marketers Form Trade Association

(Washington, DC) Some of the most influential and competitive organizations in the renewable energy industry have now joined together to create the first trade association for organizations that market renewable energy. The Renewable Energy Marketers Association (REMA) has formed to vigorously promote the economic and national security benefits of domestic renewable energy.
REMA is comprised [...]

Source: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/press/renewable-energy-marketers/

visit the site visit the website

October 17, 2012 Fact of the Day

When financially contributing to charitable organizations, the investment product investors turn to most is a donor advised or charitable gift fund. 

Source: http://www.millionairecorner.com/article/october-17-2012-fact-day

more? info… moved here

Americans Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley win Nobel economics prize

Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley have won the 2012 Nobel prize for economics for research on how to match different economic agents such as students for schools or even organ donors with patients.

Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/579300/s/247e0728/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cfinance0Ceconomics0C960A9370A0CAmericans0EAlvin0ERoth0Eand0ELloyd0EShapley0Ewin0ENobel0Eeconomics0Eprize0Bhtml/story01.htm

webblog webpage

Humanitarian of the Year Christina Galitsky on finding solutions to environmental problems

Christina Galitsky is Technology Review's 2006 Humanitarian of the Year and one of this year's TR35. The Lawrence Berkeley Lab scientist employs her training in chemical engineering to find solutions to environmental problems in the U.S. and abroad--particularly in poor countries such as Sudan and Bangladesh. She spoke to us recently about how seeing her innovations in action inspires her and what kinds of problems she hopes to work on in the future.

Source: http://www.technologyreview.com/blog/VideoPosts.aspx?id=17412

link main page

Increased Market Value of Wind Energy

Precision Wind, LLC of Las Cruces, New Mexico unveiled its Wind Resource Management Suite™ at the WINDPOWER 2008 Conference and Exhibition, North America’s largest wind energy event organized by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).
Presenting before a record-breaking crowd of WINDPOWER attendees, Dr. James Stalker, CTO of Precision Wind, participated on a panel discussion [...]

Source: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/press/market-value-wind-energy/

main page more

Americans Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley win Nobel economics prize

Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley have won the 2012 Nobel prize for economics for research on how to match different economic agents such as students for schools or even organ donors with patients.

Source: http://telegraph.feedsportal.com/c/32726/f/579300/s/247e0728/l/0L0Stelegraph0O0Cfinance0Ceconomics0C960A9370A0CAmericans0EAlvin0ERoth0Eand0ELloyd0EShapley0Ewin0ENobel0Eeconomics0Eprize0Bhtml/story01.htm

visit visit this site

Why Futures and Options Expirations Won't Boost Wall Street

Filed under: Economy, Investing

The "quadruple witching" hour -- when index futures, index options, equity options and security futures expire simultaneously -- is traditionally a time of higher trading volumes and investors decide what to do next. But if the low trading volumes so far this week are any indication, the next quadruple witching hour, scheduled Friday, will likely pass with barely a bump.

The investor uncertainty that has characterized the market's choppy performance seems to be going strong. For the entire month of September, investors have behaved as if someone cast a spell rendering them unable to rally or retreat from stocks.

Sponsored Links

The market has been stuck in a small trading range of between 1040 and 1130 on the S&P 500 ($SPX) index for the last four months. And there's been a lower-than-normal volume of stock and options trades as investors try to figure out which way the market might head next. Even the approaching quadruple witching hasn't been able to energize traders.

"We are at a point where the economic numbers are a little bit better, but they are not good enough to convince the buyers or sellers to take a stance with any kind of conviction," says Nate Peterson, senior derivatives analyst for Charles Schwab. "It's a market where you continue to wait and see. As the [reports] come out, you look for indicators that will give you a reason to buy, or to short the market."

Waiting for News

Options investors seem to be waiting for news and economic reports to help them reassess their positions before making trades, Peterson says. As a result, the average options volume in September has slipped to 15 million contracts per week from the 20 million contracts per week the market averaged through May.

That options volume may stay low until closer to October, when companies may begin making announcements in advance of the earnings season, Peterson says. Those announcements may then give investors better clues to where the market is headed. Unfortunately, while providing some clarity for investors, those announcements can also create higher market volatility.

"Right now VIX futures are around 25 - so traders are not pricing in a lot of volatility for October," Peterson says, referring to the Chicago Board Options Exchange Market Volatility Index ($VIX), which measures the market's anticipated volatility based on the sale of S&P 500 index futures and options. Historically, volatility has usually grown during earnings seasons, and an increase in the market volatility index generally makes options and futures more expensive, so Friday may be traders' last chance to lock in positions before higher volatility -- and higher prices -- kicks in.

Leading up to the quadruple witching, some traders bought new options on Wednesday and Thursday, but it seems that most are waiting until next week to decide if they need options to protect their long positions. Those who choose to buy put options for that protection as earnings season approaches can likely get them cheap, relatively speaking, on Friday, Peterson says.

And getting cheaper protection would definitely take the hex out of quadruple witching.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/09/16/futures-options-expirations-wont-help-stocks/

site web sites

Mr.CBB’s Weekly Blog Post Picks October 12,2012

Mr.CBB’s Week in Review This week has been a relaxed but busy week for me as I finished putting up the Christmas lights. The only problem is that I am short around 6 feet so now I’m stuck looking for a 6-8 ft set that match. I went to Canadian Tire to check out their [...]

Source: http://canadianbudgetbinder.com/2012/10/12/mr-cbbs-weekly-blog-post-picks-october-122012/

(source) (visit site)

Why I don’t feel guilty flying out of the United States to travel

I love to travel (been more difficult with a baby but she has already been to Wash. State, Oregon, and the mainland), and when I do, we usually fly out of Bellingham, Washington or Seattle, Washington. Even including the cost of the ferry, it is worth it for us (small family of 3 – although [...]

Source: http://www.canadianpersonalfinance.com/why-i-dont-feel-guilty-flying-out-of-the-united-states-to-travel.html

visit visit this site

Women Taking the Wheel

Many women have not realized that now is the time to take control of your finances.  For too long, a great number of you have relied on men, be it a husband or whatnot, to control your finances and help you plan for retirement.  And the truth is, this line of thinking continues to this day.

Now is the time to put a stop to all that.  Now is the time you take the wheel.  Now is the time to realize that a successful retirement may very well hinge on your own ability to prepare.  Let's take a look at a few facts that every woman should be aware of.

Fact #1:  A longer life expectancy can have a huge effect on your retirement.

If you are a married woman, there is a good chance that your husband is older than you.  In many cases, your husband may be several years older.  More than a decade of difference isn't all that uncommon.  Because of this, there is a good chance that when your husband passes away, he will do so several years ahead of you.  This can mean a great deal to your retirement, as you will need to prepare for the long haul without your husband's guidance.  In many cases, a widow will see her standard of living go down without proper planning.

The same goes for a single woman.  The average lifespan is now close to 85, and you may find yourself living many years beyond that.  While this is clearly a good thing, you must prepare for at least 30 years of retirement, just to be on the safe side.

Fact #2:  A little knowledge can go a long way.

You can't beat a little education to help you get through life.  When it comes to retirement planning, this is especially true.  Whether or not you've been following your husband's lead and allowing him to control all of your finances or allowing a professional to handle things for you, it's time you educated yourself.  Take the time to learn as much as you can about the financial products contained in your retirement portfolio.  Ask questions.  Maybe even take a few basic classes to help you understand anything you might be having trouble with.  Finances can often be a bit difficult to understand for anyone, so never hesitate to educate yourself and stay informed.

Fact #3:  Surveys back up the consensus.

If you follow the numerous financial surveys that are conducted each year, you'll find that retirement planning is a huge issue for women right now.  One of these was conducted by the Society of Actuaries.  Here are some facts that this survey unveiled, and they're not exactly encouraging:

-- Only 8% of female retirees are planning for the long haul, which can translate to a twenty year gap in finances.  In turn, this gap translates to a large number of women who simply aren't prepared for their extended life expectancy without the benefit of a spouse.

-- For men over the age of 85, a total of 45% of them are widowed.  For women, the number is nearly doubled at 85%.  That number may be staggering, but it simply reinforces the need for a woman to know how to handle her finances into her later years.

-- 20% of men at age 65 are expected to need professional care for a number of years after their retirement.  For women, the number is 30%.  While this isn't a huge difference, it's large enough to be concerned.

Source: http://firstsecurityfinancialshow.com/blog/bid/142483/Women-Taking-the-Wheel

continue continue reading this..

Ship Green, Save Green

Consumers’ growing awareness and rising concern of global warming has certainly pressured businesses to consider more environmentally friendly solutions. While you may be well aware of green packaging, energy saving equipment or reclaiming practices, sustainable transportation is a seldom talked about aspect that deserves attention, especially considering the amount of trucks, planes and trains used [...]

Source: http://www.alternative-energy-news.info/press/ship-green-save-green/

more.. more...

October 12, 2012 Fact of the Day

Twenty-two percent of investors with a net worth of $25 million or more (not including primary residence) donated more than $100,000 to charity in the last year. 

Source: http://www.millionairecorner.com/article/october-12-2012-fact-day

this site this website

jpmorgan: Fact checking the "Fact Checkers"...hiding behind a deceitful moniker...http://t.co/cwSuxh6d

jpmorgan: Fact checking the "Fact Checkers"...hiding behind a deceitful moniker...http://t.co/cwSuxh6d

Source: http://twitter.com/jpmorgan/statuses/241520432400982017

view website visit

Trading futures in film blockbusters? Students can bet on it

Filed under: Investing, college finance

I'll admit it right off the bat: I'm an investment idiot. Business culture and the financial universe vex me, and I'd likely struggle to tell you the difference between a hedge fund and a garden hedge.

But pop culture? That I get better than most. And as a result I guessed, for instance. that "Clash of the Titans" would top the box office last weekend -- mostly as a salve for the "Avatar" hangover effect -- despite scads of awful reviews. Big whoop, right? I certainly didn't expect anyone to hand me a check for my motion picture prescience.

As of this week, though, all signs indicate that I'll soon find a new website willing to do just that.

Continue reading Trading futures in film blockbusters? Students can bet on it

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2010/04/18/trading-futures-in-film-blockbusters-students-can-bet-on-it/

online original site