Article by Debbie Green
The Cayman Islands is a remarkably successful offshore jurisdiction, recognised as one of the top 10 international financial centres in the world, well known for its stable political and macroeconomic environment.The success of the Cayman Islands as an offshore jurisdiction is mainly attributed to the sound regulatory system that has been put in place and practise for many years. The banking sector conforms to the guidelines of the Basle Committee on Banking Supervision with the Cayman Islands Monetary Authority acting as the regulatory body performing such supervision.Indeed the International Monetary Fund (IMF) performed an assessment of the jurisdiction’s regulations surrounding the country’s banking, insurance and securities industries and anti-money laundering regime in 2003 and has recognised the Cayman Islands’ comprehensive regulatory and compliance frameworks.The final report from the IMF stated that “An extensive programme of legislative, rule and guideline development has introduced an increasingly effective system of regulation, both formalising earlier practices and introducing enhanced procedures.” Unsurprisingly, 47 of the 50 largest banks in the world are licensed here.Banks are licensed under the Banks and Trust Companies Law (2003) Revision. The two main categories of licences are Category A and B. Category A licences allow institutions to carry on business “within and outside of the Islands”; Category B licensees generally are prohibited from performing general banking facilities to persons resident in Cayman.There are a total of 22 Class A Banks and 392 Class B Banks on record with around US trillion on deposit, 80 per cent of which represent inter-bank bookings between onshore banks and their Cayman Islands counterparts, an extremely low risk profile for money laundering. Stringent Know Your Customer (KYC) regulation has led to qualified jurisdiction status being granted by the US Internal Revenue Service paving the way for institutions to become qualified intermediaries under the US Withholding Tax Rules.The Cayman Islands Stock Exchange was established in 1997 and has received recognition by the UK Inland Revenue which enables companies listed on the exchange to take advantage of the “quoted Eurobond exemption”, allowing interest to be paid on securities listed on the Exchange without the UK withholding tax reduction. The Exchange also has membership in The Intermarket Surveillance Group, IOSCO, the London Stock Exchange and the World Federation of Exchanges.The establishment of the Stock Exchange, which facilitates the listing of mutual funds and specialist debt securities among other issues, has contributed to the exceptional growth experienced in the fund industry and becoming the jurisdiction of choice for offshore hedge funds. As at 31 December, 2004 there were over 850 listed issues showing a combined market capitalisation of close to US billion, with a remarkable increase in listings for the year 2004.Cayman is a thriving centre for offshore banking and investment. With the strong regulatory environment, globally recognised accounting and law firms, the largest banks in the world, an abundance of qualified professionals, a standard of living envied by many and a destination that would satisfy even the most discerning of travellers, it is no wonder it has become the success story it is today.
Read more of this >>
Article by Gertrude Green
In right this moment’s uncertain economy, more and more investors are pulling their cash out of conventional investment autos to keep their nest eggs secure. With the risks associated with common stocks and bonds and different retirement accounts, smart investors are selecting to take a position their cash in well-liked precious metals reminiscent of gold. Utilized all through history as the usual for foreign money equivalents, gold has turn into an efficient backup plan throughout times of financial crisis. With strategies of gold buying and investments ranging from extremely simplistic to extra complicated, specialists within the financial industry are recommending that buyers do their analysis earlier than selecting to invest in gold and different precious metals.
Possessing actual gold is the easiest method to invest. This methodology entails buying gold bullion bars, cash, and jewelry. With gold costs removed from their peak, this has develop into a pretty methodology to individuals with protected storage applications. Whereas this is a standard various, buyers might want to analysis to verify the purity of the gold and its authenticity. They may also must retailer the item in dependable place and purchase insurance to make sure it is all the time protected.
Read more of this >>
Question by Stefan B 1977: What’s a good environmentally sound investment strategy?
I’m a young working computer professional with a growing investment portfolio. I take most of my financial adviser’s advice on what funds to pick, but he’s put a substantial amount of my investment money into Asian mutual funds. Given some the geopolitical issues with China and Chinese products (China’s growing military spending, North American trade deficits, China’s poor environmental policy, and a growing track record of unsafe/dangerous products — toothpaste, pet food, toys, etc, etc), I’ve gotten to the point where I consider holding these investments to be, at best, somewhat unethical. This is not a financially motivated question; It’s an ethical one. I would like some advice/guidance on what would be good investments into North American companies dedicated to developing the products and technology of greener future. I’m still looking for returns on my investments dollars, but I’d like to know I’m part of the solution, not the problem. What are the right investments for me?
Best answer: Read more of this >>
Article by Eric Jilson
There are many terms that are often used to describe real estate with environmentally friendly architecture. “Green,” “eco-friendly,” and “sustainable” buildings reduce energy and water use and may improve the quality of life for those who live or work inside it. Architects design green buildings using various design techniques, including natural ventilation, geothermal cooling systems, low-flow toilets, solar chimneys, and reclaimed wood.
The green building industry (a field that most hadn’t heard of only a decade ago) was worth about billion in 2007, according to the U.S. Green Building Council. Although sustainable construction is one of the fastest-growing areas of commercial building, a small number of new buildings are green. Buildings that do meet these standards can save money on energy costs, which is a benefit that may become more attractive as energy costs continue to rise.
Read more of this >>
Article by Ezra Drissman
An investment advisor is someone who takes his or her extensive knowledge of the stock market and financial arenas and tells others what stocks are worth investing for their trading needs and which should be passed on as too risky for the investment amount.
An advisor will not make the final decisions for the investor; only offer strong cautions or recommendations. A green investment adviser is one who takes those cautions and recommendations just a step further by suggesting only the companies that engage in ecologically aware practices or those that are more socially responsible. However, the level of this social responsibility may vary among investment firms and from company to company.
Read more of this >>
Article by Kit Marsters
In this changing world investments can seem a risky business. Some currencies are a bit unstable at the moment, and with a decrease in natural resources and the call to go green it is natural to worry. How secure are investments in new technologies? Is it still safe to invest in less green ventures? If tempted to go the green route, which green route should you take?
At this point I guess it is safe to say that nothing is certain. However, some avenues seem more secure than others. Bio fuels may have a short-term appeal, but in the long run may prove to be unsustainable. Too much land and too many resources are needed to provide for the increasing demand for fuel. In the short term money can certainly be made from this trend, but if you are in for the long term I would advise intense research into this field.
Read more of this >>
Balanced mutual funds allow you to invest in a variety of investments like stocks, money markets, bonds etc. Balanced mutual funds are one of the more popular investments among mutual fund types available in the market. Let’s have a look at what balanced mutual funds offer for someone looking for safer investment options.
What’s a Balanced Mutual Fund?
Read more of this >>
