The truth behind the greatest environmental disaster in U.S. history In 2005, fifteen workers were killed when BP's Texas City Refinery exploded. In 2006, corroded pipes owned by BP led to an oil spill in Alaska. Now, in 2010, eleven men drilling for BP were killed in the blowout of the Macondo well in the Gulf of Mexico. What's next? In In Too Deep: BP and the Drilling Race That Took it Down, Stanley Reed?a journalist who has covered BP for over a decade?and investigative reporter Alison Fitzgerald answer not only that question, but also examine why these disasters happen to BP so much more than other large oil companies. Places the blame on a corporate culture created by former BP CEO John Browne who was forced to resign in 2007 after he lied in court documents in a case involving his gay lover Details a BP built on risk-taking and cost-cutting Examines the past, present, and future of BP In August 2010, BP successfully "killed" the company's damaged deepwater well. But, the environmental fallout and public relations campaign to rebuild the brand are just beginning. In Too Deep details why BP, why now, and what's next for this oil giant.
A glimpse of the savvy that built a global corporation from scratch Hess: The Last Oil Baron profiles a titan of the oil industry, mapping the journey of the quintessential American dream. The story of Leon Hess follows an immigrant kosher butcher's son as he builds an oil dynasty that may never be matched. The multinational, multi-billion-dollar company began with a single second-hand delivery truck and the Rockefeller-caliber business acumen of one young man. Interviews with former employees, beneficiaries, and even his high school sweetheart provide an insider's perspective on the man behind the legacy, allowing today's aspiring entrepreneurs the opportunity to learn from one of the nation's most inspiring success stories. Leon Hess built a global empire from the ground up. Along the way, he fought in a war, did business with Muammar Qaddafi, won a Super Bowl as the owner of the Jets, was involved in Watergate, and introduced the Hess toy truck that became a holiday tradition for millions of Americans. More than just a book of business strategy, Hess tells the story of a life fascinatingly lived, and the legacy he left behind. Discover the man behind the company, the Jets football team, and the iconic toy truck Learn how the actions of Leon Hess affected the modern push toward energy independence Study the strategy that turned a single-truck operation into a major integrated company Consider the challenges Hess Corp. faces to its family legacy today, and the solutions being implemented Leon Hess' strategies and techniques can be emulated and imitated, but his entrepreneurial fire is something altogether more rare. Hess provides readers with a glimpse of the man whose unrivaled ambition changed an industry and a nation.
Brings global macro trading down to earth for individual and professional traders, investors and asset managers, as well being a useful reference handbook Global Macro Trading is an indispensable guide for traders and investors who want to trade Global Macro - it provides Trading Strategies and overviews of the four asset classes in Global Macro which include equities, currencies, fixed income and commodities. Greg Gliner, who has worked for some of the largest global macro hedge funds, shares ways in which an array of global macro participants seek to capitalize on this strategy, while also serving as a useful reference tool. Whether you are a retail investor, manage your own portfolio, or a finance professional, this book equips you with the knowledge and skills you need to capitalize in global macro. Provides a comprehensive overview of global macro trading, which consists of portfolio construction, risk management, biases and essentials to query building Equips the reader with introductions and tools for each of the four asset classes; equities, currencies, fixed income and commodities Arms you with a range of powerful global-macro trading and investing strategies, that include introductions to discretionary and systematic macro Introduces the role of central banking, importance of global macroeconomic data releases and demographics, as they relate to global macro trading
The Methodical Compendium of Concentrated Portfolio Options Managing Concentrated Stock Wealth, Second Edition is the adviser's guide to skillfully managing the risk and opportunity presented by concentrated stock holdings. Written by Tim Kochis, a recognized leader in financial planning, this book walks you through twenty strategies for managing concentrated stock wealth. Each strategy equips you with the tools and information you need to preserve and grow your clients' wealth. Supported with examples from the author's forty years of experience, this practical resource shows you the available options, the best order for clients to review those options, and the reasons why some options are better than others. Kochis addresses common obstacles-such as securities law, taxes, and psychological resistance-and shows you the strategies and execution to prevail. This new second edition includes: Updated references, calculations, and illustrations regarding the latest tax laws Revised coverage of derivatives strategies and more examples of potential blind spots Tactics to convince some clients to diversify their portfolios and optimize their wealth Techniques to exploit concentration in pursuance of greater wealth They say that you should never put all of your eggs in one basket, but compensation packages, inheritances, IPOs, buyouts, and other situations leave many investors holding a significant portion of their wealth in one stock-often leaving their portfolios in a dangerous position. Managing Concentrated Stock Wealth, Second Edition shows you how to manage the risks and turn a precarious position into an advantage.
A rare analytical look at the financial crisis using simple analysis The economic crisis that began in 2008 revealed the numerous problems in our financial system, from the way mortgage loans were produced to the way Wall Street banks leveraged themselves. Curiously enough, however, most of the reasons for the banking collapse are very similar to the reasons that Long-Term Capital Management (LTCM), the largest hedge fund to date, collapsed in 1998. The Crisis of Crowding looks at LTCM in greater detail, with new information, for a more accurate perspective, examining how the subsequent hedge funds started by Meriwether and former partners were destroyed again by the lapse of judgement in allowing Lehman Brothers to fail. Covering the lessons that were ignored during LTCM's collapse but eventually connected to the financial crisis of 2008, the book presents a series of lessons for hedge funds and financial markets, including touching upon the circle of greed from homeowners to real estate agents to politicians to Wall Street. Guides the reader through the real story of Long-Term Capital Management with accurate descriptions, previously unpublished data, and interviews Describes the lessons that hedge funds, as well as the market, should have learned from LTCM's collapse Explores how the financial crisis and LTCM are a global phenomena rooted in failures to account for risk in crowded spaces with leverage Explains why quantitative finance is essential for every financial institution from risk management to valuation modeling to algorithmic trading Is filled with simple quantitative analysis about the financial crisis, from the Quant Crisis of 2007 to the failure of Lehman Brothers to the Flash Crash of 2010 A unique blend of storytelling and sound quantitative analysis, The Crisis of Crowding is one of the first books to offer an analytical look at the financial crisis rather than just an account of what happened. Also included are a layman's guide to the Dodd-Frank rules and what it means for the future, as well as an evaluation of the Fed's reaction to the crisis, QE1, QE2, and QE3.
A new, more comprehensive approach to long-term family wealth management More Than Money provides a high-level, integrated approach to preserving both financial resources and family harmony. Research has shown a failure rate of 70 percent in long-term multigenerational wealth management, and contrary to popular assumption, only five percent of that failure is due to bad investment, poor tax planning, or inadequate performance by legal and financial advisors. The number-one reason family wealth management fails is the family itself; poor communication, lack of trust, divergent visions, and a failure to prepare succeeding generations will tear down the resources the family has worked so hard to build. Traditional wealth management cannot fix this. Instead, this book offers a fresh approach that integrates strategic and tactical wealth management to align the family's assets with the family members. With helpful tools and advice drawn from a real-world understanding of family complexities, you'll improve your ability to preserve your family's resources over multiple generations. With an expert's perspective on the real forces behind successful family wealth management, this book provides a clear model and a practical roadmap for long-term financial preservation. Develop a shared family vision and mission Improve communication and trust among members Merge strategic and tactical planning Ensure the longevity of your family's wealth The wealth management sphere tends to focus on taxes, investments, banking, and estate planning, but little thought is given to the people themselves-this overlooks the fact that individual family members are the most critical factor in multigenerational wealth management, and fails to provide solutions. More Than Money merges traditional strategies with family dynamics, communication, governance, and preparation to help your resources last for generations to come.
A comprehensive catalog of exchange-traded funds and insights into successful trading techniques This Second Edition of the bestselling Trading ETFs offers an updated version of the definitive guide to this vital part of the capital markets. It contains numerous new examples of the techniques that author Deron Wagner uses in selecting the most timely ETFs to trade and underscores the core insights of his trading discipline "trade what you see, not what you think." Written for professionals who are using, or should be using, ETFs as an asset class within their portfolios, as well as the individual investor who wants exposure to wider sectors and geographical regions than those available elsewhere. This revised edition of the classic resource focuses on the pros, cons, and potential pitfalls of trading the latest class of ETFs Includes inversely correlated and leveraged ETFs and the dangers, risks, and benefits associated with each new class of ETF Contains a refresher on the initial concept of ETF selection and new case studies on ideal entry and exit points as well as examples of real trades This thoroughly revised and updated edition offers a "go-to" reference for understanding exchange-traded funds.
The roadmap to success for financial professionals using real-world examples, practical how-to's, and a structured approach to marketing strategy and tactics that covers the basics for beginners and inspires new ideas for marketing pros The Financial Marketing Services Handbook, Second Edition gives sales and marketing practitioners the practical tools and best practices they need both to improve their job performance and their retail and institutional marketing strategies. The FSM Handbook guides marketing and sales professionals working in an industry characterized by cut-throat competition, client mistrust, transformative technologies, and ever-changing regulation, to understand the practical steps they must take to turn these threats into opportunities. Providing invaluable information on how to target, win, and retain profitable customers, the book presents an overview of the basic marketing functions-segmentation, positioning, brand building, situational analyses, and tactical planning-as they relate specifically to the financial services industry. With up-to-date case studies, showing what has worked and, more tellingly, what hasn't, the book demonstrates how to effectively utilize the marketer's toolbox-from advertising and public relations to social media and mobile marketing. Discusses how social media (Twitter, Facebook, blogs, review sites) impact branding and sales Packed with new information on landing pages, email success factors, and smartphone apps Demonstrates how behavioral economics affect marketing strategy Case studies and charts are fully revised and updated The financial industry is under intense pressure to improve profits, retain high-value clients, and maintain brand equity without straining budgets. The first edition has become an industry-standard reference book and The Financial Services Marketing Handbook, Second Edition gives sales and marketing professionals even more of the information they need to stretch value from each marketing dollar.
A top options trader details a practical approach for pricing and trading options in any market condition The options market is always changing, and in order to keep up with it you need the greeks-delta, gamma, theta, vega, and rho-which are the best techniques for valuing options and executing trades regardless of market conditions. In the Second Edition of Trading Options Greeks, veteran options trader Dan Pasarelli puts these tools in perspective by offering fresh insights on option trading and valuation. An essential guide for both professional and aspiring traders, this book explains the greeks in a straightforward and accessible style. It skillfully shows how they can be used to facilitate trading strategies that seek to profit from volatility, time decay, or changes in interest rates. Along the way, it makes use of new charts and examples, and discusses how the proper application of the greeks can lead to more accurate pricing and trading as well as alert you to a range of other opportunities. Completely updated with new material Information on spreads, put-call parity and synthetic options, trading volatility, and advanced option trading is also included Explores how to exploit the dynamics of option pricing to improve your trading Having a comprehensive understanding of the greeks is essential to long-term options trading success. Trading Options Greeks, Second Edition shows you how to use the greeks to find better trades, effectively manage them, and ultimately, become more profitable.
An in-depth look at the problems surrounding zombie banks and their dangerous effect on the global economy "The title is worthy of a B movie, but it's also apt. Bloomberg News reporter Yalman Onaran, supported by former U.S. Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. chief Sheila Bair - who provides a foreword and numerous interviews - urge that insolvent banks both small and too big to fail be allowed to do precisely that. Reading bank balance sheets is not everyone's idea of a good time. But Mr. Onaran, with support from Ms. Bair, does the chore and explains what it means. Mr. Onaran shows that the process of rescuing dead and dying banks is increasing systemic risk in the global banking system. And that is really more frightening than scream flicks from Tinseltown." -- Financial Post "Yalman Onaran knows of putrid financial institutions, having written about them in his native Turkey so successfully he brought down a few in Istanbul in the late '90's." -- Huffington Post "Do We Love Zombie Banks? The new book by Yalman Onaran of Bloomberg News, Zombie Banks: How Broken Banks and Debtor Nations Are Crippling the Global Economy, is a well-organized and clearly written discussion of the use of leverage to provide growth in many different economies. Onaran has carefully researched the zombie phenomenon and makes some important points in this concise volume about both public policy and the concerns of investors. One of the more interesting early threads in the book is the juxtaposition of the experience of the US in the S&L crisis and Japan in the 1980s and 1990s with the US today. Zombie Banks is a good review of the latest thinking about the ebb and flow of the political economy." -- R. Christopher Whalen, author of Inflated Zombie banking has become standard operating procedure for big debtor nations. They prop up failing institutions, print money, and avoid financial corrections. But in an attempt to prolong the inevitable, bigger problems are created. The approach used now has not, and will not, work. This timely book reveals why. Zombie Banks tells the story of how debtor nations and failing institutions are damaging the long-term prospects of the global economy. Author Yalman Onaran, a veteran Bloomberg News reporter and financial banking sector expert, examines exactly what a zombie bank is and why they are kept alive. He also discusses how they hurt economic recovery and what needs to be done in order to restore stability. Along the way, Onaran takes an honest look at how we arrived at this point and details the harsh realities that must be faced, and the serious steps that must be taken, in order to get things headed in the right direction. Puts insolvent banks and debtor nations in the spotlight and examines how they are crippling the global economy On the record sources include Paul Volcker, Joseph Stiglitz, Sheila Bair, and many more bank executives, regulators, politicians, and policymakers in the United States and abroad Takes the complexity of the current situation and translates it in a way that makes it understandable While the short-term measures taken to stave off depression and rejuvenate economic growth may offer hope, they are unsustainable over the long term. Get a better look at what really lies ahead, and what it will take to improve our economic situation, with this book.
The insider's guide to charitable organizations for donors and their advisors Do you know when to use a private foundation, a donor-advised fund, or a charitable remainder trust or other charitable vehicle? Do you know the different tax benefits, limitations, and control rules for each alternative? Do you have an appropriate investment policy for your endowed charities? Do you have a rubric for avoiding fraud? Do you know what to look for to make sure that your charitable donations don't do the opposite of what you intend? In Managing Foundations and Charitable Trusts, Roger D. Silk and James W. Lintott provide a comprehensive guide for charitable donors and their advisers. Additional topics include: Foundation Governance When to seek additional professional help When and how to turn a CRT interest into cash Key tax issues Creating a legacy Why tax planning is so difficult, and how to approach it Straightforward and authoritative, Managing Foundations and Charitable Trusts is a handy, easy-to-read guide that all donors and their advisors will want to keep on hand.
Practical option strategies for the new post-crisis financial market Traditional buy-and-hold investing has been seriously challenged in the wake of the recent financial crisis. With economic and market uncertainty at a very high level, options are still the most effective tool available for managing volatility and downside risk, yet they remain widely underutilized by individuals and investment managers. In Options for Volatile Markets, Richard Lehman and Lawrence McMillan provide you with specific strategies to lower portfolio volatility, bulletproof your portfolio against any catastrophe, and tailor your investments to the precise level of risk you are comfortable with. While the core strategy of this new edition remains covered call writing, the authors expand into more comprehensive option strategies that offer deeper downside protection or even allow investors to capitalize on market or individual stock volatility. In addition, they discuss new offerings like weekly expirations and options on ETFs. For investors who are looking to capitalize on global investment opportunities but are fearful of lurking "black swans", this book shows how ETFs and options can be utilized to construct portfolios that are continuously protected against unforeseen calamities. A complete guide to the increased control and lowered risk covered call writing offers active investors and traders Addresses the changing investment environment and how to use options to succeed within it Explains how to use options with exchange-traded funds Understanding options is now more important than ever, and with Options for Volatile Markets as your guide, you'll quickly learn how to use them to protect your portfolio as well as improve its overall performance.
An objective look at America's rapidly shrinking water supply Once believed to be a problem limited to America's southwest, water shortages are now an issue coast to coast, from New England to California. In Aqua Shock: The Water Crisis in America, author Susan J. Marks provides a comprehensive analysis of the current conflicts being waged over dwindling water supplies. She presents the findings of university studies, think tanks, and research groups, as well as the opinions of water experts, including Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security. The book
Explains where our water comes from and who controls it, as well as the cost of water on cash, commodities, and capitalism Describes the risks of running out of water Details how we can preserve and protect our most precious, yet most undervalued natural resource Right now, battles over water supplies rage across the country. Aqua Shock is an objective look at how we arrived at this crisis point and what we can do-and should be doing-to solve the water crisis in America.
An objective look at America's rapidly shrinking water supply Once believed to be a problem limited to America's southwest, water shortages are now an issue coast to coast, from New England to California. In Aqua Shock: The Water Crisis in America, author Susan J. Marks provides a comprehensive analysis of the current conflicts being waged over dwindling water supplies. She presents the findings of university studies, think tanks, and research groups, as well as the opinions of water experts, including Peter Gleick, president of the Pacific Institute for Studies in Development, Environment, and Security. The book
Explains where our water comes from and who controls it, as well as the cost of water on cash, commodities, and capitalism Describes the risks of running out of water Details how we can preserve and protect our most precious, yet most undervalued natural resource Right now, battles over water supplies rage across the country. Aqua Shock is an objective look at how we arrived at this crisis point and what we can do-and should be doing-to solve the water crisis in America.
Silver Medal Winner, Investing Category, Axiom Business Book Awards (2009) Winner: Book Series Cover Design, The Bookbinders Guild of New York/2009 New York Book Show Awards "Long a secret weapon for the hedge-fund elite," says Trader Monthly, the DeMark Indicators are now used by more than 35,000 traders. This book provides an easy-to-follow system for using the indicators to identify market turns as they happen. Author Jason Perl gives a concise introduction to thirty-nine of the DeMark Indicators, and then shows how to combine the indicators and time frames to achieve a higher probability of trading success. Thomas R. DeMark, the creator of the DeMark Indicators and one of the most well-respected practitioners of technical analysis wrote the Foreword to this book. This is the second book in the Bloomberg Market Essentials: Technical Analysis series, which covers the key elements of the most widely used technical analysis tools.
A simple guide to a smarter strategy for the individual investor A Wealth of Common Sense sheds a refreshing light on investing, and shows you how a simplicity-based framework can lead to better investment decisions. The financial market is a complex system, but that doesn't mean it requires a complex strategy; in fact, this false premise is the driving force behind many investors' market "mistakes." Information is important, but understanding and perspective are the keys to better decision-making. This book describes the proper way to view the markets and your portfolio, and show you the simple strategies that make investing more profitable, less confusing, and less time-consuming. Without the burden of short-term performance benchmarks, individual investors have the advantage of focusing on the long view, and the freedom to construct the kind of portfolio that will serve their investment goals best. This book proves how complex strategies essentially waste these advantages, and provides an alternative game plan for those ready to simplify. Complexity is often used as a mechanism for talking investors into unnecessary purchases, when all most need is a deeper understanding of conventional options. This book explains which issues you actually should pay attention to, and which ones are simply used for an illusion of intelligence and control. Keep up with-or beat-professional money managers Exploit stock market volatility to your utmost advantage Learn where advisors and consultants fit into smart strategy Build a portfolio that makes sense for your particular situation You don't have to outsmart the market if you can simply outperform it. Cut through the confusion and noise and focus on what actually matters. A Wealth of Common Sense clears the air, and gives you the insight you need to become a smarter, more successful investor.
A bond calculation quick reference, complete with context and application insights Bond Math is a quick and easy resource that puts the intricacies of bond calculations into a clear and logical order. This simple, readable guide provides a handy reference, teaching the reader how to think about the essentials of bond math. Much more than just a book of formulas, the emphasis is on how to think about bonds and the associated math, with plenty of examples, anecdotes, and thought-provoking insights that sometimes run counter to conventional wisdom. This updated second edition includes popular Bloomberg pages used in fixed-income analysis, including the Yield and Spread Analysis page, plus a companion website complete with an Online Workbook of multiple choice questions and answers and spreadsheet exercises. Detailed coverage of key calculations, including thorough explanations, provide practical guidance to working bond professionals. The bond market is the largest and most liquid in the world, encompassing everything from Treasuries and investment grade corporate paper to municipals and junk bonds, trading over $900 billion daily in the U.S. alone. Bond Math is a guide to the inevitable calculations involved in managing bonds, with expert insight on the portfolios and investment strategies that puts the math in perspective. Clear and concise without sacrificing detail, this book helps readers to: Delineate the characteristics of different types of debt securities Calculate implied forward and spot rates and discount factors Work with rates of return, yield statistics, and interest rate swaps Understand duration-based risk measures, and more Memorizing formulas is one thing, but really learning how to mentally approach the math behind bonds is something else entirely. This approach places calculations in context, and enables easier transition from theory to application. For the bond professional seeking a quick math reference, Bond Math provides that and so much more.
Shortlisted for International Affairs Book of the Year in the Paddy Power Political Book Awards 2014
Angela Merkel was already unique when she became German chancellor: the first female leader of Europe's biggest economy, the first from former communist East Germany and the first born after World War II. Since 2010, the debt crisis that spread from Greece to the euro region and the world economy has propelled her to center-stage, making Merkel the dominant politician in the struggle to preserve Europe's economic model and its single currency. Yet the Protestant pastor's daughter is often viewed as enigmatic and hard-to-predict, a misreading that took hold as she resisted global pressure for grand gestures to counter the crisis. Having turned the fall of the Berlin Wall to her advantage, Merkel is trying to get history on her side again after reaching the fundamental decision to save the euro, the crowning achievement of post-war European unity. Merkel has brought Europe to a crossroads. Germany's economic might gives her unprecedented power to set the direction for the European Union's 500 million people. What's at stake is whether she will persuade them to follow the German lead. Angela Merkel: A Chancellorship Forged in Crisis is the definitive new biography of the world's most powerful woman. Delving into Merkel's past, the authors explain the motives behind her drive to remake Europe for the age of globalization, her economic role models and the experiences under communism that color her decisions. For the first time in English, Merkel is fully placed in her European context. Through exclusive interviews with leading policy makers and Merkel confidants, the book reveals the behind-the-scenes drama of the crisis that came to dominate her chancellorship, her prickly relationship with the U.S. and admiration for Eastern Europe. Written by two long-standing Merkel watchers, the book documents how her decisions and vision - both works in progress - are shaping a pivotal moment in European history.
The gold standard for measuring financial progress, updated for today's market From Ross Levin, a trusted financial planner, comes Implementing the Wealth Management Index. The new edition of the book Investment Advisor called a "landmark opus," this revised and updated volume expands upon his legendary Wealth Management Index tool. A benchmark system that, through a series of questions and evaluations, enables advisors to score their performance for individual clients, the tool is used by firms around the world. In this new edition, the index looks at asset protection, disability and income protection, debt management, investment planning, and estate planning. The new edition adds more how-to information, as well as actual client examples and case studies to show how Levin's firm successfully uses the index as a daily strategy. Asks the important questions, like "Did you use all reasonable means to reduce your taxes?" and "Have you established and funded all the necessary trusts? Have you made your desired gifts for this year? Newly revised and expanded for the first time since 1997 Essential guidance from a top man in the game, Implementing the Wealth Management Index is the one-stop resource for measuring client financial progress.
How to understand the twenty-first century food crisis Since 2007, farm-product prices have rocketed and plunged, causing hunger, malnutrition, and social and political upheaval around the world. Endless Appetites explores how "food security," the availability of food and the reasonable ability to buy it, has become one of the most challenging topics of our time. With every jump in grocery-store prices, the issue becomes more and more pressing, proven by this year's record increase in food prices, which has already topped the spike of 2008. Award-winning commodities reporter Alan Bjerga explains the food crisis and why it is happening in an accessible, articulate manner Why is this happening when more food is being grown than ever? Why are crop markets?first established in the 1800's to help stabilize agricultural commodity prices?acting like an investors' casino, with prices absorbed by rich nations taking food from the mouths of the poor? From college campuses to emergency UN meetings, "food security" is one of the hottest topics of the day, with no shortage of interest in how to stabilize food prices worldwide to close the hunger gap To understand the growing international food crisis, readers need an expert they can rely on. One of the most widely acclaimed journalists on food security, Alan Bjerga is up to the task, taking readers from the trading floor of Chicago to the highlands of East Africa to the rice paddies of Thailand on a global trek to find the causes of the food-price crisis?and the solutions.
An accessible reference that explores every aspect of the municipal bond market Until now, there has been no accessible encyclopedia, dictionary, nor guide to the world of municipal bonds. Comprehensive and objective, this groundbreaking volume covers the history and mechanics of the municipal market in clear and understandable terms. It covers all aspects of the market, including pricing, trading, taxation issues and yields, as well as topical events such as the financial crisis, hysteria about defaults and Chapter 9 municipal bankruptcy, fraud, and regulation. Encyclopedia of Municipal Bonds also contains entries on important historical events and provides much-needed context for this field. Everything you ever wanted to know about municipal bonds in one comprehensive resource Joe Mysak is the author of the Bloomberg bestseller Handbook for Muni Issuers Demystifies the world of municipal bonds for both the novice and professional investor Explores issues such as the Orange County bankruptcy, the Jefferson County default, the New York City financial crisis, and the surprisingly recent creation of the modern municipal market Encyclopedia of Municipal Bonds offers an essential reference guide for investors, professionals, regulators, insurers, and anyone else involved in the municipal bond market.
The new Fourth Edition of the definitive handbook on investing in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs), which provide some of the best total returns in the investment world, along with above-average dividend yields and stable earnings, have become increasingly popular with both individual and institutional investors. Investing in REITs, Fourth Edition has established itself as the definitive guide to understanding this attractive asset class. The book is invaluable for investors, financial planners, and investment advisers interested in understanding REITs and REIT investment opportunities. As their earnings and dividends are beginning to grow again after the Great Recession-and as they are in a unique position to take advantage of distressed sale opportunities-now is an excellent time for investors to consider REITs for both diversification and strong total returns. The new edition covers: A comprehensive history of the REIT industry How REITs compare with other competitive investments How to spot blue-chip REITs and control investment risk How to value individual REIT stocks, and REIT shares generally How to build a diversified REIT portfolio, directly or with REIT mutual funds Understanding the risk-and-reward dynamics of commercial real estate Assessing non-US REITs and how to invest in them Important new developments and strategies in the REIT industry Author Ralph L. Block, who has been investing in REIT stocks for 40 years and is widely considered a leading authority on REITs, brings the historical success of Investing in REITs right up to date. This book is an essential read for both individuals and institutions who desire to invest in commercial real estate through REIT stocks.
A complete resource to trading today's currency market Currency movements are impacted by a variety of factors, including interest rates, trade balances, inflation levels, monetary and fiscal policies, and the political climate. Traders use both fundamental data and a variety of technical tools to trade within this market. Inside the Currency Market describes both the underlying dynamics that drive this market and the strategies that can help you capture consistent profits in it. Page by page, this reliable guide skillfully discusses the structure of the market, its roles in the global economy, the forces that drive currency values, trading strategies, and tactics. It also offers a detailed understanding of how global financial flows, derivatives, and other markets such as oil and gold impact currencies. Along the way, author and professor Brian Twomey provides information on gathering and analyzing global financial data so that traders can gain a "big-picture" perspective when attempting to identify trades. Explains virtually every element of the market and can function as a desk reference that puts everyday events into context for traders Fundamentally driven trades based on interest rate differentials and trade imbalances are discussed, as well as technical trades involving chart patterns, trends, and trading ranges Each chapter contains questions and answers to help readers master the material The currency market continues to generate interest and attract new retail traders due to the many opportunities available within it. This book will show you how to successfully operate within this arena by making the most informed trading decisions possible.
Top options expert Larry Shover returns to discuss how to interpret, and profit from, market volatility Trading Options in Turbulent Markets, Second Edition skillfully explains the intricacies of options volatility and shows you how to use options to cope, and profit from, market turbulence. Throughout this new edition, options expert Larry Shover reveals how to use historical volatility to predict future volatility for a security and addresses how you can utilize that knowledge to make better trading decisions. Along the way, he also defines the so-called Greeks-delta, vega, theta, and gamma-and explains what drives their values and their relationship to historic and implied volatility. Shover then provides effective strategies for trading options contracts in uncertain times, addressing the decision-making process and how to trade objectively in the face of unpredictable and irrational market moves. Includes a new chapter of the VIX, more advanced material on volatility suitable for institutional or intermediate options trader, and additional volatility-based strategies Answers complex questions such as: How does a trader know when to tolerate risk and How does a successful trader respond to adversity? Provides a different perspective on a variety of options strategies, including covered calls, naked and married puts, collars, straddles, vertical spreads, calendar spreads, butterflies, condors, and more As volatility becomes a greater focus of traders and investors, Trading Options in Turbulent Markets, Second Edition will become an important resource for in-depth insights, practical advice, and profitable strategies.
