Take Some Credit for Your Home Improvements

Looking for reasons beyond energy conservation and lower utility bills to make your home more efficient? In June 2005, Congress passed the Energy Policy Act as part of its energy bill, which offered federal tax credits (deductions affect your taxable income, tax credits reduce the tax itself) for energy efficiency in both the residential and commercial sectors. This was really good news for homeowners. Unfortunately, the act expired at the end of 2007 and has yet to be renewed by Congress.

If you made home improvements before December 31, 2007, you will still be able to claim them on this year's taxes. But for next year's, the situation isn't yet settled. An extension of the Energy Policy Act passed in the House in February; however, a new bill that would increase the tax credits for energy efficiency has been introduced to the House and Senate but has yet to be voted on.

Home Improvement
Homeowners may claim up to $500 for insulation, replacement windows, water heaters, and specific heating and cooling systems installed in 2007, but not yet for improvements made in 2008 (see the Energy Star website). Since these improvement credits may be reinstated (and will provide you energy savings anyways), here is a rundown with standards they must meet in parentheses:

*2004 International Energy Conservation Code
**Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency

New Construction
Building a new home? Solar power can still give you a tax credit up to $2,000 (IRS form 5695). If your home is built by an eligible contractor (one who has completed IRS form 8908 and has followed the statutory energy requirements) and it passes inspection by a home energy rater, you are eligible for a $2000 tax credit as well. Certified raters are listed at the website of the Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET), a third-party, standards-making organization recognized by the IRS, Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of Energy (www.resnet.us/directory/raters.aspx).

Hybrid Cars
New fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles earn you tax credits as well. The amount is determined by a set of criteria followed by the IRS and ranges from $250 to $3150. The IRS provides credit amount by model on its website (www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=157557,00.html).

So while April 15 isn't exactly a holiday, you may still get a substantial gift back from Uncle Sam by claiming what's owed to you.

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Put Your Refund to Good Use

Though without fail I always wait until April 13th or 14th to do my taxes, I have plans for my refund by the first of the year. Usually, they have to do with a backed-up credit card or a pair of boots I've been drooling over.

But this year, I've decided on something green. Depending on how well I clean up, I might finally invest in that Energy Star-rated dishwasher I've been fantasizing about and never have to hand-wash a plate again, while saving as much as 5,000 gallons of water a year. If I can't afford my new dishwasher, I might try tucking away my return in a greener mutual fund, keeping me cushioned for the future and supporting socially and environmentally responsible businesses. "Mutual Interest: Finding Your Way to a Greener Retirement" lists some great options. Or maybe I'll prepare the apartment for Manhattan's scorching summer by installing a ceiling fan that will use a tenth of the energy my air conditioner uses.

Who am I kidding? I'll probably blow the whole mess on a new organic cotton wardrobe. In any case, this year's gift from the government is going toward making me a bit greener.

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Google Sediakan Ad Manager untuk Penjual Iklan

JAKARTA- Setelah terobosan iklan baris Adsense, Google kini merilis Ad Manager, platform yang dapat membantu pengelola web untuk menjual space iklan di halaman webnya. Layanan ini tersedia cuma-cuma, namun untuk sementara masih terbatas untuk yang mendapat tawaran saja dari Google.

Dengan Ad Manager, seorang webmaster dapat mengelola bisnis iklan di halaman webnya dengan mudah. Antara lain menyediakan fitur laporan berkala untuk setiap pengiklan. Google tidak mengambil keuntungan sedikit pun dari jualan iklan ini. Namun, kepada pemilik web yang masih sepi iklan, Google tetap menawarkan layanan Adsense. Tentu saja pilihan diserahkan kepada pemilik web.

Layanan ini sepertinya sudah disiapkan Google sejak akhir tahun 2006. Layanan yang sedang dikembangkan Google itu tercium blogger bernama Tony Ruscoe, dengan kode nama GAM. Nama Ad Manager baru dirilis sejak 21 Februari 2008.

Platform yang dikembangkan sendiri oleh Google, seperti dilansir Wall Street Journal, ini tidak terkait langsung dengan layanan DoubleClick yang baru saja selesai proses akuisisinya. Layanan DoubleClick lebih dimaksudkan untuk iklan premium, sedangkan Ad Manager seperti halnya Adsense untuk penjualan iklan kelas menengah ke bawah.

Sejumlah analis memprediksi Google akan menyediakan layanan DoubleClick secara cuma-cuma. Namun, jurubicara Google mengatakan sampai sekarang belum memiliki rencana menggratiskan produk dan layanan iklan DoubleClick.(BLOGOSCOPED/WAH)

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Pejabat Microsoft-Yahoo Akhirnya Bertemu

SAN FRANSISCO- Peluang Microsoft untuk mengakusisi Yahoo sepertinya masih tetap terbuka meski pejabat eksekutif Yahoo sempat menolak tawaran tersebut. Pejabat eksekutif kedua perusahaan dilaporkan telah menggelar pertemuan Senin (10/3) untuk membahas penawaran tersebut.

Dari informasi yang pertama kali dilansir Wall Street Journal, pertemuan tersebut dilakukan di dekat kantor pusat yahoo di Sunnyvale, San Fransisco, AS. Hal tersebut disampaikan sumber terpecaya yang tidak besedia disebut namanya, Jumat (14/3). Pertemuan tersebut tidak dihadiri para investor dan tidak ada diskusi apakah Microsoft akan memberikan penawaran lebih tinggi.

Yahoo menolak tawaran Microsoft enam minggu lalu untuk mengakuisisi seluruh sahamnya senilai 44,6 miliar dollar AS atau 31 dollar AS per lembar saham. Saat mengumumkan penolakan akusisi, pejabat Yahoo beralasan perusahaannya seharusnya layak dinilia lebih.

Sejak itu, CEO Yahoo, Jerry Yang, menyatakan tengah mempertimbangkan aliansi dengan perusahaan lainnya, Google, My Space milik News Corp, atau AOL Time Warner. Namun, beberapa hari yang lalu, Rupert Murdoch, pemilik News Corp, menyatakan tidak tertarik membeli Yahoo. AOL juga sudah membelanjakan 850 juta dollar AS untuk mengakuisisi jaringan sosial online, Bebo, sehingga peluang aliansi Yahoo dan AOL agak sulit dilakukan.

Menanggapi penolakan tersebut, Microsoft menyatakan tetap berambisi dan menyiapkan pengambilalihan dengan caranya sendiri jika Yahoo tidak meresponnya. Jadi atau tidak, yang pasti, pejabat senior kedua belah pihak telah mendiskusikannya.

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Saham Negri Paman Sam Gagal Rally

Sebuah rally (kenaikan panjang) pada saham-saham AS gagal dipertahankan di akhir perdagangan Rabu (12/3), karena pasar melemah di tengah kekhawatiran baru tentang kredit yang seret dan melonjaknya harga minyak ke rekor tertinggi bar

Seperti dikutip dari Antara, Indeks Dow Jones Industrial Average turun 46,57 poin atau 0,38 persen menjadi ditutup pada 12.110,24 dan indeks komposit Nasdaq menyusut 11,89 poin atau 0,53 persen menjadi 2.243,87.

Indikator pasar secara luas indeks Standard & Poor’s 500 melemah 11,88 poin atau 0,90 persen menjadi berakhir pada 1.308,77.

Para investor pada mulanya telah memperpanjang rally besar Selasa, didukung oleh tindakan terkoordinasi the Federal Reserve dengan bank-bank sentral lainnya menyuntikkan likuiditas ke dalam sistim keuangan global.

Tetapi antusiasme itu berlangsung pendek di tengah kekhawatiran baru tentang efektivitas tindakan skala besar tersebut, yang termasuk the Fed menawarkan 200 miliar dollar AS dalam sebuah lelang baru kepada bank-bank dan broker yang terpukul kerugian dari sekuritas berbasis mortgage.

"Pertanyaan besar adalah apakah tindakan kemarin oleh the Fed itu akan memiliki dampak akhir atau hanya antiseptik sangat jangka pendek," kata Frederick Dickson dari DA Davidson & Co.

Elena Mehas, seorang analis pada Merrill Lynch, mengatakan the Fed terus "memberikan reaksi terhadap peristiwa yang membentang."

"Ini eksperimen terakhir, sebagai pekerjaan lain yang lebih jauh, tidak bertujuan menyelesaikan masalah mendasar ... kami melihat tidak ada sebab mendasar untuk suatu perubahan ekonomi mereka atau prospek laba meski pasar modal pada awalnya bereaksi positif terhadap inisiatif terakhir ini," kata Mehas.

Beberapa analis melihat langkah the Fed sebagai pengurang rintangan akan menurunkan suku bunganya secara agresif tiga perempat poin pada pertemuan 18 Maret.

Al Goldman dari AG Edwards mengatakan bahwa sekarang penurunan suku bunga setengah poin lebih mungkin. "Kami yakin sebuah dasar telah dibuat dan satu-dua pekan pasar bearish telah mulai rally," kata dia.

Pasar saham juga terbebani melonjaknya harga minyak yang memicu tekanan inflasi dan dapat menghambat manuver the Fed dalam mencoba menyelamatkan ekonomi terbesar dunia itu terhindari dari sebuah resesi.

Harga minyak melampaui 110 dollar AS per barel untuk pertama kalinya di New York, melesat dalam perdagangan harian ke level tertinggi 110,20 dolar AS dan ditutup pada rekor 109,92 dollar AS.

Di London, minyak berjangka Brent melambung ke rekor 106,39 dollar AS dalam perdagangan harian. Dollar AS terpuruk ke posisi terendah dalam sejarah terhadap euro pada 1,5559 dollar AS.

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Dollar Dicari, Rupiah Menangis

Kurs rupiah terhadap dollar AS di pasar spot antarbank Jakarta, Kamis (13/3) pagi merosot tajam menembus angka Rp9.200 per dollar AS, karena pelaku pasar membeli dollar AS dalam jumlah yang cukup besar akibat kenaikan harga minyak dunia.

Nilai tukar rupiah terhadap dollar AS turun tajam mencapai Rp9.225/9.230 per dolar AS dibanding penutupan hari sebelumnya Rp9.153/9.155 per dollar AS atau melemah 72 poin, seperti dikutip dari Antara.

Pengamat pasar uang, Edwin Sinaga di Jakarta, mengatakan, kenaikan harga minyak mentah dunia yang mencapai 110 dollar AS per barel memicu pelaku memburu dollar AS dalam jumlah yang besar. Harga minyak dunia itu diperkirakan akan masih bergerak naik, akibat merosotnya cadangan minyak mentah AS dan besarnya kebutuhan minyak mentah dari China dan India, katanya.

Rupiah, lanjut dia, kemungkinan akan masih tertekan oleh kenaikan harga minyak mentah itu hingga mendekati angka Rp9.250 per dollar AS. "Kami optimistis rupiah masih akan tertekan oleh isu negatif menjelang bank sentral AS (The Fed) menurunkan suku bunga Fedfund," katanya.

Namun, menurut Edwin, dollar AS sendiri di pasar regional melemah akibat, ketidakpastian The Fed untuk membantu memberikan dukungan terhadap sistem perbankan AS.

Karena itu, dollar AS terhadap euro dan yen melemah masing-masing menjadi 1,5575 dan 101,10.

Edwin mengatakan, rupiah juga mendapat tekanan dari pasar saham Asia yang masih terpuruk. "Kami memperkirakan rupiah akan kembali merosot pada perdagangan sore nanti, karena sentimen negatif cukup besar," katanya.

Meski demikian, menurut dia, kemerosotan rupiah saat ini dinilai hanya sementara saja, karena tekanan pasar yang kuat. Rupiah akan kembali membaik apabila The Fed memutuskan penurunan suku bunganya. Pelaku pasar asing saat ini cenderung menempatkan dananya di sektor komoditas dan minyak yang memberikan gain lebih besar. Karena itu dengan penurunan bunga The Fed, kemungkinan investor asing akan kembali bermain di pasar uang dan saham Indonesia untu meraih gain yang lebih besar, kata Edwin Sinaga.

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Make your Internet pays you

There are many ways to make money online. But if you think that it can be done for free than you might be just dreaming.

If you are serious in making money online, you got to approach it from business point of view. Treat it like a real business.

Online business is one of the lowest business start up. You need to budget for it and what kind of online business model you want to adopt, you can be ads reseller like adsense, or you can be info sellers, or even commission based sale business what is known as affiliate models.

Budget for at least 3 years online operations than you would have learn the trade to make real money.

Important Investment Basics

When most people are asked what are they doing in the stock markets? Most of them do not really know how to answer that questions. Checking with just friends around me, I knew that not many really understood what they are doing.
Their answers normally surrounds the following basic answers such as:
I am investing in stock market, or I am trading the stocks. I am a long term investors. The sad parts is most people do not really make money in the market. And normally their excuse is I buy the stock for a long term. when they start making a little money, they are always in the hurry to sell. Sometimes they may not even know the real meaning of investment.
Investment to a Business people and to a Working people may means different things as well. Maybe I will try to summarise a little bit here what I have learnt from my own experience in making money from the stock market or even from my other investment.
These basics for me is very important because only when I decided to follow them then only I started to see results in my own investment.

1. Investment is not about making money, But it is about preserving the value of your money. The rest is Bonus. Warren Buffet never invest in something that he is not familiar, that is why Warren Buffet follow very closely these rules in investing:

Rule No 1: Never Lose Money,

Rule No 2: Follow Rule No 1 Strictly

When you know the risk in one investment, then only you are able to manage it well and make it grow.

2. Knowing when to exit even before entering into any investment. If it is for a long term then let it be long term, you must be able to stomach the up and down of the stock value. If it is entered for only one month then keep that terms strictly. Most people change their exit everytime the market moves. If the market moves in their direction than they will take profit prematurely, when the stock goes into the opposite direction of their trade, they normally stay too long and expose themselves into greater losses.

3. Investing requires great amount of patience. There are times that I lost patient in watching the market moves, so I enter into the trade too early and exit too late. or it can be the other way as well, entering too late and exiting too early. There are time the money are better save as cash sitting in the bank rather place in any investment.

4. Knowing yourself and knowing your own limits. A lot of people do not know the condition of their own mental health. When you are not feeling well, or when you have very bad day, then put off trying to invest your money in anything. Learn more about the investment that you are going to undertake and do not ever take it too lightly.

Well, understanding where you stand in your investment profile will help you to reduce a lot of heartache due to losses. knowing whether you are better as trader or long time investors and knowing the difference will take you further in your investment life.

Knowledge reduces risk, get knowledgeable and you will be able to manage your investment risk well.

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Earn Money From Home

Forex Options - You don't know what you're missing

Are you some new treaders who almost giving up because u get lost when you trade??
Hey guess what?? Maybe you forgetting something.....

When debating the best subject for our next course we asked ourselves what is the most important things new traders should learn? I think the answer to that is that they need to know what the professionals know. One of the things that professionals know and have been using for many years are options.

When debating the best subject for a new course we asked ourselves: “What are the most important things new traders should learn?”

The answer we came up with was simple: The same things the professionals know. One of the major strategies used successfully by professional traders, is often overlooked by retail traders. That strategy is Options.

Options have been available to currency futures traders (and traders in just about every other market) for years. However, they have only been available to retail forex spot traders recently. Options are not marketed or offered as widely by dealers, as they are more complicated than buying and selling lots of pairs. However, once understood, options are an invaluable addition to your portfolio.

What you will learn in this course:

- Options are a valuable tool for forex traders
- Calls and puts are the simplest options trades
- Calls or puts can be used to speculate on a forex pair
- Long options can be used to offset risk in a forex position
- Selling options can develop higher probability trades

When debating the best subject for a new course we asked ourselves: “What are the most important things new traders should learn?”

The answer we came up with was simple: The same things the professionals know. One of the major strategies used successfully by professional traders, is often overlooked by retail traders. That strategy is Options.

Options have been available to currency futures traders (and traders in just about every other market) for years. However, they have only been available to retail forex spot traders recently. Options are not marketed or offered as widely by dealers, as they are more complicated than buying and selling lots of pairs. However, once understood, options are an invaluable addition to your portfolio.

Who are options for?

There are two types of traders that can take advantage of options. Chances are pretty good you will find that you belong to one of these two groups.

- Speculators:
Options can be used by speculators who are taking advantage of a rise or decline in an exchange rate. They have the benefits of leverage, risk control and liquidity.

- Investors looking for more flexible risk control:
They are also an important tool for traders looking to offset their risk exposure to price shocks in the market. In certain circumstances they can be used in place of stop losses and can help increase the odds of having a successful trade outcome.

How does an option work?

There are two types of option contracts – calls and puts. In this first lesson we will talk about call options in detail. You will learn why a trader would buy them, what their characteristics are and one of the simplest strategies you can use to put them to work.

To see the rest of the article and a video here: http://www.pfxglobal.com/content/view/2226/117/

Also, check out the rest of our 100% free education, videos and analysis at www.pfxglobal.com.

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Interview with FXcast Forex Broker

FXcast Forex broker gladly accepted my offer to give an interview for EarnForex readers. Niklas (member of FXcast IB Management) answered my questions about Forex trading, FXcast past and future plans and a present Forex brokerage market condition. A brief description of FXcast can found here.

For how long do you offer your on-line Forex trading services now? Does FXcast have any off-line brokerage experience prior to starting a site?

We offer online trading services with FXcast since over 2 years now. FXcast has worked as broker in a protected private environment. The website has gone public on the 1st of May 2007 after huge investments for automation and effectiveness of our website information and the procedures behind it. The goal is nearly 100% automated processes from account opening to withdrawals from trading accounts.

The founders of FXcast have each more than 15 years experience in brokerage, system development, customer relationship management, risk management, execution and whatever is important for our core business.

Why ‘FXcast’? Any particular reason for this name?

The name is a synonym for Forex Forecast – the only method in our opinion to trade successfully in the market. If it is a technical analysis based forecast or an economic based or a mixture of both – without a fundamental analysis and resulting forecast trading is only gambling. If a trader wants gambling – fine. If he wants profit he must stop gambling and start serious trading.

With so many other retail on-line Forex brokers, it takes some really distinctive advantages for a new broker to get into the market. What can you call FXcast’s main features to attract traders?

We see a lot of unique selling points, amongst others 36 currency pairs, tight spreads, fast and exact execution. But undoubtedly a major point is the easy-to-use account opening and funding – with small amounts done within 3 minutes or less. And we have a lot more facts which let us dominate the crowd: the transparency of the customer relationship management procedures as an example. Each single process is documented in the member’s area. Customers are able to see each single personal action – deposits, withdrawals, account management, personal data maintenance and more which gives them trust and believe in our reliability. All is traceable and documented and we can avoid the usual misunderstandings in email and phone call procedures. We are fast in our processes. We think the fastest FX broker worldwide. This is our goal: fast, reliable, accurate and transparent and absolutely concentrated on our core business: Our mission is to provide the opportunity for individuals and corporate customers around the world to trade currency markets under the most favourable conditions, such as enjoyed by financial institutes, banks, or brokerage companies. No marketing phrases – just forex brokerage business.

Another important fact is: FXcast is best choice for partners. For the above reasons partners can recommend FXcast with a real good feeling to their customers. And: FXcast has a unique affiliation model, a great chance for everyone to build up a 4 level partner model and become a prime partner of FXcast climbing up step by step within the IB levels. Every customer of a partner has a chance to hire other customers by becoming a partner himself.

And this promotion model is absolutely fair. We hear from the market that very often customers bypass their IBs to become an IB themselves with the Broker and the IB looses his customers. This is impossible with FXcast. Each partner gets the same commission when he starts – so why now bypass the IB? There is no advantage for anyone. Winning successful partners is a big plus for an IB – they promote him to the next level with their customers and everyone earns – a typical win win situation.

Of course we know that other Brokers pay more to their IBs in the beginning. But big commissions must be earned – of course from the customer. This short term thinking is not our style. For a stable and profitable relationship FXcast is the better choice – the commission model pays back very soon and the chances are tremendous.

The only precondition is a financial oriented website – not even any knowledge of the FX market.

Forex trading is not gambling, is it? What would you say to the people thinking that it is?

I am not quite sure that you are right. What should hinder a gambler to use our Swing platform? It is of course a platform to trade in the FX market. But we have developed it mainly for beginners and customers who want to “test” this market without real knowledge and experience. How it reacts, how charts are running and what the influence factors are for trading – news, overnight situations, sudden market movements and more. And we offer this for real low risk – starting with 1 USD! Of course there is a gambling factor included as you cannot get out of the trade until S/L or T/P is reached – like a roulette ball – rien ne va plus. Is the Forex market not much more interesting as a Casino?

But for the Pro trading terminal you are right! Successful trading needs time and money for education. But all successful paper trading means nothing when it comes to the point of trading real money. Real money is different – this is pure psychology. Therefore we offer customers with 10USD or 10 EUR the option to start their career with a low budget before they try to make real profit. Even a 0.01 lot real trade is different from paper trading – an excellent chance to get practice. You have to learn it with a low real risk but real money.

Does FXcast have a division which trades Forex, or do you only offer services to retail traders and prefer to stay off the market yourself?

Currently we only offer retail services for self traders.

Forex trading is becoming more and more accessible to people of all income sizes. How do you describe your potential customer? A rich person who seeks to increase his investments or a young and purposeful woman or man?

Our customers come from each group of society and wealth. There are traders with 1 USD and traders with 1 million USD accounts and higher. We see all trader types and all kinds of risks. Important is that everyone is a customer for us, independent from the deposit.

We are neutral and try to fill customer positions to the best possible price – if it is 0.01 lot or 1,000 lot.

You have a lot of interesting features on your site, like many deposit options and your Swing platform. Do you plan any new features?

We have many options in our portfolio. Some more internet payments methods are just in programming. And a lot of new features, which we will publish when ready. Our business is an online business, fast and reactive – so must our website. We have to go with a fast market and we will do it.

Our customers and the market will see some real exiting and fundamental news coming soon. We will inform you.

What do you think are the main obstacles for the new Forex traders finding a right Forex broker with whom they can cooperate on a long-term basis?

This is in our opinion the transparency of processes, the trade execution, the service and a fair price. The customer should have the feeling that he is treated as a partner – not as a victim. Of course you have to feel comfortable with the trading platform.

The information “regulated” does not automatically mean that this broker is a good broker. How effective is his regulation organization? Which influence does the regulation have on the broker’s behavior in trading situations? We think there is much scam on the internet as in every business.

Have a look on the broker’s website - your prime contact to the broker. Is all information useful or is it mostly marketing and gimmicks? How fast do you find the relevant information? Are all processes explained carefully? Are there hidden fees? How easy can you get more information from the broker? Are there special email addresses for each category of questions? Does he have a live chat during his office times? How responsive is the broker to your email questions? Is there an area which shows all your past processes and everything which you have done with this broker for absolute transparency and reliability? How fast is deposit and withdrawal? Do you feel comfortable with the trading platform(s)? Does it hang in critical situations? Are there gaps in the charts? Are you stopped out in some situations and should not be? You must have a deep look for example if the broker sends you trading signals. Are they really helpful? We think you should better use an external independent provider.

A lot of questions – and there are of course more to ask. But the main question is: do you feel comfortable with the broker’s behavior? There is a big misunderstanding in the market: that the spread is important for your trading. This is simply a rumor and professional traders know that it is a very big well known fundamental error. Professional traders often work with increased spread for covering their cost with rebates. Why do they make profit? Only some important facts decide if you win or loose: your knowledge and experience as a trader and the knowledge and experience of the broker. But in no case the spread. A fair spread guarantees the profit of the broker – which is important for your long term and stable cooperation with him. If your broker does not make profit you will loose too. And if the margin of the broker is too small he will try to get it back from you – the customer.

Public forums are often not really helpful – many frustrated specious “experts” are claiming about brokers which do not let them make profit. The real reason behind is often that simply the system does not work. The well known scalping machines which make a million in some days – they are only working on demo accounts. But of course to point to the broker is easier than developing a successful strategy. Professional traders do not have the time to discuss in forums. They have to trade.

Whom do you see as FXcast’s main competitor in the on-line Forex brokers market?

We don’t talk about competition. We think we are unique with our procedures and service. But of course other brokers may think that, too.

What do you think about Forex scam problem in the on-line Forex brokers market? Is it a real threat for the business or will customers learn to recognize the fraudulent sites, leaving them without a prey?

This seems to be a real problem as these cheating shops spoil a big part of the market. But if customers follow the words from question 3 they will soon sort the wheat from the chaff. We are not part of this – as our IBs published on our website will tell you. By the way – we only publish IBs working exclusively and successful for us – always the best in each country.

What is your insight on the future of the on-line Forex trading? What role will e-currencies play in this future?

We think the Forex market is a growing market. As shares and other derivates are complex and expensive and you can only be successful with big amounts it will definitely grow tremendously. On the other hand the number of FX brokers will decrease. There are so many small shops without experience, knowledge and financial background on the market that most of them will not survive. Traders become mature and will see soon which brokers really offer good and fair business. This is the reason why we see our future bright.

E-Currencies will become more and more important. After the E*Gold disaster the market moves again. But not as some governments and banks want the market to move. The world is going www – and so will payment methods. We are excellently prepared – our online payments options will grow. For small deposits the best and cheapest way to fund accounts. Nevertheless – for big accounts the wire transfer from a bank will be the most important way.

In both themes we see a tremendous future for FXcast. We are no old fashioned broker; we are modern and cooperative; we can handle unlimited numbers of customers with our high automated processes per day hour or minute. The only restriction is the internet and hardware – both can be scaled. We do not need huge staff – we are here to serve our customers in the background. Our philosophy is as different from the FX broker jam as it could be. We are prepared for the future market – what about your broker?

What would be your advice for new Forex traders who are just starting their experience on the Forex market?

Do not believe marketing and “best spread”. Good quality needs a fair price. Too low prices make quality decrease. From there on, it’s learning and investing much time, over day and night. Trading is a 24 hours job. And finding a fair, reliable and good partner – the best you can find. Maybe FXcast.

As you see, FXcast thoroughly answered all questions. And, although, some of the answer can look too “marketing” and to some people - debatable, it is still a very good sign that broker wishes to communicate with its existing or potential clients.

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Dollar-euro currency exchange

This article provides an overview of the factors affecting the leading currency pair: euro-dollar exchange, commonly expressed as EUR/USD.

The euro to dollar exchange rate is the price at which the world demand for US dollars equals the world supply of euros. Regardless of geographical origin, a rise in the world demand for euros leads to an appreciation of the euro.

Factors affecting exchange rates
Four factors are identified as fundamental determinants of the real euro to dollar exchange rate:
*The international real interest rate differential
*Relative prices in the traded and non-traded goods sectors
*The real oil price
*The relative fiscal position

The nominal bilateral dollar to euro exchange is the exchange rate that attracts the most attention. Notwithstanding the comparative importance of euro to US dollar bilateral trade links, trade with the UK is, to some extent, more important for the Euro zone than is trade with the US. The dollar and the euro have a strong predisposition to run together in the very short run, but sometimes there can be significant discrepancies. The very strong appreciation of the dollar against the euro in 2003 is one example of these discrepancies.

In the long run, the correlation between the bilateral dollar to euro exchange rate, and different measures of the effective exchange rate of Euroland, have been rather high, especially if one looks at the effective real exchange rate. As inflation is at very similar levels in the US and the Euro area, there is no need to adjust the dollar to euro rate for inflation differentials, but because the Euro zone also trades intensively with countries that have relatively high inflation rates (e.g. some countries in Central and Eastern Europe, Turkey, etc.), it is more important to downplay nominal exchange rate measures by looking at relative price and cost developments.

The fall of the dollar
The steady and orderly decline of the dollar from early 2002 to early 2004 against the euro, Australian dollar, Canadian dollar and a few other currencies (i.e., its trade-weighted average, which is what counts for purposes of trade adjustment), while significant, has still only amounted to about 10 percent.

There are two reasons why concerns about a free fall of the dollar should not be worth consideration. The first is that the US external deficit will stay high only if US growth remains vigorous. But if the US continues to grow strongly, it will also retain a strong attraction for foreign capital, which should support the dollar. The second reason is that the attempts by the monetary authorities in Asia to keep their currencies weak will probably not work.

The basic theories underlying the dollar to euro exchange rate:
Law of One Price: In competitive markets free of transportation cost barriers to trade, identical products sold in different countries must sell at the same price when the prices are stated in terms of the same currency.

Interest rate effects: If capital is allowed to flow freely, exchange rates become stable at a point where equality of interest is established.

The dual forces of supply and demand determine euro vs. dollar exchange rates. Various factors affect these two forces, which in turn affect the exchange rates:

The business environment: Positive indications (in terms of government policy, competitive advantages, market size, etc.) increase the demand for the currency, as more and more enterprises want to invest there.

Stock market: The major stock indices also have a correlation with the currency rates.

Political factors: All exchange rates are susceptible to political instability and anticipations about the new government. For example, political or financial instability in Russia is also a flag for the euro to US dollar exchange because of the substantial amount of German investments directed to Russia.

Economic data: Economic data such as labor reports (payrolls, unemployment rate and average hourly earnings), consumer price indices (CPI), producer price indices (PPI), gross domestic product (GDP), international trade, productivity, industrial production, consumer confidence etc., also affect fluctuations in currency exchange rates.

Confidence in a currency is the greatest determinant of the real euro-dollar exchange rate. Decisions are made based on expected future developments that may affect the currency. A EUR/USD exchange can operate under one of four main types of exchange rate systems:

Fully fixed exchange rates
In a fixed exchange rate system, the government (or the central bank acting on its behalf) intervenes in the currency market in order to keep the exchange rate close to a fixed target. It is committed to a single fixed exchange rate and does not allow major fluctuations from this central rate.

Semi-fixed exchange rates
Currency can move inside permitted ranges of fluctuation. The exchange rate is the dominant target of economic policy-making, interest rates are set to meet the target and the exchange rate is given a specific target.

Free floating
The value of the currency is determined solely by market supply and demand forces in the foreign exchange market. Trade flows and capital flows are the main factors affecting the exchange rate. A floating exchange rate system: Monetary system in which exchange rates are allowed to move due to market forces without intervention by national governments. For example, the Bank of England does not actively intervene in the currency markets to achieve a desired exchange rate level. With floating exchange rates, changes in market demand and supply cause a currency to change in value. Pure free floating exchange rates are rare - most governments at one time or another seek to "manage" the value of their currency through changes in interest rates and other controls.

Managed floating exchange rates
Governments normally engage in managed floating if not part of a fixed exchange rate system.
The advantages of fixed exchange rates are the disadvantages of floating rates:
Fixed rates provide greater certainty for exporters and importers and, under normal circumstances, there is less speculative activity - although this depends on whether the dealers in the foreign exchange markets regard a given fixed exchange rate as appropriate and credible.

Advantages of floating exchange rates
Fluctuations in the exchange rate can provide an automatic adjustment for countries with a large balance of payments deficit. A second key advantage of floating exchange rates is that it gives the government/monetary authorities flexibility in determining interest rates.

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Too Many Strategies, But Still Frustrated?

It is not too long ago when veteran traders used to draw trend lines using pencil and paper. Market data was sent by physical mail to them and there was no computer and trading desk. Were they really not able to perform by not using super analytical charting platforms? Were they all losers? I bet they were not only doing great, but compared to my fellow traders (Including me) they were absolutely sophisticated traders. I don't want to undermine anyone as we have many legend traders and hundreds of good traders who actually make money around the globe on daily basis. My argument is merely pointed at those traders who think that broken accounts is a result of them not really having the best strategy to trade in a safe and secure manner while at the same time having a one year outlook for reaching 1 million dollar, through a 10000 buck trading account.

Where a trading strategy is introduced as a reliable method of making money for traders, there are some questions that must be asked, to evaluate the accuracy of the given strategy:

*Is it a trend or a range market based strategy?

*If it works as a trend based strategy, what can the strategy offer to trade around range markets, and vice versa for the range market based strategy?

*Is it a day trading strategy or planned to signal longer term trading signals?

*If it is an Intraday trading strategy, how many hours are required and when exactly should I sit down and watch the screen?

*If it is a long term strategy, what is the estimated possible drawdown in pips?

*Is there any historical performance of trading using the given strategy in real accounts and if the answer is "YES" for how long? (don't rely on less than one year)

*Are there any money & risk management rules attached that are specifically tested on this particular strategy?

*What is the average/highest/lowest risk to award ratio of the last year's trades?

*Is there anyone who has used the strategy on a real account? (Be aware of marketing tactics and ask someone who is honest).

*What is the outcome of the trades for the above mentioned trader? Even if positive, don't necessarily trust that exact approach for yourself, because one cannot fit a common strategy with the same characteristics to every trader. In this case you need to test it yourself.

*Ask the developer about the psychological pressures that may come upon you while using that strategy on real accounts (We recommend to ask your mentor to analyze the strategy)

*Does it have an Exit and Stop Loss rule for different market situations?

*Ask the developer if you can get back to him occasionally to ask questions about some points that you don't really understand (don't make it 100 times a week cause he/she won't sell any strategy to you).

However, I know a couple of guys who experienced real damage and disappointment where they tried to believe the strategy given to them from the first day. So I am being serious when I say don't ever try to apply a new strategy on your real account, unless you have met an expert and he has given you the green light, or if you have just passed one year of continuous testing.

Final Words:

You may ask for how long? One year... it's too much...I can't wait...!! Well then you can try it, but count on it as a gamble...You know the gamble...Too many jack pots, nothing Hot Shots.

Let science make you wealthy step by step. Don't ever think you are smarter than any other trader because no one knows what is going to happen next. So it's better to be next to those wise traders who win, because they are disciplined and have spent a long time practicing before doing anything real on their money. Try to admit it if you are not sure enough about your ability, and try to solve the problems with patience and remember it is worth it if you make that million dollars three or even five years later, instead of losing what you got from hard work within just a couple of days.

Also, not to forget, forward any questions you might have on this article to email address : s.a.ghafari@iftc.ir and I will try to respond as soon as possible.
by S.A Ghafari

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OOooh My GOD!!!!!!!

Jaguar is proud to announce the all-new 2009 XF - a stunning four-door Jaguar that combines the style and performance of a sports car with the refinement, space and sophistication of a luxury sedan.

Scheduled to make its world debut at the 2007 Frankfurt International Motor Show in September, the new Jaguar XF is a reflection of the bold new design language that Jaguar will be using both now and in the future.

"As one of the most visually striking, technically sophisticated and driver-oriented sedan cars that Jaguar has ever produced, the XF clearly demonstrates the forward-looking focus that now defines the Jaguar brand," said Wayne Burgess, XF Senior Design Manager. "With its dramatic styling, powerful flowing lines and a distinctive front, the new XF looks like no other Jaguar . Yet it defines the new design language the company will be adopting for all future models."

The first impression of the new XF is its visual strength. It firmly emphasizes contemporary automotive style whilst maintaining Jaguar’s core values. The new XF is sporty, muscular and dynamic — made evident in its sweeping silhouette that was inspired by the new Jaguar XK sports car. There is a powerful grille, dramatic side window graphics and, of course, strong Jaguar rear haunches. The stance of the XF gives the car a ’ready to pounce’ look that suggests latent power and energy.

The contemporary design theme is continued inside the XF with an interior ambience that is enriched by wood, aluminum and leather presented in a very modern way, unlike any other car manufacturer. With its sophisticated instruments and calm interior mood lighting, the XF moves away from traditional styling to a contemporary, sporting luxury theme. This is emphasized by features such as the all-new JaguarDrive Selector TM, JaguarSense TM (an electronic control system that employs motion detecting sensors to activate certain vehicle features), unique phosphor blue interior lighting, and Bowers & Wilkins sound technology.

The new XF will be available in the US with a choice of two engines – a 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 and a 4.2-liter supercharged V8. In naturally-aspirated form, the XF develops 300bhp and 310 lb.-ft. of torque. The supercharged version uses a highly efficient rotor-type supercharger that develops 420bhp and 408 lb.-ft. of torque. Both engines combine effortless performance, unrivalled character, an impeccable pedigree, and have a classic Jaguar blend of power and refinement.


All-new 2009 Jaguar XF At-A-Glance Highlights

1. The XF is a four-door Jaguar that combines the style and performance of a sports car with the refinement, space and sophistication of a luxury sedan.

2. The exterior styling of the XF is the first result of Jaguar’s new design language in a sedan. With interior design that is the equal of the exterior in terms of crafted execution and visual excitement, the XF offers a truly contemporary, luxury environment.

3. The coupe-like lines of the XF belie the amount of space inside: there is room for five adults in comfort, generous interior stowage and a trunk capacity of 17.6 cu. ft. (500 liters), plus the opportunity to fold down the rear seats and add a further 14.8 cu. ft. (420 liters).

4. Jaguar craftsmanship adopts a sharp new edge on the XF. Sophisticated instrumentation, a touch-screen, modern materials and graphics complement new ‘surprise and delight’ features. Upon entry to the XF, the start button pulses, like a heartbeat. Start the engine and the JaguarDrive Selector TM rises into the palm of the hand, while rotating vents turn from their flush, ’parked’ position to their functional open position.

5. Improved torsional stiffness delivers refinement and dynamic performance – underpinning the driver-focused yet remarkably comfortable driving experience.

6. The XF will be available from launch in the U.S. with two different engines – 4.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8 and 4.2-liter supercharged V8 – all featuring Jaguar’s proven six-speed automatic transmission with steering-wheel-mounted paddles for manual gear selection (Jaguar Sequential Shift TM) .

7. Key driver aids on the XF include Electronic Brake Assist, Electronic Brakeforce Distribution, Anti-lock Braking System, Dynamic Stability Control, Cornering Brake Control and Engine Drag Torque Control. And, for the first time in a Jaguar, Understeer Control Logic which decelerates the car and helps to restore grip to the front wheels when required.

8. Three trim levels will be offered in the U.S. market – Luxury, Premium Luxury and Supercharged levels.

From its beginning as a manufacturer of motorcycle sidecars in 1922, Jaguar Cars has grown to become one of the world’s premier manufacturers of luxury sedans and sports cars and with that, one of the most recognized commercial brands. The company’s vision is simple: To produce beautiful fast cars that are desired the world over. The company operates two manufacturing plants in the United Kingdom and is fully engaged in environmental programs, community work and brand awareness exercises such as motorsports.

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2008 Porsche..So COOL man!!

As we are used by now, Porsche’s model follow a certain order, being restyled and updated every few years. And of course the Boxster is no exception. In 2008 Porsche will unveil a new Boxster with subtle styling changes and incremental boosts in power. It will come to compete with models like BMW Z4 and Audi TT.

The second generation Porsche was launched in 2004 and become available for model year 2005. The very face of the car with its new headlight design, the silhouette of the Boxster with its new, even more muscular line contours, the larger wheels, as well as the rear end with its new, even more striking joints and seams all look familiar and well-acquainted, but are nevertheless even clearer, firmer and more functional in style than before.

Comparing to 2005 Boxster, the new model will feature an updated front fascia and LED headlamps and also redesigned, and much rounder, air intakes. Also there will be new ear bumper and completely new LED taillights. These changes are also expected to appear in the next Cayman coupe.

As you already know in the 2007 Cayenne Porsche unveiled a new technology called Direct Fuel Injection (DFI) which is supposed to lower the fuel consumption of individual models by over eight percent (NEDC). In real driving conditions, savings of up to 15 percent are possible. The same DFI technology will be used on its entry-level roadster and coupe.

According to Porsche the DFI will increase the power on the new Boxster with 13%, so if will be to believe that, the 2008 Porsche will be powered by a Flat-6 engine delivering around 270 hp. This will help the new Boxster to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in 5.9 seconds and have a top speed of 165 mph.

The 2008 Boxster will feature new and larger wheels combined with 18-inch tyres, weight reduction on the various components as well as enhanced torsional and flexural stiffness give the Boxster even more sporting driving behaviour and larger safety reserves, with driving comfort remaining unchanged.

The 2008 Porsche Boxster will be launched at this year’s Frankfurt Motor Show.

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76 Rupiah ke SEMUA operator

How long have you been knowing about Short Message Services or most known as SMS?? How often do you use it a day??


At least 10 SMS a day, or even more (especialy teenagers).

The fact is the frequencies of doing SMS increase so fast when you're dating someone, you will like crazy and couldn't even imagine how many SMS that you have sent a day.


Pokonya gila deh, yang ada pasti kalian-kalian pada gak sadar berapa banyak uang yang kalian pake untuk ngebayar SMS-SMS itu. Tau2 pulsa di HP dah nguap, ya gak??


Even more crazy is th FACT about the prize. Harga per SMS yang dipatok oleh semua operator di Indonesia adalah : give me C to the U and the R and the A-N-G alias CURANG. Hmmm....pada gak tau kan??

OK, saya akan jelaskan dari awal semua info tentang SMS, sejauh yang saya tahu berdasar dari beberapa media informasi.


Di negara kita SMS dikenalkan oleh 3 operator seluler, yaitu PT. Excelcomindo Pratama (XL), PT. Telkomsel, dan PT. Indosat pada Mei 2001. Dan SMS mulai booming sejak masuknya sejumlah operator FWA (Fixed Wireless Access) tahun 2002-2003, serta diluncurkan kerjasama SMS lintas operator pada tahun berikutnya.


Akhir-akhir ini perbincangan mengenai SMS semakin marak, terutama mengenai tarif SMS lintas operator yang diduga way too expensive. Sekarang tarif SMS lintas operator adalah sebesar Rp.250 s/d Rp.350 per SMS. Berdasarkan penyelidikan Badan Regulasi Telekomunikasi Indonesia (BRTI), ternyata tarif SMS lintas operator sewajarnya adalah Rp.100 per SMS. Karena menurut BRTI, biaya produksi per SMS hanya sekitar Rp.76. Bahkan biaya yang dimaksud BRTI ini sudah memperhitungkan nilai investasi infrastruktur telekomunikasi, seperti, Base Transceiver Station (BTS), Base Station Control (BCS), Master Switching Control (MSC), Intellegent Network (IN), ect. Dengan kompetisi yang sangat ketat, harusnya tarif SMS bisa jauuuh lebih murah dari sekarang.

Kini, masalah tarif SMS ini sedang menjadi perhatian Komisi Pengawasan Persaingan Usaha, dan Badan Regulasi Telekomunikasi Indonesia. BRTI menduga adanya kerjasama atau perjanjian antar operator seluler, dimana operator bisa menetapkan tarif murah pada oengiriman SMS dalam satu operator dan lebih mahal (talah ditentukan) pada pengiriman SMS lintas operator.


Jadi, tarif SMS lintas operator pada sebagian besar operator kelihatan seragam. (Haduuuh.....rugi kan kita...)


Kalo benar demikian, selama ini mereka mengeruk keuntungan gila-gilaan dari para konsumen yang banyak mengunakan jasa SMS. Penetapan tarif lebih mahal itu daoat dikatakan memanfaatkan ketidaktahuan konsumen dengan bekerjasama sesama operator (Penipuan kan?!!).


Dalam hal ini sangat diperlukan keterbukaan dari para operator seluler yang sebenarnya selama ini sudah mengandung tanda taya besar dalam masyarakat. So, it's time to SPEAK UP.


Kalo mereka gak mau bertindak, ya kita konsumen yang hars bergerak. Apa mau kita terus-terusan dibodohi sama para pebisnis-pebisnis itu....Kalo biaya percakapan aja bisa 'perang' seharusnya hal tentang tarif SMS ini bisa jauh di 'perangkan' lagi..
Malah menurut saya...harunya biaya SMS itu gratis...kayak ngirim e-mail gituu...


Think about that guys...


So, let's broden our knowledge...we need information to fight this unfair treatment from them.


Thanks for reading my blog, have a wonderful day.

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