UK facing VAT rise?

Fathertedy

Eellogofusciouhipoppokunu wrote: »

Do silver bugs squeeze tennis balls to get those strong hands?

If you're not selling on the peaks and buying on the troughs of what is a very volatile asset class, then you're a mug punter.

I buy every month well a little more on the big dips but in the long run it will not make much difference. While silver still has not passed its nominal $50 high from over 30yrs ago I will keep buying very month.

Can you name me any other asset class that is still as cheap as it was 30 yrs ago? No, silver is still the most undervalued bargain in history.

Fathertedy

ALIBOBSY wrote: »

As someone who had a background in science when younger, and now is fascinated by new innovations and research I believe the idea that solar power will be the main "on mass" producer of power in the future, particularly in less sunny climes like our own is unlikely to be correct.

I agree silver is likely to climb in price in the new few years (and if I had any spare cash I would be investing myself lol), and the number of electronic items which rely on silver will of course contribute to that. But apart from places like the middle east, southern Europe and states like California I cannot see solar and wind power being useful for mass energy production. For personal use, small scale, absolutely. For me the technology that looks most likely to step into the hole in energy production will be hot fusion generators.

Iter is based on proven science and will be the first prototype power station to determine the viability of large scale nuclear fusion and will be up and running by 2020. If it is successful-and it is strongly believed it will be, there are already plans to build the first "demonstration" plant to open in the 2030's. So within around 30 years we could have large scale energy production from almost limitless fuel, well before the oil runs dry.

There are also other researchers all working on the problem of energy production and even within solar power the panels get more and more efficient so getting higher and higher power returns from the same sized panels.

So will silver rise? Yep I would say so. But don't rely on solar as being the main reason why.

Ali x

Very interesting Ali.

You are right "even within solar power the panels get more and more efficient so getting higher and higher power returns from the same sized panels." So with better panels even the UK and other places around the world can use more solar before 2030 which is a long way off to be fair.

Have you seen the figures how much China is increasing their solar power production every year?


"But apart from places like the middle east, southern Europe and states like California "

You missed out on China, India and Japan which are far more sunny than other countries.

Fathertedy

Since the disaster in Japan, they are now saying every new building has to have enough solar panels to care for its energy needs. They are talking about slowly making it all buildings around the country. But then Japan has very powerful sunshine compared to the UK.

so does China and India both have over a billion population. That is a lot of solar panels needed.

Eellogofusciouhipoppokunu

Fathertedy wrote: »

I buy every month well a little more on the big dips but in the long run it will not make much difference.

You're just averaging up your holding. I don't want to be patronising but there is nothing wrong with investing in a single asset class if you become an expert in it and 'day trade' on the peaks and troughs. I've made a large sum day trading in a single share (PFD) that is as volatile as silver or currency or other traditionally volatile assets.

If you you do is pile all your money into a single asset class, regardless of whether it rises or falls, then you're a mug punter.

I've <snipped> the rest of your post about silver as it's not relevent to your investment strategy. I'm not disputing whether it's a good buy or not, I'm disputing whether your investment strategy is correct. I don't believe it is.

You're investing in a PM as though you're investing in Marks and Spencer shares or other 'stable' equities. The difference is that Silver doesn't pay dividends. The strategy for a volatile commodity is to day trade on the peaks and troughs.

nollag2006

vivatifosi wrote: »

... Looks like it will be on the front page of tomorrow's Telegraph ..

But it wasn't.

This was:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/personalfinance/borrowing/mortgages/9715568/Cut-price-mortgage-deal-starts-price-war.html

Cut price mortgage deal starts price war




:T:T:T

robmatic

Fathertedy wrote: »

Since the disaster in Japan, they are now saying every new building has to have enough solar panels to care for its energy needs. They are talking about slowly making it all buildings around the country. But then Japan has very powerful sunshine compared to the UK.

so does China and India both have over a billion population. That is a lot of solar panels needed.

Good grief. Japan, like the UK, is fairly temperate. Plenty of rain and snow.

Zero_Sum

Wookster wrote: »

It would go down about as well as a lead balloon.

Rather than raising taxes, real efficiency cuts are needed. I don't mean the tinkering we're getting overall, I mean the Michael Gove style cuts in his department. The fact is that much much more can be down with much less.

There are bucket loads of unemployed accountants out there (accounting having been badly hit in the recession) - they should be deployed into councils and government departments to find and eliminate waste.

Are you suggesting councils employee more back office staff?
I work for a local authority & believe me, if anything there are way way too many accountants.

Zero_Sum

The_White_Horse wrote: »

i am saying that if the money runs out and they stop getting paid - they may suddenly realise that there is no magic money tree with never ending funds!

and when someone sets fire to your house, no one will come to put it out or arrest those responsible

Zero_Sum

grizzly1911 wrote: »

It might not make it harde rto feed themselves but if they want to smell nice or wipe their bums they pay VAT. If they want some orange juice they pay VAT if they have a headache they pay VAT. If they want the odd chocolate something they pay VAT.

If you look at a families grocery bill a number of non food "necessary" items are VAT rated.

Perhaps we should zero rate more necessary items and bang up the VAT on consumer electronics (not white goods) and media contracts.

Have been saying similar for year. There's far too many things that are non VAT that should be (e.g. cake & biscuits), and many VAT items that probably shouldn't be.

Then there's the things that just don't make sense

Paper books - Zero rated
E-books - 20%

Dried fruit (cake mix) - Exempt
Dried fruit (health food) - 20%

The whole VAT rules need to be re-written imho

Zero_Sum

The_White_Horse wrote: »

One of the biggest problems with the public sector and benefit brigade is they genuinely have no understanding of money, or where it comes from.

and how do the private sector get in a position to create wealth?
Its the public sector that provides the infrastructure to enable them to do so. Both sectors rely on each other. Get rid of one, you damage the other.