New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/09/2011 -- China's Economy: China ran its first monthly trade deficit in six years in March.

Walter Parker Group is specifically designed to provide value orientated services in the areas of strategic planning, business development, and mergers and acquisitions. We assist our clients in building equity by improving the effectiveness and efficiencies of their organizations.

With imports of commodities surging in February, China swung to a trade deficit of $7.24 billion in March from a surplus of $7.61 billion in February. The cumulative trade surplus for the first quarter of 2010 was down 77% from a year earlier, to $14.49 billion.

In a parallel move, which will have a far reaching impact on the yuan is that China is encouraging exporters to invoice in the renminbi and is setting up systems to allow trade payments in renminbi.

Walter Parker Group's Closer Look At China's Economy: New trade corridors may soon require new means of payment. When the Chinese and Brazilian Presidents met last year they agreed to use their own currencies to settle more of their bilateral trade, rather than invoicing in dollars.

Hong Kong is the main beneficiary of this policy as the renminbi gains acceptance abroad. It has the natural advantage of a renminbi deposit base, well-established trade links with China and a head-start in developing
renminbi financial products.

Since February, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority has made it easier for its banks to process trade transactions in renminbi, to develop renminbi based financial products such as bonds, and to extend loans to and take deposits from local companies in renminbi.

China's stock market regulator has allowed select investors to trade equity-based derivatives in their home market. The introduction of index futures is part of a broader transformation of the mainland stock markets this year: short selling and margin trading were introduced on a trial basis on March 31.

Index futures investors must pass an examination and meet tough criteria for educational background, credit history, monthly salary and liquid assets. Initial response to index futures has been overwhelming. To attract more foreign direct investment, China revamped its regulations to improve conditions for foreign companies while restricting funding for environmentally-unsound projects.

Under the new rules, FDI in high-tech industries, services sector, energy-efficient and environmental protection projects is encouraged, especially in the central and western regions. Qualified foreign-funded companies will also be allowed to go public, issue corporate bonds or medium-term bills in China.

These regulations come as FDI flow rose to $23.44 billion in the first quarter of 2010 bucking the downturn during the past eight months. China's foreign exchange reserves hit a new high of US$2.4471 trillion by the end of March, up 25.25% year on year, according to the People's Bank of China.

Walter Parker Group is a specialty merger and acquisitions advisory firm providing unmatched expertise to companies seeking guidance in confidential merger and acquisition transactions, business valuations, financing, asset divestitures, joint ventures and equity investments. Our professionals have extensive operational experience, in a variety of industries, in the execution of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and transaction advisory to private and publicly held companies.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 03/09/2011 -- Investing funds offshore of one's home country, there is an immediate benefit of protection against the troubles of the country's market or currency. Offshore investing can take many forms. Alternative investment vehicles often include a component of offshore investments, such as offshore real estate, or offshore farm land and agricultural production, or even offshore gold and silver storage.

Walter Parker Group is a specialty merger and acquisitions advisory firm providing unmatched expertise to companies seeking guidance in confidential merger and acquisition transactions, business valuations, financing, asset divestitures, joint ventures and equity investments. Our professionals have extensive operational experience, in a variety of industries, in the execution of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and transaction advisory to private and publicly held companies.

By combining forward-looking planning and advisory with traditional merger and acquisition services, Walter Parker Group helps clients create, measure, and manage business value. Business value that is then realized through an appropriately planned exit strategy.

Offshore investing once was for the ultra-wealthy, those sporting net worth's well North of $10 million. Now almost anyone can move funds into the more exciting and potentially profitable world of offshore investments. Knowledge of how to enjoy the advantages of offshore investing is much more expensive and rare than with standard home country investing however.

As an alternative investment, moving funds out of your country of origin has largely been a winning trade for the past decade when calculated with currency fluctuations. China, Brazil, and India have all offered higher returns during bulls markets then the U.S. stock indexes over the past decade for instance. While these markets can be played with ETF's, there are several key shares that must be purchased using offshore investing houses.

Some of the key advantages of offshore investing within an alternative investment framework include:

Higher potential returns than the domestic market

Much broader range of stocks to choose from

Often better pricing than domestic ETF's.

Early availability of smaller capitalized issues

Protection against single market dependence in real estate, stocks, weather effects, political effects, and currency devaluations

Much like domestic investing, offshore money management can steer towards main line investing in big projects or companies, or more towards alternatives to the main companies. While the risk can be greater with alternative investments, the rewards can be significantly higher and come much faster with a systematic approach to evaluating alternative investing ideas within an offshore portfolio.

Here are 6 ideas for moving funds offshore and potentially enjoying high alternative investment returns:

1. Offshore direct company investment.

2. Offshore private placements.

3. Offshore currency investment (FOREX).

4. Offshore fund investment.

5. Offshore gold and silver storage.

6. Offshore investment account denominated in a local currency, such as USA Dollar, Australian Dollar, Singapore Dollar, or GBP Pound.

These 6 offshore options for investing can broaden a portfolio. Instead of only being dependent on major stock indexes, the above investments offer security against single market dynamics. Not only is there potential for higher returns, but potential for avoiding massive loses if all of your investments are based on one market and are susceptible to political, economic or natural disasters.

Walter Parker Group is specifically designed to provide value orientated services in the areas of strategic planning, business development, and mergers and acquisitions. We assist our clients in building equity by improving the effectiveness and efficiencies of their organizations.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/28/2011 -- Balanced investment strategy is perhaps the most followed and successful investment strategy for portfolio management. Its primary aim is to keep a balance between investment risk and return. A balanced investment strategy combines the merit of aggressive and defensive investing strategies.

Aggressive investment strategy involves investing in high return high risk investments with the sole purpose of maximizing return from investments. It involves allocating major portion of portfolio capital to invest in equities, equity based funds and highly volatile markets. Investors following aggressive investment strategy often look for comparatively short-term profiting and wish to invest more in growth stocks, and small caps and mid cap stocks. Advantages of aggressive investing include quick profit, high return over investment and no need of large portfolio capital. It can work really well for experienced investors and investors who are very strict in their money management. Disadvantages include high risk, high volatility in total portfolio value and no surety of profit. It less supports novice investors and investor looking for monthly earnings or living costs.

Defensive investment strategy is just opposite of aggressive investment; it's purpose is to preserve the capital and ensure some return from investments. It involves investing in low profit low risk investments like bonds, money market funds, treasury notes, and equities with minimum price volatility and good dividends. Defensive investors look for long-term profits and/or monthly earnings. Advantages of defensive investment strategy include reduced risk, predictable income, better investment planning and diversification of portfolio. This strategy mainly suits beginners. Disadvantages include low return from investments and requirement of high capital investments.

In balanced investment strategy, the investor tries to keep a balance between his aggressive and defensive behaviors. It involves balancing of both return and risk by diversifying investments in both high return high risk and low return low risk investments. Balanced investors often follow a portfolio capital allocation rule telling how much to invest in equities and bonds and how much to invest in treasury notes, precious metals and funds. Usually one portion of portfolio is actively managed and other portion is left to grow automatically. Balanced investment strategy can be slightly aggressive or slightly defensive with respect to investments made.

The greatest advantage of balanced investment strategy is the diversification of portfolio and hedging against high total portfolio value volatility. It is good for investors looking for medium-term (3 to 5 years) profits. Other advantages include flexibility in portfolio management, better results with better capital investments, (almost) predictable income and manageable portfolio risk. Balanced investment strategy support both beginners and experienced investors and can be an option for monthly earnings for living.

If this method of investing interests you, work with your Walter Parker Group financial advisor to learn more about how SRI options can work in conjunction with your overall investment strategy. There are a number of mutual funds to choose from that can be incorporated into an existing or proposed asset allocation strategy.

Walter Parker Group Summary
Buying what you know is certainly relevant, practical investing advice. However, only buying what you know introduces risk to your portfolio: Many of the biggest returns will be made from companies you have never heard of and do NOT understand. Investors may be wise to invest in companies that they can learn about instead of sticking only with the tried and true of what they supposedly "know."

Exploring alternative approaches such as learning basic technical analysis and following recent IPOs will help broaden investors' horizons. by Stephan Abraham

Walter Parker Group is a specialty merger and acquisitions advisory firm providing unmatched expertise to companies seeking guidance in confidential merger and acquisition transactions, business valuations, financing, asset divestitures, joint ventures and equity investments. Our professionals have extensive operational experience, in a variety of industries, in the execution of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and transaction advisory to private and publicly held companies.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm

New York City, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 02/22/2011 -- Walter Parker Group is specifically designed to provide value orientated services in the areas of strategic planning, business development, and mergers and acquisitions. We assist our clients in building equity by improving the effectiveness and efficiencies of their organizations.

Legendary investor Warren Buffett, among others, is notorious for telling investors to buy what they know. Basically, Buffett and his enthusiastic followers suggest investing in companies that you really understand or at least know enough about them to be able to explain how they make money - i.e. the company's business model. Though it's certainly not without merit, buying what you know is not necessarily an investment strategy that will yield the most investing success. Here we explore some of these limitations and suggest that investors might really be better served by buying what they can learn.

Many new investors will find it difficult to delve into the business models or 10-k statements of publicly traded companies for some obvious reasons, the most important being time and/or lack of knowledge. Not many of us can listen consistently to companies' earnings calls and even if we could, we might not really appreciate what is being discussed. Truly understanding a company's balance sheet and overall financial direction requires specialized knowledge that most investors do not immediately possess. There are, however, many online resources that can help shorten the learning curve on gaining knowledge about a company you own or have intentions of buying.

A pitfall in just investing in companies that you are comfortable with is the opportunity cost of not owning companies not as prominent. Most investors know that Exxon Mobil sells gasoline and that Johnson and Johnson make a variety of pharmaceutical and health and beauty products. A valid argument can be made that this companies bring predictability and help mitigate risk in one's portfolio; however, the fact remains that the biggest gains from stocks typically come from companies in the earlier phases of growth instead of the latter phases.
Typically, big well known companies cannot grow at the pace they did when they first became publicly traded. So then the idea is to learn about these companies before they experience their biggest growth and consequently their most explosive stock price appreciation. Cisco Systems and Microsoft are two of the most recognized technology companies on the planet. Microsoft went public in the '80s. Back then, not many people really understood "Windows" or "email," which have become essential and necessary in everyone's lives. In the early '90s, who knew what the internet was, much less that it would eventually be used without wires and in conjunction with routers? Cisco systems certainly did, and learning conceptually about this company and pulling the trigger would have earned huge returns on an investment. There are also online sites that help navigate thru some of the most recent companies and potential high growth stocks. No one should go out and invest solely into small, growing companies or recent IPOs, but learning about these companies could make you a more balanced investor.

Another tenet of investing purists is the utmost importance placed on fundamental analysis. Metrics such as forward price-to-earnings ratios, book value, price-to-earnings growth rates and free cash flow are just a few of the many data points used to determine if a stock is worth owning. Most of this analysis is based on assumptions at least one year into the future. Using these metrics, fundamentalists and analysts try to peg a "target" price one year into the future.

Instead of trying to figure out what all this jargon really means, why not look at a picture of what a company has actually done instead of what it is projected to do? A stock's chart tells you what it is valued at the moment you pull it up. Many stock technicians, those who focus on a stock price intensely, would probably agree with the old adage that a picture is truly worth a thousand words. Investors should consider using technical analysis for companies they do not "know" or really have no time or desire to learn either. Doing some homework and learning basic stock charting trends along with terms such as moving averages, breakout and candlesticks can open new doors to stock analysis. (To learn more, check out our Technical Analysis Tutorial.)

Walter Parker Group Summary
Buying what you know is certainly relevant, practical investing advice. However, only buying what you know introduces risk to your portfolio: Many of the biggest returns will be made from companies you have never heard of and do NOT understand. Investors may be wise to invest in companies that they can learn about instead of sticking only with the tried and true of what they supposedly "know."
Exploring alternative approaches such as learning basic technical analysis and following recent IPOs will help broaden investors' horizons. by Stephan Abraham

Walter Parker Group is a specialty merger and acquisitions advisory firm providing unmatched expertise to companies seeking guidance in confidential merger and acquisition transactions, business valuations, financing, asset divestitures, joint ventures and equity investments. Our professionals have extensive operational experience, in a variety of industries, in the execution of mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures and transaction advisory to private and publicly held companies.

For more information on this press release visit: http://www.releasewire.com/press-releases/release-3.htm