This month, Rabobank was the first Dutch bank to lower its interest rate on saving accounts below 1 percent. Other banks are expected to follow promptly, considering that over 25% of all outstanding European government bonds currently yield a negative interest rate. For the first time in history, there are companies borrowing money at negative rates.... »
Three Things You Should Avoid When Reaching for Yield
March 30 2015
Olav Dirkmaat
How a Single Word by Yellen Unleashed the Largest Volatility in 20 Years and What It Means for Your Pension
March 23 2015
Last Thursday, the Federal Reserve published the minutes of their latest meeting. These minutes are a careful exercise in ‘copying and pasting;’ only a few words are changed or deleted each time. Last week the market was obsessed with one single word, waiting anxiously whether or not it would be removed.... »
Olav Dirkmaat
Gold Mining Stocks: Pros and Cons
March 10 2015
The question that just keeps coming back; should I invest in (physical) gold or gold mining stocks? Which option is better? What are the pros and cons of investing in gold mining stocks?... »
Olav Dirkmaat
You Have Been Warned! "Nobody Expects a Disaster Similar to 2008 to Happen"
March 2 2015
Former baseball player Yogi Berra was right when he said: “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” That is why I smiled from ear to ear when I read the following sentence in the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad: “In the short term, nobody expects a disaster similar to 2008, when stock exchanges collapsed worldwide.”... »
Olav Dirkmaat
