The Impact of Uncertainty on the Economy

A stable economic environment benefits lending, investment and consumption. Stability, however, is not easily quantified and depends heavily on how it is subjectively perceived. But what about instability and uncertainty? Credit Suisse has analyzed the conditions for uncertainty and its role in the market.
The Global Economic Policy Uncertainty index represents an objective measure for assessing stability. To create this index, a group of economists counts the number of articles published each month in a country's major media outlets where the terms "uncertainty"/"uncertain" and "economic"/"economy" appear in combination with at least one term from a political context, such as "initiative," "congress," "parliament" or "national bank.
" Using this same logic, Credit Suisse has prepared an economic policy uncertainty index for the German- and French-speaking media in Switzerland (see upper chart). Two things can be observed here. First, the number of reports on economic policy uncertainty published each month has increased drastically over the last five years. Second, political events triggering uncertainty have occurred almost every year since 2011.

Investment Outlook 2017: Harnessing Market Drivers

Thematic investing goes beyond the traditional investment approach focused on regions or sectors. The aim is to identify themes and trends that will be future market drivers. Three general investment themes are likely to dominate 2017: finding growth, looking for sources of yield, and risk diversification. Growth Opportunities despite Stagnation Economic growth is likely to remain modest in Europe and the US in the new year.

Nevertheless, there are some themes that promise to have considerable growth. Infrastructure has been neglected over the past ten years, in both the US and Europe. As a result, the Western world is facing a shortfall in infrastructure spending.
 In the US alone, this shortfall is estimated to total USD 1.7 trillion by 2025. Economic growth in the emerging markets is still far outperforming continue to outpace that of the developed markets. Although China's new economic model is leading to lower growth rates than in the past, consumption is still rapidly accelerating. As such, we We thus prefer consumer goods stocks in China and other emerging markets. Digitalization is changing consumer behavior around the world.
It is disrupting traditional consumption patterns and production processes.

SEC warns against investment in Bitcoin, Swisscoin, others

THE Securities and Exchange Commission, SEC, has warned Nigerians against the risk involved in investing in digital currencies such as Swisscoin, OneCoin and Bitcoin, as vehicles of investment. In a public notice on its website, SEC said that none of the individuals or companies promoting the use of the currencies is recognized by it or any other regulatory agency in the country. Such digital currencies, otherwise known as Cryptocurrency, is a digital asset designed to work as a medium of exchange using cryptography to secure the transactions and to control the creation of additional units of the currency. Bitcoin became the first decentralized cryptocurrency in 2009. 
The Commission, therefore, said such investments been promoted by the companies could be risky with possibility of loss of money by investors, while others could be outright fraudulent pyramid schemes.
 “Given that these instruments and the persons, companies or entities that promote the digital currencies have neither been authorized, nor any guidelines/regulations developed for them by any of the regulatory authorities in Nigeria, there is no protection available to users or investors in these virtual currencies from financial losses if the virtual currencies fail or the companies promoting them go out of business.
 “The public and consumers of financial services are further advised that before making any investment or entering into any financial services transaction they should ascertain that the entity with whom the investment or transaction is being made is authorized by the Commission or other financial services regulatory authority as applicable to provide such services.,” it said. It would be recalled that the Nigeria Insurance Deposit Commission, NDIC, in conjunction with the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, had recently set up a committee to study the trending “digital currency, ‘bitcoin. According to Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, Managing Director, NDIC, the Commission would look at the advantages and disadvantages of the currency and what it means for the payment system in Nigeria as well as safety and security of customers “We will also look at what it means for money laundering, anti corruption, crime and measurement of money /near money instrument for the economy.
 But we need a lot of education to do this and I am calling on you (media) to educate yourselves about all of this so you can educate the public,” he said. He said that a lot of Nigerians have already started patronising bitcoin, stressing that ‘it had started to creep in and nobody could stop it. He said that in Europe and the United States, it has gained ground and some of the leading banks in Europe have also adopted their own versions of bitcoins. “Some of the central banks have also adopted it and are seriously doing everything possible to bring in the emergence of these invisible products,” he added.

Laugh out Loud weekend #BYOB Edition @mr_eazi @lol_abuja

#LOL WEEKEND ABUJA
#LIFE IS EAZI #ABUJA
#Laugh out Loud 
#hosted by #CFR GANDOKI / MR EAZI
#BYOB #Music #DJ SNIPER #Date: #sun 26th Feb 2017 #Wuse 2 Abuja #HOSTED BY CHAPERON #GROUP #3M360 #party #partying #fun #instaparty #instafun #instagood #bestoftheday #crazy #friend #friends #besties #guys #girls #chill #chilling #kickit #kickinit #cool #love #memories #night #smile #music #funtime #funtimes #goodtime #goodtimes #happy

GET READY FOR THE FUNNIEST SHOW ON THE PLANET #LOL
#LAUGH OUT LOUDWEEKEND ABUJA #BYOB  #HOST #CFR #GUINNESS WORLD RECORD HOLDER #HON #GANDOKI (WORLDS FUNNIEST MAN) #MUSIC #MR EAZI #NEXTRATED
#MUSIC POLICY #DJ SNIPER #DATE  #28TH FEB 2017 #POWERED BY CHAPERON GROUP #3M360 #LOUD 08061630049 08055480836

AFRICAN TOURISM REVIEW : TOBIX RECREATIONAL GARDEN AND PARK ABUJA @TOBIXGARDEN

Tobix Recreational Park and Garden is easily the most exclusive hangout for people who love outdoor fun and serene relaxation in Abuja. It is a multi-purpose park and a unique events centre built in 2012.

The two-acre park is a tapestry of beautiful and functional garden features such as the ever-green lawns,badminton court,event spaces, walk ways, topiaries of different shapes, sculpture, waterfalls, fountains, ponds, rock gardens, gazebos of different sizes of exotic trees, palms and flowers, it also has a children’s play ground equipped with play toys. The park is known for its expansive space for guests and it beauty.

Located along the Banex-Gwarinpa Express Road, just opposite ALIBERT Furnitures, our location is indeed a perfect place for family picnics, individual and group hangouts as well as romantic getaways.

We are surrounded, by plush green vegetation, large serene atmosphere and enough car parking space for everyone. And we’re only 300 metres away from NEXT Cash and Carry Supermarket, just along the same road. This destination has something for everyone.

NEW G&D SMART BULBS

G&D Smart LED bulb is Nigeria's first portable and multi-functional power & money saving bulb, it can serve the functionality of an LED bulb, a handheld flashlight, a camping light, an emergency lantern and a power inverter. According to the company, the LED bulb that could revolutionize the very concept of providing lighting, as it is made using 18 LEDs. This allows the LED bulb to give a total lumen output of 900, which is equivalent to a 75 – 100 watt incandescent bulb or conventional bulb.

G&D LED bulb has life span of 40,000 hours lifeline  and promises a saving of 10-15 per cent more on energy and cost. Speaking to the Chairman of G&D smart bulbs,the parent company of the G&D construction brand said, “We are very pleased to launch G&D Smart Board. This is one of our best innovations yet, owing to the freedom of mobility and multiple functionality it offers. We believe that this innovation will lift every corner of the world out of darkness, sustainable. This little wonder bulb can light the world. The simplicity of its usage makes the bulb even more appealing to the user.”

#LOL LAUGH OUT LOUD WEEKEND ABUJA FEB 26TH 2017 @lol_abuja

LAUGH OUT LOUD Concert is a unique fun concept created by chaperon group laugh out loud weekends is aimed at changing the serotype Abuja long boring weekends through Comedy from the current Guinness world record holder CFR GANDOKI, Music From Mr Eazi   Finally  You Can  Bring Your Booze BYOB EDITION

LOL is an Annual event aimed at giving everyone an opportunity to experience & enjoy the full privileges of Chaperon LOL Luxury Lifestyle services, high end fun entertainment services, luxury event services, table reservations, prompt tailored services, unlimited access to exotic drinks, meals & excellent, free high speed Internet access, comfortable outdoor sit out lawn etc 

Crude oil climbs for fourth day for fresh 2016 high

Oil prices rose for a fourth straight session on Wednesday, with traders waiting to see if OPEC will make good on its promises to cut output in the new year.

On the New York Mercantile Exchange, light, sweet crude futures for delivery in February CLG7, +0.37%  rose 31 cents, or 0.6%, to $54.21 a barrel. If it closes at that level, it’ll be the highest settlement price for a front-runner contract since June 2015.

February Brent crude LCOG7, +0.59%  on London’s ICE Futures exchange climbed 34 cents, or 0.6%, to $56.42 a barrel.

Most market participants are waiting to see if major oil producers inside and outside the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries will deliver on pledges to curtail production beginning next month. The deal, if carried out as planned, should reduce global supply by about 2%.

Venezuela, an OPEC member whose economy has suffered greatly due to low oil prices, on Tuesday committed to cutting 95,000 barrels a day in line with the pact.

While market participants are at present optimistic that participating nations will abide by the pact, there is still a degree of skepticism about how closely and for how long producers will comply with individual quotas.

here is why you should never buy and hold gold

Buying and holding a commodity like gold may be the most ignorant strategy ever…

That’s a heresy to some gold “experts” who think they can predict its price direction.

But here’s the cold hard truth: The market doesn’t care about what you, I, or any “expert” thinks should happen.

To make money from gold, you’re either on the right side or the wrong side of the price trend.

Today, I’m going to show you how to be “right” when investing in gold…

Here's why stocks have been on a tear since Trump's election

Stocks are on a tear, and the US dollar is rising — all since Donald Trump was elected the 45th US president.

A month after the election, we've taken a closer look at how markets have moved since then as well as some idea of why those moves have happened.

We put together a collection of charts illustrating some of the biggest moves in the weeks since Election Day.

For the charts showing corporate stocks, a red line on the chart indicates closing time on Election Day.

For yields, currencies, and gold, which see extensive overnight trading, the line shows midnight of November 9, around which time it became clear that Trump would win the election.

5 TECH ITEMS YOU SHOULD NEVER BUY IN LAGOS TRAFFIC

Due to the notoriety of Lagos Traffic, many vendors have taken advantage of selling all sorts of items. You can buy almost anything on Lagos highways. Lagosians are already used to this because after a hectic day at work, they may be unable to go to the market. Hence, they resort to patronise these vendors. The truth is you don’t have to buy everything from these street sellers in Lagos because you may regret patronising them later especially if you have the knack for buying gadgets. This is because the standard of these items are very low and nothing to write home about counterfeit. i gather 5 of these tech gadgets you should never buy in Lagos traffic.

Phone Charger/ battery

Phone chargers and battery are meant to have ampere to make it compatible with your phone. You can either buy a 1 amp charger or 2.1 amp charger. If you buy the wrong charger, your phone may explode. The fact is these items sold on the street don’t have any of these features. These chargers are just produced with the mindset that it will work with any device. This is impossible. It is either the charger is too slow or won’t work at all. The same for batteries.

Earpiece/headphones

This is the least item you should think of buying in traffic. The earpiece/headphones are write-offs and fake. If you don’t want to spend N250.00k every day, you should save money to buy an original one.

Phone

Yes, you can a phone on the road. If you buy these phones, you will not be allowed to test it whether it is working properly or not. The attraction is just that these phones are very cheap. Even when you buy these phones in traffic, you will not have time to peruse it.

Power bank

It is good to own a Power bank especially if you are travelling. However, you should not buy these banks at motor parks and in traffic because it won’t work. You can either order online or go to a store.

Memory Card/Flash drive

Flash drives or memory card are used for transferring files and data. So, if you don’t want to lose your files, be mindful of where you buy them.

14 things successful people do over holiday weekends

Thanksgiving is almost here, and a lot of people have taken a few days off from work to travel, spend time with family, or just relax and recharge. 

At this point, most successful people have planned out (or at least thought about) what they'll do over the next three days.

"Successful people recognize how important it is to take advantage of a long weekend to refuel their passions and recharge their batteries," says Michael Kerr, an international business speakerand author of "The Humor Advantage."

They work extra hard the days leading up to a holiday weekend in order to maximize their leisure time, adds Lynn Taylor, a national workplace expert and the author of "Tame Your Terrible Office Tyrant: How to Manage Childish Boss Behavior and Thrive in Your Job."

They also compartmentalize any work-related tasks that slip into their days off, separating them from their coveted leisure time. "They know that if the two blend into each other, they'll likely feel cheated afterward," she says.

Planning ahead for a holiday weekend is important because you don't want to squander the relatively rare opportunity to decompress from the office.

Taylor explains: "These extended weekends are different from the regular weekend because you know you have extra time to relax, tie up loose ends personally, catch up with important people in your life, or get ahead on a project. And time is a nonrenewable resource. How you spend it should be consistent with what you need to accomplish short- and long-term to be content."

Not sure how to make the most of the next few days? We've got some ideas.

Here are 14 things successful people do before and over holiday weekends:

#END SICKLE CELL CONCERT #TODAY 19TH LAGOS #LEKKI #2PM

Don't miss this HEALTH -FUN orientating event for anything #endsicklecellinourgeneration2016 loads of fun awaits you so come with your friends as they will be free genotype test, top Naija DJs, Vjs and artistes performance, raffles, trade-fair and games for the kids,

 date is 19th this Saturday, 12noon - 6pm
Admission 🎫 is free

For Space/stores and other enquiries
Call Mic'l Babs on 09078296333.
SEE YOU THERE

Trending New Music: FOR THE GIRLS @miclbabs

kindly listen to this brand new tune  titled  :For the Girls by Mic’L

iTunes Link: http://msclvr.co/AQaWfl

Apple Music Link: http://itunes.apple.com/album/id1171448244

Amazon Link : https://www.amazon.com/Girls-feat-Victoriouz-Icon/dp/B01M3XR2K6/

Deezer: http://www.deezer.com/album/14452382

Tidal: http://tidal.com/ng/store/album/66787343

Yandex: https://music.yandex.ru/album/3900137/track/32051218

END SICKLE CELL IN OUR GENERATION Campaign #Nov 9th Lagos @4SIGHTPRODUCTIONS

Why don’t we speak enough about Sickle Cell? Research shows that Nigeria has the largest cases of Sickle Cell in the world making up to 8% of infant mortality rates in the country. To put it plainly many children to do not live to see their 10th birthday, the genetic disorder occurs when persons containing sickle cell trait pass on their genes to their children leaving them susceptible to Anemia, delayed growth, frequent infections and strokes. Asides that there is a huge stigma attached to the disorder and we want to push back against that with the help of NGO Nirvana Initiative who specialise in educating people about Sickle Cell Disease (SCD) at our event- ‘End Sickle Cell in our Generation’. 

Nirvana Initiative provides a safe haven for sickle cell individuals so they do not have to feel alone knowing they have a community there to pray with them, laugh and support them in all their endeavors. Nirvana Initiative will be providing free genotype testing for 200 people on the day 50 of which will be free. They will also provide free drugs for warriors (a term used to describe those living with sickle cell) finally there would be free counselling for those who feel it may be required.