Property investors are increasing the size of their portfolios in the UK and elsewhere, as the appetite for alternative investments continues to take hold, according to AAA.
Boston, MA, USA, June 16, 2012 — Property investors are increasing the size of their portfolios in the UK and elsewhere, as the appetite for alternative investments continues to take hold, according to Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).
The alternative investment advocacy group has cited figures from Paragon Mortgages, a lender in the UK, which claims that the average property investor, who buys property to rent out, has increased the size of their portfolio to 14.1 properties in the second quarter of the year. This is up from an average of 12.9 properties in the first quarter of 2012.
“These figures suggest that each buy-to-let investor has bought more than one new property since the beginning of the year, which is a major increase in portfolio size and an indicator that real estate is back on the list of safe investments,” stated Anthony Johnson, AAA’s analysis partner.
As well as the above figures, Paragon’s survey also found that 21 per cent of the investors questioned said they were planning to add to their portfolios in the third quarter of the year. This was up from just 18 per cent a year ago.
AAA claims that real estate is a strong investment at the moment, as the rental market all over the Western world Is extremely active, with many young professionals still looking for rental property. The US real estate market is also heading for recovery once more, according to Mr Johnson who highlighted the benefits of alternative investments of all kinds.
“We are seeing more and more people put their cash into tangible asset classes, such as real estate, timberland, gold and even art and antiques, as they search for alternatives to the volatile equity markets.”
AAA said that timberland is particularly ethical choice for alternative investors, with firms like Greenwood Management, in Brazil, running sustainably managed plantations of non-native trees.
About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.
Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com
If you’ve run out of fresh ideas and do not know how to keep the scene in your backyard going, why not consider some of the following product selections. They will certainly give your garden a new look. Whether you want to mix and match products or give your garden that relaxing feel, don’t scratch your hair out of frustration. Just look for the following products and watch your hard labor come to fruition. Of course no one said beautifying your garden would be easy. As in any designing project, planning well is always harder than its execution. Get your pen and pad out and start planning with some of these products in mind.
Garden Stones
Decorative garden stones are ideal for giving your outdoor space a more elegant, interesting look while still being practical. Garden stones come in a wide variety of different sizes and shapes, and many offer a motif that might be near and dear to your heart, like the “Gather” garden stone, designed with colorful butterflies, the“Love Blooms Here” garden stone, complete with fairies, butterflies and flowers in an ivory finish, or the “Love” Garden stone, which features text, boldly colored dragonflies and water lily blooms. You can pick one type of garden stone and use several of them throughout your space to create a walkway or you can pick different ones to mix and match throughout your garden.
Urn Fountains
Urn fountains are a subdued yet noticeable addition to any garden. Urn fountains are made from faux-stone materials that look surprisingly real up close, and the graceful curves and shape of the fountain, along with the delicate stream of water emanating from the fountain are sure to give your garden a relaxing feel.
Acorn Fountains
Acorn fountains have a traditional look much like the alabaster fountains you probably grew up seeing in your neighbors or grandmother’s garden. Made from ivory alabastrite, acorn fountains look just like real stone, and the bright, vibrant color is sure to get the attention of visitors. Place an acorn fountain in the middle of your garden as a marvelous centerpiece. Not only will the fountain be beautiful, but the added visual interest will really make the colors of your flowers and plants pop.
Wind Chimes
Wind chimes are a beautiful, soothing addition to your garden or outdoor space. Wind chimes come in a variety of different materials and styles. The most common type is classic aluminum wind chimes, which produce soft, gentle tones throughout the day and night. If you’re looking for something more decorative, consider acrylic hummingbird chimes, which are adorned with colorful hummingbirds. For the ocean lover, acrylic dolphin wind chimes can bring a bit of the sea right to your own backyard. You can also add delicate rhythmic sounds to your garden by adding natural or coated bamboo chimes to your garden. If you have a very large outdoor area, consider mixing and matching different types of wind chimes or buying multiple sets.
Antique-Style Ivory or Sage Duck Décor
Adding an antique-style ivory or sage duck statue to your garden is a great way to add a bit of color and whimsy to your space. The weathered finish of the statue gives your wood duck a delightful old-time feel, similar to those found in the gardens of yesteryear. Choose just one or two duck statues, or if you have a small pond or fountain, purchase multiple ducks to make a charming outdoor scene for your garden. You can even put other animal statues like roosters or chickens nearby to give your area a bit of a wild farm feel. Don’t spend your money on antique statues from consignment shops and flea markets when you can buy high-quality new ones that will last longer for just a fraction of the cost.
Barnyard Birdhouse
What garden would be complete without singing birds? Adding the barnyard birdhouse to one of your nearby trees with area-appropriate food and water will definitely draw beautiful avian creatures right to your home. Large enough for a small family of birds, the barnyard birdhouse will add a rustic look to your garden.
Blue Floral Planters
If you have herbs, vegetables or flowers that you prefer to grow in planters rather than in the ground, planters painted in a Delft style are perfect for almost any space because the vibrant Delft blue and crystal clear white will match anything you put in them. You can choose to buy blue floral planters in a variety of different sizes and with or without a drain hole depending on your needs.
Butterfly Garden Stakes
Garden stakes are purely decorative items that bring extra life and color to your garden. No garden is truly finished until there are beautiful butterflies floating around, but luckily, you can add them yourself! Butterfly garden stakes come in a translucent red color that catches the sun and makes them glimmer in the light. Try adding butterfly garden stakes along walkways or within groups of plants that need a burst of color. Butterfly garden stakes can also be used as decorative reminders to prune or trim certain items in your garden the next day or week.
Bullfrog Garden Solar Light
If you want to keep your garden glowing at night without the cost of expensive solar or electric lights, bullfrog garden solar lights can do the job while adding a fun, whimsical style to your garden. Bullfrog garden solar lights are made with a high-quality poly-resin for durability in all conditions.
There you have it, affordable, useful, durable and stylish decor that’ll beautify your garden. Hopefully these ideas and great products have livened up your day as they will certainly lighten up your garden for days, months, even years. Most of all you can get all these products at affordable prices. For more decorative products and ideas to beautify your garden, visit Affordable home decor.
Amazon rainforest deforestation rates have fallen to their lowest levels ever recorded and FRA is attributing this partly to the creation of sustainable forestry plantations in Brazil.
Seattle, United States, June 16, 2012 — Amazon rainforest deforestation rates have fallen to their lowest levels ever recorded and Forestry Research Associates (FRA) is attributing this partly to the creation of sustainable forestry plantations in Brazil.
New figures from the National Institute for Space Research in Brazil show that deforestation has reached the lowest levels since records began more than 20 years ago, and the results are being published just a fortnight before the Rio+20 Earth Summit.
In the 12 months to 31 July 2011, some 6,418 square km of forests were destroyed, which is the smallest area since 1988. The rate of deforestation has actually dropped by 75 per cent since 2004 and FRA, along with many other analysis organisations attributes much of the success to the measures brought in by the Brazilian government to try to limit deforestation.
Brazilian President, Dilma Rousseff, said the government was largely responsible for the improvement. She said, “This reduction is impressive; it is the result of changes in society, but it also stems from the political decision to inspect, as well as from punitive action by government agencies.”
FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins, said that the government’s measures have had a big effect. “An example is their move to discourage the steel industry from using illegally logged timber for the production of charcoal. Any firms that did so would not have been eligible for state handouts, so they all turned to sustainable plantations, such as those run by Greenwood Management and other similar investment firms, to source their charcoal.”
FRA claims that this means the market for sustainably produced timber and charcoal is growing, which is great news for anyone investing in timberland in Brazil.
Greenwood and other plantation management firms offer people outside Brazil the chance to invest in non-native timber plantations that help to provide alternatives to local illegally logged timber.
About Forestry Research Associates
Forestry Research Associates is a research and advisory consultancy that focuses on forestry management, sustainability issues and forestry investment around the globe.
Media Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com
Capital Platform’s new alternative investment proposition for investors in the UK has attracted praise from AAA.
Boston, MA, USA, June 16, 2012 — Capital Platform’s new alternative investment proposition for investors in the UK has attracted praise from Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).
AAA, an alternative investment advocacy group, said that the new offering from Capital Platform will help to further underline the validity of a range of alternative asset classes on offer today.
The new initiative is intended to help investors to research various alternative investment options, with regards to factors such as ethics, compliance and returns. The firm’s director Darren Beddard, explained, “Capital Platform has been designed as a trusted source to give independent financial advisers and wealth managers everything they need to best serve clients in their alternative investment strategies.
“It offers an innovative proposition designed to make life easier for product providers and IFAs/wealth managers by delivering a range of products and services where we do the hard work for them.”
AAA is a keen supporter of alternative investments of many kinds and is a particular backer of ethical and responsible investment options in emerging markets. AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson, explained, “Today’s volatile stock markets have resulted in a huge number of individuals and institutional investors setting their sites on alternative asset classes.”
AAA supports a range of projects, including impact investing projects in Africa and sustainable forestry investment plans in Brazil. “Funds such a those set up and operated by Greenwood Management, for example, help to detract pressure form natural resources that are highly vulnerable, such as the native Amazon rainforest,” added Mr Johnson.
Speaking about the new Capital Platform offering, Mr Beddard added, “Capital Platform currently offers more than 20 products from a range of providers on which we conduct extensive due diligence.
“Whether unregulated collective investment schemes, enterprise investment schemes or venture capital trusts, we ensure the products on the platform conform to FSA and Financial Services and Markets Act rules.”
About Alternative Asset Analysis:
The remit of Alternative Asset Analysis is to analyse and provide news on the global performance of a wide range of alternative asset classes including, but not restricted to, commodities, real estate, forestry, foreign exchange, hedge funds, private equity and venture capital.
Media Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery is pleased to announce that Californian artist Kay Pratt is this month’s featured artist.
Jupiter, Florida – June 16, 2012 — Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery is pleased to announce that Californian artist Kay Pratt is this month’s featured artist. Kay has participated in several of the gallery’s art exhibitions and she won the Second Annual 2011 Abstract Exhibition for her painting “Play Red”.
Kay states this about her art and her life in California, “As a native Californian I spent my childhood years playing in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains above Sunland Tujunga. Slowly, the majestic spaces I once called “Fort” or “Cave” were diminished by the demands of development – lost forever.
The great Plein Air Painters of the California Coastal and Desert Lands left us the legacy of their works and with them an historical account of those lost places – truly a gift to us all! In the tradition of my late Grandfather, Walt A. Lee and his many “sketch trek buddies” such as Hanson Putthuff and Edgar A. Payne, I try to capture threatened and historical places with love and the hope that my works will remind viewers of the importance of the preservation of the scenic California landscape”.
Kay Pratt is a Visual Artist and a Certified Expressive Arts Therapy Practitioner; she is the Founder and Director of the Expressive Arts Therapists Network in Orange County, CA, a member of the International Expressive Arts Therapy Association (IEATA) and The Lighthouse for the blind and visually impaired in San Francisco, California.
Kay is a member of the following art organizations; Laguna Plein Air Painters Association, the California Art Club and the Acrylic Painters Association of America. Her website and art blog is http://fineartbykay.com
About Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery
Light Space & Time Online Art Gallery conducts monthly art competitions and monthly art exhibitions for new and emerging artists on a worldwide basis. It is Light Space & Time’s intention to showcase this incredible talent in a series of monthly themed art competitions and art exhibitions by marketing and displaying the exceptional abilities of these worldwide artists.
The art gallery website can be viewed here: http://www.lightspacetime.com
Media Contact:
John R. Math
Light Space & Time Online Gallery
118 Poinciana Drive
Jupiter, FL 33458
888-490-3530
info@lightspacetime.com
http://www.lightspacetime.com
If you have ever been involved in a construction project, chances are that you have celebrated the day that you can walk through and create a punch list of items that await final completion. Construction Punch Lists mobile application by Moore Quality Apps now allows anyone to create and e-mail a professional punch list directly from the job site.
“For years the construction industry has used pen and paper to create punch lists and the process may take several days before it’s distributed. From home building to commercial construction, mobile technology now allows the process to be easier and faster” said Josh Moore, owner of Moore Quality Apps. “I recently used the Construction Punch Lists app on a large office project and realized that this dream had become a reality.”
Construction Punch Lists by Moore Quality Apps is now available worldwide on iTunes. Features include multiple project lists, integrating pictures and contacts directly from the device, and sorting items before sending. The application can be used on an iPhone or iPad and can be purchased in English and Español. For more information, visit www.constructionpunchlists.com.
AAA has welcomed news from France that asset management firm Uzes Gestion has launched a wine investment fund for those with an appetite for alternative asset classes.
Boston, MA, June 15, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) has welcomed news from France that asset management firm Uzes Gestion has launched a wine investment fund for those with an appetite for alternative asset classes.
The fund, named the Uzes Grands Crus wine fund, has been launched in order to meet demand from those who believe that investing in fine wines is a good safe-haven option at a time when the stock markets are very volatile. “The fact that the Eurozone is still extremely unstable is putting European investors off of putting their money into the equity markets,” explained AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson.
Another firm that helps investors buy fine wines whose values are likely to increase in the future is Cavissima, which is run by Thierry Goddet. He explained more about the attraction of wine investments to the Financial Times readers: “With the debt crisis crippling financial markets, we’ve seen new investors flocking in, as they look for defensive investments.”
The new fund, launched by Uzes Gestion buys up cases of fine wines made by lesser known vineyards and for a reasonable price. It then hopes to store the wines and sell on at later date for more money – thus delivering solid returns to investors. The fine wine trade is growing at the moment, not least due to the increasing demand in China, where the newly wealthy population is developing a taste for the tipple.
Mr Johnson explained, “The fine wine investment market is driven by the fact that investors want something tangible in exchange for their cash. They are increasingly keen to obtain something with an intrinsic value, such as timber, art, wine and precious metals, instead of risking everything on the stock market, which has proven unstable in recent years.”
AAA backs ethical investments and many kinds of alternative asset classes, such as timberland investments through firms like Greenwood Management that operate in Brazil and Canada.
Contact;
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com
AAA is highlighting a recent article in the Huffington Post, detailing the growing popularity of ‘lifestyle investments’ as an alternative to traditional asset classes.
Boston, MA, June 15, 2012 – Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA) is highlighting a recent article in the Huffington Post, detailing the growing popularity of ‘lifestyle investments’ as an alternative to traditional asset classes.
The article begins by talking about the rising popularity of wine investments and the fact that fine wine investments have generated returns of 195 per cent over the past seven years, according to the London International Vintners Exchange (LIVEX). Demand for wine is growing in the emerging economies of China, Russia and Brazil – simply as a response to the growing wealth of the populations in these new economic ‘powerhouses.’
The fact that demand for wine is growing makes this a good time to experiment with so-called lifestyle investments such as wine, according to AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. He said, “It’s easy to start small with these kinds of alternative investments.
“An investment of as little as £500 to £1,000 will enable you to purchase some incredibly good fine wines whose values could rise exponentially over the coming years.”
The Huffington Post article outlines the range of different funds investors can opt into if they would like to take a more official route towards lifestyle investments. For example, The Wine Source Fund is based on a range of fine wines and whiskies that combine to create what the fund calls “a balanced portfolio able to benefit from longer and shorter production cycles”.
Others specialise in older fine wines and even manage cellars for investors who need to keep their valuable investments in tiptop condition.
AAA backs a range of alternative investments and is keen to promote what there is to be gained from investing in something that interests you. “Those who are interested in fine wines, art and antiques and starting to realise that they can make money for heir hobbies.
“The same can be said for those who are keen to help promote sustainability and eco-investments, who can invest in sustainable forestry through firms like Greenwood Management,” added Mr Johnson.
Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com
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