Endless Appetites. How the Commodities Casino Creates Hunger and Unrest

"Commodities Rising, part memoir and part investment guide, provides a unique and practical perspective that is based on a rare combination of professional experiences." -Donald F. Larson, Senior Economist, World Bank «Jeffrey Christian brings twenty-five years of commodity market experience to his thoughtful and insightful new book. A keen analyst, Christian debunks many commodity market myths. There has been a substantial underinvestment in commodity research of late. His book is a 'must-read' for any investor wishing to avoid the pitfalls present in physical commodity investments.» -Terrence F. Martell, PhD, Saxe Distinguished Professor of Finance, Director, Weissman Center for International Business, Baruch College, CUNY;Public Governor, New York Board of Trade «If you've read one of the recent 'commodity craze' books, you'll appreciate the more careful, thorough account Christian provides here. His anecdotes and analysis will convince you that this is truly an insider's assessment.» -Peter A. Biebel, Vice President, Director of Futures Research, A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. «In addition to its depth, Christian's book is extremely reader-friendly, presenting commodity issues from various angles. I strongly recommend to anyone interested in commodities that they read this book; and to those still unfamiliar with the subject, I recommend that they take a look. The rewards will be significant, intellectually and possibly financially.» -Takamasa Akiyama, Professor of Development Economics, Nihon University, Mishima, Japan, and Senior Advisor, Foundation for Advanced Studies onInternational Development (FASID), Tokyo, Japan Analyze the current commodity environment and look out over the next few years to identify potential profit situations in Commodities Rising. You'll learn how commodities can be used to reduce risk and increase returns in a balanced investment portfolio. Author and commodities expert Jeffrey Christian debunks much of the misinformation currently circulating about commodities and provides a reasoned reality-check you can use to evaluate the claims and promises of various publications and brokerages in the commodity field. Specific issues addressed throughout this book include: the variety of commodity investments?exchange traded funds, stocks, futures, and options; commodities in the global economy; commodity trading/investing strategies. Filled with in-depth insights and engaging anecdotes gleaned from the author?s 30 years in the commodity markets, this is an invaluable resource for the serious investor or trader.

Enhance business performance by using sustainability for competitive advantage The Future of Value reveals what it takes for companies to grow and outperform the competition in today's growth-constrained, sustainability conscious world. The author shows leaders how to use sustainability as a powerful, pragmatic lens to enhance business performance. He also explores how to craft and oversee a portfolio of effective tools, develop competitive strategies, and adjust value chain activities, talent management practices, and corporate policies to help organizations execute powerful sustainability strategies. He provides a systematic, yet instantly familiar, model all companies can use to connect sustainability with their growth and competitive strategies. In this way, the author shows leaders how to shape, color, and own The Future of Value. Outlines the keys to implementing sustainability in organizations to achieve business success today and tomorrow Reveals how to engage stakeholders in day to day sustainability management as a means to shape and fuel efforts to continuously renew their sustainability strategies The author is a 15-year veteran of sustainability and strategy management consulting, having worked with clients in the US, Japan, Australia, and Europe. He has an MBA in Strategic Management from The University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School and writes a regular column for Sustainable Life Media and GreenBiz, two of the world's most heavily trafficked sustainability news and thought leadership portals The author draws useful and accessible conclusions from a rich, diverse set of corporate interviewees. A core part of his research was the selection and interrogation of more than 25 Global Fortune 500 companies' sustainability, strategy, and finance leads.

Step-by-step guidelines for making commodities a valuable component in any portfolio As stock market investing becomes increasingly hard to squeeze profits from, savvy investors are finding commodities to be the perfect vehicle for maintaining portfolio performance. Commodities for Every Portfolio shows commodities newcomers how to ease into this straightforward market, which strategies are best (and which to steer clear of!) and much, much more. Investors and traders get easy-to-follow techniques, strategies, and methods, with individual chapters showing how to invest in commodities through stocks, mutual funds, ETFs, and futures. High-performing companies and index-based funds are listed by name, with specific information on how and why they succeed; hard-to-find informational resources are also provided.

Praise for Take Their Breath Away «Are you bored? We're so spoiled that when something is merely good enough, we just walk away. Chip and John explain that the surefire method for growth and customer loyalty is simple: don't be boring.» —Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow and Tribes «Take Their Breath Away shows how legendary customer service delivery can win and keep devoted customers for life. I LUV this fantastic book.» —Colleen Barrett, President Emeritus, Southwest Airlines Company "No one knows more about creating profit through service than Chip and John. If you want to know the best way to do it, read Take Their Breath Away. The examples in this book will certainly start your creative juices flowing and help your organization take your customers' breath away. —Howard Beharformer, former president, Starbucks Coffee International.

Get more bang for your buck in the commodities market and start trading today While Wall Street has been troubled, commodity markets have been soaring. Since 2002, commodities have outperformed every other asset class including stocks, mutual funds, and real estate. This hands-on, friendly guide gives you the basics on breaking into the market, dispels common myths, and shows you how to implement a wide range of trading and investing strategies. It also helps you diversify your portfolio, measure risk, and apply market analysis techniques. Expanded coverage of the types of commodities available to investors Advice on how to manage the risks and rewards of commodities Updated examples and information on SEC rules and regulations (and tax laws) Featuring time-tested rules for investment success Commodities For Dummies helps you minimize risk, maximize profit, and find the shortest route to Easy Street.

A fun and creative guide to keeping customers ecstatically happy Businesses are used to competing for market share, inexpensive labor, and time-to-market, but today's biggest competition among top firms may be the war for top talent. Today's best organizations are reaching across traditional geopolitical and cultural boundaries to attract and retain the best and brightest workers. In The Talent Advantage, authors Weiss and MacKay tap into their long experience as experts in talent recruitment and retainment to explain why today's business leaders must take firm control of the talent hunting process to ensure great hires. Here, they show leaders exactly how to do that.

Get this handy roadmap to making money in the commodities market. Getting Started in Commodities shows you how to successfully invest in the commodities market in futures, stocks, stock indices, and options. The book explains how the commodities market works as well as how investors can identify and track commodity opportunities – using fundamental factors such as supply and demand and technical analysis tools. Fontanills, a seasoned trader and educator, also explains the basis of money management, teaches you how to find the best broker, and how to read seasonal chart patterns. Finally, he explores how to build a winning system and test and adjust it for success. Helpful appendices of contract specifications and additional readings are also included. George A. Fontanills (Miami, FL) is the President Emeritus of Optionetics, the world leader in options education and is also a retired hedge fund manager. Fontanills has written many books, including Trade Options Online (0-471-35938-6), The Volatility Course (0-471-39816-0), and The Volatility Course Workbook (0-471-39817-9).

Shareholder control over large corporations is worryingly weak and the unrestrained hunt for profits is taking a toll on the environment and society. In Corpocracy, corporate lawyer, venture capitalist, and shareholder activist Robert Monks reveals how corporations abuse their power and what we the people must do to rein them in. In a clear and careful analysis, Monks outlines a plan for reconciling the competing interests of corporations and society through thoughtful shareholder activism.

Add another dimension to your portfolio with commodities Do you know how commodities stack up against other investment options? Investing In Commodities For Dummies is a straightforward resource that provides an in-depth look at what commodities are and how they might prove beneficial to your portfolio. This approachable reference covers the basics on breaking into the commodities market while dispelling myths and sharing a wide range of trading and investing strategies. Simply put, it spotlights the opportunities on the commodities market while leading you away from the mistakes that have plagued other investors. Use this text to understand how to diversify your portfolio, measure risk, and apply market analysis techniques that guide your decision-making. Commodities, including oil, silver, gold, and more, play an important role in everyday life. Because they hold such a steady role in today's world, many investors have found them to be a reliable component of a well-rounded portfolio. Depending upon your current investment portfolio and your financial goals, it might be a great idea to add commodities to your strategy. Understand how to break into the commodities market and start trading immediately Diversify your portfolio to protect your assets to meet your financial goals Minimize the risk associated with your investment strategy while maximizing profits Track commodities indexes and use this knowledge to make informed investment decisions Whether you're an amateur investor or you're simply looking to expand your investments, Investing In Commodities For Dummies is a fantastic guide to adding commodities to your investment strategy!

"An engaging, highly readable survey of the sophisticated methods of persuasion we encounter in various situations. From television to telemarketing and from self-deception to suicide cults, Levine takes a hard look at all the ways we attempt to persuade each other–and how and why they work (or don't). . . . The next time you wonder what possessed you to pay $50 for a medallion commemorating the series finale of Friends, you'll know where to turn." –Slashdot.org «If you're like most people, you think advertising and marketing work–just not on you. Robert Levine's The Power of Persuasion demonstrates how even the best-educated cynics among us can be victimized by sales pitches.» –The Globe and Mail «Levine puts [his] analysis in the service of his real mission–to arm the reader against manipulation.» –The Wall Street Journal «This wonderful book will change the way you think and act in many realms of your life.» –Philip Zimbardo former president, American Psychological Association