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The trading form known as Binary Options is already known for providing one of the fastest ways in which you can start to earn a profit from financial trading. The contracts used often see trading positions expire as quickly as the end of the trading day or even on the hour. This makes them a fast paced investment with which profits can quickly be accumulated on the traders account. However not content with such fast profits, binary options have now got even faster with sixty second binary options. Just as their names suggests, these payout offer a high fixed return if you can predict the direction that the price of an asset will move over the period of just one minute.

The high returns that can be earned from trading with sixty second binary options is no doubt impressive. You can make as much as seventy per cent per contract on these fast paced options. The result is that if you have a good strategy and know what you are doing, it is possible to quickly accumulate substantial profits in your trading account. However there are a number of things that you need to be aware of an watch out for if you want to ensure that you can make the most from trading with these contracts.

The first thing that you need to understand when investing with such short time frame contracts, is that the markets are volatile and don’t move in a straight line. Therefore it is no good identifying a strong trend in a higher timeframe and expecting to be able to place sixty second contracts and just instantly win. You can easily get caught out if you take such an approach. Instead you will need to find a very short time-frame strategy which you can apply to the one minute chart in the same way that you would apply your analysis to a higher time period.

The other thing it is worth remembering is that you only have a small margin for error. Even the most fast paced of markets will not always move a great distance over such a short space of time. This is why it is imperative that you not only chose those assets that display the greatest ‘movement’, but also that you avoid heavy spreads from your broker. These will simply eat into your profits by making it much more difficult to register a successful trade. Therefore if you are serious about trading with 60 second contracts, you might want to consider checking out more than one broker before you start your live trading. You will then be able to compare the speed of execution that is offered and the spreads that he broker charges.

Many people who have traded for a while are reluctant to get involved with investing with these contracts. Perhaps quite rightly they believe that the risks of such short term investing is too high. However the attraction of these contracts is the high levels of profit that can be realised for the trader who gets it right and combines a strategy with good execution and a good broker. In this scenario, these sixty second contracts can prove to be one of the most lucrative financial investments that you can make.

Although various gold price predictions have been given these past few months, it will never be completely accurate. However, London-based consultancy and research company, Gold Fields Mineral Services (GFMS) Ltd., Chairman Philip Klapwijk said that the market is predicted to rise to new highs by early 2013 after struggling this year.

I believe buying Gold at BullionVault is the best option for those who are thinking of starting the New Year with a good investment. Endorsed by the World Gold Council, Bullion Vault provides private investors worldwide access to the professional bullion markets. You can take advantage of their low cost buying, selling, and storing gold and silver bullion services. Today, it is the largest online investment gold service in the world with 41,500 users and holding $2.2 billon private investments. It’s also very quick and easy to transact with them. You can sell your gold or silver any time, without paying any penalty, or withdraw your bars and expect your money to be wired to you the next business day. Too easy, right?

So far, analysts have a diverse prediction when it comes to the price of gold by 2013. This mirrors the uncertainties in the global markets. An interesting fact about gold is that it often performs well in scenarios of deflation (for example driven by global debt reductions), but also in scenarios with higher than usual inflation rates.

“We are expecting still that we are going to see a push above $2,000 in 2013, but it may be that 2013 marks the high water mark for the market,” Klapwijk said.

Just to give a little flashback, the year 2011 is the tenth consecutive year in which the price of gold has increased. Over the entire 2011, the price of gold has increased by over 12 per cent in spite of the two dips in September and mid-November and December. The price of gold has further increased late November of this year—amid high volatility – to roughly $1,713 i.e. by more than 12 per cent from the beginning of 2012.

Gold therefore tends to perform positively in times of economic uncertainties as well as in acute crises. Unfortunately, the global financial problems are not yet sorted out. Some credible commentators expect several more years of uncertainty, which could end only when we are approaching the next decade. Thus, in the foreseeable future a moderate allocation to gold will remain imperative for many investors and could result in a positive trend of the gold price come 2013 and beyond.

To profit when buying a stock, you must be right on the direction as soon as you enter the trade. If the stock goes up, you’ll make money, and if the stock goes down, you’ll lose money. If you short a stock, and the stock goes down, you’ll make money and if the stock goes up, you’ll lose money. Pretty basic, right?

However, once I learned how options work and started to trade them many years ago, I realized Newton’s law of motion could allow me to profit regardless of whether a bullish trade went up, or a bearish trade went down.

To quote Isaac Newton, and I paraphrase, “A body in motion will remain in motion.” The Moses corollary to that would be: “A stock in a trend, will remain in a trend – until it isn’t.” And as long as it stays in that trend, there are numerous options strategies designed to take advantage of one of the attributes that make options unique: time decay.

This means it’s possible for a stock to go absolutely nowhere, or to even be wrong directionally on a stock/option trade, and still be able to profit. Now I don’t mean is Enron wrongÉ but it is possible to have a stock go against you directionally by 5%, sometimes even 10%, and still profit. This strategy can be accomplished by the buying and selling of out of the money options, which if they are still out of the money on their expiration date, will expire worthless (and traders would keep the premium sold).

Now while I can’t speak for everybody, the only reason I’m in the market, the only reason I’m a trader, is to… make a profit. So how liberating is it to know that you can profit, even when wrong on the direction your analysis suggested a stock would move in?

Here are 7 conservative options strategies designed to profit when stocks either go nowhere, stay above or below specified demand or supply levels, or stay within a defined range.. for approximately anywhere between three and six weeks:

1) Bull/Put Spread – You sell a put option at the strike price you expect the stock to stay above, and buy another put option at the next out of the money strike price.

2) Bear/Call Spread – You sell a call option at the strike price you expect the stock to stay under, and buy another call option at the next out of the money strike price.

3) Bull/Call Spread – You buy a call option, and sell another call option at a strike price you expect the stock to stay over.

4) Bear/Put Spread – You buy a put option, and sell another put option at a strike price you expect the stock to stay under.

5) Cash Secured Put – You sell a put option at a strike price you expect the stock to stay over.

6) Covered Call – On a stock you already own, you sell a call option at a strike price you expect the stock to stay under.

7) Iron Condor – You enter a bull/put spread and a bear/call spread at the same timeÉ looking to capture a range you expect the stock to stay in between.

Every option trade carries risk of loss, up to and including 100% of the principle invested.

This is a guest post by Steve Moses, Options Trader and Instructor at Online Trading Academy

As with most major expenses, cars will not only have you shelling out on the immediate cost, but will also force you to spend more and more during the time you’re in ownership and so being able to limit expenditure is imperative.

Remember that a car takes a lot of maintenance, as well as the constant need for fuel and the odd top up of oil; but it is the requirements of services and yearly check-ups that can cost into the hundreds and really put a strain on your finances.

There are ways for each stage of car ownership where you can find ways to be able to save money, even when buying the car in the first place, as well as bringing down fuel costs, road tax (if in the UK)and maintenance costs.

• Never ever pay the window price, every car has a target price and you should aim to get a slight percentage off of the price the showroom is suggesting. Look online for the guide price of the car(s).

• Look around to see what you should be getting for your car if part-exchanging. Check ads for cars similar to yours and what they are being valued at, as well as remembering back to what you spent on it when you bought it and whether you have added value over the years with new parts.

• If you’re in the market for a new car, but aren’t worried about the likes of garnishing it with endless optional extras that can rack the price up by a few hundred if not thousand, then ask the dealer whether they have anything new on the forecourt that is a more basic model. This also allows you to get the car earlier, instead of having to wait for it to be built at the factory.

• Try to get a deal that has a few extra benefits thrown in such as free servicing for five years or a years’ worth of free insurance, interest free APR deals are also well worth keeping an eye out for.

• For those after a new fleet car, first of all get looking for a frugal motor that is perhaps diesel-powered as opposed to petrol and then look to get a fuel card to hand from somewhere such as FCSICard.com in order to save on your VAT.

• If you’re a young driver and are considering your options in terms of insurance, try to get your parents or someone with a great deal of driving experience as a named driver which should help bring your premium down.

This is an article from FCSI Card fuel card supplier for fleet drivers in Portugal and around Europe.

All businesses have overheads; those recurring costs that show up month on month. They may have little effect on the day to day running, but can have a huge impact on your bottom line. Careful monitoring will prevent overheads getting out of control and what better time than New Year, to re-evaluate the necessity of these costs and re-establish your values.

There are only two ways to get more money; sell more or cut back. Nobody likes the idea of a cut back, but sometimes in business it has to be done. Simply looking at alternatives to what you already have can help open your eyes to other sources of saving. Your office and your everyday tasks can be replaced to a more cost effective substitute like swapping travel with video calls.

Here are some tips that should help lessen the blow:

1. Evaluate your office – Look not only at the physical space with all its associated costs, but at the furniture and equipment within the space.

Either move to a less expensive office or look for shared or serviced offices to cut back on overheads. Even just trying to re-negotiate the cost of your current space could save you money (and the expense of moving).

Unused office furniture could be sold and equipment recycled – some stores may even give you money off new when you trade in your old hardware.

2. Update old Software – this is viewed as expensive; however, hiring the right person for the job will pay dividends. There is a plethora of open source software available that provide options you did not have or are currently paying for. Research here is essential to ensure you retain professionalism.

3. Stop traveling – meet up via high definition video calls instead. Not only is the software easy to use and allows for much more than just a phone call with pictures; it makes the collaboration of colleagues, clients and customers all over the world available at the drop of a hat.

This method of communication also opens the doors to be able to deal with more businesses that were previously not possible without travel. The use of desktop sharing and interactive whiteboards make it easy for those in different locations to have a productive meeting meaning the world suddenly becomes a lot smaller for your business.

4. Compare services – just like all the television adverts for your home, investigate fixed price deals or utilities, water coolers, printers and recycling. Providers do not want to lose your business, so it is within their interest to make sure you are getting the best deal – make sure you are on it.

It is easy to go on about how to save money, but there are also things you cannot afford to cut. Maintaining your loyalty both from employees and customers is essential if there is going to be a business at the end of the day. Employees will understand cutbacks – but not at their expense; avoid reducing pension contributions or festive bonus schemes – they may help you out in the short term, but not in the long.

New Year is a great time to look back at your achievements and set your goals for the year ahead. Making the most of what you have and looking for new ways to be innovative will not only make your business more frugal, but will open doors to new opportunities.