Archive for September, 2009

• A Real Cash Cow
  Eddy Elfenbein, September 1st, 2009 at 10:06 am

  
  Looking to find a higher yield? French savers are turning to cows. I’m serious.

  Pierre Marguerit, director of Gestel, a company in southeastern France that manages some 30,000 animals on behalf of 1,000 investors, said sales have doubled in the past year.
  “You buy one or more cows, which are rented out to professional farmers. Your herd then increases as the years go by. A herd of 20 cows will bring you one extra cow every year, that’s roughly 4-5 percent,” said Marguerit.
  Although the birth rate within the herd is higher, a portion of the offspring will make up for deaths, while others are sold off to cover the costs of rearing the animals.
  However, in a particularly fertile year, the net increase can run as high as 7 percent.
  Investors can choose to sell the new cows and take the cash, or allow their herd to build up over the years by keeping the offspring, then draw a regular income at retirement.

• U.S. Libor Drops to Record Low
  Eddy Elfenbein, September 1st, 2009 at 9:59 am

  How things have changed. Last October 10, the three-month Libor hit 4.8%. Now it’s down to 0.33%. The TED spread has plunged as well.