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Note from Managing Editor Sara Nunnally: It’s not every day that we get to share exclusive information with you that’s normally reserved for our Millionaire’s Circle members. I had to get permission from our executive publisher Sandy Franks to release this article she sent out last month.

I can’t print sensitive information like stock picks from our group of newsletters… But this article gives you an inside look at our group’s philosophy. I’m happy to share it with you today.

Be sure to read our Editor’s Note at the end for one last chance to sign up for our free webinar.

Someone’s Getting Rich… Beyond Wealth…

The amounts are staggering. I’m talking about the amount of money CEOs have made this past year. Some of these guys are hauling in beaucoup bucks. For example, Philippe Dauman, CEO of Viacom, parent company of MTV Networks, BET Networks and Paramount Pictures, was paid $84.3 million in 2010 to run the company. That’s a 250% increase from what he made the previous year.

His salary is a mix of actual salary, which is at $2.6 million; annual incentives valued at $11.2 million; stock options worth $28.6 million; stock grants at $27.1 million; and bonus for performance at $14.7 million.

Dauman makes so much money he’s the highest-paid CEO. Following him is Larry Ellison, billionaire founder of Oracle Corp., who only received $68 million in 2010. At the bottom of Hay Group’s list of top paid executives is Eric Schmidt, executive chairman of Google, Inc.

His job description doesn’t sound like much: As executive chairman, he is responsible for the external matters of Google, building partnerships, broader business relationships, government outreach and technology through leadership.

For all his hard work, poor guy only got paid $1.8 million. But does how much money you make really matter?

According to Alex Green, a former money manager and nationally renowned financial expert and investment director of The Oxford Club, real wealth isn’t just about how much stuff you own. (That’s materialism, not wealth.) It’s not about showing off a huge house, exotic cars or an exclusive club membership. (That’s ego, not wealth.) It’s not even about your bank balance, stock portfolio or net worth, no matter how large.

Living a rich life is not just about the money you accumulate but more about living a life of significance. Don’t get me wrong. Alex isn’t saying that you don’t need money. In fact money does give you freedom. And Alex Green is a master at taking ordinary individuals and showing them how to achieve complete financial independence.

Alex’s message is this: Money might create wealth but so do character, conscience, attitude and wisdom. Only by incorporating these elements into your day-to-day existence can you experience “the good life.”

I’m not trying to preach to you now about how you should live your life. But what I would like to do is ask that you get a copy of Alex’s new book, Beyond Wealth. I just got a copy myself and have been reading it everyday.

As the executive publisher of Taipan Publishing Group, I’m often consumed with numbers from bottom-line financials to what recommendations our editors can provide you that help you enjoy a more comfortable lifestyle. Sometimes, though, it pays to “stop and smell the roses.”

Alex’s book is helping me do that. It has become my daily affirmation for stopping to smell the roses. Each day I make it a point to read several pages, to serve as my “check and balance” to not get too caught up in the numbers grind.

I actually have to congratulate Alex for writing this type of book. As investment director for The Oxford Club, he’s a numbers-oriented guy too. So you’d think any book he writes would strictly be about how to make more money. Beyond Wealth isn’t that type of book at all.

It offers deeper insights to living a more meaningful life. Living a “rich life” is about meaningful work, close connections with friends and family, and other very helpful, very useful ideas.

Alex’s book is available through Amazon.com.

(Sign up for Smart Investing Daily and let me regular editors Sara Nunnally and Jared Levy simplify the market for you with their easy-to-understand articles.)

2011 Global Opportunities Summit Conference Update

We’ve got the hotel and dates in place. This year’s annual summit will be held at the Venetian Hotel, Sep. 17-19, 2011. We’re calling this summit “The Survival Summit.”

Why survival? Well, to be quite frank, things are going to get a lot worse before they get better. If you aren’t properly prepared, you’re at risk of losing a lot of money.

Each one of the Taipan editors is going to share with you their specific strategies to protect your wealth. But you know it wouldn’t be a Taipan Publishing Group conference unless we also offered you ways to make money. At the conference you’ll receive seven exclusive recommendations. Let me repeat that. Seven exclusive recommendations.

The only way to get these recommendations is to attend the conference.

Please mark your calendars. Official invitations will be sent out in the next few weeks. I hope I can count on you being there.

Until next week, here’s to a world of opportunities.

Editor’s Note: Before the Survival Summit, we’ve organized an exclusive event. You may have heard us talking about it this week: the Money Crisis Survival Webinar. We’ve already closed registration for this free event, but our publishers have re-opened the list for just a few more days.

This might be the last time Smart Investing Daily will be able to offer you a chance to sign up. The event takes place on June 20, at 7:00 p.m. Eastern Time. During the webinar you’ll get access to a report, “The Political Core of the Money Crisis: How D.C. and the Feds Are Taking Away Your Money.” You won’t find this report anywhere else.

Only those who have signed up for the webinar will get this report. You can learn more about this free webinar right now. Just click here.

Article brought to you by Taipan Publishing Group. Additional valuable content can be syndicated via our News RSS feed. Republish without charge. Required: Author attribution, links back to original content or www.taipanpublishinggroup.com.

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This morning’s rate statement by Reserve Bank of Australia Governor Glenn Stevens hinted at an impending rate adjustment sometime in the coming months. The hawkish sentiment expressed by the RBA governor has so far helped the Australian dollar (AUD) jump broadly against its currency counterparts.

Stevens conditioned his statement, however, by noting that the point at which rates are increased is to be determined by the board. At the moment, there does not seem to be enough data to warrant a rate adjustment in the immediate future, but sometime in the later months of 2011. It was highlighted that pricing data released in late July will likely provide the necessary information to guide the interest rate adjustment.

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The Royal Institute of Royal Surveyors (RICS) published a report showing an increase in house price declines this morning. The RICS House Price Balance report gauges the level of a diffusion index based on surveyed property surveyors who were asked whether housing prices in their districts were rising or declining.

Forecasts surrounding this report were anticipating a return of approximately 20% of surveyors reporting a price decline. When 28% of RICS surveyors reported a decline, investors took cues that the British housing sector may still be in a ragged state and began to push against the nation’s currency in early trading.

Read more forex trading news on our forex blog.

The morning publications by the British Office of National Statistics regarding the UK’s employment sector highlighted the deep structural deficiencies in the labor market which the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) noted in their recent report. The number of British residents filing for unemployment benefits for the first time rose by 19,600 this past month, well above the forecasts that called for 7,100 claims.

Additionally, the Average Hourly Earnings Index grew less than expected, climbing only 1.8% over the last 3 months. Analysts were expecting an earning’s index boost of 2.1%. The British employment sector appears to be in bad shape and so far the effect has gouged the British pound’s (GBP) value against several currency rivals. The sterling was seen in decline against several other currencies and leveling off against others. If the labor market’s structural weaknesses are not addressed soon, the UK may find itself in a losing position as 2011 reaches moves beyond its mid-point.

Read more forex trading news on our forex blog.

The Empire State Manufacturing Index for June, published this afternoon, revealed a stark downturn in manufacturing output for New York. The wide gap between expectations and the actual figure are ominous for the American economic recovery considering growth has been more than a bit sluggish this past quarter.

The forecast for this afternoon’s report was for a positive reading of 13, but actual results came in at negative 7.8. The turnaround from growth in New York’s manufacturing to drastic shrinkage suggests a wider problem in consumer demand, rising inflation (Core CPI rose 0.3%; higher than economist forecasts), and transportation costs for raw materials with crude oil prices soaring. The index highlights an impending slow-down over the summer months and a likely dismal second quarter for manufacturing and industry.

Read more forex trading news on our forex blog.

Last month’s reading from the euro zone’s regional industrial production report showed stagnation at 0% growth. This month’s forecast was for a 0.1% downturn in industrial output. Today’s morning publication of this month’s production figure, however, revealed mild growth in the region’s industrial sector.

The morning release highlighted an optimistic 0.2% growth in industrial output, likely connected to the region’s boost in German factory hiring, which has risen 2.7%, year-on-year. Also behind the surprise uptick was a boost in demand for durable consumer goods such as electronics and furniture. Analysts have so far said the data is a positive indicator, but will likely not be enough to prevent a sluggish second quarter.

Read more forex trading news on our forex blog.

The dollar is stronger across the board as the Greek debt crisis comes to a head with the failure of European finance ministers to come to an agreement for a second bailout package. Moody’s put three French banks on credit watch which compounded the negativity as the majors were all sold versus the USD.

The lack of a solution is beginning to press market participants as the June 20th self-imposed deadline nears. Euro zone leaders left the meeting with the major conflict between Germany and the ECB unresolved. Germany is requesting investor participation in return for additional bailout funds but the ECB is staunchly against any restructuring or haircut on Greek debt that would cause a credit event as defined by the major rating agencies.

Negative euro sentiment was compounded after Moody’s announced it was placing three large French banks on credit watch due to their exposure to Greek debt. While most expectations are for some sort of bailout package to be strung together, the risk stands for a Greek default and traders have taken up a defensive position in US dollars. The EUR/USD has shed a quick 2 cents since late yesterday afternoon in the New York trading session. 1.4250 is the 61% retracement from the May to June gains. The next support for the pair is found at the rising trend line from the January 2010 low at 1.4150, a level that coincides with the 100-day moving average.

Sterling is also down sharply versus the dollar and the GBP/USD could test the trend line off of the May 2010 low comes in today at 1.6200.

An overall dollar rally is carrying out with both the safe haven Swiss franc and Japanese yen rising to new weekly highs. The USD/CHF broke above resistance at 0.8470 and is encroaching on the 0.8550 resistance. Additional resistance is located from the falling trend line off the February high which comes in today at 0.8700. USD/JPY is testing its 20-day moving average. Further resistance can be found at 81.75.

Read more forex trading news on our forex blog.

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Video courtesy of ForexCT – A leading Australian forex broker, liscensed by the Australian Securities & Investments Commission, offers the MetaTrader4 and PROfit Platform to retail traders. Other services include Segregated Accounts, Trading workshops, Tutorials, and Commodities trading.

Source: ForexYard

Yesterday’s bullish retail sales and PPI figures out of the American economy, alongside solid growth figures in British CPI and RPI data, have so far helped to lift the value of riskier assets as investors seek higher growth in their portfolios. The EUR, GBP, and AUD were each appreciating against the US dollar throughout Tuesday’s session, with mild downturns coming towards the day’s closing. Continuation of this trend is being wagered ahead of today’s heavy news day.

Economic News

USD – USD Bearish as Traders Seek Risk

The US dollar was seen in decline in trading yesterday for the second consecutive day as traders began to seek risk following several bullish economic data releases. The EUR/USD was seen moving towards 1.45 yesterday before settling mildly below this mark. The GBP/USD was also in a bullish channel, but witnessed a stronger downtick later in the session than its euro zone counterpart.

Yesterday’s bullish retail sales and PPI figures out of the American economy have so far helped to lift the value of riskier assets as investors seek higher growth in their portfolios. The EUR, GBP, and AUD were each appreciating against the US dollar throughout Tuesday’s session, with mild downturns coming towards the day’s closing.

With another heavy news day expected, traders are sure to see heightened volatility. Most significantly, the US economy will be publishing its CPI reading as well as its TIC Long-Term Purchases report. Expectations are for a near-doubling of the investment differential, with global investment flows favoring the US economy. Should the long-term purchases report disappoint, traders may see some upward movement in the USD as investors shift back to safety.

GBP – British Employment Sector under Review Today

The British pound (GBP) was seen trading higher yesterday following news of stable growth in the island economy’s CPI and RPI inflationary reports. The UK Office for National Statistics is also due to release several more significant data reports today; most impactful will be the 9:30 GMT publication of the UK’s Claimant Count Change report alongside its quarterly reading of the Average Earnings Index.

While the pound was seen flattening out against the EUR yesterday, it appears to have moved mildly higher against the greenback and continues to see sideways price action versus the Japanese yen.

Today’s employment sector data will help many forex investors get a feel for how well the structural challenges in the UK labor market have been addressed. The report published earlier this week by the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) highlighted expectations for a continued rise in unemployment through 2011, but today’s Claimant Count Change report is scheduled to reveal a slowdown in claims for unemployment benefits. The conflicting data may help the GBP in the short-term, but the overall trend appears to be for an eventual turnaround in sterling values.

JPY – Japanese Yen Bearish as Investors Seek Higher Yields

The Japanese yen was seen trading lower against most of its currency rivals yesterday as investors moved towards higher yielding assets in Europe and the Pacific. Japan’s economy has published several positive figures over the last week, much of which has helped establish the yen’s recent bullishness. With yesterday’s rate statement affecting JPY values, traders are likely to see heightened volatility as the day moves ahead.

While the yen suffers from its own economic concerns, shifts in consumer sentiment have helped lift yen values against a number of its rivals. This trend was cut short yesterday, however, as investors took cues from bullish inflationary reports out of the US and UK to mean that riskier assets may see an uptick. The yen, which traditionally acts as a store of value during times of uncertainty, was seen taking a hit yesterday as investors largely moved away from the island currency and into higher yielding assets like the EUR and AUD.

Oil – Crude Oil Prices Halt Decline as USD Falters

Crude Oil prices dropped sharply towards $97 a barrel Monday as sentiment appeared to favor a downturn in global industry and expectations for unilateral action among members of OPEC. The sudden halt to this downward movement came as a result of several forces Tuesday.

Data releases out of China, Britain and the US yesterday were driving many investors back into higher yielding assets as most reports suggested steady growth in global inflation and consumer spending. As investors sought higher yields, the value of crude oil, which was seen plummeting Monday, held steady just above $97 a barrel.

Faltering dollar values have helped many investors pause on their short-taking positions on physical assets. Crude Oil witnessed a mild uptick in yesterday’s late sessions while Gold and Silver began to largely see sideways movement. Should sentiment hold steady this week, oil prices may continue to find weak support near its current price.

Technical News

EUR/USD

A three week rally was met with a failure of the pair to breach 1.4700, a level not far from the previous trend line which opened the door for a significant pullback that retraced 50% of the late May to early June gains. The week’s declines ended at the 20-day moving average at 1.4330 and will serve as initial support. Falling daily stochastics suggest the move lower may have scope to continue where the pair may find resistance at 1.4250, a level that coincides with the 61% retracement and the rising trend line from the May low. A breach here and the pair will test the 100-day moving average followed by the May low at 1.3970. To the upside, resistance will likely come in 1.4570 followed by 1.4700.

GBP/USD

The weekly candlestick suggests further declines may be in store as last week’s candlestick ended on a shaven bottom, indicating momentum is moving to the downside. A confirmation will be needed from this week’s trade to confirm the bearish pattern. In the meanwhile the move lower finished at the 38% retracement level of the December to April move and is quickly approaching the trend line off the May 2010 low at 1.6180. The pair could receive a bounce from this level, as was the case in late May. Resistance is located at 1.6400 and 1.6460, and 1.6550. Should the pair not receive a bounce at the trend line declines could mount to 1.6060 and the April low at 1.5935.

USD/JPY

The yen was relatively unchanged from the previous week after an attempt to breach below the 80 yen level was only briefly successful before the pair was bid higher. While most oscillators remain in neutral territory, the pair continues to trade lower with resistance at the falling trend line from April high which comes in near the 20-day moving average at 81.00. This level may offer traders a better price to enter short. Further resistance is located at 81.75 from the May 31st high followed by 82.25 of the May 19th high. Support comes in at the May low of 79.50 followed by the all-time low at 76.11.

USD/CHF

The pair is testing a short term resistance level at 0.8450 and a breach here would expose the resistance at 0.8855 which lies just below the 20-day moving average. A rise to this price may offer traders better levels at which to enter short. Above these levels rests the falling trend line from the mid-February high which comes in at 0.8720. Support is found at the all-time low at 0.8325.

The Wild Card

EUR/SEK

After a surprising breakout higher from a triangle chart pattern on the daily chart the EUR/SEK has retraced 61.8% of its late November to early March downtrend at 9.1500. A move above this level would indicate a reversal of the long term downtrend and a test of the early December resistance at 9.1700. Forex traders may want to be long as from this point a lack of resistance is found on the daily chart and thus the euro could continue to gain on the Swedish krona to the November high of 9.4275 in the mid-term.

Forex Market Analysis provided by ForexYard.

© 2006 by FxYard Ltd

Disclaimer: Trading Foreign Exchange carries a high level of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. There is a possibility that you could sustain a loss of all of your investment and therefore you should not invest money that you cannot afford to lose. You should be aware of all the risks associated with Foreign Exchange trading.

Cloud Computing: An Unstoppable Yet Vulnerable Force

by Tony D’Altorio, Investment U Research
Wednesday, June 15, 2011

The words “cloud computing” are among the latest technology buzzwords these days.

But what does it mean?

People may be asking, “What the heck is the ‘cloud?’” Technically, it simply means storing digital files on someone else’s computer servers and then accessing those files via the internet.

Many people don’t realize that cloud computing isn’t really new. It’s actually been with us for a while now, through email services like Gmail from Google (Nasdaq: GOOG), photo services like Flickr and Picasa, and storing documents with a firms such as Dropbox.

It’s just that now with the introduction of more consumer resources like music services – Google Music, Cloud Player from Amazon (Nasdaq: AMZN) and the iCloud from Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) – the general public is becoming more aware of cloud computing.

Apple recently announced the biggest push to date by a technology company to bring cloud computing to consumers. Its new, free iCloud service, to be launched this fall, will allow users to spread their documents, programs, photos, music, etc. among all their Apple devices seamlessly.

It’s all part of a generational trend away from owning physical media content and towards renting media content from the computing universal cloud.

And it’s happening rather quickly. Just look at how quickly people moved away from owning CDs and DVDs and became accustomed to streaming movies from companies like Netflix (Nasdaq: NFLX).

Cloudy Skies for Cloud Computing Industry

Of course, all is not blue skies for cloud computing… there are major concerns about the shift to the cloud.

One such concern is security. Large internet companies that hold vast quantities of personal data come under constant attack from hackers.

Sony (NYSE: SNE) was recently forced to admit that cyber thieves might have taken 100 million of its customers’ records. Google also revealed recently that several Gmail accounts, including some belonging to prominent U.S. politicians, were hacked.

Internet security experts say, however, that home computers are even more vulnerable. They believe it’s arguably safer to keep files in a data center run by technology professionals.

Another major concern centers on the ownership of data.

• Photo-sharing service Twitpic upset its users earlier this year when it changed its terms and conditions to allow it to sell photos uploaded by its users!

• There have been similar concerns at Facebook as to who owns the data. Facebook angered privacy groups by using personal data to target advertising to users of their service.

• And then there’s the question of “stickiness.” Providers of cloud services like Apple, Google and Facebook will have strong profit incentives to hold on to their users to maximize revenue. They’ll do their best to limit consumers’ freedom to roam freely from cloud to cloud.

So consumers may get stuck in Apple’s iCloud and not be able to get out without a hassle. Mark Little, an analyst at Ovum, remarked, “Switching costs [from cloud to cloud] is likely to be one of the biggest parts of the cloud story.”

Finally, there are infrastructure problems connecting to the cloud. Many wireless networks today have difficulties with reliably handling constant uploading and downloading of media and other types of content.

The Cloud Computing: An Unstoppable Force

However, despite the currently cloudy outlook, the trend towards cloud computing looks unstoppable.

That means investors need to know who the winners will be in this new technology era…

Among the larger companies, the winners will consist of the usual suspects – Apple, Google, Amazon and Facebook.

The announcement by Apple of its iCloud service has leapfrogged it ahead of Google and others for now.

The back and forth will continue though between these companies. Google, for instance, is about to launch a low-cost “dumb” computer equipped only with a browser because its users will keep all their software and content in the cloud.

Among the major companies, cloud computing looks to only add to the gap between the technology leaders and the laggards.

However, that’s not to say that new leaders will not emerge among the smaller companies…

Good investing,

Tony D’Altorio