BIM as a process improvement of business for the construction industry

August 20, 2011 at 11:55 pm?-?Views: 29
With the use of building information models (BIM) increases in construction projects increases the need for business process improvement projects. As with any new and great change of busines processes working methods a few issues crop up. Most stem from a lack of clear product of the design team, and some contracts do not align between the design and construction. Some of the biggest problems are: Around the level of detail between construction and design in the template Using the model, in contrast to the remuneration and obligations resulting for the design and construction of groups of questions. the value of one party could, at the same time, if the result is the contractual obligations of the parties. The clarity behind that keeps the model at each step of the project. Impetus behind constructers signed for exemptions for the use of BIM BIM because contractors want the same as a document of the contract. BIM model and how it relates to the definition of the contractual significance sumaria. The architect and alignment, while the Treaty appears to BIM party supply agreements between the two. Rights of intellectual property and property rights of BIMs.? that the various stages of licensing model is proprietary? Once the design is delivered to the owner and then to contractors, designers the model is in their hands, leading to a ?blame-game?. What they have in common is the legal profession. architects, designers, owners, contractors, engineers, high quality food, and other strongly protect themselves against this probability. By project development business processes continuously A company can demonstrate that the practice with the best will be used across all areas of the Organization better still. Using business process of software development solutions provide 100% validation experiment to prove this case, no one can expect more. There is even a court. There are many advantages to taking on a continuous business process improvement project. apply to marketing and sales, and you should learn to win more business. applied in business operations and save costs and avoid. the processes are about how you work. make it right and get rewards, makes them sick and suffer the consequences. We have seen from the top a business scenario, the need for the continuous business process improvements. on top of that, government regulations is driving, are just an example of this technology, culture and society are just some of the changing customer behaviour increases the need for a change continuous business process improvement substantially different penalties of rich can: outwitted and undermined by competitors be fined for rejection or neglect F. missing opportunities for operational efficiency More business process improvements you make more effectiveness and efficiency of your workforce and less responsibility that you have.

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How to switch from webOS to iPhone and iPad

While HP may not have killed webOS when it cancelled webOS hardware, it certainly stuck the knife in it and twister really, really hard — and every webOS user, Palm loyalist, and PreCentral.net reader felt it. Some might choose to stick with it, to see if HP’s... More →

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/dHblKk0Z0e0/

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Chiropractic is the best option for work-related low back pain

Thousands of workers every year experience the onset of work-related low back pain. While many people are able to rehabilitate without missing work, for many others the pain progresses and becomes debilitating, disabling them from their job duties.

Work-related low back pain is often the result of poor lifting techniques, muscle fatigue, tension, chronic poor posture, or repetitive stressors which cause misalignments of the spine Symptoms may present as sharp, shooting pains in the lower back, back aches, stiffness, numbness, or tingling. Sometimes the pain is a direct result of a specific work-related injury and other times the pain may be the result of a long-term process of overuse or stress on the low back muscles.

Sufferers of low back pain typically find relief through their family physician, physical therapist, or chiropractor.

Those suffering with low back pain may be surprised to find that a recent study found that chiropractic was the most effective option for work-related low back pain, compared to physical therapy and medical physician services.

An April 2011 study in the ?Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine? concluded that chiropractic services were more beneficial than physical therapy or medical physician services for patients suffering from work-related low back pain.1 The study followed nearly 900 patients for one year. Not only did those who received chiropractic care have fewer medical expenses during their rehabilitation, but they also experienced shorter periods of disability and fewer reoccurrences than those receiving physical therapy or medical physician care. ?

Chiropractors commonly treat low back pain with spinal manipulations, physiotherapy modalities and rehabilitative exercises to help relieve the pain and improve function.

They focus on the biomechanics of the body as a whole and work to restore balance, alignment, and proper range of motion. They may use any combination of physiotherapy treatments including, heat and ice therapy, electric stimulation, ultrasound, kinesiotape, spidertech tape, massage, and rehabilitative exercises. Pain relief is the first phase, but working on the root cause of the injury and not merely addressing the symptoms is the concentration of chiropractic healing, to correct the problem.

As a holistic practitioner, a chiropractor is trained to provide integrative programs of care as well as preventative care. Chiropractors work within the body?s natural healing abilities and view healing as a whole body process. Chiropractors are advocates of preventive care and regularly provide plans for both rehabilitative and preventative care for their patients. They include counseling, education, and exercises focused on health maintenance.

The holistic and preventative aspects of chiropractic may well play an important role in the fact that chiropractic was found to be the best option for low back pain recovery and continued health in the study.

The study is valuable for patients recovering from low back pain, their employers, and their insurers. Patients recover quicker, reduce the likelihood of? reoccurrence, and have fewer medical expenses. ?

References

1. Cifuentes M, Willetts J, Wasiak R. Health maintenance care in work-related low back pain and its association with disability recurrence. J Occup Environ Med. 2011 Apr;53(4):396-404.

Source: http://health.ezinemark.com/chiropractic-is-the-best-option-for-work-related-low-back-pain-7d3006d1f32e.html

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Regina Real Estate | Early Repatriations, Downsizing, A Deer In ...

Early Repatriations & Downsizing
Relocation and human resources (HR) professionals are coping with a massive number of issues in managing their global expatriate staff. For many, increased pressure from their procurement departments and reduced budgets are leaving them no other choice than to persuade some of their expat employees to return home early (or worse yet, initiating forced repatriations) or transition them into early localization. Many of the assignees have children settled in schools in their host country and are reluctant to leave, or are not ready or willing to be localized, making it difficult to maintain staff motivation and morale.

?We are seeing an increase in early repatriation in Europe and many are a result of redundancy. These cases can be challenging,? noted Shan Norman from London. Warwick Anderson from Australia added, ?the bottom line here in Australia is that companies have placed freezes on the majority of middle and senior management movement.?

In France, a number of companies are downsizing which is causing a rise in unemployment and consumer confidence. Michel Van Riel from Paris, shared some positive insights: ?Some banks are planning a return to France of their expatriates mainly from the U.S., and we have received positive signals from several clients that the number of expatriates relocating will not be affected by the present economic climate.?

Comparing January and February 2009 with the same two months of 2008, Crown saw a 27% increase in the number of people moving to the United States and Canada, suggesting an increase of repatriations. In New York, Bob Leotti commented, ?I?ve seen changes in corporate relocation departments such as expats being sent back home or a reduction in the relocation department itself, especially in the financial sector.?

Las Vegas has been one of the hardest hit economies in the United States. Scott Lax explains, ?over the last 10 years, new construction accounted for about 30% of the Las Vegas economy. Many of these investments have been put on hold indefinitely and the associated jobs have also been put on hold?or disappeared completely. With the industry under so much stress, many people are moving away from Las Vegas.? Bill Whaley from San Francisco added, ?the job losses have been greater than anticipated with multinationals going through major staff reductions since October of last year.?

Relocation professionals in the United States as a whole are also coping with unprecedented domestic relocation issues. The mortgage crisis is making it difficult for employees to sell their homes. In fact, some of them are in a negative equity position (when they owe more on their mortgage than their home is worth). For employees that are unable to sell their homes, corporate clients are implementing creative solutions in their efforts to relocate employees who are needed to fill important roles throughout the country. Home selling strategies, temporary housing benefits and special monetary concessions are just a few of the strategies being employed by relocation professionals managing domestic mobility programs in the United States.


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Economic Impact on Southeast Asia
According to Andrew Soon, ?in Singapore, redundancies nearly tripled from 3,180 in the third quarter of last year to a record quarterly high of 9,410 workers in the fourth quarter as the global economic downturn worsened. As a result, Singapore has unveiled a raft of recovery schemes in efforts to boost the economy.?

?So far I haven?t seen a large impact in Malaysia, but of course there are some people going home. Some corporate projects have been put on hold but existing projects are continuing. Malaysia has become an attractive location for many corporations looking to set up their Asia regional headquarters which has softened the impact of the global economic conditions.? noted Ronan Kelly from Kuala Lumpur.

The Philippines has not experienced a definitive increase in outbound moves, but is starting to see an outflow of mid level managers. According to Camilla Brooks, ?the industries most affected are construction and banking. Despite the significant growth of Business Process Outsourcing (BPOs) in the Philippines in the past few years, there are some signs of a slowdown in their growth. Although it?s unclear, this slowdown is likely to be short-term as companies will continue to be attracted to the cost-saving opportunities from BPOs.

Leon Hulme from Seoul gave his insights on the economic impact in Korea. ?The Korean Won (KRW) is one of the worst performing currencies in Asia, being as much of a concern in Korea as the global financial crisis is.? Many Koreans and Korean Americans are returning home to provide financial support to their families who are impacted by the weak local currency and unable to make ends meet.?

Some BRIC Countries Remain Strong
Regina Mattos from Sao Paulo believes that the Brazilian relocation companies are prospering from this world economic crisis. ?Brazilian banks have been very strict about making loans which prevented a real estate boom, and corresponding bubble, as was seen in the United States. People moving to Brazil are still on the rise, natural resources are plentiful and foreign investments have continued to flow.?

Moscow has not fared as well. Russia has been experiencing an almost 40% collapse of the local Ruble currency in the past year, which has accelerated the already high inflation rate. Crown has seen an increase in expats moving out of Moscow over the past few months compared to the same period last year and there is an overall slowdown in expats making Moscow their new home. While the expectation is that this slowdown will continue in the short-term, the growth of the Eastern European region in the past years, along with the country?s natural resources create a sense of optimism in regard to the country, and region?s long-term growth.

In India, Crown saw a 31% increase in outbound moves with a downward trend primarily in the banking and construction industries. Many of the approximate 1,000 expats in Bangalore are being asked to leave. The hotels that provide long-term accommodations for expats are seeing more and more expats leaving the city. But there has been stability and some growth in the hospitality, pharmaceutical and telecommunications industries. Crown?s team in India is optimistic about India?s highly developed BPOs and banking industries. Many have adapted a ?wait and see? approach to the global economic situation.

China is seeing an interesting trend in expats who have lost their jobs, and rather than return to their home country, are opting to stay in China and find another employer. Gary French from Hong Kong commented, ?over the last few months we have seen an increase in the number of outbound moves, but we have also seen a significant increase in the number of people that are choosing to pack and move to lower-cost housing or to other Asian cities, while keeping their personal effects in short-term storage.

?We believe this is a result of people wanting to stay in the region, to allow their children to finish the school year and also because they see future opportunities in the region and enjoy the Asian lifestyle.?

Despite this trend, Crown has seen double digit increases in the number of outbound moves from Hong Kong versus the first two months of last year. Many HR departments are placing a hold on movement (both domestic and international) until the market stabilizes or they are looking closer at hiring qualified ?local? expats instead of hiring from overseas.

No Country is Immune
The explosive growth and associated competitive labor market in Dubai is loosening up and real estate values are dropping, following unprecedented rises in the last few years. In Dubai, rental prices are expected to decline by up to 30%, down from an estimated 15% rise in 2008, according to an Egyptian-owned investment bank. For the UAE capital Abu Dhabi, however, a 10-15% increase in rents is expected this year due to acute housing shortages.

South Africa has not been as hard hit by the global economic crisis due to the implementation of a National Credit act two years ago. The National Credit act dramatically affected businesses across South Africa in 2007 but made banks almost immune to the current banking woes. Australia?s mining sector employed many South Africans in 2008 but with the downsizing taking place in Australia, many South Africans are now jobless and planning to return home.

A Deer in the Headlights?
Some companies are watching and waiting before taking definitive actions. Leon Hulme, from Seoul said, ?we are seeing some clients adopting a ?deer in the headlights? style of behavior, seemingly unsure of what to do at the moment and therefore sitting back and riding out the turmoil a little longer.

?This might change in the coming months as the majority of expat contracts will come to an end later in the year, to coincide with school terms. It?s less of an administrative burden and helps maintain employee morale to let their contracts come to their natural end.?

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Somali pirates hijack Indian ship with 21 crew off Oman (Reuters)

MUMBAI/DUBAI (Reuters) ? Somali pirates hijacked a chemical-oil tanker with 21 Indian sailors on board on Saturday from near an Omani port, although the exact location was unconfirmed.

India's Directorate General of Shipping said the Fairchem Bogey, managed by Mumbai-based Anglo-Eastern Ship Management, was hijacked while anchored in Salalah port. A Salalah-based shipping source said the vessel was being loaded with methanol when it was seized.

The port's operator, APM Terminals, however, said pirates boarded the vessel while it was two miles off the coast of Oman, awaiting a berth, and comandeered it towards Somalia.

Andrew Mwangura, shipping editor of The Somalia Report, who is based in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa told Reuters the position of the hijacking showed the ship was inside Oman's territorial waters.

"It was captured six nautical miles south of Salalah so it is definitely inside Oman," he said, adding that a country's territorial waters usually stretch out 12 miles into the sea.

"If it is Somali pirates, it means they have a mother ship they are operating with. The high season for piracy has just started."

The end of the southwest monsoon winds in August marks the end of very turbulent high seas In the Gulf of Aden, making it easier for Somali pirates with small vessels to sail out and attack ships, Mwangura said.

Tom Boyd, director of external communications at APM Terminals, told Reuters there were no reported injuries or deaths among the crew, adding that the Omani government was negotiating with the pirates.

APM Terminals has a 30 percent share in Salalah port and operates it for the government.

"The Omani authorities are in discussion with the pirates. Government leaders have met this morning at the palace of the Sultan of Oman. At 8.28 a.m. the vessel sailed in the direction of Somalia," Boyd said.

Oman lies at the mouth of the Gulf, a strategic, heavily patrolled waterway which channels a bulk of the world's crude shipments.

Somali pirates behind similar vessel hijackings usually operate in Indian Ocean waters, but in January, a 20,586-tonne Algerian-flagged bulk carrier was seized about 150 miles southeast of Salalah.

(Reporting by Aditya Phatak in Mumbai, Martina Fuchs in Dubai and Duncan Miriri in Nairobi; Editing by Miral Fahmy and Mike Nesbit)

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/india/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110820/india_nm/india588810

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Vancouver Olympic Accommodations ? ArticleImprove.net

Maybe this really is your first Olympics otherwise you have postcards and memories hailing as far back as Salt Lake City, Nagano, Lillehammer, Albertville as well as Calgary.? In any event ., if you?re an lover on the luge, sucker for speed-skating, dangerously into downhill or huge on hockey, you should be on Lower Mainland or even in the ocean To Sky Corridor of Canada?s most western province.

The necessary the events are split amongst Vancouver proper, its suburban satellite communities as well as world-acclaimed alpine resort of Whistler.? And even though great lengths have already been attended in an effort to provide Olympic athletes together with the latest and greatest facilities on the planet, you?ll be pleased to uncover how the city doesn?t have any shortage of top-notch accommodations for avid spectators just like you likewise.? We?re dealing with beautiful Olympic Accommodations that not only give you along with your winter sports-loving crew which has a peace and privacy hard to come by throughout an Olympic event but additionally accommodations which might be tailored back needs and wants ? owing to this many from which to choose, you?re odds of finding the Olympic Accommodation you?ve always dreamt of are just like the Canadian hockey team?s likelihood of making it to the podium. (for the first-time Winter Olympic fans, Team Canada?s itrrrs likely? golden) ?

Vancouver and Whistler?s communities are set against an array of picturesque parts of the province.? So whether you need crazy mountain vistas, ocean panoramas or soaring views over the city, you?ll be no less disappointed looking out as you will be looking in.? Coastal British Columbia?s Olympic Accommodations will place you as near because you require being to the events you?ve come to see.? Let?s begin in the mountains?

Just 2 hours north of Vancouver over the stunningly beautiful Seas to Sky Highway could be the picture-perfect alpine capital of scotland- Whistler.? An European-style resort destination with more than 100 restaurants, bars and nightclubs and dozens of shops, Whistler is just as great away from the slopes which is on.? But it is the mountain, or should we are saying mountains, that offer the chief attractions.? Whistler shares the recreational responsibilities between its 2 sister peaks, Whistler Mountain and Blackcomb Mountain.? And with over 8 thousand acres of skiable terrain, over 200 runs, 38 lifts, 5 snowboard parks, 2 super pipes an 11 kilometre run and also a vertical drop of over five thousand feet it?s easy to realise why it is a town that exceeds any with each expectation.? Throughout the 2010 Winter Olympics, Whistler are going to be ground zero for a lot of in the games most fun events.? The Whistler Sliding Centre on Blackcomb Mountain will have the location of the bobsleigh, luge and skeleton events.? As soon as the last medal have been handed out and the cowbells are actually let go of, the facility will also become both a tourist attraction as well as a high-performance development centre featuring youth and club programming.? Not very many minutes? drive away, Whistler Creekside houses the alpine skiing events with all the Dave Murray Downhill along with the Franz Run serving up slalom courses that can thrill the 8 thousand-plus spectators who definitely are packing on the mountainside.? This area has also been the place to find many downhill World Cups, hence the aptly-named World Cup Plaza ? a strip of bars and restaurants within the foot of the Whistler Creekside Gondola.? But it doesn?t stop with downhill?

The most impressive with the new Olympic facilities, Whistler Olympic Park serves cross-country skiing, biathlon and ski jumping, all in an easy 400 meter walk of one another.? Some of the facilities highlights include two sizes of ski jump with state-of-the-art track setting systems and snow refrigeration and the 30-lane fully electronic biathlon stadium.? A lot of Olympic Accommodations in this field include fantastic views and a lot even ski-in, ski-out access.

A Whistler Olympic Accommodation we have been showcasing can be a 7 bedroom luxury home located minutes on the Whistler Sliding Center. This spectacular demonstration of fine Whistler architectural splendour spreads 6000 sq ft across 3 numbers of luxury living. The vaulted ceilings and great room offer open spaces and comfort, the ideal meeting places for ones family or selection of friends from a busy day enjoying Whistler. This home has unique features throughout which feature a, multimedia room CD-R stereo system, wine bar, ski/snow boot drying rack, a pool table, an aura hockey table, as well as an outdoor covered 6-person spa tub. For $3,500 CAD per night, this ideal place for family and friends to take pleasure from everything you can find to view and do in Whistler.

In search of the act of the alpine sports with closer having access to Vancouver and the other events?? Around the Northern coast, Cypress Mountain in West Vancouver houses the freestyle skiing and snowboarding events.? On account of the Cypress Legacy Project many new opportunities have arisen for First Nations art and culture while venue upgrades have included run modification, a new in-ground half pipe, a freestyle aerial and mogul site plus a parallel giant slalom course and a snowmaking system.? At this point, you possibly can look down upon the twinkling skyline of Vancouver, the location of even more medal-contending excitement. Most of the Vancouver Olympic Accommodations in this subject are fine homes hidden inside the many residential neighbourhoods internationally renowned for natural setting and delightful vistas from the city and ocean. Choose from new townhouses, quaint character homes, stately mansion or mountainside estates. Prices cover anything from $800 CAD?a night to $2500 through the night and beyond.?

Canada Hockey Place and Thunderbird Arena are splitting the ice hockey events.? Canada Hockey Place usually goes on the name General Motors Place and has now a capacity of just about 19 thousand, whilst the second venue, the 7,200-seat Thunderbird Arena, is just a short drive away to the sprawling campus with the University of British Columbia.? Also central to your city could be the Vancouver Olympic Centre, where you can the curling and wheelchair curling events ? a 6,000-seat capacity venue that could be used as a multi-purpose community recreation centre come Spring.? Stay downtown Vancouver and you may enjoy amazing having access to these events as well up-close-and-personal encounter while using city?s legendary nightlife and dining scene. Downtown Vancouver along with the area surrounding Canada Hockey Place provides a range of condos. There are literally hundreds of condo developments available that range in height from a few floors to towers in excess of 40 stores offering unparalleled views in the mountains plus the city below. For small groups, these accommodations may be the most inexpensive starting at $500 per night.

Head 14 kilometres into your southern suburbs comprise the Fraser River Delta and you?ll chose the impressive Richmond Olympic Oval, an 8 thousand-seat event-centre that will host the speed skating events.? Designed to permit a fairly easy cross-sport transition, it contains 2 international-size ice rinks, a 200 meter running track, 8 gymnasiums plus over 23,000 square feet of fitness centre.? All throughout this rural, almost rustic region, holiday rentals will meet the needs of those less inclined on the fast pace of city-dwelling. The Accommodations in this subject are some of the cheapest in Vancouver because considered outlying areas. Nevertheless, these residential neighbourhoods are a fantastic location from which to commute into Vancouver or about Whistler on account of the new SkyTrain service, a commuter train which takes you into your heart of your Olympic action and beyond.

You should realize the spectacular appeal of Vancouver is the greatest possible backdrop for the event similar to this. Visit Vancouver and choose from hand-picked Olympic Accommodations to develop memories that could last forever. We guarantee that you?ll be back for much more next summer.

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Source: http://articleimprove.net/vancouver-olympic-accommodations/

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Perry: Obama overdue in call for Assad to quit

Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry greets people in downtown Portsmouth, N.H., Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)

Republican presidential candidate, Texas Gov. Rick Perry greets people in downtown Portsmouth, N.H., Thursday, Aug. 18, 2011. (AP Photo/Cheryl Senter)

(AP) ? Republican presidential hopeful Rick Perry says President Obama's call for the resignation of the Syrian president is long overdue.

The Texas governor says Syrian President Bashar Assad supports terrorist groups and has threatened the security of the Syrian people and the region. He says that every diplomatic option should be used to force Assad to step down.

Perry made the comments to construction workers Thursday afternoon during a campaign stop inside a New Hampshire business.

Obama as well as the leaders of Britain, France and Germany and the European Union demanded that Assad resign, saying his brutal suppression of his people had made him unfit to lead.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2011-08-18-Perry-Syria/id-8e50878ae8aa49d69ab626dc97cea6e3

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Question of the Day on ElderCareMatters.com ... - ElderCare Matters

Answer:??You should contact the local authorities immediately, report the theft, and ensure they understand that you?re fearful for your safety. In addition, I would terminate the services of your current caregiver and contact a local licensed home health agency.

To?find? competent, caring elder?care professionals?across America who are located near You and can help you with your elder care matters,?go to: www.ElderCareMatters.com?- A FREE?online resource to find?elder care experts?plus elder care information & answers to your elder care questions.

Bart Delsing, Owner & Chief Operating Officer
FirstLantic Healthcare, Inc.

Delray Beach, Florida? 33445
561-243-7979
Member of the?national ElderCare Matters Alliance,?Florida chapter?

Source: http://www.eldercarematters.com/ask-an-expert/2011/08/18/question-of-the-day-on-eldercarematters-com-help%C2%A0i-hired-an-independent-home-care-provider-several-months-ago-and-now-i-am-literally-fearing-for-my-safety-%C2%A0many-of-my-treasured-items-fro/

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Market chaos could reform investor behavior

The best thing to be said of the recent stomach-churning turmoil on Wall Street is that it's taking place in August, a time of year when many people are lounging at the beach or camping in the woods and not paying attention to stocks.

But for everyone else not on a 'stockation,' watching the markets rise and fall like giant ocean swells has been an unnerving experience that some finance professionals worry could reshape investor behavior for months and years to come.

"Everyone felt this was idiotic," says Susan Kaplan, president of Kaplan Financial Services, referring to last week's volatility. "Most clients didn't want to deal with the markets anymore and went back to their summer vacations," said Kaplan, whose firm manages about $1.3 billion in customer money.

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In the short term, doing nothing may well prove to be the best strategy for dealing with the kind of dizzying gyrations that occurred the week of August 8 in the U.S. stock market. At one point, the S&P500 was down 8 percent for the week before it erased all of those losses and then some in the ensuing days.

Thursday brought another August storm. The S&P500 plunged 4.46 percent and the benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield fell below 2 percent for the first time in 70 years. And the trouble is this turmoil may not be some temporary anomaly.

Free fallin'
Experts say investors should expect even more volatility in stocks, as herd trading by hedge funds, knee-jerk trader reaction to news and lightning fast computer programs combine to make for a new and uncomfortable normal on Wall Street.

This new trading frontier even has its own signature milepost, something called "a liquidity black hole." It's a trading phenomenon in which there's so much intense selling pressure in big-cap stocks that it sucks all the oxygen out of the market and stocks plunge precipitously - as on August 8 when every single stock in the S&P500 ended the day in the red.

"We have to be aware that we can be hit by one of these liquidity black holes with ever increasing frequency," says G. Andrew Karolyi, a finance professor at Cornell University Johnson Graduate School of Management. If you are a long-term buy and hold investor you better be aware of these and not panic when you see it."

Yet some fear that's just what ordinary investors will do as this new hair-trigger trading dynamic becomes more common. There's a concern that frenzied trading could drive people further away from stocks at a time when, other than gold, there are few assets generating any kind of substantial return.

Story: Small investors fleeing stock market

And that's something that could have long-term ramifications for the ability of investors to build retirement nest-eggs, especially given the historic poor ability of retail investors to time market swoons and surges. A portfolio with 20 percent in cash, 50 percent in a bond fund yielding 3.42 percent a year and 30 percent in stocks isn't going to enable a person in their 50s to retire any time soon.

Also if investors flee stocks it could make it harder for small, niche companies, such as ones in the biotech or clean energy sectors, to tap the public markets for capital. Or more of those companies might take their capital-raising business overseas to places like Hong Kong, which would be another blow to Wall Street.

"The market we are operating in is markedly different from five years ago," says Andrew Lo, a professor of finance at the MIT Sloan School of Management, who frequently writes on hedge fund trading strategies and markets. "We are seeing extraordinary emotional reactions from central banks, politicians, regulators and investors. That kind of reaction is not conducive for building long-term wealth. We have an environment that is highly unstable."

One might say Wall Street is a bipolar market that veers from despair to euphoria with each passing news headline.

19th nervous breakdown
Over the past several weeks, stocks prices have swung widely based on a range of factors: the perceived progress of European leaders in dealing with the eurozone debt crisis; the fears of a double-dip recession in the United States; the fallout from Standard & Poor's downgrade of U.S. debt; and whether the Federal Reserve will embrace a new round of easy money to jumpstart the economy.

L. Randall Wray, a professor of economics at the University of Missouri-Kansas City, says much daily trading in stocks is like a self-fulfilling prophecy. "What matters is what the markets think not what people in the markets believe," says Wray. "Traders are constantly trying to guess how daily events might affect other market participants."

This guessing game is largely being driven by super-fast computers with algorithmic programs designed to react to headlines and overall market trading patterns. The Tabb Group, a financial markets' research firm, estimates that during the frenetic week of August 8, high-frequency trading firms and strategies accounted for 65 percent of the daily trading volume in the United States.

Life Inc.: Wanting or having no part in it

The power of the machines over trading is one reason why technical analysis, often pooh-poohed as Wall Street alchemy, is gaining more believers among traders. There's more interest than ever in computer programmers who can write algos to simply buy and sell stocks whenever the S&P hits a predetermined target, or some bizarrely-named trading pattern such as a "Death Cross" forms on screens.

Some of the surge in volatility is also attributed to a growing legion of money managers who frequently trade exchange-traded funds - which are baskets of stocks, indexes and other assets - as a way to hedge their positions.

"There's a different dynamic now because of the pervasiveness of high-frequency traders and hedge funds," says John Longo, chief investment strategist at MDE Group, which manages $1.3 billion in assets. Longo, also a finance professor at Rutgers Business School in New Jersey, adds: "The down-5-percent one day, up-5-percent the next day volatility wouldn't have happened in the past."

Stormy weather
The trouble for ordinary investors is that there are no good market forecasts for predicting what might spark a liquidity black hole. Fear about the United States and European countries slipping back into recession is a legitimate concern that could have real impact on corporate profits and stocks. But when traders act on those fears at lightning speed it can result in seemingly irrational sell-offs.

Take the scary 6.66 percent drop in the S&P500 on August 8. On that first trading day after the credit rating arm of S&P stripped the U.S. of its vaunted Triple AAA debt rating, all 500 stocks in the index closed the day in the red.

The selling was so ferocious that shares of McDonald's Corp, for instance, fell 3.5 percent to $82.11, even though the fast-food giant reported a 5.1 percent climb in same-store sales for July, higher than analysts had expected.

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Such selling with no regard to corporate fundamentals makes the notion of stock picking seem quaint.

Keith Wirtz, chief investment officer at Fifth Third Asset Management, with $18 billion in assets, says the indiscriminate selling means "good stocks are going down at the same pace as bad stocks."

Karolyi says the waves of wholesale selling driven by liquidity black holes are not just the byproduct of the over-computerization of trading, it's the end result of too much "group think" by institutional traders.

He says Wall Street first saw this in August 2007, when dozens of quant hedge funds suffered big losses at the start of the financial crisis because the algos they employed were all buying and selling the same securities. This flawed thinking by some of Wall Street's brightest math geeks was an early warning sign of even worse group think to come with regards to the value of securities backed by subprime mortgages.

Karolyi says his research, which will be officially published later this year in The Journal of Financial Economics, has found the phenomenon of liquidity black holes is spreading beyond the U.S. to other stock markets. That is problematic because the effects of liquidity black holes can be profound.

Critics of high-frequency trading firms argue that the May 6, 2010 "flash crash," in which the Dow Jones Industrials plunged 1,000 points in less than 20 minutes, was caused in part by an absence of liquidity or traders making markets in stocks. While securities regulators have never identified a single cause for the flash crash, they have noted that the rapid collapse of stock prices was exacerbated by some high-frequency trading firms turning off their computers and not making trades.

Some are starting to worry about the impact on ordinary investors of the rise of the machines and all these unforeseen consequences. These Wall Street professionals wonder whether events like the flash crash and the frenzied trading of this month will push average investors further away from stocks and into low-yielding money market funds and bond funds.

"The last 10 years have been a nightmare in this business," says Dave D'Amico, president and chief market strategist at Braver Capital Management, which has $575 million in customer money. "People distrust Wall Street at one of the highest rates I can remember."

Evidence of that distrust is already apparent. Over the past two weeks, retail investors pulled $17.4 billion out of U.S. equity mutual funds, according to Lipper, a mutual fund information service. Investors have been backing away from stocks for some time, with many retail investors missing out on a sizable chunk of the 5,000 point surge in the Dow Jones Industrials since the markets bottomed in March 2009.

According to Strategic Insight, a mutual fund consulting firm, stock mutual funds in 2009 took in about $85 billion as the markets were beginning to rise. In comparison, a record $425 billion was invested in low-yielding bond mutual funds.

This trend of retail investors preferring bonds over stocks continues to this day, even as the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury hit 1.98 percent on Thursday. In 2010, investors added $222 billion more to bond funds than they withdrew. Yet despite an average 17 percent return last year for the average U.S. stock fund, retail investors took more money out of those funds than they put in, according to Strategic Insight.

"Americans are scarred by the devastating market crash of 2008," said Tom Roseen, senior research analyst at Lipper. "The gut wrenching losses of this period are still fresh in everyone's mind."

Cruel to be kind
The tumultuous trading of August will only reinforce those painful memories.

Retail investors have notoriously bad timing. For the 17th time in as many years, Boston-based research firm DALBAR found that the 20-year returns realized by mutual fund investors lagged the markets thanks to ill-timed buys and sells driven by psychology. "At no point in time have average investors remained invested for a sufficiently long enough period to derive the benefits of a long-term investment strategy," DALBAR wrote in its 2011 investor behavior analysis.

Nonetheless retail investors, via their stock mutual funds, own a sizable chunk of America's publicly-traded companies. Strategic Insight reports that U.S. mutual funds and exchange-trade funds hold $4 trillion in U.S. stocks, or 27.7 percent of the total U.S. market capitalization.

Wall Street investment firms, of course, have a big stake in dissuading investors from turning their back on stocks or mutual funds. That's especially true for a big retail brokerage firm like Charles Schwab, which has marketed itself as a place for individuals to control their financial destinies.

Walter Bettinger, Schwab's chief executive officer, concedes that the current market turmoil will prove difficult for the online brokerage's less experienced customers.

"If someone's idea of investing is sitting in front of their computer without a strategy, of seeking gains through trading against machines making millions of trades a second, that's a tough row to hoe," says Bettinger.

He says the largest online investment firm is trying to move more of its customers to a mix of do-it-yourself investing and guidance from a financial consultant. He expects that to be an easier sell if extreme volatility continues.

The danger for Schwab and all of Wall Street is retail investors become ever more cautious and simply sit in cash, Treasuries and low-yielding bond funds.

And the danger for retail investors is they end up forsaking stocks and start seeking higher-yields in speculative investments that promise returns too good to believe.

Source: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44202694/ns/business/

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Key facts you must know about car accident insurance ? Auto ...

By Jasper Ericks
Published: Monday, August 15th, 2011

With bombardment of vehicles on the road, everyday, car accidents are a common sight. If you are fortunate you may get away with minor injuries, but what if things turn ugly? In such scenarios car accident insurance plays a vital role. It offers the required coverage during such stressful times.

What to do while still at the accident site?

Seek immediate medical assistance. You can either dial 911or call your doctor for help. Check the condition of damaged vehicle and try to pull it off the road. You may be in a state of shock and hence do not realize that you?re injured. Therefore, wait calmly for help.

Try to gather names, vehicle identification number and insurance information of any witnesses or other motorists. This information will be useful at a later stage when filing auto insurance claim.

If you have a cellular phone with camera, click pictures of the accident site, damaged vehicle and injured passengers including you.

Inform the police immediately if the accident is serious and involves severe damages and injuries to the vehicle and people. File First Information Report (FIR) with the police immediately describing how the accident occurred. You must keep this documentation and carry a copy of the important documents when filing the claim.

Contacting Insurance Company:

Upon completing these formalities and receiving medical aid, contact your auto insurance company and provide them with relevant accident details. It is best to be honest as lying can go against you and you may be denied claim. It may even have legal repercussions. A written statement filled with the accident details is held valid. You can strengthen your claim by supporting the documents with evidence. The cause of accident must be clearly mentioned in the document. Further, create a catalogue of injuries to self and passengers and damage to the vehicle. Maintain the original copy of the expenses, as you would be required to submit the bills to your insurer when you file your car accident claim.

Finding suitable accidental cover:

The market is flooded with insurance vendors, each offering varied discounts and benefits. Some insurers? service specialized groups, while others, provide coverage to a broad category of people.

When shopping for car accidental insurance cover you must know your priorities and the budget you are willing to spend.

Realizing the specifics of every brand of car insurance will help you make an informed decision.

Source: http://www.autoquotenow.com/articles/car-accident-insurance/key-facts-you-must-know-about-car-accident-insurance-4370.php

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