AAA welcomes Predictions of Gold Rally

A new Morgan Stanley Report predicting that gold’s rally will continue into the third quarter of 2014 has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

Boston, MA, February 02, 2013 - A new Morgan Stanley Report predicting that gold’s rally will continue into the third quarter of 2014 has been welcomed by Alternative Asset Analysis (AAA).

The report predicts that the US Federal Reserve will carry on buying up gold to strengthen the economy’s position well into next year, which could mean that it’s still very much worth investing in this alternative asset class. AAA endorses investment in alternative asset classes and ethical investment projects, such as the forestry investment and green energy investment.

“We are pleased to hear Morgan Stanley’s endorsement of gold as an asset class,” stated AAA’s analysis partner, Anthony Johnson. He continued: “We have seen a major increase in interest in alternatives since the economic collapse. It seems both institutional investors and individuals simply looking to diversify their investment portfolios against risk are keen on alternatives.”

“Investing in something like gold, as opposed to stocks and shares, offers a certain peace of mind as it is something tangible in exchange for their cash.”

As the US recovery increasingly took hold at the end of 2012, the price of gold fell. However, the Morgan Stanley analysts believe that the asset class is to remain popular well into next year.

Reports suggest that the US economy is to grow by 2 per cent in the coming year and 3 per cent in 2014. The number of houses being built is growing rapidly is response to the more positive economic outlook.

The house building increase is set to benefit some other alternative asset classes, like forestry, claims AAA. “Investing in timberland through firms that run plantations of sustainably grown timbers, like Greenwood Management, is a great bet at the moment,” added Mr Johnson. “Investing in timber is risk-averse and is a great way to offsetting the impact of inflation.”

Contact:
Anthony Johnson
Alternative Asset Analysis
71 Commercial St
Boston, MA 02109-1320
617-939-9596
info@alternativeassetanalysis.com
http://www.alternativeassetanalysis.com

FRA 'shocked' at World Bank Forestry Report

The $4.1 billion in funding invested by the World Bank into forestry projects has largely failed to fulfil its goals, according to the Bank’s own investigation

Bainbridge Island, WA, February 01, 2013 - The $4.1 billion in funding invested by the World Bank into forestry projects has largely failed to fulfil its goals, according to the Bank’s own investigations. Forestry Research Associates (FRA) claims that encouraging more private investment into sustainable plantations could help to improve the lives of those living in vulnerable forested regions.

The World Banks has given cash to 345 forestry projects spread over 75 nations in the ten years to July 2011. However, the report said that many of these projects were not being run sustainably or in an environmentally friendly way. The World Bank came under criticism for continuing to support industrial logging and failing to ensure the benefits of their cash were going to the rural poor rather than the local wealthy people, who were, in fact, benefiting more in some cases. The World Bank also failed to involve local communities in decision making.

Many countries in Europe and elsewhere have invested millions of dollars into the fund to support the forestry projects being backed by the World Bank. It is thought that this latest report could lead to a major review of these contributions. The UK, for example, has contributed $600 million to the Bank’s forestry schemes in the last five years.

FRA’s analysis partner, Peter Collins, said, “The news that the World Bank’s cash could have been doing the opposite of helping poorer communities and preventing climate change is a shock and we believe it’s now time to look at other ways to help these regions."

FRA supports a range of sustainable forestry investment schemes, such as the sustainable plantations run by Greenwood Management in Brazil. Through these projects, local communities learn that keeping natural forests alive and standing can generate rewards through carbon trading deals, for example. At the same time, managing plantations responsibly means the forestry industry is safeguarded for generations to come.

Contact:
Peter Collins
Forestry Research Associates
620 Vineyard Lane
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
(206) 316 8394
info@forestry-research.com
http://www.forestry-research.com