Friday, August 8, 2008

How Can I Settle My Debts?

If you have a large amount of debt you may have begun to feel overwhelmed and to wonder how can I settle my debts. While bankruptcy may be one option you've considered, there is another alternative: debt consolidation Before you decide if debt consolidation is right you, it's important to learn a little more about the process.

What is Debt Consolidation?

Debt consolidation involves taking out a new loan and using those borrowed loans to pay off your existing debt For example, you may use the loan to pay off credit cards, a car loan, and other outstanding bills.

While it may seem counter-intuitive to take on more debt in order to get your existing debt under control, this is actually a smart move because it will allow you to save money on payments and on interest. For example, take a look at the interest rates you're paying on all of those credit card balances. There's a good chance you are paying more than 20% but a debt consolidation loan would probably have a lower rate. Plus, your monthly payment for the loan is likely to be significantly less than the combination of all those individual bill payments.

A Few Debt Consolidation Issues

Before you jump into debt consolidation there are some issues you'll want to consider. For one, you need to be sure that the interest rate on the debt consolidation loan is going to be lower than the rates on your outstanding debt You do not wan to end up paying more in the long run for your debt.

Another issue is whether or not you will qualify for a debt consolidation loan that will be sufficient to cover your debt If you end up paying only a portion of your debt you could end up in a worse situation by taking on this extra bill even if you've managed to pay off some smaller debt.

Also, make sure that you do not use debt consolidate as a way to quickly pay off some credit cards just to run up balances again. That won't be useful in the long run either.

Getting Started with a Debt Consolidate Loan

You first step is to find a lender. Make sure you work with a trustworthy lender - you'll find a number of smaller mortgage companies that will charge enormous interest rates and that's something you want to avoid. Once you find a lender you trust, you can work together to complete the loan and to consolidate your outstanding bills.

Make sure you have a good idea of how much of a loan you will need before you go in to discuss the loan. You may even want to bring in the current totals on your outstanding debts. Remember that you cannot use a debt consolidation loan to combine tax money or student loans. Any other type of outstanding debt can be combined.

Before you finalize the paperwork, be sure you can afford the new monthly payment, too. Otherwise, you may find yourself back in a bad situation.

Unsecured Debt Consolidation For Bad Credit

If you are suffering from various bad credit loans and struggling to keep up, then consider debt consolidation. You can apply for debt consolidation for bad credit to bring together all your loans and have them under one clean new roof. Debt consolidation for bad credit holders is becoming increasingly competitive in today's market and we would advise you to shop around online and compare the different quotes. You may find it harder obtaining debt consolidation unsecured, but if you own your own home you will be able to obtain a secured loan. Just fill in an online application form on a quote comparison site to find out more about what low rates you can get.

Consolidation can improve your bad credit history by consolidating all your debts into one affordable low monthly payment. This will improve your credit rating and leave you with some spare cash each month. With today's highly competitive market you can expect to receive highly competitive rates for your monthly payment. Not only this, more and more companies are taking on customers who need debt consolidation for bad credit and offering lower rates and better deals.

You do need to qualify to obtain such a loan but it has never been easier than right now. More and more people are using debt consolidation companies to get back on the right track and start enjoying life, not worrying about the next bill coming in.

Debt consolidation can help you to gain financial stability, peace of mind, freedom and reduce your monthly outgoings. Although typically this kind of recourse is for homeowners, you can now apply for debt consolidation unsecured. With this type of loan you not only get all these benefits of consolidation, you also get it 'risk free' and you don't have to be a home owner to get this loan.

Regardless of what type of debt consolidation for bad credit you go for, speak to an advisor today about how a consolidation company can help you and your family. You can do this by phone or in person or even online. You can fill out an online application form then sit back and wait for them to get in touch with you instead.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Business Debt Consolidation Loans: Restart your Business

Every business firm has to maintain certain sources of cash inflow. Mostly, these sources are derived from the amount of profit but sometimes, things may go wrong and in such situations, owners are left with no other option than to rely their business on the external sources of funds such as loans. However, these loans in turn, are on open to invitation to debts as many a time, people fail to repay their borrowed amount due to certain reasons such as loss in the business, unexpected expenses, low profit percentage or mismanagement of funds. Hence, if you are also suffering from the poor consequences of debts, secured against your name, then do not take long to consider the valuable assistance of business debt consolidation loans that can easily share the heavy burden of your multiple debts.

Business debt consolidation loans are specifically designed for all those businessmen, who are suffering from torturous phase of multiple debts. With this loan option, any borrower can have the advantage of merging all his existing debts into one debt, at considerably low interest rate. Moreover, interested applicants would also like to know that this loan service is widely available in both the forms of secured and unsecured debt consolidation loans. However, to obtain the secured option, borrowers have to place some collateral as security against the loan demand. Ideally, home, property, automobile and jewelry are considered to be the most apt form of collaterals. On the other hand, with unsecured business debt consolidation loans, no such requirement of collateral submission is needed to be fulfilled.

Nowadays, almost every finance institution standing in the industry, is dealing in the option of business debt consolidation loans and thus, acquiring one suitable loan deal is not much of a hassle for any applicant. However, it is recommended to conduct productive market research on various lenders and their offered plans, before reaching to any conclusion. For this purpose, applicants can refer to good finance consultancies or can also browse through the extensive network of web, where most of the lenders are available with their corporate websites. These websites display each and every detail about the repayment module, rate of interest and other important features of the loan. Hence, if you are also depressed with the ever increasing burden of debts on your shoulders, then immediately consider this loan option and make your life more simplified.

Another lucrative option available with business debt consolidation loans, is the facility of acquiring an intelligent debt management plan. These days, every finance company is taking special interest in offering their borrowers, a well though debt management plan, that mainly talks about the wise utilization of the loan amount. To avail this feature, borrowers are requested to offer a detailed track sheet of their debts, that are secured with multiple lenders. The experienced financial advisors will first analyze this given track sheet and will then formulate an effective monetary plan accordingly. Hence, if you are also looking out for such beneficial assistance to boost up your business once again, then immediately take up the option of loan service and clear all your pending debts in an appropriate manner.

Now avail Consolidation Loans at Easy and Affordable Rates of Interest

Debt consolidation loans are the loans where a loan aspirant normally avails loan to eliminate his all long outstanding financial worries. In layman or normal people language it is a loan that is availed to pay off other outstanding loans or debts. These loans can be categorised into two distinct types, one is the secured debt consolidation loans while the other one is the unsecured debt consolidation loan. The secured version of these loans requires an asset of the borrower to be placed as security with the money lender.

This is a practice that is observed by the lenders in order to ensure the fact that their money is safe. If a case of default in the repayment of the loan occurs there, then the lender can successfully recover his outstanding money. Also the lender seeing his money is safe does not hesitate to offer reasonable and affordable rate of interest. On the other hand are the unsecured debt consolidation loans where the borrower does not need to put any of his assets as security with the lender. But here one thing needs to be kept in mind by every loan aspirant that the rate of interest on these loans is generally on the higher side. The reason for this is quite obvious as there is no involvement of security.

Whenever a person hears the term debt consolidation loans, one thing that immediately comes into his/her mind that this term is related to a person who is suffering from the problem of multiple debts. But this perception which prevails in the mind of the people is wrong to some extent. Yes, it is because in reality these loans are also availed normally by the people to meet their immediate expenses. The USP of these loans is that not only they can be availed easily but can also be very easily repaid back. Another thing that contributes to the spreading of this above mentioned conception is that since these debts consolidation loans are an integral part of the debt management programs. Hence, this is the reason why these loans are often misunderstood.

As said earlier these loans are an integral part of the debt management programs. Now here the question may arise what actually is this debt management programs? These are the programs that are offered by various financial institutions across the UK. This program involves the application of various and numerous path-breaking techniques that can help a person in getting rid of the piles of long outstanding debts. On the whole it is a systematic approach to reduce the effect of the debts. The advices or suggestions offered under these programs are completely reliable and can be trusted as they are offered by the experts.

Hence it can be easily said debt consolidation loans are not only an integral part of debt management program but also the most effective tool to counter the problem of short term as well as the long term debts.

EOG May Be Consolidation Candidate

EOG's optimistic valuation and high spending versus generated cash flow had previously been a concern to us. However, recent underperformance makes the valuation look more reasonable and higher commodity prices have turned the EOG model free cash positive (about $1.0 billion) in 2008.

With the shares 31% off its 52-week high, we see a more balanced risk-reward profile for EOG.

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EOG is now trading at a 26% premium to its proved (1P) net asset value of $80 compared to a 16% discount for the large-cap peers and the group overall. When including upside we assign to 8.2 trillion cubic feet equivalent of unproved reserves, EOG is trading at a 31% discount to our risk-weighted (2/3P) net asset value of $145, which is now more in line with the 33% discount for the large-cap peers.

EOG is trading at 4.0 times 2009 Ebitda, which is in line with the large-caps and below the overall group at 4.9 times. On proved reserves, EOG is trading at $3.36 per thousand cubic feet equivalent on pro forma year-end reserves versus $3.48 per thousand cubic feet equivalent for the group average.

The improved spending balance and low financial leverage (13% debt-to-cap) now gives us better confidence in the sustainability of 13% to 15% per annum production growth.

We are raising our 2008/2009 earnings-per-share estimates to $10.47/$10.67 from $10.44/$10.03 to reflect second-quarter results and updated guidance (lower costs).

EOG reported an adjusted second-quarter 2008 EPS of $2.52 compared to our $2.37 estimate and the $2.37 [Thomson] First Call consensus. Relative to our estimates, the earnings beat was due to lower income taxes (by seven cents), lower exploration (by six cents), lower production costs (by five cents) and lower production taxes (by four cents) partially offset by weaker pricing (by five cents) and lower production (by two cents).

Our net asset value rises to $145 (from $138) on lower costs and additional value for the Bakken shale (125 million barrels of equivalent); however, we are reducing our target price to $116 (from $124) as it is now based on a 20% discount to net asset value (versus 10% prior), reflecting less market appreciation for unbooked reserves generally for the group.

We think EOG's dominant footprint in several key basins (i.e., Barnett and Bakken shale, Uinta basin) could make it an attractive consolidation candidate for a major oil [company] looking to expand its U.S. gas holdings.

We would highlight recent investments by Big Oil in the Haynesville and Woodford shale plays, and in the Piceance and Green River basins of the Rockies. Lastly, we see good value in natural-gas producers today. While worries on demand and production growth plague sentiment currently, the overall group reflects about $6.50-$7.00 per million British thermal units long-term gas prices; below the economic threshold of production we estimate ($8.50-$9.00 per million British thermal units).

Commodities Broad Consolidation Underway

Short-term weakness in August for CRB; upward pressure back by September; 400 to 420 main support zone in consolidation
• Broad, flat trading pattern potentially building; increased caution needed over the next two to three months
• Range-bound trading continues for oil above $120 support level this month; peak price remains at $141 to $147 for 2008
• Natural gas finds support at $9.00; target back to $14 by 4th quarter.

Of the four main markets – currencies, commodities, bonds and stocks – natural resources are the clear winner in this game. Much to the likely dismay of big-cap, blue-chip equity investors, tangibles are providing portfolios with welcomed profits in a bear market. And this pattern is not expected to change in the near future. With the mighty greenback steadily drifting lower (the U.S. is $9 trillion in debt, and counting) and China’s and India’s economies expanding at more than 8% gross domestic product (GDP), this secular combination of events remains very bullish for commodity-based investors over the long term.

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Fund manager likes Taiwan debt, wary on Philippines

HONG KONG -- Bond investors looking to Asia should favor issues from Taiwan and Singapore, as both markets are likely to be supported by strengthening currencies, a BEA Union fund executive said Monday.

But Indian and Philippine debt markets should be approached with caution, given the risk that authorities in both countries fall behind the curve in tackling inflation, added Henry Wong, head of fixed income for the firm, which manages about $2.1 billion.

The Hong Kong-based fund manager also favors the debt markets of Hong Kong and Malaysia, but believes that given the risk of central bank tightening, investors are best off buying short-term issues and avoiding the long end of the yield curve.

"We are now having an inflation problem as a whole. That is why, initially, we will be more concentrated or focused on the short-dated scenario," he told Reuters.

"We favor those more developed countries because they are able to tackle this inflation problem."

Wong, who helps manage about $450 million, said investors should also favor the debt of Asian energy and telecom firms, which are more likely to be supported by steady cash flows, while avoiding the bonds of exporters vulnerable to the slowdown in global economic growth.

RISK OF INDIA DOWNGRADES

The fund manager made the comments as the firm, which is owned by Bank of East Asia and Germany's Union Asset Management Holding AG, prepared to launch the BEA Asian Bond and Currency Fund in Hong Kong and mainland China.

The firm is targeting a $50-million launch for the fund, and is looking for about 60 percent of assets to come from mainland Chinese savers investing through the country's Qualified Domestic Institutional Investor program.

The former head of fixed income for the Asian arm of BNP Paribas Asset Management said a major challenge for the Philippines was the rising food and energy costs.

The country gets almost all of its crude from abroad and is the world's biggest rice importer. Its peso currency slid by over 6.0 percent this year, adding to the inflationary impact of rising import prices.

With India, a recent favorite of foreign investors, Wong is concerned about the ability of the country's ruling coalition to cope with the turnaround in the country's economic fortunes.

Analysts say India's investment-grade foreign debt rating is in danger of being cut back to junk status as slowing economic growth, rising inflation and growing debt wreak havoc on the country's finances.

This month, Standard & Poor's said the rising cost of subsidies, debt write-offs and public sector wage rises had increased the risk of a downgrade of India's BBB-minus rating, the lowest investment-grade rating.