Inflation fears and rising interest rates has given equity markets jitters despite the apparent strength of the business cycle worldwide and where, for example, there has been an increase in M&A activity.  It's impossible to call but it looks more like a re-adjustment before moving on, rather than a dead cat bounce before a bear market.  In either event equity investors should consider equities a very long-term asset.  The trick is to buy well and to hold through thick and thin rather than try to second guess market swings and roundabouts.  Staying in through thick and thin is lower risk ultimately because it doesn't involve trading in and out adding to the risk of getting things wrong.  So hang in there and think long-term.

Ring FREE 1850 525 545 and get your old clunkers to The Jack & Jill Foundation, an organisation that provides paediatric nursing care to 228 Irish famillies that have babies born with severe developmental problems.  Imagine there are 15 million unused mobiles knocking about - 15 million!  You can get a bin from Jack & Jill and set up a collection for all your work pals.  Jack & Jill can turn each one into a net Euro 7 and needs another 89,000 to hit its 100,000 target.  Old mobiles are recycled in France and save the environment from the damage caused principally from the batteries especially from cadmium so get going it's a great way to turn old useless mobiles into new mobile paediatric nurses and support a wonderful charity.  Even if you've just got one - ring 1850 525 545 to get it to Jack & Jill - it all helps.

The ERSI, credited with predicting the Celtic Tiger, don't like the look of the US debt mountain and see a potential threat to Irish property values.  Writing in the Sunday Business Post, I've elaborated on the bear view.  To read see Sunday Business Post Article.

If you're just starting out and you want to familiarise youself with the wide market available there's tons of stuff you can read on property markets from Florida to Turkey.  For a list of reading material from Amazon and for access to an independent writer and property consultant who regularly writes features pieces on his travel and examinations of property markets for the Sunday Business Post and Irish Examiner check out Diarmaid Condon's site. http://www.diarmuidcondon.com/

Cape Verde is principally a holiday home play and probably not yet a rental play although the rental market will inevitably develop.  It is ideal for Irish investors with strong balance sheets and cash available in the price range EUR120k plus.  Irish property professionals have the groundwork already well prepared and Cape Verde Development, based in Kinsale, provides a well thought through information pack including tax treatment in Cape Verde and at home.    Check out Cape Verde Development

Communications watchdog ComReg launched an excellent mobile phone costs comparison engine www.callcosts.ie, which, for the first time, allows consumers to shop the market for the best mobile package and save money.  Hitherto, this exercise was like looking into the back of a computer, but now you can undertake precise cost comparisons which is an absolute must for small businesses and consumers.