Financial Market Structure
In economics, a financial market is a mechanism that allows people to easily buy and sell financial securities, commodities, and other fungible items of value at low transaction costs and at prices that reflect the efficient market hypothesis. Financial markets have evolved significantly over several hundred years and are undergoing constant innovation to improve liquidity. Both general markets and specialized markets exist. Markets work by placing many interested sellers in one "place", thus making them easier to find for prospective buyers. An economy which relies primarily on interactions between buyers and sellers to allocate resources is known as a market economy in contrast either to a command economy or to a non-market economy that is based, such as a gift economy. Financial markets facilitate: * The raising of capital * The transfer of risk * International trade They are used to match those who want capital to those who have it. Typically a borrower issues a receipt to the lender promising to pay back the capital. These receipts are securities which may be freely bought or sold. In return for lending money to the borrower, the lender will expect some compensation in the form of interest or dividends. Financial markets could mean: 1. organizations that facilitate the trade in financial products. i.e. Stock exchanges facilitate the trade in stocks, bonds and warrants. 2. the coming together of buyers and sellers to trade financial products. i.e. stocks and shares are traded between buyers and sellers in a number of ways including: the use of stock exchanges; directly between buyers and sellers etc. In academia, students of finance will use both meanings but students of economics will only use the second meaning. Financial markets can be domestic or they can be international. Types of financial markets The financial markets can be divided into different subtypes: 1.Capital markets which consist of: * Stock markets, which provide financing through the issuance of shares or common stock, and enable the subsequent trading thereof. * Bond markets, which provide financing through the issuance of Bonds, and enable the subsequent trading thereof. 2.Commodity markets, which facilitate the trading of commodities. 3.Money markets, which provide short term debt financing and investment. 4. Derivatives markets, which provide instruments for the management of financial risk. *Futures markets, which provide standardized forward contracts for trading products at some future date; see also forward market. 5.Insurance markets, which facilitate the redistribution of various risks. 6.Foreign exchange markets, which facilitate the trading of foreign exchange. The capital markets consist of primary markets and secondary markets. Newly formed (issued) securities are bought or sold in primary markets. Secondary markets allow investors to sell securities that they hold or buy existing securities. Wikipedia, the free enclyclopedia © 2001-2008 Wikipedia Contributors This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/Articles_Financial_Market.html ckick now yes
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PARIS/LONDON France's PSA Group is set to announce a deal to buy Opel from General Motors on Monday after striking an agreement with the U.S. carmaker and winning the blessing of its board for the acquisition. KUALA LUMPUR Malaysia on Saturday expelled the North Korean ambassador to the country, declaring him "persona non grata" and asking the envoy to leave Malaysia within 48 hours. 9:11am EST DUBLIN Northern Irish leaders prepared on Saturday for three weeks of challenging talks to save their devolved government after a snap election that could have dramatic implications for the politics and constitutional status of the British province. 9:32am EST TOKYO U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is due to visit Japan, South Korea and China this month to discuss North Korea on his first trip to the region since he took up his post, Japanese media reported on Saturday. GENEVA Syria's chief negotiator said on Saturday that the "only thing" achieved at 10-day talks in Geneva was an agreed agenda and that the government wanted a unified opposition delegation as its negotiating partner. http://www.reuters.com/news business directory birmingham These sites are informative and inspiring -- and some are even entertaining.
I read a lot of money-related blogs to compile my weekly roundup of great personal finance advice from around the Web. There are plenty of people out there sharing their tales of taking control of their finances and offering tips for others. Only a handful, though, routinely offer solid advice in language even a personal finance novice can understand. Here are the ten blogs that I think stand out from the pack. DOWNLOAD: The Kip Tips iPad App Get Rich Slowly. I'm not alone in naming this one of the top money blogs. Time and Money magazines have also called it one of the best. Creator J.D. Roth's philosophy that building wealth takes time is similar to ours at Kiplinger's. He believes in setting goals, spending less than you earn and paying yourself first -- and the posts on his blog reflect these beliefs. Most of all, his tales of overcoming $35,000 in debt and achieving financial independence are inspiring. Wise Bread. This site is about being smart with your money -- or as its tagline says, "Living Large on a Small Budget." What I like about it is the broad range of money-related topics it tackles -- from opening a Roth IRA for your child to reusing detergent bottles as a way to spend less and save more. Money Crashers. Although it's run by two twentysomethings, Money Crashers provides sensible advice to people of all ages and stages of life. It covers all aspects of personal finance, including investing, credit and debt, careers, family and home, and even small business. 20Somethingfinance. Yes, as the name suggests, this is a great site if you're just starting out and looking for advice on how to spend less and save more from someone in your age group who's actually managed to do this. But 20Somethingfinance creator G.E. Miller's advice is applicable to people of all ages -- and his story is inspiring. He dramatically cut his expenses and now saves 85% of his income. Consumerism Commentary. Luke Landes, who goes by Flexo on the site, has been blogging about personal finance and his own finances since 2003. He started the blog to hold himself accountable for his money decisions. Now the site covers all aspects of personal finance and provides reviews of financial products. MoneyNing. The posts by MoneyNing creator David Ning and the site's other bloggers tend to be well written and substantive. And this site is more about offering solid financial advice rather than personal anecdotes. Len Penzo dot Com. Len Penzo is always entertaining, informative and original -- that is, you won't find the same ol', same ol' advice on his site that you can find elsewhere. Here's a sampling of some of his posts: "What's That Smell? The Costly Joys of Maintaining Older Cars," "Sometimes It Pays Not to Look for the Best Deal," and "10 More Old Wives' Tales Masquerading as Financial Rules of Thumb." Budgets Are Sexy. J. Money (the pseudonym of the site's creator) knows how to make personal finance fun (what else would you expect from a blog called Budgets Are Sexy?). He sports a mohawk, appeals to a young, hip crowd and openly shares his budget and his financial ups and downs. His advice is pretty solid -- you just have to look past the grammatical errors and mild profanity. The Simple Dollar. This site has a wealth of tips on cutting expenses and living frugally. In fact, the site's founder, Trent Hamm, has written a book called 365 Ways to Live Cheap!. The Digerati Life. This site is a good source of basic investing information, as well as general personal finance advice. The editor, known as Silicon Valley Blogger, also provides a lot of tips for entrepreneurs and the self-employed. Follow me on Twitter http://www.kiplinger.com/article/saving/T065-C011-S001-10-personal-finance-blogs-worth-reading.html great britain finance directory Within the last few years, America has become a do-it-yourself type of country. From television to books to magazines, the people in the U.S. have decided to help themselves with the projects that need to be done at home instead of hiring someone to do it for them. The reasons for becoming a "do-it-yourselfer" are many and people have found that DIY is the answer to many issues. Taking on a project at home yourself can be very advantageous. Many people do DIY to save money by tackling household projects. Some "do-it yourselfers" are such because it helps them to be able to flip houses, a popular way to make money, without hiring a contractor. Others are "do-it-yourselfers" in order to make money as a handyman, doing projects for people who can't do it on their own. One more reason "diyers" do what they do is to improve the value of their own homes.
Some people are "do-it-yourselfers" because it saves them a great deal of money. Generally, contractors can be expensive when fixing something that you, for the price of materials, could accomplish. Paying someone materials plus labor tends to put a giant whole in one's check book. By doing small projects around your house as things need doing, two things can occur. One, you can put away the money you might spend needlessly on professionals and save it for something that you really need or want. The money can even go toward making upgrades to your house that you would not be able to afford otherwise. For example, a "do-it-yourselfer" can install a tile floor for the cost of having a professional install a vinyl floor. This would be an upgrade. Two, if you learn to do something on your own, the knowledge will most likely come in handy again if the problem arises at another time in the future. Another reason "do-it-yourself" has become popular over time is because of the popular rise of people flipping houses. With the recently strong real estate market, many people have picked up the task of buying houses that need fixing up, fixing them, and selling them for a sizeable profit. A way that doing projects themselves comes in is that people can save money so that their profit margin is much larger. Using a contractor on only large jobs that are dangerous or require training to execute is a smart way to make money and in many cases, helps the flipper to take more pride in a project. Sometimes, a person's reason for becoming a "do-it-yourselfer" is to make money being a handyman and helping someone else. Many times, people can not afford to hire a professional contractor and can not do the work themselves. In this case, they will call a handyman to be able to do what ever work is needed around the house. Many people make good money off of being the local neighborhood handyman. When work is done to a satisfactory degree, word of mouth will generally fill up the calendar of the handyman who has done the work. One more advantage to becoming a person with "DIY" experience is the fact that tackling projects at home can definitely add value to your house and property. Texturing the rooms in your house or removing dated popcorn ceilings, for example can drastically change the look and value of your house, no matter how old it is. Whatever the reason for the changing wave of "DIY", it has definitely become a trend. Stores like Home Depot, Lowe's, and Ace Hardware have seen a marked rise in customers coming in to take on bigger and more difficult projects. Whatever the motivation, "DIY" is very advantageous in many ways. By: Rob Church Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com Robert Church has written a complete do-it-yourself guide on popcorn ceiling removal and wall texture application. His simple, step-by-step instructions walk the novice home owner through the challenges of refinishing their walls and ceilings which can result in a significant increase in the value of their homes. http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/The-Rising-Trend-of-Do-It-Yourself/276926 business directory with email addresses A restaurant serves food and so does a fast food restaurant. However, the similarity ends there. What sets a fast food restaurant apart from a normal restaurant is the service time. The food is served almost immediately upon ordering and the services provided are minimal. These factors classify a fast food restaurant and contrary to misconceptions, fast food is not necessarily eaten by people in a hurry. The menu in a fast food restaurant is different as only those dishes are served that can be prepared quickly. In the US, fast food restaurants and take-outs are found everywhere and in great demand. This has resulted in increased fast food consumption over the past thirty years. Fast food restaurants are of various types. There are the self-service restaurants, where diners pay first, collect food from a counter and then take a seat and eat. Other types include establishments where people pay cash and then collect ready to eat portions or serve themselves from hot or cold food containers. Food in a fast food restaurant is usually cooked in advance and kept hot or reheated when a customer places an order. A lot of these eateries are part of large restaurant chains and franchise businesses. Small and simple fast food outlets, such as food stands, mobile vans and kiosks are also classified as fast food outlets though they may not provide any seating arrangement for customers. Fast food restaurants are common throughout the world as the initial cost of investment is comparatively low. Medical studies indicate that eating fast food dishes more than twice a week can cause rapid weight gain in otherwise healthy young adults. These groups of people experience a greater increase in insulin resistance in early middle age. These studies suggest weight gain is caused because a single meal from these restaurants may contain sufficient calories to fulfill a person's caloric requirement for an entire day. As a result of increased criticism of this trend and its effects, the fast food industry is continuously trying to stop using term " fast food" to refer to itself, instead preferring a substitute term such as a "quick service restaurant". However, the popularity of fast food is such that consumers prefer to address it by the same. Many fast food restaurants are cashing in on the negative reports about fast food to their advantage by promoting lower calorie meals and lean dishes. Irrespective of the health concerns, in a world where time is always at a premium, fast food restaurants are here to stay. http://www.articlebiz.com/article/9649-1-fast-food-restaurants/ liverpool business directory Stock Market TerminologyStock Market DefinitionsA Share
The words 'a share' has two meanings: (a) They are the calls of common or preferential shares that have increased voting rights on company issues. (b)In USA, mutual funds terminology states 'a shares' to have an upfront sales load of 5.75% of the amount invested. Abnormal Return Any return above (abnormal profit) or below (abnormal loss) the expected return on a stock or a portfolio is termed as abnormal returns. Any returns above the market returns or any returns below the market returns are also abnormal returns. Absolute Priority The distribution of a company's net income is undertaken in accordance with the absolute priority rule, that specifies the order of disbursement as: (a)Interest to Creditors (b)Dividends to Preferred Stockholders and (c)Dividends to the Common Stockholders, in case of liquidation. Acceleration Covenant In a case of default or breach of contract, this covenant or clause matures the contract performance immediately, so that all dues are settled immediately. Accommodation Trade When a trader enters into non-competitive trades in order to avoid certain liabilities, the action is termed as an accommodation trade. This agreement is illegal in most countries. Accrued Dividend A normal dividend that is considered to be earned but is not really declared or immediately payable by the company. Accumulated Earnings Tax The federal tax that is levied on any retained earning that are in excess of the amount considered reasonable, is termed as accumulated earnings tax. Acting in Concert When two investors take similar actions (act together), to achieve a single common goal, they are said to be acting in concert. Accounts Payable Turnover Ratio This is ratio that measures the rate at which debts are discharged by a firm. It is calculated by dividing the total annual purchases with the total annual accounts payable. The higher the ratio is, the better it is for the firm. Active Index Funds These are funds where the managers try to track an index like S&P500. There is an attempt to beat the benchmarked index by using strategies, like adding stocks that have a superior performance in relation to the index and by using market timing, etc. Actively Managed ETF Actively Managed Exchange Traded Funds permit fund managers to trade outside the benchmarked index, deviate with respect to sector allocations and make other changes that are necessary to ensure increased returns. Activity Ratio This is the firm's effectiveness indicator, for it shows the ease and speed of the company to convert various accounts and receivables, into sales and cash. Adjustable-Rate Preferred Stock - ARPS Unlike a fixed rate preferred stock, an adjustable-rate preferred stock pays dividends that fluctuate with the rate of interest on the benchmarked Treasury bill. Adjusted Debit Balance This is the final margin account balance, that is arrived at by netting all the balances owed or outstanding payments, with the on paper profits or losses. Adjustment in Conversion Terms Convertible preferred stock can be exchanged for a fixed number of common shares in accordance with the conversion terms. Adjustment in conversion terms can be made so that the holder of the convertible preferred stock does not get affected by events like common stock splits. Advance Commitment When someone promises to sell (or buy) something that he currently doesn't own (or hasn't bought yet), he is said to be making an advance commitment. Affidavit of Loss This is an oath which states that either the stock certificate or any other physical record of being the holder of the security has been lost on account of theft, fire, destruction or flood. Affirmative Obligation This is an obligation on specialists to post a bid or an ask, when there is insufficient market demand or supply to match orders, on the NYSE. After-Hours Market Close The final price attained by the security, in the after hours market, is called the after-hours market close. Although, this is not the price at which the market opens the next day, the investor can use this to gauge the upside potential of the stock. After-Hours Trading - AHT Trading that is conducted by both, individuals as well as institutions, after the regular trading hours on the major exchanges is called after-hours trading. After-Market Performance The performance of a stock after its initial public offering (IPO), which is measured during the lock-up period (3 to 9 months from the date of the IPO), is referred to as after-market performance of the stock. Agency Cross When a broker receives opposite orders for exactly the same security, in exactly the same quantity, he can act as an agent or broker for both the parties involved. This both party representation by one person, is called agency cross or dual agency. All Or None - AON Is a buy or sell trade order, that is placed to brokers, subject to the exact availability of supply or demand. Non availability on the particular day, renders the order as canceled. All-Holders Rule The all-holders rule requires a company to implement uniform policies (stock buybacks, stock splits, stock dividends) for shareholders belonging to the same class of shares. Allied Member Voting shareholders and officers may be granted access to the trading floor, as allied members, despite not being members of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), provided they clear the designated exam. Alpha This risk adjusted performance measure called alpha, is just the differential between the actual and expected returns of a stock or portfolio. Alpha Generator When a portfolio holder experiences excess returns on adding a security to the aforementioned portfolio, without having to undertake any additional risks, the particular security is known as an alpha generator. Alphabet Rounds The early rounds of funding that are required for the start up of a new company or firm, are termed as alphabet rounds. Alternative Energy ETF These are exchange traded funds that invest in companies engaged in the production of alternate energy, like ethanol, solar power and clean energy and research pertaining to the same. American Depositary Receipts When depository banks in the US economy issue negotiable certificate of deposits, known as American Depository Receipts (ADRs), to help foreign companies raise money in their markets, the certificate is known as an ADR. American Depositary Shares When foreign stock is issued in the US markets, it is termed as an American Depository Share (ADS). Anderson Effect Derived from Aurthur Anderson LLP, an accounting firm involved in many scandals, the term Anderson effect refers to the due diligence requirement needed by the auditors. Ankle Biters Stock issues with market capitalization of less than $500 million are popularly referred to as ankle biters, since they tend to gnaw at the ankles of large cap stocks that have a capitalization value of more than $10 billion. Announcement Effect When announcements, regarding changes in monetary and fiscal policy, create a ripple effect in the stock market (increased volatility and trading volumes) the phenomenon is known as an announcement effect. Annual Report This is a detailed document provided by public companies, providing the financial highlights, management discussions and analysis (MD & A), financial statements, auditor's report, corporate information and other relevant information to the shareholders. Annual Return The annual return of an investment is its compounded annual growth rate, calculated with the help of a formula. Anonymous Trading This is when high profile investors are allowed to place bid and ask quotes anonymously, to eliminate unnecessary speculation. Anti-Greenmail Provision Greenmail is a defensive maneuver wherein a premium is paid to the majority shareholder to sell back shares to the company to thwart a potential takeover attempt. Anti-Greenmail provision ensures that the same repurchase offer is made to all shareholders or at least approved by a shareholder vote. Anti-Martingale System Martingale is a class of betting strategies (see martingale definition) and anti-martingale system is a system that thwarts the success of these strategies. Anti-Takeover Measure These are continuous and sporadic measures adopted by companies, to prevent the potential acquirer from making a hostile bid for the target company. Anti-Takeover Statute Anti-Takeover statutes are state regulations that aim at curtailing hostile takeovers. Anti-Dilutive This is a transaction that has the effect of increasing a company's Earnings Per Share (EPS). Any-and-All Bid An any-and-all bid is the maximum price at which the acquirer is willing to purchase any shares of the target, up to the pre-determined amount. Appraisal Right This is a third party valuation demanded by the shareholders to ensure that mergers and acquisitions do not result in the acquirer paying less than the present value of the target company's worth. Approved List This is the list of legal investments that limits the account manager's or broker's array of choices, as far as choosing appropriate stocks and securities for trust funds and mutual funds, is concerned. Arithmetic Index This is an index that gives equal weighting to all the individual stocks that make up the index. This is basically an unweighted index, as all stocks have an equal weighting. Ask This is the price or quote, at which a trader is willing to sell his commodity or security. Asset Mix This refers to the various classes of assets, viz. stocks, bonds and real estate, that make up an investor's portfolio. Asset Performance This is a measure of the company's ability to generate revenues using productive resources, in relation to its peers. It is measured with the aid of Turnover ratios, Return on Asset (ROA) ratio and other indicators. Asset Turnover Ratio This is a ratio that measures the company's ability to generate revenues using productive assets. Asset Valuation The process of determining the value of an asset, a company or a balance sheet item using relative valuation; quantitative valuation techniques like free cash flow model, dividend discount model and residual income model; financial statement analysis and other techniques is known as asset valuation. Assimilation A complete distribution of the new securities issued to the public, is known as assimilation. At-The-Close Order This refers to the execution of a market order or a limit order, at a price that almost matches the closing price. In case a last minute execution is not possible, the order stands canceled. At-The-Open Order Order to buy or sell a security at the opening price or at the start of the opening season, failing which, the order is canceled. Atlas Options This equity based exotic option, that belongs to the mountain rage option family, has a unique way of payout calculation. All the best and worst performing stocks are removed from the underlying equity portfolio and they payout is calculated on this figure. Attribute bias If a stock selecting technique produces results with similar fundamental characteristics (leading to obvious correlation), the technique is said to have an attribute bias. Auction This is a system where different buyers place potential bids to buy a particular product or security. There are various different types of auctions, like a Dutch auctions. Auction Market The bid price and the ask price are matched for the sake of executing an order, thus eliminating any scope for negotiations, in an auction market. Authorized Capital Stock This is the maximum number of shares that can be issued by a corporation, as listed in the capital accounts section of the balance sheet. Automatic Stay This is applied when a firm files for bankruptcy. It basically stops all creditor efforts to recover their liabilities, from the one filing for bankruptcy. Average Cost Basis Method When trying to make out the gains or losses made during the sale of some shares of the mutual fund, the average cost basis method is used to calculate the cost basis. Average Down This is an investor strategy that is used to bring down the average price of shares. Average Qualitative Opinion - AQO This is the number given by stock analysts to individual companies, depending on their opinions and stock ratings. Average Up An investor strategy that aims at getting the average cost to be lower than the average price for a group of shares by buying them collectively and in larger numbers. Away from the Market When a security order is not immediately available at the price required, the security is termed to be away from the market. British property directory business directory surgery - a medical procedure involving an incision with instruments; performed to repair damage or arrest disease in a living body; "they will schedule the operation as soon as an operating room is available"; "he died while undergoing surgery"surgical operation, surgical procedure, surgical process, operationcatheterisation, catheterization - the operation of introducing a catheter into the bodyablation, cutting out, extirpation, excision - surgical removal of a body part or tissueamputation - a surgical removal of all or part of a limbangioplasty - an operation to repair a damaged blood vessel or unblock a coronary arteryarthroplasty - surgical reconstruction or replacement of a malformed or degenerated jointarthroscopy - a minimally invasive operation to repair a damaged joint; the surgeon examines the joint with an arthroscope while making repairs through a small incisionbrain surgery - any surgical procedure involving the braincastration - surgical removal of the testes or ovaries (usually to inhibit hormone secretion in cases of breast cancer in women or prostate cancer in men); "bilateral castration results in sterilization"cauterisation, cauterization, cautery - the act of coagulating blood and destroying tissue with a hot iron or caustic agent or by freezingchemosurgery - use of chemical to destroy diseased or malignant tissue; used in treatment of skin cancercraniotomy - a surgical opening through the skullcryosurgery - the use of extreme cold (usually liquid nitrogen) to destroy unwanted tissue (warts or cataracts or skin cancers)curettage, curettement - surgery to remove tissue or growths from a bodily cavity (as the uterus) by scraping with a curettedebridement - surgical removal of foreign material and dead tissue from a wound in order to prevent infection and promote healingdecortication - removal of the outer covering of an organ or partD and C, dilatation and curettage, dilation and curettage - a surgical procedure usually performed under local anesthesia in which the cervix is dilated and the endometrial lining of the uterus is scraped with a curet; performed to obtain tissue samples or to stop prolonged bleeding or to remove small tumors or to remove fragments of placenta after childbirth or as a method of abortionelectrosurgery - surgery performed with electrical devices (as in electrocautery)enterostomy, enterotomy - surgical operation that creates a permanent opening through the abdominal wall into the intestineenucleation - surgical removal of something without cutting into it; "the enucleation of the tumor"wrong-site surgery - a surgical operation performed on the wrong part of the bodyevisceration - surgical removal of an organ (or the contents of an organ) from a patientexenteration - surgical removal of the organs within a body cavity (as those of the pelvis)eye operation, eye surgery - any surgical procedure involving the eyesfenestration - surgical procedure that creates a new fenestra to the cochlea in order to restore hearing lost because of osteosclerosisgastrectomy - surgical removal of all or part of the stomachgastroenterostomy - surgical creation of an opening between the stomach wall and the small intestines; performed when the normal opening has been eliminatedgastrostomy - surgical creation of an opening through the abdominal wall into the stomach (as for gastrogavage)heart surgery - any surgical procedure involving the hearthaemorrhoidectomy, hemorrhoidectomy - surgical procedure for tying hemorrhoids and excising themhaemostasia, haemostasis, hemostasia, hemostasis - surgical procedure of stopping the flow of blood (as with a hemostat)hysterotomy - surgical incision into the uterus (as in cesarean section)implantation - a surgical procedure that places something in the human body; "the implantation of radioactive pellets in the prostate gland"surgical incision, incision, section - the cutting of or into body tissues or organs (especially by a surgeon as part of an operation)intestinal bypass - surgical operation that shortens the small intestine; used in treating obesityjejunostomy - surgical creation of an opening between the jejunum and the anterior abdominal wall; will allow artificial feedingmajor surgery - any surgical procedure that involves anesthesia or respiratory assistancemicrosurgery - surgery using operating microscopes and miniaturized precision instruments to perform intricate procedures on very small structuresminor surgery - any surgical procedure that does not involve anesthesia or respiratory assistancemyotomy - surgical incision or division of a musclemyringectomy - surgical removal of the eardrummyringoplasty - surgical repair of a perforated eardrum with a tissue graftmyringotomy - surgical incision into the eardrum (to relieve pressure or release pus from the middle ear)neurosurgery - any surgery that involves the nervous system (brain or spinal cord or peripheral nerves)
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Surgery sheffield business directory Story highlightsBrass is back, and better than it was in the 1970s and '80sMartha Stewart collects brass trays from around the worldThe modern way of using brass in home decor is with patina What was once considered, well, brassy, is now something to covet and keep. From small moments to large statements, today's brass is tasteful and elegant--with gorgeous patina to spare. Brass is back. With the appetite for nickel and chrome at its saturation point, brass is returning to the forefront of the design world. "People are rediscovering how beautiful it is," says Martha Stewart, who has amassed an impressive collection of brass treasures, particularly trays, from all over the globe. "I am always searching for new pieces," she says. But shopping for the "mellow metal," as she calls it, doesn't have to feel like an exhausting treasure hunt anymore. Thanks to the renewed interest, both mainstream design shops and specialty boutiques now stock brass wares. And with good reason: The metal, an alloy of copper and zinc, is strong; it won't rust; and it can be forged into a variety of shapes. Plus, it's relatively inexpensive. "I jokingly call it the poor man's gold," Stewart says. Unlike the perpetually shiny lacquered brass that was popular in the 1970s and '80s, most pieces today are left unfinished. They may require occasional polishing, but the goal is no longer that blinding glossiness. In fact, not only is brass that shows its age acceptable--it's downright desirable. "It's the patina that makes it beautiful," says decorating director Kevin Sharkey. "Brass is timeless, warm, and inviting. There's a reason people are drawn to it. Adding it to a room is like crowning the space with an amazing jewel." How to clean brass Don't overlook a brass find simply because it appears blackened beyond repair. "Removing the tarnish is like discovering gold," says Kevin. Martha polishes her brass pieces about once a year; every three years, she has them professionally cleaned. For basic maintenance and to make unlacquered brass shine without stripping away the patina, Anthony Cassano of Greenwich Metal, in Stamford, Connecticut, recommends using polish-soaked cloths, such as Cape Cod metal polishing cloths. Stronger, more abrasive cleaners, like Brasso, are best used on heavily oxidized pieces. Test on a small area first, advises Cassano. Lacquered-brass items, meanwhile, should be cleaned with a soft cloth, mild dishwashing soap, and tepid water. Removing lacquer Worn-away lacquer may be to blame for brass's formerly bad rap. The clear coating (made of lacquer, epoxy, or urethane) preserves a shiny finish and eliminates the need for polish, but it doesn't wear evenly, resulting in blotches of tarnished metal against the bright lacquered parts. The tarnish cannot be properly cleaned off unless you get rid of the existing lacquer. To do so, Cassano recommends a paint-stripper paste like Klean-Strip. Brush it on evenly to remove all kinds of clear coating. As always, test on a small patch of your brass item before applying the paint stripper, and consult a professional before removing lacquer from any large or valuable piece. Fast-tracking patina Left on its own without any intervention, unlacquered brass will begin to darken in about a month and will continue to take on a deeper patina with age and use, says Jamie Gregg of Colonial Bronze in Torrington, Connecticut. To accelerate this process, he recommends placing the item in hot water, which speeds up the oxidation. Another trick, says Cassano, is to place an open can of traditional latex paint next to the unlacquered brass item in an enclosed area for at least 24 hours. The fumes from the paint will quicken the patination process. Where to find brass Flea markets are a great place to nab vintage brass goods, but if you'd rather shop from the comfort of your own home, check out these websites. From hardware to furniture, eBay offers the widest on-line selection of brass items. Search terms: vintage, raw brass, unlacquered brass.For even more finds, expand your search abroad: Try looking in England. And if you know French, go to eBay's French site. High-end furniture with brass accents, including midcentury-modern pieces by Edward Wormley, Dunbar, and Paul McCobb, can be found at 1stdibs. Auntie Oti is a valuable source for vintage brass bowls, tumblers, canisters, and bells from India. Storing brass How you view aging brass depends on your taste: One person's patina is another's tarnish. Whatever your preference, you should store your treasured objects properly to prevent them from oxidizing so much that they practically become black. Cassano suggests stowing brass trays, bowls, or tumblers in flannel bags, such as those made to protect sterling silver, or wrapping them in acid-free tissue paper before sealing them in plastic bags. Avoid keeping them in high humidity, and do not use newspaper, he advises, which has acidic ink that will cause oxidation. http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/23/living/brass-decor-martha-stewart/index.html The debate overthe UK's greatest ever sportsperson is a fascinating one, and one that has occupied Telegraph Sport for a long time now.
For starters, what is it that should define the very best of all time? Should it be success simply measured in honours; or is influence on sport and the world beyond it as - or even more - important?Then, who fits those criteria best, and why? The Telegraph Sport writers have been visiting and revisiting these topics over recent weeksas we look to complete our ongoingsearch for the finest sportsperson ever produced on these shores. Below you can watch the debate after our journalists were joined by star names from the sporting worldto discuss the matter at hand. Commentator Barry Davies, former sprinter Darren Campbell, Olympichockey champion Alex Danson, hugely successful Paralympian Baroness Grey-Thompson and two-time Olympic rowing gold medalist James Cracknell sat alongside Sir Ian McGeechan, Marcus Armytage, Simon Briggs, Jason Burt and host Jim White for an enthralling debate on a fiercely contested field. Watch | The UK's greatest ever sportsperson - Expert's choices01:02:53 So who can the best case be made for? Current world number one tennis star Andy Murray? Olympians Steve Redgrave, Mo Farah, Daley Thompson or Jessica Ennis-Hill? Football'sBobby Charlton or George Best? Gareth Edwards? Lestor Piggott? Darren Campbell plumped for Murray: "We live in an era of social media, and the pressure on athletes is immense. Andy has had to deal with dig after dig after dig. Being in the top three of the world would be enough for most people, but for him it wasnt, and for him finally getting there was about turning that adversity into success." Campbell believes Andy Murray is the greatest of all time Meanwhile Marcus Armytage put forward the case for Ennis-Hill or Thompson: "I would also suggest Jessica Ennis-Hill Daley Thompson didnt go off and have a baby in between being world champion, and to come back from that is sensational." Watch the full debate above - and then try and make your own mind up! http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2016/11/29/uks-greatest-ever-sportsperson-watch-panel-sporting-experts/ British Directories A British man found dead with his trousers around his ankles at the bottom of a stairwell of a Hungarian sex den on a stag do may have been the victim of foul play, an inquest heard. Paul Bush, 36, was British home listing last seen on CCTV entering a building in Budapest with a prostitute at 1.49am…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/02/02/british-man-found-dead-stag-do-trousers-around-ankles-may-have/ |
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May 2017
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