Online forex training courses

Our online training courses are designed to provide novice currency traders with a broad overview of the Forex market. Covering everything from the factors that drive currency movements through to reading and analysing charts, and effectively utilising leverage, the course will prepare you with the skills you need to trade forex.

Our courses are available free of charge to clients - find out more from one of our forex experts, or apply for an account now to get started today.

Spot metals and oil
FOREX.com also offers trading in spot gold and silver and Brent Crude Oil, providing interesting alternatives to diversify your portfolio beyond currencies. Learn more about these dynamic markets in our online Spot Metals Guide and Oil Guide

New to the Forex market?

If you're new to the Forex market our online Forex Guide will take you through the basics: Learn how currencies trade, the importance of leverage and margin, and how to calculate profit and loss. We also explain the basics of technical and fundamental analysis and how to use these indicators to inform your trading decisions.

Test your skills risk free
Take advantage of a free 30-day practice account with £50,000 of virtual money. Test your trading skills with full access to our trading platforms including charting and analytical tools, and unique research and analysis available to clients of FOREX.com. Sign up for a practice account.

Attend interactive webinars
Join us for a free interactive webinar for hands on training, demonstrations and techniques to help you learn how to trade and analyse the Forex market. See our webinar schedule for upcoming events.

Forex.com UK LTD

FOREX.com UK Ltd is a trading name of GAIN Capital - FOREX.com UK Limited, a subsidiary of GAIN Capital Holdings, Inc. GAIN Capital is a global leader in foreign exchange trading, serving retail and professional clients in over 140 countries worldwide through its direct and partner brands, and supporting average trade volume of nearly $200 billion per month.

With FOREX.com UK, you have 24 hour access to the global foreign exchange market, plus powerful charting tools, expert market research and commentary, and advanced forex trading tools. We also offer a wealth of education and training, covering everything from getting started in forex to understanding technical analysis and developing a trading strategy. Register for a practice account today to see for yourself.

General American Investors Files Certified Shareholder Report for Period Ended June 30, 2009

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--General American Investors Company, Inc., a closed-end investment company listed on the New York Stock Exchange (GAM), filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) its Certified Shareholder Report (Form N-CSR) for the six month period ended June 30, 2009. The Form N-CSR contains the Company’s June 30, 2009 Semi-Annual Report and is available at the SEC’s website: www.sec.gov and the Company’s website: www.generalamericaninvestors.com. The Semi-Annual Report is expected to be mailed to stockholders shortly.

Financial Information

The Semi-Annual Report indicates that as of or for the six months ended:

			6/30/09			6/30/08
Net Assets Applicable to Common Stock			$732,059,359			$1,141,320,885
Net Assets Per Common Share			$22.89*			$36.15
Net Investment Income			$3,648,823			$5,704,953
Per Share			$.11			$.18
Net Gain (Loss) on Investments			$58,521,196			($54,567,810)
Per Share			$1.85			($1.72)
Common Shares Outstanding			31,980,872			31,573,058

*	After dividends and distributions of $.215294 per share paid in February 2008 and $.44 per share paid in December 2008.

Securities Transactions and Positions

The Company reported that it made new commitments during the second quarter of 2009 in Alpha Natural Resources, Devon Energy, International Game Technology, The Travelers, and Wyeth. In addition, it increased its holdings in Arch Capital, Fidelity National, Nelnet, PepsiCo, and Wal-Mart during the second quarter.

A position in Patterson-UTI Energy was eliminated, while reductions were made in the holdings of American Express, AXIS Capital, CEMEX, Lamar Advertising, M&T Bank, NetEase.com, and Target.

The largest stock holdings in the Company’s portfolio at June 30, 2009 included: The TJX Companies, Inc., Weatherford International Ltd., Apache Corporation, QUALCOMM Incorporated, and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

American investors won’t come to Ghana: It’s their money, not the President’s

President Obama came to Ghana to endorse the country’s good democratic process. In the midst of chaos, needless bloodshed, and tainted elections and accompanying violence in Africa, Ghana stands out on the continent as a good example.

But beyond democratic stability, the country also needs economic stability and growth.

In an editorial, ghanabusinessnews.com looked at the possible ripples of President Obama’s visit and wondered if American investors would come into the country to do business.

The Managing Editor of ghanabusinessnews.com posted the editorial on his blog titled Rightup at www.emmanuelwrites.blogspot.com.

In direct response to the question of whether American investors would come and invest in Ghana because President Obama has endorsed the country, a reader sent an email to the editor.

He began by writing, “Came across your blog After Obama’s Ghana visit, would American investors come? and wanted to share some thoughts with you. The short answer is no! And that is because it is not the President’s money that will be invested.

The author of the mail, Ramesh Kanthilal, Spokesperson and Director of Operations for AFREECON. AFREECON is the acronym title for Africa’s Economic Emancipation Conference, it is written on the organisation’s website.

Enumerating further reasons why American investors will not come, he said, African countries, Ghana included, are clueless about how to attract capital–the right kind of capital. Not the exploitative capital that has come from Europe for almost six centuries. If Europe is a good source of capital and ideas for African economies, why are African countries not doing better than they are? After all Europeans have been coming since the 1400s.

On Africa’s leadership he wrote: “African countries are lead by people who would rather “pocket” the people’s money, than invest it in efforts to market their economies and their countries.”

On the foreign missions of African countries abroad, he cited the Ghana Embassy in Washington and asked a question: “Have you ever tried to call the Ghanaian Embassy in Washington?”

“You should try it. It is an illuminating experience. The experience has been a very mixed bag for our team and would not inspire us to want to invest in Ghana”, he said.

“African embassies, as a whole”, he said, “do such a poor job of representing their countries in the arena of marketing the opportunities for investment in their countries, that it is a wonder there is any interest at all.”

He remarks that in an organized environment, chaos is not tolerated. “And the way and manner in which we correspond with the outside world at best, denotes a chaotic existence and at worst demonstrates incompetence of the highest order. There is the image of African countries.”

He argued further that no investor would invest his hard earned money in a place where all you read about is bad news.

He goes on to talk about Africa’s failure to educate Americans about the continent. He said, “in the case of Africa all the countries are in the same boat. Most Americans think Africa is one country because their embassies have failed to do anything about the image of the continent’s countries in the almost 40 years that I am personally aware of.”

Adding “history shows that the drumbeat of bad press and perception has been filtering into the minds of US consumers for more than 100 years–in fact, since the advent of mass media.”

He also blamed Africans for not being willing to put any effort to communicate that they would like U.S investors and what kind they would like? “They are waiting for someone to come and “spoon feed” them the answers,” he said.

He had some advise for the media also. “You and your colleagues in the media”, he said , “are responsible for getting out the word and pressuring leaders to make unselfish decisions.”

Commenting on export data used in doing the analysis in the editorial, he said, “you have to not just talk about the poor export performance and low-level of U.S investments, you have to ask why that is the case? Why is it not better, why have African countries–Ghana included–failed so badly where the Asians seem to be doing so well…why has South Korea come from behind African countries to not just overtake African countries, but to now be in the position where they are playing the role of “teachers” of African leaders?”

He is however hopeful that if the media and everyone else including his organization do their bit the trend could be reversed.

They are therefore organizing the AFREECON business conference at the famous Navy Pier in Chicago, Illinois from October 19 to 21, 2009.

According to the organizers, AFREECON is about sharing knowledge. Knowledge that will assist African countries to build a better “mouse trap” for attracting Foreign Direct Investments and achieving economic independence; as well as knowledge that will enable U.S. companies and entrepreneurs to make well informed decisions about business opportunities in African countries.

Among some of the speakers are Dr. Ian Giddy, Professor of Finance at New York University’s Stern School of Business and a former Director of the International Product Group at Drexel Burnham Lambert; Dr. Vijay Mahajan, who currently holds the John P. Harbin Centennial Chair in Business at McCombs School of Business, University of Texas at Austin; Dr. Dambisa Moyo, economist and author of Dead Aid: Why Aid is Not Working and How There is a Better Way For Africa.

The others are William “Bill” Strickland, President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation; Dr. Paul Tiyambe Zeleza, Malawian historian, literary critic, novelist, short-story writer and blogger at The Zeleza Post; Dr. John Gazvinian, author of Untapped-The Scramble for Africa’s Oil and Dr. Pompiliu “Pili” Vezariu, Adjunct Fellow at the Center For Strategic & International Studies.

By Emmanuel K. Dogbevi

Approaching an SBIC

Research the SBICs
If you own or operate a small business and would like to obtain SBIC financing, you should first identify and investigate existing SBICs that may be interested in financing you company. Use this directory as a first step in learning as much as possible about SBICs in your state, or in other areas important to your company's needs. In choosing an SBIC, consider the types of investments it makes, how much money is available for investment and how much might be available in the future. You should also consider whether the SBIC can offer you management services appropriate to your needs.

Plan in Advance
You should determine your company's needs and research SBICs well in advance-long before you will actually need the money. Your research will take time, as will the SBIC's research of your business.

Prepare a Prospectus/Business Plan
When you've identified the SBICs you think are best suited to provide financing for your company, you'll need to prepare a presentation. Our initial presentation will play a major role in your success in obtaining financing. It is up to you to demonstrate that an investment in your firm is worthwhile. The best way to show worth is by presenting a detailed and comprehensive business plan or prospectus that includes, at a minimum, the information contained on this page.

How to Seek SBIC Financing

Small business investment companies (SBICs) exist to supply equity capital, long-term loans and management assistance to qualifying small businesses. The privately owned and operated SBICs use their own capital and funds borrowed from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) to provide financing to small businesses in the form of equity securities and long-term loans. SBICs are profit-seeking organizations that select small businesses to be financed within rules and regulations set by SBA. Specialized SBICs (SSBIC) are a particular type of SBIC that provide assistance solely to small businesses owned by socially or economically disadvantaged persons. SBICs invest in a broad range of industries. Some SBICs seek out small businesses with new products or services because of the strong growth potential of such firms. Some SBICs specialize in the field in which their management has special competency. Most SBICs, however, consider a wide variety of investment opportunities. Only firms defined by SBA as small are eligible for SBIC financing. The SBA defines a company as small when its net worth is $18.0 million or less, and its average net (after tax) income for the preceding two years does not exceed $6.0 million. For businesses in industries for which the above standards are too low, alternative size standards are available. In determining whether a business qualifies, all of the business's parents, subsidiaries and affiliates are considered.

Welcome to American Investors Company

American Investors Company (AIC) is one of the largest privately-owned securities firms headquartered in the San Francisco Bay Area. We are a full-service, general securities and investment advisory firm providing clients access to a full line of non-proprietary securities products, investment brokerage, financial planning and asset management services.

We have been dedicated to addressing the financial planning, investment and retirement needs of our clients since 1966. During the last 40 years, we have built a solid reputation for successfully assisting our clients in meeting their financial goals. Registered representatives associated with our firm are thoroughly trained professionals qualified to work closely with clients to help them achieve their financial objectives.

Come and take a closer look at us. You’ll be glad you did!

AIC is licensed as a broker-dealer in AL, AZ, AR, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, FL, GA, HI, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MS, MO, MT, NV, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OK, OR, PA, RI, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WI, and WY and may only transact business in those states.

We are also registered with the SEC as a Registered Investment Adviser in AZ, CA, FL, MD, NV, NY, OR, TX, and WA.

If you do not reside in one of those states, we will not attempt to transact securities for your account or provide you with investment advisory services unless and until we are properly licensed in your state.

Nothing contained herein should be construed as an offer or solicitation to purchase any security or to render specific investment advisory services. Such offer or solicitation to purchase can only be done when preceded by appropriate offering materials or subsequent to receipt of AIC’s Form ADV and execution of an investment advisory agreement.