The only kind of investments that I would recommend are those on which you have the time and patience to do your own research and investigate in depth. I wouldn’t say that all US executives are crooks or that there are no good US equity investments.

Undoubtedly, in today’s depressed markets, there are many great opportunities.

Most of the information you need to have is available on the Internet, in SEC files, and elsewhere. However, it takes a lot of work to ferret it out and really make an effort to understand what it means.

You don’t need to have a PhD in investment analysis to do your own research, just commonsense and a lot of patience and perseverance. I’m continually amazed at how much is available for free on the Internet. Free, that is, except for the time it takes to do the research.

We’ve set up a new website for collaborative research: Capital Market Wiki and we are looking for volunteer editors. Everyone is welcome.

The US has perhaps the best sources of free investment information in SEC files, but the SEC, assumes that investors are willing and able to dig through this vast material, and most are not.

I’ve spent a lot of time in foreign markets, but unless you live there, speak the language, understand the laws and politics, and, on top of this, are willing to do the research … forget it.

Regards,