Blog Posts by Siemond Chan

  • Diamonds - An Investor's Best Friend?

    By Siemond Chan | Yahoo! Finance – Thu, May 16, 2013 2:28 PM EDT
    Seven diamond cut shapes, from L to R: cushion, Asscher, emerald, modified radiant, oval, marquise, and pear.

    Anyone wanting to invest in diamonds has a few options through which to do so – stocks, funds or the stones themselves.

    With equities, miner Rio Tinto (RIO), jewelry seller Tiffany (TIF) and online diamond merchant Blue Nile (NILE) are well-known names in the diamond arena. Funds such as JP Morgan Global Natural Resources and First State Global Resources have some exposure to diamonds, while an exchange-traded fund, the Gem Shares Physical Diamond Trust, may be arriving soon. More exotic prospects include the U.K.'s Pink Iguana Enterprise Investment Scheme.

    But setting aside these alternatives, the most direct way to try and profit is to buy the diamonds directly. However, such a decision clearly can be intimidating for novice diamond purchasers. Along with questions about the pricing, a prospective buyer also would want to know about the origin of a given diamond, the expertise of a jeweler who's selling it, and how it measures up in terms of the "C's" – clarity, cut, carat weight and

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  • Kids Get Hands-On With Robots at This Brooklyn Business

    By Siemond Chan | Yahoo! Finance – Tue, Mar 12, 2013 1:36 PM EDT
    (Photo by Siemond Chan)



    For kids, robots can be fun -- and educational, too. Many modern educators believe that getting kids involved in tinkering and building is the most powerful way to engage them in the world of science and technology. These days an increasing amount of entrepreneurs and businesses are recognizing the potential value of this in the marketplace. Brooklyn Robot Foundry is one of them.

    Located in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, the Foundry provides workshops that aim to "inspire and motivate kids about the fun of building" by teaching the engineering concepts behind how robots move and work. The Foundry offers after-school programs for children in pre-K through 5th grade, as well as weekend classes and summer sessions. The Robot Girls Club allows parents to build robots with their daughters in a workshop environment; there are plans to expand this program to include boys in the near future.

     Brooklyn Robot Foundry co-founder Jenny Young. (Photo by Siemond Chan)

    The Foundry's two co-founders, Jenny Young and Dave VanEsselstyn, met while

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  • Yahoo! Finance Readers Decide: Corporate tax rate should be slashed

    By Siemond Chan | The Exchange – Wed, Oct 31, 2012 10:39 AM EDT

    Yahoo Finance survey on the economy

  • Yahoo! Finance Readers Decide: Tax Hikes AND Spending Cuts Needed to Balance Budget

    By Siemond Chan | The Exchange – Fri, Oct 26, 2012 12:01 PM EDT

    Results from informal Yahoo Finance poll 10/25/2012

  • Seven Questions on the Economy

    By Siemond Chan | The Exchange – Tue, Oct 23, 2012 11:09 AM EDT

    Federal government data show that in 2011, Washington outlays totaled $3.6 trillion, while receipts came to $2.3 trillion. Of the receipts, $1.1 trillion came by way of individual income taxes. The spread between the two figures means the federal government was running a deficit of $1.3 trillion. Defense, Social Security and Medicare / Medicaid outlays likely will account for more than 60% of federal spending in the 2013 fiscal year. The chart below shows planned spending outside of those programs.

    What should the government do to close the gap, or should it even do anything? The U.S. financial situation is at the center of the 2012 elections, specifically the race for the White House between President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney. So we want to give you a chance to weigh in with your thoughts on spending and the U.S. economy.

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  • Citigroup: The Vikram Pandit Era Ends

    By Siemond Chan | The Exchange – Tue, Oct 16, 2012 1:26 PM EDT

  • Snapshot of National Gas Prices

    By Siemond Chan | The Exchange – Thu, Sep 20, 2012 1:15 PM EDT

    Gas Gauge 9/20

  • German Constitutional Court backs bailout fund

    By Siemond Chan | The Exchange – Wed, Sep 12, 2012 12:01 PM EDT

    by Chris Nichols and Siemond Chanby Chris Nichols and Siemond Chan

  • The Diminishing Middle Class

    By Siemond Chan | The Exchange – Tue, Sep 4, 2012 1:52 PM EDT

    Siemond Chan and Kensey Lamb

  • Paul Ryan, by the Numbers

    By Siemond Chan | The Exchange – Fri, Aug 24, 2012 2:05 PM EDT

    by Siemond Chan and Kensey Lamb

Pagination

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