Speaker Meeting

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Speaker: Chris Nichols  -  The Stock Market

CHRIS NICHOLAS ADVISES BEXHILL ROTARIANS WHERE TO GO!

After being introduced by Bexhill Rotarian David Dixson at Bexhill Rotary's meeting this week (18th January), guest speaker Chris Nicholas (pictured) gave a sterling presentation on the stock market to a hushed and very attentive audience.

Chris who lives in Haywards Heath and is the Business Development Manager for the Capital Group has been in the investment business since 1988 and his company has been around since 1931. The Capital Group have offices throughout Asia, Australia, Europe and North America and look after a multitude of clients with their investment needs.

In his non-sales presentation, Chris concentrated on Emerging Markets - he said that the Emerging Markets of today are the developed markets of tomorrow. Emerging Markets are rapidly developing countries which invariably are Communist, but not always countries like Brazil, Mexico and Malaysia which have produced good investment returns in the last twenty years or so. In investment, Chris continued, risk and reward run parallel, i.e. low risk will bring low returns whilst high risk brings the potential of high returns but expect a 'bumpy ride' and not necessarily all 'plain sailing'. Chris reckoned that 80% of the World's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth will come from Emerging Markets. He gave an example of large firms like Colgate in under developed countries whose representatives distribute tooth brushes so that the populous are introduced to dental care and, as a result, want to buy Colgate's products. BP, amongst other international companies, is another example that Chris quoted. In his balanced and informative talk, Chris made it plain that it would be unwise to invest in Emerging

Markets without the advice of financial advisers who are familiar with these types of investments.

Chris, at the end of his talk, took a barrage of questions and suggested to one questioner that it would definitely not be sensible to invest in Emerging Markets for six to twelve months, as they can be very volatile, but to take a long term view over, say, five to ten years or even more. Chris also suggested that countries like China or Turkey may be worth looking at for investment but would not recommend just these two on their own but to have a wider range of areas to invest in.

Bexhill Rotarian Charles Taylor, who is an independent financial adviser, gave a hearty vote of thanks followed by an enthusiastic round of applause from the audience.

Looking to find out more about what Bexhill Rotary Club has been doing and how to get involved with what is going on in 2014? Then log on to www.bexhill.rotaryweb.org.