MESSING ABOUT WITH FIGURES
I try to monitor and control my meager investments with a view to producing a supplementary income without undue speculative risk and today´s news about EU and Euro financial problems made me turn my mind to my constant dilemma over which currencies were the best vehicle? A five-minute review of the major currencies movements against the Colombian Peso produced the following results (Over one-month, one-year, two-year, five-year and ten-year periods respectively):
US$/COP = +1.64%, +1.36%, (3.14) %, +17.11%, +114.95%
EUR/COP = +2.82%, +2.27%, +5.23%, +16.56%, +77.25%
GBP/COP = +0.62%, +2.71%, +3.27%, +23.93%, +65.27%
CHF/COP = +5.10%, +2.75%, +6.08%, +32.66%, +124.85%
NB. CHF is Swiss Franc.
I note all the above currencies record the COP loosing relative value except for one instance (Two-year period) where the US$ lost ground.
Which currency did the best? A quick, but not very scientific manner of calculation is to give 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions to each currency for every period and then see which obtained the overall best position:
Swiss Franc = 5 firsts, thus best score of 5 points,
Euro = 14 points, thus 2nd best.
GBP = 15 points, thus 3rd position, closely following the Euro
US$ = 16 points, just in last place.
Of course, all the above provides nothing indisputable, but it does suggest using our own home currency as an investment basis is NOT an obvious choice.
I know that a number of forum members have a good grasp on such financial matters, and I would be interested to see their views.
I try to monitor and control my meager investments with a view to producing a supplementary income without undue speculative risk and today´s news about EU and Euro financial problems made me turn my mind to my constant dilemma over which currencies were the best vehicle? A five-minute review of the major currencies movements against the Colombian Peso produced the following results (Over one-month, one-year, two-year, five-year and ten-year periods respectively):
US$/COP = +1.64%, +1.36%, (3.14) %, +17.11%, +114.95%
EUR/COP = +2.82%, +2.27%, +5.23%, +16.56%, +77.25%
GBP/COP = +0.62%, +2.71%, +3.27%, +23.93%, +65.27%
CHF/COP = +5.10%, +2.75%, +6.08%, +32.66%, +124.85%
NB. CHF is Swiss Franc.
I note all the above currencies record the COP loosing relative value except for one instance (Two-year period) where the US$ lost ground.
Which currency did the best? A quick, but not very scientific manner of calculation is to give 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th positions to each currency for every period and then see which obtained the overall best position:
Swiss Franc = 5 firsts, thus best score of 5 points,
Euro = 14 points, thus 2nd best.
GBP = 15 points, thus 3rd position, closely following the Euro
US$ = 16 points, just in last place.
Of course, all the above provides nothing indisputable, but it does suggest using our own home currency as an investment basis is NOT an obvious choice.
I know that a number of forum members have a good grasp on such financial matters, and I would be interested to see their views.
