Booking Wedding Entertainment – What Is The Best Way?

Choosing the right wedding entertainment can put the perfect finishing touch to a special day. It expresses the personality of the bride and groom and who they are as a couple. It reflects the mood of the venue and the atmosphere of the service and reception. It influences how the guests enjoy themselves, putting people at ease and ensuring they have a memorable time.Those planning a wedding, from brides and grooms and enthusiastic in-laws to professional wedding planners, are familiar with online directories and websites to assist them in the search for a venue or a photographer, however the task of finding good wedding entertainment can be a long and arduous one, with brides and grooms sometimes not knowing where to start. Let’s take a look at the options for hunting down that elusive wedding entertainment:
asking the wedding coordinator at the venue; sometimes a DJ is provided as part of a wedding package or they may recommend acts that previous brides and grooms have used.
looking through local directories such as Yellow Pages or keeping an eye out for advertisements in the nearest music shop to search for a local group or act
attending regional wedding fairs or reading county-based literature to find an act a little further afield
searching nationally, either in a national wedding magazine or on a specialist wedding entertainment website that draws together acts from across the country.With the first option the stress of choosing wedding entertainment is totally removed from the bride and groom. The problem is that so is the choice and they are left at the mercy of the venue’s wedding coordinator having made a good choice of DJ. Selecting entertainment previously used at the venue may put the couple’s mind at rest that the act will be able to find the venue and set up without difficulty if they have been there before, but the act may not be to their taste or fit their individual theme.If the bride and groom want something different to the traditional wedding DJ, but want to remain local the second option could be for them. It is easier to meet up with the act and see them perform live and they will be supporting a local band or act, however there is a wealth of other acts out there to choose from. Casting the net county-wide or nationally could be a good option, but why not opt for best route of all and use a wedding entertainment website?A web-based service will give the bride and groom a whole host of wedding entertainment acts to choose from. From string quartets to acoustic guitarists, singers to saxophonists there will be something for every style of wedding. This type of service will take the leg work and stress out of choosing wedding entertainment, firstly by allowing them to search by genre, location, price and availability, but also by providing a lot of the details about length of set, style of clothing worn by the act and demo clips.With all these options it won’t be long before choosing wedding entertainment becomes more of a pleasure and less of a chore!

How Do You Know If You Need an HR Software Solution?

Before you “take the plunge” and purchase an HR software solution it is best to determine if you need the system, and if you do, what exactly will best meet your needs. It is imperative to be brutal in your assessment. Take the time to define your organization’s goals, such as reducing administrative time spent on filling out paperwork and filing the papers, keeping more complete records, securing confidential data, being able to quickly run reports, or saving a back-up of personnel information for disaster planning purposes.There are many other things to consider prior to purchasing an HR software solution for your organization. These include:
The need to streamline processes to devote more time to strategic level objectives
Increasing the communication across all management levels
Don’t have the physical space for all the paperwork
Storing historical data for both current and former employees
Recording performance evaluations with performance management goals, as well as historical wage rate and salary information
Keeping track of training, benefits, disciplinary warnings, and workplace accidents
Calculating time-off accruals for vacation, sick, or PTO timeHR Software solutions programs also have the capability to have multiple user-licenses, which allows for users to have specific access to the program, such as access to employee performance reviews or time-off records, for example. More specifically, the HR manager or business owner could have full access to all employees’ information, while a manager could have access to his or her employees in their department.This capability is efficient and convenient for both the manager and payroll, such as if an employee calls in sick, the manager can just go into the system and make that notation, rather than trying to remember to relay that information to payroll. Under the performance management access, the manager can write the annual review where it will be stored and backed-up without worrying if the review was saved or not.Implementing an HR software solution into your organization is a great investment for streamlining processes and freeing up managers and HR staff to perform more strategic goals of the organization. The system doesn’t have to be fancy, but it does have to be functional.

How To Earn Money From The Internet And Business Online

Looking for ways to generate money is becoming a very difficult job nowadays. So, many creative entrepreneurs have experimented with the Internet to assess whether it is possible to earn money with the use of this so called “information superhighway.” With their venture, they found that it is indeed possible to earn money from the Internet and business online. What more, the opportunity online is vast and wide so entrepreneurs have great chances to improve or expand their businesses.In this article, you will learn how to establish a profitable online business. Like founding a business enterprise, you need to make the right preparations before venturing or investing further. For an online business to flourish or succeed, you should be very well-versed with the Internet so that you know what you should do to ensure that the business will grow or gain profits, just like any other business.Also, you need to realize that the Internet and business online work hand in hand. By realizing this, you can now target to optimize your opportunities by examining all your options. Another thing that you should do before actually starting an online business is to pinpoint the field or sector where you will focus your business. It could be streaming media, selling software, online advertising, operating a website and offering a price comparison service.Additionally, you should have a passion for the chosen business that you are going to invest in. This way, you will also enjoy what you are doing and this is very important so that you will not feel bored in the long run. To promote your business, you will no longer need to look further because you can advertise through the Internet.When you have finally started your business online, it’s now time to know how to manage it. You can say that you can continue your relaxed attitude because you are operating an online business. But, this line of thinking is wrong because you have to be committed and focused to ensure success. You can’t just sit there and wait for profits to start generating; you also have to do your share by doing the promotions and advertising. But, you don’t have to spend too much on this aspect.The increasing usage of the Internet meant that the chances for your business to be noticed have grown and you have to exploit these opportunities. Take for example; you have an online business that offers to sell software and other computer tools. How can you tell Internet users of these products that you are offering? Advertising could be the answer, but this is quite expensive. So, choose the one where you can save and this can be done by writing articles, which will lead users to your website.With the tips offered here, you can now confidently say that you can build a successful business online. You also learned that through the Internet and business online, you will have the chance to finally make it big and earn millions if you are very determined.

How to Get the Best and Safest Personal Loan?

A personal loan is the loan borrowed to meet personal requirements. This type of loan can be obtained from a bank or other organization lending loans and making a clear agreement for repayments specifying the monthly installments and due dates for payments. If you go for a personal loan, you should ensure that you make the payment of installment between the specified dates or it may amount to losing your property, if you are a defaulter.The repayment amount will include the part of principal amount borrowed and the interest accrued according to the terms of agreement. You will have to repay the stipulated amount each month to the bank, house building society or the institution from where you have borrowed the money. The amount of loan approved will either be decided by you according to your capacity to return the loan easily or by the lender as he may assess.The personal loan can be utilized for different personal uses such as for your business, to purchase a vehicle, for making a holiday trip, to renovate a house or to meet unforeseen expenses, etc.There are two types of personal loans. One is a secured mortgage and other is unsecured loan. A secured loan is available against mortgaging any property to the loaner as a security against any default in returning the loan. The loaner has the right to sell the property to recover his money.There are so many players emerging in the personal market, as a result there are serious financial issues in the market related the types of loans provided by them.It does not mean that people should desist from getting a personal loan. You need to be confident about the financial institution before getting a loan that the mortgage is safe and the lending institution is renowned. There are a few doubtful institutions in the market who may try to grab your property, if you are not careful.It is not a problem to secure a cash loan for those have good credit rating or possess property or own a business. They can get personnel loans easily from recognized financial institutions which have a clean record and good customer relations on the basis of good credit score or by providing a collateral.You may be in a dire need of getting a loan to meet some of your urgent needs. Before applying for a loan, you should be aware of what types of loans are available for a particular purpose. If you are not able to take a decision, it is better to consult a financial ad visor. You should get offers from different lenders for personal mortgage. It is a good alternative for those to get loans online, if you do not have a bank or financial institution nearby to cater to your needs.It is true that the market is competitive for the lenders. You can approach the institutions in any exigency for a personal loan. The procedure to get a loan is simple. Most of the personal loans are normally unsecured. The amount of borrowings is also low usually limiting to 15,000 dollars for an individual.If you need a loan for short period, it is helpful if you have clear credit history. It is a best option to get a cash mortgage. Cash mortgage are of three types. These include: cash advance loan, deferred deposited loan. The interest payable is mainly linked to the type of cash loan you opt for.You can enjoy a personal mortgage to meet your emergent requirements provided you select a suitable personal loan from a reliable institution.

Auto Loan Quotation – Tips on How to Place the Best Auto Loan Quotation Amidst an Economic Meltdown

An auto loan quote is an impression to the financiers by the borrower on the kind of loan required. A loan quote is subject to personal financial status. Auto loan quotes are carried out by filling forms from the financial institutions. This may be manual or online. A borrower will consider; monthly income, monthly debt and overheads, price of the car, and credit score analysis. It is not easy for one to determine the precise credit score but the financial institutions have devised ways to obtain the credit score upon providing some particular information. This is available online or on hardcopies from the institutions. A viable auto loan quote will put the following in to consideration;Credit report analysis
Your credit analysis will determine your creditability to be granted an auto loan. An improved credit score implies low interest rates. Similary, a low credit score implies high interest rates charged on the loan. A good credit score means that the loaning company will allocate lower interest rate for the auto loan and thus the client can borrow relatively larger amount. In turn, when the score is lower the rates imposed will be high and thus should borrow less and for longer period of repayment.Monthly income levels
The amount of income assist you to make a suitable quote. A good monthly income may not necessary imply an ability to pay the loan. Other factors such as the monthly overheads have to be put in place. A high level of household expenditure reduces disposable income which in turn affects your ability to pay a loan. Minimal monthly expenses and higher monthly income places the borrower in a better position to quote a large amount of auto loan. The level of income also determine the duration of payment. Higher incomes can enable a customer quote a short period of payment hence enjoy the unattached risk on the security assets. With the economic slowdown, secured loans have been preferred than the unsecured.Recurring monthly debts
When making your auto loan quote, consistent debts through out every month are considered. If the debts are high, the borrower should quote a small amount of loan. Alternatively, the borrower can qoute relatively large amount of loan but pay it in a relatively long period. However, the best way to address the problem of debts is to bring down the monthly debt levels.Average monthly expenditure
Your monthly household expenses will determine the amount of car loan you quote. If your expenses are high then you certainly have to quote low amount. Alternatively, you can quote large amount that are payable in a long period of time. Whichever the case, expenses need to be reduced so as to enable you pay your auto loan with comfort.The type of automobile to purchase
When purchasing a car it is advisable to consider the economic hardships. New cars are expensive and may not be viable during recession. Old cars on the other hand are cheaper but their interest rates on the loan are high. Your income levels will determine which car to purchase. Old cars are subject to breakdown and recurring repair and maintenance costs.Auto loan agents
Auto quotation may be a tedious and difficult exercise when you do not know the right auto loan companies to approach. Auto loan agents will research and come up with a list of car loan companies that can offer the auto loan deal you are looking for. By providing the agents with information such as the kind of vehicle you want, the amount of loan you need, the interest rate you prefer as well as the repayment period,then auto loan agent can selectively search and offers you appropriate companies that will almost certainly agree on your quote.These are important aspects that a prospective borrower has to consider when making a car loan quote. They enable the client to make a suitable quote that will be considered by an auto finance company. Auto agents save you time and resources you would use when looking for the right auto companies.

S&P 500 Rallies As U.S. Dollar Pulls Back Towards Weekly Lows

Key Insights
The strong pullback in the U.S. dollar provided significant support to stocks.
Treasury yields have pulled back after touching new highs, which served as an additional positive catalyst for S&P 500.
A move above 3730 will push S&P 500 towards the resistance level at 3760.
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Pfizer Rallies After Announcing A Huge Price Hike For Its COVID-19 Vaccines
S&P 500 is currently trying to settle above 3730 as traders’ appetite for risk is growing. The U.S. dollar has recently gained strong downside momentum as the BoJ intervened to stop the rally in USD/JPY. Weaker U.S. dollar is bullish for stocks as it increases profits of multinational companies and makes U.S. equities cheaper for foreign investors.

The leading oil services company Schlumberger is up by 9% after beating analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. Schlumberger’s peers Baker Hughes and Halliburton have also enjoyed strong support today.

Vaccine makers Pfizer and Moderna gained strong upside momentum after Pfizer announced that it will raise the price of its coronavirus vaccine to $110 – $130 per shot.

Biggest losers today include Verizon and Twitter. Verizon is down by 5% despite beating analyst estimates on both earnings and revenue. Subscriber numbers missed estimates, and traders pushed the stock to multi-year lows.

Twitter stock moved towards the $50 level as the U.S. may conduct a security review of Musk’s purchase of the company.

From a big picture point of view, today’s rebound is broad, and most market segments are moving higher. Treasury yields have started to move lower after testing new highs, providing additional support to S&P 500. It looks that some traders are ready to bet that Fed will be less hawkish than previously expected.

S&P 500 Tests Resistance At 3730

S&P 500 has recently managed to get above the 20 EMA and is trying to settle above the resistance at 3730. RSI is in the moderate territory, and there is plenty of room to gain additional upside momentum in case the right catalysts emerge.

If S&P 500 manages to settle above 3730, it will head towards the next resistance level at 3760. A successful test of this level will push S&P 500 towards the next resistance at October highs at 3805. The 50 EMA is located in the nearby, so S&P 500 will likely face strong resistance above the 3800 level.

On the support side, the previous resistance at 3700 will likely serve as the first support level for S&P 500. In case S&P 500 declines below this level, it will move towards the next support level at 3675. A move below 3675 will push S&P 500 towards the support at 3640.

SPDN: An Inexpensive Way To Profit When The S&P 500 Falls

Summary
SPDN is not the largest or oldest way to short the S&P 500, but it’s a solid choice.
This ETF uses a variety of financial instruments to target a return opposite that of the S&P 500 Index.
SPDN’s 0.49% Expense Ratio is nearly half that of the larger, longer-tenured -1x Inverse S&P 500 ETF.
Details aside, the potential continuation of the equity bear market makes single-inverse ETFs an investment segment investor should be familiar with.
We rate SPDN a Strong Buy because we believe the risks of a continued bear market greatly outweigh the possibility of a quick return to a bull market.
Put a gear stick into R position, (Reverse).
Birdlkportfolio

By Rob Isbitts

Summary
The S&P 500 is in a bear market, and we don’t see a quick-fix. Many investors assume the only way to navigate a potentially long-term bear market is to hide in cash, day-trade or “just hang in there” while the bear takes their retirement nest egg.

The Direxion Daily S&P 500® Bear 1X ETF (NYSEARCA:SPDN) is one of a class of single-inverse ETFs that allow investors to profit from down moves in the stock market.

SPDN is an unleveraged, liquid, low-cost way to either try to hedge an equity portfolio, profit from a decline in the S&P 500, or both. We rate it a Strong Buy, given our concern about the intermediate-term outlook for the global equity market.

Strategy
SPDN keeps it simple. If the S&P 500 goes up by X%, it should go down by X%. The opposite is also expected.

Proprietary ETF Grades
Offense/Defense: Defense

Segment: Inverse Equity

Sub-Segment: Inverse S&P 500

Correlation (vs. S&P 500): Very High (inverse)

Expected Volatility (vs. S&P 500): Similar (but opposite)

Holding Analysis
SPDN does not rely on shorting individual stocks in the S&P 500. Instead, the managers typically use a combination of futures, swaps and other derivative instruments to create a portfolio that consistently aims to deliver the opposite of what the S&P 500 does.

Strengths
SPDN is a fairly “no-frills” way to do what many investors probably wished they could do during the first 9 months of 2022 and in past bear markets: find something that goes up when the “market” goes down. After all, bonds are not the answer they used to be, commodities like gold have, shall we say, lost their luster. And moving to cash creates the issue of making two correct timing decisions, when to get in and when to get out. SPDN and its single-inverse ETF brethren offer a liquid tool to use in a variety of ways, depending on what a particular investor wants to achieve.

Weaknesses
The weakness of any inverse ETF is that it does the opposite of what the market does, when the market goes up. So, even in bear markets when the broader market trend is down, sharp bear market rallies (or any rallies for that matter) in the S&P 500 will cause SPDN to drop as much as the market goes up.

Opportunities
While inverse ETFs have a reputation in some circles as nothing more than day-trading vehicles, our own experience with them is, pardon the pun, exactly the opposite! We encourage investors to try to better-understand single inverse ETFs like SPDN. While traders tend to gravitate to leveraged inverse ETFs (which actually are day-trading tools), we believe that in an extended bear market, SPDN and its ilk could be a game-saver for many portfolios.

Threats
SPDN and most other single inverse ETFs are vulnerable to a sustained rise in the price of the index it aims to deliver the inverse of. But that threat of loss in a rising market means that when an investor considers SPDN, they should also have a game plan for how and when they will deploy this unique portfolio weapon.

Proprietary Technical Ratings
Short-Term Rating (next 3 months): Strong Buy

Long-Term Rating (next 12 months): Buy

Conclusions
ETF Quality Opinion
SPDN does what it aims to do, and has done so for over 6 years now. For a while, it was largely-ignored, given the existence of a similar ETF that has been around much longer. But the more tenured SPDN has become, the more attractive it looks as an alternative.

ETF Investment Opinion

SPDN is rated Strong Buy because the S&P 500 continues to look as vulnerable to further decline. And, while the market bottomed in mid-June, rallied, then waffled since that time, our proprietary macro market indicators all point to much greater risk of a major decline from this level than a fast return to bull market glory. Thus, SPDN is at best a way to exploit and attack the bear, and at worst a hedge on an otherwise equity-laden portfolio.

S&P 500 Biotech Giant Vertex Leads 5 Stocks Showing Strength

Your stocks to watch for the week ahead are Cheniere Energy (LNG), S&P 500 biotech giant Vertex Pharmaceuticals (VRTX), Cardinal Health (CAH), Steel Dynamics (STLD) and Genuine Parts (GPC).

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While the market remains in correction, with analysts and investors wary of an economic downturn, these five stocks are worth adding to watchlists. S&P 500 medical giants Vertex and Cardinal Health have been holding up, as health-care related plays tend to do well in down markets.

Steel Dynamics and Genuine Parts are both coming off strong earnings as both the steel and auto parts industries report optimistic outlooks. Meanwhile, Cheniere Energy saw sales boom in the second quarter as demand in Europe for natural gas continues to grow.

Major indexes have been making rally attempts with the Dow Jones and S&P 500 testing weekly support on Friday. With market uncertainty, investors should be ready for follow-through day breakouts and keep an eye on these stocks.

Cheniere Energy, Cardinal Health and VRTX stock are all on IBD Leaderboard.

Cheniere Energy Stock
LNG shares rose 1.1% to 175.79 during Friday’s market trading. On the week, the stock advanced 3.1%, not from highs, bouncing from its 21-day and 10-week lines earlier in the week.

Cheniere Energy has been consolidating since mid-September, but needs another week to forge a proper base, with a potential 182.72 buy point formed on Aug. 10.

Houston-based Cheniere Energy was IBD Stock Of The Day on Thursday, as the largest U.S. producer of liquefied natural gas eyes strong demand in Europe.

Even though natural gas prices are plunging in the U.S. and Europe, investors still see strong LNG demand for Cheniere and others.

The U.K. government confirmed last week that it is in talks for an LNG purchase agreement with a number of companies, including Cheniere.

In the first half of 2021, less than 40% of Cheniere’s cargoes of LNG landed in Europe. That jumped to more than 70% through this year’s second quarter, even as the company ramped up new export capacity. The urgency of Europe’s natural gas shortage only intensified last month. That is when an explosion disabled the Nord Stream 1 pipeline from Russia that had once supplied 40% of the European Union’s natural gas.

In Q2, sales increased 165% to $8 billion and LNG earned $2.90 per share, up from a net loss of $1.30 per share in Q2 2021. The company will report Q3 earnings Nov. 3, with investors seeing booming profits for the next few quarters.

Cheniere Energy has a Composite Rating of 84. It has a 98 Relative Strength Rating, an exclusive IBD Stock Checkup gauge for share price movement with a 1 to 99 score. The rating shows how a stock’s performance over the last 52 weeks holds up against all the other stocks in IBD’s database. The EPS rating is 41.

Vertex Stock
VRTX stock jumped 3.4% to 300 on Friday, rebounding from a test of its 50-day moving average. Shares climbed 2.2% for the week. Vertex stock has formed a tight flat base with an official buy point of 306.05, according to MarketSmith analysis.

The stock has remained consistent over recent weeks, while the relative strength line has trended higher. The RS line tracks a stock’s performance vs. the S&P 500 index.

Vertex Q3 earnings are on due Oct. 27. Analysts see EPS edging up 1% to $3.61 per share with sales increasing 16% to $2.2 billion, according to FactSet.

The Boston-based global biotech company dominates the cystic fibrosis treatment market. Vertex also has other products in late-stage clinical development that target sickle cell disease, Type 1 diabetes and certain genetically caused kidney diseases. That includes a gene-editing partnership with Crispr Therapeutics (CRSP).

In early August, Vertex reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and raised full-year sales targets.

S&P 500 stock Vertex ranks second in the Medical-Biomed/Biotech industry group. VRTX has a 99 Composite Rating. Its Relative Strength Rating is 94 and its EPS Rating is 99.

CRISPR Stocks: Will Concerns Over Risk Inhibit Gene-Editing Cures?

Cardinal Health Stock
CAH stock advanced 3.2% to 73.03 Friday, clearing a 71.22 buy point from a shallow cup-with-handle base and hitting a record high. But volume was light on the breakout. CAH stock leapt 7.3% for the week.

Cardinal Health stock’s relative strength line has also been trending up for months.

The cup-with-handle base is part of a base-on-base pattern, forming just above a cup base cleared on Aug. 11.

Cardinal Health, based in Dublin, Ohio, offers a wide assortment of health care services and medical supplies to hospitals, labs, pharmacies and long-term care facilities. The company reports that it serves around 90% of hospitals and 60,000 pharmacies in the U.S.

S&P 500 stock Cardinal Health will report Q1 2023 earnings on Nov. 4. Analysts forecast earnings falling 26% to 96 cents per share. Sales are expected to increase 10% to $48.3 billion, according to FactSet.

Cardinal Health stock ranks first in the Medical-Wholesale Drug/Supplies industry group, ahead of McKesson (MCK), which is also showing positive action. CAH stock has a 94 Composite Rating out of 99. It has a 97 Relative Strength Rating and an EPS rating of 73.

Steel Dynamics Stock
STLD shares shot up 8.5% to 92.92 on Friday and soared 19% on the week, coming off a Steel Dynamics earnings beat Wednesday night.

Shares blasted above an 88.72 consolidation buy point Friday after clearing a trendline Thursday. STLD stock is 17% above its 50-day line, definitely extended from that key average.

Steel Dynamics’ latest consolidation could be seen as part of a larger base going back six months.

Steel Dynamics topped Q3 earnings views with EPS rising 10% to $5.46 while revenue grew 11% to $5.65 billion. The steel producer’s outlook is optimistic despite weaker flat rolled steel pricing. STLD reports its order activity and backlogs remain solid.

The Fort Wayne, Indiana-based company is among the largest producers of carbon steel products in the U.S. It engages in metal recycling operations along with steel fabrication and produces myriad steel products.

How Millett Grew Steel Dynamics From A Three Employee Business

STLD stock ranks first in the Steel-Producers industry group. STLD stock has a 96 Composite Rating out of 99. It has a 90 Relative Strength Rating, an exclusive IBD Stock Checkup gauge for share-price movement that tops at 99. The rating shows how a stock’s performance over the last 52 weeks holds up against all the other stocks in IBD’s database. The EPS rating is 98.

Genuine Parts Stock
GPC stock gained 2.8% to 162.35 Friday after the company topped earnings views with its Q3 results on Thursday. For the week GPC advanced 5.1% as the stock held its 50-day line and is in a flat base.

GPC has an official 165.09 flat-base buy point after a three-week rally, according to MarketSmith analysis.

The relative strength line for Genuine Parts stock has rallied sharply to highs over the past several months.

On Thursday, the Atlanta-based auto parts company raised its full-year guidance on growth across its automotive and industrial sales.

Genuine Parts earnings per share advanced 19% to $2.23 and revenue grew 18% to $5.675 billion in Q3. GPC’s full-year guidance is now calling for EPS of $8.05-$8.15, up from $7.80-$7.95. The company now forecasts revenue growth of 15%-16%, up from the earlier 12%-14%.

During the Covid pandemic, supply chain constraints caused a major upheaval in the auto industry, sending prices for new and used cars to record levels. This has made consumers more likely to hang on to their existing vehicles for longer, driving mileage higher and boosting demand for auto replacement parts.

Fellow auto stocks O’Reilly Auto Parts (ORLY) and AutoZone (AZO) have also rallied near buy points amid the struggling market. O’Reilly reports on Oct. 26.

IBD ranks Genuine Parts first in the Retail/Wholesale-Auto Parts industry group. GPC stock has a 96 Composite Rating. Its Relative Strength Rating is 94 and it has an EPS Rating of 89.

Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7

Shoe Repairs And Several Other Things When I Was 7
My Dad repaired most of our shoes believe it or not, I can hardly believe it myself now. With 7 pairs of shoes always needing repairs I think he was quite clever to learn how to “Keep us in shoe Leather” to coin a phrase!

He bought several different sizes of cast iron cobbler’s “lasts”. Last, the old English “Laest” meaning footprint. Lasts were holding devices shaped like a human foot. I have no idea where he would have bought the shoe leather. Only that it was a beautiful creamy, shiny colour and the smell was lovely.

But I do remember our shoes turned upside down on and fitted into these lasts, my Dad cutting the leather around the shape of the shoe, and then hammering nails, into the leather shape. Sometimes we’d feel one or 2 of those nails poking through the insides of our shoes, but our dad always fixed it.

Hiking and Swimming Galas
Dad was a very outdoorsy type, unlike my mother, who was probably too busy indoors. She also enjoyed the peace and quiet when he took us off for the day!

Anyway, he often took us hiking in the mountains where we’d have a picnic of sandwiches and flasks of tea. And more often than not we went by steam train.

We loved poking our heads out of the window until our eyes hurt like mad from a blast of soot blowing back from the engine. But sore, bloodshot eyes never dampened our enthusiasm.

Dad was an avid swimmer and water polo player, and he used to take us to swimming galas, as they were called back then. He often took part in these galas. And again we always travelled by steam train.

Rowing Over To Ireland’s Eye
That’s what we did back then, we had to go by rowboat, the only way to get to Ireland’s eye, which is 15 minutes from mainland Howth. From there we could see Malahide, Lambay Island and Howth Head of course. These days you can take a Round Trip Cruise on a small cruise ship!

But we thoroughly enjoyed rowing and once there we couldn’t wait to climb the rocks, and have a swim. We picnicked and watched the friendly seals doing their thing and showing off.

Not to mention all kinds of birdlife including the Puffin.The Martello Tower was also interesting but a bit dangerous to attempt entering. I’m getting lost in the past as I write, and have to drag myself back to the present.

Fun Outings with The camera Club
Dad was also a very keen amateur photographer, and was a member of a camera Club. There were many Sunday photography outings and along with us came other kids of the members of the club.

And we always had great fun while the adults busied themselves taking photos of everything and anything, it seemed to us. Dad was so serious about his photography that he set up a dark room where he developed and printed his photographs.

All black and white at the time. He and his camera club entered many of their favourites in exhibitions throughout Europe. I’m quite proud to say that many cups and medals were won by Dad. They have been shared amongst all his grandchildren which I find quite special.

He liked taking portraits of us kids too, mostly when we were in a state of untidiness, usually during play. Dad always preferred the natural look of messy hair and clothes in the photos of his children.

US Markets in green on Friday; Dow 30 up over 345 points, Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 up nearly 1%

US Markets were trading in the green on Friday with Dow 30 trading at 30,678.80, up by 1.14%. While S&P 500 was trading at 3,701.66, up by 0.98% and Nasdaq Composite 10,690.60 was also up by 0.71 per cent

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US Markets in green on Friday; Dow 30 up over 345 points, Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500 up nearly 1%
Earlier today, Indian stock markets ended the week on a winning note. It was the sixth straight gains for equity markets. Source: Reuters
US Markets were trading in the green on Friday with Dow 30 trading at 30,678.80, up by 345.25 points or1.14 per cent. While S&P 500 was trading at 3,701.66, up by 35.88 points or 0.98 per cent and Nasdaq Composite 10,690.60 was also up 75.75 points or 0.71 per cent. A Reuters report said that today’s strength was on the back of a report which said the Federal Reserve will likely debate on signaling plans for a smaller interest rate hike in December, reversing declines set off by social media firms after Snap Inc’s ad warning.

Source: Comex

Nasdaq Top Gainers and Losers

Source: Nasdaq

Earlier today, Indian stock markets ended the week on a winning note. It was the sixth straight gains for equity markets. The BSE Sensex ended at 59,307.15, up by 104.25 points or 0.18 per cent from the Thursday closing level. Meanwhile, the Nifty50 index closed at 17,590.00, higher by 26.05 points or 0.15 per cent. In the 30-share Sensex, 13 stocks gained while the remaining 17 ended on the losing side. In the 50-stock Nifty50, 21 stocks advanced while 29 declined.