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Dean LeBaron'sWeb Trends and Useful Links
(Last updated November 18, 2002) We have had a links section since we started this web site. At first, the motive was to demonstrate that web visits could be instructive, easy, fun, global and cheap. But now, with internet usage growing at something like 30% per month and with financial applications leading the way, this demo is hardly necessary. It is preaching to the converted. However, despite my fear that we can not keep up with the growth, evidenced by the expansion of my favorite links on the computers I use and their disarray, I am going to attempt again to present links that seem useful to me. I find that questions arise on what I use for what, and I'll try to put them here. There will be five categories: convenience, charities, investment, friends and gurus, and family. Sometimes there will be a little explanation, but often not. And I'll try to keep it current... and will fail.
ConvenienceCopernic - the best of the meta-search engines Katiesoft - a very slick way of managing multiple browser windows Babelfish - translates web pages among many languages Jfax - receive faxes via e-mail, and have local fax numbers in cities around the world Eboard - share info via the web, without needing a full-blown website The Paperboy - news stand of the world's papers, with translation
Charities
InvestmentUseful sites are growing and changing addresses, and following them is not an easy task. One organization that has recently assumed that function is Ibbotson, known for its data bases and quantitative work. I suggest you look at http://www.ibbotson.com/research/iafp96.htm to find sources and a critique. I use it. Jeff Braemer suggested www.financeprofessor.com to me... and he is correct. It is a rich compendium by Prof. Jim Mahar of St. Bonaventure directed to college level teachers of finance. But it has relevance for all of us. He offers it in a weekly email form (sample here) which is the way I get it and read with care. Robert A. G. Monks - Bob Monks presents his wide-ranging interests on a personal site. It will be strong on corporate governance but cover other investment issues as well. The equivalent of a chat with Bob but this way you are more in command. AIMR - Association of Investment Management Research. Economagic - Browse Data Collections - Over 100,000 data files, with charts and excel files for each. Smartmoney - Financial news and much more. NDB - National Discount Brokers. www.oanda.com - The main forex/currency site for travelers and investors. Stockfinder Pro at Stockpoint - stock screening tool. INVlinks - Omnibus collection of quality tools for the personal investor. Investment Toolkit - Good investment and portfolio tracking system. RiskGrade - Best and free volatility tool for individual investors including a risk assessment quiz. Based on historical returns for 40k global stocks by RiskMetrics. onExchange - Wants to set up electronic trades in derivatives. The Unofficial Paul Krugman Archive - one of the most insightful, useful collections of economic and political opinion. Most Innovative Investment Links I have been interested in procedures to improve the quality, reduce costs and increase scale of investment practice for over 25 years. And I had some experience working in indexing, trading, screening, optimization, reporting and broadening to a global reach. But the innovations along the same lines are getting much better today. For the past decade finance was lagging or merely copying. Now real effort is being made, sometimes on new ground, which is bound to improve investment practice in the next decade. Let me post the links here which are most representative to me:
Friends and GurusRobert A. G. Monks - Bob Monks presents his wide-ranging interests on a personal site. It will be strong on corporate governance but cover other investment issues as well. The equivalent of a chat with Bob but this way you are more in command. John Budden is an expert on the Canadian investment scene who offers mature judgment on investments. Marc Faber is the pre-eminent economic historian who sees market patterns in century long sweeps when others are looking at seconds. And his insights cover all market localities, especially emerging markets...from his Hong Kong base. Boesch - Swiss Wooden Boats I use www.peterlbernsteininc.com - A new site from an old friend. Peter Bernstein is the preeminent economist standing at the nexus of investments and economic applications. Author of several important, widely acclaimed books, visitors to his web site will begin to sense his insights and foresights based upon solid scholarship.
FamilyMy son Blake's website My daughter Stacy's Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society website |
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