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Sunday, October 25, 2009
Understanding Forex Technical Analysis For Successful Forex Trading
0 comments Posted by Tip at 6:52 AMPrice Charts contain information regarding FOREX prices at specific time intervals. Intervals range anywhere from one minute to several years. Prices are usually displayed in the form of line graphs, and occasionally the change over each given time period is depicted in the form of a bar graph or candlestick graph.
Line graphs are useful for providing a broad overview of price fluctuations over time. They display the closing price at the end of the given time period. Line graphs possess several advantages when compared to other types of graphs: they are are quite easy to understand and they are useful for finding patterns over a long period of time. However, a key disadvantage is that they lack the degree of detail possessed by bar and candlestick graphs.
In contrast, bar graphs provide a greater amount of information than line graphs. The length of each bar demonstrates the price difference for the specific time interval – a longer bar indicates a bigger separation between high prices and low ones. Furthermore, each bar contains two tabs. The left tab on a given bar displays the price at the beginning of an interval, while the right tab demonstrates the price at the end of an interval. Using this system, it is easy to see price fluctuations over a given time interval, and to understand specifics of the variation in price. At times, it can be difficult to read bar graphs which have been condensed and printed on paper, but most computerized graphs usually possess a zoom feature, which makes it easy to see the specifics.
Candlestick graphs originated in Japan, where they were frequently used in order to analyze rice sales. These resemble bar charts in that they indicate prices at the beginning and end of a certain time interval, as well as the peak and low prices over that interval. Furthermore, these charts are color coded, which assists in the ease of understanding. Green candlesticks are associated with increasing prices, while red candlesticks demonstrate decreasing prices.
Candlestick shapes - these shapes, when viewed in comparison with neighboring candlesticks, provide information regarding market fluctuation. This information is helpful in analyzing graphs. Different shapes of candlesticks come as a result of several values: price diffusion, and the disparity between prices at the beginning and end of a given interval. Candlestick patterns have been dubbed names which correlate with their physical shapes; names including 'morning star' and 'dark cloud cover'. When an individual learns these shapes, he or she is easily able to find them on a graph, and utilize this information in identifying tendencies in the current market.
Price graphs are frequently supplemented with various technical indicators. Many of these technical indicators fall into various differing categories. Some of these categories include trend indicators, strength indicators, volatility indicators, and cycle indicators. Each of these indicators is a tool which can be used to predict fluctuations in the market.
Common technical indicators frequently used in FOREX are as follows:
Average Directional Movement Index or ADX for short – this is utilized in to demonstrate if a market is entering an upward or downward trend, and to indicate the strength of the give trend. For the scale usually used by this index, results above 25 indicate a trend with a greater strength than usual.
Moving Average Convergence/Divergence or MACD for short – this demonstrates the current momentum of the market, as well as displaying the relationship between two fluid averages. A strong market is usually demonstrated when the MACD crosses over the signal line.
Stochastic Oscillator – this demonstrates the strength or weakness of a given market by way of comparing a given ending price to a price range over a specific time interval. A stochastic value under 20 demonstrates a currency that is oversold, while a stochastic value over 80 demonstrates a currency that is overbought.
Relative Strength Indicator or RSI for short – this is a scale from 1-100 which indicates the peak and low prices over a specific time interval. A price which falls below 30 is indicative of an oversold commodity, while a price above 70 is indicative of an overbought commodity.
Moving Average – this refers to the average price over a specific time period when that price is compared with other average prices during the same interval. For instance, ending prices over a 6 day interval would have a moving average of the total of the 6 ending prices divided by 6.
Bollinger Bands – these are bands which contain the great majority of a currency's current value. These bands consist of three horizontal lines. The top and bottom lines display fluctuations in price, while the middle line demonstrates the mean price. During time periods when the price is very volatile, the disparity between upper and lower bands increases. Overbought or oversold times are indicated when a bar or candlestick comes into contact with a Bollinger band.
Free forex signals served greater purpose of providing traders with the accurate signals that allows them to trail on repeated patterns and through this generate a prediction of how will the currency move. This is of the essence since as you begin to do your trade chances of acquiring a wrong move is inevitable and you will be left with nothing but to go back to square one and try your luck on your next trade. However, with free forex signals, you no longer have to endure anxiousness when trading as accurate signals are transmitted on your database.
Serious forex traders have greatly rely on free forex signals apart from its greater outcome, one of the most gleaned factor is its ability to reward traders with profits that they never imagine they can get. You can also try on investing forex signals and make this your partner for lifetime. As people would prefer to have subscription rather than the free ones it is never difficult to find one for your trade.
Accurate signals have become the indicators of the market's flow and behavior. These signals serve as your eye in the entire course of your foreign exchange dealings. Some of the factors that are provided by the forex signals are forex patterns, currency pairs, breakouts and Fibonacci levels. These are some of the things to look at when you are in a trade. This is precisely the reason why a trader without sufficient knowledge of the market will do no good in his dealings. These signals also provide traders of the idyllic timing when it comes to buying and selling currencies. The forex signal provides you with various information and recommendation if it would be favorable to buy or sell your currency. This type of recommendation is given by your provider or if you employ a broker then you most likely receive signals through an agent.
Forex signals are generally given on a daily updated basis and all are contingent on factual market analysis and behavioral flow and not on mere hearsays and other speculations.Looking at the practical side, it would be a best option to go by free forex signals however, if you have the financial means to fund a subscription then you may acquire for one. But regardless of it being free or not, the underlying principle relies on the fact that forex signals are your way towards unleashing the secrets of forex trading
Forex Training Education - Learn How to Become a Professional Forex Trader!
0 comments Posted by Tip at 6:50 AMWhen you finally come to the conclusion of undergoing forex training education, you will realize that this is something worthwhile as you begin with an investment that you will be carrying on in the duration of your trade and in your future transactions. One might come to ask, what could possibly be the best formula to gain more profit? The answer is simple, learn through forex course training education and be able to apply all the things that you have learned in your actual trade.
Forex training education has a lot of things to offer in helping you become a professional trader. You have to start off in searching for the best and the finest online courses on the net. There are multiplicities of selections provided for those who want to gain further knowledge in the areas of forex market and you will surely come up with the most efficient ones. You can also go by other forex trade software that consists of forex autopilot and forex robots. This software generate favorable outcome and constructive feedback as expediency becomes its major point. When you acquire a forex autopilot or robot, you will no longer have to do the monitoring 24/7 for the forex autopilot will be the one to do all the things that you once been doing. This software will also send forex signals on your database indicating if it is a perfect time to buy, sell or hold your currencies.
Forex training education is also comprise of demo accounts that can serve as your online resources. You can also create an account where you will be given a trial trade with no capital involve until such time that you are ready to face the inner circle and do your first trade at once. Added to this, is the significance of learning forex languages that will also play a big part in your dealings. Terminologies such as hedge, pips, currency pairs, quote currency, base currency, cross currency and the major and minor currency. The chances of coming across with these terms are viable.
Keep in mind that, forex training education should not rest once you get yourself in the forex market circle. Just like any other venture, a continuous learning process is essential to make way for greater challenges to overcome, profits to take pleasure and in due time a professional trader in your own right.
Saturday, October 24, 2009
Mishra said the new monthly contracts are specially designed to meet the requirements of the untapped retail market. “Other exchanges have gold contracts which are meant for speculators or large traders. Existing gold futures are not meant for jewellers who want to trade in futures but cannot invest much. Our new contracts are small in denomination which is highly in demand in retail segment,” Mishra said at a press meet here.
The official said the bourse is in negotiations with a logistics company to open delivery centres across the country for these bullion contracts. “Initially, we will open four to five delivery centres in large cities. However, depending on the response and requirements, we are ready to scale up the number of centres to 1,000. We have already identified around 1,000 locations across the country,” Mishra said.
Mishra said the management of the bourse is aware that its performance in the bullion segment is weaker than other exchanges but the new contracts will help the bourse grow in this segment.
“Bullion contributed just 10 per cent in our total turnover in 2008-09 (Apr-Mar) of over Rs 1,22,900 crore, while the rest of the trade came from agri futures. We are looking at increasing our bullion trade share to 25 per cent of the total turnover,” Mishra said.
finished higher on Thursday as strong U.S. housing data fueled
economic optimism, and a new U.S. silver-backed exchange-traded
fund could lift the precious metals complex.
For the latest detailed report, click on [GOL/].
GOLD
* August GCQ9 settled up $1.50 at $954.80 an ounce on the
COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
* Trading between $948.20 and $957.50.
* Wall Street rallied nearly 3 percent after data showed
U.S. sales of previously owned homes increased at a
faster-than-expected annual pace in June, in the third straight
month of gains. [ID:nN23387481]
* Dow Jones industrial average rose above 9,000 for the
first time since early January.
* Hopes of economic recovery underpin gold rally. Earlier
this year, gold prices were pressured by deflation fears amid a
possible prolonged global recession.
* Dennis Gartman, independent investor and publisher of the
daily Gartman Letter, said he will likely to buy more gold, and
he will add to his long positions if spot bullion rose above
$955.
* However, forward production hedging by gold producers
could cap gold's gain over $955 an ounce - Gartman.
* COMEX estimated final volume at a heavy 140,658 lots.
* Gold/oil ratio 14.12, against 14.64 in the previous
session.
* Spot gold XAU= traded at $950.30 an ounce at 3:30 p.m.
EDT (1930 GMT), against $950.40 in its previous session
finish.
* London gold fix XAUFIX= at $950 an ounce.
SILVER
* September SIU9 finished up 7 cents at $13.770 an ounce
as a new U.S. silver ETF and better macroeconomic sentiment
lifted silver's appeal as an industrial metal.
* Ranging $13.610 to $13.845.
* ETFS Silver Trust SIVR, the U.S. unit of London-based
ETF Securities, has issued shares backed by physical silver
bullion to be traded on the New York Stock Exchange - SEC
filing. [ID:nLN674579]
* The move has created a buzz in the precious metals sector
because ETF Securities had also in April filed to launch the
first-ever U.S. platinum exchange-traded fund, which could be a
boost to the price of platinum if it clears regulatory hurdle.
* COMEX estimated final volume at 16,945 lots.
* Spot silver XAG= $13.75 an ounce, compared with its
previous close of $13.68.
* London silver fix XAGFIX= at $13.76 an ounce.
PLATINUM
* October PLV9 ended up $12.30, or 1.1 percent, at
$1,188.0 an ounce as the market focused on better platinum
autocatalyst demand on hopes that the auto production would
rebound.
* Spot platinum XPT= at $1,176 an ounce against its
$1,172 previous session's close.
PALLADIUM
* September PAU9 closed up $4.05, or 1.6 percent, at
$260.20 an ounce, tracking on platinum's gains.
* Spot palladium XPD= was at $255.50 an ounce, compared
with $252.50 in its previous finish. (Reporting by Frank Tang; Editing by David Gregorio
Gold may also benefit from broad strength in commodities as investor risk appetite grows with the rally in equities markets.
Traders said activity was subdued but that they were looking at stock markets, oil prices, the dollar and how overseas markets develop later in the day to determine whether gold can advance toward $960 levels, which they said was the near-term resistance level.
"Risk appetite seems to have picked up quite a bit as seen in rising stock markets," said Adrian Koh, an analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.
"If we are looking at gold from a commodities point of view (including oil), then an increase in risk appetite could also support gold prices, as people would tend to buy riskier assets such as commodities," he said.
But if investors view gold as a safe-haven, then a rise in risk appetite would weigh on gold.
"But I guess the former is predominant for now," he said.
Spot gold edged up 0.2 percent to $948.80 per ounce as of 0306 GMT, compared with New York's notional close of $947.15 per ounce on
"(The) planned startup is continuing, despite being adversely affected by wet weather and a recent decline in contracted workforce productivity associated with the industrywide economic slowdown," Newmont said in a statement.
At full production, Boddington, about 130 kilometers southeast of Perth, will be Australia's largest gold mine, and ramp up is expected to take 12 months. Eventual capital costs are expected around US$2.6 billion to US$2.9 billion.
The mine will produce around 1 million troy ounces during its first five years of operation at average cash costs of US$300/oz including byproduct credits.
In June, Newmont bought the remaining 33.33% interest in the project it didn't already own from AngloGold Ashanti Ltd. for about US$1.1 billion.
-By Elisabeth Behrmann, Dow Jones Newswires
Lightweight jewels shine as gold gets costlier
With gold prices now scaling new highs and affecting the demand for jewellery, manufacturers are devising new ways to propel demand and attract customers. Today, lightweight jewellery seems to be in vogue and new designs that fuse gold and diamond with other metals like steel, tungsten, titanium form the new offering. Jewellers are also making use of coloured stones to make affordable pieces of jewellery pieces in an attempt to revive demand. The price of gold is up by over 20% at Rs 15,000 per 10 gram levels compared to last years’ average price of Rs 12,147. Demand for gold has taken a hit in India, a market that is considered price-sensitive . According to estimates from the World Gold Council, demand for the first quarter of the current year fell 83% to 17.7 tonnes compared to the corresponding period last year. Vinod Hayagriv, Chairman, All India Gems & Jewellery Trade Federation says there is fluctuation in gold purchases apart from a drop in the quantum of gold being purchased. “I have seen few companies who are moving towards offering the option of diamond jewellery studded in metals like steel, titanium, tungsten,” he said. He is quick to add that these metals cannot be used as a replacement for gold but are instead added in the jewellery portfolio of companies . Mr Hayagriv’s jewellery outlets, C Krishniah Chetty & Sons has been offering diamond jewellery studded in high end steel with one to 40 pieces of diamonds. “They are in the price range of Rs 3,500-15 ,000 and are always a part of diamond portfolio,” Mr Hayagriv adds. Mumbai based KT Group, the promoters of prominent gold chain brand “Chain N Chains” , Timond luxury watches and Raa diamond Jewellery will soon launch their fusion jewellery brand , ‘Arma.’ K T Group chief operating officer Tejas Soni said the company has used 316L (low carbide ) high end steel. “The use of imported steel from Taiwan with gold and diamond brings down the cost. This range is sold in the Rs 1000-Rs 5000 price range,” he said. Arma Jewellery will carry a 18 carat gold and 3-4 pieces of diamond and steel. The hallmark jewellery comes with a buy-back guarantee at 50% of its value and will be made available in 500 retail outlets in two years. Most jewellers, like those in Mumbai’s Zaveri Bazaar have increased their inventories for light weight jewellery and jewellery that uses coloured stones. Coloured stones, they say, reduce the content of gold and brings down the costs. Deepak Tulsiani from Dwarkadas Chandumal Jewellers says that even the concept of hollow casting is gaining ground as it makes jewellery look heavy while it is actually hollow from inside and is less expensive
He came into the final round of dives in the lead but picked a trickier dive than his rivals.
Although he did not execute a perfect dive, it was just enough to push American Troy Dumais and Canadian Alexandre Despatie into second and third respectively.
The podium was an exact reverse of the worlds in Montreal four years ago.
Afterwards the Olympic champion said he could have done better overall.
"I'm satisfied even though I made a few mistakes and some of my movements weren't perfect. I felt a bit nervous," He said.
"I think it was an average performance. The level of difficulty of my dives was quite high. I didn't have a particularly bad dive, I just think I could have done better on all of them."
He's team-mate Zhang Xinhua finished fourth with Australia's Olympic 10m champion Matthew Mitcham in ninth.
He held the lead in the competition after every dive except the second round when he made a mistake and Dumais overtook him.
However, the American made a hash of his third dive, scoring a lowly 67.50 while He posted a 91.80 and Dumais was playing catch-up from there.
"Silver is great but I know I can do better. I didn't feel pressure going into the last dive because back home we practise this last dive all the time," said Dumais, who matched his result from 2005 in Montreal.
"My coach gives me a score to aim for and that keeps it fun and real. He has great faith in me and this is why I came into this event mentally strong."
Despatie got off to a slow start with a 72.00 that left him in seventh place but four dives in the mid-to-late 80s pushed him into gold medal contention.
But the 2005 champion had a poor last dive compared to He and Dumais and had to settle for the bronze medal.
"That was average for me, I needed to do better on the last dive, I wish it had been better," he said.
"I have had two bronze medals at this championship (he also took bronze in the 3m synchro) and that's a good result considering the injuries I've had this year."
But He deserved his victory with the only total score over 500, managing 505.20.
Despatie had topped the semi-final standings with Dumais top in Wednesday's preliminaries but He saved his best for the final.
Jewelry demand in China expanded in the first quarter while dropping in India, Marcus Grubb, a managing director at the London-based council, said today at a conference in Hong Kong. Chinese gold demand will keep rising, he said.
China’s economy grew 7.9 percent in the second quarter after a 4 trillion yuan ($586 billion) stimulus package spurred record lending and consumption. India’s gold purchases slumped 54 percent in the six months ended June after a decline in the rupee pushed up the cost of owning bullion, cooling demand from housewives and jewelers, the Bombay Bullion Association said.
“There is a possibility that China might overtake India as the world’s largest gold consumer this year,” Hou Huimin, deputy head of the China Gold Association, said by phone from Beijing today. “India’s gold consumption is reportedly dropping this year due to the financial crisis.”
Total demand from India in the first quarter fell 83 percent to 17.7 metric tons, from 107.2 tons a year earlier, according to figures from the World Gold Council. Purchases in China rose 1.8 percent to 105.2 tons from 103.3 tons. Total Chinese demand for gold was six times that of India in the first quarter, the council said in May.
‘Consumption Growing’
“China’s consumption is growing and this year’s will surely be more than last year’s,” Hou said.
China consumed nearly 400 metric tons of gold last year, while demand in India was more than 650 tons, according to council data, which cited statistics from GFMS Ltd. Global demand rose 3.8 percent to 3,658.6 tons, or $101.8 billion, the council said Feb. 18.
Bullion prices have gained 7.6 percent this year as the global recession spurred demand for safe haven assets. Gold for immediate delivery was unchanged at $949.15 an ounce at 1:12 p.m. in Hong Kong.
China, the world’s biggest gold producer, has increased reserves by 76 percent to 1,054 tons since 2003 and has the world’s fifth-biggest holdings by country, Hu Xiaolian, head of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange, said in April.
Gold imports by India in the six months ended June 30 plunged to 63.8 tons from 139 tons a year earlier, the Bombay Bullion Association said July 13. Imports may fall further after the government doubled the import duty this month, it said.
‘Drastic Fall’
“India’s gold demand as reflected in imports have fallen drastically in the first six months,” Harmesh Arora, vice president of the Indian association said today in phone interview from Mumbai. “There are still no signs of demand picking up as global prices are moving higher,” said Arora, who also believes China could overtake India in gold consumption.
Still, India meets most of its demand from imports, some of which are brought in through unofficial channels and are not represented in official data, said Mukul Sonawale, partner of Mumbai-based Narrondass Manordass Co. and a past president of the Bombay Bullion Association.
“China can emerge as the world’s biggest consumer only on paper,” he said. “The official figures of imports will be quite deceiving as they don’t capture all the imports. With India doubling the import duty on gold, the unofficial channel is bound to increase.”
To contact the reporter on this story: Sophie Leung in Hong Kong at
Gold may also benefit from broad strength in commodities as investor risk appetite grows with the rally in equities markets.
Traders said activity was subdued but that they were looking at stock markets, oil prices, the dollar and how overseas markets develop later in the day to determine whether gold can advance toward $960 levels, which they said was the near-term resistance level.
"Risk appetite seems to have picked up quite a bit as seen in rising stock markets," said Adrian Koh, an analyst at Phillip Futures in Singapore.
"If we are looking at gold from a commodities point of view (including oil), then an increase in risk appetite could also support gold prices, as people would tend to buy riskier assets such as commodities," he said.
But if investors view gold as a safe-haven, then a rise in risk appetite would weigh on gold.
"But I guess the former is predominant for now," he said.
Spot gold edged up 0.2 percent to $948.80 per ounce as of 0306 GMT, compared with New York's notional close of $947.15 per ounce o
India gold futures tread water on dollar
MUMBAI (Reuters) - India gold futures treaded water on Thursday as the dollar stayed near its seven-week low against a basket of currencies, analysts said.
The most-active August gold contract was 0.04 percent higher at 14,945 rupees per 10 grams at 11:05 a.m.
The dollar hovered close to a seven-week low as steady stock markets and stronger U.S. home prices offset weak bank earnings and dented the greenback's safe-haven allure.
Gold is considered as an alternative asset to the U.S. currency.
"Gold may be on the higher side later supported by weak dollar and firm crude. The resistance is placed at 15,000 rupees," said Aurobinda Prasad, deputy manager-research, Karvy Comtrade.
Investors would also await jobless claims data from the U.S. to gauge direction in the precious metals complex.
Gold may be in the range of 14,880-15,00 rupees, said Kunal Shah, analyst with Nirmal Bang Commodities.
Open interest for August gold on MCX was at 12,985 lots, down from 13,175 a day earlier. Volume on Wednesday was 25.31 kg
"Traders are feeling uncomfortable to bid gold at 15,000 rupees," said a dealer with a private bank in Mumbai.
Scoatia Mocatta quoted gold at 15,100 rupees per 10 grams as against 15,180 rupees on Thursday.
A seasonal slack period is underway in India for gold trade due to monsoons, when fewer weddings takes place.
Dealers expect buying to revive by August-end, when traders would seek to replenish stock for the festival season.
"Demand would pick-up again if prices fall to $930 an ounce," said another dealer with a state-run bank.
With CAT 2009 just round the corner, scores of MBA aspirants are still writing to MBAUniverse.com every day asking questions about the schedule of CAT 2009, exam methodology, and how to prepare for CAT 2009. We at MBAUiverse.com decided to cull out the key frequently asked questions, and answer them w
ith the help of our panel of inputs provided by IIMs, testing company Prometric, CAT & MBA experts
According to the information available with MBAUniverse.com, CAT entrance exam for 2009 is going to be held during a ten-day window starting from November 28 to December 7, 2009. While the IIMs have not released this information formally, MBAUniverse.com has learnt about these dates from reliable sources. We broke the news of these dates on June 26
In fact, IIM Ahmedabad on July 1, 2009, confirmed the dates indirectly. According to the IIM Ahmedabad website, CAT 2009 will be conducted during a ten-day window starting at the end of November 2009. (Click on this link to read the official IIM Ahmedabad document
According to IIMs, you have to buy the CAT 2009 voucher from the designated locations/bank branches after the advertisement appears in the newspapers. Candidate Testing Fee has been fixed at Rs. 1400 for general and Rs. 700 for SC/ST candidates. After registering yourself for the CAT entrance exam at their website, you will receive an email containing CAT 2009 Admit Card. Please ensure you have a valid email id.
From 2009, CAT entrance exam is going to be a computer-based test and it has been formally announced by the IIMs. Instead of reading the questions on a paper booklet and darkening the ovals on the answer-sheet, you will read the questions on a computer terminal and choose the answer by clicking a mouse. The format of the test will remain more or less the same. You can only take the test at designated test venues. At the test venue, you will be seated at a desk with a computer terminal and will be provided with a writing pad with numbered pages for calculations. This pad will be retained by the examiners. In order to familiarize yourself with the computer-based CAT exam, you should take more and more computer-based Mock Tests. All MBA coaching institutes offer computer-based Mock Tests nowadays. Also, you can check out online MBA coaching and test providing portals. Read the two article series of MBAUniverse.com, CAT 2009: MBA coaching portals logon to new computer-based format
The eligibility of taking CAT entrance exam is to obtain 50 per cent in graduation from any stream and any recognized college. The IIMs prefers candidates with work experience, but admission in a top MBA school depends on your performance of CAT entrance exam. If you do well in the written exam, you will get calls from various MBA schools for Group Discussion and Personal Interview. Depending on your performance in all three steps and quality of your CV, you will get admission offers. During the selection process, the educational qualification is also taken into account as it is not possible for everyone to cope up with the rigorous pressure of the MBA programs provided by the top MBA schools. Among the CAT 2008 toppers, interviewed by MBAUniverse.com, there were students who did not belong to engineering backgrounds such as Vipul Goyal. Vipul had done B.Com from Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi University. He scored 99.87 percentile in CAT and is now in IIM Indore. Also Sitaram Agarwal (99.53 percentile holder), and Anurag Goyal (99.56 percentile holder), were students of B.Com from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, University of Calcutta. Both are now students of IIM Ahmedabad and FMS respectively. Read their interviews here:
Allotments and computer training for mentally ill
A new initiative was launched by Phil Hope, care services minister to mark a new era in mental health, end the stigma associated with the condition and encourage early treatment.
Urban allotments, reading groups and computer training were highlighted as schemes that the NHS is being urged to provide under the New Horizons campaign.
Poor mental health is already believed to cost the economy £77 billion a year and the independent health think tank, the King’s Fund, has predicted the cost will double to over 10 per cent of GDP by 2026.
A consultation was launched to bring together different agencies including schools, employers, the NHS and the criminal justice system, to investigate how to improve mental health of the nation.
One of the ideas under consideration is a dedicated youth mental health service as problems often begin early in life, experts said.
Prevention and early treatment are key themes in the consultation along with removing stigma and ensuring patients receive care tailored to their needs.
One in six people will have a mental health problem at any one time.
Care Services Minister Phil Hope said: “Better mental health and wellbeing is vital for a healthy society. People with mental health problems are more likely to do other things that damage their health, such as have a poor diet, smoke or take drugs. So promoting good mental health is a key part of tackling many other health inequalities.
“Over the last ten years of the national service framework we’ve transformed mental healthcare but now we want to go further. Our aim is to build on recent achievements, whilst simultaneously taking the next logical step – helping to prevent mental health problems from developing in the first place. New Horizons will help us do this."
Steve Shrubb, Director of the Mental Health Network of the NHS Confederation said: “Promoting mental health is everyone's business and the coalition fully supports the move to embedding good mental health across society while continuing to improve services.
Half of mental illness starts before the age of 14, Louis Appleby, National Director for Mental Health Services said and around half of these problems are preventable.
He added: “The New Horizons vision is about promoting better mental health and wellbeing. It is also about high quality, responsive services, that intervene early and effectively to lessen the long-term effects of mental ill-health.
"Services that are focused not only on treatment outcomes, but on wider quality of life issues, strengthened by efforts to promote social inclusion and tackle stigma and discrimination of every kind.”
Peter Carter, Chief Executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “The chances are that everyone knows someone with a mental health issue, yet for far too long mental health has been hidden behind closed doors. Bringing the issue of mental health and wellbeing into the mainstream and making it everybody’s business is clearly a step in the right direction."
Plans to improve mental health must not sit on the shelf, Andrew McCulloch, Chief Executive of the Mental Health Foundation, warned.
He said: “A key test for all these proposals will be their implementation. We know from the previous mental health strategy that only initiatives with a clear delivery plan get done.
“The idea of a youth mental health service is a good one. The transition to adulthood is when many mental health problems can become embedded. Most people with a mental health problem have been diagnosed by the age of 18. It’s much more sensible, not to mention cost effective, to help people stay well than pick up the pieces later on in life when their problems have become more serious."
A spokesman for the Department of Health said: "The reading groups and allotments are examples of effective ways to promote mental wellbeing, we are not recommending that everyone in the country has access to these specific examples. Ultimately, the responsibility for commissioning mental health care and treatment rests with individual Primary Care Trusts."
USA Hopefuls Prove Themselves In Gold Cup
CHICAGO, Ill. - The U.S. Men’s National Team started the CONCACAF Gold Cup as the favorite in a sense, as the reigning two-time defending champion. But naysayers quickly turned up their noses when the roster was released. And now five games later… the USA is headed to the Final for the third consecutive year, and sixth time overall.They’ve done it all by doing one thing – playing their style of soccer.“We were confident in ourselves,” U.S. defensive midfielder Logan Pause said. “It was a different game this time, much tougher. We focused on ourselves and felt if we did the little things, we would have the advantage.”It’s worked effectively as the U.S. has collected a 4-0-1 record, while outscoring opponents 12-3. All-time in Gold Cup play, the USA has dominated opponents with a 36-4-5 record and outscoring them 85 to 26.This team was a younger team, lacking experience. But head coach Bob Bradley turned them into a winning combination. There were some close calls along the way, but all in all, the USA proved they have what it takes to make it to the final.If the USA wins, they’ll become the second team in CONCACAF history to win three straight Gold Cup titles.“We as a group feel we’ve come a long way in this tournament,” USA’s Stuart Holden said. “But our job isn’t done yet. We want to finish it off by winning the final. You always want to play in these games. Whether it’s Mexico or Costa Rica in the final, we’ll prepare the same way.”Holden has been a bright star for the USA in the tournament, creating chances and most of all making noise in the midfield. He’s been all over the field. Thursday night he created chance after chance. And at the end of the match, he assisted both goals.“Anytime I’m on the field, I want to do well. I’m competitive,” Holden said. “The guys around me are doing a good job of finishing balls off. It’s been an all around effort since the first game.”Holden has tallied two goals and three assists for the USA in Gold Cup play. He donned Landon Donovan’s No. 10 jersey, by accident. And has without a doubt proved that he belongs at least on the senior side’s radar screen, if not the roster for upcoming games.“I think Stuart is a player that has been on the verge of getting into our team for a while he’s one of the players that came out of the Olympics where he did well,” U.S. Head Coach Bob Bradley said. “In the January camp, he came out with an injury so he missed an opportunity. The timing of this tournament was good for him and like others…I think he’s taken advantage of it.”At the end of the day, the USA out shot Honduras 17 to 10. It was one of their better performances thus far in the tournament, which puts them in good position for the final. All the players performed at the top of their game, making it hard for Honduras."The U.S. is known for playing collectively,” Honduras head coach Reinaldo Rueda said. “It's hard to say that one player stands out. This is what they've worked for in the last couple years. They have invested time and resources in this project, and it's finally paying off."U.S. striker Brian Ching, who wore the captain’s armband for the match, said the team will be ready, regardless of the opponent.“There will be a lot of pressure on us going into the final. But it’s pressure we look forward to,” Ching said.The USA will face the winner of Costa Rica-Mexico Sunday, July 26th at Giants Stadium in their third straight Gold Cup fina
Gold revisits 15K-level on higher global cues
revisited the 15,000-mark after a gap of 3-1/2 months on the
Silver also firmed up smartly on fresh demand from industrial users. Gold rose to a six-week high in Europe today as weakening dollar boosted interest in other hard assets, including bullion. Spot gold was bid at $952.40 an ounce as against $950.40 an ounce late in New York on Wednesday. In early trade, it touched a high of $956.50 an ounce. Silver was at $13.74 an ounce as against $13.68. Turning to the domestic market, standard gold (99.5purity) shot up by Rs 85 per ten grams to Rs 15,020 from yesterday's closing level of Rs 14,935. The level had previously seen on April 1, 2009, when it was closed at Rs 15,130. Pure gold (99.9 purity) also hardened by Rs 90 per ten grams to Rs 15,095 from Rs 15,005. Silver ready (.999 fineness) rose by Rs 295 per kilo to Rs 22,800 as against Rs 22,505 yesterday.
This study was conducted by Dr Nitin Batra of the Department of Ophthalmology at Christian Medical College and Hospital. A total of 200 computer users were included, randomly selected from ten software-training centres in the city. A strict inclusion criteria was followed. The subjects graded their ocular symptoms and tear-film tests were performed
Based on the diagnostic criteria, 98 subjects were labelled to have normal eyes, 64 subjects had mild and 20 had moderate CVS, he said. Severe CVS was noted in 18 subjects. In other words nearly 51 per cent of computer users had some form of CVS if they were using the PC for 2 hours per day at a stretch or 15 hours per week. The consultant Ophthalmologists at CMC said that unfortunately most people are unaware of CVS and its prevention and management. This condition can be easily prevented by blinking the eyes frequently while working on the computer. It is also suggested to take a break after every 20 minutes of computer usage. Dr Nitin said that it was a preventable problem