In Australia, chartered accountants (_Number 1 in Numbers_) have their own magazine. In an amazing display of creativity it is called _”Charter”:http:\/\/www.charteredaccountants.com.au\/charter _.<\/p>\n
\nI know this because there was a chap on the train this morning, reading a magazine that had a picture of a rather sad-looking bovine on the front. The cover story was titled A world of alternatives<\/em>. For a moment I thought, maybe even hoped, that here was a story about mad cow disease, or antibiotics in milk, or growth hormones or GMOs or any of a thousand and three things that might have made me try to get a closer look.<\/p>\n \nNope. It was about defensive assets. As it says on the website<\/a> (that I actually bothered googling it should be clear evidence of my dedication, or insanity (or both)),<\/p>\n \nWhen sharemarkets are volatile, investors run to defensive assets. These days there are plenty of alternatives to the more traditional fixed interest and bonds.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \nCows as defensive assets? Hang on, this is thrill a minute stuff. Forget Star Wars<\/a> , how about a “Ring of Beef” protecting our freedom? Sub-orbital Bovine Defence platforms, maybe? ICBMs (Inter-continental ballistic moo-ers)?<\/p>\n \nBut sadly, no. Scrolling down I read<\/p>\n \nThere are very good reasons for investing in agriculture. As the global population grows and wealth increases, demand for food is also on the rise, especially for premium products such as red meat, dairy products and grains such as wheat.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n \nExpect all chartered accountants of your acquaintance to be investing in defensive livestock. Bah. Can’t even get a decent steak out of it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" In Australia, chartered accountants (_Number 1 in Numbers_) have their own magazine. In an amazing display of creativity it is called _”Charter”:http:\/\/www.charteredaccountants.com.au\/charter _. I know this because there was a chap on the train this morning, reading a magazine that … Continue reading