Benj Gallander: Cannabis Investing Not All Leafy Green

TL;DR

Ben's Calendar, the president of Contra The Herd Investment Letter, discusses the current market conditions, cautioning investors about potential bubbles in commodities and the risks associated with cryptocurrencies and marijuana investments.

Transcript

I'm Scott Tibbles with the investing news network I'm here today of the 2018 international mining investment conference in Vancouver joining me now is Ben's Calendar president of contra the herd investment letter thanks for joining me Ben it's a pleasure to be here Scott thanks for having me sure so it's the end of day one at the conference here in... Read More

Key Insights

• ❓ The International Mining Investment Conference in Vancouver is well-regarded and offers unique networking opportunities.
• 💪 Gold prices have been flat, but strong demand from China and a robust global economy may contribute to future price increases.
• 🌸 Ben's Calendar follows a contrarian investment strategy, focusing on cherry-picking stocks in sectors that are out of favor.
• 🇧🇯 Ben advises caution with cryptocurrencies and marijuana investments, highlighting the presence of scams and inflated valuations.
• 🏃 The current market conditions pose challenges, as the markets have moved up significantly and governments are accumulating debt instead of running surpluses. This may limit their ability to respond during future economic crises.
• 🥡 Ben emphasizes the importance of financial literacy and warns against taking on excessive debt during times of financial difficulty.
• 👋 Paying off debts can be a superior strategy for generating good returns compared to investing in stocks.

Questions & Answers

Q: What are Ben's thoughts on the current market conditions?

Ben is cautiously optimistic about the market, acknowledging the strong global economy but warning about the potential for a downturn in the future. He believes in following contrarian strategies and being prepared for market cycles.

Q: Why is it harder for Ben to find stocks to buy now?

Ben's Calendar's investment strategy involves cherry-picking stocks, especially in sectors that are out of favor. With the current market conditions, there are fewer opportunities available, reducing the number of stocks on his watchlist.

Q: Are there any success stories that Ben has been following?

Ben mentions a gold company called Lasser as a potential success story. The company is profitable, expanding its assets on time and under cost. Despite its slow movement in the market, Ben believes it has the potential to perform well in the next couple of years.

Q: What is Ben's opinion on cryptocurrencies and marijuana investments?

Ben advises caution when it comes to cryptocurrencies, as there are numerous sketchy projects and scams. He recommends thorough research and due diligence before investing. Regarding marijuana investments, Ben acknowledges the potential, but warns about inflated valuations and the presence of scammers in the industry.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The International Mining Investment Conference in Vancouver offers a diverse group of speakers and an intimate setting for networking.

• Gold prices have been relatively flat, but there is strong demand from countries like China. The global economy is currently robust, but there is uncertainty about how long it will last.

• Ben's Calendar follows a contrarian investment strategy, focusing on cherry-picking a small number of stocks in sectors that are out of favor.