For The Love Of Port

It is fascinating to watch the interplay of the Euro vs. the USD and the GBP. Having reached 1.50 to the USD, the weak dollar is finally showing momentary signs of strengthening. Too late for our trip in Oct. but glad to see the tide finally turning back the other direction. It was getting very painful there at the end of last week.

The Euro vs. the GBP is a wild ride. Will they reach par? I know those in the UK surely hope not. I am not as close to understanding that dynamic and hopefully one of our UK residents will provide some economic insight.

I wonder if our dollar was kept "intentionally" if not artificially weak, in order for the new gov't. to maintain great pricing in terms of benefitting exports, which are a sigificant piece to the US economy's overall picture?

Roy Hersh wrote:It is fascinating to watch the interplay of the Euro vs. the USD and the GBP. Having reached 1.50 to the USD, the weak dollar is finally showing momentary signs of strengthening.

I'm not completely convinced that it's the dollar that is weak. I think it's the Euro that is strong, because the USD and GBP still have a reasonably normal relationship. In fact, compared to the GBP the USD is actually quite strong right now (at least compared to what I'm used to).

But yeah, it sure is interesting to watch!

Does that make the USD "strong" right now or the GBP ... unusually weak? Consider the position of the GBP vs. the Euro AND the USD before answering that.

Hmm... yeah, good point. I just checked the Japanese Yen and the Canadian Dollar, too, and the dollar is weak vs them as well. (As is the GBP.) The other currencies I used to follow (Deutschmark, French Franc, Lira) no longer exist.

GBP has never been so weak towards NOK ( Norwegian Krone ) before.. Though NOK is very strong in itself, due to our economy
is very strong ( Unemployment only 2.9 % ).

The dollar is a bit stronger the past week, but I feel it will continue down.. For me who likes to go to the US it is good, though..

Swiss Franc is about even with USD

I will add that RWC with $- prices is closely watched by me, more than ever.. As a viking .. This super-excellent company always send by UPS to my hotel in the US and I bring the wines home..

Europe buying is mostly out... Exept for Funchal...

I watch a few specific currencies at least once or twice a day:

USDuh

GBP

ZAR

EURO

Not necessarily in that order.

Roy Hersh wrote:I watch a few specific currencies at least once or twice a day:

USDuh
GBP
ZAR
EURO

Not necessarily in that order.

If you use Windows Vista, you can track multiple currencies on the Side Bar.

It is easy enough as I keep XE.com on my toolbar and click on it way too often. It is a phenomenal currency conversion site, imo the best in the world.

Roy Hersh wrote:It is easy enough as I keep XE.com on my toolbar and click on it way too often.

I use to use that, or use for conversions of specific amounts. I like to see all the currencies I track in real time all at once.

There goes the Euro creeping back to about 1.50.

If I was American and had a lot of $$ in cash in a bank, the $$ would not stay there long ! .

Looking forward to coming US trips next year , very much.. Will always wait to last moment before I buy $....

Roy Hersh wrote:I watch a few specific currencies at least once or twice a day: ... ZAR

Do you buy a lot of South African wine, or are you planning a trip?

Reidar Andersen wrote:If I was American and had a lot of $$ in cash in a bank, the $$ would not stay there long ! .

Looking forward to coming US trips next year , very much.. Will always wait to last moment before I buy $....

If you come to Los Angeles I'll get a nice little offline to celebrate you're arrive....and so you can drink some Port with us

Thanks Andy, will remember.... next time will only be some hours at LAX on the way from Sydney.

But I will inform you, 100 % sure , when I hop off there again..

I know LA quite well, in which part do you live ?

Reidar

Reidar,

Pop up to Seattle and I can assure you I'll assemble a wonderful Madeira tasting in your honor.



Eric M.

I've been to So. Africa on several occasions. I had a business earlier in the decade where I used to go down there and blend a lineup of wines to import back to the USA and sell through Trader Joe's. The ZAR was between 12 and 13:1 at the time. Ah, the good old days.

Reidar Andersen wrote:Thanks Andy, will remember.... next time will only be some hours at LAX on the way from Sydney.

But I will inform you, 100 % sure , when I hop off there again..

Reidar

That hasn't stopped other Port lovers from meeting up with me on a layover. So let me know and we'll see what we can do, even if it's to make your layover that much better.

I know LA quite well, in which part do you live ?

PM sent

Just saw an interview with Warren Buffet on Bloomberg... Such a great guy, always with a smile and joke.

He said that the $ wil be worth less 10-20 years from today. With a smile he said worth less, NOT worthless

Also added US printing of money. Every American will be happy if they got a million bucks, for a short moment.... .

So guys, spend the bucks and invest in wine.....

Reidar Andersen wrote:So guys, spend the bucks and invest in wine.....

While you can...with exchange in 5-10 years wouldn't surprise me if a new bottle that costs $59 today would cost upwards of $99 then in the US.

Already, $1US from ten years ago is worth $0.70US today. When they said "Change" I thought the idea was to fix that problem, not make $1 worth a few dimes and a nickel.

Mike.