About Selva Freigedo

Selva Freigedo is an analyst with a background in financial economics. Born and raised in Argentina, she has also lived in Brazil, the US and Spain. She has seen economic troubles firsthand, from economic booms to collapses and the ravaging effects of hyperinflation, high unemployment, deposit freezes and debt default.

Selva now writes from her vantage point here in Australia. She is lead Editor at the daily e-letter Markets & Money. And every week, she goes through each report and research note produced by our global network of trusted advisors to find the best investment opportunities for you in Australia and overseas. She packages these opportunities for you in Global Investor.

bitcoin revolutionary crytocurrency
Want to Know Bitcoin’s Value?
So, what's bitcoin's real value? The truth is, no one can agree. But that’s what two economists recently tried to determine during a night out, that is, they tried to figure out bitcoin’s value. They called their process Côtes du Rhône theory. Yep, you guessed it, that’s the wine they were drinking.
debt burdened generation
A First in the History of Capitalism
For the first time in the history of capitalism, we are seeing a generation that will be worse off than their parents. This is all exacerbated by low interest rates. The fact that interest rates have remained low means that this huge debt is not a burden…yet. Interest rates have never been this low for this long. We are living through a new experiment…and we don’t know how this will end. For now, there is ‘prosperity’…for the few.
crypto
You Could Have Made 70,000% by Investing in ‘Green Beans’
Why are cryptos so interesting for the area? Apart from the attractiveness of recent gains, inflation and hyperinflation are both quite common in the area. As Bloomberg reports, trading volume in cryptocurrencies has increased quicker in countries with capital controls and weakening currencies.
Australian mortgage application form
The Switch to a Buyer’s Market
The housing market is very different from a few months ago. Back then, buyers were getting into frenzied auctions, spending more than what they had budgeted for and properties were going above the reserve. In other words, we could be seeing the switch from a seller’s to a buyer’s market.
digital currencies and the blockchain
Private Currencies vs. Public Money
Blockchain is definitely allowing people to think about the future of money and how we use that money. And the rise of parallel currencies could increase competition for central banks. That is, if the central bank printed too much money and devalued the currency, people could flock to a more stable private currency.
infrastructure boom in Australia
A Tsunami in Infrastructure Spending
There are currently 1.2 million people employed in construction, around 9% of Australia’s total labour force. The truth is that infrastructure spending is booming in Australia. The boost in infrastructure spending could be supporting Australia’s economy for the next few years as other sectors in the economy slow.
Should investors trust facebook?
Should Investors Trust Facebook?
While we technically have the whole world at our finger tips, our world can become one-dimensional and limited. This is something really risky for investors. Hearing one view, confirming what you already think, can be dangerous for your investments. You are not seeing new ideas or challenging your own.
House in a hand. Representing falling property prices.
Magnified Expectations and Bloating Debt
Meanwhile, wage growth has been plummeting. It is now just above 2%. So it’s not surprising that in recent years households have been getting into larger mortgages to get into the frenzy...and consequently, higher debt. And we are starting to see an increase in mortgage stress.
padlock cybersecurity attack
Going Back to the Good ol’ Days…
Atlanta City fell victim to a ransomware cyberattack. Ransomware is when hackers block access to your computer and encrypt your files until you pay up. Many of the workers had to go back to using old school tools for days to do their jobs. That is, back to pen and paper.
cash
Just a Piece of Paper
The truth is that we place more value on those pieces of paper than when we see them as a number on the screen. The great thing about cash is also that it gives you some financial freedom. Holding cash gives you control over how and when you spend it but pushing to digital transfers some of that control to the authorities.
cashless society and the risks involved
Sorry, We Don’t Take Cash
Going cashless is great for central banks. It makes monetary policy much easier. Without a cash option, the longer you keep money in the bank the more it costs you. So, there is an incentive to spend it…which in turn could boost the economy. The central bank has warned Sweden could become the first cashless society. However, Sweden are now starting to realise that going cash free makes them vulnerable.
free bitcoin if you can solve an art piece
Want Some Free Bitcoin?
Well, not exactly free. It does require you to do some work. As Bauch told Gizmodo, he bought several cryptos and put them in individual wallets. Each piece in the series has a secret key embedded for each wallet. In total, there is about US$10,000 in crypto. Yet knowing cryptocurrencies this could be worth a lot more (or less) tomorrow.
China and United States trade war
Choose Your Next Move Carefully…
Last month, the US imposed tariffs on steel (25%) and aluminium (10%). They temporarily suspended tariffs for the European Union, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Mexico and South Korea. But not for China. Over the weekend, China retaliated…with more tariffs. What does this mean for the global economy?
opioid pills spilled out of bottle
Solving the Drug Crisis with…More Drugs?
The United States are in the middle of an opioid epidemic. If you are not familiar with opioids, they are a type of drug that can be very addictive. These can include legal painkillers and illegal drugs. The opioid crisis has become so bad that US President Donald Trump has declared it a national health emergency.
craft beer recession proof?
Is Craft Beer a Recession Proof Industry?
Venezuela is going through a major economic crisis. While the country is oil rich, it is struggling for cash. Refugees fleeing to neighbouring Colombia say the country is a mess. There are major shortages. However there is a thriving sector in the region: beer or, to be specific, craft beer. And even with food shortages Venezuelans are flooding to local craft beer breweries.