Gold has ended the year with a small loss of 0.7%. This followed a larger loss of 31.2% in 2013, and the 2014 recovery when the gold price ended with a plus of 12.1%. Silver however continued its losing streak with a decline of 2%, after it also declined 9% last year, and 38.5% the year before.... »

9.5 Million euros. That was the total value of V&D (a well-known Dutch department store) gift cards still outstanding when it applied for bankruptcy last week. Gift cards are based on a simple idea: instead of buying something at V&D yourself, you can give a person a gift card as a present instead. You thereby avoid the risk that the gift is not to their liking (e.g. he or she might not like the color), or that the receiver already owns the item, or doesn’t need it. With a gift card,

Someone knocks on your front door. You answer the door, and a well-dressed gentleman stands before you. He introduces himself and tells you: “Between now and 4 or 5 years, I will visit you again. I’ll walk into your home  and take at least 10 percent of the cash you have at home.” He then wishes you a great day and walks away. Keep this scene in the back of your mind as you continue reading.