MARKET WATCH

Article first published in the Gallente Financial Observer issue #3460A regular column dealing with the latest corporate news and market analysis throughout federation space.

When is a bank not a bank?
By Florent Olivier

Headquartered in Yulai X, DED Assembly Plant the Gallente Federal Bank is one of the smaller but most forward looking financial institutions that you will currently find. It's main areas of interest have traditionally been the industrial and engineering sectors but in recent times a significant shift towards active participation in the defence sector has been noted. Gradually GFB has acquired controlling interests in several strategic, production and research facilities. Due to downturns in various markets these facilities were sliding into bankruptcy and corporate oblivion. With any other investment partner these failing facilities would certainly have faced the prospect of asset stripping and liquidation. Instead, the board of GFB under the personal advisement of CEO Felaste D'Lucare took the visionary decision to consolidate these assets into a single more profitable organisation operating under the GFB banner to be run for the benefit of all existing creditors (of which GFB was the largest).

Most market analysts have speculated that as this 'corporation within a corporation' becomes larger and more profitable, there will be pressure on GFB to cut it loose and float it as an independent entity. However, this analyst believes that we may in fact see something completely the opposite occurring. The recently publicised R&D investments, system wide reports of expanded mining activities, steady production of the notable Ishtar heavy assault cruiser and appointment of the infamous Debovine as COO could, when taken together in context, be seen as a wholly metamorphic event. It is not beyond the realms of possibility that GFB will soon, if it hasn't already, become a bank in name only. It's distinguished record as an investment bank cannot be disputed but the profitability of this new venture looks set to far surpass any of their previous enterprises. There has been unanimous and public commitment from the board to the vision of Felaste D'Lucare and, given time and space to grow, GFB has the potential to emerge as a serious player in the defence sector. Investors with an interest in this market area should watch the situation closely and be prepared to act quickly in response to any further developments.

[editorial comment : Shortly after publication of this article, unconfirmed rumours have surfaced that GFB spokesperson Jinx Barker is preparing to announce that GFB will indeed be divesting itself of all other interests and refocusing entirely as a defence contractor specialising in the production of advanced military technology. Further rumours that this information came to light only as the result of an undercover reporter posing as an exotic dancer in a 'bar' frequented by Mr Barker are also as yet unconfirmed.]

End of article

Article Provided courtesy of: Bael Lightstorm
http://botchandango.blogs.com/eve/

100 Million ISK Signature Contest

I was rather bored last week, so I have decided to run a signature contest for Jinx. The winner would recieve a sizable reward and Jinx would get a decent set of signatures. I shall post in the few days the winning siggies.

Insta-Jumps and Safe-Spots

BOOKMARKS! The number one lifesaver in eve! Take a fast frigate or a shuttle, map your insta-jumps all the way to your destination. Make sure you have folders for each route, and keep everything well labelled. On the other hand, if you ever come across a full Regional insta-jump sets, best way to keep it organised is by Region Name in your PnP folder, where each folder is named after a Region and all bookmarks are contained therewith.

SAFESPOTS, a number two lifesaver in EVE. For those that don't know, a SFAESPOT is basically just an empty piece of space. To make one, simply go into warp, create a bookmark on the way, and warp back to it.

The only way to crack a SAFESPOT is with scan probes, which in my experience don't work unless you are AFK. If you think someone is probing, make a few other SAFESPOTS and cycle between them every 5 minutes.

To sum up, if you think someone is chasing you, get to your SAFESPOT ASAP. Do not go to a planet, and never ever go to a moon! It will take a matter of minutes to find someone at a planet, and people put POS's at moons (if you are in .4 or bellow), if this means making SAFESPOTS on the fly, that’s cool. Jump around belts until you have one setup.

And finally, your home! In the systems that you use most often, don’t use gate-to-gate bookmarks. Or you will have to go to one gate, to get to another Instead, take them from your POS/safe spot to the gate. In other words, when in times of war always warp to a SAFESPOT and from the safespot warp to an appropriate gate – and again, make sure you have the route Insta-Jumped!

As most things in life, experience is the biggest teacher. So I really recommend going out there and having a shot yourself at making bookmarks.

Making a Safe Spot:

Have your scanner open. Open PnP/People & Places Folder. Remember that bookmark is not made until you actually press OK.

Warp from a Planet/Moon/Belt/Your Current Position “A” to your destination “B” (again, it can be a moon, gate, belt etc…). Watch your scanner, and keep in mind that you are flying in a straight line. You are NOT safe yet, not even remotely. As you are flying from point “A” to point “B” – make a random bookmark, somewhere in flight – Make it Point “C”

Next, warp to point “C” and, from there, warp again to point “D” (belt, moon, gate, etc). Make sure your warp path is sufficiently random/in random direction. Make a bookmark somewhere between point “C” and point “D” – make it a point “F”. The bookmark that you have just made – can be used a safespot, since it is in the middle of nowhere, and you can only be located via Scan Probes. Now, you MUST have at least 3 or 4 SAFESPOTS in the system where you plan to operate. This will allow you to cycle through your SAFESPOTS, warp from one to another every few minutes, preventing an enemy from locating you via scan probes.

You can make your bookmarks/safespots as complex as possible, or as simple as possible. I would recommend complex, obviously. Never make a SAFESPOT in a direct/line of sight/flight between any two celestial objects. They are not safe and you can be located in seconds, w/o any warning. Redundant as it sounds, make at least 3 safespots, more than 3 is preferable! Always cycle through your safespots – never go AFK in one. If you must go AFK, LOG, otherwise you will be found if the covert ops frig is in the area – and they usually are.

A fresh clone has arrived!

Well, a fresh clone has arrived indeed. This is a first entry in the "Barking Mad" blog. More to come, dpending on the situation. At this time, however, I am in the process of learning all the 'ins and outs' of the blog system.

Cheers, for now.