I am NOT asking for advice on what to do with my money! I only asked how to buy the specific thing I have already decided to get.

It actually stands at 23%, while the one of people on their 20's stand at +40%
Great
Ponzi pensions that will blow in the face of the young + unemployment.

Great parents!

Well, I guess parents use those money to help out the young. But yes, it's serious. Still, Spain is 'medium risk' and Italy is 'high', I wonder why?

Seriously, the economy in Italy is definitely in a difficult moment, but I'd say it's a solid one at its core. Brands like FIAT, all the luxury cars producers (Ferrari, Lamborghini), fashion, tourism, food: there's plenty of sectors where Italy is doing pretty well and better than many other EU countries. After all it's the 3rd economy in the union and a default of Italy would probaly mean the collapse of the Euro, something I hope the other big countries would also not want...

What did you expect might happen when you profess to have very little knowledge about economics and finance yet profess a desire to purchase what everyone considers to be a risky investment? If you ask people 'What's the best way to put my hand on a hot stove?', what kind of answers do you think you might get?

Fair enough. Anyway, not only am I ignorant, I am also stubborn .

If you care so mush about me, why don't you try to explain to me why is it so certain that Italy will go default and I would lose my money?

As I said, I do not trust the rating agencies, I guess you know how they failed big time in the recent past, so why do people still care so much about them?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bumfpo4FW0I

This depends on your individule risk profile, Warren Buffet the second Richest man in the world has more than 99% of his wealth in Berkshire Hatherway. Most over extreamly rich people became rich by not diversifing their investments.

While some others that did the same threw themselves out of a window.

Those people should not make investments at all.

WB is also an intelligent investor with lots of experience before he set out on his own. He also has lots of information and advice not available to the average blob on the street. He's definitely not a 'I don't know money but I want to help those poor Italians out before I got off on holiday' investor.

I think is a great idea for the long run. Let us know if you find an easy way to make this investments.

yeah sure

So why the basic question in the first place?

I'd rather read your explanation of why my idea is wrong, rather than you making fun of me.

I also believe that for one person who makes lots of money with risky investments there must be a bunch who lost their money.

There are 2 sides to every deal, so it must balance out over time if you diversify.

Can't agree more to that. Anyway, my bank says I should invest 80% of my assets in some secure way, assume I have done that by buying fonds containing all sort of safe investments, all AAA's.

Now I want to invest the remaining 20%, where I can get a little more risky, and I chose to buy Italian BTPs. I guess I'll start calling around banks asking if they are willing to sell them to me. Hopefully they won't start making fun of me like some forum veterans down here .

If you didn't notice, I'm not even commenting your question in the above reply since it's clear you've made up your mind. I'm answering someone else. Bonne chance!

Oh, so you were not really caring about my hand in the hot water?

I don't feel people were making fun of you. Don't shoot the messenger . Money is just a serious issue. So I why not take these warnings as a help?

I, personally, don't think it is about whether Italy is really going to be bancrupt but rather that it is a risky business without many rational rules. There are things out of influence and if you aren't too informed and trust the wrong people, you could lose your money.

Wish you good luck though with the investments!

Here's a good example from Greece of the risk of buying bonds from countries in trouble. The story is about the potential loss to bond holders if a debt reduction agreement is reached

http://news.yahoo.com/greece-credito...074432635.html

ATHENS/LONDON (Reuters) - Greece was closing in on an initial deal with private bond holders on Friday that would prevent it from tumbling into a chaotic default but lose investors up to 70 percent of the loans they have given to Athens.

The small investor has no say in this, it's the managed funds and large corporate bond holders who get to agree on how much to forgive