http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/ Mon, 12 May 2008 15:23:58 +0800 MyBB http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=762 Sun, 11 May 2008 03:06:50 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=762
Dual Currency Investment is similar to FCFD in the sense that you place a deposit in SGD for a certain tenure. the difference is that you will state a strike price against a foreign currency e.g. AUD. if on maturity date, the current exchange rate is lower than the strike price, then your SGD amount will be converted to AUD based on the STRIKE PRICE which is higher than the current rate.

Thus, if converted, you will suffer paper loss due to converting at a higher rate.

should you want to continue, set another strike price and tenure again.

My question is this... is the interest rate given to DCI much better than what a normal FCFD can receive? if i feel that a currency will appreciate against SGD, of course i will put $ in either products. but at least in FCFD, it is less complicated and the forex loss is less.

anyone with any experience in DCI can care to share your views? thanks!]]>
Dual Currency Investment is similar to FCFD in the sense that you place a deposit in SGD for a certain tenure. the difference is that you will state a strike price against a foreign currency e.g. AUD. if on maturity date, the current exchange rate is lower than the strike price, then your SGD amount will be converted to AUD based on the STRIKE PRICE which is higher than the current rate.

Thus, if converted, you will suffer paper loss due to converting at a higher rate.

should you want to continue, set another strike price and tenure again.

My question is this... is the interest rate given to DCI much better than what a normal FCFD can receive? if i feel that a currency will appreciate against SGD, of course i will put $ in either products. but at least in FCFD, it is less complicated and the forex loss is less.

anyone with any experience in DCI can care to share your views? thanks!]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=761 Sat, 10 May 2008 21:27:56 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=761
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the light of your 60-odd years of experience in Wall Street what is your overall view of common stocks?
Common stocks have one important characteristics and one important speculative characteristic. Their investment value and average market price tend to increase irregularly but persistently over the decades, as their net worth builds up through the reinvestment of undistributed earnings--incidentally, with no clear-cut plus or minus response to inflation. However, most of the time common stocks are subject to irrational and excessive price fluctuations in both directions, as the consequence of the ingrained tendency of most people to speculate or gamble--i.e., to give way to hope, fear and greed.

What is your view of Wall Street as a financial institution?
A highly unfavorable--even a cynical--one. The Stock Exchanges appear to me chiefly as a John Bunyan type of Vanity Fair, or a Falstaffian joke, that frequently degenerates into a madhouse--"a tale full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." The stock market resembles a huge laundry in which institutions take in large blocks of each other's washing--nowadays to the tune of 30 million shares a day--without true rhyme or reason. But technologically it is remarkably well-organized.

What is your view of the financial community as a whole?
Most of the stockbrokers, financial analysts, investment advisers, etc., are above average in intelligence, business honesty and sincerity. But they lack adequate experience with all types of security markets and an overall understanding of common stocks--of what I call "the nature of the beast." They tend to take the market and themselves too seriously. They spend a large part of their time trying, valiantly and ineffectively, to do things they can't do well.

What sort of things, for example?
To forecast short- and long-term changes in the economy, and in the price level of common stocks, to select the most promising industry groups and individual issues--generally for the near-term future.

Can the average manager of institutional funds obtain better results than the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the Standard & Poor's Index over the years?
No. In effect, that would mean that the stock market experts as a whole could beat themselves--a logical contradiction.

Do you think, therefore, that the average institutional client should be content with the DJIA results or the equivalent?
Yes. Not only that, but I think they should require approximately such results over, say, a moving five-year average period as a condition for paying standard management fees to advisors and the like.

What about the objection made against so-called index funds that different investors have different requirements?
At bottom that is only a convenient cliche or alibi to justify the mediocre record of the past. All investors want good results from their investments, and are entitled to them to the extent that they are actually obtainable. I see no reason why they should be content with results inferior to those of an indexed fund or pay standard fees for such inferior results.

Turning now to individual investors, do you think that they are at a disadvantage compared with the institutions, because of the latter's huge resources, superior facilities for obtaining information, etc.?
On the contrary, the typical investor has a great advantage over the large institutions.

Why?
Chiefly because these institutions have a relatively small field of common stocks to choose from--say 300 to 400 huge corporations--and they are constrained more or less to concentrate their research and decisions on this much over-analyzed group. By contrast, most individuals can choose at any time among some 3000 issues listed in the Standard & Poor's Monthly Stock Guide. Following a wide variety of approaches and preferences, the individual investor should at all times be able to locate at least one per cent of the total list--say, 30 issues or more--that offer attractive buying opportunities.

What general rules would you offer the individual investor for his investment policy over the years?
Let me suggest three such rules: (1) The individual investor should act consistently as an investor and not as a speculator. This means, in sum, that he should be able to justify every purchase he makes and each price he pays by impersonal, objective reasoning that satisfies him that he is getting more than his money's worth for his purchase--in other words, that he has a margin of safety, in value terms, to protect his commitment. (2) The investor should have a definite selling policy for all his common stock commitments, corresponding to his buying techniques. Typically, he should set a reasonable profit objective on each purchase--say 50 to 100 per cent--and a maximum holding period for this objective to be realized--say, two to three years. Purchases not realizing the gain objective at the end of the holding period should be sold out at the market. (3) Finally, the investor should always have a minimum percentage of his total portfolio in common stocks and a minimum percentage in bond equivalents. I recommend at least 25 per cent of the total at all times in each category. A good case can be made for a consistent 50-50 division here, with adjustments for changes in the market level. This means the investor would switch some of his stocks into bonds on significant rises of the market level, and vice-versa when the market declines. I would suggest, in general, an average seven- or eight-year maturity for his bond holdings.

In selecting the common stock portfolio, do you advise careful study of and selectivity among different issues?
In general, no. I am no longer an advocate of elaborate techniques of security analysis in order to find superior value opportunities. This was a rewarding activity, say, 40 years ago, when our textbook "Graham and Dodd" was first published; but the situation has changed a great deal since then. In the old days any well-trained security analyst could do a good professional job of selecting undervalued issues through detailed studies; but in the light of the enormous amount of research now being carried on, I doubt whether in most cases such extensive efforts will generate sufficiently superior selections to justify their cost. To that very limited extent I'm on the side of the "efficient market" school of thought now generally accepted by the professors.

What general approach to portfolio formation do you advocate?
Essentially, a highly simplified one that applies a single criteria or perhaps two criteria to the price to assure that full value is present and that relies for its results on the performance of the portfolio as a whole--i.e., on the group results--rather than on the expectations for individual issues.

Can you indicate concretely how an individual investor should create and maintain his common stock portfolio?
I can give two examples of my suggested approach to this problem. One appears severely limited in its application, but we found it almost unfailingly dependable and satisfactory in 30-odd years of managing moderate-sized investment funds. The second represents a great deal of new thinking and research on our part in recent years. It is much wider in its application than the first one, but it combines the three virtues of sound logic, simplicity of application, and an extraordinarily good performance record, assuming--contrary to fact--that it had actually been followed as now formulated over the past 50 years--from 1925 to 1975.

Some details, please, on your two recommended approaches.
My first, more limited, technique confines itself to the purchase of common stocks at less than their working-capital value, or net-current-asset value, giving no weight to the plant and other fixed assets, and deducting all liabilities in full from the current assets. We used this approach extensively in managing investment funds, and over a 30-odd year period we must have earned an average of some 20 per cent per year from this source. For a while, however, after the mid-1950's, this brand of buying opportunity became very scarce because of the pervasive bull market. But it has returned in quantity since the 1973-74 decline. In January 1976 we counted over 300 such issues in the Standard & Poor's Stock Guide--about 10 per cent of the total. I consider it a foolproof method of systematic investment--once again, not on the basis of individual results but in terms of the expectable group outcome.

Finally, what is your other approach?
This is similar to the first in its underlying philosophy. It consists of buying groups of stocks at less than their current or intrinsic value as indicated by one or more simple criteria. The criterion I prefer is seven times the reported earnings for the past 12 months. You can use others--such as a current dividend return above seven per cent or book value more than 120 percent of price, etc. We are just finishing a performance study of these approaches over the past half-century--1925-1975. They consistently show results of 15 per cent or better per annum, or twice the record of the DJIA for this long period. I have every confidence in the threefold merit of this general method based on (a) sound logic, (b) simplicity of application, and © an excellent supporting record. At bottom it is a technique by which true investors can exploit the recurrent excessive optimism and excessive apprehension of the speculative public.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It is fortunate for Wall Street as an institution that a small minority of people can trade successfully and that many others think they can. The accepted view holds that stock trading is like anything else; i.e., with intelligence and application, or with good professional guidance, profits can be realized. Our own opinion is skeptical, perhaps jaundiced. We think that, regardless of preparation and method, success in trading is either accidental and impermanent or else due to a highly uncommon talent."

"...we must express some serious reservations and perhaps prejudices that we hold about the basic utility of industry analysis as it is practiced in Wall Street and as its results are exhibited in typical brokerage-house studies. Industry analysis relates to the past and the future. Insofar as it relates to the past, the elements dealt with have already influenced the results of the companies in the industry and the average market price of their shares. ...When industry analysis addresses itself to the future it generally assumes that past characteristics and trends will continue. We find these forward projections of the past to be misleading at least as often as they are useful."

"If we could assume that the price of each of the leading issues already reflects the expectable developments of the next year or two, then a random selection should work out as well as one confined to those with the best near-term outlook."

-- Security Analysis, Third Edition, 1951


Extracted from http://www.bylo.org/bgraham76.html]]>
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

In the light of your 60-odd years of experience in Wall Street what is your overall view of common stocks?
Common stocks have one important characteristics and one important speculative characteristic. Their investment value and average market price tend to increase irregularly but persistently over the decades, as their net worth builds up through the reinvestment of undistributed earnings--incidentally, with no clear-cut plus or minus response to inflation. However, most of the time common stocks are subject to irrational and excessive price fluctuations in both directions, as the consequence of the ingrained tendency of most people to speculate or gamble--i.e., to give way to hope, fear and greed.

What is your view of Wall Street as a financial institution?
A highly unfavorable--even a cynical--one. The Stock Exchanges appear to me chiefly as a John Bunyan type of Vanity Fair, or a Falstaffian joke, that frequently degenerates into a madhouse--"a tale full of sound and fury, signifying nothing." The stock market resembles a huge laundry in which institutions take in large blocks of each other's washing--nowadays to the tune of 30 million shares a day--without true rhyme or reason. But technologically it is remarkably well-organized.

What is your view of the financial community as a whole?
Most of the stockbrokers, financial analysts, investment advisers, etc., are above average in intelligence, business honesty and sincerity. But they lack adequate experience with all types of security markets and an overall understanding of common stocks--of what I call "the nature of the beast." They tend to take the market and themselves too seriously. They spend a large part of their time trying, valiantly and ineffectively, to do things they can't do well.

What sort of things, for example?
To forecast short- and long-term changes in the economy, and in the price level of common stocks, to select the most promising industry groups and individual issues--generally for the near-term future.

Can the average manager of institutional funds obtain better results than the Dow Jones Industrial Average or the Standard & Poor's Index over the years?
No. In effect, that would mean that the stock market experts as a whole could beat themselves--a logical contradiction.

Do you think, therefore, that the average institutional client should be content with the DJIA results or the equivalent?
Yes. Not only that, but I think they should require approximately such results over, say, a moving five-year average period as a condition for paying standard management fees to advisors and the like.

What about the objection made against so-called index funds that different investors have different requirements?
At bottom that is only a convenient cliche or alibi to justify the mediocre record of the past. All investors want good results from their investments, and are entitled to them to the extent that they are actually obtainable. I see no reason why they should be content with results inferior to those of an indexed fund or pay standard fees for such inferior results.

Turning now to individual investors, do you think that they are at a disadvantage compared with the institutions, because of the latter's huge resources, superior facilities for obtaining information, etc.?
On the contrary, the typical investor has a great advantage over the large institutions.

Why?
Chiefly because these institutions have a relatively small field of common stocks to choose from--say 300 to 400 huge corporations--and they are constrained more or less to concentrate their research and decisions on this much over-analyzed group. By contrast, most individuals can choose at any time among some 3000 issues listed in the Standard & Poor's Monthly Stock Guide. Following a wide variety of approaches and preferences, the individual investor should at all times be able to locate at least one per cent of the total list--say, 30 issues or more--that offer attractive buying opportunities.

What general rules would you offer the individual investor for his investment policy over the years?
Let me suggest three such rules: (1) The individual investor should act consistently as an investor and not as a speculator. This means, in sum, that he should be able to justify every purchase he makes and each price he pays by impersonal, objective reasoning that satisfies him that he is getting more than his money's worth for his purchase--in other words, that he has a margin of safety, in value terms, to protect his commitment. (2) The investor should have a definite selling policy for all his common stock commitments, corresponding to his buying techniques. Typically, he should set a reasonable profit objective on each purchase--say 50 to 100 per cent--and a maximum holding period for this objective to be realized--say, two to three years. Purchases not realizing the gain objective at the end of the holding period should be sold out at the market. (3) Finally, the investor should always have a minimum percentage of his total portfolio in common stocks and a minimum percentage in bond equivalents. I recommend at least 25 per cent of the total at all times in each category. A good case can be made for a consistent 50-50 division here, with adjustments for changes in the market level. This means the investor would switch some of his stocks into bonds on significant rises of the market level, and vice-versa when the market declines. I would suggest, in general, an average seven- or eight-year maturity for his bond holdings.

In selecting the common stock portfolio, do you advise careful study of and selectivity among different issues?
In general, no. I am no longer an advocate of elaborate techniques of security analysis in order to find superior value opportunities. This was a rewarding activity, say, 40 years ago, when our textbook "Graham and Dodd" was first published; but the situation has changed a great deal since then. In the old days any well-trained security analyst could do a good professional job of selecting undervalued issues through detailed studies; but in the light of the enormous amount of research now being carried on, I doubt whether in most cases such extensive efforts will generate sufficiently superior selections to justify their cost. To that very limited extent I'm on the side of the "efficient market" school of thought now generally accepted by the professors.

What general approach to portfolio formation do you advocate?
Essentially, a highly simplified one that applies a single criteria or perhaps two criteria to the price to assure that full value is present and that relies for its results on the performance of the portfolio as a whole--i.e., on the group results--rather than on the expectations for individual issues.

Can you indicate concretely how an individual investor should create and maintain his common stock portfolio?
I can give two examples of my suggested approach to this problem. One appears severely limited in its application, but we found it almost unfailingly dependable and satisfactory in 30-odd years of managing moderate-sized investment funds. The second represents a great deal of new thinking and research on our part in recent years. It is much wider in its application than the first one, but it combines the three virtues of sound logic, simplicity of application, and an extraordinarily good performance record, assuming--contrary to fact--that it had actually been followed as now formulated over the past 50 years--from 1925 to 1975.

Some details, please, on your two recommended approaches.
My first, more limited, technique confines itself to the purchase of common stocks at less than their working-capital value, or net-current-asset value, giving no weight to the plant and other fixed assets, and deducting all liabilities in full from the current assets. We used this approach extensively in managing investment funds, and over a 30-odd year period we must have earned an average of some 20 per cent per year from this source. For a while, however, after the mid-1950's, this brand of buying opportunity became very scarce because of the pervasive bull market. But it has returned in quantity since the 1973-74 decline. In January 1976 we counted over 300 such issues in the Standard & Poor's Stock Guide--about 10 per cent of the total. I consider it a foolproof method of systematic investment--once again, not on the basis of individual results but in terms of the expectable group outcome.

Finally, what is your other approach?
This is similar to the first in its underlying philosophy. It consists of buying groups of stocks at less than their current or intrinsic value as indicated by one or more simple criteria. The criterion I prefer is seven times the reported earnings for the past 12 months. You can use others--such as a current dividend return above seven per cent or book value more than 120 percent of price, etc. We are just finishing a performance study of these approaches over the past half-century--1925-1975. They consistently show results of 15 per cent or better per annum, or twice the record of the DJIA for this long period. I have every confidence in the threefold merit of this general method based on (a) sound logic, (b) simplicity of application, and © an excellent supporting record. At bottom it is a technique by which true investors can exploit the recurrent excessive optimism and excessive apprehension of the speculative public.


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"It is fortunate for Wall Street as an institution that a small minority of people can trade successfully and that many others think they can. The accepted view holds that stock trading is like anything else; i.e., with intelligence and application, or with good professional guidance, profits can be realized. Our own opinion is skeptical, perhaps jaundiced. We think that, regardless of preparation and method, success in trading is either accidental and impermanent or else due to a highly uncommon talent."

"...we must express some serious reservations and perhaps prejudices that we hold about the basic utility of industry analysis as it is practiced in Wall Street and as its results are exhibited in typical brokerage-house studies. Industry analysis relates to the past and the future. Insofar as it relates to the past, the elements dealt with have already influenced the results of the companies in the industry and the average market price of their shares. ...When industry analysis addresses itself to the future it generally assumes that past characteristics and trends will continue. We find these forward projections of the past to be misleading at least as often as they are useful."

"If we could assume that the price of each of the leading issues already reflects the expectable developments of the next year or two, then a random selection should work out as well as one confined to those with the best near-term outlook."

-- Security Analysis, Third Edition, 1951


Extracted from http://www.bylo.org/bgraham76.html]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=760 Sat, 10 May 2008 21:16:45 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=760
Think someone may have posted this before but here's the attachment which some may prefer it.

Enjoy guys. :cool:]]>
Think someone may have posted this before but here's the attachment which some may prefer it.

Enjoy guys. :cool:]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=759 Sat, 10 May 2008 00:25:50 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=759
The URL is: http://www.investmentpostcards...scorecard/

Enjoy the read.]]>
The URL is: http://www.investmentpostcards...scorecard/

Enjoy the read.]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=758 Fri, 09 May 2008 22:22:34 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=758
Time pass, boy learnt social skills thru work and effort. He learnt sales technics. (Not an excellent sales guy, but good enough to survive in this real world.) To catch a robber, cop must think like robber kinda thinking.. Over time, boy develop instincts to filter people. With a healthy skeptism, adequte human relations, instincts and common sense, most ppl he met was kind, good and honest. He still trust ppl, as much ppl would trust him.

4 years later, another friend called again, this time boy was equipped with socials skills. Same tactic, this time round, they didn't have a chance. Boy got out of the situation within 5mins. Still, boy was disappointed cos he had put his friend on "condemn list."

That stupid "4 years ago boy" was me. Almost got conned tat time. See bei heng^^

How they "con-fused" ppl

I believe their marketing segment demographics/pyschographics is targetting youths from 18 ~ 30. Mostly males cos their ego and pride makes easy targets. Perferably single. Lacks self esteem, and is blinded by quick career success and fast buck and fast cars.

Products prepositions
Anything from slimming pills. health products, magnetic bracklet, beds, pillows.. whatever... Got product accredication somemore...

Tactics
Meet, Eat, visit their show room, they will then convince you. If they can't convince, then they will "con-fuse" you. To put it plainly, either u join them in "con-fusing ppl", or u buy from them products. If failed, they will use pincer attack with others to hard-pressured u into buying.

Business entity
Usually in form of pte ltd doing MLM-kinda things. Legal products selling thru unethical means.

How to get out
A) act passive and just walk out
B) Find excuses like sms friend to "invite u go" else-where.
C) shout loudly and say NO
D) use reverse pyschology. Act VERY INTERESTED. Trick them Go resturant and eat, go shopping, whatever, act no money and make them PAY:)
Give them nothing, but take away from them everything.

How to use common sense and instinct.
1) Gal A will say her friend Gal B is joining for dinner. She says gals B is pretty. With full faith, i will try to believe, but my eyes, heart and brain all disagree. "NQ" Not qualified. Obviously the meeting was planned. My level of suspicion is at roof once Gal B appears.

2) Gal B acts uncoy maiden and starts spouting "how to win friends and influence ppl languge" to win my trust, and hopefully my liking. But she was untrained and unskillful and keep off ranting like crows. I try to focus on my bowl of mee, which the little peices of lards is more health intrusive to my well-being.

3) Gal B literally used all the pitches Gal A used over dinner. This is obviously a written pitch by an untrained sales trainer. Common sense told me, this is a crow ranting sounds from a broken radio. Keep eating my bowl of mee and act, tired, distracted. Pork Lard is bad for health.

How to prevent being 'con-fused"
Obviously we trust friends, we couldn't really filter bugs and leeches off our back. Therefore, we must have a clear direction and mindset to overcome hard selling. Of cos, the prettier the galA, B, C, D... it's more distracting to say bye bye to them^^

Conclusion:

I have lost a friend, $4 on a bowl of mee, eaten some lards, which is unhealthy. And roughly 30mins of my life filtering out somebody whom i can't trust, nor respect. Acid test: One must be able to sleep well at night whatever u do, sell or recommend. I sleep soundly at night as a sales person. Do you?]]>
Time pass, boy learnt social skills thru work and effort. He learnt sales technics. (Not an excellent sales guy, but good enough to survive in this real world.) To catch a robber, cop must think like robber kinda thinking.. Over time, boy develop instincts to filter people. With a healthy skeptism, adequte human relations, instincts and common sense, most ppl he met was kind, good and honest. He still trust ppl, as much ppl would trust him.

4 years later, another friend called again, this time boy was equipped with socials skills. Same tactic, this time round, they didn't have a chance. Boy got out of the situation within 5mins. Still, boy was disappointed cos he had put his friend on "condemn list."

That stupid "4 years ago boy" was me. Almost got conned tat time. See bei heng^^

How they "con-fused" ppl

I believe their marketing segment demographics/pyschographics is targetting youths from 18 ~ 30. Mostly males cos their ego and pride makes easy targets. Perferably single. Lacks self esteem, and is blinded by quick career success and fast buck and fast cars.

Products prepositions
Anything from slimming pills. health products, magnetic bracklet, beds, pillows.. whatever... Got product accredication somemore...

Tactics
Meet, Eat, visit their show room, they will then convince you. If they can't convince, then they will "con-fuse" you. To put it plainly, either u join them in "con-fusing ppl", or u buy from them products. If failed, they will use pincer attack with others to hard-pressured u into buying.

Business entity
Usually in form of pte ltd doing MLM-kinda things. Legal products selling thru unethical means.

How to get out
A) act passive and just walk out
B) Find excuses like sms friend to "invite u go" else-where.
C) shout loudly and say NO
D) use reverse pyschology. Act VERY INTERESTED. Trick them Go resturant and eat, go shopping, whatever, act no money and make them PAY:)
Give them nothing, but take away from them everything.

How to use common sense and instinct.
1) Gal A will say her friend Gal B is joining for dinner. She says gals B is pretty. With full faith, i will try to believe, but my eyes, heart and brain all disagree. "NQ" Not qualified. Obviously the meeting was planned. My level of suspicion is at roof once Gal B appears.

2) Gal B acts uncoy maiden and starts spouting "how to win friends and influence ppl languge" to win my trust, and hopefully my liking. But she was untrained and unskillful and keep off ranting like crows. I try to focus on my bowl of mee, which the little peices of lards is more health intrusive to my well-being.

3) Gal B literally used all the pitches Gal A used over dinner. This is obviously a written pitch by an untrained sales trainer. Common sense told me, this is a crow ranting sounds from a broken radio. Keep eating my bowl of mee and act, tired, distracted. Pork Lard is bad for health.

How to prevent being 'con-fused"
Obviously we trust friends, we couldn't really filter bugs and leeches off our back. Therefore, we must have a clear direction and mindset to overcome hard selling. Of cos, the prettier the galA, B, C, D... it's more distracting to say bye bye to them^^

Conclusion:

I have lost a friend, $4 on a bowl of mee, eaten some lards, which is unhealthy. And roughly 30mins of my life filtering out somebody whom i can't trust, nor respect. Acid test: One must be able to sleep well at night whatever u do, sell or recommend. I sleep soundly at night as a sales person. Do you?]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=757 Fri, 09 May 2008 19:58:22 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=757 Shu-Ching Jean Chen, 05.08.08, 10:29 AM ET

HONG KONG - Low-skilled workers from China are ubiquitous in Singapore these days: in the shiny new terminal of Changi Airport, in coffee shops, in shopping malls, in supermarkets, at gas stations, at construction sites and populating the much-loved open-air food courts called hawker centers.

They also make their presence felt in five-star hotels, where one recent encounter found a Mandarin-speaking maid who could not comprehend a word of English. Most recently, Singapore's two bus companies began hiring drivers from China.

Chinese workers are just one constituency in Singapore's fast-growing foreign population, but they are the largest component of an expatriate contingent that crossed the 1 million mark in October, helping boost the overall population to 4.68 million in an otherwise chronically aging society. Foreigners make up about one-third of the national workforce. The country set a goal to raise its population total to 6.5 million within two decades, rejuvenating itself mainly through immigration from India and China.

But the sudden influx of workers from China appears to have taken ordinary Singaporeans by surprise, as the low-skilled and the elderly start to find themselves losing jobs to the newcomers. The tidal wave of mainland Chinese workers began last year, when Singapore relaxed its rules to allow more immigration to staff its service industries, part of its measures to address an acute labor shortage resulting from a boom in the construction, marine, manufacturing and services sectors. Beginning this year, Singaporean companies were allowed to draw on foreigners for up to 50% of their labor force; 10% can be Chinese nationals. Previously, the respective figures were 45% and 5%.

The government last year reckoned 450,000 jobs will be created in the next five years; the country's annual birth rate is only 30,000.

As Chinese workers with distinct and varied provincial accents proliferate, so do natives' complaints about their loudness and lack of mastery of English. Their popularity with the city-state's employers, who like their work ethic and low wage expectations, further fuels resentment.

They threaten the job security of Singapore's most unskilled, the low-wage workers who earn less than 1,200 Singapore dollars ($872.73) a month, numbering about 350,000. "There are so many of them everywhere, the mainland Chinese," a taxi driver lamented. "They take away our jobs and force poor people to go unemployed."

This month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong tried to place the issue in context, arguing that the majority of Singaporeans have benefited from rising household incomes, a boon stemming from the country's historically low unemployment rate. This follows four consecutive years of strong economic growth.

But labor activists view things differently. The Workers' Party pointed out that Singaporeans are being left behind by the recent boom: more than 60% of the record 236,600 new jobs created last year went to foreigners.

Extracted from http://www.forbes.com/markets/...ets04.html

Frankly, I hope I will not get into trouble for posting all these articles which our garment does not like us to know about. Yet, to only understand one side of a coin, to even deny the existence of the other side, is really treating the population as kids. I believe the new generation of young adults are far more educated and worldy wise than the older generation yet I cannot comprehend the fact our electoral system is but a joke. Well, maybe someone is going to ask me to justify the "joke" thingy, but I aint gonna give a damn.

I hope the next election in 2010 will have a more matured voters but then.. aint those Mercs drivers the ones grabbing for CC free textbooks so guess what wonders will another round of Singapore growth shares do eh? ]]> Shu-Ching Jean Chen, 05.08.08, 10:29 AM ET

HONG KONG - Low-skilled workers from China are ubiquitous in Singapore these days: in the shiny new terminal of Changi Airport, in coffee shops, in shopping malls, in supermarkets, at gas stations, at construction sites and populating the much-loved open-air food courts called hawker centers.

They also make their presence felt in five-star hotels, where one recent encounter found a Mandarin-speaking maid who could not comprehend a word of English. Most recently, Singapore's two bus companies began hiring drivers from China.

Chinese workers are just one constituency in Singapore's fast-growing foreign population, but they are the largest component of an expatriate contingent that crossed the 1 million mark in October, helping boost the overall population to 4.68 million in an otherwise chronically aging society. Foreigners make up about one-third of the national workforce. The country set a goal to raise its population total to 6.5 million within two decades, rejuvenating itself mainly through immigration from India and China.

But the sudden influx of workers from China appears to have taken ordinary Singaporeans by surprise, as the low-skilled and the elderly start to find themselves losing jobs to the newcomers. The tidal wave of mainland Chinese workers began last year, when Singapore relaxed its rules to allow more immigration to staff its service industries, part of its measures to address an acute labor shortage resulting from a boom in the construction, marine, manufacturing and services sectors. Beginning this year, Singaporean companies were allowed to draw on foreigners for up to 50% of their labor force; 10% can be Chinese nationals. Previously, the respective figures were 45% and 5%.

The government last year reckoned 450,000 jobs will be created in the next five years; the country's annual birth rate is only 30,000.

As Chinese workers with distinct and varied provincial accents proliferate, so do natives' complaints about their loudness and lack of mastery of English. Their popularity with the city-state's employers, who like their work ethic and low wage expectations, further fuels resentment.

They threaten the job security of Singapore's most unskilled, the low-wage workers who earn less than 1,200 Singapore dollars ($872.73) a month, numbering about 350,000. "There are so many of them everywhere, the mainland Chinese," a taxi driver lamented. "They take away our jobs and force poor people to go unemployed."

This month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong tried to place the issue in context, arguing that the majority of Singaporeans have benefited from rising household incomes, a boon stemming from the country's historically low unemployment rate. This follows four consecutive years of strong economic growth.

But labor activists view things differently. The Workers' Party pointed out that Singaporeans are being left behind by the recent boom: more than 60% of the record 236,600 new jobs created last year went to foreigners.

Extracted from http://www.forbes.com/markets/...ets04.html

Frankly, I hope I will not get into trouble for posting all these articles which our garment does not like us to know about. Yet, to only understand one side of a coin, to even deny the existence of the other side, is really treating the population as kids. I believe the new generation of young adults are far more educated and worldy wise than the older generation yet I cannot comprehend the fact our electoral system is but a joke. Well, maybe someone is going to ask me to justify the "joke" thingy, but I aint gonna give a damn.

I hope the next election in 2010 will have a more matured voters but then.. aint those Mercs drivers the ones grabbing for CC free textbooks so guess what wonders will another round of Singapore growth shares do eh? ]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=756 Fri, 09 May 2008 17:38:21 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=756
The main article is here: http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/2...2008013110

Some interesting excerpts:

It turns out that most keep things simple and smart: They do little or no stock picking, and they avoid investing in options, futures contracts or other more esoteric securities.

About two-thirds of the professors, in fact, have the bulk of their assets in index funds, the low-cost baskets that essentially own the entire market. These academics more or less practice the basic lesson of modern portfolio theory: Diversification is the key to holding down your risk and maximizing your returns. That leaves a third who have gone astray, however.

...whenever anyone tells you that research "proves" a novel method of investing is a market beater, bear in mind that the professor behind the paper is most likely an indexer who has never road-tested his theory in the real world of trading costs, taxes and other expenses.]]>
The main article is here: http://money.cnn.com/2008/01/2...2008013110

Some interesting excerpts:

It turns out that most keep things simple and smart: They do little or no stock picking, and they avoid investing in options, futures contracts or other more esoteric securities.

About two-thirds of the professors, in fact, have the bulk of their assets in index funds, the low-cost baskets that essentially own the entire market. These academics more or less practice the basic lesson of modern portfolio theory: Diversification is the key to holding down your risk and maximizing your returns. That leaves a third who have gone astray, however.

...whenever anyone tells you that research "proves" a novel method of investing is a market beater, bear in mind that the professor behind the paper is most likely an indexer who has never road-tested his theory in the real world of trading costs, taxes and other expenses.]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=755 Fri, 09 May 2008 11:20:54 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=755
Asking price : S$11,420
(S$6,420 payable to CSC - being transfer fee + GST payable to CSC,
S$5,000 payable to seller)
Interested, pls send private message to me.

Click here to find out:

http://www.chineseswimmingclub...pdrive.htm]]>
Asking price : S$11,420
(S$6,420 payable to CSC - being transfer fee + GST payable to CSC,
S$5,000 payable to seller)
Interested, pls send private message to me.

Click here to find out:

http://www.chineseswimmingclub...pdrive.htm]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=754 Thu, 08 May 2008 21:26:17 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=754
If i cant beat the price increase, i might as well join them and profit from it.

an interesting article : http://statestimes.wordpress.c...-in-greed/]]>
If i cant beat the price increase, i might as well join them and profit from it.

an interesting article : http://statestimes.wordpress.c...-in-greed/]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=753 Thu, 08 May 2008 15:05:52 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=753 (CIMB - Neutral $3.70) 7 May 08

• Below expectations. 1Q08 net profit (+13% yoy) came in 13% below our estimate
and 11% below consensus, forming 22% of our FY08 forecast. The gap could be
explained by a depreciating US$ and slower-than-expected growth at Electronics.
Stripping out forex, pretax profits would have been S$5.5m higher.

• Aerospace hurt the most by weakening US$. The bulk of Aerospace’s revenue is
denominated in the US$. Although utilisation at its US operations remained high and
not much pricing pressure was felt, the depreciating US$ was a drag on revenue
translation. In 1Q07, the average translation rate was S$1.57/US$; this became
S$1.42/US$ in 1Q08. Margins dipped to 18% from 20% mainly on lower sales and
higher expenses incurred for the Singapore Airshow and the development of new
prototype products. We believe 2Q08 will be stronger with more project redeliveries,
especially the Fedex 757 PTF and 767BCF for ANA.

• Electronics affected by iDirect and lack of associated income. The weaker
performance at iDirect was due to a delay in product launches to 2H08. The
disposal of ECS in 4Q07 also reduced associated contributions. Management has
guided for a flat 1H08. On the back of this, we are lowering our FY08 turnover
forecast by 5% and projecting slower growth for FY09-10.

• Land Systems surprised positively, led by defence contracts. Earnings came in
above our expectations due to higher margins achieved for military contracts and
stronger weapons and munitions sales, though these were partially offset by lower
earnings from its special vehicles division in the US.

• Order book remained strong at S$9.2bn, with about S$4.2bn for recognition in
FY08, representing 73% of our forecast. The order-book balance is net of a S$1bn
contract loss from SkyBus as the latter filed for bankruptcy recently. Order-win
momentum in 1Q08 was still strong with new contracts of about S$1bn.

• Maintain Neutral; target price reduced to S$3.70 from S$4.01. Earnings
estimates cut by 1-3% for FY08-10, to reflect slower growth at Electronics. Our
target is still based on blended valuations but we discount our P/E by 20% to 16x
from 20x and reduced the LTG in DCF to 1% from 2% on the back uncertainty.
Given STE’s sensitivity to US$ weakness and a sluggish US economy, its mid-term
earnings visibility has been affected. However, dividend yield is attractive at 6%.]]> (CIMB - Neutral $3.70) 7 May 08

• Below expectations. 1Q08 net profit (+13% yoy) came in 13% below our estimate
and 11% below consensus, forming 22% of our FY08 forecast. The gap could be
explained by a depreciating US$ and slower-than-expected growth at Electronics.
Stripping out forex, pretax profits would have been S$5.5m higher.

• Aerospace hurt the most by weakening US$. The bulk of Aerospace’s revenue is
denominated in the US$. Although utilisation at its US operations remained high and
not much pricing pressure was felt, the depreciating US$ was a drag on revenue
translation. In 1Q07, the average translation rate was S$1.57/US$; this became
S$1.42/US$ in 1Q08. Margins dipped to 18% from 20% mainly on lower sales and
higher expenses incurred for the Singapore Airshow and the development of new
prototype products. We believe 2Q08 will be stronger with more project redeliveries,
especially the Fedex 757 PTF and 767BCF for ANA.

• Electronics affected by iDirect and lack of associated income. The weaker
performance at iDirect was due to a delay in product launches to 2H08. The
disposal of ECS in 4Q07 also reduced associated contributions. Management has
guided for a flat 1H08. On the back of this, we are lowering our FY08 turnover
forecast by 5% and projecting slower growth for FY09-10.

• Land Systems surprised positively, led by defence contracts. Earnings came in
above our expectations due to higher margins achieved for military contracts and
stronger weapons and munitions sales, though these were partially offset by lower
earnings from its special vehicles division in the US.

• Order book remained strong at S$9.2bn, with about S$4.2bn for recognition in
FY08, representing 73% of our forecast. The order-book balance is net of a S$1bn
contract loss from SkyBus as the latter filed for bankruptcy recently. Order-win
momentum in 1Q08 was still strong with new contracts of about S$1bn.

• Maintain Neutral; target price reduced to S$3.70 from S$4.01. Earnings
estimates cut by 1-3% for FY08-10, to reflect slower growth at Electronics. Our
target is still based on blended valuations but we discount our P/E by 20% to 16x
from 20x and reduced the LTG in DCF to 1% from 2% on the back uncertainty.
Given STE’s sensitivity to US$ weakness and a sluggish US economy, its mid-term
earnings visibility has been affected. However, dividend yield is attractive at 6%.]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=752 Wed, 07 May 2008 19:39:40 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=752 http://info.sgx.com/webcorannc...enDocument
With Lim Jit Poh as the new non-executive Chairman/Director and Lim How Teck as Audit Committee Chairman/Director, I think Eng Kong will not be the same going forward.
With steady business growth and profit increase, there is now a good chance this counter will be re-rated to its full intrinsic or fair value.
For forumers who do not know much about this "King of Container Depots", you can use links below to review Eng Kong's FY07 AR and the old Eng Kwong thread.....
http://info.sgx.com/listprosp....enDocument [FY07 AR]
http://www.wallstraits.com/com...4#pid93561 [Old Eng Kwong thread]]]> http://info.sgx.com/webcorannc...enDocument
With Lim Jit Poh as the new non-executive Chairman/Director and Lim How Teck as Audit Committee Chairman/Director, I think Eng Kong will not be the same going forward.
With steady business growth and profit increase, there is now a good chance this counter will be re-rated to its full intrinsic or fair value.
For forumers who do not know much about this "King of Container Depots", you can use links below to review Eng Kong's FY07 AR and the old Eng Kwong thread.....
http://info.sgx.com/listprosp....enDocument [FY07 AR]
http://www.wallstraits.com/com...4#pid93561 [Old Eng Kwong thread]]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=751 Wed, 07 May 2008 19:02:32 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=751
LUMBER 1.

UBS Faces U.S. Tax Evasion Probe; Employee Detained (Update5)

By Otis Bilodeau

May 7 (Bloomberg) -- UBS AG, reeling from record losses, said the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether the world's biggest money manager for the wealthy helped clients evade American taxes.

One senior bank employee was ``briefly detained'' by U.S. authorities as a ``material witness,'' the firm said in an e- mailed statement. The Financial Times reported that the employee was Martin Liechti, the Zurich-based head of UBS's international wealth management business for the Americas. Rohini Pragasam, a UBS spokeswoman in New York, declined to comment on the FT report. Liechti could not immediately be reached for comment.

Battered by $38 billion of writedowns, UBS said yesterday clients pulled a net 12.8 billion francs ($12.1 billion) from its asset- and wealth-management units, the first withdrawal in almost eight years. UBS's U.S. private bank pledges on its Web site to help meet objectives including ``tax minimization.'' German prosecutors said in March they're weighing a criminal investigation into whether UBS helped clients evade taxes.

``UBS has been hit by a perfect storm,'' said Edwin Merner, who oversees $2 billion at Atlantis Investment Research Corp. in Tokyo. ``Clients may run away if they think they'll leak information to tax authorities in Germany and the U.S.''

Department of Justice

UBS fell 1.8 percent to 34.58 francs by 11:40 a.m. in Swiss trading. The bank said yesterday it plans to cut about 5,500 jobs, including as many as 2,600 at its investment-banking unit, which had 18.2 billion francs of first-quarter losses. Chief Executive Officer Marcel Rohner told analysts he expects ``tough business conditions'' to continue.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating UBS's conduct in relation to services provided by Swiss-based client advisers to U.S. clients between 2000 and 2007, the bank said. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is also investigating whether UBS employees in Switzerland who advised U.S. clients failed to register with the agency as required.

UBS is cooperating with the U.S. investigations, it said. The employee who was detained hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing, though will remain in the U.S. ``pending discussions with the U.S. authorities regarding resolution of his status as a witness,'' the bank said.

The bank said damage to its reputation because of subprime losses led to an 82 percent drop in net new money inflows to its private bank in the first quarter compared with the fourth. Wealth management international and the Switzerland unit had 2.5 billion francs of net new money, compared with 23.4 billion francs in the previous quarter. Wealth management U.S. clients added 3.1 billion francs, down from 8.1 billion francs.

German Probe

Prosecutors in Germany are considering opening a criminal probe into allegations that UBS offered Germans help in hiding funds from local tax authorities, the Mannheim Prosecutors' Office said March 31.

The Swiss bank is also among banks investigated by U.S. state officials into how they marketed auction-rate bonds to investors. Auction-rate failures led to surging costs for some borrowers after dealers stopped bidding for bonds investors didn't want.

UBS announced yesterday that it will exit the U.S. municipal bond market as part of an overhaul of its investment banking operations. The $2.6 trillion municipal market had its worst start in 12 years in the first quarter.

For related news:
UBS's earnings: {UBSN VX TCNI ERN }
Top stories about UBS: {UBSN VX TCNI WWTOP }
Search on UBS and subprime: {NSE UBS SUBPRIME }
*T
Last Updated: May 7, 2008 05:43 EDT]]>
LUMBER 1.

UBS Faces U.S. Tax Evasion Probe; Employee Detained (Update5)

By Otis Bilodeau

May 7 (Bloomberg) -- UBS AG, reeling from record losses, said the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating whether the world's biggest money manager for the wealthy helped clients evade American taxes.

One senior bank employee was ``briefly detained'' by U.S. authorities as a ``material witness,'' the firm said in an e- mailed statement. The Financial Times reported that the employee was Martin Liechti, the Zurich-based head of UBS's international wealth management business for the Americas. Rohini Pragasam, a UBS spokeswoman in New York, declined to comment on the FT report. Liechti could not immediately be reached for comment.

Battered by $38 billion of writedowns, UBS said yesterday clients pulled a net 12.8 billion francs ($12.1 billion) from its asset- and wealth-management units, the first withdrawal in almost eight years. UBS's U.S. private bank pledges on its Web site to help meet objectives including ``tax minimization.'' German prosecutors said in March they're weighing a criminal investigation into whether UBS helped clients evade taxes.

``UBS has been hit by a perfect storm,'' said Edwin Merner, who oversees $2 billion at Atlantis Investment Research Corp. in Tokyo. ``Clients may run away if they think they'll leak information to tax authorities in Germany and the U.S.''

Department of Justice

UBS fell 1.8 percent to 34.58 francs by 11:40 a.m. in Swiss trading. The bank said yesterday it plans to cut about 5,500 jobs, including as many as 2,600 at its investment-banking unit, which had 18.2 billion francs of first-quarter losses. Chief Executive Officer Marcel Rohner told analysts he expects ``tough business conditions'' to continue.

The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating UBS's conduct in relation to services provided by Swiss-based client advisers to U.S. clients between 2000 and 2007, the bank said. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is also investigating whether UBS employees in Switzerland who advised U.S. clients failed to register with the agency as required.

UBS is cooperating with the U.S. investigations, it said. The employee who was detained hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing, though will remain in the U.S. ``pending discussions with the U.S. authorities regarding resolution of his status as a witness,'' the bank said.

The bank said damage to its reputation because of subprime losses led to an 82 percent drop in net new money inflows to its private bank in the first quarter compared with the fourth. Wealth management international and the Switzerland unit had 2.5 billion francs of net new money, compared with 23.4 billion francs in the previous quarter. Wealth management U.S. clients added 3.1 billion francs, down from 8.1 billion francs.

German Probe

Prosecutors in Germany are considering opening a criminal probe into allegations that UBS offered Germans help in hiding funds from local tax authorities, the Mannheim Prosecutors' Office said March 31.

The Swiss bank is also among banks investigated by U.S. state officials into how they marketed auction-rate bonds to investors. Auction-rate failures led to surging costs for some borrowers after dealers stopped bidding for bonds investors didn't want.

UBS announced yesterday that it will exit the U.S. municipal bond market as part of an overhaul of its investment banking operations. The $2.6 trillion municipal market had its worst start in 12 years in the first quarter.

For related news:
UBS's earnings: {UBSN VX TCNI ERN }
Top stories about UBS: {UBSN VX TCNI WWTOP }
Search on UBS and subprime: {NSE UBS SUBPRIME }
*T
Last Updated: May 7, 2008 05:43 EDT]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=750 Wed, 07 May 2008 15:28:31 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=750
Someone came to me for some advice on making a career move to wealth management and financial advisory. Given that he is above 30 years old and has no prior experience in this area, he wants to be sure that he can derive greater job satisfaction from this move.

The reason for him wanting to move into the role as a Financial Advisor is NOT because he wants to make tons of money from his clients. On the contrary, he has a passion for financial planning and has been reading up on this areas as a hobby. He enjoys helping others who are not investment or financial-savvy to make better investment decisions (e.g. in shares, UT, insurance). I find his attitude admirable as he derives great satisfaction in helping others invest wisely or making sufficient insurance coverage for their families without asking for any returns (since it is just voluntary advice).

it now comes to a point when he feels that he should embark on a career change. however, he is hesitant as he does not want to end up being thrust into a role or an environment where sales take precedence over clients' interest. He hopes to join a company that is ethical professionally.

Given the huge number of financial advisory firms in SG now e.g. IPP, Finexis, are there specific ones that are reputable in putting client's interests ahead of sales commissions? Please advice. thanks!]]>
Someone came to me for some advice on making a career move to wealth management and financial advisory. Given that he is above 30 years old and has no prior experience in this area, he wants to be sure that he can derive greater job satisfaction from this move.

The reason for him wanting to move into the role as a Financial Advisor is NOT because he wants to make tons of money from his clients. On the contrary, he has a passion for financial planning and has been reading up on this areas as a hobby. He enjoys helping others who are not investment or financial-savvy to make better investment decisions (e.g. in shares, UT, insurance). I find his attitude admirable as he derives great satisfaction in helping others invest wisely or making sufficient insurance coverage for their families without asking for any returns (since it is just voluntary advice).

it now comes to a point when he feels that he should embark on a career change. however, he is hesitant as he does not want to end up being thrust into a role or an environment where sales take precedence over clients' interest. He hopes to join a company that is ethical professionally.

Given the huge number of financial advisory firms in SG now e.g. IPP, Finexis, are there specific ones that are reputable in putting client's interests ahead of sales commissions? Please advice. thanks!]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=749 Wed, 07 May 2008 15:15:05 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=749
I just realised that NTUC Income had withdrawn Incomeshield PLUS Rider from Incomeshield plans since Nov 2007. It is now replaced by a new Assist Rider. The site is at URL below:
http://www.income.com.sg/insur...cedshield/
http://www.income.com.sg/insur...sistRider/

Assist Rider requires the policy holder to pay 10% of the claim amount (subject to an annual cap depending of the plan) while Plus Rider is a full rider.

Assuming a policy holder is holding a ENHANCED Incomeshield Plan B and is aged between 31-40, the rider premiums are as follow:
Assist: $77 per yr (http://www.income.com.sg/insur...remium.asp)
Plus: $105 per yr (http://www.income.com.sg/insur...hieldplus/)
Premium for Enhanced Incomeshield Plan B (for S'pore citizens) is $96.

Note that premium varies between Incomeshield plans and Enhanced Incomeshield plans.

Also, it was mentioned from a policy renewal note that discounts given for policies that have not made claims before will be discontinued. This is likely due to the rising healthcare costs.

given the huge amount of interest in this forum prior to migration on the topic on various Shield plans, I'm surprise that no one has raised this issue yet.

Q: If a person is to convert from Plus Rider to Assist Rider due to the lower premium, I personally feel that the gain is outstripped by the loss of 100% full-pay in the event of a claim.

Q: I'm wondering, if a person is current on Enhanced Plan B with a Plus Rider, if he upgrades to Enhanced Plan A, will he be able to retain the Plus Rider or will he be forced to convert to Assist Rider?

Q: Without looking at other insurers yet, have any other Shield plans in the market made the same move to avoid full-paying all "as-charge" claims? Given the recent announcement by Mr Khaw on rising premiums for Shield plans, has any insurer also start to deviate from the "as-charge" approach?

Look forward to your comments on this.]]>
I just realised that NTUC Income had withdrawn Incomeshield PLUS Rider from Incomeshield plans since Nov 2007. It is now replaced by a new Assist Rider. The site is at URL below:
http://www.income.com.sg/insur...cedshield/
http://www.income.com.sg/insur...sistRider/

Assist Rider requires the policy holder to pay 10% of the claim amount (subject to an annual cap depending of the plan) while Plus Rider is a full rider.

Assuming a policy holder is holding a ENHANCED Incomeshield Plan B and is aged between 31-40, the rider premiums are as follow:
Assist: $77 per yr (http://www.income.com.sg/insur...remium.asp)
Plus: $105 per yr (http://www.income.com.sg/insur...hieldplus/)
Premium for Enhanced Incomeshield Plan B (for S'pore citizens) is $96.

Note that premium varies between Incomeshield plans and Enhanced Incomeshield plans.

Also, it was mentioned from a policy renewal note that discounts given for policies that have not made claims before will be discontinued. This is likely due to the rising healthcare costs.

given the huge amount of interest in this forum prior to migration on the topic on various Shield plans, I'm surprise that no one has raised this issue yet.

Q: If a person is to convert from Plus Rider to Assist Rider due to the lower premium, I personally feel that the gain is outstripped by the loss of 100% full-pay in the event of a claim.

Q: I'm wondering, if a person is current on Enhanced Plan B with a Plus Rider, if he upgrades to Enhanced Plan A, will he be able to retain the Plus Rider or will he be forced to convert to Assist Rider?

Q: Without looking at other insurers yet, have any other Shield plans in the market made the same move to avoid full-paying all "as-charge" claims? Given the recent announcement by Mr Khaw on rising premiums for Shield plans, has any insurer also start to deviate from the "as-charge" approach?

Look forward to your comments on this.]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=748 Wed, 07 May 2008 12:10:21 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=748 like what they did for Singtel.]]> like what they did for Singtel.]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=746 Wed, 07 May 2008 01:31:10 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=746
Noticed that a stock listed on 2 exchanges can have very different price. For example, chartered is worth SGD 0.87 in SGX, but worth USD 6.40 in NASDAQ. Why is it so ? I thought chartered should worth 0.87/X change rate = USD 0.64 in NASDAQ.]]>
Noticed that a stock listed on 2 exchanges can have very different price. For example, chartered is worth SGD 0.87 in SGX, but worth USD 6.40 in NASDAQ. Why is it so ? I thought chartered should worth 0.87/X change rate = USD 0.64 in NASDAQ.]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=745 Tue, 06 May 2008 21:31:04 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=745


We citizens of singapore urge you to PLEASE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

We DO NOT NEED your help. Every time, you mention HELP, we have to run for cover!!!

Help the poor? Raise GST!

Help traffic flow? Up ERP!

Help passenger service? Up Bus fare/MRT fare!

Help us get taxi? Raise taxi fare!

Help us get good government? Raise Minister and Civil servant salary!

Everytime YOU WANT TO HELP, we all PAY FOR IT!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU...TOLONG LAH, please, we will HELP OURSELVES, no need your help liao.

We DARE NOT ask for help any more!!!

Sir, most honoured sir, I urge you NOT TO HELP Singapore INVEST also!

Everytime your wife invest, we all lose money! Kao liao, kum siah!

Just let us have a dose of bad governance, like recently the Mat Selamat case, like dat....so far, it is ok, your incompetence, we ACCEPT!

PLEASE DO NOT help us have better security! Wait we all kena PAY FOR IT!!

I believe ALL SINGAPOREANS PREFER NOT TO HAVE CRUTCH MENTALITY!

I think it is ok lah, please just take your salary and enjoy life ok?

Thank you thank you,

I am very chin chai one, any how any how, no need to help oso can one. :D

>]]>


We citizens of singapore urge you to PLEASE MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS.

We DO NOT NEED your help. Every time, you mention HELP, we have to run for cover!!!

Help the poor? Raise GST!

Help traffic flow? Up ERP!

Help passenger service? Up Bus fare/MRT fare!

Help us get taxi? Raise taxi fare!

Help us get good government? Raise Minister and Civil servant salary!

Everytime YOU WANT TO HELP, we all PAY FOR IT!!!

THANK YOU THANK YOU...TOLONG LAH, please, we will HELP OURSELVES, no need your help liao.

We DARE NOT ask for help any more!!!

Sir, most honoured sir, I urge you NOT TO HELP Singapore INVEST also!

Everytime your wife invest, we all lose money! Kao liao, kum siah!

Just let us have a dose of bad governance, like recently the Mat Selamat case, like dat....so far, it is ok, your incompetence, we ACCEPT!

PLEASE DO NOT help us have better security! Wait we all kena PAY FOR IT!!

I believe ALL SINGAPOREANS PREFER NOT TO HAVE CRUTCH MENTALITY!

I think it is ok lah, please just take your salary and enjoy life ok?

Thank you thank you,

I am very chin chai one, any how any how, no need to help oso can one. :D

>]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=744 Tue, 06 May 2008 14:56:20 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=744
First rolex...more than 10yrs ago...cost $3800 (new sea dweller). Now cost more than S$7K I think. After wearing for so long can still sell at 2nd uncle for more than 5K at least.

Another Half gold, diamond blue sub-marina..cost S$8888 (new). Now cost more than S$14k. Wearing for abt 8 yrs.

Cyma.....collector watch..no more in production. Cost S$650 (new).
Last ask..maybe can sell abt $1.5 at least.

Other watches include soviet army, navy watches.....collectors items.
Don't know how much...never ask.]]>
First rolex...more than 10yrs ago...cost $3800 (new sea dweller). Now cost more than S$7K I think. After wearing for so long can still sell at 2nd uncle for more than 5K at least.

Another Half gold, diamond blue sub-marina..cost S$8888 (new). Now cost more than S$14k. Wearing for abt 8 yrs.

Cyma.....collector watch..no more in production. Cost S$650 (new).
Last ask..maybe can sell abt $1.5 at least.

Other watches include soviet army, navy watches.....collectors items.
Don't know how much...never ask.]]> http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=743 Tue, 06 May 2008 13:24:22 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=743 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=742 Mon, 05 May 2008 13:22:13 +0800 http://www.wallstraits.com/wsforum/showthread.php?tid=742
Technically, if STI trough above 3100 for the next 3 weeks, there is a possibility that STI could head towards 3700 or 3800 once 3300 is broken.

STI has already corrected from 3850 high to near 2760 low for >6months, starting from 1st November 2007.

2 years' support level of STI near 2470, average low of 2006.

Please share your views on STI for the next 6 to 8 months. Thanks!]]>
Technically, if STI trough above 3100 for the next 3 weeks, there is a possibility that STI could head towards 3700 or 3800 once 3300 is broken.

STI has already corrected from 3850 high to near 2760 low for >6months, starting from 1st November 2007.

2 years' support level of STI near 2470, average low of 2006.

Please share your views on STI for the next 6 to 8 months. Thanks!]]>