dinarpmkum

Something like this was not supposed to happen in Singapore. Its a brilliant piece of investigative journalism by FT. Its also very sad for the family involved. The whole thing reads like a convoluted but brilliant movie script .... C'mon Singapore, come clean ... The entire article is so very long like a mini novel but very gripping, read the rest at this link: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/afbddb44-7640-11e2-8eb6-00144feabdc0.html#axzz2MGXpfB7d February 15, 2013 1:10 pm Death in Singapore By Raymond Bonner and Christine Spolar On June 24 last year, the body of a young US electronics engineer, Shane Todd, was found hanging in his Singapore apartment. Police said it was suicide, but the Todd family believe he was murdered. Shane had feared that a project he was working on was compromising US national security. His parents want to know if that project sent him to his grave Shane Todd on a dragon boat in Singapore during an outing with friends and colleagues in 2011. This is one of a num...

4th Quarter GDP was revised up today from a dismal -0.1 percent to a dismal +0.1 percent, confirming the stagnation character of the American economy.  All the fine rhetoric from the White House and its chorus of apologists cannot hide the fact that US economy is stuck in the mud. This should come as no surprise of course.  Why should anyone expand their business or take on new employees in this environment?  Heaven forbid that anyone should make a profit or try to get rich.  That's the new sin. So, what is left is stagnation.  An economy that rewards people for not working and punishes those who wish to employ capital is an economy that is going nowhere.  Obama has managed to accomplish what few thought possible.  He has shut down the mighty American economic engine.

Just when everything seems to be going hunky-dory, along comes the Italian Job. The election results is one of the worst you could get which could impede ECB's strategy for recovery. Italy could very well opt out of E.U. and adopt back the lira. Its ok to opt out if you are the weak link like Greece as opting out could help resuscitate your country better. To opt out, if and should Italy do so, one must question Italy's loyalty and sense of belonging in the E.U. .... Italy is basically opting out when it looks terrible for them. Let's boycott pasta!!! ----------------------------------- Italy’s electoral earthquake is ‘‘a catastrophe for the euro and the European Union’’, according to Luxembourg’s foreign minister, Jean Asselborn. Italy is big enough to bring down the eurozone if mishandled.   The verdict was much the same in chancelleries across the eurozone, especially in those countries already starting to feel the first wave of contagion. ‘‘The result touches us all,’’ ...

Can they govern? .... Of course they can, just look at the current cabinet, you tell me we cannot find capable people to replace them??? Gawd!!! As for some cynics who question as to how the missions will be funded or whether they are empty promises - seriously, I don't think they will be able to meet all that has been written in the manifesto, but I do think they can achieve at least 1/3 and maybe another 1/3 work in progress and the balance will be status quo, even then that will be 100x better than the administration we had for the past 50 years. Much of whats written below has to do with economics, but to me another key point which I am sure Pakatan can do and will do is restore credibility and independence to the judiciary ... and improve the regulatory and policing bodies - only when its fair can you live in our own country without fear or favour. Why is it that we Malaysians hesitate to talk about which political side we are aligned with??? Where did that fear come from? Wha...

They say that the only constant in life is 'change'. Well, not always. Hopefully, with this new fund, you will find comfort in its stability. Furthermore, it aims to provide more returns than the current Fixed Deposit rate, and is more stable than equities. Riding on the growth of the Asian countries, investors have the opportunity to diversity their portfolio and increase the returns. This fund is only available until 4 April 2013 ! What is CIMB-Principal Enhanced Opportunity Bond Fund? It is a close-ended fund that aims to provide investors with total return through investments in a portfolio of debt securities primarily in bonds. The fund seeks to achieve its overall objective by providing total returns consisting of a combination of interest income and capital appreciation .  Investment Strategy Under general market conditions, between 70% to 99% (both inclusive) of the Fund’s net asset value (“NAV”) will be invested in non-ringgit debt securities primarily in bonds (i...

This is worth reading if you are interested in Malaysian business: http://sakmongkol.blogspot.com/2013/02/umnos-art-of-deal-eat-your-heart-out.html

Everyone knows, except Obama, that the entitlements are $70 trillion in the hole from an actuarial point of view.  This means that, in finite time, they will run out of money. So that, it is very, very clear that future generations will get nothing at all from social security and medicare regardless of the amount that they pay in. Unless something is done. This we know (except for Obama, of course, who seems to know nothing). All of this means that sooner or later, social security and medicare will be fixed.  Running out of money is a fix. That does solve the problem. A simple solution is to move out the age of eligibility for medicare (and index it).  Do the same for social security.  Means test both programs.  Raise medicaid eligibility requirements.  Doing these things would mean that social security and medicare will never run out of money. So, a simple fix, can make things work.  If we do it now.  Delay means that when you do act, the actions...

This is a reposting from October 2009 of what is still quite a relevant piece. Enjoy. (click on image to enlarge) There have been many cost of living studies which somehow does not get it quite right. In many cases, it is skewed towards the expatriate lifestyle. The flamboyant CLSA has come up with a highly interesting piece on Asian living standards, with comparisons as well to US, UK and Australia. The basket of 27 items were well selected as reflective of a middle class lifestyle maintenance. It also looked into the currency effects, which will give a true purchasing power parity comparison. The items selected: 1) Nokia 3600 2) Mobile phone monthly bill 3) Monthly broadband bill 4) Apple iPod 5) Acer laptop Aspire 6) Levis jeans 7) Louis Vuitton handbag 8) TV- 37" Sharp Aquos 9) Sony Playstation PSP 10) DVD (err...) 11)Movie ticket price 12) Coca-cola 13) Canned beer 14) Champagne 15) Marlboro Lights 16) Chicken 17) Rice 18) Eggs 19) English Newspaper 20) Economist magazin...