Oct 2007 vs. May 2014. What Uncle8888 did differently this time???

Read?  Oct 2007 vs. Oct 2012. What will I do differently this time?


Greed or Hope?

Waiting to get out or Waiting to get in?


Happy or sad problem to have?

Dow, S&P 500 at fresh records; Nasdaq dips

NEW YORK: The Dow and S&P 500 on Friday closed at new records following fresh merger and acquisition activity, even as the Nasdaq Composite Index dipped slightly.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 18.43 (0.11 per cent) to 16,717.17, edging above the previous record by less than 2 points

The S&P 500 advanced 3.54 (0.18 per cent) to 1,923.57, notching a record for the second straight day.

But the tech-rich Nasdaq fell 5.33 (0.13 per cent) to 4,242.62.

Stocks rose after Valeant Pharmaceuticals raised its bid for Botox-maker Allergan for the second time this week. Valeant rose 1.5, while Allergan jumped 5.7 per cent.

Dow member Microsoft announced a new partnership with Salesforce.com to employ Microsoft equipment on Salesforce applications and platforms. Microsoft gained 1.5 per cent, while Salesforce fell 3.3 per cent.

Home-improvement retailer Lowe's advanced 0.2 per cent after raising its quarterly dividend by 28 per cent to 23 cents per share.

Casual clothing chain Express slumped 7.5 per cent after reporting an 11 per cent decline in first-quarter comparable sales and projecting annual earnings of 74-90 cents per share. Analysts had forecast profits of $1.14 per share.

Splunk, which works in "big data" analysis, sank 16.4 per cent despite raising its forecast. The company now expects annual sales of $402-410 million, up from the previous projection of $400 million.

Deutsche Bank said investors were disappointed Splunk did not show stronger growth in billings and some other widely-watched metrics during the first quarter.
Value retailer Big Lots shot up 13.1 per cent as earnings of 50 cents per share bested analyst forecasts by six cents.

Bond prices were mixed. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury held steady at 2.46 per cent, the same level as Thursday, while the 30-year dipped to 3.31 per cent from 3.33 per cent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.

- AFP/fl

Invest in STI ETF you can make enough money over long run to retire???

One advice from Uncle8888 on your retirement planning to retire before the official retirement age at 65 (Re-employment at 62)???

On the ground, Uncle8888 hasn't seen that many old folks at his company who were successfully re-employed till 65.

If you are NOT high income earners; you CANNOT depend on your saving rate and poor investment return to retire before 65.

You have NO CHOICE but to spend your time and effort to seriously get your hands dirty to learn investing skills, made few big mistakes along the way and finally you will learn to be wiser and may hit your investing goals to retire before 65.

"For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." - Aristotle

S&P 500 (.SPX) gained 10.25 points or 0.54 percent, to 1,920.03 - a record close and a lifetime intraday high

NEW YORK (Reuters) - The S&P 500 index climbed to its third record closing high in four sessions on Thursday as traders shrugged off data that showed the economy shrank in the first quarter and bet on improvement in the second quarter.

New claims for unemployment benefits fell more than expected last week, pointing to a strengthening labor market and giving investors a reason to buy U.S. stocks. Data from the Commerce Department showed that gross domestic product contracted for the first time in three years in the first quarter, although signs indicated it has rebounded. 

"The headline figure was weaker than expected, but it was mainly due to slower inventory growth, which bodes well for future growth, future orders, new orders," said Jeffrey Saut, chief investment strategist at Raymond James Financial in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

The S&P 500 (.SPX) gained 10.25 points or 0.54 percent, to 1,920.03 - a record close and a lifetime intraday high.

CPF members leaving S'pore withdrew more than $400m each year from 2003 to 2013

SINGAPORE: From 2003 to 2013, Central Provident Fund members leaving Singapore withdrew $426 million, or 0.3 per cent of the average total members' balances each year. This includes the amounts withdrawn by former citizens, former Permanent Residents (PRs) and foreigners who contributed to CPF before 2003.

Manpower Minister Tan Chuan-Jin gave this update in Parliament on Thursday (May 29). He said the CPF Board does not track the amount separately for PRs who have given up residency.

On whether they can return to Singapore to work, Mr Tan said evaluations will be done to determine their suitability. The Government will look into their track record and history before making a decision.

- CNA/xk

STI Major Data Points since 1990

6th New Record set by Uncle8888's Investment Portfolio in 2014

Read? 5th New Record set by Uncle8888's Investment Portfolio in 2014



Today, another Moment of Happiness again!!!

Cheering the 6th new record set in 2014
 

Attending CPF seminar on Life @ 55???

Wondering how many near retirees bother to attend this talk to find more?


BTW, Uncle8888 is "guru" enough on his retirement planning also attended this talk to hear it ACTUALLY and take the opportunity to mingle around with those folks and talk about investing opportunities.




Register? LIFE @ 55 English Talk

Description	:	LIFE @ 55 English Talk - How can I build up my retirement savings? - How do I choose a suitable CPF LIFE plan? - What is the Minimum Sum? - What about my CPF monies used for my investments and my child's education? If you would like to know the answers to these questions and learn more about CPF rules applicable to you from age 55, join us at this complimentary talk specially designed to help prepare you when you turn 55 in the second half of this year. Register now to avoid disappointment! Seats are available on a first come, first served basis!
Date	:	29 Jul 2014
Time	:	07:00PM to 08:30PM - (Registration starts at 06:15PM)
Venue	:	NTUC Centre, 1 Marina Boulevard, NTUC Auditorium Level 7, Singapore 018989
Closing Date for Registration	:	28 Jul 2014
Contact Information	:	events@cpf.gov.sg

Biosensors' profit takes a hit

By raphael lim

MEDICAL device maker Biosensors International's net profit took a beating for both its fourth quarter and the full year, hit by lower revenue and thinner gross margins. Net profit for the three months ended March 31, 2014, was US$6.1 million, or 0.36 US cent per share, down from US$29.8 million, or 1.73 US cents per share, a year earlier.

Total revenue fell 8 per cent to US$81.6 million, partly due to a decline in revenues from interventional cardiology. The segment, Biosensor's largest product revenue contributor, recorded a 14 per cent decline in revenue to US$63 million.

Revenue from the group's other product segments - critical care and cardiac diagnostic - grew.

For the full year, net profit fell 65 per cent to US$40.6 million. Revenue slipped - for the first time in five years - by 4 per cent to US$323.8 million, owing to a reduction in the licensee's drug-eluting stents (DES) sales in Japan.

S&P 500 at new record after solid US data

NEW YORK: The S&P 500 on Tuesday notched a record close for the second straight session as US stocks rallied following some solid economic data.

The broad-based S&P 500 gained 11.38 points (0.60 per cent) at 1,911.91. On Friday the index closed above 1,900 for the first time; markets were closed Monday for a holiday.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 69.23 (0.42 per cent) to 16,675.50, while the strongest move came from the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index, which jumped 51.26 (1.22 per cent) to 4,237.07.

Fresh US economic data showed a rise in consumer confidence for May, a surprising increase in durable goods orders for April and an increase in home prices for March on the widely watched S&P/Case-Shiller index.

Wells Fargo Advisors called the economic data "encouraging" in a market note.
Mace Blicksilver, director of Marblehead Asset Management, said the rally in technology stocks was a sign of improving sentiment.

Leading tech companies to gain included Apple (+1.9 per cent), Facebook (+3.5 per cent), Priceline (+5.2 per cent) and Tesla Motors (+2.1 per cent)
.
US chicken producer Pilgrim's Pride announced a bid to acquire prepared-meats and frozen-foods company Hillshire Brands in a deal worth $6.4 billion, on condition Hillshire scraps its proposed $6.6 billion takeover of Pinnacle Foods. Hillshire said the company stands by its proposed takeover of Pinnacle, but promised to study the offer.

Hillshire shot up 22.1 per cent, Pilgrim's advanced 1.7 per cent and Pinnacle slumped 5.4 per cent.
Bank of America rose 3.4 per cent as it resubmitted its capital plan after the Federal Reserve required the bank to halt shareholder distributions due to a $4 billion overstatement of its capital position.

Botox-maker Allergan released a presentation attacking Valeant Pharmaceuticals in its latest effort to thwart an unsolicited takeover bid. The company raised numerous issues, including Valeant's ability to promote products of Allergan's scale and the extensive turnover in Valeant management. Allergan shares lost 1.1 per cent, while Valeant fell 2.6 per cent.

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury dipped to 2.52 per cent from 2.54 per cent Friday, while the 30-year dropped to 3.37 per cent from 3.40 per cent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.

- AFP/fl

Many S'poreans doubt they can retire at desired age: Aviva survey

SINGAPORE: More than half of Singaporeans (54 per cent) say they would like to retire before the age of 60, but only a third (36 per cent) believe they will actually be able to do so, according to a survey by insurance firm Aviva.

The study also shows that there is a gap between how much Singaporeans think they will need for their retirement and how much income they will actually have.

Fifty-six per cent of respondents believe that they will need S$2,000 to S$6,000 per month to maintain an adequate standard of living.

However, 48 per cent say they will actually have less than S$2,000 per month based on their current financial plan for retirement.

The survey also shows that Singaporeans continue to save in great numbers.

More than 90 per cent say they have some form of savings in place, and more than half (56 per cent) say they have started saving specifically for retirement.

Aviva said it is important to be prudent and careful in financial planning.

“Continue on the path in terms of getting adequate advice, start saving early, understand the gap that you have in terms of what your aspirations are, find out where you are, and then decide and prioritise what you want to do in life,” said Daniel Lum, director of Product and Marketing at Aviva Singapore.

The Aviva Consumer Attitudes Survey was conducted in 13 countries around the world, and included 1,000 respondents in Singapore. 

- CNA/nd

Super Group

Are you 3 in 1 Super Coffee Mix lovers?

The most important chart in CW8888's blog to remember on Wealth Formula!!! (2)

Read? The most important chart in CW8888's blog to remember on Wealth Formula!!!

The 37 years life story of Uncle8888 as human asset ... 

Climbing corporate ladder ...

The Door closed after his three months long MCs


 

“When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.” - Alexander Graham Bell

Climbing investment ladder ...

 

This Door will remain open for a long time ...

Investing Lessons From Conversation With Uncle8888 (2)

Read? What did I share with a guy called Noobz on our first meeting?

The most important chart in CW8888's blog to remember on Wealth Formula!!!

Read? Investing Lessons From Conversation With Uncle8888 (1)

Even you are NOT keen in active investing (DIY); you still need to fully understand the most important chart in CW8888's blog on wealth formula!


 Wealth = Asset value + Cash flow!

S&P 500 closes above 1,900 for first time

NEW YORK: The S&P 500 on Friday closed above 1,900 for the first time as a positive report on new-home sales helped to push US stocks broadly higher.

The S&P 500 advanced 8.04 points (0.42 per cent) to 1,900.53, besting by more than three points the index's record close earlier this month.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 63.19 (0.38 per cent) to 16,606.27, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index rose 31.47 (0.76 per cent) to 4,185.81.

The record close by the S&P 500-stock index followed a Commerce Department report that showed new single-family homes were sold at an annual rate of 433,000 units in April, well above analysts' forecast of a 415,000 pace.

"It shows there is momentum in the markets on the upside," said Peter Cardillo, chief market economist at Rockwell Global Capital. "It's safe to say this bull does have long legs."

Trading volumes have been low all week, a trend that continued on Friday as some on Wall Street left early for vacation ahead of Monday's Memorial Day holiday when markets are closed.

Michael James, managing director of equity trading at Wedbush Securities, said fewer investors are trying to bail out of technology equities and other momentum stocks compared with a few weeks ago.
"As there have been fewer sellers in a lot of stocks, it has been easier for them to move higher," James said.

Most leading tech names did well, including Apple (+1.1 per cent), Facebook (+1.4 per cent) and Google (+1.4 per cent). But in the losing column were Twitter (-3.2 per cent) and biotech company Gilead Sciences (-2.4 per cent).

Hewlett-Packard jumped 6.1 per cent after reporting fiscal second-quarter earnings that met expectations on sales that slightly underperformed. The computer company also announced it would cut an additional 11,000-16,000 jobs on top of 34,000 previously announced.

Athletic footwear retailer Foot Locker rose 1.6 per cent as earnings of $1.10 per share in the first quarter topped expectations by four cents. Comparable-store sales jumped 7.6 per cent from last year.
Cybersecurity company FireEye got a lift from an upgrade by Barclays, rising 3.4 per cent. Barclays said FireEye "continues to be one of the most disruptive technology companies with its differentiated, virtual-machine approach to security."

Bond prices rose. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury fell to 2.54 per cent from 2.56 per cent Thursday, while the 30-year dropped to 3.40 per cent from 3.43 per cent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.

- AFP/fl

5th New Record set by Uncle8888's Investment Portfolio in 2014

Read? 3rd and 4th New Record set by Uncle8888's Investment Portfolio in 2014


 Today, another Moment of Happiness again!!!

Cheering the 5th new record set in 2014

Singapore's inflation rises to 2.5% in April, core inflation up at 2.3%

By Teh Shi Ning

Consumer price inflation in Singapore picked up a little less than expected to 2.5 per cent in April, from 1.2 per cent in March.

The median forecast of 16 economists polled by Bloomberg before the Department of Statistics released the data on Friday was for a 2.6 per cent year-on-year rise in the consumer price index (CPI)

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) said in joint comments that the rise was anticipated and reflected a rise in COE premiums that was exacerbated by the low base a year ago.

Petrol pump prices also edged up at a faster pace, leading to a 5.7 per cent rise in overall private road transport costs in April - reversing four straight months of decline.

Accommodation costs rose at a slower pace of 1.1 per cent in April, compared to 1.7 per cent in March, due to a smaller increase in imputed rentals on owner-occupied accommodation.

With the exception of accommodation, all other major categories showed slightly stronger price increases in April.

As a result, MAS core inflation, which excludes accommodation and private road transport costs, rose to 2.3 per cent from 2 per cent in March.

Services inflation rose to 2.7 per cent from March's 2.4 per cent, due to a pickup in holiday and public road transport costs.

And steeper price increases in non-cooked food and prepared meals led to food inflation of 3.1 per cent, up from 2.9 per cent in March.

Retail-related items also added more to overall inflation in April, MAS and MTI noted. "Notably, clothing and footwear prices rose after four consecutive months of decline," they said.

"Domestic cost pressures, particularly stemming from a tight labour market, are likely to remain the primary source of inflation," said MAS and MTI.

Core inflation is thus expected to stay elevated at 2-3 per cent in 2014, while headline inflation is projected to come in at 1.5-2.5 per cent for the year.

Book : Live Better, Live Longer

CW8888: Good news for coffee addicts like Uncle8888 who drinks a few cups one day. His liver is quite safe!


Every day, you hear about new medical studies touted as the “next big thing that will save your life.” But how can you tell which claims are real and which are bogus? Live Better, Live Longer gives you the answers.

 

Live Better, Live Longer explains the latest research to provide you with the most accurate medical information. You will learn about the right diet, the best cancer-screening methods, the incredible power of coffee to prevent disease, the real value of vitamins and supplements, the truth about the dangers of cell phones, the facts behind vaccinations, and the scientific information you and your family need to lead a happier and healthier life.

 

 

Increase in CPF Minimum Sum???

Just For Thinking ...


The only thing Uncle8888 has learnt from the recent Kau Pe Kau Bu (Cry father and cry mother) in the cyber world and social network on the increase in CPF minimum sum from $148K to $155K is to save more (Best is to dedicate one bank account for keeping your investing capital) and MUST learn to be an investor to create wealth from the stock market. 


We are not born to be an investor.

We have to learn to become one.


We have to believe in the Trinity of Investing (Time, Luck, and Skill) to help ourselves and stop KPKB on the CPF minimum sum. 

This CPF minimum sum is just a small component in your Retirement Income For Life formula or equation.

Property assets make up 80% of Singaporeans' wealth

SINGAPORE: Property assets make up 80 per cent of the total wealth of an average Singaporean, according to financial advisory firm Financial Alliance. 

And with Central Provident Fund (CPF) money being used for property purchases, savings meant for retirement are being locked up in real estate.

Amid this backdrop, the Ministry of Manpower has said it will "review and make improvements" to the CPF system.

This follows President Tony Tan Keng Yam's address in Parliament last Friday.

The CPF Minimum Sum is the amount of money that one needs to set aside in the CPF account on reaching the age of 55.

And if there are insufficient funds, individuals will not be able to withdraw any cash at all although they will receive monthly payouts.

Financial advisors say less than half of Singapore's working population have enough to meet the minimum sum, which is currently S$155,000.

Tan Siak Lim, financial advisory director at Financial Alliance, said: "So today, I think that's the challenge. And I guess the reason why we are in the current situation is because of appreciating assets in the property (market)."

With property prices rising steadily over the past decade, more CPF money meant for retirement has been committed to mortgages.

For a middle income earner in his forties with multiple dependants, in order to retire comfortably Financial Alliance says he will need to save about a third of his monthly salary.

Mr Tan said: "There're already plenty of private sector investment products, retirement products for the consumer to choose (from). So that is not the problem.

"The problem is -- 'where is the money to invest in these products?'"

He said for an average, middle to low-income earner, there is not a lot of surplus cash beyond just meeting one's monthly living expenses.

To ensure retirement adequacy, the government is looking at options such as reverse mortgage schemes to help retiring or retired Singaporeans unlock the value of their homes.

Under a reverse mortgage, the owner retains the full lease of his flat but takes a loan against it as collateral.

The owner then repays the loan with accumulated interest upon termination, or death, usually with the sales proceeds from the flat. 

- CNA/al

Trinity of Investing???

Just For Thinking ...


Read? Trinity of Fundamental Analysis Investing

Time is the true element of the Trinity of Investing!

You may be lucky or unlucky this time; but your luck is likely to change over market cycles.

In investing, your account size really matters; but it takes time to grow your account size through saving from your earned income.

One day, one young colleague came to me and said he wanted to learn investing from me (Uncle8888 doesn't even know him. Not sure who in the office asked him to look for me)

Uncle8888: "Do you have $30K?"

Young man: "No."

Uncle8888: "Save up to $30K first."

Young man walked away. He should be disappointed. Right?


 "For the things we have to learn before we can do them, we learn by doing them." - Aristotle



It takes time to acquire your investing knowledge from reading and reading. Over time, you are going to make a few big mistakes and hopefully you can learn to be wiser and polish up your investing skills and continue to read and read.

BTW, Uncle8888 has read tons of books and still reading.

You have to continuously read and closely follow financial and company news. There is absolutely NO time limit to follow these news unless you want to give up investing.



Investing Goals

Set investing goals for you. 

Set a time frame to achieve them.

Timely review your achievement at least on quarterly basis and somehow, time will pressurize you into taking actions.

If you haven't started serious thinking about it. Over the next few days, you better start serious thinking about it before ...

 






It also takes time for Uncle8888  ....

On Blog Leave from 15 to 19 May 14

On BTW for ...

Semb Corp: Sold $5.49 ROC 4.1%

Round 53: ROC 4.1%, 444 days, B $5.24 S $5.49 (Bought back higher for short-term trading)
 
Round 52: ROC 5.0%, 65 days, B $3.99 S $4.25 (Bought back higher for short-term trading)
Round 51: ROC 9.6%, 34 days, B $3.47 S $3.83 (Bought back higher for short-term trading)
Round 50: ROC 3.1%, 6 days, B $3.22 S $3.34
Round 49: ROC 7.9%, 91 day, B $3.14 S $3.41


See the last 444 days of Sembcorp stock price movement?

Dow, S&P notch new records

NEW YORK: The Dow and S&P 500 on Tuesday edged to record closing highs for the second day in a row even as the Nasdaq fell on concerns technology stocks are overvalued.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 19.97 points (0.12 per cent) to 16,715.44, while the S&P 500 added 0.80 points (0.04 per cent) at 1,897.45 after breaching 1,900 for the first time.

But the Nasdaq Composite Index dropped 13.69 points (0.33 per cent) to 4,130.17.

The Nasdaq has underperformed the other two indices since early March on worries that tech-sector earnings will not live up to lofty expectations.

DBS : Highest paid CEO in Singapore

Piyush Gupta, DBS Group Holdings – Gupta earned a total of S$9.2 million to become the highest paid CEO in Singapore after raking in a record S$3.5 billion in profits for the bank in 2013, about 4% higher than in 2012.

DBS has the largest regional presence among the 3 Singapore banks, but last year saw business in Singapore strengthen to offset weaker growth in India and Indonesia. As a whole, Gupta’s compensation package was about 1.4% less than what he received in 2012.


CW8888:

Will DBS's shareholders get rewarded or not? 

Theoretical highest DBS stock price in 2007 after XR should be at $19.20 i.e. another 15% to go.

Why do parents willing to spend their money on their children and some even on their grown up working children?

Just For Thinking ...


Reasons???


1. Parents can't bring their money to their grave?

2. Price is what they paid and the value is what they get?

3. Investing for security for their old age?

What do you think?

Dow, S&P 500 close at records as tech stocks rally

NEW YORK: The Dow and S&P 500 on Monday closed at fresh record highs, spurred by a strong rally in technology stocks that lifted the Nasdaq Composite Index by nearly 1.8 per cent.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 112.13 points (0.68 per cent) to 16,695.47, while the S&P 500 gained 18.17 points (0.97 per cent) to 1,896.65.

The Nasdaq added 71.99 points (1.77 per cent) at 4,143.86.

Analysts said there was no obvious catalyst for the rally, but pointed to a sense in the market that technology stocks had been oversold as investors worried the sector was overvalued. The Nasdaq dropped 6.6 per cent between March 5 and last Friday.

Some money managers "have figured some of these tech stocks have been hammered a little too hard," said Michael James, managing director of equity trading at Wedbush Securities.
Big gains were posted by prominent technology stocks like Facebook (+4.5 per cent), Netflix (+5.1 per cent) and Twitter (+5.9 per cent). Some stocks in biotechnology, another hard-hit sector, also rose, including Biogen (+4.9 per cent) and Celgene (+2.6 per cent).

Still, James detected caution in the market in light of fairly modest trading volumes.

"There's just as many people watching as there are participating today," James said. "I don't feel like there's some huge groundswell of confidence behind this move."

Botox-maker Allergan turned down an unsolicited takeover offer worth about US$45.6 billion from pharmaceutical company Valeant, saying the bid "substantially undervalues" the company.

In response, Valeant, which is working with activist investor William Ackman, asked Allergan for a list of shareholders as part of a plan to take the offer directly to shareholders, according to a Valeant securities filing. Allergan fell 1.0 per cent, while Valeant lost 0.8 per cent.

Pinnacle Foods agreed to be bought by Hillshire Brands in a deal worth US$6.6 billion. The transaction will boost Hillshire's presence in frozen-food categories. Pinnacle jumped 13.2 per cent, while Hillshire fell 3.2 per cent.

Dow component IBM picked up 1.3 per cent ahead of an annual investor day Wednesday. Chief executive Virginia Rometty told The New York Times that IBM is making progress building new business lines despite facing a "rocky time." Revenues have declined for eight quarters in a row at the tech giant.

Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury rose to 2.66 per cent from 2.63 per cent on Friday, while the 30-year increased to 3.49 per cent from 3.46 per cent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.

- AFP/de

Retirement Income For Life Planning Model

Found one nice diagram in BT article by Lorna Tan on "Planning for a sustainable retirement"


The combined illustration of these two diagrams may made it easier to understand the preferred model.

Read? Retirement Income for Life??? (15) - How much is enough for retirement?

What is Uncle8888's Short-term trading and Long-term investing strategy? Can you explain it?

Read last transaction? Kep Corp: Sold $10.14


 

An illustrated example on his short-term trading and long-term investing strategy on Kep Corp ...

Actually,  Batch 3 at $12.14 is a short-term trading mistake that turned into long-term investing as Uncle8888 doesn't have any stop-loss strategy.

It is never that easy to buy back at lower price!

Bought at $12.14  

Low can be lower!


Last sold at $10.14

High can be higher!

No chance to buy back till now.

Book : How to Make a Million Slowly: My Guiding Principles from a Lifetime of Successful Investing (Financial Times Series)

Lord Lee: How I became Britain's first Isa millionaire

John Lee, a minister in the 1980s Thatcher Government, and now a Liberal Democrat life peer, he shares tips from 55 years of investing and how he became the UK's first Isa millionaire

Lord Lee and Lady Thatcher on the campaign trail in the 1980s 

His Rules or Principles

Trading for a living after attending the best trading course in Singapore???

Just For Thinking ...


You have attended the best trading course in Singapore and all attendees have received the best coaching. All of you passed the 6 to 8 weekends of trading lessons with Distinction!

Guess what need to happen for you to survive















Read? You Will Never Outrun That Bear!



You have to outrun your former course-mates, current course-mates and many more future course-mates to survive as no one can outrun the Bear.

Get it?

CPF Minimum Sum , CPF MA, and CPF Medihield

How Uncle8888 plan to use his CPF Minimum Sum (RA upon reaching 55)?

 

It is parked under Safety Money and delay touching it and let RA, SA, and MA compound at 4% rate.

Dow rises to record close

NEW YORK: The Dow closed at a fresh record high as US stocks rallied on Friday, with investors shrugging off mixed earnings reports and uncertainty over the Russia-Ukraine crisis.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced 32.37 points (0.20 per cent) to 16,583.34, 2.5 points above the previous high on April 30.

The broad-based S&P 500 added 2.85 points (0.15 per cent) at 1,878.48, while the tech-rich Nasdaq Composite Index outperformed, gaining 20.37 points (0.50 per cent) at 4,071.87.

Wall Street had some "pretty positive" economic data this week, said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities
.
"There's less of a geopolitical flight-to-safety trade," he said.

Trading was quiet, analysts said, with the major indices spending a good part of the day in the red.
Apparel retailer Gap reported that April comparable sales jumped nine per cent from the year-ago level; shares jumped 3.3 per cent.

But Ralph Lauren fell 2.1 per cent after predicting profit margins in its next fiscal year will drop as it steps up investment in advertising and marketing.

Advertising giants Omnicom and Publicis called off a US$35 billion merger that would have fashioned the world's largest advertising house amid disagreements over integrating the companies and filling key executive positions.

Omnicom gained 2.2 per cent. Publicis shares fell 0.8 per cent in Paris.
Apple shares lost 0.4 per cent amid reports it is close to announcing a US$3.2 billion acquisition of Beats Electronics, which makes headphones and has a popular new music-streaming service.

Investment bank Goldman Sachs disclosed that regulators have questioned the company over its high-speed trading operations and its foreign-hiring practices. Shares dipped 0.1 per cent.
Bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year US Treasury rose to 2.63 per cent from 2.61 per cent on Thursday, while the 30-year increased to 3.46 per cent from 3.43 per cent. Bond prices and yields move inversely.

- AFP/de

Hyflux Q1 profit soars on $56.9m divestment gain

By

Jamie Lee

HYFLUX Ltd posted a significant lift in net profit for the first quarter, thanks to a one-time divestment of a joint venture project. The water treatment company said that net profit for the three months ended March 31, 2014, stood at $37.91 million, up from $8.04 million a year ago.

This translated to earnings of 3.47 cents per share, up from 0.25 cent per share. The boost came mainly from a one-time gain of $56.9 million from its divestment of a joint venture with Marmon Water in the quarter.

Revenue for the three-month period was down 29 per cent at $88.3 million, reflecting the timing of projects' commencement this year.

The Asia ex-China market stayed the biggest revenue contributor in the quarter, making up 83 per cent of the group's total revenue. But this is down from 87 per cent in the year-ago quarter.

CPF Minimum Sum to be raised from July

SINGAPORE: The CPF Minimum Sum will be raised to S$155,000, up from S$148,000, from 1 July.

This will apply to CPF members who turn 55 between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2015, the Central Provident Board (CPF) and the Manpower Ministry said in a joint statement.

Under the CPF LIFE Standard Plan, setting aside S$155,000 at age 55 provides a lifelong payout of about S$1,200 per month, the statement added.

The Medisave Minimum Sum will be raised to S$43,500 from S$40,500 from 1 July.

A member will need to have this amount in his Medisave Account and also meet the CPF Minimum Sum before excess funds can be withdrawn.

The Medisave Contribution Ceiling will be increased correspondingly to S$48,500 from S$45,500.


This is the maximum balance a member can have in his Medisave Account.  

- CNA/xq

Invest Young and Retire Young???

Just For Thinking ...


Read? The Permanent Portfolio


In our first half we should work hard for our money and save more. We shouldn't even doubt it. It is a must!

In our second half, we may have built up fairly large account size for investing, we should uplift ourselves to make our money works harder for us. But, there is no such thing as less-work-more-return in the market where there is full of smart people watching over it day and night trying to fish more money out from other investors' hard earned money.

To become rich in stocks we must rise way above average investors since they are the ones to provide the fuel of the market. Why??? ETFs or whatsoever funds, the money provided by these investors must find their way back in and out of the market cycles. Who will benefit from these market cycles? The answer is quite obvious when the investing mind is open. 

1. Young ones may like to think seriously on Uncle8888's Wealth Formula especially on Human Asset part. 

2. In investing, Your Account Size Really Matters. Period!

Once young ones fully understood (1) and (2); then Your Investment Portfolio is your Accelerator on the Road to Financial Independence!

Rotary's Q1 net profit up on higher revenue

ROTARY Engineering, a mainboard-listed provider of engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance services for the oil and gas and petrochemical industry, on Wednesday posted a net profit of S$14.4 million for the first quarter ended March 31, 2014 compared to S$2.5 million a year ago.

This translates to an earnings per share of 2.5 Singapore cents, up from 0.4 Singapore cents a year ago.

Revenue nearly doubled to S$199.2 million for the quarter from S$102.8 million a year ago, as the "execution of current projects gained pace and momentum".
Singapore and the Middle East continued to contribute the bulk of the group's revenue, said Rotary.

Sembcorp Industries reports 4.5% rise in Q1 earnings

SINGAPORE: Sembcorp Industries has booked a 4.5 per cent increase in first quarter earnings, compared to a year ago. Net profit came in at S$184.8 million.

The increase is largely due to higher contributions from its utilities and marine businesses, as well as stronger growth in its urban development business.

Sembcorp said net profit from the utilities business was S$91.6 million, while net profit for the marine segment was S$74.3 million -- both of which were up three per cent compared to the previous year.

Its urban development business also did better, with a net profit of S$19.5 million - up 192 per cent from the previous year. The increase in profits was attributed to strong contributions from its Nanjing Eco Hi-tech Island project in China.

Revenue, meanwhile, rose by 12 per cent to S$2.6 billion.

Looking ahead, Sembcorp said it expects steady performance from its utilities business this year. However, it warns that margins in the marine business could come under pressure due to intense competition.
Its marine business has a net order book of S$12.9 billion as of May 2, with completion and deliveries stretching into 2019.

- CNA/ac

Highlights from Sembcorp’s 1Q2014 Financial Results

 Turnover at S$2.6 billion, up 12%

 Profit from Operations at S$300.9 million, down 4%

 Net Profit at S$184.8 million, up 5%

 EPS at 10.3 cents

 ROE (annualised) at 13.5%

*Profit from Operations = Earnings before Interest and Tax + Share of Associates and JVs’ results (net of tax).