Is Yield an indicator of Safety of Money, Risk or Growth???

Just For Thinking ....

10 Aug 2012 : Yield of 10-Year SGS Bond is 1.38% Dividend yield of Kep Corp: 3.9% Dividend yield of Semb Corp: 2.7% Dividend yield of DBS: 3.8% What does the above yield telling us in the mind of investors who have 10-year investing time frame? Is Yield an indicator of Safety of Money, Risk or Growth at what opportunity costs??? Singapore Government Securities - Benchmarks

Closing Levels

Treasury Bills Bonds 3-Mth 6-Mth 1-Year 2-Year 5-Year 10-Year 15-Year 20-Year 30-Year Issue Code Coupon Rate Maturity Date BQ12131V 08 Nov 2012 BS12102S 07 Feb 2013 BY12100T 02 May 2013 N212100H 0.250% 01 Feb 2014 N710100Z 2.375% 01 Apr 2017 NY07100X 3.125% 01 Sep 2022 NY09100H 3.000% 01 Sep 2024 NZ10100F 2.875% 01 Sep 2030 NA12100N 2.750% 01 Apr 2042 Yield Yield Yield Price Yield Price Yield Price Yield Price Yield Price Yield Price Yield 02 Aug 2012 0.23 0.23 0.23 100.10 0.18 108.95 0.43 115.81 1.43 114.18 1.70 112.57 2.04 108.09 2.37 03 Aug 2012 0.23 0.23 0.24 100.10 0.18 108.98 0.43 115.86 1.43 114.21 1.69 112.62 2.04 108.14 2.37 06 Aug 2012 0.23 0.24 0.23 100.09 0.19 108.94 0.43 115.83 1.43 114.11 1.70 112.46 2.05 107.89 2.38 07 Aug 2012 0.23 0.25 0.24 100.09 0.19 108.99 0.42 116.00 1.41 114.16 1.70 112.53 2.04 108.07 2.37 08 Aug 2012 0.24 0.25 0.23 100.09 0.19 108.99 0.42 116.10 1.40 114.20 1.69 112.48 2.05 107.94 2.38 10 Aug 2012 0.24 0.24 0.24 100.08 0.20 108.97 0.42 116.31 1.38 114.34 1.68 112.65 2.03 108.16 2.37

* Data reflect bid rates quoted by SGS primary dealers.
* Yield is quoted as % p.a.
* Bond price is quoted in S$ per S$100 of principal amount, excluding any applicable accrued interest (i.e. on clean basis).

Investing vs Trading (6) - Frequency and level of Risk Taking

Just For Thinking .....



Read? Investing vs Trading (5) - Key differences???


Frequency of Risk Taking


In investing or trading, you are required to take risks to deploy your capital. You must be RIGHT in your direction to make more money from the stock market. If you get the direction WRONG, you will be punished either with realised losses or sitting on unrealised loss. For any unrealized losses, you may be comforting yourself that they are not losses yet.

For those who still strongly believe that unrealised losses are not losses yet, may be you should be learning this financial function available from Microsoft Excel called XIRR.

What lessons did Uncle8888 learn over past decade in short-term trading and long-term investing?

On Short-Term Trading


Read the newspapers or visit investment blogs which have clear commercial interests of inducing you to buy that belief that you can trade for a living or build up your wealth in the market with their "Secrets" that can be sold for $X,XXX


What you may not know or not told by the "Gurus" at their previews?


In trading, every time you put in a trade, you are taking calculated risk of losing your capital for your limited reward. All experience and successful traders will follow their Trading Rules for clear Entry and Exit point or follow some popular Stop Losses Rule e.g. 2% and 6% Rule. 

When the traders  are RIGHT, they will make money from the market. When they are WRONG, they will lose it back to the market.

In trading, you are in a Rat Race to make money from the market. It is endless risk taking to make money. You must win more and lose less in order  to survive.

You have to make endless trading decisions, endless risk taking, and endless to be RIGHT one more time to make money.

Is this somewhat similar to those employees working in a Rat Race environment at their office?

Are you running another Rat Race in the stock market???

Can such frequency of trading really lead you to financial freedom and out of Rat Race?

Do your own thinking!!!


On Long-Term Investing

At first, it is no different from short-term trading, you have to take calculated risks and be RIGHT.

When you are DAMN BLOODY RIGHT in your direction, easy money will soon fall from the MONEY TREE into your pocket without you doing anything else to collect this money.

After X or XX years, you will be in RISK OFF positions to continue to make more money from the stock market.

It is where traders cannot never never dream of!!!

RISK OFF to make more money from the stock market!!!

In Hokkien, they called it: "KIAO KAH YO LUM PAR/K.K.Y.L.P."

What do you think???

.

Kep Corp's net order book now

Its net order book now at $13.5 billion, slightly above the record level of $13 billion achieved as at end-September 2008.

Kep Corp - Got chance to break 11.60???

CPF contribution rate changes on 1 Sep 2012

What are the CPF contribution rate changes, and when will they take effect?

The CPF contribution rates for older workers aged above 50 to 65 years will be increased for wages earned from 1 September 2012.

Specifically, the employer CPF contribution rates will be increased by 2.0, 1.5 and 0.5 percentage points for employees aged above 50 to 55 years, above 55 to 60 years and above 60 to 65 years respectively.

The employee CPF contribution rates will also be increased by 0.5 percentage points for those aged above 50 to 55 years and above 55 to 60 years.


The detailed changes (new contribution rates are inBlue, percentage point increase is in brackets) are as follows:

CPF Investment Account and CPF OA Rate at 2.5%

Just For Thinking ....


It was only after 55,  I began to realise the goodness of CPF Investment Account for stock investing and trading, all dividends, initial capital and capital gains go back into CPF OA to compound at 2.5% rate at relative risk free environment. No headache or worry on re-investment of idle "cash" or rotting in the bank.

CPF OA is really a good parking station while waiting for the next opportunity at relatively good opportunity costs.

Keppel FELS Brasil clinches US$950 million in FPSO contracts from Petrobras

Singapore, 10 August 2012 - Keppel FELS Brasil S/A has secured two contracts worth a total of about US$950 million from the Petrobras-led consortiums, Guara BV and Tupi BV, for the fabrication and integration of topside modules on the Floating Production Storage and Offloading vessels (FPSO) P-66 and P-69.

As part of the agreement, Petrobras has an option for a similar contract to be exercised by 1Q 2014.

Mr Chow Yew Yuen, Chief Operating Officer of Keppel Offshore & Marine (Keppel O&M), the parent company of Keppel FELS Brasil, said, "We are pleased to be able to support Petrobras in growing their fleet of FPSOs, providing local content to meet their requirements. Undertaking two similar projects will enable us to maximise our efficiencies and add value for our customer. Having delivered a number of FPSO conversions and topside integration projects with another two in progress, we are proud that our BrasFELS shipyard has established a track record of quality deliveries. Our recent firm contracts signed with Sete Brasil for five additional DSSTM 38E drilling semisubmersibles are a testament to the good standing of our BrasFELS shipyard.

"As the most established offshore yard in Latin America, we are continually upgrading our capabilities and have the capacity to take on more projects of different varieties. Our Near Market, Near Customer strategy has enabled us to better serve Petrobras. We look forward to continuing this win-win partnership and contribute to Brazil’s E&P programme."

The FPSOs will have identical work scopes which includes the fabrication and integration of seven topside modules. When completed, P-66 will be deployed to the Guara field while P-69 will work in the Tupi field in offshore Brazil. Both FPSOs will each have a production capacity of 150,000 barrels of oil per day (bopd).

BrasFELS, Keppel FELS Brasil’s shipyard located in Angra dos Reis, Rio De Janeiro, is currently also undertaking the fabrication and integration of topsides for FPSO Cidade De Paraty and FPSO Cidade De Sao Paulo. BrasFELS recently sealed a contract with MTOPS (MODEC and Toyo Offshore Production Systems), for the fabrication and integration of topsides for FPSO Cidade de Mangaratiba.

The above contracts are not expected to have a material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of Keppel Corporation Limited for the current financial year.

Work Less and Gone Fishing Planning Room (7) - Revisit

Read? Investing is best seen as a hobby

"This is why I am now recommending a retirement fund separate from an investment fund for those of us who are keen to invest during our retirement years. The retirement fund will take care of our daily needs. Ideally, the capital in this retirement fund will be sufficient to last us our entire life. With this retirement fund in place, you will take the pressure off the investment fund to perform. Like it or not, no one can predict how quickly our investments will mature and putting pressure on yourself for something totally out of your control will be certainly detrimental to your financial health, especially during your retirement years." - Dr Leong


Uncle8888 agreed with his recommendations too. This is somewhat quite similar to what he has planned for.

Read? Work Less and Gone Fishing Planning Room (7)


Uncle8888 has set up three Money Pots for his retirement needs.

The first money pot is from CPF OA/CPF RA. It will be able to meet at least 67% of his living expenses at 2.5% inflation rate up to 80 years old.

When is Uncle8888 buying stocks again???

Someone asked: "Not buying any stocks?"


Everyday, there are plenty of buyers and sellers in the stock market.

Why do they buy and sell?

There are only two reasons for them to buy:

1. Price will stop falling
2. Short covering


There are four reasons for them to sell:

1. Profit taking
2. Force selling
3. Cut losses
4. Short selling

60% in stocks and 40% in cash

Track, Measure and Visualise

The only way to know whether we are still on the right path towards our Investing Goals is to track, measure and visualise our investing performance.

1. The Number doesn't lie!
2. The Picture tells a Thousand words!

Why Uncle8888 is not buying yet?

Uncle8888 believes that he has enough stocks to ride with the Bull. Why???

He has recently broke a new record portfolio value and it is 1.6% higher than 2007 Oct Bull with the current stocks level in his portfolio.


Read? Another new Record Portfolio Value. 1.6% higher than 2007 Oct Bull.


Risks and Rewards

In Oct 2007, he was putting 88% of his capital at risks to gain exposure to stocks; but in Aug 2012, it is zero capital at risks and yet his portfolio is 1.6% higher in value. The Number is saying that Uncle8888's focus on dividend-growth stocks investing strategies is working right for him.

When to buy again?

Here is the clue!

How are you measuring up with your investment return? (4)

Read? How are you measuring up with your investment return? (3)

CapitaLand to jointly develop residential project in Japan

CapitaLand Limited said on Wednesday that it has signed a joint venture agreement with Mitsubishi Jisho Residence Co Ltd (MJR) and SECOM Home Life Co., Ltd to develop a 190-unit residential project in Tokyo, Japan.

The Parkhouse Nishi-Azabu Residence is scheduled for an official launch in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Construction has begun and is targeted for completion by the second quarter of 2014.
When completed, the 24-storey building will be the tallest residential building in the Nishi-Azabu area in Minato ward.

"Secrets" of "GURUS" that you may not know???

Read? Will You Forgive Brendan?

"Brendan wasn’t trading at a standard contract since September 2011 (beginning of his statement) till now. He has been trading mini contracts all along in his personal live account using his system. The account statement that you saw was a demo account which he also used his system to trade, along with some experimental trades."


Read even more?

Secrets of Gurus???

Uncle8888 tells you the truth, there is no easy way to make money from markets. It is easier to make money from those who foolishly believe there is easy way to make money from the market.


Read? Minimum of 10,000 hours hard work

Keppel signs contracts with Sete Brasil for five DSSTM 38E semis

Singapore, 7 August 2012 - Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M), through its subsidiary Fernvale Pte. Ltd., has firmed up contracts with Sete Brasil Participações S.A. (Sete Brasil), for the design and construction of five additional semisubmersible (semi) drilling rigs for approximately US$4.1billion, following the Letter of Intent announced in April 2012.

The five semis will be based on Keppel’s proprietary DSS™ 38E design, which has improved capability and operability, making it well suited to meet the stringent requirements of the deepwater "Golden Triangle" region of Brazil, Africa and the Gulf of Mexico. The semis are scheduled for delivery in 4Q 2016, 3Q 2017, 2Q 2018, 4Q 2018, and 3Q 2019 respectively.

In December 2011, Keppel O&M secured a contract from Sete Brasil to build one semi to the same DSS™ 38E design. Scheduled for delivery in 4Q 2015, this first semi celebrated the strike steel milestone on 13 July 2012 at Keppel’s BrasFELS yard in Angra dos Reis.
With these latest firm contracts, Keppel will be building a total of six DSS™ 38E semis for Sete Brasil. When completed, the rigs will be chartered to Petrobras for 15 years for drilling activities in the pre-salt areas of Southeast Coast of Brazil, offshore Brazil. Three rigs will be operated by Queiroz Galvão Óleo e Gás SA, two by Petroserv SA and one by Odebrecht Óleo e Gás SA.

Sete Brasil’s Chief Executive Officer, Mr Joao Carlos Ferraz, said, "We are pleased to ink the firm contracts with Keppel to design and build five additional semis for us at their established yard in Brazil. We and the drilling contractors are ready to work closely with Keppel on all six rigs, and I’m confident Keppel will deliver the quality rigs to us safely and on time."

Mr Tong Chong Heong, Chief Executive Officer, Keppel O&M, commented, "We are privileged to be given this significant opportunity to continue to play a key role in the development of Brazil’s oil and gas industry. The preparation work on the semis is well underway, and we are ready to embark on their construction at our BrasFELS yard in Brazil.

"Looking ahead, our priority continues to be on the training and education of our current and additional workforce for these projects in Brazil as part of our productivity enhancement strategy," added Mr Tong.

The DSS™ 38E design is an innovative and cost-effective design, rated to drill to depths of 10,000 metres below the rotary table in 3,000 metres water depth. Its operational displacement is approximately 45,000 tonnes. Each rig will have accommodation facilities to house a crew of up to 160 men. The vessel is designed to stay in position via eight Azimuthing thrusters and the configurations comply with the American Bureau of Shipping Dynamic Positioned System (DPS- 3) requirements. This design is jointly developed and owned by Keppel's Deepwater Technology Group and Marine Structure Consultants.

The transaction mentioned above is not expected to have a material impact on the net tangible assets or earnings per share of Keppel Corporation Limited for the current financial year.

Another new Record Portfolio Value. 1.6% higher than 2007 Oct Bull.

Another moment of happiness!!!

1.6% higher than 2007 Oct Bull.



Brazil’s Petrobras has signed contracts for the chartering and operation of 12 floating drilling platforms.

The state-owned company announced that it had entered into agreements with Sete Brasil, Queiroz Galvão, Petroserv, Odebrecht, Odfjell and Seadrill for the drilling rigs, which were to be constructed in Brazil with a national content of between 55% and 65%.

Upon construction, the rigs will be chartered by Petrobras for 15 years.

The company stated that the 12 rigs were part of a package of 21 platforms negotiated with Sete Brasil.

Six semi-submersible platforms will be built by Estaleiro BrasFELS in Angra dos Reis, with three to be operated by Queiroz Galvão, two by Petroserv and one by Odebrecht.

Odfjell and Seadrill will each operate three other drilling vessels, to be built by Estaleiro Jurong Aracruz.

The 12 units were expected to be delivered by 2016.

Petrobras said the rigs would be capable of operating in depths of up to 3000 metres and had a drilling capacity of up to 10,000 metres.

They would be primarily used for drilling wells in the pre-salt areas of the Santos basin, including the onerous assignment areas.

Prior to the deals, the company analysed the shipyards to evaluate their capacity to meet the contractual commitments associated with the platforms’ construction, including deadlines and minimum national content ratios.

Various aspects were verified in the evaluation, including the suitability of the installations, the commitment of suppliers of inputs and main equipment packages, and environmental licensing.
Petrobras said it had also confirmed the management of health, safety and the environment, contractual management, and legal and financial aspects.

DBS

The Art of Survival in the Stock Market (2)

Read? The Art of Survival in the Stock Market

Are you ready to take some money off the table when the Bull cheong forward?

Are you ready to open up your wallet to become rich from stocks?


See for yourself.

Decide your own market timing for STI directions forward and backward.

Funding Your Child’s University in the Future? - Updated for third year

Read? Funding Your Child’s University in the Future? - Updated

Updated:
This is what I have spend on the two kids so far- all expenses incurred on the kids themselves but excluding common expenses e.g. family meals


For three full years of study at local U on tuition fees and all living expenses are as follows:

SMU: $41.1K (Higher tuition fee and higher meal costs at campus) - Daughter


NUS: $30.5K - Son

Total = $71.6K

Remember that they are young adults so they may incur some costs in socializing with friends for entertainment and meals. And for daughters, they may have more costs for beauty care and clothings.

The Art of Survival in the Stock Market

"The art of war teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable." - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

"The art of survival teaches us to rely not on the likelihood of the LOSSES's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him; not on the chance of his not attacking, but rather on the fact that we have made our position unassailable." - Createwealth8888, The Art of Survival



Uncle8888 has taken back 100% of his investing capital to fight the next Bear.

Petrobras posts first loss in 13 years; results shock

RIO DE JANEIRO - Brazil's state-led oil giant Petrobras on Friday posted its first quarterly loss in more than 13 years, fanning concerns that the company, hampered by government intervention and soaring costs, will fail to meet its goal of becoming one of the three biggest crude producers by the end of the decade.

Petrobras lost 1.35 billion reais ($665 million) in the second quarter, compared with net income of 10.9 billion reais a year earlier, according to a securities filing. All nine analysts surveyed by Reuters expected the company to earn a profit. Their average estimate was 3.69 billion reais.

"The loss number is catching all of us by surprise," said Dany Rappaport, who oversees 250 million reais in assets for InvestPort in Sao Paulo. "As management recognizes some back-dated problems in the company's downstream units, analysts and investors might have to start rethinking our prospects for the company." Chief Executive Officer Maria das Graças Foster, who was appointed in January after nine years of missed production targets, blamed the loss on a weaker Brazilian currency, which boosted debt costs, and the write-off of losses related to recently drilled wells that came up dry or failed to show commercially viable resources.

Preferred shares of Brazil's largest company have shed 5 per cent this year and investors were surprised in June when the company said major increases in output were unlikely before 2015 despite $237 billion in planned spending. The 2012-2016 plan is the world's largest corporate investment program.

STI since 1990

Next week, STI will be entering critical moment of truth to break strong resistance.

CPL - Next week to test a super resistance?

A New Record Portfolio Value!!!

Read? Is 2012 Bear 2.0 coming??? (2)

No Bear 2.0 but never mind.

A Moment of Happiness!!!

The Moral of the Story


It is too difficult to time the market so it is best to have stocks to ride with Bull and money to silde with Bear.

Sembcorp’s 1H2012 Financial Results

Highlights from Sembcorp’s 1H2012 Financial Results

Turnover at S$5.1 billion, up 22%

Profit from Operations at S$622.3 million, up 9% 

Net Profit at S$367.4 million, up 10%

EPS at 20.6 cents

ROE (annualised) at 17.1%

Strong 1H2012 performance from Utilities

Net profit at S$193.7 million, up 41%


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

DBS FIRST-HALF EARNINGS RISE 13% TO RECORD SGD 1.74 BILLION

Second-quarter earnings up 10% to SGD 810 million

SINGAPORE, 3 August 2012 – DBS Group Holdings delivered record half-year net profits of SGD 1.74 billion for the first six months of 2012, up 13% from a year ago. Improved product and distribution capabilities, a strong balance sheet and consistent execution resulted in sustained business growth as half-year total income crossed SGD 4 billion for the first time.

Return on equity increased to 11.9% from 11.4% a year ago.

Hyflux's Q2 net profit up 21%

SINGAPORE: Singapore-based water solutions company Hyflux's second quarter net profit grew 21 per cent to S$17.5 million on-year.

Group revenues for the second quarter ended June 30 also hiked 71 per cent to S$190.4 million.

The company's net profit and group revenue for the first half of the year also expanded from 2011.

For the six months ended June 30, net profit rose 15 per cent to S$25.2 million, while revenues shot up 66 per cent to S$329.3 million from the same time last year.

Hyflux attributed the growth to projects in Asia outside of China.

Since its last financial year, Hyflux has adjusted its revenue profile to favour Asia, while decreasing its Middle East & North Africa (MENA) component.

Asia's collective contribution to group revenue was 94 per cent for the first six months in the financial year of 2012, in contrast to 44 per cent during the same period in 2011.

MENA contributions to group revenue on the other hand, declined from 44 per cent to S$19.3 million.

This makes up 6 per cent of group revenue over the same period.

But this does not mean that Hyflux is ditching MENA from sight completely.

Ms Olivia Lum, executive chairman and group CEO of Hyflux said: "The global outlook remains challenging. However, we still see opportunities in the MENA region and we are well positioned to capture these."

Hyflux has also proposed an interim dividend of 0.7 Singapore cents per ordinary share.

- CNA/cc

Average Down or Pyramid Up? (3)

Read? Average Down or Pyramid Up? (2)

” If you have a worry problem, do these three things: 1. Ask yourself: “What is the worst that can possibly happen?” 2. Prepare to accept it if you have to. 3. Then calmly proceed to improve on the worst.” (Carnegie 49)


Average down or pyramid up lies in the understanding the wisdom from Dale Carnegie.

“What is the worst that can possibly happen?”


What is the worst that can possibly happen when we get the stock direction by averaging down or pyramid up???

Pyramid UP


When we finally realise that we are seriously wrong on that stock direction, we can still get out with small or big regret.


Average Down

When we finally realise that we are seriously wrong on that stock direction, we may be in a sorry state for a long time.


The Moral of Story

Do you want to regret or feel sorry?

The choice is yours!

SEMBCORP KICKS OFF OPERATIONS IN JURONG ISLAND’S NEW GROWTH AREA WITH THE OPENING OF A S$40 MILLION INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT

- Also announces the development of a new technology and innovation centre for applied R&D in energy, water and industrial wastewater treatment

Singapore, August 1, 2012 – Sembcorp Industries (Sembcorp) is pleased to announce that it has begun commercial operation of its newest and largest industrial wastewater treatment facility on Jurong Island. The S$40 million plant expands Sembcorp’s presence on the petrochemical hub and kicks off its operations to serve chemical and petrochemical companies in the newly developed Banyan, Tembusu and Angsana districts of the island.

The 9,600 cubic metres per day industrial wastewater treatment plant, which will serve customers including LANXESS and Jurong Aromatics Corporation (JAC), can treat multiple streams of complex industrial wastewater and more than doubles Sembcorp’s current industrial wastewater treatment capacity in Singapore. The wastewater treatment plant is part of Sembcorp’s upcoming S$960 million cluster of facilities to serve companies setting up operations in the newly developed areas of Jurong Island. These include a combined-cycle gas turbine cogeneration plant with a capacity of 400 megawatts of power and 200 tonnes per hour of process steam and a multi-utilities centre, both currently under construction. With these new commitments, Sembcorp’s total investment in Jurong Island since 1995 reaches S$2.7 billion.

At the same time, Sembcorp also announced the development of a new technology and innovation centre comprising laboratories and applied research and development (R&D) facilities on Jurong Island. To be located on the same site as the company’s new cogeneration plant in Banyan, the centre will house Sembcorp researchers and engineers who will develop and integrate innovative processes and run test beds for emerging technologies relevant to the company’s business, with the objective of achieving further improvements in efficiency, cost and environmental sustainability. The centre will also provide quality control and technological support for Sembcorp’s energy, industrial water and wastewater treatment operations in Singapore and overseas.

Singapore's CapitaLand Q2 net profit falls 3.3 pct,

SINGAPORE, Aug 1 (Reuters) - CapitaLand Ltd, Southeast Asia's largest property developer, said on Wednesday its second-quarter net profit fell 3.3 pe rcent, hurt partly by smaller portfolio gains.

CapitaLand, about 40 percent owned by Singapore state investors Temasek, earned S$385.9 million ($310.15 million) for the three months ended June, do wn fr om S$ 39 9 mil lion a year ago.

Excluding revaluations and impairments, CapitaLand's net profit for April-June  increased 4.8 percent to S $1 79.5 m illion, it said.

CapitaLand's revenue rose 16.5 percent to S$862.5 million from a year ago, helped by higher sales of developments in Singapore, China and Australia, as well as higher revenue from its shopping mall business, it said.

An accounting rule that took effect last year means CapitaLand's earnings from overseas development projects can only be recognised upon full completion, resulting in earnings that are more volatile and lumpy

Higher starting pay for fresh grads: survey

SINGAPORE: Global management consulting firm Hay Group believes that despite sentiments of a slowdown emerging in the global economy, fresh graduates will fare better this year, with employers in Singapore offering a higher base salary compared to their 2011 cohorts.

According to the Hay Group's Fresh Graduate Pay Survey 2012 conducted in June, the average starting monthly pay for pass degree holders is S$2,678 up some S$60 compared to last year's cohort of S$2,617.

Those with Honours (Second Lower and Below) are expected to earn S$2,766 - some S$55 more.

And those with Honours (Second Upper and Higher) can expect some S$2,882 - an increase of about S$30.

79 companies across general industries in Singapore took part in the survey.

The results also showed that jobs in engineering ranked at the top commanding the highest average starting salary, followed by jobs in research and development and merchandise operations.

Jobs in engineering ranked at the top, commanding the highest average starting salary of S$2,777 per month for degree holders (without honours).

This was followed by jobs in research & development at S$2,764 per month and merchandise operations at S$2,742 per month.

For diploma holders, jobs in merchandise operations commanded the highest average starting salary of S$1,934 per month, with design/creative jobs coming in second at S$1,915 per month and jobs in research & development following suit at S$1,903 per month.

Meanwhile, the average starting pay for diploma holders is about S$1,866 per month - an increase of about S$60.

-CNA/ac/ck

Kep Corp : BlackRock, Inc. Open Market Purchase

No. of Shares held before the change	89,410,466
As a percentage of issued share capital	4.98 %

 

No. of Shares which are subject of this notice	602,000
As a percentage of issued share capital	0.03 %

 

Amount of consideration (excluding brokerage and stamp duties) per share paid or received

10.95

 

No. of Shares held after the change	90,012,466
As a percentage of issued share capital	5.02 %

How are you measuring up with your investment return? (3)

Read? How are you measuring up with your investment return? (2)

SINGAPORE: The Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC) sees a challenging investment outlook for the medium term.

In its annual report, GIC says investment returns are likely to be low until the global economy returns to balanced and sustainable growth.

GIC reiterates that its investments are for the long term.

For the financial year ended March 2012, the sovereign wealth fund says its 20-year annualised real rate of return remained at 3.9 percent, unchanged from the previous year.

This was partly attributed to positive returns from bonds and real estate.

The tough investment climate also saw GIC reducing its exposure to public equities to 45 percent, and increased its allocation to cash to 11 percent.

Over the same period, the allocation to bonds was cut to 17 percent.

Exposure to alternatives, which includes real estate and natural resources, remained roughly the same at 27 percent.

Meanwhile, as a measure of its ongoing performance, GIC reports 5-year annualised return at 3.4 percent while the 10-year return was 7.6 percent.
- CNA/de

Keppel Corp gets 5-yr maintenance contract with Changi Airport

By

Carine Lee

         

Keppel Corporation on Monday said Keppel FMO Pte Ltd has secured a five-year maintenance contract with Changi Airport Group (CAG).

Commencing on August 1, 2012, the contract covers the facilities management services for the mechanical and electrical systems in Terminal 2 of Singapore Changi Airport.

Keppel FMO will provide breakdown repairs, preventive and predictive maintenance services in line with the industry's best practices.

Keppel FMO currently retains contracts with CAG for the maintenance of the airport's sensitive infrastructure, including the aircraft pavements and airfield lighting systems, as well as the maintenance of passenger loading bridges and the aircraft docking guidance systems at Terminals 1 and 2.

Four Pillars in our life to support our happiness index - Re-visit

Read? Four Pillars in our life to support our happiness index


Don't forget your Cardio exercise as it may help to slow down your burning candle.


Cardio is short for cardiovascular, which refers to the heart. Cardiovascular exercise is exercise that raises your heart rate and keeps it elevated for a period of time. Another name for it is aerobic exercise. The kinds of exercise that are associated with cardiovascular workouts are things like jogging, fast walking, and swimming where there is no break in the routine.


Most heart disease may be preventable through Cardio exercise.


Beware of this!!!

becoming ...

We must remember our family would want us to be alive and kicking rather than chasing for more money by burning out our life candle at both ends.

High Yield Stocks???

Sir John Templeton's view on High Yield Stocks

• In selecting a stock for purchase, the dividend rate receives more attention than any other one fact, especially among nonprofessional investors. The high cost of living has caused more and more people to seek stocks that pay high dividend rates.

• Because stockholders are conscious of the dividend rate more than other facts, this element is often over-emphasised.

Dividends are obviously seen above the Ground!

To be successful in the management of securities, it is necessary to buy stocks that are oversold and to sell stocks that are overbought. Stocks with a high dividend rate are seldom oversold.

Private Tutor Who Charges High Fees

Read? Too Many "Kind" Investment "GurU" giving back to the Society!

thesundaytimes Jul 29, 2012. Pg 8

Private tutor who charges high fees: "I was in gifted programme"

Education Ministry: "No, he wasn't."


Testimonial???

The parents of at least two children have also asked him to remove from his website "testimonials" purportedly coming from their children saying they had done well in the Maths Olympaid after attending his sessions, and would recommend others to join.

The parents said their children never wrote any such thing.

Mr Ong has cleaned up that bit of his website too.

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Createwealth8888:


But, in the investment and trading education sector offered to working adults ...

"Guru" who charges high fees: "I have Secrets to make you Rich!"

Where is the Ministry???? to investigate and say "Are you?"


Read this: How to make $150K trading forex in 3 months starting with only $750

The Maths will tell you it is 200 times in 3 months!!!

The trainer is a millionaire now. He will be more than just multi-millionaire in 3 months by teaching his own kids with his own money. His family wealth will be more than Warren Buffet family in few years time. Period.


Looking for testimonials???

Plenty!!!



The Fact

When it comes to Money Mind, not all working adults are street smart enough to know the truth. That is the fact of life!