Category Archive: Op-Eds

Why Are Singaporeans Sad ? They Are Not Rich Enough !

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I wrote this in August. Singaporeans Are Not The Richest In The World – Toyota Says So ! Singaporeans are one of the richest in the world with the highest population density of… Continue reading

Ad Hoc Commentary – a crisis in Japan, but beware buying USDJPY with abandon

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During times of crisis, duration of reign of Roman Emperors shortened remarkably: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Roman_emperors#Emperors_during_the_Crisis_of_the_Third_Century Since Shinzo Abe in 2006, Japan had a string of Prime Ministers that lasted only 12 months or so: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prime_Minister_of_Japan#List_of_Prime_Ministers_from_1982_-_2012… Continue reading

A Final Word on Olam

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Everyone has their say on Olam now. Loudest ones veering towards, “I knew it” and “I told you so”. But there is a silent majority of “I do not believe it” and “Temasek… Continue reading

A Tale of 2 Cities – Melbourne and Singapore

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Confesssion. I am doing the deluxe Melbourne holiday. Flew business, staying in the most expensive boutique hotel I could find in South Yarra, where I am thinking of buying a little house. Not… Continue reading

Bonds In Conversation : Let Me Eat Bread, I Don’t Want Cake

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Market lapsing into year end lull as origination desks wind up after a highly charged 2nd half year. I am also seizing the opportunity to take a short break with the kid to balmy… Continue reading

Who Needs SGD NEER ? We Have SGD REER ! – The Great Singapore Economic Debate !

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MAS calls it a “unique” monetary policy framework because it is managed on foreign exchange rates rather than interest rates unlike all the other central banks. NEER – Nominal Effective Exchange Rate. Basket –… Continue reading

GUEST POST : Zico For Stocks Column – Equity strategy in the face of the fiscal cliff

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So what now… With the US elections out of the way, investors’ attention have again turned to the fiscal cliff – the over $600 billion in tax and spending provisions set to change… Continue reading

New Issue Review : Lippo Malls Indonesia REITS 5Y SGD

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Short one. Small issue. SGD 75 mio and not more than SGD 100 mio. Unrated and 27% owned by PT Lippo Karawaci, the largest property company in Indonesia. Asian reits giving me the… Continue reading

Op Ed : Japanese Alarm Bells Sounding Faint

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I do not remember a time when Japan was not recessionary in my entire career. We have grown to used to their underperforming growth that we pay scant heed to any negative news… Continue reading

Ad Hoc Commentary – Massive FDI into Asia in 2013

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Mr Market didn’t disappoint us again. Risk sold off as we maintained our bearishness into year end: https://tradehaven.net/2012/10/22/ad-hoc-commentary-regional-banks-resurgence-and-a-rerun-of-capital-flight-of-the-1930s/ Yours truly believe that the Democrats will drive off the fiscal cliff. Intentions matters. If… Continue reading