STOCKS THREAD

[cbsh38584]

Strike aud at 97c very low interest. I just converted cash at 988. Keep for mid term.

Yesterday late night a turnaround for commodities currency.
Aus$ = S$0.995 yesterday morning to NOW S$1.005

Can$= 0.992 yesterday morning to NOW S$1.003.

Not sure whether it is a sign for relieve rally for stock.

[cbsh38584]

How to be a successful investors
=========================
1) very less Greed . Know insatiable Greed is No1 Killer.
insatiable Greed is just like a CANCER. It is the top No1 killer disease in the world.

2) Cultivate Patience.

3) Do not trust your banker. They work for bank, not for U.

4) Only trust "FEAR". The best "EXTREME FEAR"

5) HERD mentality is a disaster. Be different from majorities.

6) Control your emotions or they will control you.

Very emotional type. Old habit dies hard. Continue to make repeated mistakes. The best buy fixed income . Investment grade retail bond & self contribute into your CPF monthly . Simple living is happiness.

7) To be OLD & WISE you must first be young and stupid .

If U decide to be a full time investor. THERE us no such thing as a FREE LUNCH. You will make mistakes & lose money. Through mistakes , you gain experience & SURVIVE. HOPEFULLY learn from it. Some will never learnt FOREVER.


Lastly, how many EMOTIONAL charge investors have sold Keppel corp out cheap yesterday. All thank to this mass media article. By the time the news is released by the mass media . It may time to buy. I was hesitating whether want to buy Keppel corp @$4.91. But did not . Easy >10% profit on Monday for those who buy Kepcorp on Friday morning. I end up buying Bank & telco stock on Friday for the 1st time

[teddybear]

I don't think it is time to buy Keppel Corp or SembCorp Marine or SembCorp now. IMHO, more pains to come (just like OCR private property prices). They will suffer painful decline over long periods............... Occasional price rebound are just short-covering, and the price will thereafter decline again (inline with their fundamentals, which is DOWN).............

How to be a successful investors
=========================
1) very less Greed . Know insatiable Greed is No1 Killer.
insatiable Greed is just like a CANCER. It is the top No1 killer disease in the world.

2) Cultivate Patience.

3) Do not trust your banker. They work for bank, not for U.

4) Only trust "FEAR". The best "EXTREME FEAR"

5) HERD mentality is a disaster. Be different from majorities.

6) Control your emotions or they will control you.

Very emotional type. Old habit dies hard. Continue to make repeated mistakes. The best buy fixed income . Investment grade retail bond & self contribute into your CPF monthly . Simple living is happiness.

7) To be OLD & WISE you must first be young and stupid .

If U decide to be a full time investor. THERE us no such thing as a FREE LUNCH. You will make mistakes & lose money. Through mistakes , you gain experience & SURVIVE. HOPEFULLY learn from it. Some will never learnt FOREVER.


Lastly, how many EMOTIONAL charge investors have sold Keppel corp out cheap yesterday. All thank to this mass media article. By the time the news is released by the mass media . It may time to buy. I was hesitating whether want to buy Keppel corp @$4.91. But did not . Easy >10% profit on Monday for those who buy Kepcorp on Friday morning. I end up buying Bank & telco stock on Friday for the 1st time

[cbsh38584]

I don't think it is time to buy Keppel Corp or SembCorp Marine or SembCorp now. IMHO, more pains to come (just like OCR private property prices). They will suffer painful decline over long periods............... Occasional price rebound are just short-covering, and the price will thereafter decline again (inline with their fundamentals, which is DOWN).............

I base on extreme FEAR analysis. But too fearful that I hesitate . Buy or dont buy. This is just hit & run type of short trading.
Somebody mention that the stock guru from Chinese evening newspaper predicts it may go $2.97 base on chart reading.
So I rather play safe by buying some Bank & telco stocks.

[minority]

Monday open likely will be up.

[teddybear]

Other than those, well, beware of Noble and Olam!
IMHO, These are like cow-boys of commodity space!
Oh, and just realize Noble is now $0.29! (I have been talking bad about it since like >$1.00)
Olam now $1.63.

I don't think it is time to buy Keppel Corp or SembCorp Marine or SembCorp now. IMHO, more pains to come (just like OCR private property prices). They will suffer painful decline over long periods............... Occasional price rebound are just short-covering, and the price will thereafter decline again (inline with their fundamentals, which is DOWN).............

[DC33_2008]

RMB will continue to devalue. Look at today's up and then down.

[cbsh38584]

Views on CPF contribution by a SELF- employed
=====================================
I made a bold move. I started to put my cash into CPF for voluntary contribution. It's a strange idea. When I was younger, I wanted to conserve my cash and invest in it myself. But as I get older, I started to think of things that can go wrong in my investment & it has gone horribly wrong. I wanted some insurance against my own investment, in case things goes disaster wrong. That is less money for retirement at >age 60.


CPF Allocation Rates from 1 January 2016
=================================
Age 40-50.
Your CPF contribution will split as shown
OA = 51.3% SA= 21.36% MA= 27.02%
Let assume your CPF contribution is $1000.
OA = $513 (51.3%)
SA = $213.7 (21.36%)
MA=$270.2 (27.02%)

But at age 50-55.
Your CPF contribution for SA (4% interest) will increase
OA =40.55% SA =31.08% MA=28.37%.
Let assume your CPF contribution is $1000.
OA = $405.5 (40.55%)
SA = $310.8 (31.08%) - (FYI after age 55. SA contribution DROP to 13%)
MA= $283.7 (28.37%)

Those at age 50-55 is the golden age to self contribute more CASH in your CPF as the SA (special acct) has more allocation from 21.36% to 31.08% which earn 4% GUARANTEE.

After the Lehman crisis in 2008/09. Many rich people dumb hundred of thousand in CPF until govt step in to limit $31,450 per year. Any excess above $31,450 will be returned back to U at ZERO interest at the end of the year. So make sure don't over contribute.

For those who still too have weak emotional when comes to investment & keep losing money in stocks. OLD habits die hard. Difficult to change. I suggest you either buy fixed income or put your excess cash into your CPF. Save all your stress & thereby causing you to have deteriorated relationship with your wife or parents or your children. Simple living is happiness.


https://www.cpf.gov.sg/Assets/employ...Jan%202016.pdf

[cbsh38584]

BOJ introduces NEGATIVE interest rate policy of -0.1% .
Mkt suddenly turn bullish. Hopefully & pray & pray, US FED next meeting on Mar16 will not raise interest rate.

[cbsh38584]

Yesterday late night a turnaround for commodities currency.
Aus$ = S$0.995 yesterday morning to NOW S$1.005

Can$= 0.992 yesterday morning to NOW S$1.003.

Not sure whether it is a sign for relieve rally for stock.

AUS & CAD strengthen against SGD. Now all above 1.00.
All my DCI (Dual currency investment) which earn 4%-5% will likely to get back SGD

SGD base against AUS strike 0.9875. Now 1.01
SGD base against CAD strike 1.002. Now 1.015

[teddybear]

Reading this link here, I shook my head!

Does SingPost take corporate governance seriously or just paying lips' service?
They really don't understand what is potential/conflicts of interest?

And SingPost is majority-owned by Temasek?



SingPost saga: Untenable for PwC to stay on as special auditor

Friday, Jan 29, 2016
Mak Yuen Teen and Chew Yi Hong
The Business Times

The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to undertake the special audit of Singapore Post (SingPost) has further deepened the controversy surrounding the latter, with a number of commentators criticising the appointment of the incumbent external auditor to undertake the special audit.

The criticisms have highlighted the long-standing relationship between PwC and SingPost, with PwC having been the external auditor since SingPost's listing in 2003, the non-audit services already provided by PwC to SingPost, the possible conflict between PwC's role as external auditor and special auditor, and the failure of SingPost to go through a request for proposal in selecting the special auditor.

..........................

First, consider just the first two parts of the scope of the special audit, which will cover:

whether the relevant policies, processes and procedures of the company were followed in the evaluation and approval process relating to the Famous Acquisitions; and whether the requisite internal approvals of the company were obtained in respect of the Famous Acquisitions.

In the course of conducting the audit, one would expect PwC to have reviewed whether the proper policies, processes and procedures had been followed and the requisite approvals obtained for the acquisitions. Would there be a self-review threat when undertaking the special audit?

In addition to a long-standing relationship with SingPost, PwC has also provided significant non-audit services to SingPost over the last five years. In 2015, the percentage of non-audit fees to audit fees was 39.7 per cent. The percentages for the preceding years were 50.5 per cent for 2014, 126 per cent for 2013, 141 per cent for 2012 and 83.8 per cent for 2011. In fact, the total percentage of non-audit fees to audit fees cumulatively over the last five years is 80.8 per cent.

Note that we have only included the amounts disclosed as audit fees and non-audit fees paid to the "auditor of the Company", which means that they may exclude fees that are paid to PwC and its network firms for audit and non-audit work in subsidiaries. SingPost does not disclose the nature of the non-audit services provided by PwC, so we are unable to assess if there may be conflicts between these non-audit services, the external audit and special audit.

The percentage of non-audit fees to audit fees for four of the last five years exceeds the 50 per cent threshold which the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for public accountants, under the purview of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, deems as high for public company clients. Under the Code, in such situations, the following safeguards must be considered and applied as necessary:

"1. Discussing the extent and nature of fees charged with the audit committee, or others charged with governance;

2. Taking steps to reduce dependency on the client;

3. External quality control reviews; and

4. Consulting a third party, such as a professional regulatory body or another professional accountant."

Presumably, PwC would have undertaken such steps. However, its involvement as the special auditor may once again raise issues of dependency on the client.

In the corporate governance report of SingPost in each of those years, there is the standard statement that the audit committee has reviewed with management the non-audit services and is of the opinion that the independence of the external auditor would not be impaired and that they have received a confirmation of independence from the external auditors. We now have a situation of the audit committee affirming PwC's independence, notwithstanding the significant non-audit services, and PwC being put in a position to review the actions of the board and a former chairman and current member of the audit committee.

We believe it is untenable for PwC to continue to accept the appointment as special auditor of SingPost.

Mak Yuen Teen is an associate professor at the NUS Business School, where he specialises in corporate governance and ethics, and an investor in SingPost. Chew Yi Hong is an active investor and has participated in a number of corporate governance projects in Singapore and the region

[teddybear]

For anyone vested in Noble or intend to be vested in Noble, they should read this news article in Financial Times first:
Attacks on Noble Group’s accounting take their toll

In its 2013 results, Noble Group highlighted a long-term sales and marketing agreement with the owners of a planned gas-fed petrochemical plant in Texas as one of the highlights of the company’s year. What the Hong Kong-based company did not reveal was that the contract had been quickly pushed through, apparently with the aim of allowing Noble to record a profit in its third-quarter results, several people familiar with the deal said.

This was surprising because construction of the plant had not begun, these people added. Two years later and the project, 40 miles south of Houston, has an environmental permit but its owner, Ascend Materials, said that construction was “under review” due to big changes in the price of gas and oil. Noble has not responded to repeated questions about the contract.
How Noble reports profits on this type of long-term commodity deal is now the centre of a fierce battle between the trading house and its critics, led by a previously unknown research group, a famous US shortseller and a former investment banker.

The critics allege the Hong Kong-based company — which acts as a middleman for buyers and sellers of oil, coal, iron ore and metals — is providing a misleading picture of its financial performance. They claim Singapore-listed Noble has pushed the limits of international accounting standards so that it can record profits on long-term deals to source and supply commodities well before the company receives any cash payments.

[Read the link for full details...]

Other than those, well, beware of Noble and Olam!
IMHO, These are like cow-boys of commodity space!
Oh, and just realize Noble is now $0.29! (I have been talking bad about it since like >$1.00)
Olam now $1.63.

[cbsh38584]

Reading this link here, I shook my head!

Does SingPost take corporate governance seriously or just paying lips' service?
They really don't understand what is potential/conflicts of interest?

And SingPost is majority-owned by Temasek?



SingPost saga: Untenable for PwC to stay on as special auditor

Friday, Jan 29, 2016
Mak Yuen Teen and Chew Yi Hong
The Business Times

The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) to undertake the special audit of Singapore Post (SingPost) has further deepened the controversy surrounding the latter, with a number of commentators criticising the appointment of the incumbent external auditor to undertake the special audit.

The criticisms have highlighted the long-standing relationship between PwC and SingPost, with PwC having been the external auditor since SingPost's listing in 2003, the non-audit services already provided by PwC to SingPost, the possible conflict between PwC's role as external auditor and special auditor, and the failure of SingPost to go through a request for proposal in selecting the special auditor.

..........................

First, consider just the first two parts of the scope of the special audit, which will cover:

whether the relevant policies, processes and procedures of the company were followed in the evaluation and approval process relating to the Famous Acquisitions; and whether the requisite internal approvals of the company were obtained in respect of the Famous Acquisitions.

In the course of conducting the audit, one would expect PwC to have reviewed whether the proper policies, processes and procedures had been followed and the requisite approvals obtained for the acquisitions. Would there be a self-review threat when undertaking the special audit?

In addition to a long-standing relationship with SingPost, PwC has also provided significant non-audit services to SingPost over the last five years. In 2015, the percentage of non-audit fees to audit fees was 39.7 per cent. The percentages for the preceding years were 50.5 per cent for 2014, 126 per cent for 2013, 141 per cent for 2012 and 83.8 per cent for 2011. In fact, the total percentage of non-audit fees to audit fees cumulatively over the last five years is 80.8 per cent.

Note that we have only included the amounts disclosed as audit fees and non-audit fees paid to the "auditor of the Company", which means that they may exclude fees that are paid to PwC and its network firms for audit and non-audit work in subsidiaries. SingPost does not disclose the nature of the non-audit services provided by PwC, so we are unable to assess if there may be conflicts between these non-audit services, the external audit and special audit.

The percentage of non-audit fees to audit fees for four of the last five years exceeds the 50 per cent threshold which the Code of Professional Conduct and Ethics for public accountants, under the purview of the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, deems as high for public company clients. Under the Code, in such situations, the following safeguards must be considered and applied as necessary:

"1. Discussing the extent and nature of fees charged with the audit committee, or others charged with governance;

2. Taking steps to reduce dependency on the client;

3. External quality control reviews; and

4. Consulting a third party, such as a professional regulatory body or another professional accountant."

Presumably, PwC would have undertaken such steps. However, its involvement as the special auditor may once again raise issues of dependency on the client.

In the corporate governance report of SingPost in each of those years, there is the standard statement that the audit committee has reviewed with management the non-audit services and is of the opinion that the independence of the external auditor would not be impaired and that they have received a confirmation of independence from the external auditors. We now have a situation of the audit committee affirming PwC's independence, notwithstanding the significant non-audit services, and PwC being put in a position to review the actions of the board and a former chairman and current member of the audit committee.

We believe it is untenable for PwC to continue to accept the appointment as special auditor of SingPost.

Mak Yuen Teen is an associate professor at the NUS Business School, where he specialises in corporate governance and ethics, and an investor in SingPost. Chew Yi Hong is an active investor and has participated in a number of corporate governance projects in Singapore and the region

Look at OCBC tgt price for Singpost on 3rd Nov15
===============================
3rd Nov'15 price = $1.895
Buy recommendation Target price $2.19

This is reminder to retail investor NEVER NEVER trust the bank stock recommendation.
It is also a reminder never never behaviour like a HERD & chase the stock. If there is no
fear.Just be patience. Just wait & wait. If the price drop never comes. There are many other
stocks.


Last Friday (29th Jan 16) I bought >$100k worth of stock. Singpost is one of the stock that I
bought @ $1.33. Likely to be a short term trade as US FED is still undecided whether to
increase the interest rate on Mid Mar16.

[teddybear]

Oh yes, Temasek attempted a take over of Olam at $2.23 per share in March 2014, now Olam only $1.63 or a drop of about 27% already........

My view of Olam is dim though............
The stock price appears to be in a technical downtrend, and coupled with very weak fundamentals (due to crash in commodity prices, and they had reported >$4 BILLIONS of inventory value which by now would have decimated by about half or more in market value?).....

Other than those, well, beware of Noble and Olam!
IMHO, These are like cow-boys of commodity space!
Oh, and just realize Noble is now $0.29! (I have been talking bad about it since like >$1.00)
Olam now $1.63.

[cbsh38584]

Look at OCBC tgt price for Singpost on 3rd Nov15
===============================
3rd Nov'15 price = $1.895
Buy recommendation Target price $2.19

This is reminder to retail investor NEVER NEVER trust the bank stock recommendation.
It is also a reminder never never behaviour like a HERD & chase the stock. If there is no
fear.Just be patience. Just wait & wait. If the price drop never comes. There are many other
stocks.


Last Friday (29th Jan 16) I bought >$100k worth of stock. Singpost is one of the stock that I
bought @ $1.33. Likely to be a short term trade as US FED is still undecided whether to
increase the interest rate on Mid Mar16.

last Friday, I bought due to BOJ surprise move to -ve interest rate. MONDAY sold @1.345
when China PMI data is bad. Not easy to make $ into stock mkt.

For 2016, will move cash $37700 per yr (max) into my CPF to enjoy higher int rate 2.5 to 4%.
Safe & sound.

[cbsh38584]

last Friday, I bought due to BOJ surprise move to -ve interest rate. MONDAY sold @1.345
when China PMI data is bad. Not easy to make $ into stock mkt.

For 2016, will move cash $37700 per yr (max) into my CPF to enjoy higher int rate 2.5 to 4%.
Safe & sound.

SPH is king of stock. Outperform STI index.

[cbsh38584]

Just for your INFO.


In 2016 we have the #2 black Star (Ju Men) visit the centre earth palace and it is a very inauspicious star and can cause disasters relating to political stability throughout the world and predicted stock market crashes/corrections amongst many other problems.

Yikes, that sounded really downbeat but I cannot say it any different and for those that know me, will know I always write as positively as possible but is better to be forewarned and prepared although you must do your own research as we may be Feng Shui experts we are not financial wizards.

For the past 18 years we have worked with tens of thousands of financial institutions and individuals making Feng Shui predictions on economics and are rarely wrong so please take care with investments in 2016.

Please spend wisely and of course make sure you place your Feng Shui annual cures and enhancers as this will help lessen the effects and turn a bad year into a good one but of course we are not financial experts so we can only advise from a Feng Shui aspect so please use your own due diligence with your investments.

Personally I am coming out of the stock market and investing in gold, silver and property and also in young mining companies as earth business like this are looking good in the yang fire Monkey year.


http://www.fengshuiweb.co.uk/advice/flyingstars2016.htm

-

[DC33_2008]

Look at how bank counters fall today as compared to SPH counter.

[bargain hunter]

is it finally time to go long on banks? too tempting liao.........

Look at how bank counters fall today as compared to SPH counter.

[cbsh38584]

Views on CPF contribution by a SELF- employed
=====================================
I made a bold move. I started to put my cash into CPF for voluntary contribution. It's a strange idea. When I was younger, I wanted to conserve my cash and invest in it myself. But as I get older, I started to think of things that can go wrong in my investment & it has gone horribly wrong. I wanted some insurance against my own investment, in case things goes disaster wrong. That is less money for retirement at >age 60.


CPF Allocation Rates from 1 January 2016
=================================
Age 40-50.
Your CPF contribution will split as shown
OA = 51.3% SA= 21.36% MA= 27.02%
Let assume your CPF contribution is $1000.
OA = $513 (51.3%)
SA = $213.7 (21.36%)
MA=$270.2 (27.02%)

But at age 50-55.
Your CPF contribution for SA (4% interest) will increase
OA =40.55% SA =31.08% MA=28.37%.
Let assume your CPF contribution is $1000.
OA = $405.5 (40.55%)
SA = $310.8 (31.08%) - (FYI after age 55. SA contribution DROP to 13%)
MA= $283.7 (28.37%)

Those at age 50-55 is the golden age to self contribute more CASH in your CPF as the SA (special acct) has more allocation from 21.36% to 31.08% which earn 4% GUARANTEE.

After the Lehman crisis in 2008/09. Many rich people dumb hundred of thousand in CPF until govt step in to limit $31,450 per year. Any excess above $31,450 will be returned back to U at ZERO interest at the end of the year. So make sure don't over contribute.

For those who still too have weak emotional when comes to investment & keep losing money in stocks. OLD habits die hard. Difficult to change. I suggest you either buy fixed income or put your excess cash into your CPF. Save all your stress & thereby causing you to have deteriorated relationship with your wife or parents or your children. Simple living is happiness.


https://www.cpf.gov.sg/Assets/employ...Jan%202016.pdf

Why move from CPF original acct (2.5%) to special acct (4%) ?
===============================================

Let say you are age 45. You are still working & contribute CPF by your employer .You have following in your CPF acct.

Ordinary acct = 110k
Special acct = 51k
Medisave acct = 49.5k

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ordinary Acct = 110k (1st 20k earn 3.5%, next 90k earn 2.5%)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Acct = 51k (1st 40k earn 5% , next 11k earn 4%)

* CPF Basic retirement sum is 80k with property pledge.
Your monthly payout for life from 65 = $660-$720

* CPF full retirement sum is 161k as 1st July 15.
Your monthly payout for life from 65 = $1220-$1320

* Enhanced retirement sum 241k
Your monthly payout for life from 65 = $1770 - $2200

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medisave Acct = 49.5k (earn 4% . max limit is 49.5k).

Every year, the interest earn $1.98k will flow to ordinary acct.
Unless your MA fall below <49.5k again either withdraw from private insurance premium or your medical bill etc.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should move all your $110k from Ordinary Acct to your Special acct to top up to max $161k ( OA to SA) earn higher interest 4%. Total Special acct, SA = $110+51k= $161k.

Let say your transfer on 3rd Feb 2016
Special acct now = $161k (1st 40k earn 5%, next 121k earns 4%)

3rd Feb17 , Special acct CPF $ = $161k + 6.8k(interest) = $167.8k
3rd Feb18 , special acct CPF $ = 167.8k +7.1k(interest) = $174.9k
3rd Feb19 , special acct CPF $ = $174.9 +7.4k(interest) = $182k.3
....
By the 10th year at age 55, your special acct interest is > $70k. Your special will have grown from $161k + est 90k plus interest = > $230k. Risk free & higher interest GUARANTEE .

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do it now if U can ?
1) If U don't transfer from OA to SA at early age. The CPF board will auto transfer from OA to SA at age 55.

2) You are confident that you don't have any use from your ordinary acct for your housing or children education. Which mean you have more than enough liquid cash for your housing + daily family expenses + insurance.

3) Your job is well paid or safe & easily able to build up your ordinary acct in your CPF again.

4) You are single (not married) or no kids . U want a higher retirement sum,(enhanced retirement sum $241k currently ) as U have no children going to support u when u grow old. Worst of all, you may live till age 90. U must do it as early as possible.

5) Well off Parent can support U with cash in the event of emergency. No worries to transfer OA to SA.

6) Lastly. Super lucky strike BIG SWEEP $2m or TOTO

[cbsh38584]

Why move from CPF original acct (2.5%) to special acct (4%) ?
===============================================

Let say you are age 45. You are still working & contribute CPF by your employer .You have following in your CPF acct.

Ordinary acct = 110k
Special acct = 51k
Medisave acct = 49.5k

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ordinary Acct = 110k (1st 20k earn 3.5%, next 90k earn 2.5%)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Acct = 51k (1st 40k earn 5% , next 11k earn 4%)

* CPF Basic retirement sum is 80k with property pledge.
Your monthly payout for life from 65 = $660-$720

* CPF full retirement sum is 161k as 1st July 15.
Your monthly payout for life from 65 = $1220-$1320

* Enhanced retirement sum 241k
Your monthly payout for life from 65 = $1770 - $2200

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Medisave Acct = 49.5k (earn 4% . max limit is 49.5k).

Every year, the interest earn $1.98k will flow to ordinary acct.
Unless your MA fall below <49.5k again either withdraw from private insurance premium or your medical bill etc.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should move all your $110k from Ordinary Acct to your Special acct to top up to max $161k ( OA to SA) earn higher interest 4%. Total Special acct, SA = $110+51k= $161k.

Let say your transfer on 3rd Feb 2016
Special acct now = $161k (1st 40k earn 5%, next 121k earns 4%)

3rd Feb17 , Special acct CPF $ = $161k + 6.8k(interest) = $167.8k
3rd Feb18 , special acct CPF $ = 167.8k +7.1k(interest) = $174.9k
3rd Feb19 , special acct CPF $ = $174.9 +7.4k(interest) = $182k.3
....
By the 10th year at age 55, your special acct interest is > $70k. Your special will have grown from $161k + est 90k plus interest = > $230k. Risk free & higher interest GUARANTEE .

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Why do it now if U can ?
1) If U don't transfer from OA to SA at early age. The CPF board will auto transfer from OA to SA at age 55.

2) You are confident that you don't have any use from your ordinary acct for your housing or children education. Which mean you have more than enough liquid cash for your housing + daily family expenses + insurance.

3) Your job is well paid or safe & easily able to build up your ordinary acct in your CPF again.

4) You are single (not married) or no kids . U want a higher retirement sum,(enhanced retirement sum $241k currently ) as U have no children going to support u when u grow old. Worst of all, you may live till age 90. U must do it as early as possible.

5) Well off Parent can support U with cash in the event of emergency. No worries to transfer OA to SA.

6) Lastly. Super lucky strike BIG SWEEP $2m or TOTO

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should move all your $110k from Ordinary Acct to your Special acct to top up to max $161k ( OA to SA) earn higher interest 4%. Total Special acct, SA = $110+51k= $161k.

Let say your transfer on 3rd Feb 2016
Special acct now = $161k (1st 40k earn 5%, next 121k earns 4%)

3rd Feb17 , Special acct CPF $ = $161k + 6.8k(interest) = $167.8k
3rd Feb18 , special acct CPF $ = 167.8k +7.1k(interest) = $174.9k
3rd Feb19 , special acct CPF $ = $174.9 +7.4k(interest) = $182k.3
....
By the 10th year at age 55, your special acct interest is > $70k. Your special will have grown from $161k + est 90k plus interest = > $230k. Risk free & higher interest GUARANTEE .

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I did not include your employer & u contribution if U are working. Easily able to reach SA=$240k within 6-7 years if still working.

[cbsh38584]

CPF "cannot touch" MENTALITY implant into young & Middle age people BRAIN
==============================================
Why S'porean like to use their CPF-OA to buy unit trust & equity using CPF ? The answer is CPF money "cannot touch"
mentality . So they think why not invest in unit trust or equity which may beat CPF-OA 2.5%. So they just
follow the recommended by the banker or through friends or broker or insurance agent which they themselves
have no experience in investing at all. Maybe the only minorities know it.


1) If you are using CPF-OA to buy low risk bond fund earning 1% to 2.5% especially when you are young.
You should sell it & transfer from your CPF-OA (2.5%) to your CPF-SA earning 4% to 5% (1st 40k earning 5%).
The earlier you transfer at a young age from your CPF-OA to CPF-SA. The earlier you will see the compounding
annual interest effect 30 yrs later. At age 30, SA=$50k (1st 40k 5%). At age 60, SA=$200k +.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) 90% of the CPF investors did not survive The Straits Times Index 1,000 Points Drop. Apr15 =3525. Feb16=2538.

Since most of the CPF investors use their CPF-OA to invest in higher risk investment sector .They normally don't
bother to check or do not take profit or cut loss as they have a mentality thinking that since CPF money "cannot touch".
So just leave it there. Now Easily 20% to 40% paper loss.

If they know how CPF can help them to plan & grow their retirement fund by just simply transfer CPF-OA (2.5%)
to special acct (SA=4-5%) when they are young. Many regret especially when they grow older & smarter & they see how
the CPF-OA $ is still way underperform after more than 20-20 yrs later.

Just imagine, if they know to just transfer from your CPF-OA (2.5%) to CPF-SA (4%-5%) earning higher interest 4-5% instead
of using your CPF-OA to buy equity. They will be way ahead of their retirement plan when they start transferring OA to SA at young age.
SA=50k now . 30 yrs later is $200k +. If buy stock or unit trust & initial OA invested in stock 50k. After 30 yrs later, maybe still
50k or worst ZERO for S-chip. FYI, Only the very minorities will able to beat the CPF-OA 2.5% compounded annual rate.

CPF-OA to CPF-SA. CPF $ also cannot touch but earn 4-5% RISK FREE


3) Majorities of the 1st time ppty buyer will likely use their CPF OA to buy HDB flat or Condo. Simply
" CPF cannot touch" so just use it even though they have enough CASH to pay or they don't have enough avail cash
which is understandable.


If you have more than enough CASH to service your loan & have confident that your job is stable especially
when you are in the 30s. Pls do not use cash or partial cash & partial CPF if really need to. U can do it
through CPF online by changing the amt you want to use CPF to pay for the HDB housing loan anytime.

[minority]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should move all your $110k from Ordinary Acct to your Special acct to top up to max $161k ( OA to SA) earn higher interest 4%. Total Special acct, SA = $110+51k= $161k.

Let say your transfer on 3rd Feb 2016
Special acct now = $161k (1st 40k earn 5%, next 121k earns 4%)

3rd Feb17 , Special acct CPF $ = $161k + 6.8k(interest) = $167.8k
3rd Feb18 , special acct CPF $ = 167.8k +7.1k(interest) = $174.9k
3rd Feb19 , special acct CPF $ = $174.9 +7.4k(interest) = $182k.3
....
By the 10th year at age 55, your special acct interest is > $70k. Your special will have grown from $161k + est 90k plus interest = > $230k. Risk free & higher interest GUARANTEE .

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I did not include your employer & u contribution if U are working. Easily able to reach SA=$240k within 6-7 years if still working.

and if remaind employed and contribute to the CPF easy can hit abt 350K.

Risk free. and if the person started in age 30. would have hit 580K. but people being people majority will tell u they want more $ in hands. instant gratification come before long term benefits.

[cbsh38584]

CPF "cannot touch" MENTALITY implant into young & Middle age people BRAIN
==============================================
Why S'porean like to use their CPF-OA to buy unit trust & equity using CPF ? The answer is CPF money "cannot touch"
mentality . So they think why not invest in unit trust or equity which may beat CPF-OA 2.5%. So they just
follow the recommended by the banker or through friends or broker or insurance agent which they themselves
have no experience in investing at all. Maybe the only minorities know it.


1) If you are using CPF-OA to buy low risk bond fund earning 1% to 2.5% especially when you are young.
You should sell it & transfer from your CPF-OA (2.5%) to your CPF-SA earning 4% to 5% (1st 40k earning 5%).
The earlier you transfer at a young age from your CPF-OA to CPF-SA. The earlier you will see the compounding
annual interest effect 30 yrs later. At age 30, SA=$50k (1st 40k 5%). At age 60, SA=$200k +.


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2) 90% of the CPF investors did not survive The Straits Times Index 1,000 Points Drop. Apr15 =3525. Feb16=2538.

Since most of the CPF investors use their CPF-OA to invest in higher risk investment sector .They normally don't
bother to check or do not take profit or cut loss as they have a mentality thinking that since CPF money "cannot touch".
So just leave it there. Now Easily 20% to 40% paper loss.

If they know how CPF can help them to plan & grow their retirement fund by just simply transfer CPF-OA (2.5%)
to special acct (SA=4-5%) when they are young. Many regret especially when they grow older & smarter & they see how
the CPF-OA $ is still way underperform after more than 20-20 yrs later.

Just imagine, if they know to just transfer from your CPF-OA (2.5%) to CPF-SA (4%-5%) earning higher interest 4-5% instead
of using your CPF-OA to buy equity. They will be way ahead of their retirement plan when they start transferring OA to SA at young age.
SA=50k now . 30 yrs later is $200k +. If buy stock or unit trust & initial OA invested in stock 50k. After 30 yrs later, maybe still
50k or worst ZERO for S-chip. FYI, Only the very minorities will able to beat the CPF-OA 2.5% compounded annual rate.

CPF-OA to CPF-SA. CPF $ also cannot touch but earn 4-5% RISK FREE


3) Majorities of the 1st time ppty buyer will likely use their CPF OA to buy HDB flat or Condo. Simply
" CPF cannot touch" so just use it even though they have enough CASH to pay or they don't have enough avail cash
which is understandable.


If you have more than enough CASH to service your loan & have confident that your job is stable especially
when you are in the 30s. Pls do not use cash or partial cash & partial CPF if really need to. U can do it
through CPF online by changing the amt you want to use CPF to pay for the HDB housing loan anytime.

Negative 0.5% Interest Rate in some European countries
===========================================
On 11th Feb16, Sweden’s central bank lowered its bank lending rate to a negative 0.5 percent from a negative 0.35 percent,

On 29th Jan16, BOJ stuns markets with surprise move to negative interest rates.

Why People Are Paying to Save? Will it happen to SG in the next few years ? My father
has a liquid cash at POSB saving bank (not FD). His interest for 1 yr is $30 or 0.15%.


I do not know if our GOVT will "TA BREAK" stop or set transfer very min amt U can transfer from OA to SA as it is increasing more difficult for GIC achieve a reasonable return 4-5% in a negative rate environment. In 2016 , it is $37,770 per year CASH + company contribution into CPF. Any excess cash to CPF, it will return back to U by Cheque by end Dec with ZERO interest.

Our responsible govt always make sure it is a sustainable long term higher interest at CPF. Many rich or capable one self contribute cash hundred of thousand in their own CPF b4 the govt step in to stop it as it may not be sustainable in long run. The rich are so scare after the Lehman crisis in 2008/09 that they decided one the safe place to "PARK" their money is AAA rating CPF.

During the Lehman crsis in 2008/09, rumour the Citibank & AIA may collapse. Many of them rush to Q at Citibank to withdraw $ & terminate their AIA policy. Luckily it did not happen as US & CHINA decided to save the world in 2009 by printing $$. The world is getting very unstable. Investment has become extremely irrational only last 2mths until I myself also quite confuse.

Look at the headline. Oil Prices Soar 12.3% on Hopes of Production Cuts
It is very misleading as the OIL only move up from $27+ to $29+. But still way below the $45-$60 range for the O & G to survive.
Is this a TRICK by the western media to entice retail investors like us to pump in more cash to ave down into high risk equity ? I really don't know.
Year of monkey is full of TRICK. Very confusing.

[teddybear]

Money in hand can earn higher return than those in CPF, paid so low interest and got stuck there and can't take out when you have better investment opportunities........... Guess most people out there are smarter than you, so you don't need to act smart...........

and if remaind employed and contribute to the CPF easy can hit abt 350K.

Risk free. and if the person started in age 30. would have hit 580K. but people being people majority will tell u they want more $ in hands. instant gratification come before long term benefits.

[teddybear]

My opinion is that most will be sorely disappointed later...............
Just too many rumors spreading around by these speculators to make a killing pushing the prices up and down (and can earn both ways)...............

Negative 0.5% Interest Rate in some European countries
===========================================
On 11th Feb16, Sweden’s central bank lowered its bank lending rate to a negative 0.5 percent from a negative 0.35 percent,

On 29th Jan16, BOJ stuns markets with surprise move to negative interest rates.

Why People Are Paying to Save? Will it happen to SG in the next few years ? My father
has a liquid cash at POSB saving bank (not FD). His interest for 1 yr is $30 or 0.15%.


I do not know if our GOVT will "TA BREAK" stop or set transfer very min amt U can transfer from OA to SA as it is increasing more difficult for GIC achieve a reasonable return 4-5% in a negative rate environment. In 2016 , it is $37,770 per year CASH + company contribution into CPF. Any excess cash to CPF, it will return back to U by Cheque by end Dec with ZERO interest.

Our responsible govt always make sure it is a sustainable long term higher interest at CPF. Many rich or capable one self contribute cash hundred of thousand in their own CPF b4 the govt step in to stop it as it may not be sustainable in long run. The rich are so scare after the Lehman crisis in 2008/09 that they decided one the safe place to "PARK" their money is AAA rating CPF.

During the Lehman crsis in 2008/09, rumour the Citibank & AIA may collapse. Many of them rush to Q at Citibank to withdraw $ & terminate their AIA policy. Luckily it did not happen as US & CHINA decided to save the world in 2009 by printing $$. The world is getting very unstable. Investment has become extremely irrational only last 2mths until I myself also quite confuse.

Look at the headline. Oil Prices Soar 12.3% on Hopes of Production Cuts
It is very misleading as the OIL only move up from $27+ to $29+. But still way below the $45-$60 range for the O & G to survive.
Is this a TRICK by the western media to entice retail investors like us to pump in more cash to ave down into high risk equity ? I really don't know.
Year of monkey is full of TRICK. Very confusing.

[cbsh38584]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
You should move all your $110k from Ordinary Acct to your Special acct to top up to max $161k ( OA to SA) earn higher interest 4%. Total Special acct, SA = $110+51k= $161k.

Let say your transfer on 3rd Feb 2016
Special acct now = $161k (1st 40k earn 5%, next 121k earns 4%)

3rd Feb17 , Special acct CPF $ = $161k + 6.8k(interest) = $167.8k
3rd Feb18 , special acct CPF $ = 167.8k +7.1k(interest) = $174.9k
3rd Feb19 , special acct CPF $ = $174.9 +7.4k(interest) = $182k.3
....
By the 10th year at age 55, your special acct interest is > $70k. Your special will have grown from $161k + est 90k plus interest = > $230k. Risk free & higher interest GUARANTEE .

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I did not include your employer & u contribution if U are working. Easily able to reach SA=$240k within 6-7 years if still working.

WHAT IS VALENTINE'S DAY?

1) If you marry the right person, everyday is Valentine's Day.

2) Marry a rich fellow, everyday is Chinese New Year

3) Marry the wrong person, everyday is Ching Ming's Day.

4) Marry a lazy guy, everyday is Labour Day.

5) You marry a childish guy, everyday would seem like Children's Day.

6) Marry a cheater or liar, everyday will become April Fool's Day.

7) If you Don't get married, everyday is Independance Day. But when you grow very old, it is always be a lonely day.

What you can do if you marry to a person to a 3,4 ,5 & 6.
Start to plan early for your retirement by transferring your CPF-OA (2.5%) to CPF-SA (4%) while you still can.

If you don't get married, it is even more urgent for you to start planning your retirement by transferring your
CPF-OA (2.5%) to CPF-SA (4%) as early as possible. You don't have any children supporting you financially when
you start to grow very old & need a helper to take care of you.

[teddybear]

Read this for Sembcorp Marine:
Sembcorp Marine makes S$609m impairment for rigs, sinks into the red for FY15


More pain to come as the oil pain will not be just 1 year affair.......
Avoid Sembcorp, sembcorp marine, Keppel Corp, and the oil related counters.........

I don't think it is time to buy Keppel Corp or SembCorp Marine or SembCorp now. IMHO, more pains to come (just like OCR private property prices). They will suffer painful decline over long periods............... Occasional price rebound are just short-covering, and the price will thereafter decline again (inline with their fundamentals, which is DOWN).............

[minority]

Money in hand can earn higher return than those in CPF, paid so low interest and got stuck there and can't take out when you have better investment opportunities........... Guess most people out there are smarter than you, so you don't need to act smart...........

Talk cock sing song as usual. how many people make lost in the current market slow down? CPF allow people to invest and so far 80%-90% recently make lost with market down turn. So don't talk cock lah. u focus on the interest but never want to tell the reality on the risk to get the amount of interest. so wha a Reits or BOND pay 4-8%? when it can either lost 20-30% in a down turn or a junk bond that can close shop.

SO DONT TALK COCK

[teddybear]

Such argument sounds very familiar indeed!
So because you assume people don't know how to invest to earn money, so you take it that you can lock in people's money and pay them pittance return???

Why not make it this way: Let people choose whether they want to invest with CPF or take out. If people lose money outside of CPF, they will willingly put money with CPF and willingly accept the pittance return given isn't it?
Otherwise, whatever excuse you or whoever give about CPF is just plainly that: bullshit!

Talk cock sing song as usual. how many people make lost in the current market slow down? CPF allow people to invest and so far 80%-90% recently make lost with market down turn. So don't talk cock lah. u focus on the interest but never want to tell the reality on the risk to get the amount of interest. so wha a Reits or BOND pay 4-8%? when it can either lost 20-30% in a down turn or a junk bond that can close shop.

SO DONT TALK COCK