Dividend Chaser on becoming Millionaire in Singapore

(From Article)

We are not high income earners. But, can we be part of the statistics to become one of millionaire households in Singapore???

1. Living below your means. Save more for your war chest for the Bear markets.
2. Invest for compounded growth (CAGR). Go for Growth-Dividend investing strategies.
3. Avoid losing your investing capital. Once you have locked in negative returns; it is much harder to recover from your losses than to grow your investment portfolio
4. Never ever stop in your engagement for more investing knowledge. Soak yourself daily in the world of economic, financial, companies and stocks news.
5. Your investing effort isinversely proportional to your investing skills
6. Set your yearly investing goals.
7. Track and measure your investment portfolio diligently.

Then, you may be part of the statistics after XX years in the market!

Dividend Chaser on Hello Kitty Craze

(Personal Sharing)

Hello Kitty Craze is now in Singapore because Singapore McDonald is selling the 'cat with no mouth' at $4.60 with McDonald's extra Value Meal. 

The witch kitty can only be bought from online McDonald delivery. 

Smart move by McDonald because online McDonald delivery requires minimum food purchase of $10 and there is delivery charge incurred.

Women, young or matured love this kitty and are getting them by taking the Mac meals these few weeks.

Men are also into this kitty craze because  they are getting for their girlfriends or wives.

The last hello kitty craze many years ago caused some accidents in some McDonald's outlet during the queuing process.

Hope this round, it is a smooth and safe hello kitty sale by McDonalds. 

Some food bloggers in Singapore are invited to the pre-launch of this Hello Kitty .

There is a photo with a blogger and her kitty.

The online McDonald delivery was facing overwhelming high volume arising from this kitty craze that advance orders can only resume on Monday.

Dividend Chaser on Asian Pay TV trust IPO performing badly on first trading day

(From Article)

Asian Pay Television Trust, owner of Taiwan’s third-largest cable television operator, slumped on its first day of trading in Singapore to become the world’s worst initial public offering this year on concern marginal earnings growth will limit its ability to sustain dividends.

The stock sank 5.2% to close at 92 cents, retreating from an intraday high of $1.005. That makes the IPO the worst among companies that raised at least $1 billion worldwide, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The benchmark Straits Time Index dropped 1.1%.

The trust, which owns Taiwan Broadband Communications Co., sold 1.44 billion shares at 97 cents each, raising $1.39 billion in its initial share sale. The stock offers a projected yield of 8.5% for 2014 based on the price for its IPO, according to its prospectus. That compares with the estimated dividend yield of 4.9% for StarHub, Singapore’s biggest cable TV operator, for the next 12 months, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

“People don’t understand where the valuation is coming from,” said Jason Hughes, Singapore-based head of sales at CMC Markets. “Investors could be questioning what sort of growth can be expected going forward.”

Asian Pay Television expects revenue to increase to $310.8 million this year and to $323.8 million in 2014, according to the prospectus. That compares with $308.7 million in 2012.

Dividend Chaser on turning $880 into 1 million in volatile markets

(From Article)

The near 2% drop in the Straits Times Index (SGX: ^STI) appears to have got some markets commentators close to bursting a blood vessel.

Some have even predicted the end of the bull market, whilst others are apparently vexed that the US Federal Reserve would dare to suggest an end to monetary easing. I’m sure I spotted on foaming at the mouth, but I could be mistaken.

But let’s get things into perspective:

• The Straits Times Index has fallen by more than 2% on 270 separate occasions in the last 25 years
• The Straits Times Index has risen by more than 2% on 270 separate occasions in the last two-and-a-half decade
• There is no correlation between the number of times the index has risen or fallen by 2% in any year and the performance of the index the same year

1998 was an especially volatile year for the Singapore benchmark index. It rose by more than 2% on 40 days. It fell by more than 2% on 41 occasions. But in 1988, the Straits Times Index shed just 8%. It started the year at 1,529 points and ended 1998 at 1,393 points.

2008 was another volatile time for Singapore shares. The index rose and fell by more than 2% on 49 separate days. The index dropped almost 50% that year

However, in 1999, which was the third most volatile year for the Straits Times Index, Singapore shares rose 77%. It opened at 1,400 points on 4 January and ended the year at 2,480 points.

But despite the stock market volatility over the last 25 year, the Straits Times Index has climbed from 833 points in 1988 to almost 3,400 points today. That equates to a return (excluding dividends) of roughly 6% a year. If you tack on another 3% for dividends, the nominal return would be close to 9%.

What this means is that an investor who invested $880 a month in Singapore shares over the last 25 years would be looking at a pot of money worth around $1 million today. But to do so, the investor would also need to ignore market pundits, snub the worrywarts, brushoff the naysayers and carry on investing regardless. It really is that easy.

Dividend Chaser on Yunnam Haircare service

(Personal Sharing)

Today,I went for my second session of my 10SGD voucher at Jurong point Yunnam.

My appointment was at 11.30 am. I arrived around 11.45 am. 

This time I was not brought to any room for hair consultation. 

I was asked to go for my ginseng hair treatment.

 It was the same lady as in the first session.

She was very good in the first session but in the second session, she dripped the hair treatment solution on my face twice and explained to me that the towel was new and was not absorbent. 

I accepted her explanation. 

Come to think of it, she might be doing it on purpose.

However, I still enjoyed the hair steam for about 30 min.

After the entire hair treatment has completed, the lady who serviced me persuaded me to take on the package. 

The hair treatment package costs 1888 for 10 sessions and you get to have 10 sessions free.

Again, I say no. It was too expensive for me.

 I was expecting a few hundred plus treatment for their 20 sessions.

When she knew I was not signing any package, she asked me to buy their products. 

Their products are not cheap. Costs 300 plus for shampoo, conditioner, ph balance, lotion etc...

I politely say I need to check with my hubby and left the place. 

I can clearly see her face was not looking very friendly as I looked out of the door.

Dividend Chaser on House in Middle of Drina River

(From Article)

A solitary house on the Drina River in Serbia has been attracting curious travelers from across the globe, after an image of the house was published in National Geographic in August last year. 

The tiny house stands on an exposed rock in the middle of the Drina River, near the town of Bajina Basta, Serbia. 

The town lies in the valley of the Drina River at the eastern edge of Tara National Park.

The beauty of the house was captured by Hungarian photographer Irene Becker in August. 

The picture soon became a hit on the Internet.

 The house, despite having just found its recent fame, has been standing in the middle of the river for more than 40 years.

The beauty of the house was captured by Hungarian photographer Irene Becker in August. The picture soon became a hit on the Internet. The house, despite having just found its recent fame, has been standing in the middle of the river for more than 40 years.

Photo credit

The house was built in 1968 by a group of young boys who needed a place to sunbath. As the rock was not exactly the most comfortable place to lie down, they brought some boards from a nearby ruined shed. The following year the boys put up a roof and walls and a house materialized. To transport the materials they used boats and kayaks. Larger pieces were lowered into the water just a few miles upstream, and then caught at the rock.

The house was nearly destroyed several times during flood, but every time it was built from ground up.

Photo credit

Dividend Chaser on Short Selling

(From Article)

Definition of 'Short Selling' The selling of a security that the seller does not own, or any sale that is completed by the delivery of a security borrowed by the seller. Short sellers assume that they will be able to buy the stock at a lower amount than the price at which they sold short.
	Investopedia explains 'Short Selling' Selling short is the opposite of going long. That is, short sellers make money if the stock goes down in price.  This is an advanced trading strategy with many unique risks and pitfalls. Novice investors are advised to avoid short sales.

Dividend Chaser on Fat bear coming?

(Personal Sharing)

Is the fat bear coming or the bull taking a hiccup?

Dividend Chaser on Intern being slapped for 3 years

(From Article)

According to Lianhe Wanbao, the intern joined the firm at Jurong East three years ago as an undergraduate. He was paid $500 a month and not given any benefits or leave days.

When he graduated from university, the intern continued to work for the company under the same pay, still without a contract or any benefits.

The 29-year-old intern who was physically abused by his supervisor was reportedly paid the same salary of $500 per month for the three years he was working at the companylocated at iHub.

News of the supervisor physically abusing the intern had surfaced online last Friday night (May 17) in a 17-second YouTube video that showed the supervisor hitting him. 

According to an article in Omy, he had interned there for 6 months after graduating, and then continued on without a contract.

He had also received no bonus and would even have his pay docked when he went on leave.

Three years?! OMG! What was this guy thinking? Was he even thinking?

This is really incredible.

Always find a job that pays us what we are worth or more than what we are worth. Being slapped at work not an option.

Dividend Chaser on 2.5% for all CPF ordinary account holders from July-Sep

(From Article)

SINGAPORE — All Central Provident Fund (CPF) members will continue to enjoy a risk-free interest of 2.5 per cent on their Ordinary Account (OA) savings from July 1 to Sep 30, the CPF Board said today (May 21).

The CPF Board says the computed interest rate, derived from the major local banks’ interest rates for the three-month period for Feb 1 to April 30, worked out to be 0.21 per cent per annum.

As this is below the legislated minimum of 2.50 per cent per annum, the OA interest rate for July to September will remain unchanged at 2.50 per cent per annum.

In addition, an extra 1 per cent interest will continue to be paid on the first S$60,000 of a member’s combined balances, with up to $20,000 from the OA. The extra interest from the OA will go into the member’s Special or Retirement Account.

The concessionary interest rate for HDB mortgage loans, which is pegged at 0.1 percentage point above the CPF interest rate for the OA, will remain unchanged at 2.60 per cent per annum from July 1 to Sept 30. CHANNEL NEWSASIA

Dividend Chaser on USA debt ceiling

(From Article)

The debt ceiling clock is about to start running again. The U.S. Treasury on Friday will begin using "extraordinary measures" to keep the country from defaulting on its obligations.

As part of a budget compromise in February, lawmakers suspended the country's legal borrowing limit at $16.394 trillion, and let Treasury keep borrowing to pay all the country's bills. But on Sunday the debt ceiling will automatically reset to a higher level reflecting the amount borrowed during the suspension period.

The Bipartisan Policy Center estimates the increase will be roughly $265 billion. 

In effect, that means the country will reach its debt limit on Sunday.

It's unclear how much time the extraordinary measures will buy, but Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said last week the measures could last "at least" through Labor Day. Other estimates put the drop-dead date for raising the debt ceiling at sometime in October or even November.

The first move that Treasury will take is to temporarily stop issuing special securities to state and local governments as of noon on Friday.

Other measures Treasury can take include redeeming existing investments in the retirement and disability funds of civil service and postal workers.

It's not clear just how Congress will handle the debt ceiling debate between now and the fall.

Political analysts still say both parties realize how damaging it would be to engage in political brinksmanship the way Republicans did in the summer of 2011. But House Republicans in particular have made clear they will demand something in return for their vote to increase the borrowing limit. And it's very likely the fight could go down to the wire.

What's not clear is what exactly Republicans will demand. It may be more spending cuts, a fast-track process for tax reform or something else entirely.

"There's a lot of uncertainty and a longer time frame for the GOP to make up their mind now since the debt limit has been pushed. ... I think the GOP may come out of the gate with a bigger ask on spending cuts and entitlements, but a tax reform process seems like the most likely way out for all sides," said Sean West, the U.S. director of the Eurasia Group.

Dividend Chaser on Asian Paid TV trust to raise 1.1 billion

(From Article)

The IPO, Singapore's second biggest so far this year, has been priced at S$0.97 a unit, the people said. 

The indicative price range was S$0.92-S$1.00 per unit.

Asian Pay Television Trust is an investment vehicle of Taiwan Broadband Communications, which is owned by two funds managed by Australia's Macquarie Group Ltd. -- the Macquarie International Infrastructure Fund (M41.SG), or MIIF, and Macquarie Korea Opportunities Fund.

 Both funds plan to sell their stakes to Asian Pay Television Trust.

A Macquarie spokeswoman declined to comment.

Asian Pay Television had started taking orders from institutional investors earlier this month and the IPO was nearly three times oversubscribed, one of the people said.

Asian Pay Television's IPO comes at a time when Southeast Asian markets and deal activity have taken off this year: The stock market in the Philippines is up 27% while Indonesia and Thailand both have gained 17%. Singapore is up 8.7% so far this year.

According to data provider Dealogic, Singapore is ranked number one in Southeast Asia so far in terms of equity capital market deals worth S$4.48 billion. 

That includes a US$1.3 billion IPO by Mapletree Investments Pte. Ltd., a unit of state-investment firm Temasek Holdings Pte., that did an IPO of a China-focused real-estate investment trust in March.

Read more: http://www.foxbusiness.com/news/2013/05/15/asian-pay-television-trust-ipo-to-raise-11-billion/#ixzz2TQo6SgQJ

Dividend Chaser on Guide to IPO Investing

(From Article)

Guide to IPO Investing

If you are a new investor seeking to apply for an Initial Public Offering (IPO) in Singapore, hopefully this guide will help you navigate your way.

1. Keep up to date with the latest lodged IPO offerings via
1. MAS IPO prospectus website
2. SGX IPO website
3. Straits Times (there should be a full page advertisement in the Money section detailing the IPO)
2. Read the available IPO prospectus for the following (but not restricted to) key information.The official prospectus is available via SGX IPO website. Alternatively, you may also find a copy available via your iBanking website at the section for IPO (before you actually select and confirm your subscription to the IPO, there will be a prospectus link available for your reference and confirmation that you have read and understood the investment).
1. Key dates



An example of the details of the invitation detailing all key dates for the IPO obtained from the JB Foods IPO prospectus.


1. Invitation for subscription - this is the date by which all applications for new public shares close. In essence, this is the cut-off date for retail investors applying for the public tranche. Apply through ATM/iBanking(more info below) before this date.
2. Ballot - this is the date that a ballot will be carried out in the event of an over-subscription for the public tranche of new shares to suitably allocate the shares. No action required.
3. Ballot + 1day - After the balloting day, expectyour full amount of cash back in 24 hoursinto the same account that you used to apply for the IPO. This will take effect if you are unsuccessful in your application. If you are, congratulations!, you may also receive cash back if in the balloting process, your applied number of shares got scaled down (eg. apply 10 lots, but allocated 2 lots), which is usually the case for a Singapore IPO.  No action required for both results.                                 An example information carried by the IHH Berhad IPO balloting results announcement document.
4. Commence trading - This is the day that the shares will finally begin trading on the SGX mainboard/catalist and therefore market price publicly known and determined through demand and supply.
2. Key ratios
3. Risks that the company are exposed to
3. Apply for the IPO when you are fully convinced with the investment prospects and their alignment with your risk appetite and targets. Apply before the subscription closing date. Below are some questions and answer to this process.
1. You can do so via ATM/iBanking (electronic applications) via the 3 local banks in Singapore (DBS/UOB/OCBC).  DBS/UOB/OCBC all charge a nominal fee of $2 for the balloting transaction.
2. You do not have to use an account that is linked to your brokerage via EPS.
3. ATM/iBanking process will prompt user to input CDP account number if you are a first time applicant for a Singapore-listed IPO. If you have done this before, the CDP account is reflected and re-confirmed as your personal script storage account. This will confirm that any successful allotment of shares will be placed in the rightful owner's account.
4. As you can already see, IPOs are usually oversubscribed and there will be a very high chance for ballot. In that light, how can you maximise your cash stockpile for use in the balloting? Check out the current SG IPO Statistics and the optimal amount to put for balloting IPOs in another article that I have written.
4. Check application status after 7pm (typically, but could be earlier) on the day of the ballot.IPOs are generally oversubscribed given their slightly discounted nature and spare liquidity lying around. Therefore balloting is typical and on top of a chance-based allotment, you may usually get a lower number of shares that you have originally applied for. Refer to your bank ATM/iBanking for your status of application and head to SGX to retrieve the official balloting results announcement that should look like this below An example information extracted from the official IHH Berhad balloting results announcement document.
5. Happy trading!

Dividend Chaser on how to deal with minor car accident

(From Article)

How to Deal With a Minor Car Accident

You're pulling out of a spot or changing lanes and crunch!--another vehicle is suddenly there and you're in the middle of a minor car accident. Fortunately, nobody's hurt, and the cars aren't totaled, but some damage has been done, and repairs will be needed. If you've never been in a car accident before, you may not know what to do, and that might end up hurting your wallet as much as it hurt your car. Here's how to cover all the bases.

Steps

Tips and Warnings

1. 1
   Look for the other driver's license plate number, make, and model. There's a chance that the other driver may drive off, so it's good to immediately look at the back of their car, say their license plate number out loud, and keep repeating it until you can write it down (or take a picture with your camera phone).
   
   

   
2. 2
   Turn on your hazard lights.
   
   

   
3. 3
   Call the police as soon as possible. You might be under the impression that the police is called only if it's a major car accident or if somebody's hurt, when in actuality the police should be called no matter how minor the accident, particularly if repairs are going to be needed. The police report will help the insurance companies determine who is responsible for paying.
   
   

   

   • Ask the police if you should cautiously move the car out of the travel lane, if it will move and it is safe to do so. Do not move far lest the other driver think you are running away.
4. 4
   Get out of your car only if outside your car is reasonably safe or safer than in it. In a minor accident, your car is unlikely to be at risk of catching fire. Do not step out into fast-moving traffic--go out the opposite door if necessary. The police will be able to direct traffic away safely soon. Be especially careful at night. It is much better to have someone hit your car with you in it than to have him hit you unarmored. And it is much better to fail to attend to someone's minor injury very soon or to lose a witness who could say who should pay for car repairs than to have someone hit by a car.
   
   

   
5. 5
   Make sure nobody is hurt. Check yourself and the passengers in your vehicle for any injuries, scratches, bruises or disorientation.
   
   

   
6. 6
   Look for witnesses. If the accident happened in sight of a pedestrian, shop, or other drivers, ask them to stay on the scene until the police arrive so that they can provide statements. If possible, get their name and phone number.
7. 7
   Exchange information with the other driver. The following information should be exchanged:
   
   

   

   • Names, addresses, telephone numbers
   • Driver's license numbers
   • Each driver's automobile insurance company (including name, address, phone number, and policy number)
8. 8
   Tell the police officer exactly what happened. Be specific and don't exaggerate.
   
   

   
9. 9
   File a claim or a notification with your insurance company. There are insurance claims and insurance notifications. The last one is when you do notify your insurance company about the accident but do not claim repairs of your car. Depending on how high your insurance access is you might save a lot of money and no-claim years too. Example: replacing an indicator light unit at a local garage instead of claiming it on an insurance might save you something like £250. But do notify your insurance company about the accident anyway!
   
   

   

Tips

• If you're not at fault and your car is damaged, the other driver may try to convince you to not call the police and not file a claim. While it's not uncommon for parties to work something out without police and insurance getting involved, there are no guarantees. If the other person offers to pay for the damages out of pocket, they can just as easily claim the accident never happened, or that it was your fault. Without a police report, you may end up not getting any kind of compensation.
  
  

  • If neither of you want your insurance premiums to go up, you may wish to avoid filing a claim, but don't skip the police report.
  20 Helpful?

  10
• These instructions describe how to cover all the bases in the U.S., but the appropriate response will vary based on the country in which it happened.
  6 Helpful?

  5