中央公积金局会员的普通户头存款在今年第2季，将继续享有达3.5％的年利率，特别户头和保健储蓄户头（Special and Medisave Account，简称SMA）的利率也保持在达5％。
公积金局和建屋发展局昨天联合发文告，宣告今年4月1日至6月30日的公积金利率。
根据本地主要银行今年4月至6月的3个月利息计算，公积金年利率应为0.23％。不过由于法律规定公积金最低年利率为2.5％，公积金局将继续支付2.5％年利率。
同样的，特别户头及保健储蓄户头的最低年利率将保持在4％，比银行计算的3.47％高。
所有公积金户头总数的首6万元（包括普通户头的2万元顶限），也将继续获得多1％的利率。
此外，55岁以上的会员储蓄总数的首3万元，能享有额外1％利率。这笔利率不包括上述储蓄总数首6万元所能获得的额外1％利率。因此55岁以上会员的退休存款可获得达6％的年利率。
至于建屋发展局优惠房屋贷款年利率，也将保持在2.6％。会员的退休户头存款，今年全年将继续享有4％利率。
普通户头存款可得的额外利息，将转入特别户头或退休户头，以增加会员退休存款。若会员同时参与公积金终身入息计划（CPF LIFE），他所有户头的存款，包括用于公积金终身入息计划的款项，都可得到额外利息。
（纽约／伦敦综合电）美元走强和美国利率上升前景引发市场大举抛售黄金，大宗商品价格全线下滑。金价已跌至五年低位，未来金价预计继续走低，分析师纷纷预测黄金价格年底会跌至接近每安士1000美元，国际投行高盛（Goldman Sachs）更大胆预言，今年金价将跌破1000美元 。
金价前日一度下跌4%，至每安士1088美元，这是自2010年3月以来的最低水平。亚洲的大笔抛盘致使价值超过17亿美元的黄金在开盘不久的几分钟内被卖出。后来金价回升至每安士1109美元。
高盛商品研究员杰菲里·凯利（Jeffrey Currie）认为，眼下黄金最糟糕的时刻还没有到来，金价今年料跌破每安士1000美元，为2009年来首次。该行之前认为年底金价将跌至1050美元。
政府将在七月五日（星期天）开始，使用改良版的个人政府电子密码系统（SingPass），除了采用更有保障的双重密码外，页面设计更简洁易用，忘记密码的用户可要求系统发送密码到自己的手机，比等候信密码信件方便。
新系统启用后，用户须登入www.singpass.gov.sg网站，提供并确认联系方式，设定保安问题和答案。启用后，用户登入时须输入名字和两道密码，才能在政府机构网站上进行电子交易，这比目前只须输入一道密码，更有保障。
SINGAPORE — There’ll be free bus and train rides all day this National Day (August 9).
In a move to encourage everyone to attend celebrations of the Republic’s 50th year of independence, public transport operators, SBS Transit and SMRT Corporation, have jointly announced that they will be offering free travel on board all buses and trains.
Commuters in Singapore will not have to tap in or out with their fare cards when they board buses. Fare gantries at all MRT stations will also be left open.
Free travel will start from the first service bus or train until the end of operation.
Besides the initial payment of US$1.2 billion, Manulife will also make ongoing, variable payments to DBS "based on the success of the partnership", the two firms said in a joint statement.
The bancassurance model - which involves selling insurance through banks as opposed to the traditional agency - is lucrative for commercial banks in Asia because global insurers are willing to pay hefty fees for access to lenders' branch networks.
According to Reuters, AIA Group struck a 15-year exclusive deal with Citibank in Asia in 2013, for which AIA made a US$800 million upfront payment. UK insurer Prudential also struck an agreement last year with Standard Chartered, agreeing to pay US$1.25 billion in fees to extend its current agreement for 15 years.
DBS CEO Piyush Gupta said: “Bancassurance is a key focus for DBS and an important part of our overall customer value proposition."
Manulife is the world's sixth-largest life insurer with principal operations in Asia, Canada and the United States, where it operates under the John Hancock name. The company first established a presence in Singapore in 1898 while its Hong Kong operations began in 1897. Assets under management by Manulife and its subsidiaries were approximately C$691 billion (S$753 billion) as at Dec 31, 2014.
The Savings Bonds will also have a maximum term of 10 years, which will allow individuals to save for the long term and receive higher long-term interest rates.
Bond-holders can also choose to get their money back at any time, with no penalty, ensuring that individual investors do not have to decide upfront how long they wish to invest.
The bonds, which can only be bought by individuals, will be sold in denominations of $500, with a set limit to maximise participation.
MAS said that more information on how to apply for the Savings Bonds will be provided closer to the launch date.
- See more at: http://business.asiaone.com/news/new-singapore-savings-bonds-pay-higher-interest-over-time#sthash.oHV67Ob7.dpuf
Heinz shareholders will own 51 percent of the combined company and Kraft shareholders the rest.
Sudden death syndrome describes a sudden, unexpected death which may occur during sleep, whilst awake, or just after exercise. Most sudden deaths are due to a heart condition and are known as sudden arrhythmia death or sudden cardiac death syndrome.
Sudden arrhythmia death is most commonly due to a serious abnormal change to the heart's rhythm known as an arrhythmia, such as ventricular tachycardia.
Sudden cardiac death describes a sudden death as a result of an un-resuscitated cardiac arrest or heart attack.
Who is at risk of sudden death syndrome?
Sudden death syndrome can occur to anyone.
What causes sudden death syndrome?
There are a number of heart conditions that can cause sudden death syndrome however the cause of sudden death can often remain unknown until a post-mortem has been performed. The majority of victims have no warning signs or prior symptoms.
What can be done to prevent sudden death syndrome?
The majority of sudden deaths are due to inherited heart conditions. Screening family members where there has been a heart condition or a previous sudden death, including a sudden infant death (SIDS), could identify pre-existing conditions that may cause sudden death. Appropriate treatment could then prevent or reduce the risk of sudden death occurring.
What can be done to prevent sudden death syndrome?
The majority of sudden deaths are due to inherited heart conditions. Screening family members where there has been a heart condition or a previous sudden death, including a sudden infant death (SIDS), could identify pre-existing conditions that may cause sudden death. Appropriate treatment could then prevent or reduce the risk of sudden death occurring.
