Saturday, February 26, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Middle Eastern woes
Middle Eastern woes – The political turmoil and unrest in the Middle East has caused much instability in the global stock market as investors flee to safe-haven investments such as gold and silver. Oil prices, in particular, have seen an uptick since the nervousness in the region started. The latest clashes involved protestors and Muammar Gaddafi’s forces in Libya. Several Singapore companies have projects and businesses in the Middle East. Among the stocks under our coverage, Boustead Singapore is involved in a joint-venture project in Libya and has just announced the evacuation of its entire non-Libyan staff from the country. The impact on the project could not be ascertained now but we have already conservatively assumed zero profits from the project and the latest development is unlikely to have a major impact on our bottomline forecasts. Separately, Hyflux has desalination plants in Algeria, as well as ongoing project negotiations worth an estimated $1.2b in Libya. Under the circumstances and even in an optimistic scenario, the projects in Libya would be severely delayed. We have accounted for this in our previous report due to the lack of earnings visibility. As for Olam, the company has exposure in other parts of Africa, such as Nigeria and Cote D'Ivoire, which could be under risk should the unrest spread
source : kim eng
source : kim eng
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Singapore Budget 2011
Singapore Budget 2011 was announced by Finance Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday.
The full Singapore Budget 2011 can be found here.
I read with amusement the report by Straits Times that the end of radio and TV license “was greeted by loud cheers and clapping from parliamentarians in the house.”
Surely we have more important things to rejoice about?
With the spread of the internet and online television, there had been many previous calls for the TV license to be scrapped. MDA has always defended the relevancy of the TV license in the past. It is good that this dinosaur has finally been laid to rest.
TV license aside, what are the implications of the Singapore Budget 2011 for the average Singaporean?
1) I guess the most tangible benefit that is applicable to most people would be the utilities and S&CC rebates, and the growth dividends. The growth dividends ranges from $200 to $800 depending on your income and the value of the house you stay in. NSFs and NSmen will get $100 more.
2) The personal income tax would be lowered slightly, with an one-off tax rebate of 20% (up to $2000).
3) The employer’s CPF contribution rate will be raised to 16 per cent, up from 15.5 per cent. The additional 0.5 per cent will go into the Special Account. Also, the income ceiling for CPF contribution will be raised to $5,000 a month from $4,500 to keep pace with income growth in recent years (bottomline is more money in CPF, less take home pay). This also means that the SRS contribution limit for each year will be increased.
4) Those aged between 45 and 49 will receive up to $300 and those between 50 to 59 will get $400. This money will go into their Medisave.
5) Families with young children and with an annual home value in 2010 of up to $13,000 will receive $400 per child. For those whose homes are worth more than $13,000, the Child Development Credit payout will be $300 per child. The money will be paid into the Children Development Accounts.
6) For the low-income families (up to $2250/month income), the government will also introduce a Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) to help them buy their first Build-to-Order flat. Details of this will be released in the coming days.
7) About 400,000 workers who are on the workfare income supplement (WIS) will get a workfare special bonus.
Has the Singapore budget 2011 met your expectations? More than 50% of people said no. Click here to cast your vote.
The full Singapore Budget 2011 can be found here.
I read with amusement the report by Straits Times that the end of radio and TV license “was greeted by loud cheers and clapping from parliamentarians in the house.”
Surely we have more important things to rejoice about?
With the spread of the internet and online television, there had been many previous calls for the TV license to be scrapped. MDA has always defended the relevancy of the TV license in the past. It is good that this dinosaur has finally been laid to rest.
TV license aside, what are the implications of the Singapore Budget 2011 for the average Singaporean?
1) I guess the most tangible benefit that is applicable to most people would be the utilities and S&CC rebates, and the growth dividends. The growth dividends ranges from $200 to $800 depending on your income and the value of the house you stay in. NSFs and NSmen will get $100 more.
2) The personal income tax would be lowered slightly, with an one-off tax rebate of 20% (up to $2000).
3) The employer’s CPF contribution rate will be raised to 16 per cent, up from 15.5 per cent. The additional 0.5 per cent will go into the Special Account. Also, the income ceiling for CPF contribution will be raised to $5,000 a month from $4,500 to keep pace with income growth in recent years (bottomline is more money in CPF, less take home pay). This also means that the SRS contribution limit for each year will be increased.
4) Those aged between 45 and 49 will receive up to $300 and those between 50 to 59 will get $400. This money will go into their Medisave.
5) Families with young children and with an annual home value in 2010 of up to $13,000 will receive $400 per child. For those whose homes are worth more than $13,000, the Child Development Credit payout will be $300 per child. The money will be paid into the Children Development Accounts.
6) For the low-income families (up to $2250/month income), the government will also introduce a Special CPF Housing Grant (SHG) to help them buy their first Build-to-Order flat. Details of this will be released in the coming days.
7) About 400,000 workers who are on the workfare income supplement (WIS) will get a workfare special bonus.
Has the Singapore budget 2011 met your expectations? More than 50% of people said no. Click here to cast your vote.