Betting On The Market?

"To demonstrate the strong conviction underlying its research view on the Singapore market, Fundsupermart.com will donate S$50,000 to a local charity if the FTSE Straits Times Index (STI) does not hit the forecast level of 3,600 points at any time from today till the end of 2011."

What I have to say?

I truly confident that market will continue to appreciate for the next 2 to 3 years. Not just saying it but I'm betting most of my money in the market at the moment. I even go to the extend of leveraging (borrowing) to invest. I take full responsibility in what i say because i bet my own money into the market. Which i'm exposed to potential downside of losing almost all of my monies. However betting S$50,000 is nothing, considering the limited downside and unlimited upside from the potential up front commission and trailer comission to be collected by FSM.

The main thing is not about S$50,000 or giving it to the charity. What i wish to highlight is that, don't blindly buy things that you are recommended for. Because eventually no one will be able to guarantee anything (beside goverment bonds). This is because, eventually you are bound by the clause "we are not responsible for any lose caused by our recommendation".

Take note that from current STI level of about 2600 to 3600 by end of 2011 is a appreciation of about 20%pa. There is none "guaranteed" return that can give so much. Therefore, do your homework and research before buying any investment. Don't put your whole life of savings into this betting and risk of losing millions of dollars.

Attached below is the SM's recommended portfolio which are launched since year 2002. Until now, these portfolio's would have celebrated their 7th anniversary. Below are the performance of the recommended portfolios by FSM. Incase you don't know what is IRR, it means "internal rate of return".

For example, if you would have follow the recommended portfolio's aggressive portfolio since launch till now, your portfolio return will be 0.6% per annum for the past 7 years. This is clearly not impressive.

Where Are the Customers' Yachts -

"A visitor to New York who admired the yachts of the bankers and brokers. Naively, he asked where all the customers' yachts were? Of course, none of the customers could afford yachts, even though they dutifully followed the advice of their bankers and brokers. Full of wise contrarian advice and offering a true look at the world of investing, in which brokers get rich while their customers go broke, this book continues to open the eyes of investors to the reality of Wall Street."

AMANAH SAHAM 1MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR: Some 50,000 first-year students of local public institutions of higher learning will get 100 units of the newly-laun-ched Amanah Saham 1Malaysia.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak announced the incentive at the launch of the new trust fund, which has 10 billion units, with each unit going for RM1.

Amanah Saham 1Malaysia is the biggest trust fund in the country, and will go on sale from Aug 5.

“As a special consideration, the Government has agreed that every student who enrols in a public institution of higher learning, who are in their first year this year, will receive 100 units of Amanah Saham 1Malaysia for free,” he said.

The students eligible are those who recently enrolled for their first degree in the mid-year intake.

“As they represent the country’s future, we want to see the young generation obtain education, at least up to a degree, so that they become citizens who are visionary and progressive,” Najib said.

The free units for the students, which total around RM5mil, were contributed by Permodalan Nasio-nal Berhad (PNB) and Amanah Saham Nasional Berhad (ASNB) agents – Malayan Banking Berhad, CIMB Bank Berhad, RHB Bank Berhad and Pos Malaysia Berhad.

To ensure that the units are fairly distributed, Najib said that for the first 30 days of sale (Aug 5 to Sept 3), 50% of the units have been allocated to bumiputras, 30% to the Chinese, 15% to the Indians and 5% to other races.

In the 30-day period, the maximum investment for an investor below 55 will be 50,000 units, while investors above 55 can purchase a maximum of 100,000 units.

After the period, the cap on purchase on unsold units will be lifted, and sale will be open to all Malay-sians above 18.

Najib said he was confident the units would be snapped up fast, citing the Amanah Saham Malaysia, which sold out within 45 minutes after its opening in 2006.

“With a fund size of 10 billion, Amanah Saham 1Malaysia will be able to boost the equity market and act as a catalyst to the country’s economy,” he said.

Investors can buy the units at ASNB offices and post offices from 8am to 5pm from Aug 5, and at Maybank, CIMB Bank and RHB Bank during the banks’ operating hours.

Sources:-

http://www.asnb.com.my/as1msia.htm

http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2009/8/1/nation/4438844&sec=nation

http://www.asnb.com.my/prospectusall.htm

Claustrophobia (Cantonese) - Worst Movie I Ever Watched

Director: Ivy Ho
Starring: Ekin Cheng, Karena Lam, Andy Hui, Eric Tsang
Genre: Romance / Drama

Love is a virus. It incubates silently. It strikes suddenly. Its favorite breeding ground is small, crowded, claustrophobic spaces such as an office. Pearl, a marketing executive in her twenties...

It has been a long time I have not watch any new movie by Ekin Cheng. Infact I quite like his movies. Secondly is Karena Lam, I remember I watched a movie by her with Jacky Cheung (July Rapshody) which I liked a lot too. Since there are also other big cast such as Eric Tsang and Andy Hui in the movie, therefore I decided to give this movie a go.

When I was at the ticketing counter, I was quite surprise that there are more than 50% seats available for this movie despite this is a new movie. And the cinema hall used for this movie is very small. I didn't suspect much just thinking that maybe Wolverine, Fast and Furious 4, Sniper, Mall Cop and others beat this movie.

Finally is the movie begins.... with a boring starting about 5 colleagues talking in the car.... for about 15mins... Then the scene turn back to "1 week ago" .... go see doc... Then the scene turn back to "1 month ago".... talk talk chat chat drive car... Then the scene turn back to "2 months ago" talk talk chat chat drive car... and this continues for "3 months ago, 4 months ago, 5 months ago, 6 months ago, 1 year ago" where mostly are talk, chats, driving scenes. The talk and chats talks about a lot of things which are not related to their relationship (Between Ekin and Karena.... if there is even any relationship).

I tried to be very focus in this movie. I really don't want to waste my time and money because I believe every movie exist for a reason. Suddenly .... THE END... HUH??? I really don't understand what happened. There is no story line and the message tried to send out is not clear. Even for a moment I thought this is a ghost story... or maybe story related to recession... The movie description says that this is a love story... interestingly its the only love movie that I have seen which has no kissing or hugging scene...... actually don't even have holding hand scenes... just a bit of cries here and there.

I'm so dissappointed with this movie. I hope the cinema can ban this movie.... I consider this movie belongs to the trash bin.