MediShield Life and Protection

If you know that you are not protected in this area, do contact me as most people neglect protection needs when they are healthy and when they need it most they are not able to be insured. Even if they can be insure the loading in premium could be substantial.

Moreover most people have the misconception that once they have some insurance policies they do not need to review it. In fact most people bought their policy when they start work hence several years could have lapsed and  their previous insurance may not meet their needs anymore. Hence a periodical review is required to address this changes such as marriage, addition of new kids, new job..etc.

If you need a review or upgrade, contact me using the form.

Cheers

Eric

More get help with medical bills under MediShield Life 

From: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/more-get-help-with-medical-bills-under-medishield-life

PUBLISHED

NOV 1, 2016, 5:00 AM SGT

Salma Khalik

Senior Health Correspondent

One year after Singapore introduced the MediShield Life universal insurance scheme, more people are getting help with their medical bills - with payouts on the rise.
Nearly 400,000 claims were made between last November and September this year, and more than $600 million was paid out.
Of this, $102.5 million went to people who were previously uninsured, a Ministry of Health spokesman told The Straits Times. Over the same period in the previous year, $307.5 million was disbursed for 291,500 claims under the old MediShield.

MediShield Life was launched on Nov 1. It covers every Singaporean and permanent resident for subsidised care for life.
Previously, those too old or sick were not covered. It is not known how big this group was.

Within it, 25,000 people deemed to have a serious pre-existing disease have to pay 30 per cent more in premiums for the first 10 years.
Now, the previously uninsured are covered - and getting more in payouts. They made 65,000 claims and received slightly more per claim - $1,577, compared with other policyholders who got an average of $1,539. Both are higher than the average claim of $1,271 under the old MediShield, before the better coverage by MediShield Life kicked in.
One such patient was Madam Yuen Soh Ying, 92, who fractured her hip in April. She needed surgery followed by rehabilitation at a community hospital.

Her subsidised hospital bill still topped $10,000. Before Nov 1 last year, Madam Yuen would have had to pay all of it with Medisave or cash. But with MediShield Life, $6,600 of her bill was picked up by the scheme. Medisave took care of most of the rest, leaving only $100 to be paid in cash.
MP Joan Pereira, a member of the Government Parliamentary Committee for Health, said: "The impact and support afforded by MediShield Life's enhanced benefits would be more pronounced as the population ages."
There is a trade-off. Premiums rose, mounting to $1.75 billion in the 11 months from its launch, compared with $685.7 million in the same period the previous year. The premium per person is between $130 and $1,530, depending on age.
Of the total, almost half was subsidised by the Government.
Premiums collected, minus subsidies given, will be invested in Special Singapore Government Securities as these have long-term stability, said Ms Fang Ai Lian, who chairs the MediShield Life Council.

The council also decides on appeals, including requests from Singaporeans living abroad who do not plan to return here to live, to be excluded from the scheme.
It announced a month ago that they can be "suspended" from the scheme, but will have to pay the full unpaid premiums plus interest if they return permanently and require medical treatment.
About 200 people have applied for such exemption, Ms Fang said.

As for appeals, such as for more subsidy, she said that not only did the council have to consider the "unique circumstances" of each case, but the solution also has to be consistent and fair to all.

Bond investing? Is it really safe?

Dear friends,

I like to share this article from Bloomberg that highlights the fact that many investors are better off investing their time looking for a reputable professional to handle their funds,capital or retirement fund. It seems most investors could be hurting themselves more than they think.

First was the mini bonds episode, now we have Swiber defaults and more to come. It seems that most of such "exotic structured products" have been sold to the retail investors by the banks.

In their chase for low fees and so call guarantee returns, it may be best for investors to seek out a reliable and trustworthy professional to avoid such silly mistakes.

To sign up for such services, kindly contact me via email at ericohlh@gmail.com.

On top of  investment advisory services, I also provide Life, Health and retirement insurance with general insurance needs such as travel, car, property insurance, etc to provide a holistic approach in investment, protection and retirement needs.

Fyi

Singapore Millionaire, 77, Joins Bondholders Who Want Demands Heard

By David Yong

and

Andrea Tan (Taken from https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-10-03/singapore-millionaire-77-joins-bondholders-uniting-in-workouts)

October 3, 2016 — 12:01 PM EDT October 4, 2016 — 6:10 AM EDT

SINGAPORE (Oct 4): Jerry Tan, a 77-year-old retired Singaporean businessman, was among dozens of bondholders in the city who joined forces last week to submit their demands as more companies seek to restructure debt payments.

“The only way to put ourselves in a position of some strength is to come together as a group,” said Tan, who said he owns more than $8 million of notes. “The whole bond market is really bad and you can expect a lot more defaults. The authorities should step up to protect investors and Singapore’s reputation as a major financial center.”

 For details: click here

Bonds safe? What happens when they default

Singapore millionaires stung by the misery of recent bond defaults now have company as the fallout threatens losses for mom-and-pop investors. All four new issues of Singapore dollar-denominated notes targeted at individuals this year have dropped below the par sales value, as failures in the broader market stoke speculation nonpayments will spread. UBS Group AG’s wealth management unit said in an Aug. 16 report that retail investors are being sold "weak" names, and Lombard Odier said they face default risks on securities with poorer credit profiles.

For more information click below link:
(Singapore Mom-and-Pop Investors Face Losses Amid Bond Risks )
By Denise Wee | Bloomberg – Wed, Aug 31, 2016 1:26 PM SGT
https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-mom-pop-investors-face-200000536.html 

Fyi

Bonds are financial instruments where investors are compensated for their time and opportunity cost when they invest in them.

Unknown to many investors, bonds do go into default. This means the company that issue the bonds does not fulfill its  obligation of paying the coupons. When this happens the status of the bond could be downgraded to junk status and price of the bonds will drop. Hence, the investors will not be able to recoup its principal amount as there is a pay out priority given as below:

• First are the secured creditors and holders of senior debt,
• Next are the the ordinary bondholders
• Equity shareholders are last in line

As a result of the default, a bond will either be restructured or the company will file bankruptcy and results in liquidation of assets.

Hence, if a investor has a huge capital for investment, he or she will be wise to consult a professional who could advise him in the appropriate manner to invest in bonds, equities (stocks) or mutual funds as each asset class is important to achieve  a desirable  outcome.

If you need advise or help in this area for investment, protection needs or growth, please contact me by leaving your contact on the right.

"Wealth is not built overnight but over time."

Market Sentiment in today's market

Dear friends,

Current market remains muted. Pockets of opportunities exist if you have been following my blog or emails.

If you have problems deciding what stocks to buy or sell, pls contact me using the form on the right.

If you are my existing clients, you should have received my email and messages to be able to respond tactically in this market environment.

Cheers
Eric

50.39s Joseph Isaac Schooling. The Best is yet to Be.

Olympics: Gold medal now, world record next, Schooling tells ACS (Junior) students. Press this link for more info.
Taken from: http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/joseph-schooling-back-to-school-olympic-champ-visits-alma-mater-anglo-chinese-school
By Alvin Chia

A Sweet and familiar tune was heard on Saturday morning with our Singapore Flag up high:

If you didn't know that last Saturday, Joseph smashed through the zero barrier for the GOLD Olympics medal and in the process made a NEW Olympic Record.Fyi, this is the first time Singapore won a Gold medal and is the best gift for Singapore's 51 Birthday.

As a Singaporean and ACJC alumni, I'm proud of him not only because of his perseverance and achievement but more because he dare to follow his dreams from 6 years old till it became a reality of swimming and beating his idol Micheal Phelps. So congrats to Joseph, his family and Singapore. You made us know we can do it once we set our mind on it.

Talk about David beating Goliath. This is classic case of the black horse beating the top in the game with style.

Anyway, the moral I like to share with you is that no matter how much we invest in foreign talent, we should focus on growing our own talent pool. Not everyone can be Joseph but if we can divert more of our resources to the young Singaporean athletics in terms of better coach or incentives, we can achieve more medals.

Similarly, we should recognize that there will be very good traders in Singapore which you never know existed until sheer luck or destiny allow you to cross paths with them. While most retail investors are complaining they are losing money most of the time, those who trade with my recommendations are the 20% who made money year in and out.

Stop hurting yourself if you are in a losing streak. Contact me and change your life. Contact me at ericohlh@gmail.com with your mobile number and name.

The BEST IS YET TO BE.

Cheers
Eric

Main reasons why most ONLINE traders lose money:

Have you ever wonder why the number of traders who trade online that consistently make money is very few and in between?

Main reasons why most ONLINE traders lose money:
1. Most new traders do not understand the markets that they trade in.
2. New technology or better platform gives the online trader the false impression that its easy to make money. Better FA or new charting software does not equal profit.
3. Most fail to recognize that they need guidance from a practitioner in this financial industry.
4. Most who do online trading may not know that there is a steep learning curve before one can turn profitably. If someone tells you can make money immediately, walk away as its likely a marketing gimmick or SCAM.
5.Not sure what, when to buy or sell.
6. Jumping from different courses or attending countless seiminars here and there,  learning abit here and there and becoming a Jack of all trades, Master of NONE. NO Loyalty to method. Jump ship after a few losses. Pls refer to how well you trade is how well you treat others around you.
What goes around comes around.
7.No plan to sell or cut loss. Just hold and pray.
8. Any other reasons you can think of or experienced before

9. Emotional or revenge trading.
 Etc..

So if you have any of these questions in your mind, you need help or guidance.

If you are my existing clients, most of the issues above will be resolved especially those who are signing up for the new service I will be offering to selected invitees.

Cheers and have a great day.

Feel free to contact me at ericohlh@gmail.com or scan the QR code on the right or whatsapp me.

Sino Grandness: More trouble ahead?

Fyi

http://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/sino-grandness-shares-fall-11-queried-by-sgx
by

Lee Xin En

SINGAPORE (Aug 1): Shares of Sino Grandness Food Industry Group fell by nearly a third today, earning a query from the Singapore Exchange at 10.14am.
The unusual price movement followed the online publication on a China website of a list of 310 food and beverage products that were recently inspected by Hubei authorities.
The website, China Quality News, reported that out of 310 products randomly tested, 11 were not up to mark. The remaining 299 passed the inspection.
Two Sino Grandness products were listed as part of the 299 that passed inspection: A 450ml bottle icy loquat juice, and a 450ml bottle loquat mango juice.
From last Friday’s close of 58.5 cents, shares of Shenzhen-based Sino Grandess fell to as low as 42 cents before recovering to 51.5 cents as at 11.17am. It was the 11th most active counter thus far today.
When contacted, the company’s vice president for investor relations Stephen Yong confirmed that the company is aware of what was posted on the Chinese website, and will be making a clarification to the exchange later.
For the 1Q16, the company reported a 233% increase in earnings to RMB360.2 million ($73 million) from a year ago. Sales increased 24.3% to RMB723.7 million.
This article was updated at 12.47pm to reflect Yong's response. Shares of Sino Grandness have further recovered to 53 cents.

Vallianz shares sunk by controlling shareholder Swiber's bombshell. HOT NEWS

 

Pic from: http://www.straitstimes.com/business/companies-markets/vallianz-shares-whacked-by-controlling-shareholder-swibers-woes

By: Jacqueline Woo

Hot News

SINGAPORE - Shares of offshore services provider Vallianz Holdings nosedived by as much as 53 per cent on Thursday morning (July 28), following news that its controlling shareholder Swiber Holdings has filed to wind up and is under provisional liquidation.
At 9.30am, Vallianz shares plunged to 1.7 cents, down by a hefty 53.8 per cent from its closing price of 3.6 cents the day before - prompting a trading query from the Singapore Exchange.
As at 12.30 pm, Vallianz was back up slightly at 1.9 cents, and was the most heavily traded stock on the local bourse, with 180.1 million shares having changed hands.

For more details pls refer to link.

Dear friends,

Do expect more turbulence in offshore and Marine sector as this could have a domino effect on related stocks.

As to how to position yourself in this market kindly drop me a note.

Sometimes it pays to ask for professional advice instead of relying on gut feel. Online trading may not be suitable for all clients especially those who need guidance as most do not know what stock, when to buy or sell or how to react in such news or big events.

If you are one of them, it is in your interest to have a professional to look into your portfolio before causing more harm or damage. Know that its not too late to ask.

Cheers and  have a good trading day

Eric

To trade well means to know how to treat others well.

Dear friends,

It is strange when sometimes the gold could be right in front of us yet we miss it. Trading could be just like that too. While we are busy trying to capture that best moment to take action, we over look something important. While it could be an innocent mistake but it could easily cost you a few thousands.

Sometimes our attention has been caught by something fanciful and we lose sight of the important things we should treasure. Relationships with those who matter.

How well you trade or invest is actually how well you treat others in your day to day affairs.  Do not forget those who have helped you along the way because if you do, the further you will be from achieving the goal of a profitable, successful trader who is at peace with his conscious, skills and social circle.

With that I give thanks to all my clients who have supported me and know that you will be immensely rewarded in time to come. Those who have profited through these years will know to trust me.

Cheers and enjoy your weekend.

Yours truly,
Eric

4 July 2016 Bias

Dear readers,

Based on what is happening around the world, I expect Sg market to be relatively stable. Investor who invest in Britain may face liquidity risk in the near to mid term as banks will not be lending cash to them hence demand for their property will likely dampen.

Shares in Singapore will likely see renewed interests as investors pull out their funds from foreign countries and invest locally. For what shares to buy, pls check your email if you are my clients.

Cheers and have a good day,

Eric

Singapore (AFP) —

A top Singapore bank said Thursday it has suspended loans to anyone wanting to buy property in London, citing uncertainty from Britain’s vote to quit the EU but dealing a blow to investors looking to make the most of the weak pound.
United Overseas Bank (UOB), one of the city-state’s three homegrown lenders, said it was monitoring the market closely to determine when the loans would resume.
“We will temporarily stop receiving foreign property loan applications for London properties,” it said in a statement.
“As the aftermath of the U.K. referendum is still unfolding and given the uncertainties, we need to ensure our customers are cautious with their London property investments,” it added.
“We are monitoring the market environment closely and will assess regularly to determine when we will re-instate our London property loan offering.”
Financial markets were plunged into turmoil following last week’s Brexit vote and while they have enjoyed a recovery over the past few days, analysts warn there could be repercussions well beyond Britain and Europe.
Market-watchers said property prices in Britain are expected to plummet as the pound takes a beating, and foreign investors, especially those from Asia, are already poised for a buying spree.
The pound tumbled more than 10 percent against the U.S. dollar Friday to a 31-year low, and while it has recovered slightly it is still under pressure.
Singapore’s biggest bank DBS said it would continue to provide financing for property purchases in London but gave customers the option of borrowing in Singapore dollars or pounds.
“For customers interested in buying properties in London, we would advise them to assess the situation carefully before committing to their purchases as there could be potential foreign exchange and sovereign risks,” DBS said in a statement.
“With foreign exchange risks, even if the value of the overseas property rises, any gains will be eroded if the country’s currency depreciates against the (Singapore dollar). This is in addition to the risks associated with any government policy changes.”
Asian investors have long sought out both commercial and residential U.K. property off the back of potential for capital growth and a resilient economy.
London house prices are some of the most expensive in the world and have been on the rise over the past six years.
But international consultancy KPMG has forecast house prices could fall five percent nationwide — and even more in the capital — following Friday’s surprise decision to separate from the EU after four decades.
Another consultancy, Jones Lang LaSalle, said prices could fall 10 percent over the next two years.

Steady, rebalance and profit.

Dear readers,

Now that the news is out, the smart traders and investors will be buying into the stocks that is being sold at a discount. If you are my clients, you will have received valuable information on what to buy and please remember to sell and take some profit once price start to gain. Cheers and wishing you a prosperous week. Remember if you trade with the market bias and with my information, you have a good chance to perform better than if you act alone on your own.

Cheers,
Eric


Fyi

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-26/brexit-shock-may-have-silver-lining-for-bruised-asian-investors
BY

Kana Nishizawa

Jonathan Burgos 

Justina Lee

SINGAPORE/HONG KONG (June 27): Asia’s equity markets were the first to suffer through a Brexit-fueled rout. Old Mutual Plc and Citi Private Bank are betting they may be the first to recover.
As Britain’s shock decision to leave the European Union saw asset managers desert stocks across the world, RS Investment Management says declines have left equities in Greater China looking more attractive. Shares in Shanghai are insulated from global sentiment because local investors dominate trading, while the turmoil may delay an increase in U.S. interest rates, making higher-yielding Asian securities more appealing. More than US$2.5 trillion ($3.4 trillion) was wiped off equities around the world on Friday, with US$582 billion of those losses coming in Asia, data compiled by Bloomberg show.

“It is very much a European issue," said Joshua Crabb, Hong Kong-based head of Asian equities at a unit of Old Mutual. “For us in Asia it’s opportunity to look around for things you want to buy."
The region has value on its side. The MSCI Asia Pacific Index trades near the cheapest levels versus global peers in at least 15 years as concern about China’s economic slowdown and the U.S. interest-rate outlook made the gauge a serial underperformer. The Asian measure has fallen 5.3% in the past five years, compared with an advance of 22% by Europe’s benchmark index and a rally of 61% by the S&P 500 Index.

The victory of the “Leave” campaign stunned many investors who’d put wagers on riskier assets over the past week as bookmakers’ odds suggested the chance of a so-called Brexit was less than one in four. MSCI’s Asian measure dropped 3.7% on Friday, led by losses in Japan, South Korea, Australia and Hong Kong. A gauge of Asian currencies weakened the most since China devalued the yuan in August.
“This is just a knee-jerk reaction,” said Tony Chu, a Hong Kong-based money manager at RS Investment Management, which oversees about US$17 billion. “Most stocks we look at in Greater China have little to do with the UK or the European economies. We still like Internet-related stocks, consumption and health-care stocks. That’s where we see relatively better earnings prospects.”
The Shanghai Composite Index slid 1.3% on Friday, while volumes increased less than other major Asian benchmark gauges. Foreign investors are limited by quotas from buying and selling mainland Chinese equities, with local individuals accounting for about 80% of trading.
To be sure, in the short term, fund managers are girding for higher volatility and a flight out of all but the safest assets. Asia can’t escape a global deterioration in risk sentiment, Harvest Global Investments Ltd. says.

Market Correlation
“In the medium term there’ll be some benefits to Asia because the uncertainty in Europe will rise, but the problem is in the short term correlation between global markets will be very high," said Thomas Kwan, Hong Kong-based chief investment officer at Harvest Global Investments. "When they de-risk, they’ll de-risk together."
Plus, some of the region’s biggest stock markets are vulnerable to concern about the outlook for the UK and Europe, as well as the rush into haven assets. The Topix index plunged 7.3% in Tokyo on Friday as the yen soared, as London-based HSBC Holdings Plc sank 6.6% to be the biggest drag on Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index. A slumping euro would hurt earnings for Asia’s exporters, while Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc said the rally in the dollar may make it harder for China to keep a lid on capital outflows.
Speculation the Federal Reserve will wait longer to raise interest rates is a boon to Asia’s emerging and frontier markets, the region’s best performers in 2016. Among seven such markets tracked by Bloomberg, six saw inflows from foreign investors this year. The chance of the U.S. central bank increasing borrowing costs by year-end slumped to 15% on Friday, from 50-50 before the Brexit result, Fed fund futures show.
‘
Generally Positive’
“When the panic settles down, I think two conclusions can be made: the Fed will not raise rates, that will be delayed much longer, and the U.S. dollar will weaken after the panic because of the Fed," said Ken Peng, an Asian investment strategist at Citi Private Bank in Hong Kong. “These two are together are generally positive for emerging markets."
Acting as bulwarks against Brexit-fueled turbulence are optimism about Pakistan’s potential entry into MSCI Inc.’s developing nation gauge, Rodrigo Duterte’s pledge to spur Philippine growth, and Thailand’s infrastructure largess. Stock indexes in Karachi, Manila and Bangkok led regional gains in 2016, rallying at least 9.7%, compared with the MSCI Emerging Markets Index’s 1.5% advance.
“The direct economic implications for emerging Asia of the UK’s vote to leave the EU should be small," Capital Economics Ltd. said in an e-mailed statement on Friday, noting that exports to Britain make up just 0.7% of the region’s gross domestic product. “Most emerging Asian economies are well placed to survive even a prolonged period of financial stress."

Addthis: 

author: 

Bloomberg

Traders, Investors:What to do for event like Brexit??

 Pic taken from www.catholicherald.co.uk

The day has finally arrived, when Britons go to the polls to decide whether to remain in the European Union or to leave it. Polls have pointed generally to a close result. In the closing stages of the campaign, Remain gained-as the status quo option in a referendum often does. We won’t know the outcome for sure until the votes have been counted. — Matt Singh, Number Cruncher Politics and Bloomberg Contributor

Today’s Brexit Likelihood Score. Click here for more information

http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2016-brexit-watch/

Dear friends,

Most people who are anxious about the results of the impending Brexit should first understand that such events are difficult to predict and use it to trade profitably.

Hence, instead of blindly jumping into the wagon, its wise to reduce your exposure in the market as this event could easily wipe out your entire profit for the year if you are caught on the wrong side.

Anyway, for those of you who have done your research, you can look to buy tomorrow when the dust settles.

Sometimes it pays to wait for good things to happen.

Nobody know everything but its good to know what you don't know so that you will consult those who know more than you. Most often than not, investors or traders become overconfident when they have a lucky streak and choose to ignore the warning signs.

Anyway, keep following my blog as I will post new information, seminar or services you might need that will help you manage your wealth better or widen your perspective.

For new traders or experienced traders who are keen to know what I offer, please use the contact form on the right to contact me. Please leave your Hp or mobile contact in the message box. Please ensure your mobile line is valid in order to receive updates.

Cheers and have a good day,
Eric

17 June 2016

Brexit

What we have see in the past 2 weeks for the STI was a strong sell down from  high of 2881 to low 2744. Seeing the strong gap down that occur on 13 June 2016 will have put off any strong hopes of a big rally.

My view is that based on current technical chart, the market is likely to consolidate for this period as most of the uncertainty could be priced in. Hence, those who have been on the sides lines could be slowing building up their positions.

If you are my clients, please kindly refer to my email for updates on the strong leaders to load up on as this could be a good opportunity to buy cheap.

 If you are keen to subscribe to my news flow, pls use the contact form on the right to contact me. Please leave your Hp or mobile contact in the message box. Please ensure your mobile line is valid in order to receive updates.Thanks.

17 June 2016 STI

Starting Quote:

"Great fortunes await those who are ready to press hard when the tide is in their favor." Source:Eric Oh