Invest with Positive Attitude

China to skid, then rebound in Q3

2012-01-31T11:36:00.002+08:00

Policy easing will take time to kick in, cushion weak global demand: economists

China Sky saga: Quo vadis, SGX?

2012-01-31T11:30:00.003+08:00

Perhaps it's time to consider alternative adjudication mechanisms that serve to enhance confidence of all stakeholders

China eyes pension fund boost for bourse

2012-01-20T10:45:00.003+08:00

China’s local governments could plough up to 360 billion yen (S$73 billion) into the domestic stock market under a proposal, which sources familiar with the matter say is with the Cabinet, to allow them to allocate some of their pension funds into shares.

Noble’s Elman prepares CEO succession

2012-01-18T20:20:00.003+08:00

Billionaire Richard Elman said that he will soon install a new chief executive officer at Noble Group Ltd as the 71-year-old founder and chairman of Asia’s biggest commodity supplier prepares to ease his managerial control.

SGX silence over China Sky about-face too deafening

2012-01-18T20:13:00.003+08:00

Worry is, move may send wrong signals; with implications for S-chip governance

Local yards may be STX OSV suitors

2012-01-18T20:12:00.003+08:00

Sembcorp Marine and Keppel Corporation may be in the running to pick up a majority 50.75 per cent share of Norwegian shipbuilder STX OSV.

SGX backs down from court action against China Sky

2012-01-17T17:28:00.002+08:00

Both sides’ lawyers have met but China Sky directors were absent at hearing

Tightening of rules seen testing directors

2012-01-13T20:37:00.005+08:00

The worry now is that they may be asked to do too much

STX OSV’s rise spurs stake sale expectation

2012-01-12T21:24:00.002+08:00

Complete transfer of 50.75% parents’ stake likely: analyst

Did China Sky, SGX meeting breach code?

2012-01-11T18:58:00.003+08:00

Meeting notes show major shareholder’s representative there

China Sky-SGX saga a test case

2012-01-11T18:55:00.003+08:00

Investors of China Sky Chemical Fibre are caught in the stand-off between the Singapore Exchange (SGX) and China Sky Chemical Fibre. And there appears to be no easy way out of the mess.

2011 is likely Wall Street’s worst year since 1938

2012-01-09T12:39:00.001+08:00

For most Wall Street bankers, 2011 was a year they would rather forget. Investors will soon find out just how bad that year was for America’s biggest financial institutions.

Hang Seng Index creator, Stanley Kwan, dies at 86

2012-01-07T17:57:00.003+08:00

Stanley Kwan, the banker whose 1969 creation, the Hang Seng Index, became a widely used gauge for the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, has died. He was 86.

China Sky’s independent directors step down with immediate effect

2012-01-07T15:46:00.002+08:00

The board split at China Sky Chemical Fibre came to a head yesterday after the group failed to appoint special auditors by the final deadline set by the Singapore Exchange.

SGX asks for court order in China Sky case

2012-01-07T15:06:00.003+08:00

In what could be an unprecedented move, Singapore Exchange (SGX) has resorted to applying for a court order to enforce its directive on a defiant S-chip company.

CAD seeks KXD Digital documents in probe

2012-01-07T14:23:00.003+08:00

China-based KXD Digital Entertainment has been ordered by the Commercial Affairs Department (CAD) to produce company documents in a probe by the white-collar crime buster under the Securities & Futures Act.

Hot investment trend of 2012 a good way to lose your shirt

2012-01-05T22:54:00.001+08:00

Beware of jumping on the repatriation of US-listed Chinese companies - there may be diamonds among them but identifying them has defeated professionals

SGX seeks to remove ‘iceberg order’ function

2012-01-05T22:49:00.001+08:00

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) is seeking to remove a trading-engine function provided to market participants in both the securities and derivatives markets to slice large orders into smaller ones.

SGX seeks to remove ‘iceberg order’ function

2012-01-04T14:30:00.004+08:00

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) is seeking to remove a trading-engine function provided to market participants in both the securities and derivatives markets to slice large orders into smaller ones.

Funds Expect Surge of Bad Loans in China

2011-12-29T11:04:00.003+08:00

Foreign and domestic distressed debt funds expect a big supply of bad loans to come on to the market in China after at least five years in which banks largely sat on their portfolios of troubled loans.

SGX ready to act on FibreChem findings

2011-12-29T10:30:00.003+08:00

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) stands ready to take action against any breach of its listing rules after investigations into FibreChem Technologies pointed to potential breaches.

Damning report on FibreChem after probe

2011-12-28T13:59:00.003+08:00

Independent investigators have issued a damning report on FibreChem Technologies for making several accounting misstatements in its financial results over several years.

Firms bracing for a haircut

2011-12-28T11:49:00.003+08:00

Mainland-listed companies have endured a tough time this year, with 70pc running paper losses and analysts predicting much worse ahead

Hot money flow goes into sudden reverse

2011-12-28T11:43:00.002+08:00

Fears of hard landing by mainland’s economy see risk-averse investors decide to pull out their capital

Financial discrepancies at FibreChem uncovered

2011-12-28T10:27:00.002+08:00

Three years of investigations have uncovered several financial and accounting irregularities at FibreChem Technologies, including an unauthorised share transfer and HK$777 million (about S$130 million) in missing cash.

Internal controls failed to catch Asiasons breach

2011-12-28T10:03:00.001+08:00

Asiasons WFG Financial said that internal controls failed to catch a breach of its stockbroking arm’s operating licence, its non-executive deputy chairman Ng Teck Wah said yesterday.

Asiasons unit loses operating licence

2011-12-27T21:38:00.002+08:00

A unit of Asiasons WFG Financial - formerly known as Westcomb Financial - has lost its operating licence after failing to comply with certain financial benchmarks set by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS).

Asiasons unit's CMS licence lapses

2011-12-27T20:59:00.002+08:00

Securities dealing subsidiary fails to meet certain financial ratio requirements; may be subject to MAS sanctions

Arrest shows zeal to curb insider trading

2011-12-27T11:53:00.001+08:00

Regulator’s new boss giving markets clear message of zero tolerance for dealing scams and other illegal activities after criticism in the past, analysts say

Are S-chips still a possible play?

2011-12-25T17:38:00.002+08:00

The lure of China remains, but bear in mind these are largely risky punts

2012 may be the year for Asian equities

2011-12-25T17:22:00.003+08:00

As rising inflation eats away at cash balances and bond yields remain low, you may be wondering where to put your money next year.

Lawyers for China Sky demand apology

2011-12-24T17:36:00.001+08:00

Asia Ascent and its MD poised to sue senior SGX executive, alleging he ‘falsely and maliciously’ defamed them

SGX refuses China Sky’s request to lift suspension

2011-12-23T12:58:00.003+08:00

One ID says he did not approve statements relating to SGX’s reprimand

China Sky hits out again at SGX

2011-12-22T10:45:00.001+08:00

In a dramatic show of defiance, China Sky Chemical Fibre has come out swinging in a strongly worded defence against a Singapore Exchange (SGX) reprimand over its failure to get a special auditor.

Noble may strike it rich with sale of Gloucester

2011-12-21T11:09:00.003+08:00

Noble Group’s Australia-listed coal mining subsidiary Gloucester Coal could be sold to China’s Yanzhou Coal Mining for US$2 billion (S$2.6 billion) or more and create Australia’s biggest independent coal miner.

New MAS rules to protect investors in the spotlight

2011-12-20T11:47:00.003+08:00

Under new investor-protection rules that take effect Jan 1, investors must possess certain educational qualifications related to finance or have relevant work or trading experience to buy funds directly.

Mainland fund boom runs out of road

2011-12-18T14:11:00.003+08:00

Many of country’s 3,500 private equity funds could be wiped out in squeeze on domestic market and growing economic uncertainty, say observers

SGX chides China Sky for ignoring directive

2011-12-17T21:29:00.003+08:00

Singapore Exchange (SGX) yesterday rapped China Sky Fibre Chemical and its directors for ignoring SGX’s directive to appoint a special auditor.

Where are we now?

2011-12-17T18:43:00.004+08:00

HSI to hit 25,000 in 2012 on looser credit, CCB says

2011-12-17T16:42:00.003+08:00

Beijing will relax monetary policy more, helping to boost market suffering from global uncertainty and drop in Japanese manufacturers’ confidence

Planned CDP revamp raises many questions

2011-12-16T09:29:00.003+08:00

According to a recent news report, the Singapore Exchange (SGX) is looking at allowing stockbrokers access to clients' Central Depository (CDP) accounts so that dealers and remisiers can see just what stocks their customers have at any one time.

Goldman sits out mainland I.P.O. market

2011-12-15T19:59:00.003+08:00

First Wall Street firm to get a mainland underwriting licence shuns lucrative listing market in favour of getting higher fees from taking Chinese firms abroad

Big revamp of SGX’s Central Depository system under way

2011-12-15T09:48:00.003+08:00

SGX to allow stock broking firms access to clients’ accounts

Dr. Mahathir backs Mokhtar’s Proton bid

2011-12-14T10:30:00.003+08:00

Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary, Malaysia’s second-youngest billionaire, received former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad’s endorsement to acquire a controlling stake in carmaker Proton Holdings Bhd.

Dr Mahathir moves the needle on Proton share price

2011-12-13T16:22:00.003+08:00

Former Malaysian prime minister reveals plans for 42.7% stake sale to DRB-Hicom

Yangzijiang to form 2 offshore engineering ventures

2011-12-13T14:34:00.002+08:00

Shipbuilder could have new yard in Shanghai by 2012, analyst says

Commodities may rally on cheap money

2011-12-05T09:49:00.006+08:00

Central banks seen to boost money supply, cut rates

Special auditor hindered from completing Sino Techfibre probe

2011-11-22T19:11:00.003+08:00

Discrepancies at Sino Techfibre remain unresolved as its special auditors have been hindered from completing the probe. Because of this, the audit committee (AC) has recommended, as a preliminary measure, that a valuer be appointed to carry out a valuation of the company’s assets and liabilities.

Risk management key to Olam’s gain

2011-11-19T18:35:00.003+08:00

Olam International Ltd, one of the world’s top three suppliers of rice, cocoa and coffee, posted a gain in first quarter profit, while rival Noble Group Ltd had its first loss in 14 years. Risk management was a key difference.

Yanlord’s hidden treasures may lie beyond stormy sea

2011-11-18T10:01:00.003+08:00

Recent exuberance about Yanlord Land Group Ltd following the emergence of prominent investors needs to be tempered by the possibility that the new substantial shareholders may be looking at a longer horizon than most.

Mainland money rates up as PBOC drains market

2011-11-17T18:38:00.003+08:00

China’s money market rates rose sharply on Thursday after the People’s Bank of China conducted aggressive open market operations, setting it on course to drain money from the system this week, traders said.

China regulators may be loosening monetary strings

2011-11-17T13:57:00.002+08:00

China’s tight-minded policy makers have taken what appear to be the first, cautious steps away toward a more relaxed monetary course.

Read more...

Can Noble convince investors it is back on track?

2011-11-16T10:59:00.001+08:00

Reports that Noble Group is talking to former Goldman Sachs Asia-Pacific co-president Yusuf Alireza to head the company, as well as a share buyback undertaken by the group on Monday, appear to have done little to lift market confidence in the company. And there are very good reasons why investors are wary, given the double whammy it delivered last week.

Smart money nibbles at Asian equities

2011-11-15T01:53:00.004+08:00

Emerging market funds prove attractive as share prices plummet

The Baltic Dry Index: The Only Economic Indicator Worth Tracking Right Now

2011-11-13T16:08:00.003+08:00

Forget unemployment. Inflation. Consumer confidence. Personal Incomes…
You can even ignore the ever-popular gross domestic product (GDP).

Read on...

Looking for a Noble leader

2011-11-13T01:59:00.003+08:00

The founder of Asia’s largest commodity supplier by sales faces tough hunt for an executive skilled not only in trading, but in industrial operations

China commods gamble heightens property threat

2011-11-11T13:58:00.001+08:00

Sitting in China's copper and steel warehouses is a hidden risk to the world's second-largest economy -- banks' indirect exposure to a property market that is showing signs of stress.

Read more...

PCCW’s trust spin-off is nothing but a cash grab

2011-11-11T02:22:00.006+08:00

With Hong Kong Telecom’s capitalisation down 85 per cent in less than a dozen years, potential investors should ponder this latest effort to squeeze the market

China’s shipbuilders need technology to keep edge

2011-11-11T02:03:00.001+08:00

Boss at mainland’s largest company says firms must focus on innovation in fuel efficiency and build bigger vessels

Firms take on short sellers

2011-11-11T01:54:00.003+08:00

Recent accusations against Chinese companies dented confidence, but now their shares are bouncing back and shorts have had to take losses

Straits Times Index: bullish bias above 2740

2011-11-08T19:13:00.000+08:00

HSI: the upside prevails

2011-11-08T19:11:00.000+08:00

Overstretched brokers to protest at longer trading hours – again

2011-11-07T22:40:00.002+08:00

It looks like a tempest in a rice bowl, but behind the vitriolic protests by the city’s small brokers over their shortened lunch break is a bigger fight for a way of life.

Poor year for joint ventures on mainland

2011-11-07T22:31:00.002+08:00

Overseas banks that tied up with Chinese partners in pursuit of IPO cash find the market tough due to regulations, competition and lack of local knowledge

China’s plan for 80 super tankers worries owners

2011-11-07T21:39:00.000+08:00

Beijing’s goal to transport half its oil imports on its own ships brings huge problems for foreign fleets

MF Global Clients Fear for What They Left

2011-11-05T18:04:00.001+08:00

About 150,000 accounts — from investors big and small — were left in limbo in the firm’s rapid demise. Regulators are in the midst of trying to transfer about a third of the accounts to other commodities brokers and securities firms. That usually takes place in a matter of days or weeks.

Whispers of secret deal in the air after Greek drama

2011-11-03T16:48:00.002+08:00

European Financial Stability Facility’s bond issue delayed as EU leaders meet Papandreou

MF Global accounts shock leaves clients scrambling

2011-11-02T11:49:00.004+08:00

MF Global Holdings Ltd failed to protect customer accounts by keeping them separate from its own funds, said a top U.S. exchange regulator, another shock for commodity markets scrambling to contain fallout from the brokerage's bankruptcy.

Read more...

MF Global Singapore appoints KPMG as provisional liquidators

2011-11-02T01:24:00.003+08:00

MF Global Singapore (MFGS) on Tuesday appointed provisional liquidators from KPMG to oversee the winding down of the company.

Headwinds to thin crowded turbine sector

2011-10-24T11:28:00.002+08:00

One in eight turbine makers not expected to survive rapid contraction in overheated wind energy industry

Liquidation specialist warns of mainland risks

2011-10-24T11:06:00.002+08:00

Declining bankruptcy cases belie problems investors and creditors encounter when companies collapse amid absence of proper winding-up procedures

KPMG uncovers fraud in Hongwei records

2011-10-24T05:07:00.002+08:00

Bank statements and sales tax invoices fabricated, it says

Synear’s unpalatable rude shocks

2011-10-24T05:00:00.002+08:00

Shareholders of Synear Food got their first rude shock last Thursday when media reports surfaced in China that a batch of savoury dumpling products were found to contain staph bacteria.

Here comes the CFO, minus the experience

2011-10-22T17:54:00.002+08:00

Preliminary findings of study show that CFOs of many listed firms here lack experience or accounting background

STX Group Units Tumble in Seoul Trading on Fundraising Concern

2011-10-21T11:25:00.002+08:00

Oct. 21 (Bloomberg) -- STX Pan Ocean Co., South Korea’s largest bulk-shipping line, fell by as much as the daily limit in Seoul trading and affiliates tumbled on speculation group companies may sell stock to help pay debt.

Gold miner CNMC’s Catalist listing marks comeback of ‘IPO King’

2011-10-20T18:45:00.002+08:00

‘IPO King’ Peter Choo Chee Kong has marked his comeback with the launch of the first initial public offering (IPO) of a gold-mining company in Singapore.

Asian exchanges under pressure to lower trading fees

2011-10-20T18:41:00.002+08:00

Bourses seen not going far enough to woo high-frequency traders

Two former Daka directors jailed as SGX effort pays off

2011-10-20T18:32:00.002+08:00

Raymond Chow and Mah Pat Y accused of falsifying financial records

Grand Super Cycle Revisited

2011-10-20T13:44:00.002+08:00

The most common perception about a GSC is the one the RN Elliott described during his discovery of the Wave Principle. In basic terms, he determined that the cycle began in 1776 with the founding of the 13 original american states. Then from the 1776 revolutionary war he roughly counted:
1776 – 1857 SC 1 and 2, resulting in the civil war
1857 – 1932 SC 3 and 4, resulting in a world war
1932 – xxxx SC 5

Read on...

Letting Greece go under may be lesser of two evils

2011-10-19T21:23:00.002+08:00

Analysts are trying to determine which type of failure would cause less damage to the euro zone

Yangzijiang, open up on micro-lending

2011-10-19T21:15:00.002+08:00

The slew of corporate failures in Wenzhou, China’s entrepreneurial hub in Zhejiang province, has sparked fears that the informal lending bubble has burst. One S-chip that has docked itself into this shadow banking sector and could potentially be pulled down by the ebbing tide is Yangzijiang Shipbuilding.

Yangzijiang allays concerns over micro-lending biz

2011-10-18T11:47:00.002+08:00

Lending activities not affected by corporate failures in Wenzhou city, it says

S-chips battered in market turmoil

2011-10-16T03:10:00.002+08:00

Share values take a big hit, adding to worries over euro crisis and scandals in China firms

E&Y quits as Sky China Petroleum’s auditors

2011-10-12T21:30:00.002+08:00

Unauthorised cash transfer by SinoTech chief sets off string of resignations

System shortcomings for SGX to fix

2011-10-11T20:13:00.002+08:00

The Singapore Exchange (SGX) has spent a large amount of money upgrading its computer trading system in the past year, adding new features while enhancing trading speed.

More, however, can be done. Based on feedback from dealers and remisiers - who interact with SGX software every minute of each trading day - here are some of them.

Emerging markets face new fears of capital flight

2011-10-06T03:46:00.002+08:00

Heavy equity and bond losses mixed with currency weakness are taking their toll on high risk assets

Will LionGold be a glittering investment?

2011-10-01T01:55:00.002+08:00

Gold m miner LionGold Corp, with an unproven track record, continues to attract investor interest even though some broking houses are advising caution.

Casino stocks also being Shelled

2011-09-30T20:54:00.005+08:00

Wynn Macau - 16%
Galaxy Ent - 15%
Sands China - 14%
Melco - 13%
MGM China - 10%
SJM - 10%

Chinese Property stock also under massive Shelling

2011-09-30T20:54:00.004+08:00

Evergrande plunges 17%
Agile Property - 13.5%
Renhe Commercial - 12%
New World China - 9.5%
Shimao Property - 8.8%
Country Garden - 6.5%
SOHO China - 6%
Hysan Dev - 6%
China Overseas - 5.8%
Greentown China - 5.5%

China's biggest two banks - ICBC and China Construction Bank both fall more than 5.0%

2011-09-30T20:53:00.002+08:00

Bank of China - 5%
Citic Bank - 5.5%
Bank of Comm - 6%
China Merchant Bank - 8%
Agriculture Bank - 8%
Minsheng Bank - 9%

Key changes to SGX listing rules

2011-09-15T14:41:00.002+08:00

SGX regulations shake-up for listed companies

2011-09-15T14:38:00.002+08:00

Move an attempt to beef up corporate governance in wake of S-chip scandals

Time to address retail brokers’ concerns

2011-09-14T17:59:00.002+08:00

There’s a strong sense of quiet resignation and resentment brewing within the ranks of retail brokers, negative emotions that stem from a growing belief that their days as market intermediaries are numbered with each new initiative announced by the Singapore Exchange (SGX).

‘Expect one market plunge after another’

2011-08-27T15:41:00.002+08:00

Princeton professor advises switching to safer assets at first sign of crisis

Bernanke Signalling No QE Backed by Data From Prices to Freight

2011-08-25T15:15:00.002+08:00

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke tomorrow may disappoint stock investors betting on a commitment to step up stimulus. He has little choice, given rising consumer prices and a U.S. economy that is still growing.

This is one match Hong Kong is happy to lose to Singapore

2011-08-20T04:44:00.002+08:00

Manchester United’s decision to favour the Singapore exchange over our own is no loss. The club may make plenty of revenue, but little of that will go to shareholders

History hints at Q4 stock market recovery

2011-08-19T21:22:00.000+08:00

Based on averages, Q4 tends to be far better for equities

The stock market is like a strapless bra

2011-08-18T23:56:00.003+08:00

Negative swap rate signals Singapore rethink on SGD rise

2011-08-17T13:19:00.002+08:00

Singapore is attracting an unwelcome flood of U.S. dollars that has caused a key interest rate to turn negative, complicating efforts to dampen inflation and prompting speculation the central bank will tweak its policy to slow the rapid rise in the country’s currency.

Can You Cut It as a Financial Advisor?

2011-08-17T00:16:00.002+08:00

Can You Cut It as a Financial Advisor?