rightcoastconservative

Rome wasn't built in a day and the Eurozone will not collapse in a day.  But, the Eurozone will collapse.  It's just a matter of time. Consider the stronger countries in the Eurozone -- Germany and France.  Both economies are now contracting.   Meanwhile their debt levels, acknowledged and unacknowledged, have exploded to new levels.   Both countries are now in the situation that faced Greece four years ago.  So, how is their future going to be any different that what is now taking place in Cyprus, Greece, Spain and Italy? The ECB ministers are a group of political hacks who know little or nothing about economics (something they share with the Obama advising team).   Their idea of improving the economic plight of the Eurozone is to increase the level of debt, continue to implicitly guarantee profligate spending and bureaucratic regulations, and plunge the Eurozone into the economic dark ages. GDP is falling, debt is rising, unemploy...

So how big is Cyprus?  800,000 people with a GDP of about 18 billion Euros -- less than 10 percent of the size and wealth of the State of Virginia.  So, how can Cyprus rock the Eurozone? Easy.  Let politics substitute for economics and anything can happen. The grand Euro scheme of bailing out country after country is rapidly running up against reality. The sacrifices that the bailers require are politically unacceptable to the bailees. Austerity traded for more debt -- this is the bailout scheme devised by politicians.  This scheme is an effort to change reality and it won't work. The reality is that Cyprus banking is history.  Who, in his right mind, would willingly leave their money in a Cypriot bank after the events of the past week?  It doesn't really matter what solution is imposed, the Cypriot financial community will not recover. Meanwhile, institutions with deposits in Italian and Spanish banks now face a new reality, hitherto not contempl...

Are you bored of the recent elections hoo-haa ? It's all coming from either party from different side, some NGOs, and some political related persons. How about foreigners? What are they thinking about our Malaysia General Election? Here you go... In this note, Morgan Stanley outline the 5 things they think investors need to know regarding Malaysia elections: What's upcoming? Setting the context The 13th General Elections are due to be held very soon in Malayia. Parliament needs to be dissolved no later than April 2013, and elections need to be held no later than 60 days from date of its dissolution. Which are the key states to monitor? They are Kedah, Penang, Selangor, Perak, Johor, Sabah and Sarawak. Election scenarios and macro implications BN Parliamentary seat share of > 63% would be seen as a positive surprise for investors. BN Parliamentary seat share of < mid 50% would be seen as a negative risk event by investors and could have implications for leadership and gove...

One of the most desired by an investor, is to achieve diversification in his or her portfolio and what better way to do so then by investing in a balanced fund. A balance in an investment portfolio is also fundamental to appease an investor in times of uncertainties and volatility. Such a balance can appeal to the investor of any age regardless of his or her objectives. Thus, with market uncertainties continuing to prevail over the Eurozone debt crisis and its contagion effect on the global economy, investors remain cautious with their investment choice, seeking to invest in low to moderate risk investments such as a balanced fund. Hence, OSK-UOB offer you a Shariah-based fund with its balanced asset allocation strategy in equities and investments comprising sukuk, islamic money market instruments, deposits and collective investment schemes. The investment in equities will enjoy potential capital appreciation upswings while any downswings will be cushioned by its investm...

After the successful performance of AIIMAN series and the superb proven track record of Hwang Select Income fund, it's natural for Hwang to launch this new fund by riding on the story of these. What is the Hwang AIIMAN Select Income fund? This is a Shariah-compliant mixed asset (conservative) income unit trust fund that seeks to provide investors with regular income stream through Shariah-compliant investments. It also serves as an alternative investment for investors looking to diversify their portfolio into the fast growing Sukuk market and attractive Shariah-compliant equity market. What it offers you? Potentially Stable Returns and Regular Income by investing in prudently selected Sukuk and quality dividend yielding equities. Peace of Mind : Managed at Low Volatility rates. It aims to deliver positive returns at low volatility rates through various market cycles. A Diversified and Shariah-compliant Investment. Potential for enhanced return due to the opportunity to tap into ne...

Do you like to go on a holiday spree in Asia Pacific region? If yes, then this fund may suit your appetite. On top of that, you can expect some dividends from this new fund launched by AmMutual. Please read on. The fund aims to provide regular income and to a lesser extent capital appreciation over the medium to long term by investing in equities and equity-related securities of leisure industry across Asia Pacific region. To achieve its objective, the fund seeks will be investing 70%-98% in a diversified portfolio of equities related to leisure industry. Who were they? They may include issuers engaged in the design, production and distribution of products and services related to leisure industry. These companies operate in the following sectors within the leisure industry such as hotel, retail, publishing, advertising, beverages, audio/video, broadcasting radio/television, cable and satellite, motion picture, recreation services and entertainment, toy, gaming and tobacco. Where were...

Finance Malaysia believes that after a series of publicity and roadshow by various parties, especially PPA and PRS providers, you should know what is Private Retirement Scheme (PRS) is all about. Since then, we received many inquiries on whom should potential contributor consult with and why? It brings us to this topic, and hopefully by understanding the different types of PRS distributors, investors could make their decision confidently. There is no right or wrong. It's down to your own preferences and of course, the trust level you have on a PRS consultant. So, who are they? PRS consultant This is the most common practice in town, whereby a PRS consultant representing one PRS provider. So, in this case, he/she can only distribute PRS from one company. Institutional PRS adviser Basically, they are bankers whom also licensed to distribute PRS schemes made available by respective banks. Bankers may distribute schemes from more than one PRS providers. Corporate PRS adviser Currently,...

Today's NYTimes features an interesting article by Nelson D. Schwartz headlined "Recovery in US is Lifting Profits, But Not Adding Jobs."  Surprise, Surprise! The main tool for solving unemployment by the White House is to figure ways to make employees more expensive.  Businesses aren't dumb.  If you make a factor of production much more expensive, businesses will use less of it.  Machines aren't more expensive; outsourcing is not more expensive, but hiring American workers is much, much more expensive thanks to Obamacare and numerous "worker protection" rules, laws and regulations. So, what to do?  Obama now suggests raising the minimum wage from $ 7.25 to $ 9.00 -- almost a 25 percent hike in the minimum wage.  That is in keeping with the philosophy of making employees more expensive. The war on workers and the war on the middle class by this White House continues unabated.  Schwartz is puzzled by the "golden age for corporate profits" unacco...

It has been somewhat of a puzzle that Obama's economists haven't rebelled at his Administration's assault on the US economy.   Economics is, after all, economics.  Finally! In today's NYTimes, Christina Romer, former head of Obama's Council of Economic Advisors, questions the necessity of the minimum wage.  She not only wonders openly about increasing the minimum wage, but questions the very idea of minimum wage legislation. Romer is right that the minimum wage is not the way to go.  While she doesn't go far enough to oppose the minimum wage outright, it is hard to see her op-ed piece as anything but a plea for sanity and clear opposition to Obama's recent call for a minimum wage increse.