Monday, July 13, 2009
Petition to the Prime Minister
Several investors have suggested that a petition be sent to the Prime Minister to ask him to get the banks to offer compensation similar to Hong Kong, namely 60% now and 40% of the proceeds at maturity. Is there any point to organise this petition? Can it be the focus of the Gathering on 22 August in Hong Lim Park?
Logic9 (Sudoku pocket books)
Dear Mr. Tan,
A few years ago, NTUC printed Logic9, which is the same as Sudoku. I like the size of Logic9 which is small to fit into the pocket. It is very useful when I am in a plane or train. I looked for it in a few bookstores, but it is not available. Where can I buy it?
REPLY
NTUC Income stopped selling the Logic9 (Sudoku) books two years ago. They do not have the stock any more. I have some stock of Vol 2 to 4. I have placed them for sale at my website at a 20% discount for 3 volumes). You can click on "details" to see a photo of the books.
The stock is limited and will run out soon. If you are interested, you should place your order now. It is useful as a gift.
A few years ago, NTUC printed Logic9, which is the same as Sudoku. I like the size of Logic9 which is small to fit into the pocket. It is very useful when I am in a plane or train. I looked for it in a few bookstores, but it is not available. Where can I buy it?
REPLY
NTUC Income stopped selling the Logic9 (Sudoku) books two years ago. They do not have the stock any more. I have some stock of Vol 2 to 4. I have placed them for sale at my website at a 20% discount for 3 volumes). You can click on "details" to see a photo of the books.
The stock is limited and will run out soon. If you are interested, you should place your order now. It is useful as a gift.
MySudoku Contest 10 July 2009
539 entries were received for this contest. Three winners will be picked by a draw from those who submitted the correct answers in accordance with these rules. The winners will be contacted by SMS.
The next MySudoku contest will be on 17 July 2009.
Additional contests that are still open:
TKL Intelligence Quiz
Name The Shape.
Improve your intelligence through practice and exercise your mind with the puzzle books here.
Watch this Youtube video on how to solve the Shape Quiz.
The next MySudoku contest will be on 17 July 2009.
Additional contests that are still open:
TKL Intelligence Quiz
Name The Shape.
Improve your intelligence through practice and exercise your mind with the puzzle books here.
Watch this Youtube video on how to solve the Shape Quiz.
Maximise shareholder value
During the past 15 years, Singapore businesses have adopted the concept of maximise shareholder value. This is implemented not only in the private sector, but in the government-linked companies also. This concept has led to salaries of top executives ballooning to several million dollars a year.
There are several flaws in this concept, as stated in this article. It is this concept that has led to the widening income gap in Singapore. Shareholder value is enhanced, when wages are depressed or profits are made at the expense of fair treatment of customers.
I hope that this flawed concept is changed soon.
Tan Kin Lian
There are several flaws in this concept, as stated in this article. It is this concept that has led to the widening income gap in Singapore. Shareholder value is enhanced, when wages are depressed or profits are made at the expense of fair treatment of customers.
I hope that this flawed concept is changed soon.
Tan Kin Lian
Low interest rate
Interest rate globally is at a low level. Central banks have pumped a lot of money into the economy to stimulate its recovery. The hope is that low interest rate will encourage some people to buy to buy houses or cars, or businesses to invest and produce goods.
Low interest rate is bad for savers. They will not earn sufficient interest on their savings. To earn a higher return, they have to take the risk and invest in stocks or other assets.
Eventually, the economy will recover. At that time, the prices of equity, property and other assets will increase. Those who take the risk now will benefit from the recovery.
The alternative is to avoid risk and accept the low rate of interest, which is now less than 1% per annum. This is not sufficient to cover inflation. In my case, I prefer to remain fully invested and wait for the recovery.
Tan Kin Lian
Low interest rate is bad for savers. They will not earn sufficient interest on their savings. To earn a higher return, they have to take the risk and invest in stocks or other assets.
Eventually, the economy will recover. At that time, the prices of equity, property and other assets will increase. Those who take the risk now will benefit from the recovery.
The alternative is to avoid risk and accept the low rate of interest, which is now less than 1% per annum. This is not sufficient to cover inflation. In my case, I prefer to remain fully invested and wait for the recovery.
Tan Kin Lian
Tiered interest rate
Several banks have offered tiered interest rate on savings accounts. A different interest rate is applied to different tranches of savings. This type of complicated structures bring two issues:
a) does the bank state clearly how the interest is to be computed?
b) is the customer able to check that the correct amount of interest has been credited?
In a savings account, the balance can fluctuate every day. Does the bank apply the tiered interest calculation on the daily balance?
Will the bank be willing to show each customer how the interest credited in each month is calcuated?
I hope that bank customers are given the correct amount of interest and are not short changed, due to their inability to check on the calculation of the interest.
a) does the bank state clearly how the interest is to be computed?
b) is the customer able to check that the correct amount of interest has been credited?
In a savings account, the balance can fluctuate every day. Does the bank apply the tiered interest calculation on the daily balance?
Will the bank be willing to show each customer how the interest credited in each month is calcuated?
I hope that bank customers are given the correct amount of interest and are not short changed, due to their inability to check on the calculation of the interest.
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