Israel pertimbangkan cadangan gencatan senjata - Utusan Malaysia
31/12/2008 11:01am
BANDAR GAZA 31 Dis. – Israel hari ini mempertimbangkan cadangan gencatan senjata 48 jam ketika pemimpin dunia mendesak negara Yahudi itu menamatkan serangan dan bedilan jet pejuang ke atas Genting Gaza.
Jurucakap Menteri Pertahanan Israel, Ehud Barak berkata, beliau menunjukkan minat terhadap usul gencatan senjata sementara namun menekankan ini tidak bermakna ia dapat menghalang Israel dari kemungkinan menggunakan tentera darat.
Pegawai Israel memberi amaran bahawa tindakan ketenteraan yang setakat ini telah meragut 374 nyawa akan berterusan berminggu-minggu ketika serangan udara dan bedilan artileri masuk hari kelima.
Pejuang Hamas terus melancarkan roket semalam dan mengancam untuk meningkatkan serangan ke atas Israel.
“Kami ingin mengkhabarkan kepada pemimpin musuh, sekiranya kamu meneruskan serangan maka kami akan melancarkan serangan roket yang lebih jauh berbanding sebelum ini,” kata jurucakap sayap tentera Hamas, Briged Ezzedine al-Qassam, yang mengenakan topeng ketika membuat ulasan di televisyen.
Perdana Menteri Israel, Ehud Olmert petang semalam berbincang dengan Barak dan Menteri Luar, Tzipi Livni mengenai cadangan Perancis untuk gencatan senjata 48 jam, namun pejabat Olmert menyatakan bahawa beliau telah mengeluarkan arahan agar perincian mesyuarat tidak didedahkan. – AFP
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Public Mutual declares distributions for 2 funds
Public Bank’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Mutual declares distributions for two of its funds. The total gross distributions declared are for financial year ended 30 November 2008:
Fund
Gross Distribution / Unit
Public Islamic Balanced Fund
1.00 sen
Public Far-East Dividend Fund
0.35 sen
Public Mutual’s Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow commented that Public Mutual is pleased to be able to continue to declare distributions on its funds despite a very challenging market condition. “Public Islamic Balanced Fund and Public Far-East Dividend Fund have consistently declared annual distributions since their launch in 2005 and 2006 respectively.” he added.
Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 67 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders serviced by over 40,000-strong unit trust consultants. As at 31 October 2008, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM21.5 billion.
Fund
Gross Distribution / Unit
Public Islamic Balanced Fund
1.00 sen
Public Far-East Dividend Fund
0.35 sen
Public Mutual’s Chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Dr. Teh Hong Piow commented that Public Mutual is pleased to be able to continue to declare distributions on its funds despite a very challenging market condition. “Public Islamic Balanced Fund and Public Far-East Dividend Fund have consistently declared annual distributions since their launch in 2005 and 2006 respectively.” he added.
Public Mutual is Malaysia’s largest private unit trust company with 67 funds under management. It has over 2,000,000 accountholders serviced by over 40,000-strong unit trust consultants. As at 31 October 2008, the total net asset value of the funds managed by the company was RM21.5 billion.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Do You KNow ?
* Do You Know that Total Private Net Asset Value (NAV) at amount of RM$66,949 millions ?
* Do You Know that Investors keep on increasing from Day-To-Day to buy secured
investment ?
* Do You Know that we Malaysian got a lot of surplus money & yet to invest in secured
investment tools ?
* Do You Know that we Malaysian still beleive in "Skim Cepat Kaya" because of fastest
return ?
* Do You Know that PUBLIC MUTUAL is still No.1 (leader of the private unit trust company)
controlling at approximately 39% from the total market. The No. 2 rival controlling at
approximately 13.5% from the total market ?
+ Public Mutual 39%
+ Aminvestment 13.5%
+ CIMB Group 12.2%
+ Prudential 5.4%
+ Hwang-DBS 5.4%
+ OSK 5.3%
+ HLG 3.6%
+ ING 3.2%
+ Pacific Mutual 2.6%
+ MAAKL 1.9%
Do You Know that YOU SUPPOSE TO GO FOR NO.1 ???? OH YESSS !!!!
Happy Invest
* Do You Know that Investors keep on increasing from Day-To-Day to buy secured
investment ?
* Do You Know that we Malaysian got a lot of surplus money & yet to invest in secured
investment tools ?
* Do You Know that we Malaysian still beleive in "Skim Cepat Kaya" because of fastest
return ?
* Do You Know that PUBLIC MUTUAL is still No.1 (leader of the private unit trust company)
controlling at approximately 39% from the total market. The No. 2 rival controlling at
approximately 13.5% from the total market ?
+ Public Mutual 39%
+ Aminvestment 13.5%
+ CIMB Group 12.2%
+ Prudential 5.4%
+ Hwang-DBS 5.4%
+ OSK 5.3%
+ HLG 3.6%
+ ING 3.2%
+ Pacific Mutual 2.6%
+ MAAKL 1.9%
Do You Know that YOU SUPPOSE TO GO FOR NO.1 ???? OH YESSS !!!!
Happy Invest
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Jenis Haji ; Tahukah Anda ??
1. Haji Ifrat
Mengerjakan Haji dahulu dalam bulan-bulan Haji kemudian mengerjakan Umrah.
2. Haji Tamattu'
Mengerjakan Umrah dahulu dalam bulan-bulan Haji kemudian mengerjakan Haji di tahun
yang sama.
3. Haji Qiran
Berniat mengerjakan Haji dan Umrah serentak dalam bulan-bulan Haji dengan mengerjakan
amalan-amalan Haji sahaja.
Wassalam .....
Mengerjakan Haji dahulu dalam bulan-bulan Haji kemudian mengerjakan Umrah.
2. Haji Tamattu'
Mengerjakan Umrah dahulu dalam bulan-bulan Haji kemudian mengerjakan Haji di tahun
yang sama.
3. Haji Qiran
Berniat mengerjakan Haji dan Umrah serentak dalam bulan-bulan Haji dengan mengerjakan
amalan-amalan Haji sahaja.
Wassalam .....
Lelaki Liat ????
Lelaki liat jumpa doktor : Utusan Malaysia 03rd December 2008
Oleh NOOR FAZRINA KAMAL
Golongan lelaki harus bersikap lebih terbuka dalam melakukan pemeriksaan rutin kesihatan. – Gambar hiasan
PETIKAN ucapan Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM), Datuk Faizah Mohd. Tahir ketika merasmikan Simposium Kesihatan Lelaki-Keprihatinan Dunia di Institut Sosial Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur baru-baru ini, menarik perhatian sebahagian besar peserta yang hadir.
Ramai yang tersenyum simpul bagai mengakui kebenarannya apabila beliau menyatakan lelaki hanya akan pergi berjumpa doktor sekiranya ditemani pasangan mereka, itupun setelah dipujuk dan dipaksa beberapa kali.
Walaupun ia satu senario biasa dan dianggap normal oleh kebanyakan lelaki, persepsi tersebut haruslah diubah kerana kesihatan lelaki kini menjadi agenda penting dalam pembangunan sesebuah negara.
Atas keprihatinan untuk mengubah situasi itu, Persatuan Endrologi dan Kajian mengenai Penuaan Lelaki Malaysia (MSASAM) telah mengadakan kajian tentang kesihatan lelaki di bandar.
Kajian membabitkan responden lelaki di sekitar kawasan Subang dan Kelana Jaya, Selangor. Dua kawasan ini telah dipilih bagi mewakili keseluruhan lelaki yang bekerja, mempunyai kedudukan ekonomi yang baik serta menjalani kehidupan sosial yang seimbang.
Kajian yang dibiayai sepenuhnya oleh KPWKM ini telah diketuai Datuk Profesor Tan Hui Meng, dari MSASAM serta beberapa doktor dari Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM), Kuala Lumpur.
Hasil kajian, yang telah menemukan beberapa fakta mengejutkan mengenai kesihatan lelaki, telah dibentangkan pada simposium tersebut oleh Dr. Ng Chirk Jenn, mewakili Malaysian Men's Health Initiative.
Antaranya, kajian mendapati 77 peratus daripada 1,046 responden yang berusia 40 tahun ke atas mengalami masalah berat badan atau obesiti.
Selain itu, 59.4 peratus responden yang boleh dianggap mewakili lelaki di bandar mengalami kegagalan ereksi, 48 peratus mengalami tekanan darah tinggi, diabetis mellitus (28.5 peratus), masalah jantung (12 peratus) dan masalah prostat (30 peratus).
Menurut Chirk Jenn, kesemua responden dipilih secara rawak daripada senarai calon mengundi tahun 2004 membabitkan lelaki Cina 48 peratus, 34 peratus Melayu (34 peratus) dan India (15 peratus), pada purata umur 56 tahun.
Kajian tersebut telah dijalankan menggunakan teknik kaji selidik, penilaian oleh para doktor terlatih dan ujian darah di makmal.
“Kami telah memulakan kajian ini sejak 2003 dengan objektif untuk melihat sejauh mana tahap kesihatan lelaki moden di Malaysia.
“Kajian ini juga meliputi pandangan lelaki tentang kesihatan mereka dan apa yang mereka lakukan tentangnya,” jelasnya.
Beliau menjelaskan lagi, penyakit yang banyak menyerang golongan lelaki di bandar terbahagi kepada dua kategori iaitu melibatkan sistem kardiovaskular seperti, obesiti, diabetis, tekanan darah serta kolesterol tinggi, merokok dan ketagihan arak.
“Kategori kedua pula ialah melibatkan kesihatan lazim lelaki seperti kegagalan ereksi, masalah berkaitan prostat serta penurunan kadar hormon testosteron lelaki,” tambah beliau.
Temuduga dengan beberapa responden juga turut menemukan fakta menarik yang boleh dikongsi bersama.
Antaranya, pendapat seorang warga emas berusia 59 tahun yang menyatakan kebanyakan lelaki muda hanya akan bekerja dan terus bekerja untuk mendapatkan kekayaan dan apabila tua kelak, mereka akan menggunakan kekayaan itu untuk 'membeli kesihatan.
“Daripada kenyataan lelaki ini kami merumuskan bahawa keutamaan lelaki berubah mengikut masa. Pada awal pembabitan lelaki dalam karier, kekayaan, keseronokan dan keluarga adalah fokus utama mereka.
“Kesihatan mereka hanya akan menjadi isu utama apabila mereka telah berhadapan dengan masalah tersebut," jelasnya.
Kajian tersebut turut menemukan beberapa pendapat yang agak melucukan namun perlu diberi perhatian serius.
Seorang lelaki mendakwa bahawa dia hanya akan berjumpa doktor sekiranya beliau benar-benar sakit, manakala seorang lelaki lain pula mendakwa hanya akan berjumpa doktor setelah isterinya membebel panjang.
“Kesimpulan daripada dua kes di atas ialah pasangan memainkan peranan utama mempengaruhi lelaki untuk mendapatkan pertolongan kepada masalah kesihatan mereka.
“Ada juga responden yang mengharapkan wujudnya satu garis panduan pemeriksaan rutin kesihatan lelaki sebagaimana servis yang dilakukan terhadap kenderaan kesayangan mereka,” katanya.
Daripada kajian tersebut Chirk Jenn dan pasukannya turut mendapati bahawa lelaki inginkan lebih banyak maklumat tentang kesihatan mereka.
Mereka juga mahu agar pihak berkuasa dan pengamal perubatan mempunyai inisiatif dalam melakukan rawatan dan pemeriksaan terhadap pesakit lelaki.
“Sikap para doktor yang merawat pesakit lelaki juga perlu diubah dan lebih prihatin kerana situasi di mana doktor hanya bertanya tentang apa penyakit mereka sering berlaku di mana-mana pusat kesihatan,” jelas Ng.
Untuk tidak membiarkan kajian tersebut berlalu begitu sahaja, KPWKM dan MSASAM telah menerbitkan buku yang mencatatkan secara terperinci tentang kajian yang dilakukan oleh MSASAM. Buku bertajuk Stay Healthy-Your Choice dan About Men's Health juga mengandungi saranan pengamal perubatan mengenai masalah kesihatan lelaki.
Oleh NOOR FAZRINA KAMAL
Golongan lelaki harus bersikap lebih terbuka dalam melakukan pemeriksaan rutin kesihatan. – Gambar hiasan
PETIKAN ucapan Ketua Setiausaha Kementerian Pembangunan Wanita, Keluarga dan Masyarakat (KPWKM), Datuk Faizah Mohd. Tahir ketika merasmikan Simposium Kesihatan Lelaki-Keprihatinan Dunia di Institut Sosial Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur baru-baru ini, menarik perhatian sebahagian besar peserta yang hadir.
Ramai yang tersenyum simpul bagai mengakui kebenarannya apabila beliau menyatakan lelaki hanya akan pergi berjumpa doktor sekiranya ditemani pasangan mereka, itupun setelah dipujuk dan dipaksa beberapa kali.
Walaupun ia satu senario biasa dan dianggap normal oleh kebanyakan lelaki, persepsi tersebut haruslah diubah kerana kesihatan lelaki kini menjadi agenda penting dalam pembangunan sesebuah negara.
Atas keprihatinan untuk mengubah situasi itu, Persatuan Endrologi dan Kajian mengenai Penuaan Lelaki Malaysia (MSASAM) telah mengadakan kajian tentang kesihatan lelaki di bandar.
Kajian membabitkan responden lelaki di sekitar kawasan Subang dan Kelana Jaya, Selangor. Dua kawasan ini telah dipilih bagi mewakili keseluruhan lelaki yang bekerja, mempunyai kedudukan ekonomi yang baik serta menjalani kehidupan sosial yang seimbang.
Kajian yang dibiayai sepenuhnya oleh KPWKM ini telah diketuai Datuk Profesor Tan Hui Meng, dari MSASAM serta beberapa doktor dari Pusat Perubatan Universiti Malaya (PPUM), Kuala Lumpur.
Hasil kajian, yang telah menemukan beberapa fakta mengejutkan mengenai kesihatan lelaki, telah dibentangkan pada simposium tersebut oleh Dr. Ng Chirk Jenn, mewakili Malaysian Men's Health Initiative.
Antaranya, kajian mendapati 77 peratus daripada 1,046 responden yang berusia 40 tahun ke atas mengalami masalah berat badan atau obesiti.
Selain itu, 59.4 peratus responden yang boleh dianggap mewakili lelaki di bandar mengalami kegagalan ereksi, 48 peratus mengalami tekanan darah tinggi, diabetis mellitus (28.5 peratus), masalah jantung (12 peratus) dan masalah prostat (30 peratus).
Menurut Chirk Jenn, kesemua responden dipilih secara rawak daripada senarai calon mengundi tahun 2004 membabitkan lelaki Cina 48 peratus, 34 peratus Melayu (34 peratus) dan India (15 peratus), pada purata umur 56 tahun.
Kajian tersebut telah dijalankan menggunakan teknik kaji selidik, penilaian oleh para doktor terlatih dan ujian darah di makmal.
“Kami telah memulakan kajian ini sejak 2003 dengan objektif untuk melihat sejauh mana tahap kesihatan lelaki moden di Malaysia.
“Kajian ini juga meliputi pandangan lelaki tentang kesihatan mereka dan apa yang mereka lakukan tentangnya,” jelasnya.
Beliau menjelaskan lagi, penyakit yang banyak menyerang golongan lelaki di bandar terbahagi kepada dua kategori iaitu melibatkan sistem kardiovaskular seperti, obesiti, diabetis, tekanan darah serta kolesterol tinggi, merokok dan ketagihan arak.
“Kategori kedua pula ialah melibatkan kesihatan lazim lelaki seperti kegagalan ereksi, masalah berkaitan prostat serta penurunan kadar hormon testosteron lelaki,” tambah beliau.
Temuduga dengan beberapa responden juga turut menemukan fakta menarik yang boleh dikongsi bersama.
Antaranya, pendapat seorang warga emas berusia 59 tahun yang menyatakan kebanyakan lelaki muda hanya akan bekerja dan terus bekerja untuk mendapatkan kekayaan dan apabila tua kelak, mereka akan menggunakan kekayaan itu untuk 'membeli kesihatan.
“Daripada kenyataan lelaki ini kami merumuskan bahawa keutamaan lelaki berubah mengikut masa. Pada awal pembabitan lelaki dalam karier, kekayaan, keseronokan dan keluarga adalah fokus utama mereka.
“Kesihatan mereka hanya akan menjadi isu utama apabila mereka telah berhadapan dengan masalah tersebut," jelasnya.
Kajian tersebut turut menemukan beberapa pendapat yang agak melucukan namun perlu diberi perhatian serius.
Seorang lelaki mendakwa bahawa dia hanya akan berjumpa doktor sekiranya beliau benar-benar sakit, manakala seorang lelaki lain pula mendakwa hanya akan berjumpa doktor setelah isterinya membebel panjang.
“Kesimpulan daripada dua kes di atas ialah pasangan memainkan peranan utama mempengaruhi lelaki untuk mendapatkan pertolongan kepada masalah kesihatan mereka.
“Ada juga responden yang mengharapkan wujudnya satu garis panduan pemeriksaan rutin kesihatan lelaki sebagaimana servis yang dilakukan terhadap kenderaan kesayangan mereka,” katanya.
Daripada kajian tersebut Chirk Jenn dan pasukannya turut mendapati bahawa lelaki inginkan lebih banyak maklumat tentang kesihatan mereka.
Mereka juga mahu agar pihak berkuasa dan pengamal perubatan mempunyai inisiatif dalam melakukan rawatan dan pemeriksaan terhadap pesakit lelaki.
“Sikap para doktor yang merawat pesakit lelaki juga perlu diubah dan lebih prihatin kerana situasi di mana doktor hanya bertanya tentang apa penyakit mereka sering berlaku di mana-mana pusat kesihatan,” jelas Ng.
Untuk tidak membiarkan kajian tersebut berlalu begitu sahaja, KPWKM dan MSASAM telah menerbitkan buku yang mencatatkan secara terperinci tentang kajian yang dilakukan oleh MSASAM. Buku bertajuk Stay Healthy-Your Choice dan About Men's Health juga mengandungi saranan pengamal perubatan mengenai masalah kesihatan lelaki.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Be A Unit Trust Consultants
Why would I want to be a Unit Trust Consultant?
Because YOU deserve to have a well-paid and fulfilling career in an industry that is enjoying explosive growth in Malaysia.
*** But for me, what other business that can offer little capital with very low risk on the risks ? Its Unit Trust or any related Financial Planning fields such as Insurance Consultant.*** Ahmad Shah
The Malaysian unit trust industry is vastly untapped
The local unit trust industry is a multi-billion Ringgit industry because of its vastly untapped potential. In a period of just 15 years since 1992, the amount managed by private unit trust companies grew from a mere RM400 million to RM71.005 billion! (source: Lipper, 28 January 2008)
The Malaysian Private Unit Trust Industry's Growth Rate from 1992-2007
Great Opportunities to earn unlimited income
According to the Securities Commission, in December 2007, the Malaysian unit trusts boasted 15.32% equity penetration rate*. In comparison to the same period, United Kingdom's equity penetration rate was 41.62%. (source: London Stock Exchange and Investment management Association, UK)
Malaysia unit trust equity penetration rate
In December 1992, the Malaysian unit trusts equity penetration rate was merely 6.40%. This means that Malaysia's rate is low in comparison with more developed countries like the UK and Malaysia's ratio is rising rapidly.
For you, all these translate into plenty of opportunities to earn potentially unlimited income as a un it trust consultant.
Why would I want to join Public Mutual?
Because Public Mutual is the biggest and the best!
No.1** unit trust company in Malaysia
There are 28 private unit trust companies in Malaysia and Public Mutual has the largest market share of 40 percent as at end-December 2007.
Market Share of Private Unit Trust Industry as at 31 December 2007
So, what's in it for me?
Unit trust consultants of Public Mutual enjoy great benefits. Amongst them are:
Highly competitive incentive structure and benefits programme in the industry.
The potential to earn unlimited income.
Flexible working hours.
Overseas trips, awards and public recognition.
A wide range of financial planning and professional sales tools.
Sales incentives and campaigns to support your sales effort.
Subsidised Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification course and diverse training programmes.
Numerous recruitment incentives and subsidies for agency building.
And much, much more...
Public Mutual's Sales and Financial Planning tools are among the best in the industry
Because YOU deserve to have a well-paid and fulfilling career in an industry that is enjoying explosive growth in Malaysia.
*** But for me, what other business that can offer little capital with very low risk on the risks ? Its Unit Trust or any related Financial Planning fields such as Insurance Consultant.*** Ahmad Shah
The Malaysian unit trust industry is vastly untapped
The local unit trust industry is a multi-billion Ringgit industry because of its vastly untapped potential. In a period of just 15 years since 1992, the amount managed by private unit trust companies grew from a mere RM400 million to RM71.005 billion! (source: Lipper, 28 January 2008)
The Malaysian Private Unit Trust Industry's Growth Rate from 1992-2007
Great Opportunities to earn unlimited income
According to the Securities Commission, in December 2007, the Malaysian unit trusts boasted 15.32% equity penetration rate*. In comparison to the same period, United Kingdom's equity penetration rate was 41.62%. (source: London Stock Exchange and Investment management Association, UK)
Malaysia unit trust equity penetration rate
In December 1992, the Malaysian unit trusts equity penetration rate was merely 6.40%. This means that Malaysia's rate is low in comparison with more developed countries like the UK and Malaysia's ratio is rising rapidly.
For you, all these translate into plenty of opportunities to earn potentially unlimited income as a un it trust consultant.
Why would I want to join Public Mutual?
Because Public Mutual is the biggest and the best!
No.1** unit trust company in Malaysia
There are 28 private unit trust companies in Malaysia and Public Mutual has the largest market share of 40 percent as at end-December 2007.
Market Share of Private Unit Trust Industry as at 31 December 2007
So, what's in it for me?
Unit trust consultants of Public Mutual enjoy great benefits. Amongst them are:
Highly competitive incentive structure and benefits programme in the industry.
The potential to earn unlimited income.
Flexible working hours.
Overseas trips, awards and public recognition.
A wide range of financial planning and professional sales tools.
Sales incentives and campaigns to support your sales effort.
Subsidised Certified Financial Planner (CFP®) certification course and diverse training programmes.
Numerous recruitment incentives and subsidies for agency building.
And much, much more...
Public Mutual's Sales and Financial Planning tools are among the best in the industry
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Latest from MAA ASSURANCE - MCGP SWING-06 (Maaster Capital Guaranteed Plan Swing-06)
Hi All Valued Customers,
Dont Miss this Plan .... lets invest for the period of 4 years.
* Non Medical Check-up required.
* Extra Coverage of Takaful upto 25% for the investment value.
* Money Back Guaranteed after maturity date (4 years).
* Minimum investment RM$10,000.00.
* Estimation Return per annum: Min = 7%, Max = 17%, Average = 12%
* Syariah Ways / Islamic & Halal.
* To cover inflation rates.
Dont Miss this Plan .... lets invest for the period of 4 years.
* Non Medical Check-up required.
* Extra Coverage of Takaful upto 25% for the investment value.
* Money Back Guaranteed after maturity date (4 years).
* Minimum investment RM$10,000.00.
* Estimation Return per annum: Min = 7%, Max = 17%, Average = 12%
* Syariah Ways / Islamic & Halal.
* To cover inflation rates.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Remain Calm Through Market Turbulence
In the wake of the turbulence of stock markets in recent months, unit trust investors may be tempted to either sell or buy. However, investors are advised to remain calm and practise dollar cost averaging with their long-term goals in view.
When regional and global markets succumbed to panic selling in August 2007 and more recently in January 2008, the severity and sharpness of the correction was large enough to make unit trust investors ask themselves whether they should redeem now to stem further losses or buy more units at currently low prices. In fact, if they practise dollar cost averaging, they need not concern themselves with these timing issues. Dollar cost averaging enables investors to automatically buy more units when prices fall and fewer units when prices rise.
It is especially during times of market volatility that individual investors should remain focused on their long-term investment goals and keep their emotions from influencing their investment decisions. A disciplined and methodical approach to investing is the key to long-term investment success.
Unit trust investors are advised to buy and hold their investments for the medium to long term. The buy-and-hold principle is based on the notion that a good investment will generate reasonably attractive returns over the medium to long term. This also means that investors are able to distinguish between daily movements in the market and the underlying long-term value of their investments. Professional fund managers buy and hold for the medium to long term as they are prepared to wait patiently over several years for their investments to reach their intrinsic or fair values. For the unit trust investor, the 'buy-and-hold' strategy can also be applied by holding on to a well-selected unit trust fund over a period of at least three years.
There are some investors who believe they can achieve superior returns by timing the purchase and redemption of equity funds to profit from the stockmarket's short-term movements. These investors are tempted to engage in timing the market especially in an environment where equity markets are volatile. Such investors who wish to make quick gains in the stock market by switching from one fund into another fund will often be disappointed. Market timing strategies that are often recommended by 'investment experts' have seldom been successful. This is because stock markets are inherently volatile and are impossible to predict with numerous factors, both domestic and foreign, affecting daily and weekly fluctuations in stock prices.
Investors who wish to take a more active approach with their investments by timing the market will expose themselves to many risks. In order to profit from the market's short-term trends, the investor has to correctly predict the market's trend and its turning points.
Without the appropriate skills to discern signals and time the entries and exits, the market timer may not only miss opportunities, but also potentially suffer the blow of rapid losses. Also with a higher frequency of fund switching, investors will have to incur increased transaction costs.
Investors who are concerned about market volatility are advised to practise dollar cost averaging as this strategy enables investors to focus on the long-term investment goal and not worry about the prevailing level of the market. Dollar cost averaging is simply investing a fixed amount of money in a financial asset (such as a unit trust fund) on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, biannual) regardless of the market cycle. By investing a fixed amount on a regular basis, investors will buy more units when the market is lower and fewer units when the market is higher. This strategy will produce a lower average cost of investment than the average market price over any given period.
In addition, investors are also advised to rebalance their portfolios regularly at least once a year to ensure that their portfolio allocation reflects their investment objectives and risk profile. Thus if, as a result of an uptrend in stock prices, an investor's equity exposure has exceeded a level consistent with his risk tolerance, he can trim a portion of the equity funds and switch into bond or money market funds to rebalance the asset allocation accordingly. Maintaining a target asset allocation reduces the risk that the portfolio becomes too concentrated in a single asset class.
In conclusion, unit trust investors should always focus on achieving their medium to long-term investment goals. The practice of dollar cost averaging and regular portfolio rebalancing are effective tools that help investors remain focused on the long term horizon and prevent them from over-reacting to short-term movements of the stockmarket.
When regional and global markets succumbed to panic selling in August 2007 and more recently in January 2008, the severity and sharpness of the correction was large enough to make unit trust investors ask themselves whether they should redeem now to stem further losses or buy more units at currently low prices. In fact, if they practise dollar cost averaging, they need not concern themselves with these timing issues. Dollar cost averaging enables investors to automatically buy more units when prices fall and fewer units when prices rise.
It is especially during times of market volatility that individual investors should remain focused on their long-term investment goals and keep their emotions from influencing their investment decisions. A disciplined and methodical approach to investing is the key to long-term investment success.
Unit trust investors are advised to buy and hold their investments for the medium to long term. The buy-and-hold principle is based on the notion that a good investment will generate reasonably attractive returns over the medium to long term. This also means that investors are able to distinguish between daily movements in the market and the underlying long-term value of their investments. Professional fund managers buy and hold for the medium to long term as they are prepared to wait patiently over several years for their investments to reach their intrinsic or fair values. For the unit trust investor, the 'buy-and-hold' strategy can also be applied by holding on to a well-selected unit trust fund over a period of at least three years.
There are some investors who believe they can achieve superior returns by timing the purchase and redemption of equity funds to profit from the stockmarket's short-term movements. These investors are tempted to engage in timing the market especially in an environment where equity markets are volatile. Such investors who wish to make quick gains in the stock market by switching from one fund into another fund will often be disappointed. Market timing strategies that are often recommended by 'investment experts' have seldom been successful. This is because stock markets are inherently volatile and are impossible to predict with numerous factors, both domestic and foreign, affecting daily and weekly fluctuations in stock prices.
Investors who wish to take a more active approach with their investments by timing the market will expose themselves to many risks. In order to profit from the market's short-term trends, the investor has to correctly predict the market's trend and its turning points.
Without the appropriate skills to discern signals and time the entries and exits, the market timer may not only miss opportunities, but also potentially suffer the blow of rapid losses. Also with a higher frequency of fund switching, investors will have to incur increased transaction costs.
Investors who are concerned about market volatility are advised to practise dollar cost averaging as this strategy enables investors to focus on the long-term investment goal and not worry about the prevailing level of the market. Dollar cost averaging is simply investing a fixed amount of money in a financial asset (such as a unit trust fund) on a regular basis (monthly, quarterly, biannual) regardless of the market cycle. By investing a fixed amount on a regular basis, investors will buy more units when the market is lower and fewer units when the market is higher. This strategy will produce a lower average cost of investment than the average market price over any given period.
In addition, investors are also advised to rebalance their portfolios regularly at least once a year to ensure that their portfolio allocation reflects their investment objectives and risk profile. Thus if, as a result of an uptrend in stock prices, an investor's equity exposure has exceeded a level consistent with his risk tolerance, he can trim a portion of the equity funds and switch into bond or money market funds to rebalance the asset allocation accordingly. Maintaining a target asset allocation reduces the risk that the portfolio becomes too concentrated in a single asset class.
In conclusion, unit trust investors should always focus on achieving their medium to long-term investment goals. The practice of dollar cost averaging and regular portfolio rebalancing are effective tools that help investors remain focused on the long term horizon and prevent them from over-reacting to short-term movements of the stockmarket.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
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