Hantu Laut
The government proposal to borrow from EPF to prop up the bearish KLSE may not be a good idea in view of the global economic uncertainty.Trading on the KLSE should be left to market forces.If the economy is as strong as the government have said umpteen times than its plan to intervene in the stocks market contradicts what it has been saying all this while.
Puting more money to help what it called laggard blue-chips stocks could end up good money chasing bad money.Such exercise will only invite the vultures to come back for the final killing.
If the government think RM5 billion is enough to prop the market and makes it look attractive to investors it would be in for a big shock when the the combined forces of the hedge funds decide to descend on the KLSE and raid the market , unless the government intend to lock up the shares bought by Valuecap, which would defeat the very purpose it was for, to create a bullish market. It would be back to square one, a lacklustre KLSE or money down the drain.
How the government wish to borrow from the EPF and on what terms, the Finance Minister had not made clear.The Board of EPF should not agree to giving loan to the government on private basis.The Board of Directors are trustees of the members of EPF and should work in the interest of the owners of the funds.
The most appropriate thing to do would be for the government to issue short-term bonds to EPF at higher yield than those of its normal bonds.The government should pay according to the rate of dividend currently paid to EPF holders.To pay anything less is unfair to EPF holders as the designated amount would have lost its opportunity cost.
Saving banks are one thing, saving a bad stocks market with the people's pension funds is not exactly prudent financial planning and not only does not make any economic sense, it does not make any sense at all.
Just a word of caution to the new Finance Minister to think over the negative side of the proposal. It is not too late to ditch the idea.
Showing posts with label KLSE. Show all posts
Showing posts with label KLSE. Show all posts
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
I wasn't Wrong
Hantu Laut
I wasn't wrong in my suspicion of the government intention to prop up the stocks market.
Below is what I wrote on 9 October, the full article here.
"Surprisingly, while all other Asian markets went down quite substantially the KLSE went down only 2.71%.Is our fundamentals really that strong and investors confidence unshaken in spite of all the bad news on the global financial markets? Is the government trying to prop up the market to avert panic selling? If that is the case how long can the government continue to do so and where are the funds coming from? Let's hope it is not our money or worse still the EPF money."
Read the article below:
I wasn't wrong in my suspicion of the government intention to prop up the stocks market.
Below is what I wrote on 9 October, the full article here.
"Surprisingly, while all other Asian markets went down quite substantially the KLSE went down only 2.71%.Is our fundamentals really that strong and investors confidence unshaken in spite of all the bad news on the global financial markets? Is the government trying to prop up the market to avert panic selling? If that is the case how long can the government continue to do so and where are the funds coming from? Let's hope it is not our money or worse still the EPF money."
Read the article below:
EPF to lend the RM5b to fund Valuecap
By Adib ZalkapliKUALA LUMPUR, Oct 21 — Finance Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak said today the government will borrow RM5 billion from the Employees Provident Fund to fund government investment agency Valuecap Sdn Bhd.
"It's not part of the Consolidated Fund. It's a loan from EPF," said Najib.
The Deputy Prime Minister pointed out that the loan would not be part of the Budget 2009 allocations for spending announced last month.
Yesterday, Najib announced a host of measures to boost the economy and protect Malaysia from the effects of the global financial turmoil.
These included spending more on the service sector to cushion expected declines in Malaysia's exports.
Also, RM5 billion would be injected into Valuecap to buy undervalued stocks.
Valuecap was set up five years ago to invest in undervalued firms.
The government hopes the injection will offer much needed support for laggard blue-chip stocks in the local bourse.
The Finance Minister is expected to announce more measures on Nov 4 when he winds up the debate on the Budget in Parliament. Read more.......
Is the government paying good money to chase bad money.
Beware of the vultures (hedge funds) they may come back to take your money away.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Bad News And Good News:The World In Turmoil
Hantu Laut
The Asian stock markets tumbled yesterday .The Japanese Nikkei went down 9.38% ,Hong Kong's Han Seng down 8.17% and the biggest fall was Jakarta with over 10%.
Surprisingly, while all other Asian markets went down quite substantially the KLSE went down only 2.71%.Is our fundamentals really that strong and investors confidence unshaken in spite of all the bad news on the global financial markets? Is the government trying to prop up the market to avert panic selling? If that is the case how long can the government continue to do so and where are the funds coming from? Let's hope it is not our money or worse still the EPF money.
In spite of interest rate cuts in most major markets the world's stocks markets continue to tumble.The Dow was down 2% yesterday.The Dow has now fallen 35% from its highest level a year ago.The US rescue package will take some time to make an impact on the market.The Moscow stocks market went down 14% and suspended its trading.
Iceland says the government is bankrupt.It got US$5.4 billion loan from Russia and blamed hedge funds for its financial woes.Sounds familiar.
So Mahathir wasn't wrong back in 1997 when he blamed the hedge funds especially George Soros for the Asian financial crisis.There is one thing we must all know, the capitalist world is greedy,competitive,cruel and sad to say, have no space for social conscience.What happened in America and the resulting crisis is because of freedom and laissez-faire gone amok.De-regulation of the financial system and businesses because the Westerners think they are more responsible,therefore, need not be regulated.
I must say again Mahathir was ahead of his time when he said" the Jews used proxies to fight their wars".Take a look at the 2 presidential candidates' campaign in America, how both of them clamoring to suck up to Isreal by refering to it as their main and strong ally in the Middle East.
There is 50/50 percent chance George Bush will bomb Iran before he leaves office in January 09, especially if Obama won the presidential election, leaving him to pick up the pieces.
Due to high volatility and high risk of the markets investors are expected to dump more stocks and move to safer low-yield government bonds and probably gold.
Among the waves of bad news coming from every corners of the world at least there are two good news for Malaysians, the prices of crude oil have tumbled to below US$90 a barrel and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has confirmed not contesting the Presidency of UMNO in March 09 meaning he is giving up his premiership.
Now, suddenly the politicians are full of praises and accolades for the Prime Minister on his act of courage and responsibility ??
As usual the oppositions never had anything good to say concerning him of the good news or bad, especially those coming from the Indian community, who probably are still sore with him for locking up the Hindraf's activists.Here's what Perak DAP Vice-Chairman M.Kulasegaran said "what surprises me is why he is waiting till March to quit". Give him a break! Haven't you guys given him enough bashing already.
Most Malaysians are only interested in two things, politics and price of petrol.Others, including the world financial crisis, which can make their lives even more miserable can take a back seat.Oh! One more thing Malaysians also love English and European football, the bad news is, you may soon not be able to watch your favourite teams if they fall victims to the global financial meltdown.The hottest team and favourite with many Malaysians, Manchester United owed the bank a whopping RM4.6 billion.
Let's watch the KLSE today whether it will behave abnormally from other markets. If it does than you know for sure who is throwing good money to chase bad money.
The Asian stock markets tumbled yesterday .The Japanese Nikkei went down 9.38% ,Hong Kong's Han Seng down 8.17% and the biggest fall was Jakarta with over 10%.
Surprisingly, while all other Asian markets went down quite substantially the KLSE went down only 2.71%.Is our fundamentals really that strong and investors confidence unshaken in spite of all the bad news on the global financial markets? Is the government trying to prop up the market to avert panic selling? If that is the case how long can the government continue to do so and where are the funds coming from? Let's hope it is not our money or worse still the EPF money.
In spite of interest rate cuts in most major markets the world's stocks markets continue to tumble.The Dow was down 2% yesterday.The Dow has now fallen 35% from its highest level a year ago.The US rescue package will take some time to make an impact on the market.The Moscow stocks market went down 14% and suspended its trading.
Iceland says the government is bankrupt.It got US$5.4 billion loan from Russia and blamed hedge funds for its financial woes.Sounds familiar.
So Mahathir wasn't wrong back in 1997 when he blamed the hedge funds especially George Soros for the Asian financial crisis.There is one thing we must all know, the capitalist world is greedy,competitive,cruel and sad to say, have no space for social conscience.What happened in America and the resulting crisis is because of freedom and laissez-faire gone amok.De-regulation of the financial system and businesses because the Westerners think they are more responsible,therefore, need not be regulated.
I must say again Mahathir was ahead of his time when he said" the Jews used proxies to fight their wars".Take a look at the 2 presidential candidates' campaign in America, how both of them clamoring to suck up to Isreal by refering to it as their main and strong ally in the Middle East.
There is 50/50 percent chance George Bush will bomb Iran before he leaves office in January 09, especially if Obama won the presidential election, leaving him to pick up the pieces.
Due to high volatility and high risk of the markets investors are expected to dump more stocks and move to safer low-yield government bonds and probably gold.
Among the waves of bad news coming from every corners of the world at least there are two good news for Malaysians, the prices of crude oil have tumbled to below US$90 a barrel and Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has confirmed not contesting the Presidency of UMNO in March 09 meaning he is giving up his premiership.
Now, suddenly the politicians are full of praises and accolades for the Prime Minister on his act of courage and responsibility ??
As usual the oppositions never had anything good to say concerning him of the good news or bad, especially those coming from the Indian community, who probably are still sore with him for locking up the Hindraf's activists.Here's what Perak DAP Vice-Chairman M.Kulasegaran said "what surprises me is why he is waiting till March to quit". Give him a break! Haven't you guys given him enough bashing already.
Most Malaysians are only interested in two things, politics and price of petrol.Others, including the world financial crisis, which can make their lives even more miserable can take a back seat.Oh! One more thing Malaysians also love English and European football, the bad news is, you may soon not be able to watch your favourite teams if they fall victims to the global financial meltdown.The hottest team and favourite with many Malaysians, Manchester United owed the bank a whopping RM4.6 billion.
Let's watch the KLSE today whether it will behave abnormally from other markets. If it does than you know for sure who is throwing good money to chase bad money.
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