Hushed IPO Scene Expected Over the Next Six Months

This follows a 77.2% plunge in IPO funds raised last year to US$1.21b from US$5.3b a year earlier.

Thakral Brothers Reschedules $800,000 Debt to Thakral Corp

Amount to be paid in three instalments by April 30 or earlier on same terms announced in March 2007

Will 2009 be the Year of the ‘Two-Tier’ Market?

Trading this week lent support to this description as a push on index stocks helped the STI rise 104 points or 6% over the week to 1,829.71

Indian Tycoon Tops Forbes List of Biggest Losers

Indian tycoon Anil Ambani, chairman of Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group (ADAG), has topped Forbes’ list of the biggest billionaire losers of 2008. He is estimated to have lost US$30 billion, or more than 71 per cent, of his net worth, settling at just US$12 billion now.

Widespread Misuse of Quake Funds Uncovered

The National Audit Office’s latest probe has uncovered billions of yuan in improperly used funding and materials earmarked for the May 12 disaster relief efforts.

Sanlu Chief May be Scapegoat, say Observers

With speculation rife that former Sanlu Group chairwoman Tian Wenhua will be sentenced to death, observers have warned that could make her a scapegoat and distract from the systemic problems revealed by the melamine-in-milk scandal.

Olam

1) 13MA and 34MA crossover;
2) MACD crossing over 0;
3) Stochastic crossover.


One more LT line to break.

SMM

1) SMM broke out and closed above the upper wedge lines;
2) MACD trending upwards;
3) Stochastic also trending upwards.


Previous attempt on 17/12/08 to break the LT lines only managed to close below the 2nd LT line. Friday's closing managed above the 2nd LT line, shows greater strength to break through the LT lines.

Noble

Previous attempt on 18/12/08 to break out of the LT lines failed, stochastic was coming off from high level.
Current attempt to break out of the LT lines is easier because:
1) LT lines are closer and more congested now meaning less resistance;
2) ST lines are just beginning to expand.
3) MACD just cut up;
4) Stochastic trending up nicely.
Resistance levels are 1.10, 1.17 and 1.31.


Dreamers can hope for 1.66. Dreaming is free!

Our 2009 Financial Predictions - Bad News

We think the Dow could end-up on November 1st, 2009 anywhere from 5,600 to a low of 3,000 or even 1,500. One guideline will be a falling overshoot of PE’s on our largest, so-called international corporations posting lows of 4 to7. Today, many of them are near 18. What does this tell us about the severity of our projections?

Unemployment nationally in the USA is now touching 16%. The officially posted number is somewhere near half of that. By the fall of 2009, American REAL UNEMPLOYMENT WILL BE NEAR THE ALLTIME 1930’S DEPRESSION HIGH OF 25% UNEMPLOYED. SADLY, THAT IS NOT THE WORST AS IT GETS MORE DIRE. WE PREDICT REAL, USA UNEMPLOYMENT REACHES 30-40%. IN THE RUST BELT STATES OF MICHIGAN AND OHIO, WHILE 40% IS NOT UNREALISTIC.

Woman Allowed $11,300 Monthly Spending

An elderly woman, 92, whose $8.9 million account has been frozen by OCBC Bank pending a psychiatric test, has been allowed to take $11,300 a month from her account by the High Court.

Tenants Leaving with Debt Unsettled

The economic crisis is posing a new problem for landlords: tenants who break leases or even skip town without notice, leaving debts in their wake.

Contradictions in China, and the Rise of a Family

In the 1950s, the Liu family of southwest China’s Sichuan Province was so short of food, they sent one of their youngest sons to be raised by another family.

Today, however, they are one of China’s richest families.

Chinese Town Asks Shaolin Monks for Tourism Blessings

Angry Buyers Clash with Developer Wing Tai over Alleged Defects

An ugly spat – that has already resulted in a police report lodged against a homeowner – is brewing between listed property giant Wing Tai and some foreign investors of its three –year-old luxury condo near Orchard Road.

Hu Criticises Destructive Growth Plans

Provincial officials lambasted

More Upside for US Dollar Against Asian Units Predicted

Asia well-positioned to ride out the worst of storm in first half of 2009, say banks

Lower Dividends on the Cards as Earnings Wither

But blue chip companies likely to maintain payout ratios

As Recession Deepens, So Does Milk Surplus

The long economic boom, fuelled by easy credit that allowed people to spend money they did not have, led to a huge oversupply of cars, houses and shopping malls, as recent months have made clear. Now, add one more item to the list: an oversupply of cows.

Was Whole Economy a Ponzi Scheme?

And it is in this way that we are all Ponzi limited partners: We too thought our retirement funds and houses were growing miraculously, though ours was an illusion fuelled by debt rather than fraud, and we too made plans based on those asset values that now stand in ruins.

“The financial system as a whole has had the characteristics of a Ponzi scheme if we look at it fundamentally,” said Lee, who was very early in warning about deflation.u