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uh oh.... i/r going up anytime soon? High debt-GDP ratio could hurt in face of global slowdown Bylivia yap THE rapid rise in household debt here, coming amid the uncertainty of global financial markets, has been red-flagged. Kelvin Tay, the regional chief investment officer for the Southern Asia-Pacific for UBS Wealth Management, said the high household debt levels, coupled with high property prices, could make Singapore vulnerable to a rise in unemployment, a reduction in incomes and asset deflation if a slowdown in global economic markets happens. Singapore's household debt - total consumer loans of Domestic Banking Units - stood at 279 per cent of the total gross domestic product in the first quarter of this year, up from 177 per cent in the corresponding quarter in 2007. The 279 per cent figure is even higher than the 198 per cent recorded in the first quarter of 2009, after the 2008 financial crisis. Mr Tay said 80 per cent of household debt here is made up of mortgages, which, coupled with the climb in property prices since 2009, explains why household debt as a percentage of GDP shot up so sharply from 2007. He said: "With (household debt) at such significant levels, it will be difficult for the government or policy makers to stimulate demand to offset the sluggish exports we are currently experiencing." This has been worsened by panic selling of risk assets, such as US high yield and Asian local currency bonds, since the US Federal Reserve's indication last week that it might start tapering its bond-buying programme later this year. Mr Tay said a rise in US treasury yields usually leads to a rise in Singapore government bond yields. As the USD is a major component in the basket of currencies used to manage the SGD, interest rates here usually follow the trends of USD interest rates. "Given the sharp rise in credit growth over the last few years, I would not be surprised if an increase in interest rates is followed by deterioration in the loans portfolio of banks and other financial institutions; this would in turn lead to a tightening of credit supply and a higher cost of financing for credit in general." He still believes the Asian market will continue growing, despite the impending halt of liquidity from the Fed. He rejects the notion that this could lead to a repeat of the Asian financial crisis "because the circumstances of both the global economy and, more importantly, the Asian economies, are now very different from 1994". Mr Tay said the Asian economies, excluding Japan, have strong fundamentals, with total foreign exchange reserves comprising more than half the world's GDP (52 per cent), much higher than in 1994 (23.6 per cent). Corporate balance sheets are similarly healthy, and although the net debt-to-equity ratio increased to 26.1 per cent from 18.3 per cent after the Lehman Brothers' crisis in 2008, this is still well below the 41.8 per cent in 1994, when the Fed began to raise interest rates. Despite a relatively sharp rise in debt over the past few years, the gross debt-to-GDP ratio for Asian economies excluding Japan averaged 46.4 per cent, with GDP growth for this year and the next likely to average 6.3 per cent. This is well above the 3 per cent growth rate for the world. Mr Tay said: "In short, the Asian story not only remains intact, but is also more attractively valued than before. "Compared to the years just before the Asian financial crisis, Asia excluding Japan has significantly more FX reserves, lower net debt-to-equity levels and sovereign debt levels and healthy growth rates."

Seems like Johor is going to fun place, rumor going to be twice the size of legoland. What's happening to Singapore. Why all the interesting investments going to Johor, even Peter Lim chose to invest the race track in Johor. Must add another set annual passes to my collections. http://www.straitstimes.com/breaking-news/...e-park-20130109 Six Flags Entertainment to invest $484m in Iskandar theme park NUSAJAYA, JOHOR (THE STAR/ANN) - United States-based theme park operator Six Flags Entertainment is planning to invest between RM1.2 billion (S$484 million) and RM1.5 billion to set up a theme park in Iskandar Malaysia. Sources told StarBiz that the theme park, which will be double the size of Legoland Malaysia and the company's first theme park in Asia, would offer more than 40 rides. According to Wikipedia, Six Flags Entertainment is the world's largest amusement park corporation based on quantity of properties and the fifth most popular in terms of attendance. It maintains 19 properties throughout North America consisting of theme parks, thrills parks, water theme parks and family entertainment centres. Iskandar Investment (IIB) president and chief executive officer Datuk Syed Mohamed Syed Ibrahim, said an announcement would be made by an investor within the next six months on the matter.

Could it be the works of pranksters? PA better explain as this could have violated a thousand items under the Penal Code on the proper treatment of our national flag. Puzzling their CC staff could have missed this embarrassing situation when they went about their daily work... From STOMP: http://singaporeseen.stomp.com.sg/stomp/sgseen/singapore_sotongs/739762/hanging_two_national_flags_upside_down_is_simply_not_acceptable.html Wake up Tampines Central CC: Flying TWO national flags upside down is 'unacceptable' STOMPer Chris finds it completely intolerable that not one, but two National flags have been hung upside down outside this building in Tampines. The STOMPer writes: "This is my country, this is my flag? "Some mistakes are just not acceptable. "The word is RESPECT! "What's worse, this is the Community Complex - they should know how to display the flag. "Shame on them for setting a bad example for residents on displaying their flags wrongly during our National Day celebration. "Enough is enough."

I was watching the SMSC sanctioned local kart race on 15 May at KartRight raceway. During the final for 'Master' Class, for the first 9-8 laps the 3rd place racer had a bunch of racers right behind him with less than 10-20cm bumper to bumper, it was that close and he appeared to be holding up at least 5 racers behind him. The marshalls did nothing and not showing him BLUE flag. After my friend (leading the pack of 5 racers behind this 3rd place guy) tailed him for a good 4mins, and during the time the 1st and 2nd place racers pulled away from the rest of the field, courtesy of 3rd racer 'holding' back the rest, he took a chance and overtook said 3rd guy in a corner and immediately opened a gap of 2 kart-length in each of the following laps. Obviously my fren was much faster than this "3rd" racer by a clear margin. This "3rd" racer kept his door tightly shut such that except my fren, none behind could overtake him for the rest of the race. Question: Has he committed 'un-sporting blocking' before my fren eventually overtook him? It seemed he's 'technically' right in holding his lines and shut the door all the way despite he bundled up 4-5 racers closely behind him, there's nothing the marshalls can do, let alone flag him the BLUE flag. Correct/Wrong? Many thanks in advance...

any place giving out free?

May 22, 2008 Online comments welcomed but line drawn at religious, racial-sensitive issues By Chua Hian Hou THE GOVERNMENT is willing to listen to contrarian views expressed online, but the kid gloves will come off where Net postings that threaten the nation's racial and religious harmony are concerned. The Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, Dr Vivian Balakrisnan, said on Thursday that the Government is willing to 'listen to honestly-held views of responsible people, especially when they are different'. However, he warned that it takes seriously its duty to 'maintain the integrity and security of the State'. This was the reason 'recent events' transpired, he said at a new media conference on Thursday. He did not specify what the 'recent events' were, but it was likely that he was referring to the arrest two days ago of a 24-year-old Chinese man accused of making racist remarks on his blog, or online journal. In his speech at the seventh annual PR Academy's conference on Thursday, Dr Balakrishnan, the guest-of-honour, made clear what he thought of new media: 'It is a source of tremendous opportunity, both economically and socially.' It gives users the ability to communicate and express themselves, find like-minded people and mobilise online, he said. And though it has made governing a country a much harder job, this is a good thing, he said. He explained that thanks to new media, governments no longer have a monopoly on information, and cannot simply decide and act as they previously could. http://www.straitstimes.com/Latest%2BNews/...ory_240005.html

i donno can post here anot.But anyone knows whr can i get those flags on cars?theose can fly outside 1.not paste on wind screen de