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What it means to be a successful investor in 2016 can be summed up in four words: bigger gambles, lower returns. Thanks to rock-bottom interest rates in the U.S., negative rates in other parts of the world, and lackluster growth, investors are becoming increasingly creative—and embracing increasing risk—to bolster their performances. To even come close these days to what is considered a reasonably strong return of 7.5%, pension funds and other large endowments are reaching ever further into riskier investments: adding big dollops of global stocks, real estate and private-equity investments to the once-standard investment of high-grade bonds. Two decades ago, it was possible to make that kind of return just by buying and holding investment-grade bonds, according to new research. In 1995, a portfolio made up wholly of bonds would return 7.5% a year with a likelihood that returns could vary by about 6%, according to research by Callan Associates Inc., which advises large investors. To make a 7.5% return in 2015, Callan found, investors needed to spread money across risky assets, shrinking bonds to just 12% of the portfolio. Private equity and stocks needed to take up some three-quarters of the entire investment pool. But with the added risk, returns could vary by more than 17%. Nominal returns were used for the projections, but substituting in assumptions about real returns, adjusted for inflation, would have produced similar findings, said Jay Kloepfer, Callan’s head of capital markets research. The amplified bets carry potential pitfalls and heftier management fees. Global stocks and private equity represent among the riskiest bets investors can make today, Mr. Kloepfer said. “Stocks are just ownership, and they can go to zero. Private equity can also go to zero,” said Mr. Kloepfer, noting bonds will almost always pay back what was borrowed, plus a coupon. “The perverse result is you need more of that to get the extra oomph.” Bonds historically produced a source of safe, good-enough streams of profit that allowed long-term, risk-averse investors to hit annual targets. The era of low rates has all but erased that buffer. The absence of a few extra percentage points of yield means investors must now compensate by embracing unsafe bets that could strike big—or flop. The Callan report highlights how risky an endeavor that is. “Not nearly enough attention has been paid to the toll these low rates—and now negative rates—are taking on the ability of investors to save and plan for the future,” BlackRock Inc. Chief Executive Officer Laurence Fink said in a recent letter to shareholders. Some investors such as David Villa of the $100 billion State of Wisconsin Investment Board argue that at near zero, rates are artificially suppressed, and it’s creating bubbles in asset prices. Advertisement “We know the Federal Reserve is trying to trick us—we’re dealing with distortions,” said Mr. Villa, referring to how low rates have historically encouraged investors to take on more risk. “They want us to invest in building new things, but what [investors are] doing is trading existing assets at higher and higher prices.” Many large investors aren’t gambling that big—and their returns are lagging well behind internal targets. The nation’s largest public pension fund, the California Public Employees’ Retirement System, has one-fifth of its assets in bonds and is down 1.3% since July 1, according to public documents. The system, known by its abbreviation Calpers, also has 53.1% of its assets in stocks, 9% in real estate and 9.4% in private equity. In 2015, Calpers posted a return of 2.4%, below its target rate of 7.5%. The risk dilemma for investors has real-life consequences. Retirement plans, including Calpers and the New York State Common Retirement Fund, are lowering what they predict they can earn on their investments, a move that means workers and cities likely face higher contributions and taxes. For insurers, lower bond returns mean life-insurance policyholders pay more for coverage. It wasn’t always this complex. Two decades ago big investors had their money sitting primarily in U.S. stocks and bonds. Inflation was 4% and yields on investment-grade bonds roared upward at double that rate. After the 2008 financial crisis, central bankers pushed down rates to stimulate growth, dropping real returns close to zero for higher-quality debt. Government bonds in Japan and Europe now have nominal yields below zero. Cheaper borrowing costs generally spur new investments from companies or consumers. But instead, global production is flat or declining, and consumers face stagnant wages that crimp their ability to spend. That has pushed down the “neutral rate,” or the real rate of interest that neither accelerates nor decelerates the economy. It is now basically flat, compared with 4% or 5% in prior decades, said Roberto Perli, a partner at Cornerstone Macro, a macroeconomic research firm. While some investors are loading up on traditionally risky assets as a way of hitting ambitious targets, others—concerned about a slowing global economy—are wrestling with how to reduce risk without piling into bonds. ‘I can’t just reach out and grab a high-quality bond that’s yielding 6% or 7%. They don’t exist.’ —Tom Girard, New York Life Insurance Co. The nation’s second-largest public pension plan, the California State Teachers’ Retirement System, has shifted a significant amount of money away from some stocks and bonds to protect against a downturn. It moved assets into U.S. Treasurys and so-called liquid-alternative funds, which mimic hedge-fund strategies. Calstrs, as the pension is called, reported gains of 1.5% during a choppy 2015, with returns on its fixed-income investments up just 0.6%. “We used to say bonds would be that risk protection,” saidChristopher Ailman, chief investment officer at Calstrs. “Now we can’t.” For instance, in 2002, safer corporate bonds returned about 11%, while U.S. stocks fell roughly 22%, according to a Segal Rogerscasey analysis of the Russell 3000 stock index, plus historical bond returns tracked by Barclays and Citigroup. But during the 2008 crisis, stocks fell more than 37% and higher-quality bonds declined 3.3%, according to the Segal Rogerscasey analysis. More recently, those types of bonds fell during stock-market tumbles in August and December, Segal Rogerscasey said. Others are willing to accept lower returns for now and wait for better days ahead. The Wisconsin pension sold off trophy real-estate and private-equity holdings when it believed prices were high over the past two years and switched into publicly traded stocks and bonds that can be sold quickly, Mr. Villa said. Not all investors have the luxury of avoiding bonds. New York Life Insurance Co., which has about 89% of its $220 billion in assets in bonds, once could find what it needed among well-known, plain-vanilla securities. Insurers typically have large holdings of high-quality government and corporate bonds, because of state-regulatory guidelines encouraging safe investments. But now the insurer has to scour the globe for suitable bets in assets in which it had never before dabbled—such as complex bond deals involving railcar leases, shipping containers and legal-settlement payouts. The insurer has “looked under rocks, far and wide” to find suitable fixed-income investments, said Tom Girard, who leads New York Life’s fixed-income team. “I can’t just reach out and grab a high-quality bond that’s yielding 6% or 7%.” he added. “They don’t exist.”

Nine people were injured in a five-vehicle pile-up along the Seletar Expressway (SLE), in one of three accidents on the road on Saturday. Among those injured was a three-year-old girl suspected of having spinal injuries. The accident, which happened around 11.45am, involved three cars, a taxi and a truck. It took place near the Mandai exit on the SLE, heading towards Woodlands. The injured were sent to the National University Hospital and Khoo Teck Puat Hospital. Some of them had head lacerations and abrasions, and swelling in the chest. The accident also closed off several lanes, causing a major slowdown in traffic. Another accident took place around 1pm at the junction of Clementi Road and Dover Road. Two cars were seen being towed a few hours later. A Channel NewsAsia viewer, Shahida Banu, also sent in pictures of another accident at the junction of Toh Guan Road and Boon Lay Way. It happened around 2pm and involved a car and a lorry which flipped over. The Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) said a man in his 20s was sent to hospital with lower back pains and arm abrasions. Source: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/nine-injured-in-5-vehicle/837608.html

got this from the FB site Fxxking amazing facts: remember, it is just a pile of scrap metal at the end of 10 years.

Below is the link in Straits Times Some people said that it was a Kelisa. Any opinion? ST link

The SDP reported on this website about the plight of 88-year old Mr Dawart Abdul who was suffering from prostate problems and, as a result, was incontinent. The urine odour in his house caused much unhappiness among his neighbours. Members of the SDP's Community Services Unit visited the octogenarian and brought him to consult our healthcare panel member Dr Leong Yan Hoi. We paid Mr Dawart a follow-up visit last week and found out that the Care Corner Family Service Centre at Woodlands and Community Development Council had provided Mr Dawart a wheelchair, some taxi vouchers for transport, and a one-time supply of food rations. But that's just one side of the story. What the Government gives with one hand, it takes back with the other. Mr Khamis, a friend who is living with Mr Dawart and taking care of him, showed us a registered letter dated 21 June 2012 from a lawyer's firm representing Sembawang-Nee Soon Town Council. It demanded payment for outstanding Town & Conservancy Fees amounting to $177.50 (below, left). For good measure, the letter stated that a court order would be issued if the payment is not made within 14 days from the date of the demand. The Town Council was not the only one that was demanding payment from an elderly man who did not have enough money to even see a doctor for his illness. SP Services sent a letter to Mr Dawart's home to remind him of the outstanding electricity and water bills that he has not paid. The bill amount was $330.96 (below, right). Mr Dawart's problems didn't end there. After we had taken him to Dr Leong's clinic for his consultation, Mr Khamis brought Mr Dawart to the polyclinic for a follow-up check up. Even though no medication was provided Mr Dawart was told, according to Mr Khamis, that $50 would be deducted from his Medisave Account, and another $5 in cash payment for

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/A...ory_741406.html TOKYO (AP) - An freeway pile-up of luxury sportscars in Japan may be one of the priciest road accidents on record, smashing eight Ferraris, a Lamborghini and two Mercedes. Police say they believe the pileup Sunday was touched off when the driver of one of the Ferraris tried to change lanes and hit the median barrier. He spun across the freeway, and the other cars collided while trying to avoid hitting his car. Video of the crash aired by NTV, a major national network, showed several smashed, bright red Ferraris cluttering the freeway. No one was seriously injured, but police in Yamaguchi prefecture said 10 people were treated for bruises and cuts. Police say 14 cars were involved altogether.

Damn.......if these were protons, none of them would live to tell tale <h1 property="dc.title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 4px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 2.5em; line-height: 1.2em; text-align: left; ">8 Ferraris, Lamborghini smashed in pricey Japan freeway pileup</h1> Text Size Print E-mail Reprints <h3 property="dc.creator" style="margin-top: 17px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 17px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 1.2em; font-weight: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); ">By Associated Press, Updated: Monday, December 5, 4:09 PM</h3>TOKYO

Hey guys, heard there was a major pile-up accident this morning on the CTE towards AYE near cairnhill exit. Anyone saw and knows how many cars was in the pile-up?

Two members of Korean boy band Super Junior were involved in an accident along the East Coast Parkway near the Bedok Exit yesterday at about 6.30pm. Fortunately, the duo, who arrived on the 5.30pm flight from Tokyo yesterday, were unhurt. Concert organisers say overzealous fans may have been the cause. Leeteuk and Heechul were on their way from Changi Airport to their hotel. The rest of the 10 man group were arriving separately. The boys were in one van while the two employees of organisers Running Into The Sun were in the car ahead of them. Running Into The Sun is a subsidiary of Fly Entertainment. According to an employee who was in the staff car, eight fan vehicles were giving chase and were trying to get close to the Super Junior van. Nervous Said the employee:

Last night CTE accident around 7.00 pm will be remembered easily as it happen on April Fool's Day, 1st April 2008. Accidents happen toward the direction of AMK and near to Braddell exit. Eight vehicles pile up were reported by police but witness says that there are 10 vehicles involved. 2 vehicles left the scene before the police arrived. This 2 vehicles who escape either no licence one or drink driving..... The accident lasted until 11 pm plus as from my house, I could see the jammed from CTE and slip road from PIE to CTE after Shuang Lim temple. April Fool's Day maybe a joke but this one is no joke to the driver involved.......

Happy Tailgating http://sg.news.yahoo.com/070511/5/singapore275425.html Friday May 11, 12:17 AM 14-vehicle pile-up along CTE causes heavy traffic jam SINGAPORE: Traffic along the CTE towards the AYE came to a standstill Thursday afternoon following a 14-vehicle pile-up. The incident happened near the Orchard Road exit - obstructing the centre and right lanes of the expressway. The 14-vehicle pile-up involved 11 cars, two vans, and a taxi. One of the van drivers was taken to Singapore General Hospital for injuries, while a passenger in a taxi was also treated at the Hospital for slight injuries. It is not known what caused the pile-up. In a separate incident, a van overturned at the junction of Commonwealth Avenue West and Clementi Road, after it collided with a car. The drivers of both vehicles were taken to the National University Hospital. - CNA/yy

hi, anyone was stucked in the massive jam at TPE ard 7plus to 8 plus where there's a massive vehicle pile-up near the Ponggol exit. I think abt 10 vehicles including a bus. Left with one lane passable to traffic. hope ppl involved are alright as it's realli a massive vehicle pile-up. with cautious during rainy days...