Philip Chua Business Blog

Posts Tagged ‘Singaporeans’

THE financial market rebound has put a spring in the step of Singaporeans. They are now showing a greater willingness to take risks with their money.
Investors who had sought refuge in cash and steady yield products like bonds are now looking for higher returns and ways to better grow their wealth, according to a new Citibank survey.
It found that 44 per cent of people who stopped investing in the… more

FIRST, the good news. Singapore’s economy has moved beyond the initial post-crisis bounce of growth and will continue to expand as genuine demand begins to stabilise around the world.
But Singaporeans must prepare for a ’slower and steadier’ pace of expansion next year than they are used to, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) yesterday.

Even though Asian economies have recovered stro… more

EVEN as the stock markets pick up, expect to see fewer designer labels on fellow passengers on the MRT in coming months, if the latest survey released yesterday by Omnicom Media Group (Asia Pacific) is anything to go by. Singaporeans ranked among the most thrifty in the region, with 45 per cent of respondents planning to be either ‘a little more cautious’ or ‘a lot more cautious’ with spending ove… more

WHAT does ‘affordable’ mean?
With rising home prices hitting headlines in recent weeks, Singaporeans are falling over themselves trying to pin down affordability.
The Government, which built its reputation housing a nation, has defended its record. It says that public housing is affordable because new home owners use less than 30 per cent of their income to service their housing loans.
While this … more

Singaporeans and permanent residents aged 55 and older this year can sign up for the new CPF annuity scheme from this month, four years before it begins.

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WHEN TO OPT IN

The earlier opt-in date is in response to requests from older CPF members who want to join the … more

THE Singapore Government adopts a principled approach in its disclosures on Temasek Holdings and does not just reveal what it deems acceptable, said the Ministry of Finance (MOF) in response to a recent editorial in Wall Street Journal Asia.
MOF’s reply, which was published in yesterday’s Journal, said the principle is that the Government will disclose ‘all relevant information Singaporeans need t… more

THE pool of Singaporeans without basic health-care insurance is set to shrink.
The Ministry of Health is aiming to reduce the proportion of people without MediShield from 16 per cent to a single-digit number. MediShield provides cover for those who opt for subsidised wards B2 and C in general hospitals.
Health Minister Khaw Boon Wan is confident of achieving the goal because measures introduced in… more

Singapore is now in a stronger economic position after a turbulent start to the year, thanks to a united response from Singaporeans and a slew of government measures that cushioned the impact of the downturn.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong presented this reading of Singapore’s situation in his National Day message televised last night.
These factors, along with a ’somewhat stabilised’ global situa… more

MOST Singaporeans are happy with the way the country is governed, with many confident that Singapore has a bright future.
But some remain concerned about the affordability of basic needs such as health care, transport and housing. A small number are also dissatisfied with employment policies relating to foreigners and older workers.

These are the findings of a survey done once in two years by go… more

INVESTORS shook off the traditional August blues yesterday to drive the benchmark Straits Times Index (STI) to a new 10-month high.

Despite August traditionally being a slow trading month, with fund managers taking time off to enjoy their summer break, there was no let-up in buying as Singaporeans approach this weekend’s National Day celebration.

Despite opening up to 27 points lower after ope… more