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Showing posts from June, 2012

Who's Heading into Finance, 2012?

Over 85 Consortium first-year MBAs this year indicated an interest in finance or financial services. That is within the range of what CFN has observed over the past four years--typically a range from 80-90, about a quarter of the total number of Consortium first-year MBA students in 2012. In the aftermath of the financial crisis and amidst the occasional turbulence since then, many would swear the numbers of those expressing interest in finance would have declined over the years. MBA students, we are finding out, continue to have varying levels of interest in financial services. But most of them are less eager to rush to Wall Street to become associates in mergers & acquisitions at a big bank. The opportunities they dreamed of while applying are not always evident when recruiting season starts. And some, after they learn the process and procedures to secure Wall Street jobs, are reluctant to play the hard ball it sometimes takes to get there:  lotteries, informational interviews, t

Insolvency and UK’s Battle Against Debt

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The credit crisis that currently grips the UK shows no sign of abating and the sheer size of debt in the country is astronomical. Insolvency numbers are expected to rise as debt levels have tripled over the last decade. Licensed insolvency practitioners are preparing to help thousands of struggling people solve their debt problems. The current financial state of the UK doesn’t make pleasant viewing and it is affecting consumers up and down the country. Insolvency levels are fully expected to reach record highs this year and a report has shown that young people are amongst the most financially vulnerable in the UK due to the level of debt that they have accrued. Insolvency – The debt cycle Financial experts often suggest that an individual voluntary arrangement is a good way for people with high levels of debt to tackle their problems. Debt problems in the UK are getting to the stage where the threat of insolvency or bankruptcy looms large over a vast proportion of the population. The

Big Banks: The Dreadful Downgrades

Moody's this week downgraded 15 banks, including top names such as Morgan Stanley, Citi, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. This was not unexpected. Morgan Stanley's rating (Baa1) is now barely a notch above "high yield" status (or whatever the nomenclature today is for non-investment grade, "junk" or "non-prime" issuers). Banks, analysts, and equity markets have tried--even until now--to determine and quantify the impact of the downgrade on each bank's profitability, ROEs, deployment of capital, liquidity, and access of funding, although banks all over are arguing they are stronger, better capitalized, more averse to risks and subject more to oversight and regulation than they were five years ago. Ratings, for example, have impact on trading activity, as much as access to funding and the interest rate they pay on outstanding debt. When ratings decline, banks must pledge more in collateral for derivatives and tra

Younger borrowers turn to reverse mortgages

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According to recent reports, a large number of young homeowners are turning to reverse mortgages as they’re experiencing a huge increase in their unsecured debt levels. Reverse mortgage loans are the best financing options for the seniors who live on a fixed income level and need immediate cash for home renovation or any other purpose. Studies suggest that the previous borrowers of the reverse mortgage loans used them to improve their home, their biggest asset, but now the younger borrowers are taking resort to the reverse mortgage loans in order to meet their pressing financial needs. No amount of professional debt settlement advice can aid the young borrowers get out of debt.  The reverse mortgage loans are actually tailored to meet the need of the seniors above 62 years of age. The government issues all reverse mortgages to the seniors through the HECM or the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage program and through this the senior can access the cash that he has accumulated as equity in

Sigma Wealth Stock Analysis Advance Course

Last weekend we had just completed a 4 day stock analysis course. It was overall a comprehensive learning experience for the participants as they learn about economics, ratio analysis, intrinsic value, value investing, charts and patterns, price and volume analysis, Dow theory, Elliott Wave, Fibonacci support and resistance, market sentiment indicators and more! What a list! Yes, we covered so much in just 4 days, of course, we have all the follow ups through our exclusive facebook "secret group" - only for the graduates, to discuss our daily trades and so that we can all make money together! Also, I've to thank Iqbal for coming all the way from KL to attend our seminar in Johor Bahru! Here are some of the graduates comments: "This course provides me a bigger pictures of how the stock market works and an in-depth analysis of stocks performance. I'll recommend friends to join this course as it transforms me from a novice into a knowledgeable investor. Lecturer is

Where Are We Heading To?

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Where is our KLCI heading to? Everyone is asking this multimillion dollar question! In order to answer this question, we must first look at the S&P 500 chart, as that will determine our market in the near term. According to the above chart, we are at the cross road whereby the S&P is below the 50 day moving average but was supported by the 200 day moving average. This spells some uncertainty over the market in the short term. Now we have to observe for the next 2 weeks whether we can stay above both 50 day and 200 day moving average, if yes, it means the bull trend continues. However, it S&P 500 breaks below these two moving averages, it means we have the "death cross", which is bad news for our KLCI as well. Of course, we must not forget the Greece re-election is around the corner, this Sunday, as all eyes will be on the outcome whether the New Democratic Party (New Democracy, in support of the euro zone) and the radical left-wing coalition (Syriza, left-wing,

Commencement, 2012: "Avoid Monday Decisions"

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UVA Darden's Dean Bruner: "Moral Courage is an all-the-time thing." Before they ventured into the land of consulting, banking, finance, and product management, MBA graduates sat through commencement--one last chance to gather noisily with classmates and then ponder what lies ahead. They sat through an on-stage commotion of deans and queues of speakers--some from from the highest rungs of business, some students like themselves. What parting words did they hear?  What taps on the back did they receive, as they set off beyond the campus cocoon? In 2012 during the MBA graduation season, some themes are prevalent everywhere. Most graduating classes endure orations describing frail economic times and the responsibility they have to clean up the messes in the financial system or to assist others who face hardships. MBA graduates are often admonished to seek achievement beyond the corporate bottom line: Don't just rush out of here, they are told, to join a 10-year race to ac

Find the Cheapest Car Insurance

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With the struggling economy, you might find yourself needing to find ways to save money. One way that you can save money is with the cost of insurance. All of us need insurance; however, you do not need to pay a fortune for your insurance needs. Here are five tips to find cheap insurance. 1. Increase your Credit Score:  You should ask for a copy of your free credit report and make sure that it is correct. If you have any unpaid bills, make sure you get them paid, and start making payments in a timely manner. You should also try to lower the amount of debt that you have. This can save you lots of money on insurance premiums. 2. Shop Around:  One of the best ways to find cheap insurance is to compare different companies. Insurance companies are very competitive, so you should shop around for the best rate. You might even have the power to negotiate and get a better rate. Most insurance companies will give you free quotes, so it is a good idea to request at least three quotes and comp

Top 5 Best Finance Websites For You

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Keeping up with the world of finance can be difficult with all of the information that is available out there. If you are interested in finance, there are several websites that you can check regularly to stay up to date with what is going on in the world. Here are five of the best finance websites for you to bookmark. CNN Money   CNN Money is one of the most well-known finance websites out there. It is updated throughout the day with contributions from experts in their respective fields. They get content from Fortune, Money, and of course, CNN. They have information about the stock market, banking, bonds, real estate, insurance, and a lot more.  Investopedia  Investopedia is one of the best finance websites online. It has a plethora of information about anything that is related to investing. You can get definitions of terms that you understand. You can find articles from investment experts that provide you with tips and strategies. They also provide up-to-date market analysis articles

How to Dispute Discrepancies on Your Credit Report

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Your credit report is one of the most important documents in determining your financial standing. A good credit report can help you achieve your financial goals, purchase valuable assets, and qualify for competitive interest rates on new lines of credit. A bad credit report can keep you from purchasing a new home or car, as well as preventing you from qualifying for credit at low interest rates. This makes it essential to know what’s in your credit report and what you can do to improve your credit by reviewing your credit file regularly. According to a study released on Bankrate.com , a startling 70 percent of all credit reports contain serious errors or discrepancies which can affect an individual’s credit rating. These include having accounts listed twice, incorrect account statuses, discrepancies on the date penalties were incurred, and even the assignment of incorrect aliases that aren’t the same person. Each of these mistakes can cause decreases in your credit rating and affect yo