Sunday, January 30, 2011

Base Lending Rate (BLR) Unchange

The Base Lending Rate has finalized remain at 6.30% (OPR 2.75%), Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) left borrowing cost unchanged yesterday as expected but warned it have to manage the rising amount building up in the domestic financial system.


The central bank said the level is consistent with its assessment of economic growth and inflation prospects. It was a market-anticipated move, which is expecting hiking cycle to start in its next March 11 meeting. 


Source: Business Time

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Understand Types Of Risk!

Risk is the potential that a chosen action or activity (including the choice of inaction) will lead to a loss (an undesirable outcome). The notion implies that a choice having an influence on the outcome exists (or existed). Potential losses themselves may also be called "risks". Almost any human endeavour carries some risk, but some are much more risky then others.


1) General Market Risks
    - These are daily market fluctuations caused by the demand and supply situation, which in turn are caused by factors such as : economic conditions, unstable political situations, investor sentiments.


2) Inflation Risks
    - This risk will directly affect funds that are placed into those asset classes that are not inflation-hedged, like Fixed  Deposits and Bonds.


3) Liquidity Risks
    - This type of risks occurs in asset classes where there are not many buyers and sellers that are readily available , like Real Properties.
     
4) Default Risks
    - This risk is where the borrowers are not able to repay the principal amount or the interest. Bonds are particularly vulnerable to this risk.


5) Foreign Currency Risks
   - This risk occurs when we invest in overseas or offshore investment, where the currency that we invest in weakens against the currency that we originally invested.


6) Estate Shrinkage Risks
    - There is always the risk that a person dies suddenly whilst in the midst of "playing the investment game". There may be a severe market downturn that can adversely affect the value of the investment at time of death.
   


 

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Planning Your Estate

According to Wikipedia, Estate planning is the process of anticipating and arranging for the disposal of an estate. Estate planning typically attempts to eliminate uncertainties over the administration of a probate and maximize the value of the estate by reducing taxes and other expenses. Guardians are often designated for minor children and beneficiaries in incapacity


There are many tools in estate planning. Some of them are:-
1) Wills
will or testament is a legal declaration by which a person, the testator, names one or more persons to manage his/her estate and provides for the transfer of his/her property at death. For the devolution of property not disposed of by will, see inheritance and intestacy.


2) Trusts
This is an arrangement where a trustee is appointed to hold property for loved ones (Beneficiary) or other purposes. The person who set up the trust is known as the "Settlor" and the terms he can spell out for the trustee to management the trust is called "Trust Deed". There are many forms of trusts, Testamentary Trust, Living Trust, Implied Trust, Express Trust, Constructive Trust, etc..which can be formed to meet various need of people.


3) Life Insurance
Life Insurance is an excellent tool for providing liquidity to one's estate, for the replacement of income and for those who wish to create a sizable estate with a small outlay. By nominating the spouse and/or children (if the testator is married), or the parent (if testator is unmarried), a trust is created in favor of the nominees. The death proceeds is a separate estate and is out of reach of his creditors in the case of bankruptcy.