with opec stand, crude is heading below 40.

with last jobs data, dec 16 is almost sure of seeing a rate hike.

but i still see rm sticking around 4.2-4.3.

until some new and major development.

i don't how what is best to invest in for now... but for sure, not o&g counters in bursa.
i will not be surprised if new taxes get introduced in 2016.

US people earn USD, whether it rises or drop against other currency, it doesn't matter when the goods is quoted in USD.
An Iphone cost $549, will still cost $549, whether the USD is at RM3.30 or RM4.20.

But for in term of pricing RM, it is not the same case.

Najib: Budget 2016 to be recalibrated
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016...e-recalibrated/

Another round of volatility for USD/MYR?

bijan been boasting about gst while people hate it.

most people hate it not becos it is not a sound principle but becos it is being used to fill the big holes he created.

so, yes, i see high chance for increase in all kinds of taxes soon - incl gst, income tax. dozens of think tanks must be burning midnight oil now to find new and creative ways to tax anything that moves.

what else can putarjaya do to keep spending?!
crude <33.

8 Jan 2016 06:00 UTC - 9 Jan 2016 06:01 UTC
USD/MYR close:4.42290 low:4.37280 high:4.42325

will MYR strengthen tomorrow ?

can expect our clever ministers to disagree.

maybe fitch will counter it too, improve rating...?

Petronas sees three more tough years in 'unsettling environment'
http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/01/121766/...ing-environment

Most likely 'Ah-Jib Kor' will announce drastic measures in the forthcoming Revision of 2016 Budget

This is only true if the Feds are right, and the economic numbers coming out from the US justifies more hikes down the road. IF the Feds suddenly decides to reverse rates, then everything goes in the opposite.

The US economy depend, to a certain extent, on world economy too. With China throwing-in a spanner into the 'gearbox' in the first trading week of the year, the world has slowed down badly. Can't really tell what will happen from now....

Why do you say this ? So far in 2016, I am not seeing anything beneficial to the rest of the world with China slowdown.

Low fuel price should translate into cheaper charges for transportation. Has anybody seen cheaper flight tickets around, whether from budget carriers, or from full-service carriers ?

http://www1.uob.com.my/announcement_blr070116.html

ocbc .. 6.92
so far just heard this 2 foreign (SG) banks has BLR hike recently

"profit" is about margin and volume.

not necessary higher margin = more profits.

many biz raise price but still close down... becos vol drop like hell.

i see so many restaurants, pharmacies, carwashes, etc. closing down - simply insufficient volume.

people just don't have the disposable income to keep paying higher and higher prices.
what's happening in china is really the end result of years of QE in USA, EU and Japan.

so much new and easy money fueling price incr everywhere and everything.

but the buck has stopped, so the buying stopped.

this factory of the world called china has to slow down - the orders have slowed down.

i'm sure those trillion $ analysts and investors have eyes on all data, not just manufacturing.

china service based... not so soon. i see china remaining as the factory of the world for a long long time. the only big country with cheap labor and industrious entrepreuners i can think of is India and India has been on the map for a long time.

people need to get it - besides big brother usa, gotta watch 2nd largest economy, china in this millennium - be it political or economic. eu combined is not as influential anymore.

kv may be cheaper but nobody's moving here.
so, to which countries/cities will the factories move to, u think?

any evidence/sign of that happening yet?

What's your view on the RM, both short (say 1-3 months) and long term (1-3 years) ?

This you need to ask the speculators from other countries. Like crude oil they are saying "can reach $30" on last year, it is late by 15 days but very fast touches $27. 1st this year also another joker saying it will reach $18 this year.