Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Enforced absence from blogging

During last few weeks, there were two funerals (close family members) within 2 weeks, and my notebook crashed and could not be restarted.

Tried using wife's iPad to post something in this blog, but could not get past the heading: just could not get the keyboard activated at the content section. This could be a security feature to prevent unauthorised intrusion, as I was informed by email about the use of iPad to gain access. I just left it at that.

The stock market crashed too, a prolonged one, for one reason or other, and almost all shares lost substantially in market capitalization, and for those who held shares, would have lost at least in book values. Surprisingly, I have yet to read about anyone complaining about the effects on their personal finances. I am pretty sure there are those who speculate, trading on margins as well as contras. These speculators are likely to have their fingers burnt, despite their years of experience. As my friend would have put it: we cannot get past the 'greed factor'. Many people talked about selling their shares prior to the expected downturn, but most of them just loved their shares too much to sell, even for taking advantage of further drop in prices so that they could easily buy back at much lower prices. For those with extra cash waiting to buy, they hope for buying at the lowest, and would have either missed or glad that they did not buy as some prices dropped even further.

Forex exchange rates also worked against our Malaysian Ringgit (dubbed Shringgit) when it dropped to over Rm4.20 against the US Dollar, the lowest in 17 years as well as the worst performer among Asian currencies. Even against Singapore Dollar, it is now over Rm3.00, as compared with their parity in 1967.

Those with children studying in the USA, UK and Australia, are feeling the pinch because the fees and costs of food and lodging would have gone up substantially. While those who are working in such countries and Singapore are laughing because their savings can be translated into more Ringgits.

For the past few days, we cannot miss news about the forthcoming Bersih 4 rally. As usual, the government and police will try their best to frighten the people from participating, so that a lower turnout would mean less support for the opposition, activists and members of the public who are upset with the government. But based on feedback within families and friends, this rally is going to be the biggest and expected to be carnival-like. Let us hope there would not be saboteurs to blame any stupid acts on the organizers and participants, and that the police would not spoil the peaceful event by antagonizing them.


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