Finances

Calling all small-and-medium enterprises (SME) who want to raise funds to expand your business. Meanwhile, for investors, you have another market for you to consider (maybe for diversification purpose or searching for high potential return?). Introducing Leading Entrepreneur Accelerator Platform (LEAP) !!! LEAP Market is a new market offered by Bursa Malaysia which aims to: provide SMEs and other companies with greater fund raising access and visibility via the capital market; and  be accessible only to sophisticated investors * * as prescribed under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007 The LEAP Market aims to bring together potential issuers, intermediaries, and Sophisticated Investors onto a new platform to create a conducive marketplace for fund raising . The LEAP Market provides an efficient and transparent capital formation and price discovery mechanisms compare to private market. Sophisticated Investors can now have greater opportunities to participate in the growth of...

Along with the continuous efforts by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) to further tightening the local financial industry, insurance companies could be their next focus. Why said so? Based on a news report by Bloomberg: 'Foreign insurers have until the end of June 2018 to reduce their holdings in local firms to 70% at most , one person said. The country’s central bank has been weighing tougher enforcement of a cap on foreign ownership as it seeks to boost local participation in the industry, people familiar with the matter said in April.' Then? Automatically, this will make us think about a few foreign insurers which are operating in Malaysia currently such as Great Eastern, Prudential, AIA and Tokio Marine . All of them are wholly owned local unit by their foreign-based parent company. Reducing the parent's shareholding to 70% means that they have to sell its stakes or opt for an IPO listing here. Which way is better? Selling a stake (30% at least) to local counterparts definite...

Are you an investor of Amanah Saham Nasional? It's troublesome to bring your ASNB passbook to update the dividend and transactions annually? Scared that you will misplace the passbook when moving house? No worry! ASNB heard it and understand your difficulties, thus, they are doing away the passbook from now onwards. Announcement #1 With effect from 28 June 2017 , ASNB will implement transaction facility without passbook for all ASNB funds to facilitate and expedite transactions for our unit holders. Unitholders are required to present their Mykad for all transactions including  additional investment and redemption at all ASNB branches and agents. A printed transaction receipt will be given for every transaction. Yes. Just bring your MyKad will do. Enjoy your process. Announcement #2 INCOME DISTRIBUTION STATEMENTS, ANNUAL REPORTS AND INTERIM REPORTS THROUGH ELECTRONIC MEANS EFFECTIVE 2018 Effective from the financial year ending 2018 onwards, all the unit trust funds...

Recently, there is an article by Chinese newspaper saying that more than half of the unit trust funds cannot beat EPF dividend rate. This has created a lot of doubts in the mind of EPF MIS investors. Is it true? Since 1997, the scheme was rolled out by EPF with the approval from the government to let members have the choice to determine their retirement funds investment. Having said so, there is some restriction on the investment withdrawal and subjected to review periodically. The approved funds under EPF MIS has to be reviewed yearly by EPF team based on certain criteria to be met, such as funds' return performances and its' consistency. Click here to find out the rules of EPF-MIS withdrawal. High entry fee ??? Flat 3% entry fee or sales charge was being imposed for every EPF MIS withdrawal. A major portion of this will goes to the agent who advises and help you to make the transaction. But, was it high? First, if you compare to cash investment (although investing into the ...

Johor Bahru was once listed as one of the top ten most affordable cities in Asia to work in by the Nomad List in 2016, though it has recently been ranked much lower at 55 th position. Though we aren’t sure of the reason behind this significant fall, one thing is for sure: inflation is beating Malaysians at its best this year. If you have been wondering about the difference in the cost of living in Johor and Kuala Lumpur, you should take a look at the in-depth analysis of components to compare the cost of living between both cities (based on findings by Numbeo ) below. The Cost of Living in Kuala Lumpur vs. Johor Bahru Eating Out Note: The findings are based on the average numbers from surveyors for the past 18 months. It is safe to say that eating out is generally cheaper in Johor Bahru than Kuala Lumpur. However, many claims that you will find it harder to get a variety of food options in Johor Bahru as compared to Kuala Lumpur and Penang. Nonetheless, it doesn’t hurt to know that y...

From July 1 onwards , the premium rates for motor comprehensive insurance will be liberalized where premium pricing will be determined by respective insurers and takaful operators. In summary, it's based on flexible pricing mechanism. The aim of the liberalization was to gradually move the tariff towards pricing that was more equitable to take into account broader risk factors and reduce cross-subsidisation across business classes and risk groups. Current Calculation of Premium = Sum assured based on model of vehicle + Loading such as driver's age (if any) + Additional Benefits (etc. windscreen, flood...) - No Claim Discount (NCD) of up to 55% What are the factors included in determining the premium? Car Model As usual, it's more expensive for a car model of higher CC (because you have a tendency and ability to speed). Other than that, an insurer will also take into consideration of the model deemed ' popular by thieves ' which considered as higher risk of be...

Dubbed as the ' money game country ' currently, Malaysia is famous again for the wrong reason. Why these kinds of money game schemes lingering around in Malaysia and attracted so many people to join? And, do we really know how to identify a so-called 'investment scheme' was actually a money game? Why Malaysia ??? This is all because of these well-blended elements: People & Timing . Consisting of two races of the world's future largest economies, China and India, we're in a very good position to 'export or import our expertise' to other countries. Together with the hope of attractive returns amid challenging economic environment faced currently, money game can easily attract its victims to join and spread rapidly. Example, JJPTR successfully export to many other countries including US and Canada. YSLM successfully import to Malaysia by Zhang Jian. Anyway, the operating procedure of all money games also having these same criteria: Promising very high ...