READING THE MINDS OF THE FEDERAL RESERVE

Reading the minds of the men behind the Federal Reserve is not too difficult. 

You have four options to choose from.

They are found buried in the Fed's website.

#1 is the safest bet.

FED APRIL MEETING POSSIBLY 'LIVE'

I love the way the Feds communicate. It's a tough job. They can't give away the game too much but yet, enough to make sense of the volatile environment.

Thus, Yellen is keeping the possibility of the April meeting open to a press con. 

Read more here. 

ALL CASH. AGAIN.

After riding the STI from 2591 to 2800, I am out. Almost all cash now.

Will I rush back in if STI breaks 3000? 

No.

Why?

Because I do not have a fear of missing out the action. 

Good luck. 

THE FATAL MISSING PIECE IN RETIREMENT PLANNING

I have been asked a few times, how much is enough for retirement on a monthly basis. I would usually reply, how much do you spend in a month.

It's not too difficult a sum to work out. But one should always assume all costs involved, including loans and leisure expenses. 

I find most retiree aspirants do not attempt to factor in costs of their entertainment and leisure activities. This results in a budget that crimps their current lifestyle. Thus, making for an almost painful retirement.

Go ahead and factor in the holidays, gifts, shopping, movies and gambling jaunts. 

You would then realise you need much more than you initially thought.

Good luck.

DELONGZZZ

Just when you thought things were looking up for the steel/iron industry in China and for local players like Delong, this fellow came and shingzed the whole party. 

Of particular note:
“The iron ore market remains massively oversupplied and steel consumption in China will extend declines this year,” Li said in an interview on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he told a conference in Perth that he sees iron ore prices trading between $40 and $60 a metric ton this year as China’s demand weakens.

God bless you.

CASH = BALLS

Nobody doubts the fact that money, can get you almost anything, anywhere.

But not everyone who invests knows that.

The common refrain: Start investing young, let your investments compound, you got a long runway.

But that's not the right track. It sets you up thinking that any time, is a good time to invest.

The right refrain: Work hard, save up your money, invest when your basics are take care of.

But nobody understands why. Why is it so important to have enough savings to tide you over when an emergency occurs. Or simply when an investment goes south overnight.

Because without cash, you got no balls to hold.