Confidence in the Malaysian stock market

The Malaysian stock market is still going strong, still resilient even after the announcement of the dissolution of Parliament or maybe because of it. Even though local retailers are taking profit, there is strong foreign support.

According to The Star,

In MIDF Equity Research's April 1 report on fund flows, it noted that foreign funds are interested in Malaysian equity.

“Foreign investors were in the market buying every single day last week. Buying momentum was extremely strong with net absorption exceeding RM300mil a day from Monday to Thursday,” it said.

Year-to-date, foreign investors have already bought RM9bil net of Malaysian equity compared with RM13.7bil in 2012.

“Foreign participation rate also stayed elevated last week. Average daily gross purchase and sale was RM1.08bil, the fourth week in a row that it had exceeded RM1bil.”

MIDF said these are “positive overtures for Bursa Malaysia”.

Still, a wise investor whose objective is to preserve wealth and hedge against inflation would do well to also include gold and other previous metals in his investment portfolio. You can buy gold or silver bullion in banks here. However, no doubt (more so for collectors) the best choices can be found online where one can not only buy but also sell one's gold coins to make way for new coins to add to the collection.

Penang flooded this morning

Major low-lying areas in Penang were flooded following a downpour last night. Streets affected were almost impassable resulting in massive traffic jams and motorists being stranded this morning.

Source: NST
City-bound motorists have been advised to avoid Jalan Masjid Negeri, Jalan Scotland, Jalan Air Itam, Jalan Terengganu and certain parts of Jalan Perak.

Update on the H7N9 bird flu in China

I have family members who have signed up for a tour of Shanghai and a few other cities nearby. I have been asked to join them and am now wondering whether it is a good idea to still go ahead with the plan or otherwise. The visit is in October.

China reported that it had confirmed 14 cases of the new flu, and on Friday it reported that six cases were fatal according to NY Times.

Though only made as a precaution, U.S. federal health officials have begun to make a seed vaccine against the mysterious new H7N9 flu circulating in China. A spokesman for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention emphasized, an agency virologist said the agency was “fairly worried” about the new virus.

No cases of human-to-human transmission have been confirmed. It is also not known how people are getting infected. The few known cases are spread out in a wide area around Shanghai. Exposure to infected poultry is an obvious suspicion. With the new flu, only two of the 14 known cases are poultry workers; a third was a cook.

On Thursday, the virus was found in pigeons in a Shanghai live bird market. The authorities began culling every bird there.

It will take at least a month to create the seed vaccine, even though the agency is speeding the process by building it from synthetic DNA rather than waiting for a virus sample to arrive from China, said Michael Shaw, associate laboratory director for the C.D.C.’s influenza division.

According to the World Health Organization, preliminary tests in China suggest the new virus is susceptible to the antiviral drugs Tamiflu and Relenza.

Several countries have acted against the flu. Vietnam banned imports of Chinese poultry. Japan posted airport notices urging people to report flu symptoms. Hong Kong banned the import of live birds from the mainland.


Full article: NY Times..C.D.C. Begins Work on Vaccine for China Flu

Tuberose candles make great gifts

The traditional Chinese community has a thing about giving candles as a gift or worse receiving them. It carries the connotation akin to wishing death upon the recipient.

But with the pervasive western culture in our society, giving candles, the western type like the diptyque tuberose candle is no longer perceived negatively.

In fact, candles can be great gifts especially when they are made with a scent so enchanting and sensual like from a flower such as Tuberose. Tuberose is one of the most expensive perfume ingredients in the world, making your Diptyque Tubereuse Candle a luxurious little treasure.

Friday Frolics - How Rare is Your Personality?

If you have been frolicking here every Friday from way back when on the Friday Frolics personality quizzes, you might feel that you have somehow done the same type of quiz like the one coming up. And you probably are right, though each one has a different set of questions.

This week's set of questions is just as thought-provoking yet not complex. Take the quiz to find out how rare is your personality.

I believe ones personality evolves over time due to several factors including experience and exposure. I managed to locate the other Personality Quiz and noticed two of the attributes from the results are different from the ones here. If you are curious enough to take the other quiz (which is a more detailed one), here it is: What's Your Personality Type?


Have a fabulous Friday, everyone!

HappySurfer's Personality is Somewhat Rare (ISTP)

Your personality type is reserved, methodical, spirited, and intense. Only about 6% of all people have your personality, including 3% of all women and 8% of all men You are Introverted, Sensing, Thinking, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Discover the Parts of Your Personality that Have Been Hiding

Last Week's Fun Quiz: What Chocolate Dessert Are You?

New bird flu strain - H7N9 - killed 3 people in China

Source: Reuters
Is the world about to face another health scare?

China is mobilising resources nationwide to fight a new strain of deadly bird flu virus, H7N9, that has killed three people. Japan and Hong Kong have stepped up vigilance against the virus and Vietnam banned imports of Chinese poultry.

The new H7N9 bird flu strain does not appear to be transmitted from human to human but authorities in Hong Kong raised a preliminary alert and said they were taking precautions at the airport.

In Japan, airports have put up posters at entry points warning all airline passengers from China to seek medical attention if they suspect they have bird flu.

A total of nine people in China have been confirmed to have contracted H7N9, all in the east of the country. Three infected people have died.

All passengers on flights in and out of Hong Kong were being asked to notify flight attendants or airport staff if they were feeling unwell.

Vietnam said it had banned poultry imports from China, citing the risk from H7N9.

Read: Reuters..China mobilizes to fight new bird flu; Japan, HK on guard

How to cook bacon the no-fuss way

Bacon, yum! Sinful, I know.. but I not so love about having to clean up after the frying. However, I just found out about cooking bacon the microwave way. This is a great discovery for me. If you are like me loving the eating but not the cooking, watch the video to see how it's done - cooking bacon the easy-peasy way.

Malaysia Parliament has been dissolved paving the way for GE13

The long-awaited moment has arrived for Malaysians as the Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak confirmed that the King has consented to the dissolution of Parliament today, Wednesday.

The Electoral Commission will now meet to set dates for nomination day and polling day, which will be separated by at least 11 days.

Elections (GE13) must be held within 60 days of today, June 2nd being the last day.

The EC has also stated that all state elections will be held simultaneously with parliamentary elections, except for Sarawak which still has three years of its mandate left after holding its polls in 2011.

And now the million dollar question: When is Polling Day?


Image source: The Star