Jeff Gundlach on Japan, Apple and Bubbles

Jeffrey Gundlach, the new "bond king", shares with Reuters some wealth strategies and gives his take on Japan, Apple and bubbles.

Marina Bay Sands Wedding

Marina Bay Sands is huge.  Especially their convention centre where all the ballrooms are located.  It is no wonder that many people have been having their weddings at Marina Bay Sands.  Well, it seems that based on their wedding package, there are various options for a Chinese wedding banquet.  The prices don't come cheap though and start from $1088+ per table to $1388+ per table (depending on the choice of dishes).

So if you are attending a wedding dinner there, you know the "market rate" to give.  Simply divide the price by 10 and don't forget that the price does not include service charge and GST.

In terms of location, I think Marina Bay Sands is great.  Ample parking spaces and also easily accessible by MRT. Complimentary parking tickets are usually given out.

The view is also stunning though it is not observable from the ballrooms itself. One will have to walk out to see the view.  Furthermore, people can sneak out for a short break or even to go shopping if they want to!

Food-wise, I will rate it as above average.  The food is good but I won't say that it is spectacular or anything.  It is of a reasonable standards.

The service is average or even below average.  Nowadays, it is really difficult to find good service in Singapore.

Treat Hair Loss with Onion?

Okay, I was searching the internet about natural treatments for hair loss when I came across this short video that claims one can use onions to treat hair loss.  I wonder whether anyone has ever tried this before.  Won't you stink if you rub onion on your scalp.  Not for the faint hearted definitely.

Another video here also shows a DIY hair loss treatment using onions too. If anyone ever tries this and it works, do let all of us know.  I am sure those of us who are balding or losing hair will gladly give it a shot.

Dog Gets Shot By Police

A dog gets shot by the police after it tries to protect its owner.  Disturbing footages if you are a dog owner.  

Dividends for May 2013

Phew!  It has been some time since I last wrote.  Was too busy and just could not find the time to sit down and pen anything.

Anyway, dividends received in the month of May 2013 wasn't too bad.  This was helped by monthly dividend stocks in my holdings such as Armour Residential REIT (ARR) and GAMCO Global Gold and Natural Resources Trust (GGN).  I also received payout from BDCL (a ETN that pays quarterly dividends).  The amounts I received is probably close to $200.  I am not keeping good records and I might have bank in some cheques that were actually sent to me much earlier in April.

From Singapore shares, I have also collected dividends to a neat tune of $500 exactly.  Cool and not bad for a month.

I also bought into Fidelity Asian High Yield Fund through DBS.  It is a unit trust that pays out monthly dividends and I can choose to receive the dividends or reinvest it.  Received around $7 from this unit trust.

That's all for now.

And guess what?  This blog has garnered more than half a million views.  Cool eh?

Avoiding Credit Card Fraud

Using a credit card gives you the opportunity to build your credit profile and increase your purchasing power. While credit cards definitely have some advantages over other methods of payment, they are sometimes susceptible to fraud. If you become the victim of credit card fraud, it can be a particularly frustrating experience. Here are a few things to consider about credit card fraud and how to avoid it.

How it Works

It doesn't take much for someone to try to take advantage of you through credit card fraud. All a thief needs is the information off of your credit card, and then they can start making purchases online.

Another version of credit card fraud occurs when someone gets your personal information and then opens a credit card account in your name. At that point, then the individual can use the new credit card that they get from the credit card provider to make purchases.

Avoiding Fraud

One of the nice things about many Singapore credit cards is that they have anti-fraud features. If someone uses your card to make a fraudulent purchase, then you can call the credit card company and notify them. Many of these cards will simply take off the charge and you won't be responsible for it.

You also have to be careful where you use your card. Never give it to anyone to take out of your sight, such as at a restaurant. You also need to look carefully at any ATM that you put your card into. Some scam artists use a technique called skimming to scan your credit card information once it goes into the ATM. Make sure that there haven't been any modifications to the slot.

Also, you should never email your credit card information to anyone who asks for it. Use a secure order form only.

Check Your Credit Report

If you are concerned with the possibility of someone opening a credit card in your name, it's a good idea to check your credit report regularly. When you get your credit report, you can see what accounts you have open in your name. If anyone has opened an account in your name, you'll be able to see it on your credit report.

How to Avoid the Problem

If you are interested in avoiding this problem altogether, you need to safeguard your information at all times. Don't throw your credit card statements or personal records out in the trash without shredding them. If you are getting your credit card out to make a purchase, make sure that you keep it covered at all times so that no one will be able to see the information off of it or your PIN.

Considerations

Although credit card fraud is definitely a big problem in the world today, you can minimize the chances of any damage by taking a few simple steps. If you take the time to keep your information safe, you'll be at a much lower likelihood of risk in the future. When choosing a credit card, you should also make sure that you pick one that has a zero liability for fraud policy. This way, you can ensure that you're never paying for fraud out of your own pocket.

Is Gold and Silver Still a Buy?

Earlier in February this year, I wrote a short post on whether it was the end of the gold bull run.  Of course, I couldn't say for certain that the bull run in gold was going to end.  After all, there are renowned investors out there who were still bullish in gold for the long term.  I wrote a more balanced post on some reasons to buy gold or silver.  After all, investing in gold is something that most serious investors will consider doing as part of their asset allocation.

For those who have been monitoring the gold and silver spot prices, you should be aware that gold and silver prices dropped drastically in yesterday's trading.  Gold ETFs like SPDR Gold (Ticker: GLD) fell by almost 10% in a single day with hedge funds rumoured to have started the huge sell off.  Well, a correction was more or less expected since billionaire Jim Rogers (who now lives in Singapore) said that a correction was due. In fact, Jim Rogers believes that gold prices will head towards US$1200/oz. He will probably start buying at that level.

But is this more than a correction?  Because it seems that we are now in a bear market for gold and silver.  Worries about inflation in the United States with all the money printing through the quantitative easing programs seems to be unfounded.  Inflation remains low to this day.  And besides, the stock market has been roaring on for quite a few months.  So investors in gold and silver have probably missed out on the bull run in the stock market and are taking the opportunity to liquidate their holdings since the supposed dollar crisis/crash has failed to occur.  Many traders probably closed their positions too especially if they bought at the highs of US$1800-$1900/oz.

Is gold and silver still a buy?  It probably is.  But one will probably have to wait for the right price.  And also be reminded that unlike stocks, gold and silver do not provide any form of cash flow or dividends.  It is almost simply a store of value and a hedge against hyperinflation or "catastrophic" events.  Could this be the reason why Warren Buffet is negative on gold?