Want to work at Home

With advance information technology, working from home is realistic, possible, efficient and convenient. According to statistics, with the world entering the 21st century, more and more people wants to work from home. There are many reasons for it, however, 90% of them, it’s personally reason for doing so.

Reasons such as :

1) Time Control & Flexibility - determine your own working hours.

2) Control your income - you can determine how much you earn. The more effort you put in, the more you stand to earn.

3) Choose to do what you like to do.

4) No long hours travelling

5) More time to take care of the family.

6) No more being boss around, haha, and many more reasons

This dream can be achieved, the key to reaching it is to find a job that allows you to work from home. There is an upward trend during the last 2 years, an increased of 39% from 12.4million in 2006 to 17.2 millions in 2008, a survey by Worldatwork.

So, take baby steps, and I’m sure that you too can start making money working from home.

If working from home is really what you are looking for, Do a search in Google.com eg - Want to work from Home. There are lots of information and ideas from the internet.

Importantly once we are set to work from home, we need to be very focus and discipline. Ultimately it is up to you to work the advantages to benefit yourself. Trust yourself and stay focus!

Bulls and Bears Feb - Early April 2009

16 February 2009, Monday, Straits Times Index (STI) sliped 1.3% or 22.33 points to 1,683.31 in the face of weak regional sentiment and poor market participation.

Market participation was muted, with volume shrinking to a two-week low of 701.3 m shares - worth S$683.2m. All figures quoted are in S$

Chief losers, were mainly from banking stocks.

• DBS - 19 cents down - $8.20
• UOB - 28 cents down -$11.08
• OCBC - 5 cents down - $4.96
• F&N - 12 cents down - $2.78

Expecting fourth-quarter results to be out on next day for OCBC and UOB on Feb 27. Across the board, profit warnings continued to trickle in, giving investors more reason to hold back.

17 February 2009, Tuesday, Straits Times Index (STI) sank 2.55% or 42.78 points to 1,637.92 - its wors fall in one month and its lowest close since late November 2008.

• DBS - 17 cents down - $8.03
• UOB - 16 cents down - $10.92
• OCBC - 6 cents down - $4.90
• CapitaLand - 9 cents - $2.65
• City Developments - 20 cents down - $5.22
• Keppel Land - 7 cents down - $1.36

Most dealers expect more downside to come, due to the persistent bear sentiment.

However, some analysts forecast tht the market could see a rally later in the week if Wall Street reacts positively to a US plan to stem home foreclosures.

5 March 2009, Thursday, the benchment Straits Times Index (STI) lost ground, closing 25.7 points or 1.66% lower at 1,518.64 after investors took profit on blue chips. Of the 30 STI component stocks, only 4 managed to post gains. Trading volume was 1.07 b shares worth $866.3 m Singapore's ecomony may possibly contract as much as 10% this years, as commented in the ST article.

• BDS - 15 cents down - $7.04
• UOB - 5 cents down - $9.09
• OCBC - 13 cents down - $4.12
• CapitaLand - 6 cents down - $1.89
• City Developments - 24 cents down - $4.27 ( Lowest since August 2003)
• SIA - 28 cents down - $9.86 ( Lowest since April 2004)
• Singtel - 6 cents down - $2.54

7 March 2009, Saturday, ST articles showed some comparision data on market capitalisation of some Bank shares taking a beating. Periods of comparison between September 2008 and Current and also reflecting the share price of both periods. ALl market cap figures covnerted to US$ at present rate and share price based on Thursday' price.

• HSBC - us$189b - us$68.1b ( HK$121.70 : HK$43.50 )
• Bank of America - us$142b - us$20.3b ( us$31.14 : us$3.17)
• Citigroup - $104b - us$5.6b ( us$18.99 : us$1.02)
• UBS - us$60.6b - us$24.1b ( Sft 23.92 : Sfr 9.52 )
• RBS - us$54.2b - us$11.7b ( 230 p : 20.8 p )

Singapore 's local banks are regarded as being well-capitalised, though share prices have suffered amid the mauling taken by almost all banks worldwide.

• DBS - us$17.5b - us$10.2b ( S$17.90 - S$6.90 ) - 41..7% drop in cap.
• UOB - us$18.5b - us$8.7b ( s$18.76 - s$8.82 ) - 52.9 % drop in cap.
• OCBC - us$16.2b - us$7.8b ( S$8.00 - S$4.14 ) - 55.3 % drop in cap.

Some banks, such as Lehman Brothers, collapsed under the weight of toxic debts linked to the disastrous US sub-prime mortgage market. Accoding to reports, governments in Europe and the US have decided that the likes of Citi, AIG and RBS are too big to be allowed to fail - as the ripple effects on the wider ecomony would be diabolical.

20 March 2009, Friday, ST articles published Full-year GDP forecast with analysts more bearish on Singapore. With forecast that economic output will shrink by 7 or 8% - it would be Singapore;s poorest performance since the data was first compiled in the mid-1970s, according to the article.

On 20 March 2009, it reported that the US Federal Reserve chairman annouced yesterday that US1.15 trillion (S$1.74 trillion ) would be pumped into the economy, had sent Wall Street and STI with small rise. However, analysts were quick to warn that it may be short-lived, as the economic fundamentals have not improved. Utimately, in the absence of an immediate global economic renaissance, Asian economies will in general remain under pressure and require further fiscal and monetary stimulus.

23 March 2009, Monday, yes there was a bear rally, but too early to hope for any long-term rally as uncertainty rules the day. Just read how it was compared to starting off on a sunny day, but most people have taken to carrying an umbrella in case of a sudden downpour. Was it a cute comparison phrase ? Others put it as this rally is merely the latest in a long series of dead-cat bounces - describing a spike in stock prices after they have fallen to fresh lows - in the past 18 months since the US sub-prime crisis sent global financial markets reeling in pains.

26 March 2009, Thursday, reported an initial dip before gaining some ground in the final hour. A total of 1.27 b shares worth $988.46 m were traded. STI closing at 1,691.68

• DBS - adding 4 cents - $8.42
• UOB - adding 4 cents - $10.32
• OCBC - down 1 cent - $4.87
• SIA - down 16 cents - $10.02
• SPH - add 6 cents - $2.61

27 March 2009, Friday, STI ignites hope of recovery with 4% rise surging to $1,758.79

• DBS - adding 32 cents - $ 8.74
• UOB - adding 22 cents - $10.54
• OCBC - adding 20 cents - $5.07
• Singtel - adding 6 cents - $2.57 ( Morgan Stanley noted the strong Balance Sheet and high cash yields )
• CapitaLand - adding 17 cents - $2.37
• Keppel Corp - adding 30 cents - $5.39
• SPH - adding 8 cents - $2.69

31 March 2009, Tuesday, The key trigger for the nosedive yesterday came with news that the US governement would fund giant automakers General Motors and Chrysler for the next 60 days instead of offering them fresh loans, raising the spectre of bankruptcy. Further fear that the upcoming G20 summit would fail to yield concrete results. With all unfavourable news, sending the STI down 72.52 points or 4.1% to 1,673.14

• DBS - down 35 cents - $8.21
• UOB - d0wn 58 cents - $9.60
• OCBC - down 17 cents - $4.78
• Sembawang Marine - down 16 cents - $1.75
• Cosco Corp - down 5 cents - $0.79
• Keppel Corp - down 31 cents - $4.96
• SMRT - adding 1 cent - $1.56

1 April 2009, Wednesday, Market ends first quarter on high note - with STI gained 26.85 points or 1.6% to 1,699.99 Generally market is still sceptical that the upswing could be maintained. Traders attributed the rebound to fund managers dressing up the prices of blue chips in their portfolios before they send out quarterly report cards to clients. Moreover with April Fool's Day just around the corner, it would be foolish to load up a huge position.

• DBS - adding 24 cents - $8.45
• UOB - adding 12 cents - $9.72
• OCBC - adding 6 cents - $4.84

4 April 2009, Saturday, reporting on yesterday performance of STI at highest level since 8 January and hope over G-20 buyoyancy sentiment, sending STI gaining 17.53 points, or 4.3 % higher to level 1,820.87 About 1,84 b shares were traded - worth $1.62 billion.

• UOB - adding 20 cents - $10.68
• City Developments - adding 28 cents - $5.98
• CapitaLand - adding 10 cents - $2.70
• SGX - adding 28 cents - $5.80
• F&N - down 4 cents - $2.60
• Golden Agri-Resources - down half cent - $0.285

Asian markets also continued on their winning ways yesterday. In a positive sign from China, credit seemed to be flowing again there, with reports that new loans for last month probably exceeded 1 trillion yuan (S$220 billion). China also said its manufacturing figures had notched up their first expansion in six months. However, the mood was still cautious with impending unemployment figures due out soon.

6 April 2009, Monday, with the space of four weeks, the STI has gained 20% prompting the question of True Rally or just a technical one. Last week, the benchmark index gained 75.21 points and 4.3%, closing at 1,820.87 There are also signs that the economy could be turning the corner and heading for recovery.

7 April 2009, Tuesday, STI closes at highest level since January 7 - driving index up 1.49% or 27.11 points to 1,847.98 Overall, analysts are mixed in their views regarding the direction of the local market.

• DBS - adding 16 cents - $9.18
• UOB - adding 26 cents - $10.94
• OCBC - adding 19 cents - $5.33
• CapitaLand - adding 11 cents - $2.81
• City Developments - adding 20 cents - $6.18
• SGX - adding 15 cents - $5.95
• Sembawang Marine - adding 18 cents - $2.15 ( after news that its unit had secured a rig order contract worth us$247.3 million.

9 April 2009, Thursday, fresh jitters on Wall Street putting brakes to shares rebounds yesterday. STI slipped 18.43 points or 1.02% to 1,783.96 It has surged nearly 150 points or 8.7%, in the five trading days before Tuesday's retreat.

• DBS - down 33 cents - $8.50
• UOB - down 36 cents - $10.12
• OCBC - adding 6 cents - $5.30
• CapitaLand - down 7 cents - $2.50
• City Developments - down 30 cents - $5.52
• Sembawang Marine - down 3 cents - $1.97
• Keppel Corp - down 16 cents - $5.30
• SPH - adding 3 cents - $2.65
• SMRT Corp - adding 5 cents - $1.53

10 April 2009, Friday, Easter eggs all around yesterday when key regional bourses shot up in response to Wall Street's overnight gains. STI up 2.5% or 44.55 points to 1,828.51 The push was provided mainly by funds driven by positive momentum from Japan and Hong Kong, according to the report. Overall, analysts expect caution ahead in the local market as the corporate earnings season starts next week.

• DBS - adding 41 cents - $8.91
• UOB - adding 38 cents - $10.50
• OCBC - adding 16 cents - $5.46
• CapitaLand - adding 16 cents - $2.66
• City Development - adding 13 cents - $5.65
• Semp Corp Marine - adding 18 cents - $2.15
• Keppel Corp - adding 20 cents - $5.50 ( news that rig-builder clinched a $518m contract)
• SIA - adding 48 cents - $11.40
• SGX - adding 17 cents - $5.90
• SPH - adding 15 cents - $2.80

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Good blood circulation is key to good health and wellness

According to World Health Organisation, by 2020 it is estimated that approximately 5.9 billion of the world population will be afflicted by potentially serious joint disorders. Which give an average of 1 in five will suffer from joint pain and in Singapore, it will be something like 75% of those aged 60 years and above will show symptoms of osteoarthritis.

The two most common types of chronic joint diseases :

1) Rheumatoid arthritis

2) Osteoarthritis

These joint diseases can affect our daily activities of living like walking, bending and limbing the stairs. Let us take a look at what are the signs and symptoms of these two types of arthritis.

1) Rheumatoid arthritis

• Warmth, swelling and pain in small joints of the fingers, wrists and feet.
• Affected joints are usually symmetrical (same joint on both sides of the body).
• Morning stiffness which can last an hour or more.
• Subcutaneous lumps or rheumatoid nodules may be present.
• Joint deformities caused by cartilage, tenion and ligament damage.
• Fatigue, loss of appetite and low grade fever.

2) Osteoarthritis

• Is primarily related to degenerating in the protein makeup and the water content of the cartilage.
• Repetitive use of the joints that causes irritates and inflames to cartilage.
• Cartilage further degenerate by flaking or forming tiny crevasses.
• In worst case, complete loss of cartilage cushion between the joint of bones, leading to pain and limitation of joint mobility.

How can we help to delay the onset of these joint pain ?

• Ensure a healthy nutritious and balanced diet.
• Do not place to much stress or strain on the joints by avoiding constant repetitive movements.
• Keep weight within a healthy range which will lessen the burden on our joints.
• Exercise regularly to maintain healthy bones and joints.
• Manage your workload effectively, such as doing it at steady pace and not rushing throughout the day will help to avoid overwork the joints.
• Alternate light and moderate activities and periodic stretch breaks will also help.

What are the ways to relieve pain ?

• Simple hydrotherapy such as spending 15 minutes under a hot shower or in a hot bathtub.
• Soaking your joints in alternating hot and cold water, first 10 minutes in warm water before switching to cold water for 1 minute and back to hot water and repeated throughout half an hour.
• To alleviate knee pain, wrap the affected area with a few towels before putting a hot pack on it and wrapping it further with a few more towels. Heat from the water helps to relax the muscles near the affected area of you knee. Ensure to check the skin reaction every 15 minutes and if red spots are deteched, stop treatment immediately.
• Physiotherapy with customised exercise programms will help to strengthen and improve blood circulation around the mucles and tendons of the affected area.
• Doctors may recommend the injection of cortisone, a powerful anti-inflamatory drug to patients suffering from a severely inflamed knee and uncontrolled pain.
• Acupuncture, the traditional treatment provides pain relief and improves the function of an osteoarthritis knee.
• Wearing guard around the knee. The stronger guard, such as those with bio-ray properties are currently also recommended. Ebene Bio-ray knee guard, invented by Dr Tor Lam Huat, PHD recommended this in an article in Straits Times dated 9 April 2009