Friday, October 17, 2008

Plan for Asia crisis fund denied

Singapore said it was not aware of a plan by Southeast Asian nations, backed by Japan, China and South Korea, to set up a multi-billion dollar fund to buy toxic debt and help the region's banks hit by the financial crisis.
Philippines' President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo said on Wednesday the countries have agreed to set up such a fund and the World Bank has committed to provide $US10 billion to the fund.
However, a World Bank official said the bank has no plans to contribute to the fund, and the Asian Development Bank said it was too early to talk of contributions to the facility because the region remains economically strong. ''We are not aware of any proposal for the ASEAN+3 nations to set-up a multi-billion dollar fund to buy toxic debts and help the region's banks,'' a spokesman from Singapore's finance ministry said late.
ASEAN+3 refers to the 10-member Association of South East Asian nations, and Japan, China and South Korea.
Governments around the world have pledged around $US3.2 trillion in a variety of schemes to combat the worst global financial crisis in decades that has toppled financial institutions in the United States and several other countries.
The crisis has provided plenty of reminders to Asia of its own financial crisis a decade ago, when currencies in several countries crashed and foreign investors fled the region.
It was not immediately clear why Arroyo made the announcement, rather than Thailand, the current chairman of ASEAN. A Thai official said it could be because of political problems in the country.
East Asian countries earlier this year proposed an $US80 billion currency swap agreement, expanding a much more modest agreement that was set up in the wake of the 1997/98 Asian financial crisis to protect any country facing a balance of payments crisis.
Arroyo also reiterated that the ASEAN plus 3 grouping would hold a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia-Europe summit in Beijing next week to discuss how the crisis was affecting the region.
ASEAN comprises of Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei, Vietnam, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and the Philippines. - Reuters
Could this be the reason why Asian bourses is being sell-down today? Malaysia in denial of a recession is down 1.61%, Singapore admittedly in recession is down 3.62% while Indonesia is down 4.36%. Obviously, we are still resilient if you looked at the percentage of the decline, so to speak. But if you take a look at the broader market, decliners again outnumbered gainers by 2.5:1 with dwindling volume. Second liners and third liners seemed to be taking the wrath of this selling force over the past few days.
What does this means to us? If I looked at all the parameters available before me ie the velocity of this sell-down in relation with the ringgit, there is another pull out by foreign funds ahead of the transition. We are in for another bout of consolidation with more downside. Gloomy picture. Our real economy does not help either. Totally stalled since last year. Hopeless.
Hang on to your cash in Singapore currency. Ringgit is going to weaken further. Continue to short the futures on strength. Only place to make some money. That's all for now. Happy hours awaits me...

3 comments:

de minimis said...

Whisperer

Now that there is a guarantee on all bank deposits in Malaysia and Singapore, there will be a collective sigh of relief.

I suspect, Gloria Macapagal "salah tekan" under pressure from the Filpino economy.

TheWhisperer said...

I agree with you.. Our system have enough money to guarantee all the deposits. But how much do we have left in this country remain the question. Will it still be there by 2010? May just do a Houdini act and disappear all together. Sorry to say that but that's how much faith i have left with this administration. At the rate they waste away our money, 2 years is a long time to take their word at par.

Anyway, that is just a piece of news i plucked out to share with others.

My interest is actually trying to make some money out of this sorry situation which I did by dabbling on the index futures at the same time sharing my thoughts here on my blog.

I hope you managed to make some yourself. With your noble experience and indepth knowledge, shouldn't be a problem to you either.

Cheers

Jarod said...

If like what you said that Malaysia will go down hill, what will be the worst scenario? 97 is not that bad compare to this, right? In that case, Malaysian might as well keep Aussie dollar for interest? :) Singapore is just the same as US, am i right? Play safe better?

If i want to change my RM for investment, which would be the better currency under this economic situation? I hope to understand more and save my self.

Thanks