Discover and Compare The Best Malaysia Broadband Plans
- By CompareHero.my
- November 28, 2018
The introduction of the Mandatory Standard on Access Pricing by MCMC has reduced internet prices (both broadband and mobile) and existing plans given higher speeds or larger quotas. For your convenience, you’ll find the latest home broadband internet prices from major providers in Malaysia here. (more…)
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Derivatives 101 in Malaysia
- By CompareHero.my
By Smart Investor 
Savvy investors can multiply potential gains by capitalising on the leverage effect offered by derivatives, regardless of market movement.
While equities tend to be the vehicle of choice among many investors, derivatives have yet to see widespread uptake in Malaysia.
In fact, Bursa Malaysia Derivatives (BMD) Bhd estimates that domestic institutions and retail investors comprise just 44% of activity in Malaysian derivatives market.
Foreign institutions make up a larger share, highlighting the segment’s international appeal. But what are derivatives and why are they seeing such interest?
What’s the difference between futures and forward contracts, and what is short positioning? Read on!
What’s In A Name?
In laymen’s terms, derivatives are financial instruments which derive their value from something else, such as stocks, commodities, currencies, interest rates and even weather data.
The prime value they offer to investors is leverage, multiplying potential gains (though this applies to losses as well).
In addition, derivatives traders can accrue returns through short positioning, making a profit in both bullish and bearish market trends.
Three categories of derivatives are currently offered by BMD in Malaysia, namely commodity, equity and financial derivatives.
Derivatives can help manage risk and secure sustainable growth in a portfolio, says BMD CEO Jamaluddin Nor Mohamad.
Commodity derivatives draw their value from agriculture products and precious metals such as crude palm oil and gold. Crude palm oil futures are one of the most popular derivatives currently being traded in Malaysia.
Meanwhile, equity derivatives such as the BMD FM70 draw their value from the FTSE Bursa Malaysia Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (FBM KLCI), with single stock futures contracts based on selected counters.
Finally, financial derivatives are based on short-term interest rate instruments traded in the money market, as well as bonds, including three-, five- and 10-year government securities futures.
However, financial derivatives account for the least trading activity in the Malaysian exchange due to the stability of domestic interest rates.
Through Thick Or Thin
In general, derivatives come in four flavours. Futures contracts are agreements to buy and sell assets in the future, while options are similar but carry no obligation to complete the transaction, just the right.
Derivatives are are less vulnerable to market manipulation, says BMD Senior Executive Vice-president (Product and Market Development) Jeffrey Tan.
Meanwhile, swap contracts are agreements to exchange cash flows for a time, and forward contracts are like futures contracts, but are held between private parties instead of exchange-traded.
Regardless of type or underlying asset, derivatives offer the potential to multiply returns through leverage. Leverage, in laymen’s terms, is the control of a larger investment through a small amount of capital.
For example, the value of a BMD FM70 contract is equal to the index points of the FBM Mid 70 multiplied by RM2. If the FBM Mid 70 is at 15,000 points, the contract is worth RM30,000.
Each movement of the FBM Mid 70 index is thus multiplied, so if it goes up by 120 points, the trader will earn RM240, or 30% of his initial margin, minus associated fees. Unfortunately, this applies to losses as well.
Thankfully, derivatives also give traders the flexibility of taking a short position on a contract to profit from downwards market movements.
This is because derivatives traders can agree to sell something in the future without owning it first, whereas stock traders must typically buy a stock before selling it.
In the example above, a trader could sell an FM70 contract with the FBM Mid 70 at 15,476 points, then buy another when the index falls to 14,702. In this scenario, his profit would be RM1,548, minus associated fees.
Through prudent use of leverage and short positioning, investors can utilise derivatives to maximise the profit potential from modest initial capital.
The article is contributed by Aliff Yusri from Smart Investor. Smart Investor is the country’s leading monthly investment magazine. It focuses on enhancing value for both retail and institutional investors via its extensive corporate and financial commentaries and features.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of CompareHero.my
Neither CompareHero.my nor the content on it is intended as securities brokerage, investment, tax, accounting or legal advice, as an offer or solicitation of an offer to sell or buy, or as an endorsement, recommendation or sponsorship of any company, security or fund. The content on CompareHero.my is for general information purposes only and is not intended to be personalised investment advice or a solicitation for the purchase or sale of securities.
Compargo Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. and/or its affiliates cannot and do not assess, verify or guarantee the adequacy, accuracy or completeness of any information, the suitability or profitability of any particular investment, or the potential value of any investment or informational source. CompareHero.my may receive compensation from the brands or services mentioned on this website.
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2019年的“B40预算案“–是否做到公平公正?
- By CompareHero.my
- November 27, 2018
让人期待的马来西亚2019年的预算已经出炉，对我们的财务部长林冠英在2018年11月2日所发表的财政预算有很多有趣的地方。
我们可以有很多方法可以分析这个预算，但我猜想这个预算最耀眼的地方是迎合和缓解最底层的40%的家庭（B40组）。如果想要唤醒你的记忆，你可阅读马来西亚收入分类T20, M40和B40。
现在，现回到我们的B40预算，在部长演讲时，他做出了几个以维护这个群组的声明。我们看看有哪一点。整个演讲总共有78页，让我们先看看一些大纲。以下是有关于B40的群组的一些声明。
- 确保生活品质
- 增加工作机会及市场竞争力
- 提高卫生服务质量以及社会福利保障
- 增加可用收入
- 全民拥有房屋
现在就让我们跟深入了解以上所提到的几点能够如何从中获益，并在阅读这篇文章后来判断。
卫生保健
- 政府将为最低的40%（B40）人口试行一个全国医疗保险计划。
- 在B40健康保障的计划下，从一月起，政府将与私人保险公司针对首四大严重疾病提供免费保障，以及高达14天的住院福利。
- 首四大严重疾病的免费保障总额将高达RM8,000, ，住院费为RM50一天或一年RM700 。
此外，卫生部将在全国展开健康检查计划，被称为PEKA (健康保障计划), 为八十万人年龄五十岁以上，处在B40组群里的人士提供，费用为马币1亿。
房屋
- 在2019年的预算里，价格低于马币二十万的低成本，中低成本以及可负担的房屋，将豁免于房地产业盈利税，以稳定现有的市场。
- 马来西亚国家银行将设立一笔马币十亿的基金以协助低收入，月薪不超过RM2,300的人民购买他们的第一个家。
生活费援助金
- 在希盟政府管理下，四百一十万户人家将从生活援助金计划中获益。
- 此计划将拨款马币五十亿将由政府继续协助在B40的家户改善生活。
- 家庭月收入少过RM2,000 将得到RM1,000, 的援助，而RM2,001至RM3,000将得到RM750的援助。
- 月收入介于RM3,001至RM4,000 将获得RM500的援助。
与此同时，马来西亚国家银行将设立一个马币十亿的基金协助那些月薪不超过RM2,300 的受薪者购买第一次家，价钱不超过RM150,000。
这个基金将于2019年1月1日开始，并有参与的金融机构提供，特许融资利率可低至一年3.5%。
以下是一个两分钟视频，让你快速观看预算。
(视频来源 : The Star Online YouTube Channel)
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Practical Tips for Giving Christmas Gifts on a Budget
- By CompareHero.my
The end of the year is fast rolling around, and you’re all busy planning how you want to spend the rest of your leave days. Then you suddenly remember! Oh no, the office is having a Christmas party in December and you need to get gifts, and not just for the boss.
Alternatively, you may be a mom and you have to get gifts for all your family and friends for the Yuletide season. Whatever it is, you’re going to have to buy stuff before it is too late and everything is gone from the store shelves. However, when you look at your bank account, you realize you’re only a hair’s breadth away from bankruptcy.
Here’s how to make sure you get good gifts without reducing yourself to poverty.
Related: 12 Ways of Christmas Shopping
Start Early
Don’t wait until the last minute to get gifts. This applies to any situation and not just Christmas. Some products actually get jacked up in price the nearer the celebration, and Christmas is no different. If you start to shop when no one else is shopping, you’ll probably be able to find Christmassy products (like reindeer ears or snow globes) left over from last Christmas that the shops are trying to clear for huge discounts.
How early is early? Well, you should really start anywhere in the middle of the year, preferably by July or August. If you’re buying early, avoid purchasing items that might expire before Christmas. You don’t want your mother-in-law getting a stomach upset from moldy cookies.
Related: Most Expensive Christmas Gifts In The World
Buy In Bulk
This part is a bit tricky because you don’t want to look cheap. For example, you wouldn’t want to buy 20 T-shirts that all have the same design, or else all your friends and family will figure out exactly what you’re up to. Pick products that have small variations in design, such as Emoji cushions with different expressions or teabags of different flavors.
Related: Top 12 Money-Saving Tips for Christmas
Do A DIY
Handmade gifts are a great way to show your sincerity this festive season. Just a small pack of chocolate chip cookies will do the trick. The downside is that homemade gifts take a lot of time and effort, which we may not have. However, if you do choose to make the gifts yourself, getting the ingredients, components and tools in bulk will save you some money. Apart from Christmas cookies or cupcakes, you can also make bath scrubs from sugar, DIY lip balms, self decorated toasters, soaps, candles and much more.
Related: Last Minute Christmas Gift Ideas Under RM50
Repurpose Unused Items
Recycling things in the house as gifts might sound like something a cheapskate would do. However, it’s a really great way to clear the clutter from your house. It’s also in line with the zero waste principal that says you should try not to waste anything and to share is you have something in excess. The only guideline here is that you shouldn’t give away things that are faded, broken or dysfunctional. If something is still in good use, you can always spruce it up and give it as a gift.
For example, if you have a perfectly good ceramic bowl, you can always fill it with chocolates and wrap it up in a box. If you have unused tea cups, fill it with scented wax and make a candle. If you have extra wooden spatulas lying around the kitchen, paint the handles in non-toxic pastel paints and add a Christmas message.
Related: Best Christmas Buffet & Christmas Eve Dinner Deals In Klang Valley
Let Nature Help
Not all gifts need to be bought. Sometimes, you can collect things from the outdoors and give them as gifts too. Just be sure not to trespass and take things from off-limit areas. Places like the beach are great for collecting smooth pebbles and seashells which you can paint and give away as paperweights. Dried flowers and leaves can be turned into bookmarks, while branches can be cleaned and turned into picture frames.
Make Use of Online Sales
The magic of online shopping nowadays is that you can do your shopping from the comfort of home, while also being able to compare prices and choose the best offers. The last sales before Christmas are the Black Friday and Cyber Monday which take place after America’s Thanksgiving Day towards the end of November. Both these days are important in the Christmas shopping calendar as these are the days when online stores like Lazada and Qoo10 have storewide sales on almost everything. Your discounts can be increased further when you use Cashback coupon codes whenever you make a purchase.
Buying gifts can give you quite a headache. This is exactly why you shouldn’t lose sleep over it. As long as you’re coming up with something in a sincere manner, you’ll definitely be appreciated by those who truly love and care for you.
Note: All images from Unsplash.com
This article was contributed by Michelle Chee, a writer from ShopBack.
Related: 15 Money-Saving Gift Shopping Tips For Christmas
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Which pre-university programme should you choose?
- By CompareHero.my
- November 14, 2018
If you have an SPM qualification and you are planning to pursue a bachelor degree, you would most likely need a pre-U qualification to gain admission to a university or college.
A pre-U programme will help develop essential study skills, critical thinking skills, and other skills that you need for a bachelor degree. It will also prepare you with a sound foundation in the field you wish to pursue. In addition, you will have the chance to take part in extra-curricular activities that develop qualities like team spirit, leadership, confidence, communication skills more.
Although many pre-U programmes are recognised globally by universities, it is important to spend some time finding out more about each type of pre-U programme so that your transition into a bachelor degree will be easier.
Contents
Comparing various types of pre-university programmes
There are many choices of pre-university programmes and it can be challenging to find one that best suits you. There are a number of criteria that you can use to compare the programmes. These include grade assessment method, tuition fee, duration of programme, number of subjects to study, and others. The table below indicates these differences between various pre-university programmes.
A comparison between selected pre-university programmes
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Besides the factors mentioned above, there are a few more things to consider when choosing a pre-U programme. Although most of these programmes collectively offer you a lot of choice in terms of subjects, do check that the particular college or university you have chosen offers the subjects you want, and that you’re able to take the subject combination of your choice.
Another thing to consider is the intake dates in relation to the course duration and the commencement of the bachelor degree programme you want to pursue. If you don’t want too long a gap between pre-U and your degree programme, or conversely, you want to take a short gap between the two, it’s worthwhile mapping out your start and end dates when choosing a pre-U programme.
Have you decided on what and where you’d like to study after pre-U? Do take some time to find out all about the courses you’re interested in. Make sure that the pre-U programme you sit for is accepted or recognised by the degree you want to pursue. In addition, it’s important to note that if you enrol for a foundation programme offered by a particular private university or college, you should be sure that you will be pursuing your bachelor degree at the same institution – it is likely that your foundation qualification may not be recognised by another higher education institutions.
Want to find out more about pre-university programmes? Read it here.
- Choosing The Right Pre-University Programme: AUSMAT, SACE, NSW HSC
- Choosing The Right Pre-University Programme: CIMP
- Choosing The Right Pre-University Programme: A levels.
- Choosing the Right Pre-university Programme: Foundation Studies by Private Universities and Colleges.
- Choosing The Right Pre-University Programme: STPM.
The original version of this article was published at StudyMalaysia.com
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