Do you notice that the USD has been falling?

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/dollar-falls-after-senate-republicans-abandon-bill-to-replace-obamacare-2017-07-18

What's the impact of USD depreciation?

USD fell heavily yesterday (Tues) because of Trump's medical care reform rejection in congress.  Trump will have problem pushing for his tax reform and fiscal policies in congress too as he is losing support and confidence.

Commodities will spike up because these are priced in USD and buyers can buy more commodities with cheaper USD.  When the demand increases, the price will go up.

Japan is pushing for TPP again after its failure to join OBOR initiative.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/14/business/trans-pacific-partnership-trade-japan-china-globalization.html

http://www.cnbc.com/2017/07/13/vietnam-malaysia-stand-in-the-way-of-japans-trans-pacific-partnership-dream.html

Without the USA, TPP is useless as its economic size and benefits will be reduced significantly.

Japan is blaming Vietnam and Malaysia for standing in the way of TPP (ex-USA).

Hahaha! Good luck to Vietnam and Malaysia as these 2 countries will have to compromise a lot in this new round of talk.  Japan will not compromise as it is the biggest economy in the new TPP.

Singapore stock calls for 18 July 2017

The truth about China-India border skirmishes.

It was without a doubt that India encroached on China's territory because it wanted to stop the infrastructure development on China's border.

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/06/india-and-china-are-having-border.html

India felt threatened by the infrastructure development which would allow China to move troops to the China-India border rapidly.  However, this is not an excuse to enter China illegally to stop the development.  A country cannot tell another country what to do or not to do in its own country.

India also felt threatened by China's dam developments but India had no right to interfere in any constructions in China.  India can only blame its own geographical limitations.  Just like Singapore, we do not have water resources and have to rely on Malaysia for water.  However, we know we have no right to demand Malaysia to supply Singapore with water.  Therefore, we build new water and desalination plants to produce clean water for ourselves.

India thought it could bully China because of the upcoming 19th congress party.  It had been a China practice to maintain peace and order prior to the 19th congress party but China deviated from this practice this time.  China became more assertive by amassing more troops and conducting live firing exercise to show its determination to protect its border from any incursions.

http://www.scmp.com/news/china/diplomacy-defence/article/2102965/china-flexes-its-military-muscle-tibet-close-border

India knew that it was no match for China and had been defeated by China before in 1962.  Therefore, India had to fabricate and spread some false news through its media and other online channels to garner support for its illegal actions.

After seeing China's assertive stance against India's incursion prior to the 19th congress party in China, India had decided to soften its aggression and try to ease the tension through the diplomatic solution.

http://www.firstpost.com/india/india-china-border-row-nsa-ajit-doval-likely-to-visit-beijing-for-brics-nsas-meeting-on-27-and-28-july-3811461.html

India will be meeting China on 28 July to resolve this matter.

Singapore stock calls for 17 July 2017

PM Lee was ostracized in G20 summit.

What's the point of attending the G20 when Singapore was isolated by other major countries?

Major countries didn't want to communicate with Singapore in G20 because Singapore was not part of G20.  Singapore only attended G20 as an observer.

Singapore extolled good relationship with China but President Xi didn't even interact with PM Lee during the break time.

Protest against PM Lee is useless.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/singapore-protest-demands-inquiry-pm-family-feud-161146864.html

This protest against PM Lee is useless because 70% of Singaporeans voted for this one-party system.  PM Lee had already declared no abuse of power in the parliament and the parliament fully supported him.  With the AG and Parliament rallying behind him, he is untouchable.  Therefore, 30% of Singaporeans can only suffer in silence.

If this group of people had a real interest in Singapore, they should also protest against AG's declaration of Wee Kim Wee as our first elected president which was against our common consensus but they didn't.

I wonder why.

Look like Donald Trump is only a 1 term president.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/trump-losing-public-support-poll-130048321.html

If his public approval rating continues to drop like this, he will only be a 1 term president.  Therefore, his focus will be to garner as many business deals as possible for his own business before the party is over.

Baltic dry index - 900

Today, Friday, July 14 2017, the Baltic Dry Index climbed by 12 points, reaching 900 points.

Baltic Dry Index is compiled by the London-based Baltic Exchange and covers prices for transported cargo such as coal, grain and iron ore. The index is based on a daily survey of agents all over the world. Baltic Dry hit a temporary peak on May 20, 2008, when the index hit 11,793. The lowest level ever reached was on Wednesday the 10th of February 2016, when the index dropped to 290 points.

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Related stocks: Sembcorp Marine, Cosco & Pan Ocean

US rig count - 952

HOUSTON (AP) — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. remained unchanged this week, staying at 952.

A year ago, just 447 rigs were active.

Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes said Friday that 765 rigs sought oil and 187 explored for natural gas this week.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas gained three rigs, Utah increased by two and Colorado and North Dakota each increased by one.

Alaska, Louisiana and Oklahoma each declined by two.

Arkansas, California, Kansas, New Mexico, Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Wyoming were all unchanged.

The U.S. rig count peaked at 4,530 in 1981. It bottomed out in May of 2016 at 404.

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Related stocks: Keppel Corp, Sembcorp Marine & Cosco

Singapore stock calls for 14 July 2017

Bigger container ships bring in more containers into Singapore but with fewer port calls.

http://www.seatrade-maritime.com/news/asia/box-volumes-at-singapore-port-increase-8-5-in-june.html

Singapore increases its container volume by 8.5% at 2.6m TEU in June 2017 compared to 2016.  However, the number of ships' calls drop 3.8% month on month to 3378 ships.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/energy-commodities/singapore-june-marine-fuel-sales-fall-to-their-lowest-this-year

This conundrum is caused by larger container ships which can carry more TEUs.  Therefore, our containers increase but the ship port calls drop which affects the bunker sales.

Climate change will be disastrous for Asia. Find out which countries are the most affected!

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asiapacific/adb-warns-climate-change--disastrous--for-asia-9031202

The Asian countries most affected by climate changes are Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Pakistan and Thailand.

Therefore, think twice before you invest in these countries especially property investments.

Hahaha! The USA has to get used to China's spy ship now.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/chinese-spy-ship-reportedly-lurking-051200989.html

When the USA sends its P8A to spy on China, it must also get used to being spied on.

This is a fair game.  When you spy on others, you will also be spied on by others.  If you go to other people's backyard, other people will also go to your backyard.

Why does Indonesia want to move its Jakarta capital?

http://www.straitstimes.com/asia/se-asia/indonesia-studying-plan-to-relocate-capital

Jakarta is under serious threat from rising sea level and is constantly flooding because 40% of its land is under sea level now.  With the breakage of the iceberg in Antarctica, the sea level will rise a further 10cm in the foreseeable future.  This is the problem of global warming.

The next capital under siege is Bangkok.  Bangkok is sinking about 5cm per year and with the rising sea level, flooding will become a serious threat to this capital.  Foreigners who bought BKK condos will have problems cashing out their properties.

UFO teleported itself in a square portal.

Amazing technology!

Wow! S$100m for a Singapore penthouse!

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-penthouse-sale-over-72-043611407.html

Are we living in stratospheric or what?  When does a Singapore penthouse become so highly priced?

I know Singaporeans won't buy this penthouse because S$100m can get a good class bungalow with a big land.

Any foreigner who can pay $100m for a penthouse is no ordinary person but paying for a Singapore penthouse at this price does sound like an inane decision.

One trillion tonne of iceberg broke off Antarctic.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-4688662/Trillion-ton-iceberg-snapped-Antarctic-ice-shelf.html

If larsen C section breaks off in the future, the sea level will increase by 10cm.  OMG!

Singapore stock calls for 13 July 2017

Wave energy technology is being developed in China.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/0711/c90000-9240120.html

Producing electricity by harnessing sea waves is already happening in China now!

This is the latest renewable energy development after solar and wind.

Kudos to China!