The USA is playing the FON theme again!

http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/0811/c90883-9254167.html

What's the point of intruding and getting chased away? If the USA was really in international water, it should stand on its ground.  However, the USA destroyer got chased away.  This FON is just a pseudo theme for provocation.

When will the USA stop the cat and mouse again!

China military leads in International Army Games 2017.

China has portrayed its military prowess in the International Army Games.

Going to a war with China is asking for annihilation.

Baltic dry index - 1138

Today, Friday, August 11 2017, the Baltic Dry Index climbed by 46 points, reaching 1138 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.

========================

Related stocks: Sembcorp Marine, Cosco & Pan Ocean

US rig count - 949

HOUSTON (AP) — The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. decreased by five this week to 949.

A year ago, just 481 rigs were active.

Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes said Friday that 768 rigs sought oil and 181 explored for natural gas this week.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, California and New Mexico each increased by one rig.

Texas lost seven rigs and Louisiana decreased by one.

Alaska, Arkansas, Colorado, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Utah, 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.

=====================

Related stocks: Keppel Corp, Sembcorp Marine & Cosco

Malaysia warns Singapore about its ringgit futures trading.

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/malaysia-s-central-bank-criticises-sgx-s-trading-of-ringgit-9112900

Since SG is a financial hub, SG is able to influence the ringgit movement if the ringgit futures is left unchecked when the trading becomes popular.

Malaysia central bank doesn't want Singapore to affect the ringgit movement.  No wonder Malaysia sent out a message that China radar system would be placed in JB.

We did mention in one of our posts that Malaysia won't be accommodative towards SG because it had China support. Look like Malaysia is getting tough on Singapore now.  I wonder how Malaysia will punish SG if SG refuses to stop the trading of ringgit futures.

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2016/10/malaysia-to-impose-20ringgit-road.html

Singapore stock calls for 11 August 2017

Singapore economy is growing strongly.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/singapore-economy-grows-much-stronger-011839959.html

Our economy grew 2.9% in the 2nd quarter year on year.  Hooray!

Wait....How come we don't feel the good economic growth?

Well, let's look at the GDP composition.

GDP = G + I + C + Net Export (X - M)

G= Government spending
I = Investments (FDI)
C = Consumption
Net Ex = X - M, Export - Import

GIC will impact Singaporeans more directly than Net Ex.  Net Ex is more like trading which will result in trade surplus or trade deficit for Singapore.

Since C is a negligible component of Singapore GDP as we are a small nation with a small population, we can only rely on GI and Net Ex for boosting our GDP.

However, our good GDP growth is derived primarily from Net Ex this time.  Therefore, we don't feel much impact from the good GDP figure unless you are in the trading industry.

Noble financial update!

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/noble-group-reports-1-75-121909015.html

Here's a synopsis of Noble's financial health:

Noble reported a net loss of $1.9b in the first half of 2017.

Noble reported net debt increased by $900m (at $3.8b) in the first half of 2017.

Noble wrote down $1.3b in the first half of 2017.

Noble has a $2b credit facility expiring in Oct 2017.

The last leg to fall will be a liquidity squeeze caused by an increase in commodity prices.  Noble will have to put up more money to buy commodities when the prices rise just to maintain the same profit margin.  This will make Noble keel over.

Turkey hail storm is super scary!

OMG! I don't dare to go out in a storm like that.

China has 100% secured communication now!

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/china-uses-quantum-satellite-transmit-085800014.html

100% secured communication is very important especially during wartime.  A secured communication will greatly improve the odds of winning in a war because enemies won't know your strategies and deployments.

It will also be good if we can use it for financial payment system because nobody can hack it.

Singapore stock calls for 10 August 2017

Philippine slams outside interference in South China Sea dispute.

http://en.people.cn/n3/2017/0809/c90000-9253229.html

Philippine is the claimant but USA, Japan and Australia want Philippine to enforce the PCA ruling.

What a joke!

Australia, do you want to abide by the PCA ruling against Australia before you call on others to abide it?

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2016/09/australia-declares-that-pca-has-no.html

Malaysia is using China radar to monitor Singapore.

http://www.todayonline.com/world/asia/china-offer-malaysia-radar-rocket-launchers-based-johor?cid=emarsys-today_TODAY%27s+morning+briefing+for+August+10%2C+2017_newsletter_10082017_today

The multiple rocket launchers' radar system has a range of 220km which will cover more than the whole of Singapore.  This will monitor our military activities especially the USA navy based in Singapore.

Is our relationship with Malaysia going south?

Malaysia has scored another milestone achievement with China.

http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/government-economy/hard-pedalling-soft-power-china-helps-launch-us13b-belt-and-road-rail-project-in

Malaysia is really BOLEH!

Malaysia is improving by leaps and bounds now.  It is having autonomous trains and is deeply involved in the BRI.

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/08/wow-malaysia-will-have-autonomous.html

What has Singapore achieved so far?  No deal above $10b with China.

It is really eye soring to see our neighbour progressing so well.  Malaysia will overtake SG in on time.

Iceberg felt vindicated after Noble's writedown.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/noble-apos-giant-writedown-proves-102127119.html

Well, one cannot hide the truth forever. You can lie to a few people some time and you can lie to most people most of the time but you cannot lie to all the people all the time.

China-India border war may start within 2 weeks time.

There is a rumour that Chinese businessmen are leaving India now.  This is one of the indicators that a war will break out soon.  China is warning Chinese businessmen to leave India so that they won't be held as hostages in a war break out.

Our PM Lee's national speech is worrisome!

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/pm-lee-hsien-loong-highlights-three-long-term-issues-singapore-tackle-123500869.html

This shows that he cannot bring Singapore forward anymore because he should give Singapore something to look forward but instead he's dwelling on something less grandeur.  Maybe he would like to be a sociologist after his retirement.....sigh!

Ship can sail through Arctic now!

Singapore shipping hub is in a precarious situation once ships start to sail through Arctic.  Sailing through Arctic to Europe only takes 24 days compared to sailing south through Singapore which will take 35 days.

We posted about this new Arctic shipping route previously.

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/04/new-arctic-shipping-route.html

China has an implicit message for USA.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/china-holds-wargames-north-korea-tensions-spike-061206844.html

This war game is to send an implicit message to the USA that yellow sea is out of bound for the USA if USA wants to attack NK.

Singapore stock calls for 8 August 2017