Apple Iphone X shipments are only half as forecasted.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-iphone-x-shipments-half-111609139.html

Apple does have a problem selling its flagship Iphone X as it is beset with some technical problems and the high price.

Let's see how this will pan out later.

The 8 immortals that control China, not the 8 deities in the folklore.

No, we are not talking about the famous folklore, "The 8 deities who crossed the sea".  We are talking about the 8 powerful families that control China.  They control and command all the resources in China such as finance and banking, public utility and transportation, military, etc.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9767514/Heirs-of-Communist-Chinas-Eight-Immortals-have-amassed-huge-wealth.html

http://www.zerohedge.com/news/2012-12-26/octagon-oligarchy-meet-chinas-eight-immortals-infographic

Xi Jinping managed to wrestle and gain control from the 8 powerful families with some going downhills while others pledging loyalties to him.

For example, Li Peng's daughter was booted out of the public utility industry in China.

Xi Jinping's leadership looks set to continue after the 19th Party Congress.

Xi Jinping didn't name his successor at the closure of the 19th Party Congress.  This means that he will continue to be the leader for the next decade.

Look like the rumour was true after all about Jiang's support for Xi's leadership continuation.  Please read our previous post below.

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/10/jiang-zemin-lost-political-battle-to-xi.html

Russia to issue its own cryptocurrency and this may destroy bitcoins in the future.

https://techcrunch.com/2017/10/15/russia-may-soon-issue-its-own-official-blockchain-based-currency-the-cryptoruble/

Russia will issue its own cryptocurrency which cannot be mined by others and can only be issued by the Russian government.

We did say before in our previous posting that blockchain technology was more useful than the cryptocurrency per se because cryptocurrency was a derivative of blockchain technology.

If more and more countries start to issue their own cryptocurrencies that cannot be mined, bitcoin's value will crash as ordinary people can use the official cryptocurrencies to transfer money.  In the end, only criminals will use bitcoins to stay anonymous.

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/10/bitcoin-fanatics-dumbest-thing-on-wall.html

Singapore stock calls for 24 October 2017

Here we go again! Indian man raped woman in broad daylight with onlookers.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4748399/woman-is-raped-in-broad-daylight-on-pavement-as-onlookers-do-nothing-to-stop-sex-beast/

India is a country that doesn't respect women.  Any woman in India is just a whore to any Indian man.

Be very careful if you want to visit India or in India!

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/10/indian-women-was-gang-raped-at-gun.html

China has started its autonomous electric bus road test recently.

China is changing its infrastructures at breakneck speed.

Sigh! What is SG doing? Our government is focusing on diabetics, preschooling and technology embracement.

No wonder our MRT is breaking down so frequently and we've "ponding" at Bishan MRT.

China is really a high technology country.

Just take a look at how the traffic police do its work compared to SG.

No wonder the China people are laughing at SG for being so outdated and low-tech.

Italy is on the verge of breaking up after Spain.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-italy-politics-referendum/italian-regions-vote-in-favor-of-autonomy-in-shadow-of-catalonia-crisis-idUSKBN1CR0EY

The domino effect is happening.  Some parts of Italy also want to gain independence after Catalan's independence vote.

If Europe allows Catalan's independence, there won't be any reason to stop others from following suit.  Catalan will be kicked out of Europe after independence and has to pay high taxes for its goods and services.  No FTA for Catalan!

Singapore stock calls for 23 October 2017

Abe won the Japan election on Sunday.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/japan-apos-leader-just-won-042200543.html

He won because his opposition was too weak but Abe's support was just as weak as before.  Nothing much changes because abenomics policies don't work anymore.  Abe prefers to focus on the pacifist constitution reforms instead of the economic reforms.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-japan-election/japans-abe-to-push-pacifist-constitution-reform-after-strong-election-win-idUSKBN1CS0C3

Abe wants to have the prerogative to start a war!

Noble will report a loss of $1.2B in Q3.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/noble-group-sell-oil-liquids-business-vitol-580-001536214--finance.html

Q2 2017 = $1.75B loss
Q3 2017 = $1.2B loss

How long do you think Noble can last after losing close to $3B in just 2 quarters?

The cash proceeds from this sale will be $580M which are still much lesser than its debt of more than $3B.

Noble is burning cash pretty fast!

The truth behind Li Ka Shing's divestment in China.

Why did Li Ka Shing cash out of China?

Li Ka Shing was trying to avoid being persecuted by Xi Jinping for bribery in China and had no choice but to cash out of China.  Li Ka Shing's divestment was not due to any loss of confidence in China economic growth as China was still growing pretty well and the property market was still on an upward trend after his divestment.

Li Ka Shing started to do very well in the property developments in China after getting to know Jiang Zemin whilst Jiang was still in power.  Li Ka Shing transferred one of his subsidiaries' shares to Jiang's son in exchange for a property development in China and that exchange was the first major pot of gold for Jiang.  Thereafter, there were many exchanges of favours and monetary rewards between them including the expeditious capture of the Li son's kidnapper in China.

However, things began to change after Xi's ascension to power.  Xi embarked on his corruption-fighting campaign after becoming the leader and also wrestled with Jiang because Xi discovered Jiang's intention to get rid of Xi.  Jiang regretted his decision to support Xi because Xi was more upright than he thought.

Therefore, Li Ka Shing quickly cashed out of China and moved his HQ to London from HK.  As we all know, HK is part of China and Li Ka Shing doesn't want to take the risk.

Jiang Zemin lost the political battle to Xi Jinping.

A picture really tells a thousand words.

Despite Jiang's flailing condition, he had to attend Xi's presentation in the 19th Communist Party Congress to give the face to Xi.  In fact, Jiang could have excused himself from the Party Congress based on his poor health.

We still could tell that Jiang and Xi had an acrimonious relationship because Xi didn't bother to help Jiang to be seated.  Xi just stood there like a statue without displaying any kind gesture.

It's pretty obvious who won the political battle in China.

There is a rumour circulating that Jiang and Xi have reached a settlement in secrecy.  Xi will not persecute Jiang for corruption and also spare his 2 sons in exchange for the support in Xi's leadership continuation.

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/07/political-battles-are-playing-out-in.html

US fiscal deficit in 2017 - USD$666B

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/us-ends-fiscal-2017-with-666-billion-budget-deficit-2017-10-20

The US fiscal deficit in 2017 is already USD$666b.  Trump tax plan will add more to its current deficit.  However, the Senate only managed to pass the deficit of USD$1.5T in the next decade.  Therefore, Trump couldn't get his $5T tax plan fully implemented.

https://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/09/trump-us5t-tax-plan-wont-get-passed.html

Baltic dry index - 1578

Today, Friday, October 20 2017, the Baltic Dry Index decreased by 4 points, reaching 1578 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 - 913

HOUSTON (AP) - The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the U.S. declined by 15 this week to 913.

That's up from the 553 rigs that were active a year ago.

Houston oilfield services company Baker Hughes said Friday that 736 rigs sought oil and 177 explored for natural gas this week.

Among major oil- and gas-producing states, Texas lost eight rigs, Alaska and Wyoming each declined by two and New Mexico and Utah each lost one.

Arkansas, California, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and West Virginia were 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

UK has no prerogative to meddle in HK's affairs.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/oct/18/uk-summons-chinese-ambassador-after-british-activist-barred-benedict-rogers-barred-hong-kong#img-1

HK is part of China and UK has no prerogative to meddle in HK's affairs.  HK's autonomy is not defined by the UK.

How would UK feel if China demands the UK to give Scotland independence?

China GDP grew at 6.8% in Q3.

http://www.thestar.com.my/business/business-news/2017/10/19/china-q3-gdp-grows-6pt8pct-on-year-in-line-with-forecasts/

This was quite close to what was estimated at 7%.

Let's hope that China can continue the momentum till the end of the year.

http://sg-stock.blogspot.sg/2017/10/chinas-economy-is-powering-ahead-with.html

Singapore stock calls for 20 October 2017