It’s a brand new year! 2009 may be a good year for investment opportunities with relatively cheaper market valuations and some signs of a rally at the close of 2008.

So what can investors out there expect for 2009?

POEMS have a series of exciting investment seminars lined up for you in January. Find out what the outlook for the market is like or why the recent market rally of Chinese Equities has garnered much interest from investors.

Lastly, if you are new to unit trust investment, join us in our Introduction to Unit Trust seminars. POEMS will explain what unit trust investment is, and guide you through our online trading platform, POEMS, to show you how you could purchase your funds in a hassle-free way.

Details of the seminars are as follow:


也有举办有关单位信托知识的华语讲座。通过此讲座，您将能够了解到单位信托是怎样的一种资产投资方式，以及它如何能够帮助您投资理财或积累财富。您也能通过我們的网上交易平台购买单位信托, 享有1% 销售费, 同时监察您的投资组合.

To register, kindly email your particulars comprising your Name, NRIC, and POEMS account number (if any) to utseminars@phillip.com.sg. Click here for returns on the Phillip Money Market fund.

Looks like economy is doing bad now. Now Spa Infinity is providing FREE Spinal Health Check by US Doctor. Ideal for neck / back pain, disc discorders, injuries and improving sports performance and recovery. While the Spa Treatment (which should be the main course) is now optional!

You can choose one spa treament out of four, at $46, and if you bring along a friend, he / she can enjoy the same prince too. For more info check http://www.spainfinity.com.sg/

The FREE checkup service start from 12 Jan 2009.

Get free shipping and special discounts on select orders at Amazon.com. The brands available include: Sephora, Clinique, Avon, SkinStore, The Body Shop and many others. I have no doubt that the skin care products in US is much much more cheaper than in Singapore. So if can buy a bulk or share with other stuffs, the it will worth the shipping cost.

So check out what are the New Skin Care--Free Shipping On Select Items .

Let SGX courses and seminars guide you through market complexities. Visit http://www.sgxacademy.com/ or call 6327 5438 for details and registration.

Professional Trader Training Programme (New!): For those who aspire to become professional traders and desire to acquire in-depth trading skills. The robust curriculum is combined with training and mentorship from SGX-certified professional trainers:

* Trading Analysis for Professional Traders (courses available from 17 January 2009)
* Advanced Technical Analysis with Interactive Trading and Professional Mentoring (courses available from 21 February 2009)

Seminars:

* 17 January 2009 - A Guide to Technical Analysis
* 31 January 2009 - A Guide to Technical Analysis (Mandarin)
* 7 February 2009 - Trading Extended Settlement Contracts & Futures

Courses:

* 3, 5, 10, 12 February 2009 - Analysing the Stock Market with Technical Analysis, Part 1
* 17, 19, 24, 26 February 2009 - Analysing the Stock Market with Technical Analysis, Part 2

Others:

1) "Steer Your Trading Career & Destiny with Ong First"
By Ong First

Join us at this seminar if you wish to find out how you can become a professional trader.

Date: 10 January 2009 (Saturday)
Time: 9.00am - 11.00am
Venue: SGX Auditorium, Level 2, SGX Centre 1, 2 Shenton Way
Registration: Call 6327 5438 or email register@sgxseminar.com

2) "Precision Trading with Japanese Candlestick Patterns"
By ChartNexus

Date: 20 January 2009 (Tuesday)
Time: 7.00pm - 9.00pm
Venue: SGX Auditorium, Level 2, SGX Centre 1, 2 Shenton Way
Fee: $20 (refreshments and seminar notes included )
Registration: Call 6491 1453 or email events@chartnexus.com or visit http://www.chartnexus.com/events/details.php?eid=2092

Since Jan 2009, there will be a new CEPAS ez-link card. I don't really know why we change the card so many times. We have the magnetic card a few years ago, then use ez-link, though is the final, now another new ez-link. Then also cash card. So troublesome, and ez-link only for taking bus, cash card for parking or EPS. Other than that, I can't find any usage about these cards. This is not like the Hong Kong Octopus card, you can use it to buy food, Guardian, Watson, transport, nearly all shops accept that. And only one card, no more cash card blah blah blah....

So this new ez-link card, highlight are:
- no $3 deposit (but still charge for $5 card fee????)
- make sure you have $3 before taking MRT ride
- make sure you have have enough fare... (don't know what happen if I already on the bus and not enough fare)

So click to enlarge and read.

Adult EZ Link cards can be exchanged for new ones from Friday at all 62 SingPost branches, 42 TransitLink ticket offices and selected bus interchanges.

However, EZ Link cards with credit card top-up facility can only be exchanged from February 27, while GIRO-linked cards can be replaced from July 27 onwards.

Child, student and tertiary concession cards can be exchanged from February 16, while senior citizens can replace their concession cards from April 1.

Concession cards for non-MOE school students and National Servicemen can be traded in from July.

Commuters, who are allowed to exchange up to three cards at one time, have until September 30 to do so. They will get a refund of the remaining value in their old cards.

According to LTA, there are about 8 million EZ Link cards in circulation. And unlike the old card, the new EZ Link card will not have a travel deposit, giving commuters full use of the stored value of the card.

CNA says that shopping for new clothes or paying ERP charges will soon be made easier with the new EZ Link card, which can be used for retail and other payments.

Nicholas Lee, executive director, EZ Link, said: "Imagine the possibilities where you can develop schemes for cross-usage between public transport, ERP and parking. There can be incentives, discounts and rebates, where you can cross between modes to give consumers some preference to use our product."

Examples of non-transit applications include using the card to pay at convenience stores and libraries.

Police has recently received reports of an unknown person using counterfeit money as mode of payment. To date more than 30 cases were reported!!!

"The culprit uses a fake S$50 notes, commonly bearing a serial number 2EY322725 at pubs, restaurants, petrol kiosks, convenient stores and 4D outlets for purchases.

"This scam can also be in other forms. For example that the culprit may also seek assistance in changing loose notes using this fake money, reasoning the urgent need of change.

"To prevent this crime, public and sole proprietors should remain alert and pay extra attention when customer pay using high denominations of cash such as $50.

"Other measures which can assist public to identify these fake notes and prevent everybody from being a victim to this will be:


"What to look out for?
1. Counterfeit notes using serial number 2EY322725
2. Poor quality paper that has a waxy surface, and without the following prints:
a. No raised printing;
b. No shimmering effect on the kinegrams (the moving picture you can make with paper and plastic);
c. No Security Thread; and
3. Although the counterfeit note simulated the outline of the watermark, it does not have three-dimensional portrait of the late President Yusof Bin Ishak when examined under light.

"What retailers and shop owners can do to prevent falling victim?
1. While such cases are not new, cashiers should be constantly reminded to be vigilant to prevent from falling victim;
2. During peak hours, cashier should decline requests for change of larger notes politely by citing the long queue as a reason;
3. If possible, additional staff should be deployed, especially during peak operating hours;
4. CCTVs should be strategically positioned to cover the cashier counter and allow the image of customers to be captured;

"What you can do when you receive such notes?
1. When presented with the counterfeit note, do not return the suspected note to the suspect;
2. Delay and keep the suspect at sight and if possible contact the police immediately;
3. Take note of the description of the culprit, eg gender, age, height, built, attire, scars/tattoos, accent of language or any distinct features;
4. Note the suspect(s)’ mode of escape and take down the vehicle registration number if he/they had escaped in a vehicle;
5. Minimize the handling of the note and carefully place it in a envelope/polymer bag and hand it to the Police when they arrive."

The Police seek the public's assistance to share this information to others and protect each other from crimes like this.

Sung in French with English and Chinese subtitles.

Jacques Offenbach’s final opera Les contes d’Hoffmann (The Tales of Hoffmann) tells of three fantastical tales by the writer E.T.A Hoffmann. Incarnations of love and evil are manifested through the different characters of each story and the opera sees myriad characters. The opera offers a theatrical and musical treat with its wealth of contrasting scenes and music. Les contes d’Hoffmann by the Singapore Lyric Opera will definitely thrill and delight audiences both seasoned and new.

DATE: 13-17 Mar 2009 (Fri - Sat, 8:00PM, Mon - Tue, 8:00PM)
DURATION: Approx 3 Hrs
VENUE: Esplanade Theatre
TICKET PRICE
S$130, S$110, S$88, S$68, S$58, S$48, S$38, S$25, S$20

15% Discount for:
- SLO Friends
- Kinokuniya Privilege Card
- PAssion card
- NTUC Union card
- Alliance Francaise Members

15% Discount for SLO Adult, Youth and Children Chorus
10% Discount for NUSS Alumni Members
10% Discount for MediaCorp & SPH staff and SMU/NUS/NTU Staff & Student
10% Discount for eDM Print-Out to SCO & ICCS Members
10% Discount for Artiste Pass

Or early birds 20% off.