Time will Tell
My birthday has come and gone again. Unlike the Sentosa big bash last year, I chose a quieter gathering of close pals.
Some were too busy, some were overseas, and a few didn't quite get my invite due to a telecoms glitch.
Regardless, many turned up and we managed to spend nice quality time together in the calm ambience of my home.
So where does my time go these days? It has been reading, going to the gym, playing chess online and becoming more active on the stockmarket, albeit slowly/cautiously.
Books-wise, I just finished Jonathan Stroud's Amulet of Samarkhand after having had it idle on my shelves since mid-last year. I'll now have to get the next book (Golem's Eye) before continuing onto the finale, Ptolemy's Gate. (*I found this trilogy's finale unexpectedly on some bargain sale, but the second was nowhere to be seen leh.*)
Meanwhile, I am spending time going through some ancient Chinese texts on Bazi.
Everything is coming together nicely on this latest adventure, albeit I am still plodding along at barely 10 pages a day with over 200 pages to go!
Let's just say that Chinese is not my forte. Thankfully I've managed to translate the complex characters into simplified Chinese.
Alas the available computerised English translators produce gibberish. I guess you can't blame the software given the lyrical prose style of the Chinese masters.
Meanwhile, dance is taking up more of my time in the gym. I've made friends with many of the beautiful people in class, and that always adds colour to life, I guess.
As for the world of Finance, I'm slowly adding into core positions. While shares have fallen sharply, the way ahead remains treacherous. Major uncertainties remain as to what the global governments ultimately decide to do since an overhaul of the international financial markets seems necessary. The US dollar remains firm as a safe haven play, but I seriously wonder how long this will last. China is painfully trying to avoid the fate of Japan post the Plaza Accord and spend her way out of the current crisis instead. Japan seems hamstrung by her own problems: carry-trade unwinding continues to add upward pressure to the Yen, hurting exports even as domestic consumption falters due to the global confidence crisis. Developed Europe is grappling with a credit contraction and asset price deflation, while Developing Europe is being hurt by the same. More countries look poised to go the way of Iceland. As for the US, the new President is likely to be tested by the markets. Frankly, he has few alternatives. Unemployment is set to skyrocket unless the US can find is competitive edge again. The quick fix would be a US$ devaluation, while the alternative is a slow-burn process which would be uncharacteristic of America's penchant for immediate gratification. The question is the benchmark for a devaluation. During the Plaza Accord, Japan allowed their currency to rally sharply. With China clearly refusing to allow their Yuan to rise too fast, and Japan in no position to allow a repeat, we will have to find another alternative conduit. Gold perhaps? Or some new currency issued by the World Bank. Too confusing for my rusty brain.
Oh well, I'll just watch this unfolding mess from the sidelines for now.
Back to reading my ancient Chinese texts ...8-)
Some were too busy, some were overseas, and a few didn't quite get my invite due to a telecoms glitch.
Regardless, many turned up and we managed to spend nice quality time together in the calm ambience of my home.
So where does my time go these days? It has been reading, going to the gym, playing chess online and becoming more active on the stockmarket, albeit slowly/cautiously.
Books-wise, I just finished Jonathan Stroud's Amulet of Samarkhand after having had it idle on my shelves since mid-last year. I'll now have to get the next book (Golem's Eye) before continuing onto the finale, Ptolemy's Gate. (*I found this trilogy's finale unexpectedly on some bargain sale, but the second was nowhere to be seen leh.*)
Meanwhile, I am spending time going through some ancient Chinese texts on Bazi.
Everything is coming together nicely on this latest adventure, albeit I am still plodding along at barely 10 pages a day with over 200 pages to go!
Let's just say that Chinese is not my forte. Thankfully I've managed to translate the complex characters into simplified Chinese.
Alas the available computerised English translators produce gibberish. I guess you can't blame the software given the lyrical prose style of the Chinese masters.
Meanwhile, dance is taking up more of my time in the gym. I've made friends with many of the beautiful people in class, and that always adds colour to life, I guess.
As for the world of Finance, I'm slowly adding into core positions. While shares have fallen sharply, the way ahead remains treacherous. Major uncertainties remain as to what the global governments ultimately decide to do since an overhaul of the international financial markets seems necessary. The US dollar remains firm as a safe haven play, but I seriously wonder how long this will last. China is painfully trying to avoid the fate of Japan post the Plaza Accord and spend her way out of the current crisis instead. Japan seems hamstrung by her own problems: carry-trade unwinding continues to add upward pressure to the Yen, hurting exports even as domestic consumption falters due to the global confidence crisis. Developed Europe is grappling with a credit contraction and asset price deflation, while Developing Europe is being hurt by the same. More countries look poised to go the way of Iceland. As for the US, the new President is likely to be tested by the markets. Frankly, he has few alternatives. Unemployment is set to skyrocket unless the US can find is competitive edge again. The quick fix would be a US$ devaluation, while the alternative is a slow-burn process which would be uncharacteristic of America's penchant for immediate gratification. The question is the benchmark for a devaluation. During the Plaza Accord, Japan allowed their currency to rally sharply. With China clearly refusing to allow their Yuan to rise too fast, and Japan in no position to allow a repeat, we will have to find another alternative conduit. Gold perhaps? Or some new currency issued by the World Bank. Too confusing for my rusty brain.
Oh well, I'll just watch this unfolding mess from the sidelines for now.
Back to reading my ancient Chinese texts ...8-)