| Forget salary, count on your bonus
MUMBAI: The deal-makers are ensuring that they get the best deal after all. Asset management companies (AMCs) and brokerages are two areas where employees are expected to get fat year-end paychecks. Some HR consultants say this could be twice the salary. Take for example HSBC. Sources close to HSBC securities say this year the number could even go to three times. The firm refused to comment when contacted. Stock analysts and fund managers are the prime candidates for huge bonuses — riding the highs of the equity markets. Throughout the year the equity markets have seen an uptrend and till recently the stock index has given returns to the extent of 30% over the last one year, before the markets crashed, after the budget. "Bonus in private equity and investment banking could be anywhere from 100-200 % of the fixed salary, depending on the deals.
Expand your real estate portfolio with a property securities fund
Bricks & mortar funds can miss out on residential developments and other growing sectors driven by demographic trends, says Fidelity International.
Retail investors who want to tap into some of the most exciting demographic trends influencing real estate developments need to look beyond open-ended bricks and mortar funds which are largely confined to just three sectors: offices, retail and industrial, according to Fidelity International.
Analysis of popular retail direct property funds shows that they invest the majority of their portfolios in those three sectors. For investors wanting access to a wider range of real estate opportunities, property securities funds offer a far more varied investment universe, ranging from residential developments to hotels.
The research shows that offices, retail and industrial holdings represent more than 90% of the entire portfolio of 4 out of 7 bricks and mortar funds generally marketed to UK investors.
UBS Global Asset Management US Pension Fund Fitness Tracker Finds ...
CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--UBS Global Asset Management today announced that its US Pension Fund Fitness Tracker, a quarterly estimate of the overall health of a typical US defined benefit pension plan, finds that pension plan funding ratios went on a wild ride, caused by volatility in both equity markets and interest rates. The typical pension fund started 2007 with a funding ratio of approximately 103% and ended the quarter at a slightly improved funding ratio of approximately 105%. "While the overall numbers were positive, the first quarter of 2007 points out an area of concern for pension managers: namely, significant funding ratio volatility due to interest rate swings, and plans' over-reliance on equity market risk," said Aaron Meder, UBS Global Asset Management's Head of Asset Liability Investment Solutions in the Americas.
Community colleges: a smart investment for Oregon
Here's a draft of Wednesday's editorial. We'll post another draft as a second editorial for today. Send comments to Barbara Curtin, the lead writer.
U.S. Rep. David Wu was in Salem this week to promote community colleges.
Among other things, he gave tips on running successful campaigns practical information for people who want to pass community college bond measures and other local ballot issues.
Several such ballot measures failed last November. Despite that, Oregons community colleges enjoy signicant local support. Part of that comes through the property taxes that homeowners, businesses and landlords pay to Chemeketa and other community colleges.
However, community colleges also have a statewide role in educating students and the state isnt doing its share.
Govt. improving the country’s investment atmosphere
Industry Minister indicates the government is trying to improve the countrys investment atmosphere to regain foreign investor's confidence. Industry Minister Kosit Panpiemras (Ե ɯ) discloses that the slow-down of the Thai economy has been obvious since the fourth quarter of 2006. He says the slow-down is due to the fact that the export sector remains the countrys main source of income and the decrease in domestic consumption during the previous year. Mr Kosit adds that the lack of foreign investment has also affected this years economy. However, he affirms that the governments economic team speeds up stimulating the investment sector. The minister expects that the foreign investment would be continuously improved after the Prime Minister has signed the Japan-Thailand Economic Partnership Agreement (JTEPA) with Japan last week.
Ing property trust to favour Japanese investment
ING Property Trust said today it was planning to invest in Japanese property rather than in New Zealand because local prices made yields here relatively unattractive. It said the property prices had continued to increase in New Zealand with a consequent fall in yields fall. "As a consequence, it is increasingly challenging to acquire quality individual properties or portfolios at prices that will be accretive to unitholders' returns," said Andrew Evans, managing director of INGPT management. New Zealand property was not necessarily over valued. "What we're saying is that they (local properties) are certainly at an all-time high and it makes it difficult for us to acquire assets at a price that will be accretive for our unit holders." Mr Evans said INGPT believed it would still get further growth from its New Zealand portfolio.
A Qualified Mortgage Consultant Can Outline Your Options
Buying a home vs. renting is a big decision that takes careful consideration, as most mortgage consultants will agree. But the rewards of home ownership are great. For many years, purchasing real estate has been considered an extremely profitable investment. It is an achievement that offers a sense of pride, financial stability and potential tax advantages. Yes, there are certain responsibilities associated with owning a home. Landlords will often argue the benefits of renting, and for obvious reason. If you are renting, you're helping them make their mortgage payment. The numbers are staggering if you look at it this way. If you are paying $1,000 per month for an apartment, and you know your rent will increase 5% every year, then over the next five years you will pay your landlord $66,309.
Hedge funds seek subprime bargains
Hedge funds are taking advantage of weakening sentiment towards US subprime mortgage lenders, betting underlying credit risk is not as bad as the market is predicting, and building positions in companies presently "trading at a fraction of their book value". .
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