How will a default by the US affect Singapore?

I read an article in the newspapers today and it confirmed my fears that Singapore could once again suffer a severe downturn if the US government does not raise its debt ceiling come 2 August. Many would have to face extreme hardship once more.

Salient points in the article:

1. US banks account for some 15% of domestic lending in Singapore.

2. If US defaults, US banks will withdraw their funds from Singapore.

'Should the US default and a credit crunch happen, it would make the fall of Lehman look like a picnic,' Robert Prior-Wandesforde, Credit Suisse.

I remember what happened when Lehman Brothers collapsed. The stock markets went into tailspins. All the buyers disappeared. Real estate was similarly affected as prices of condominiums here in Singapore declined some 30% in some cases.

I remember at the time, Soleil at Sinaran was newly launched and many buyers actually forfeited their 5% deposits and did not exercise their options to purchase. It was that bad.

My Geology professor once said to us that economists have made a mess of the world and it would be impossible for me to comprehend the mess totally. Thus, it would suffice for me to know what actions to take to position myself for whatever eventuality.

If the debt ceiling should be raised, the party will continue. Inflation could get worse and the stock market could see a new high. What to do? Stay invested.

If the debt ceiling fails to be raised, the party will end. Credit will become hard to come by or at least be more expensive. This affects costs in all its forms and will affect all businesses and individuals. What to do? Divest.

We should take a position that will allow us to benefit if either scenario should come to pass. How do we do this? The simplicity of my answer might just disarm you: be 50% invested.

Good luck.

Read article in The Straits Times here.

Debt ceiling gridlock: Who will get paid?

Banks are slashing jobs!

Banks are retrenching. Should we be worried? Is a recession round the corner? Your guess is as good as mine. Best to have our emergency funds ready just in case. If we are thinking of buying shares on the cheap, make sure we have a war chest ready as well. Oh, make sure it is not empty. ;)

HSBC will slash more than 10,000 jobs as part of the global banking giant's recently announced cost-cutting drive, a report said.

Broadcaster Sky News said senior executives at the bank "are close to finalising costs cuts that will result in thousands of jobs being axed across the bank's sprawling global empire."

The report on Wednesday said London-headquartered HSBC may chop more than 10,000 positions across its operations, citing unnamed sources.

A bank spokeswoman in Hong Kong on Thursday declined comment on the report.


Read full report here.

Swiss banking giant Credit Suisse said on Thursday that its second quarter net profit plunged 52 percent, adding it would cut about four percent of its workforce worldwide.

Net profit for the three months ending June fell to 768 million Swiss francs (US$957 million, 667 million euros) from 1.6 billion francs a year ago, amid "disappointing performance" by its investment bank unit.

Concerns over the European debt crisis and weakening global economic indicators led to weak client demand and a poor trading environment, said the group.


Read full report here.

Good luck to us all.