Few hours ago, the Employees Provident Fund (EPF, a.k.a. KWSP) has just declared the dividend rate for financial year 2009 to be of 5.65%, which is considered higher than the expectation of most financial analysts and general public.
This is not too bad, compared to the low rate of 4.5% in FY 2008.
With this dividend rate, it seems that those who have withdrawn their EPF Account II savings to reduce their housing loan during 2009 might be regreted to do so, as the effective mortgage rate is generally lower than 5.65% in 2009, due to a lower BLR rate along the year.
Anyhow, this rate is still lower than my personal investment return rate in 2009, therefore I need not regrete to opt for 8% EPF contribution instead of 11% for year 2009-2010. You might have a clue of which shares I invested in by reading my Investment related articles here, particularly those written in 2009.
Also, this rate is lower than the return I got from the unit trusts I bought with MAAKL Mutual by using part of my EPF Account I savings. Begining from the month of June, I had made 3 such EPF withdrawals during 2009 to invest in unit trust funds in MAAKL Mutual.
Although the commission rate of buying unit trusts with EPF Account I withdrawal is set at 3%, I still find it pretty expensive, compared to the fees of buying share directly in KLSE through the stockbroker. Luckily it still provides a better return than the 5.65% of EPF, so seems like I have made a good try.
How about you? Are you happy with the 5.65% rate you got from EPF in 2009? Or not satisfied and demand for more?
Click here to read the official announcement from EPF, and the investment structure of EPF in 2009, etc.
Friday, March 5, 2010
EPF declared 5.65% dividend for 2009
Russia to produce UFO alike flying saucers able to carry 11,000 people?
There is an interesting news from Russia that a company called LocomoSky in their Ulianovsk of Volga is carrying out a government funded project to produce a bizarre hybrid of helicopter and aerostat, UFO alike "flying saucers".
The prototype, named "aerostatic thermoballasted vehicle" or simply "Locomoskayner" after its manufacturer, was presented in the MAKS-2009 International Aviation and Space Salon air show in Russia recently.
This prototype flying saucer was 23 feet in diameter, and was claimed to be able to transport 20 kg of cargo.
The company, however, plans to produce aircraft with a cargo-carrying capacity of up to 600 metric tons or a passenger capacity of up to 11,000 people.
Having low fuel consumption as compared to ordinary aircraft due to its aerodynamic form, the flying saucer will be able to hover, perform a vertical landing, move in a straight line with speeds close to 100 km/h, turn around, and most importantly, need no special ground-based facilities to land.
With its special flying characteristics and superb loading capacity, it will be able to transport out-sized cargoes to remote and inaccessible areas.
Let's see whether this dream will come into reality in the very near future.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
5th Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE) 2010
If you are a fan of underwater diving or interested in this kind of activity which lets you explore into the beautiful, attractive and scenic world under the sea, be informed that the Malaysia International Dive Expo (MIDE), which is the biggest dive expo in Asia-Pacific region, will be held in Kuala Lumpur again for its 5th time.
Date: 30 July - 1 August 2010
Time: 10am - 7pm
Venue: Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), Kuala Lumpur
Admission: free
Activities in the expo includes:
- Dive photo competition & winners gallery
- Seminar & talks
- Workshop & training programme
- Children colouring contest
- Exhibition with 150 exhibitors
Click here for more information about the 5th MIDE 2010.
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