5 months on … August 31, 2009

Not much change from last month.

AUD & NZD continue to outperform while CNY lags behind most currencies. I suppose with more optimistic newsflow from the Southern Hemisphere and potential re-rating of the countries’s economic outlooks and gradual reining in of inflation, these 2 commodity-backed currencies should continue to outgain most currencies.

As for CNY, I suspect the Chinese Central Govt/Bank will start tightening credit very soon as the real estate and stock markets look frothy at the moment. This should help the CNY inch upwards.

Positive Thinking … yeah right? August 31, 2009

I am sure many of you would have seen this commercial featuring a myriad of animals having tete-a-tete in a kopi-tiam setting and how they should be contented with having peanuts & coffee in these tough economic times.

Many find the commercial amusing … some find it distasteful or even downright insulting … as if the higher mortals are patronising us and telling us to be contented with and focused on what we have. Not sure which beast maverick in the animal kingdom advertising world thought of that?

First off, the scene reminds me smack of Animal Farm where 4 legs are good and 2 legs bad … Then, I am reminded that all animals are created the same but some are more equal than others. Finally, in the context of Singapore, a peanut could be worth 600 grand. Hence, I am also confused about the messaging of the advert. For the lesser mortals like myself, I wish I have a 600 grand peanut.

For the rare few who have yet to see the advert, this is the url link. Here you can find the flurry of discussion about the advert.

*Shaking head* I would give the creator a D- for creativity and I feel sorry for myself that the papayas have lost touch with the ground. It seems that the more they do and attempt to engage the commoners, the more blunders they make.