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Watch what it can do for you. I think this device is great. You can trade anytime online - which means you can surf the net anytime, you can watch videos, read ebooks, and much more with a flip of your fingers.

What's up with Philippine Banks?

Moody’s Investors Service has raised its outlook on the banking sectors of the Philippines and 11 other countries from “negative” to “stable,” citing improving domestic economies that could redound to the stability of banks.

Reasons for the upgrade were:

• Improving local economic prospects and stabilizing global conditions,
• Improving access to international debt and money markets,
• Adequate resiliency of banks to cope with remaining macro-and micro-economic risks, having suffered only limited damage during the past 30 months of the financial crisis.

The likely increase in domestic consumption, boosted by rising remittances, would benefit the banking sector.

Higher consumption prompts businesses to increase production and invest, an activity that may spur bank lending. Increase in demand for loans may also push interest rates up, boosting the profitability of banks.

Moody’s expects the Philippine economy to grow 3 percent this year, faster than its projected one-percent expansion for 2009.

Source: Inquirer.net

Liberal VS Nationalista Party

These two behemoths will, largely, be the parties left standing "strongly" after May 2010.

The current landscape goes like this:

Liberal Party ---------------------------Nationalista Party

L1. Akbayan, Hontiveros (Socialists)---N1. Satur Ocampo, Liza Masa (Natdems)

L2. Yellow Army, Anti Dictators-------N2. Bongbong Marcos (KBL) and the remnants

L3. Reluctant Presidentiable (Noynoy)----N3. Desperate Presidentiable (Villar)

L4. Moderates/Progressives------------N4. Extremes/Conservatives


Forecasts:

1. Most winners will come from these two parties.
2. Noynoy will win. Liberal will be the majority Party, and Nationalista will be the main opposition Party.
3. Roxas can be President in 2015 if Noynoy performed well. If not, the next President will come from the Nationalista Party; Villar if he runs again, if not it will be Cayetano or Remulla.

Simplistic, I know. So mamili ka? Liberal ka ba o Nationalista?

Home Prices Forecast for 2010

It is going to be rosy in 2010? Is the crisis really over? Note that Prices in the US have risen more than 3% since May (S&P/Case-Shiller).

Before you get that feeling...here are some important factors that would determine where the home prices is headed in 2010.

1. Will foreclosures going to get worse? We all know that more foreclosures will mean cheaper homes, i.e. more supply the cheaper they come. Watch news about foreclosures and you will have an idea where prices would be in 2010.

Note: Moody's forecast is for only another 8% drop. The worst-hit markets will be the ones suffering the most foreclosures, places like Arizona, California, Florida and Nevada.

2. Interest rates - are they going to rise or fall in 2010. We know there's no more room for it to fall or it will be a "negative" interest rate lolz. So? My guess is it will going to rise minimally.

Note:Some analysts, according to Newport, think rates for a 30-year mortgage will pass 6% next year as the government curtails housing market support.

Lastly,

3. Tax credit. The tax credit for homebuyers is a two-edged sword. It reduces taxes dollar-for-dollar by up to $8,000 for new homebuyers and $6,500 for buyers who already own a home and should support home prices. But it ends at the end of April 2010.

So? You know where it is headed.

Source: CNN