Malaysia- an upbeat, opulent and jovial nation that offers an interesting ensemble of various customs and cultures from Chinese to Indian and Malay is a compact and flourishing economy. As per the 2005 census, Malaysia is the 34th largest economy in the whole world as per the purchasing power index. This erstwhile British colony has evolved to become one of the formidable economic forces in Asia. The mainstay of this industrialized nation is exports and tourism.   

The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange (KLSE) was set up in 1976 as a limited company that took over the operations and assets of The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Berhad (KLSEB) in the same year. Securities business in Malaysia traces its roots to 1930 when Singapore Stockbrokers’ Association was founded. After a few years in 1937 it was re-registered in the name of Malayan Stockbrokers’ Association. Later in 1960 the Malayan Stock Exchange took shape to cater to the public trading of shares. At that time there was only a single market for both the shares of Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which were listed as a single entity  The Stock Exchange of Malaysia was founded in 1964; however when Singapore ceased to be a part of Malaysia it was renamed as Stock Exchange of Malaysia and Singapore. Later on when the currency interchangeability stopped between
Malaysia and Singapore, it was bifurcated into The Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange Berhad and Singapore Stock Exchange. The former was converted into a public limited company by demutualization in 2004, which took the name Bursa Malaysia. It is comprised of a main and secondary board with a total market capitalization is around US$189 billion. 

The KLSE plays an important role in driving the economy of Malaysia and harnessing funds through public shares. Malaysia has recorded a strong industrial growth and its exports to United States made huge strides, which resulted in faster economic growth. The currency of Ringgit registered appreciation and the surplus foreign reserves shoved the KLSE to over 1200 points. Going by the indications it could be said that the day is not far way when Malaysia regains its past opulence and economic buoyancy. In 2007 Ringgit hit an all time high at 3.39 against the American dollar and Malaysia has managed to sustain its tempo of all round development.

Whenever I pull out my plastic from my wallet, I used to wonder about those olden days when paper currency ruled the roost! These soiled and crumbled notes of exchange were not very convenient modes of transaction- to say the least. The threat of pick pockets and losing your wallet on a long journey could be a traumatic experience. When credit cards made their stunning appearance in the financial sector, it stirred up quite a lot of interest among not just the jet setting business honchos but also amidst ordinary morsels like you and me!

I prefer credit cards for all my monthly shopping as well as the bumper purchases that go hand in hand with festive occasions like Christmas or New Year. These simple and smart cards offer online transactions and payments of bills. I still shudder at the thought of waiting in the winding queues to remit the bills, month after month. In addition, you can manage your accounts online and even get a paperless account statement with just a few clicks. If all these were not, Chase offers credit cards of various types to suit the unique needs of the customers.

For instance when I use the General Purpose Chase Cards to ensure the ultimate purchasing power, my husband is a die hard fan of the rebate cards that promise eye popping discounts on everyday purchases at our choicest retailers. No wonder, considering the fact that he is banker with an eye for every penny that he spends! In addition there are Entertainment Cards for those who never miss a concert or cultural event in the town and sports cards for those sporty youngsters to net a cool deal while purchasing sports goods and for sports events.

If you thought chase cards are only for fun and entertainment, you are off track by at least a mile! There are military cards that testify the social commitment of JP Morgan Chase to both the serving and retired members of the armed services. In addition there are student cards, auto & gas cards and travel cards among others. Making your pick from this impressive lay out of chase cards is easy as never before.

JPMorgan Chase is a pioneer in global financial services that flaunts assets worth $1.5 trillion. Chase has a global presence with operations in over 50 countries and serves millions of clients’ world wide and I feel privileged to be a member of this enterprising family.

Having lived all our life in busy uptown areas, we always cherished for a quixotic home set is an enchanting country side- A place where we can relax and unwind in nature’s lap! A quick search in the internet took us to the Land O’ Lakes- an enchanting country side dotted with as many as hundred breathtaking lakes as its name rightly implies!

Situated on Highway 41, this enchanting country side falls in sub-tropical central Florida. It has evolved to be the hottest choice of scores of families who beat a retreat to the pristine country side for a healthy and green living. Land O’ Lakes offer you all the conveniences of a bustling metropolis while subtly blending it with the goodness of a laid back country side living. It is only a stone’s throw from Pasco County and has many shopping centers and specialty stores along with the choicest dining options. It is well connected with road, rail and air with many private air fields and the Tampa International Airport, which is only a driving distance of around 25 minutes.

Land O’ Lakes has a well developed sewer system, fire protection department, emergency and law enforcement agencies and abundant deep well water to its population of just over 18000 people. Land O’ Lakes is famous for its superior educational facilities with many high schools and elementary schools. Many prestigious universities of St. Leo College and the University of Tampa among others are located nearby. Land O’ Lakes is a hot vacation hub famous for its various activities such as Golf Packages, fishing, swimming or jungle camping. Finding a home or property in this heavenly strip of land is easy as never before. Land O’ Lakes is becoming popular as a real estate investment for many. There are many Land O’ Lakes realtors who help you to fish out your dream abode in no time. An online search is all that is required to hit upon some of the big players in this segment. These realtors ensure that you get a home as per your specifications and well within your budget. Some of the names I stumbled upon as I flip through some of the sites include Eric Frantz, Calum MacKenzie and Linda Blackburn among many more…..

Play Your Cards Right With Stock Ticker! The term Stock ticker is used to refer desktop widgets that will flash live updates and share price movements from the stock market. You can stay tuned to the latest stock and share movements from both national and international markets with these free downloadable applications that come totally free of charge. Catch live all the essential information like the latest price, previous price, trading day’s high or low volume, percentage change time and more with these tickers. You also have the option to set the frequency at 2, 5, 10 and 30 minutes that would automatically update the ticker at these specified time limits.

The stock ticker would bring to you the piping hot stock prices, live quotes and news updates as and when it happens, for you to feel the pulse of the market. You can also access a comprehensive company analysis at any point of time through its hyperlinked quotes page. If all these were not enough, you have also the choice to send this ticker to a friend if you find it useful.

This reminds me that I got one of these friendly tickers from an old buddy of mine as a birthday gift, which I think is the most precious gift I have ever received. Being an active stock trader, it is crucial for me to remain on top of all the latest happenings and share price movements as many a time critical decisions that make or break your fortune are taken in spilt seconds!

Now you can closely follow the stock quotes right on your screen even as you get along with your work. There is no need for you to rummage through innumerable sites, which might distract you from your activities! You can easily select any number of stock symbols that you wish to scroll over your PC. Even the scroll speed could be regulated at your finger tips.

This smart, scrolling stock market ticker could be personalized with options of your choice. Does it sound too good to be true? But the fact is that these small widgets have made stock trading immensely popular among the common man. Picking up a trade secret or two is no longer a financial wizard’s specialty!

Nigeria- the land of pristine beaches, cascading waterfalls and ebony colored beauties is located at the western coast of
Africa. The economy of this nation is powered by many industries with the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) playing a pivotal role in garnering funds. NSE was set up in 1960 and today it boasts of over 283 listed companies with a gross market capitalisation of about N8.2 trillion. The only index used is the Nigerian Stock Exchange All Shares Index.

Nigeria is a huge nation with big aspirations and a progressive out look. The emergence of the private sector has given a vital fillip to develop the financial capability and buoyancy to build up a market-driven economic system and competence to vie for global business contracts. It could steadily decrease its dependence on foreign investments during this phase.

Many economic decisions set off by President Obasanjo, has started to stir up an upward surge in the Nigerian stock market. The nation’s first multinational company Transcorp started its operations with a primary share capital of 56 billion naira and is hoping to harness more funds from the Nigerian Capital Market by way of an initial public offering listed in the Nigerian Stock Exchange. To attract foreign investments, the Nigerian government has scrapped the legislation that hindered the foreign capital fund flow to
Nigeria. This in turn allowed the foreign share brokers to get enlisted in the Nigerian stock exchange as dealers.
Nigeria also welcomes investment from people of any nationality without any hurdles. Nigerian business organizations can also employ cross border listings or multiple listings in foreign markets.

Last year, The Exchange witnessed a record turnover with an impressive growth of a staggering 104.9%- considered by far the highest annual turnover ever since its inception. Trading activities also recorded an all time high both in the Primary and Secondary market. The ripples created in the stock market have launched Nigeria into the global economic platform by triggering off a spate of economic activities. The innovative and path breaking strategies are sure to bring in more positive results in the days to come.

The stock market has started showing an impressive growth and tremendous trading activities with many blue chip companies like Cadbury Nigeria, First Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Breweries and Unilever Nigeria among others making impressive returns.

No matter what size is your home, you will always face the space crunch at some point of time Clutter and too many things crowd your space making your living space uncomfortable and claustrophobic. With little imagination and innovation, you can create more space in your home.

Some simple tips to create and use your space better

1. Drawers and sliding shelves create more storage space.
2. Increase leg space in your home, by keeping the floor space as empty as possible.
3. Light pastel colored paint on the walls and ceilings creates an illusion of space.
4. Mirror on one wall increases the effect of space dramatically. .
5. Lot of wall space can be put to good use. Pots and pans can be hung on the wall, books; CDs can be placed on the shelves. Going vertical depending on your needs.
6. A small sized chest of drawers can be used as coffee table too. While buying furniture, make sure that it is flexible and has other uses too.
7. If your window has a ledge, use the space beneath it to create storage space. It will hold huge number of things leaving your living room free for use.
8. If you stay in a studio apartment, delineate your kitchen area, dining, living and bedroom areas by using different colored flooring or decorative screens and proper lighting.
9. Have sliding doors as it will save space or hang curtains or Venetian blinds to mark an entrance to any room.
10. Keep the seating low, closer to the floor in a small room rather than huge sofa sets.
11. A long, horizontal cabinet instead of thin tall bookcase can be used to serve a lavish spread during buffet.

Some thought and a bit of planning is all that is required to make your little haven a space of your dreams.

Malaysia is an upbeat and cheerful nation in Southeast Asia, which is a melting pot of diverse cultures of Malay, indigenous cultures, Chinese and Indian culture. It is a bustling cosmopolitan country making huge strides in industrialization and is hoping to make it big in the next few years. The world’s second tallest free standing towers of Petronas Twin Towers standing elegantly at  a staggering height of 452 meters is undeniably the celebrity icon of Malaysia.  

Malaysia Exchange was formerly known as Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange that was set up way back in 1930; after seven years it became the Malayan Stockbrokers’ Association; however no trading of public shares was handled till 1960 when the Malayan Stock Exchange was founded. With one trading room each in Singapore and Kuala Lumpur they functioned as a single market with the same sharing listing at both the boards. 

It was only in 1964 that the Stock Exchange of Malaysia was officially founded. With the separation of Singapore from Malaysia and the currency interchangeability between
Malaysia and Singapore ceased, Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange was demutualised and converted into a public limited company by shares in 2007 to form Bursa Malaysia. It has a main and a secondary board and its gross market capitalization was MYR700 billion (US$189 billion).  

In 2005 Malaysia Exchange or Bursa Malaysia became an independent exchange. Though its main index is Kuala Lumpur Composite Index (KLCI) other index series are also used in trading. Bigger companies are typically listed on the Bursa Malaysia Securities Main Board, while medium companies on the Second Board, and the growing companies on the MESDAQ market. The latest figures put the index at the 1000 figure mark that is expected to surge further this year. As on June 2007, the market capitalization stands at US$307 billion. Its market operations fall under the main sections of Securities Exchange, Derivatives Exchange, and Offshore Exchange. 

Stock market Malaysia deals in equities to promote investment opportunities in as many as 15 various sectors; futures and options contracts in international trading; listing of various financial instruments in American dollars by Labuan International Financial Exchange;  and Islamic Capital Market to ensure interest free ‘halal’ investment options to the populace. In addition it also offers an array of informative products and market analysis reports for the benefit of the public.

Dhaka stock exchange commonly called as DSE is located at Motijheel at Dhaka in Bangladesh. Dhaka became the capital of Bangladesh in 1971 after the war with Pakistan. Its main stay includes trades in rice, tea, oilseed and sugar. It has many industries like tanning, jute processing, glass and chemical products.

DSE is the first and the main stock exchange of this Asian country of Bangladesh. It was founded in 1954 as East Pakistan Stock Exchange Association Ltd however the formal trading started only two years later. It got its new name Dhaka stock exchange only in 1964.  The Dhaka Stock Exchange was at first a physical stock exchange where a public outcry method was used to trade shares. DSE has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception. Many innovative and progressive features ere brought in such as the automated trading and Central Depository System for a smooth and effective functioning.

A idea of a new exchange in Bangladesh was mooted by the Bangladesh Government when Calcutta Stock Exchanges had stopped the trading of Pakistani shares and it coincided with the founding of the Provincial Industrial Advisory Council. DSE is a public limited company and is managed as per the rules and regulations of Security and Exchange Commission Act 1993 among other regulations. The capital of DSE is Tk500,000 with unit pricing of Tk2000. Only a maximum of one share can be purchased by organizations or individuals.

There are 230 members in DSE and they alone can participate in the trading and purchase shares for his clients or self. The latest figures put the market capitalization of the Dhaka Stock Exchange at $9 billion. The management of DSE is Board of 25 members including elected members and selected persons from trade bodies and other organizations such as Bangladesh Bank, Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry and so on and so forth. There are five trading sessions of pre-opening, opening, regular trading, closing, and post-closing session. Some of its functions include listing of Companies, administering and controlling of markets, forming Investors’ Protection Fund etc.

DSE has played a larger than life in uplifting the living standards of the people besides fuelling the economy of Bangladesh.

Last week, my daughter had to write an essay on decorating her room. She came up with really good inexpensive and practical ideas for her room.

Here are few tricks to spruce up your room without any help from an interior designer or home decor books.

Do not browse through home decor or galleries for ideas. They may be creative, but it might not be you. Also it can lessen your creative ideas. Avoid choosing colors when you are in bad mood. If deciding on color is not easy, try to figure out colors you will prefer for your clothes, shoes or other accessories. This will give you a fair idea of what you want on your walls.

Paint just one wall or the ceiling of your room in your favorite bright color. Create a cool effect with pearlier blue shade with stars or glow-in-the-dark with moon. For a girlish look, choose flower theme for your walls. Choose bright colored flowers, Paint, draw or trace a larger-than-life size yellow sunflower or any flower of your choice. Or else randomly stick cut outs of sketched flowers using flower stencils.

Forget picture frames. Add life and emotion to your walls covering half of the wall with photos of your loved ones and all. Or else use you’re most flattering blow-up to paste on the wall.

Overlook the boring old green felt paper for announcing your skills, grades, et al., Cut a big neat swatch from an old denim skirt with pockets intact. Nail it on the wooden board and place it in the most attention drawing corner. Write the latest news and pin the paper on the denim swatch. In the pockets, you can store envelopes, glue sticks, scissors or anything else that you want to show the world.

Paste a huge poster of your favorite toons character on the door. It may be Archie and the gang, Winnie the Pooh, Snow White, Spiderman or any thing that reflects attitude. It will be a smile on your and everyone face.

For inexpensive designer curtains, spray paint plain white curtains with a design and color of your choice. Fold over 2-3 from the top, hem it and slip a curtain rod and voila your curtains are ready. Use a mirror bangle to give a funky look to your windows.

Hang pretty wind chime in the doorway, beside safeguarding your privacy, it announces everyone entry into your room.

Do not have space to store your cute cuddly soft toys? Get an old plastic bucket. Stick a nice velvet or colored / textured paper or material all over it. Draw or paste any motifs to make it more striking. Use jute ropes to hang it from the ceiling and your new basket swing are ready to house stuff that you cannot let go off.

My girl got an A+ for this essay. My husband has promised a makeover of her room with her very own ideas.

I recently shifted to one room apartment to be closer to my work place. Having stayed in big house always, I was finding difficult to adjust in small space. Decorating an one-room apartment where one entertains, eats, bathes and sleeps within feet of each other definitely has its challenges.

I realized that key to single room living is organization. Do away with unwanted furniture or accessory. Instead buy a piece of furniture that contributes to your small room and has multiple functions.

Divide for more space. Half heighten shelves, racks or moveable cabinets act as good dividers. Create partitions using transparent decorative screens. They work great for separating the bedroom area from everything else.

Built in cabinet, drawers create more storage space. Use the area behind the doors to keep shoes or coats. Wicker table or trunks can store blankets, linens or so. Cover it with a nice tablecloth and use it as a coffee table. Baskets with lids are another way to keep things out of sight.

If you love having your friends staying the night over, you will need to change your room layout to make sleeping space for them. Furniture that offers flexibility like cots, trundle beds or low seat couch or sofa cum bed is good options. Having your furniture on wheels is good idea as it can be moved to make space.

Use a continuous color palette for the room. Too much of colors, texture or style will make the room look crowded. Manipulate the ceilings and walls using colors that create a feeling of more space in a minimalist style.

Correct lighting enhances the overall ambience of the house. If couch is in the living room and you use it to sleep on it, consider flexible lighting suitable to both, reading in bed and entertaining guests. Use mirrors and sparkling surfaces to reflect more light.

These changes have got me more space in my one room apartment.