The Only Way is Up: China’s Gravity Defying Stock Market

China’s domestic stock market has been one of the world’s best performing over the past few years. Whether its size, turnover or number of new investors the market seems to go from record to record. This apparent strength though is misleading and the Chinese market is riddled with problems and contradictions which have still not been addressed by the Chinese authorities.

The talk will highlight some of the challenges faced by the market and offer some guidance for investors looking to better understand Asia’s second largest market after Japan.

Fraser Howie
Best Selling Author of “Privatizing China: Inside China’s Stock Markets?/em>

Protecting your Investment Against Market Shocks

• How to construct a “wealth creation portfolio?that can withstands market shocks
• Different life stages call for different wealth management strategies and solutions

Thomas Mathew
Chief Consultant, Maximas LLP

Thomas has won the Top Financial Advisor and Singapore Salesman of The Year awards with one of the largest insurance companies. He is a best selling author of numerous books.

Warrants and the Workings of Warrants

• What are structured warrants?
• Important factors to know about warrants
• How to choose the right warrants?
• How to use the internet to get tools to evaluate warrants?

Ooi Lid Seng
Vice President, Structured Products (Asia Ex Japan), Societe Generale

Ooi Lid Seng has more than 15 years of experience in the stock broking industry. He has a weekly column in the Straits Times and Lian He Zao Bao. Lid sits on the Equity Derivatives Investment Education Sub-Committee of the Singapore Investment Banking Association.

How Not to Fall Victim to Wealth Management

• How to assess whether your wealth is well managed?
• Distinguishing inferior products
• Why assessing risk is sometimes more important than just return on investment
• Learning to be an intelligent investor through systematic means

Christopher Tan
Chief Executive Officer, Providend Pte Ltd.

Christopher is the co-founder of Providend. He is a Certified Financial Planner, CM, and a member of the Financial Planning Association of Singapore. He is the co-authors of the Singapore Master Financial Planning Guide and Estate Planning Made Easy. In 2005, Christopher was voted the Best Financial Advisor of the Year award by the Asia Financial Planning Journal.

How to Profit from Fine Wines

• Why does fine wine goes up in value?
• How do I know what to invest in?
• What are the advantages and risks involved?
• When is the best time to buy and sell?
• Who can I turn to for advice and guidance?

Julian Poh
Sales Manager, Australian Wine Index (S) Pte Ltd.

Julian Poh, 35, started his career in finance at Zone Investment Limited and was promoted to CEO in two short years. During that time, he managed to build a strong network in China. With his experience in China, Julian can provide input into the development of marketing strategies incorporating country insights. He then moved into the marketing industry, where he proved himself a leader once again by managing a strong sales team of 30 for a company in New Zealand. Julian has also won industry accolades and has successfully managed the Sales & Marketing department of very exclusive resorts.

Of Bulls and Bears, a Global Market Round Up

• Understanding stock market cycles
• Tips on staying calm during a market crash
• Current situation
• Global market update

Sui Jau Wong
General Manager , Fundsupermart, iFAST Financial Pte Ltd.

Sui Jau Wong was appointed general manager of Fundsupermart in 2005. He regularly contributes articles and quotes to the media.

How Much is Enough? Insights into Investors Behaviour

• Why investors buy products or invest is just as important as what they buy or invest
• Insights into investor behaviour (behavioural finance)
• Why it is essential to look at money as the enabler and not the goal
• The link between wealth and wellbeing

Roy Varghese
Foundation Adviser & Director (Financial Planning Practice), ipac Financial Planning Singapore Pte Ltd.

Roy has worked within the financial management arena since 1986, including global companies such as Arthur Young, Raychem Corporation, and Monsanto. Roy was CFO at Inchcape from 1994 to 1996, and director of private client services at Arthur Andersen Singapore, prior to joining ipac Singapore. His areas of expertise include retirement planning, risk management, investment strategies, and pre-emigration planning. A pioneer of the financial planning fraternity in Singapore, Roy was a ranking member of the Certification Committee of the Financial Planning Association of Singapore (FPAS), where his responsibilities included curriculum development, examination design, and certification of new practitioners in the industry.

Swing Trading - How to Take Advantage of Short-term Price Movements

• Introduction to swing trading
• Introduction to short term price pattern
• How to determine price target?
• Spotting the next swing trade

Ee Hwa Ng
Chief Trainer & Market Strategist, ChartNexus

Ee Hwa is a private trader and market strategist for ChartNexus. He is the chief trainer for ChartNexus, conducting trading strategy seminars and coaching programmes. He also contributes articles to investment magazines such as SmartInvestor and SGX Pulses on a regular basis.

Is Your Property an Asset or Liability?

• Current property market situation in Singapore
• How one can still take advantage to benefit from property investment

Panel Session: Singapore Property ?Sizzling Hot Market or an End to a Bull Run?

• Faced with current and projected economic fundamentals is the future bright for the property sector?
• How should investors react to protect their interest during financial turbulence?
• Where are we in the demand supply equilibrium?
• Is there such a thing as safe-bets for Singapore property investors?
• Where are the investment hotspots and corridors in Singapore?
• Should private investors venture into the office, retail or commercial sectors?
• The immediate future: brace for more turbulence or celebration?

Ismail Gafoore ( Mohamed Ismail )
CEO, PropNex Realty Pte Ltd

Mohamed Ismail heads PropNex - Singapore’s largest real estate agency. He is an astute investor and an inspirational coach. He is a much sought after property expert by the local media.

Is Your Property an Asset or Liability - How one can still take advantage to benefit from property investment.

Panel Session: Singapore Property – Sizzling Hot Market or an End to a Bull Run?

• Faced with current and projected economic fundamentals is the future bright for the property sector?
• How should investors react to protect their interest during financial turbulence?
• Where are we in the demand supply equilibrium?
• Is there such a thing as safe-bets for Singapore property investors?
• Where are the investment hotspots and corridors in Singapore?
• Should private investors venture into the office, retail or commercial sectors?
• The immediate future: brace for more turbulence or celebration?

Karamjit Singh Narula
Managing Director , Credo Real Estate (Singapore) Pte Ltd

Karamjit has some 15 years of experience in the real estate consultancy and marketing field, having worked with three major international consultancy firms, before co-founding Credo Real Estate. He has previously worked for internationally renowned companies such as Henry Butcher Appraisal Group, Colliers Jardine and Jones Lang LaSalle.

Besides marketing of investment grade properties, Karamjit has been involved with the strategic review of large real estate portfolios for Governments and government bodies, as well as major institutions and corporations with the objective to maximise returns from divestment, repositioning and other forms of strategies. He played the key role in the asset review cum divestment exercise for DBS Bank, which led to the successful sale of the bank’s Cree Court & La Mansion, for a combined value of S$38 million, DBS Securities Building (S$51 m), DBS Finance Building (S$38 m) and Kallang Pudding Warehouse (S$10 m).

How to Profit from Singapore’s Integrated Luxury Resort Developments

• Latest updates on casino developments and the impact on luxury residences
• Industries that will experience super-high growth
• What factors should investors take into account of when determining their investment strategy in the luxury arena?

Panel Session: Singapore Property – Sizzling Hot Market or an End to a Bull Run?

• Faced with current and projected economic fundamentals is the future bright for the property sector?
• How should investors react to protect their interest during financial turbulence?
• Where are we in the demand supply equilibrium?
• Is there such a thing as safe-bets for Singapore property investors?
• Where are the investment hotspots and corridors in Singapore?
• Should private investors venture into the office, retail or commercial sectors?
• The immediate future: brace for more turbulence or celebration?

Swee Yong Ku
Director -Marketing & Business Development, Savills Singapore

Swee Yong heads Savills Singapore’s regional marketing and business development. Prior to Savills, Swee Yong was the general manager for Far East Organization in Indonesia and a director with Singapore Tourism Board’s Jakarta office.

Where Next for High Returns for the Global Property Hunter?

• With the imminent slow down of many of the world’s developed property markets, where should we be looking next for value?
• Does this mean the end to property investing, and if not where should we be looking next to put our money to good use?

Panel Session: Are Opportunities in Emerging Markets Real or Perceived?

• What constitutes strong fundamentals that define an emerging market?
• Are emerging markets riskier than developed ones?
• As an asset class when is the best time for investors to commit?
• Can private investors profit or are emerging markets really for the big boys?
• Finding opportunities in emerging markets - Panellists' pick
• The case for Brazilian property by Tim Murphy, MD, Intellectual Property Ltd.
• The case for property funds in the Middle East/Asia by Graham Bibby, CEO, Richmond Group

Tim Murphy
Managing Director, Intellectual Property Ltd.

Tim began building his property portfolio in 1992; today his property portfolio covers twelve markets, including Australia, Eastern Europe, Spain, UK, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam.

Global liquidity, FX Themes & Interest rate Trends: Impact on Asset Allocation

Jimmy Koh Chew Teck
Head of Economics-Treasury Research, United Overseas Bank Group

Jimmy Koh is Vice President, Head of Economics-Treasury Research at United Overseas Bank (UOB) in Singapore. His main responsibilities include leading a team of economists in macro-economic research of both G7 and Asian emerging markets, formulating foreign exchange and interest rate trading strategies. He is also involved in regular discussions with regional central banks, as well as multilateral agencies such as IMF and World Bank.

Comparison of Property Funds Performance & Why Invest in Resorts

• Property funds – Asia, Australia, Middle East
• Resort locations – Why the investment potential is good
• Project investing

Panel Session: Are Opportunities in Emerging Markets Real or Perceived?

• What constitutes strong fundamentals that define an emerging market?
• Are emerging markets riskier than developed ones?
• As an asset class when is the best time for investors to commit?
• Can private investors profit or are emerging markets really for the big boys?
• Finding opportunities in emerging markets - Panellists' pick
• The case for Brazilian property by Tim Murphy, MD, Intellectual Property Ltd.
• The case for property funds in the Middle East/Asia by Graham Bibby, CEO, Richmond Group

Graham Bibby
CEO, Richmond Group

Graham Bibby has more than 20 years experience in the investment management field specialising in Absolute Returns Strategies. He is also a regular speaker at investment forums, and has regularly appeared on CNBC, CNN, BBC and Bloomberg’s TV.

The Australian Tax System, the Property Investors Best Friend

• Discover the unique tax advantages
• How to ensure your Australian property investments can remain completely tax free
• Create the opportunity for a tax free life in Australia

Ravin Chatlani
Partner, Australasian Taxation Services

The presentation focuses on how investors can benefit from the taxation laws relating to property investment, and the impact of Capital Gains Tax changes on the property investor.

Ravin’s area of taxation specialisation includes non-resident property investment, migration and expatriate taxation planning. ATS was established in 1995 to provide specialist taxation services to property investors throughout South East Asia and today attends to the Australian Taxation needs of over 1,500 property investors based all around the world.  Ravin began his career with ATS in 1998 soon after completion of his degree studies at Monash University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Business. He is a Fellow of the Taxation Institute of Australia

Demand, Demographics and a Little Design ?the 2007 Update

• How demographics are changing the fundamentals of the Australian property industry forever
• How we can track where the greatest demand for Australian property is going to be in the future
• Why design is so critical to your property investment decisions

Terry Taylor
Joint Managing Director, Which Property?

Terry Taylor is widely regarded as one of Australia’s leading property experts: he is a national commentator and a regular keynote speaker at industry shows on the demographic changes which are affecting the property market in Australia.

How Land Banking helps you reduce your Risk

• What is land banking?
• What makes it profitable for investors today?
• What are some considerations?
• What are some real examples of land banking investments and returns?

Harlow G. Russell
Manager, Land Banking, Walton International Group (S) Pte. Ltd.

Prior to joining Walton, Harlow worked for several organisations including IBM, HP, the US Government, and Dimerco Express. Harlow lived in Indonesia for 8 of his current 15 years in Asia. He is a Singapore permanent resident, speaks Bahasa Indonesian.

Property Ownership in Malaysia.

• Background and Features of Land Law in Malaysia
• Purchase of  Property
  • Foreign ownership
  • Purchase of property direct from Developer
  • Purchase in a sub-sale situation
• Obtaining Financing
• Acquisition Costs
• Complaints and Enforcement of Rights
  • A look at the rights of registered owners vis-à-vis the rights of bona fide purchasers for value recent
  • amendments to the laws and regulations affecting purchasers
• The Iskandar Development. Region – Its Unique Features and Investment Opportunities

Sunita S. Sothi
Partner, Zaid Ibrahim & Co.

Sunita was called to the English Bar in 1989. She was admitted as an Advocate and Solicitor of the High Court of Malaya in 1990 and was called to the Singapore Bar in the year 1991. She obtained her Masters in Law from the National University of Singapore in 1994. Sunita is a currently a partner of Zaid Ibrahim & Co and practices in the commercial business unit in the Johor Bahru office. She has extensive experience in advising foreign and local clients, which includes both corporate entities and individuals on a wide range of issues including property investments, banking and commercial transactions.

Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H)

• What is Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H)?
• Latest requirement & criteria
• Benefits of MM2H
• Purchase of “Second Home” property in Malaysia
• Authorised agent

Jaslyn Sim
Managing Director, Richmond Consultants (MM2H) Sdn. Bhd.

Jaslyn Sim is the Managing Director of Richmond Consultants (MM2H) Sdn. Bhd, which is authorised by the Ministry of Tourism Malaysia as an agent and official sponsor for MM2H Programme. Jaslyn is an Asia Pacific Task Force Committee member of The International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI).

Guide to Strategic Land Investments in the UK

• Returns of up to 400% or even more
• Guidance and steps to ensure a safe and sound investment in the UK

Cheah Chay Tiong
Corporation Communications, UK Land International (M) Sdn Bhd

Cheah is based in Kuala Lumpur with UKLI. He is responsible for Asia Pacific regional marketing and business development opportunities mainly Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Indonesia. Cheah is also a full time in house presenter, conducting in house seminars concerning land investments. He holds a Bachelors Degree in International Business from University Malaysia Sabah, East Malaysia.

Secrets to Continuous Income Creation

• What the rich do in investing
• What the rich know and like it to be a secret
• What you can achieve through an income creation program

Daniel Tan
OilPods

Daniel is a Certified Public Accountant. He is also a CFPCM, ChFC, CIA, and CMA and holds a MBA. Currently, he holds a senior sales management position with OilPods.

He also teaches diplomas, degree and MBA programmes, motivational and self-development programmes in various financial institutions. He is also a certified trainer with IPMA (The International Professional Managers Association).

Knowing Where to Look for Strong Investors Returns in New Zealand’s Property Market

• Review of capital growth and rental yields across New Zealand
• Key drivers of property prices
• Property investment trends
• Hot spots and where to invest
• How to finance a New Zealand residential property investment
• How the tax laws favour offshore investors with tax free gains
• How you can become involved in New Zealand property

Wayne Harmsworth
Director, Tamure Grove Developments – New Zealand

Wayne Harmsworth is a born and bred New Zealander. He has worked in a range of marketing, sales and marketing, general management and country management roles over the last 20 years within New Zealand. Tamure Grove is the second coastal land subdivision development that Wayne has completed in Northland New Zealand.

Tax Planning for Investors Purchasing Property in Thailand

• Tax considerations for offshore property investors
• Taxation of property investment under Thailand’s tax treaties
• A review of real property gains tax in Thailand

Paul Ashburn
Senior Partner, BDO Richfield Advisory Limited

Paul Ashburn has over 20 years of experience in tax consulting, including more than nine years in Thailand. His expertise includes international tax planning and the development of tax effective structures for real estate transactions in Thailand. Paul is a regular contributor to Thailand Property Report on Thai tax issues for international property investors.

Thailand’s Resort Market Outlook

• Overview of the latest thoughts on property title
• The property market, sales activity and new developments in Phuket, Samui and Pattaya
• Capital value outlook

Robert Collins
Managing Director, Savills (Thailand) Ltd.

Robert is a 14 year resident in Thailand and was previously with Jones Lang LaSalle in Bangkok for 12 years, and with Richard Ellis in Hong Kong for 3 years prior.

Financing Property Investment in Thailand

• Thai Property Financing
• How to apply for the loan
• BBL Remittance Service

Torphong Charungchareonvejj
Senior Vice President & General Manager, Bangkok Bank Public Company Limited

Mr Torphong holds a MBA in Finance & Banking, USA. He started his banking career in 1984 and was with Citibank Bangkok for about 6 years before moving on to join Bangkok Bank Public Co Ltd, Bangkok.

Vanuatu – a Business and Property Investment Haven for Foreigners

• Background, political system and conditions
• Legal, taxation and revenue system for foreigners
• Business licence requirements
• Business structures
• Land system
• Government investment policies, incentives and initiatives

Robert Herd
Director, Beachclub

In 2003 and 2004 Robert worked with the Vanuatu Government on amendments to Strata Title legislation, which has been instrumental in facilitating foreign investment and sustaining a property boom in Vanuatu.

The Honourable Moana Carcasses
MP, Leader of the Opposition, Republic of Vanuatu