The number of cases and deaths worldwide from Covid-19 has increased exponentially since my last article four weeks ago. Ironically the richest countries in the world have fared the worst, despite their advanced technologies and medical services. Indonesia is not out of the woods yet and is depending heavily on the government’s efforts to restrict […]
Read moreCategory: Money Matters
Signs of Life at The End of The Tunnel
Money Matters appears every two issues, hence one every four weeks. Just two issues ago our main concern was the growing conflict between the US and Iran and its possible impact on global business and investments. By the time of the next article the threat had evaporated and a new, unexpected threat to humanity, the […]
Read morePandora’s Box Has Been Opened
It happened much later than one would have expected but two cases of the coronavirus in Jakarta were finally confirmed on 2nd March. The public reaction was predictable; within hours, videos were circulating on social media of crowds panic-buying in supermarkets and of empty shelves. The next day I had to line up as I […]
Read moreIt Never Rains But It Pours!
When I wrote my last article two issues ago there was a real possibility of a major conflict arising in the Middle East following the assassination by the US of Iran’s second most powerful figure, Qasem Soleimani. There was potential for disruption to airline travel, the tourist industry and stock market volatility. Ironically these consequences […]
Read moreCould The US / Iran Conflict Impact Expats in Bali?
The short answer is yes, but to what extent depends on your nationality, your job or business, and to what extent you travel. It can also affect your savings and investments. Conflicts have been ongoing in the Middle East for thousands of years so why should the latest crisis be any different? The reason is […]
Read moreThis Could be of (High or Low) Interest to You!
You have worked hard to make money and now you want to park some of it for a while and get it working for you. Not unnaturally you would like to seek out the best deals on interest rates. Now if I told you that one very popular deal is currently offering an interest rate […]
Read moreFrom Piggy – Bank to Portfolio – The Learning Curve
When you were a child did your thoughtful parents give you a ‘piggy-bank’ to encourage you to save? Its origins go back some 600 years, and while there are a number of theories as to its actual origin there is a strong indication that it originated in Java in the 14th century. They were made […]
Read moreWhy Would Any Expat Decide To Leave Bali?
If the same question were posed with reference to Jakarta it would not be too difficult to find plenty of reasons; no doubt the one that immediately comes to mind is the gridlocked and chaotic traffic and associated pollution. While the people are friendly and welcoming, there are other reasons such as growing nationalism (not […]
Read moreAgung Eruption – A Reminder About Eggs and Baskets
Like many do in Bali and even far afield I frequently glance at one of the YouTube offerings that provide live shots of Gunung Agung. On the evening of Friday 24 May my timing was spot on as I caught a brief eruption which was highly visible thanks to clear skies. There was also a […]
Read moreStaying Safe In The Financial Minefield
How many readers remember the days when we would receive hand-written letters from far-off lands, usually West Africa, telling us some sad tale of a president or other leader who had met a sudden end in an air crash or similar and had left a huge fortune that was at risk of being misappropriated? Invariably […]
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