Author: Medecci Lineil

Calculated aggression

ON July 9, a reader named Chai emailed me asking, is there any limit on tariffs? Of course, clearly there are limitations to using tariffs. Most economists would agree that for a large economy, imposing tariffs can be welfare-enhancing up to a point.  The reduced demand depresses domestic prices of

Long way home felt right

“No man ever steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.“ – Heraclitus, Greek philosopher OUR seventh anniversary is near, so Jillian and I have been reminiscing, not romantically, but in that “can-you-believe-we-survived-this” kind of way. Yes, we survived. More

Trade winds blow favourably

KUCHING: Sarawak recorded total trade of RM198.7 billion and a trade surplus of RM71.1 billion in 2024, reflecting resilience amid global uncertainties such as market volatility and geopolitical tensions. According to the Sarawak External Trade Statistics 2024, chief statistician Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Uzir Mahidin said the state’s trade performance

Holey Moley!

“Government … can’t be trusted to control its own bureaucrats or collect taxes equitably or fill a pothole, much less decide which of its citizens to kill.” ~ Helen Prejean, an American advocate for the abolition of the death penalty BEING the unofficial tour guide comes with its rewards especially

King dollar fends off rivals

IT’S been a tough few months for believers in the currency market version of Pax Americana.  Dollar critics confidently proclaim that its reign is over.  In Asia, this is a “sell America” moment.  Any sane investor is scouring the planet for an alternative — one that offers all the advantages

Losing trust in public offerings

IT goes without saying that the primary objective of all investors is to make money. Here are the facts.  Of the 62 IPOs since the start of 2024, 31 are currently trading above the IPO price, 28 are trading below and three are unchanged from their IPO price. This means

Chokepoint fears overblown

US strikes on several Iranian nuclear sites represent a meaningful escalation of the Middle East conflict that could lead Tehran to disrupt vital exports of oil and gas from the region, sparking a surge in energy prices.  But history tells us that any disruption would likely be short-lived. Investors and

Guesswork flags mistakes

“The real genius of AI isn’t in thinking like us, but in showing us new ways to think.” – Yann LeCun, chief scientist of Meta AI IN primary school, I learnt that the Malaysian flag was not open to interpretation. “The crescent isn’t a banana,” my Art teacher said, gently

Build liquidity buffer

THE emails started coming in the morning after “Discipline outperforms prediction” ran on May 28. “When did you start investing?” one reader from Tabuan Jaya asked because we never teach asset allocation and risk management in schools.  But knowing how to earn money and profit from putting your assets to

Magnet Empire falters

CHINA’S recent export controls on six rare earth elements (REEs) and rare earth magnets have sent the world in a tizzy.  These products are used for several applications ranging from cleantech to weapons.  The electric vehicle industry is hardest hit, giving out stress signals that many factories can even shut