Very motivated by the Games as well, its really exciting to watch the matches on TV!
Monday, August 11, 2008
National Day & The Mighty Olympics
This weekend was eventful, with us celebrating Olympics Opening Ceremony, and national day celebration with some guys up at a bar and mambo after. It was very good to meet up and hang out in such a big group.
Thursday, August 07, 2008
Tullett Prebon and GFI hold £1.6bn merger talks as they prepare to challenge Icap
August 1, 2008 - Miles Costello
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4437665.ece
Tullett Prebon and GFI Group are in detailed takeover talks that could lead to the creation of one of the world’s most powerful interdealer brokers, threatening to eclipse the king of City bond players, Michael Spencer’s Icap.
It is understood that the two listed companies would do a deal based on shares, rather than a big exchange of cash, with Tullett paying a premium. It is believed that Tullett, led by Terry Smith, its chief executive, would have the upper hand in the combination.
Shares in GFI, listed in New York, rose as much as 19 per cent yesterday after a report that the two brokers were days away from an agreement. Tullett, listed in London, rose more than 3 per cent and then confirmed that negotiations were under way.
It is understood that the two brokers, which have been in on-off talks for years, are progressing towards an agreement, but a concrete proposal is more likely to be weeks, rather than days, in the making.
An interdealer broker stands between institutions on deals including bonds, derivatives and energy trades. Companies such as Tullett, GFI and Icap have ridden a wave of volatility in markets over the past year as the credit crisis has prompted some dealers to chase trading opportunities and others to seek safer investments.
However, Icap is clearly the dominant player in the market, leaving some dealers to argue that a second major force is required.
A combined Tullett Prebon/GFI would be the largest interdealer broker, measured by staff numbers, and the second-largest in terms of revenues and posttax profits.
A combination of the two companies would create a broking power-house worth at least £1.6 billion.
Tullett Prebon specialises in trading interest-rate derivatives, foreign exchange and conventional financial products such as bonds.
GFI is better known as a player in more modern and esoteric markets, such as gas and other energy trading products.
It is not yet clear what the board structure of a combined group would be if the negotiations succeed. Mr Smith, a former UBS analyst who is highly respected in the City and has a reputation as a deal-driver, could become either chief executive or chairman. Mickey Gooch, GFI’s chief executive, is also a contender for the top job.
Under Mr Smith, Tullett has diversified rapidly since being demerged from Collins Stewart last year. About 80 per cent of its business is shared equally between London and New York, with the remainder in Asia and emerging markets. Both GFI and Tullett are keen to diversify further.
Mr Smith and Mr Spencer, whose Icap is the world’s biggest interdealer broker, have been regular sparring partners in the testosterone-fuelled world of City dealing. Icap has about 30 per cent of the market.
The two men have had a number of run-ins in the past over the poaching of staff in an industry in which lurid tales of strip joints and late-night drinking sessions with clients abound.
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/banking_and_finance/article4437665.ece
Tullett Prebon and GFI Group are in detailed takeover talks that could lead to the creation of one of the world’s most powerful interdealer brokers, threatening to eclipse the king of City bond players, Michael Spencer’s Icap.
It is understood that the two listed companies would do a deal based on shares, rather than a big exchange of cash, with Tullett paying a premium. It is believed that Tullett, led by Terry Smith, its chief executive, would have the upper hand in the combination.
Shares in GFI, listed in New York, rose as much as 19 per cent yesterday after a report that the two brokers were days away from an agreement. Tullett, listed in London, rose more than 3 per cent and then confirmed that negotiations were under way.
It is understood that the two brokers, which have been in on-off talks for years, are progressing towards an agreement, but a concrete proposal is more likely to be weeks, rather than days, in the making.
An interdealer broker stands between institutions on deals including bonds, derivatives and energy trades. Companies such as Tullett, GFI and Icap have ridden a wave of volatility in markets over the past year as the credit crisis has prompted some dealers to chase trading opportunities and others to seek safer investments.
However, Icap is clearly the dominant player in the market, leaving some dealers to argue that a second major force is required.
A combined Tullett Prebon/GFI would be the largest interdealer broker, measured by staff numbers, and the second-largest in terms of revenues and posttax profits.
A combination of the two companies would create a broking power-house worth at least £1.6 billion.
Tullett Prebon specialises in trading interest-rate derivatives, foreign exchange and conventional financial products such as bonds.
GFI is better known as a player in more modern and esoteric markets, such as gas and other energy trading products.
It is not yet clear what the board structure of a combined group would be if the negotiations succeed. Mr Smith, a former UBS analyst who is highly respected in the City and has a reputation as a deal-driver, could become either chief executive or chairman. Mickey Gooch, GFI’s chief executive, is also a contender for the top job.
Under Mr Smith, Tullett has diversified rapidly since being demerged from Collins Stewart last year. About 80 per cent of its business is shared equally between London and New York, with the remainder in Asia and emerging markets. Both GFI and Tullett are keen to diversify further.
Mr Smith and Mr Spencer, whose Icap is the world’s biggest interdealer broker, have been regular sparring partners in the testosterone-fuelled world of City dealing. Icap has about 30 per cent of the market.
The two men have had a number of run-ins in the past over the poaching of staff in an industry in which lurid tales of strip joints and late-night drinking sessions with clients abound.
Monday, August 04, 2008
The Week and the Weekend
Met up with some lawyers.
Explored ClearWater Bay for 2 mins
I didnt manage to go back to HK Dog Rescue centre because i had no discipline to say No to tea buffet with Vic's family. ahhhhhhh. I feel guilty.
Watched The Black Knight - realised how selfish i had become. haha.
Bumped in to Charmaine
Ahead.
Call brother to chk all okay
Call Mom to chat
Look for apartment
Try to meet more clients
Apply for leave
Explored ClearWater Bay for 2 mins
I didnt manage to go back to HK Dog Rescue centre because i had no discipline to say No to tea buffet with Vic's family. ahhhhhhh. I feel guilty.
Watched The Black Knight - realised how selfish i had become. haha.
Bumped in to Charmaine
Ahead.
Call brother to chk all okay
Call Mom to chat
Look for apartment
Try to meet more clients
Apply for leave
Yoga
What is Yoga? http://www.yoga.net.au/what_is_yoga
Yoga, in general, is a spiritual practice or discipline that helps the individual unify his/her body, mind, and heart.
Yoga is a direct experience of the vast interrelatedness of all life and of all things. You will feel at peace at the end of a yoga class because there is a natural realignment of your body which leads to a natural realignment of your perception of life and of who you are.
If you stay with yoga long enough, you may discover a "spiritual awakening" (for lack of a better phrase.) You will find out that who you are, is not just your body, and not just the conversations in your mind.
Through steady practice, you will manifest less self-importance, less material attachment, more capacity for joy, less judgmentalness, and more tolerance toward others.
Yoga is about transformation, not hamstrings, but along the way we have to take care of them. This is not dogma, but a direct experience. Yoga will open your eyes to things you have not experienced before. It will take you beyond the mundane survival level and into a whole new appreciation of life.
Genuine yoga will change your life, your habits, your body, your health, your mind, your breathing patterns, your attitudes, your outlook. Yoga is about learning from direct experience. You will develop wisdom of how your body works most efficiently. You will learn how your conscious and unconsious mind can either support or harm you, and then later, a deeper wisodm naturally gets revealed. The benefits of Yoga will come to those who practice.
There is no competition in Yoga, everyone is different.
Yoga, in general, is a spiritual practice or discipline that helps the individual unify his/her body, mind, and heart.
Yoga is a direct experience of the vast interrelatedness of all life and of all things. You will feel at peace at the end of a yoga class because there is a natural realignment of your body which leads to a natural realignment of your perception of life and of who you are.
If you stay with yoga long enough, you may discover a "spiritual awakening" (for lack of a better phrase.) You will find out that who you are, is not just your body, and not just the conversations in your mind.
Through steady practice, you will manifest less self-importance, less material attachment, more capacity for joy, less judgmentalness, and more tolerance toward others.
Yoga is about transformation, not hamstrings, but along the way we have to take care of them. This is not dogma, but a direct experience. Yoga will open your eyes to things you have not experienced before. It will take you beyond the mundane survival level and into a whole new appreciation of life.
Genuine yoga will change your life, your habits, your body, your health, your mind, your breathing patterns, your attitudes, your outlook. Yoga is about learning from direct experience. You will develop wisdom of how your body works most efficiently. You will learn how your conscious and unconsious mind can either support or harm you, and then later, a deeper wisodm naturally gets revealed. The benefits of Yoga will come to those who practice.
There is no competition in Yoga, everyone is different.
Friday, August 01, 2008
Today I Grew up A Little
28th Jul 08
Richard said I had the talent and ability to do either and I would succeed. Richard says 51% is 100%.Noel said I was two-faced and 50-50 and that sucks. I had to go one way or another. He said I was a conservative who wanted to try out new stuff. Very true. If I wanted to do sales, I would have to go all out. Noel is an excel teacher, experienced in the ways of the world. He is everyone's best friend it seems. He knows many people, and can teach & help me. He taught me something very important today, "If you don't try, you would never know... keng meh jie, yao meh hou geng?" I respect him for this life lesson over drinks. Should I follow him, and let him teach me things? Of course, nothing comes for free. So, get creative!
In China market, it is important to read people, and to find out what they are like, what they like to do and how they spend their time. Basically, make them happy. My goal is to sell. It is very simple and straightforward. Heck what everyone says and just deliever the numbers. Another important lesson is to make meself useful to my client. Why will client want to use my product? How will the client benefit from me? How do I make use of that benefit to negotiate terms favourable to me?
Monday, July 28, 2008
HK Dog Rescue Centre
I spent two hours walking dogs that were abandoned and rescued by its founder, Sally Andersen. This organisation rehomes dogs that were due to be destroyed from AFCD kennels. HKDR is entirely self-financed and run by volunteers. My task for now would be to clean, feed and walk the dogs, which I am very happy to do, given that I miss dogs so much.
Today, i walked a shy and thin Golden Retriever called Anna, a leader of the pack fierce Pit Terrier-mixed Mongrel, an energetic adorable brown polka dotted puppy. It was very nice meeting people at the Dog Shelter: Charly, Letia, Leng1, Leng 2 and a really cute guy there, whose name I do not know yet.
Very happy. Of course, I spent Sat morn at the gym, today's morning was spent with marketing and household chores. I cooked dinner today as well. The days ahead looks interesting:
- Trip up to Shenzhen, hone my pitching skills again
- Tell Mgmt about my Decision
- Bake my dulce de leche
- Facial mid-week
- Gymming at least three times a week (1,3,5) hopefully
- Get HK Squash Centre membership up and in a team, and prepare for training!
- SMU Invitation on 31st Jul @ Conrad HK, Pacific Place
- Sze Min's going to be in town, so we should be going out by Friday or Sat
________________________________
- Keep reading about Sales, about Derivatives
- Plan August Beijing Trip!
- Post my letter to Alf
- Mom's Birthday on 25th Aug
- Book my Sept trip back to Sg?
- Paul returns on 1st Aug frm Taiwan
- Sg's National Day on 9th Aug
Time for bed now! I am so glad I am the stronger for it all.
Today, i walked a shy and thin Golden Retriever called Anna, a leader of the pack fierce Pit Terrier-mixed Mongrel, an energetic adorable brown polka dotted puppy. It was very nice meeting people at the Dog Shelter: Charly, Letia, Leng1, Leng 2 and a really cute guy there, whose name I do not know yet.
Very happy. Of course, I spent Sat morn at the gym, today's morning was spent with marketing and household chores. I cooked dinner today as well. The days ahead looks interesting:
- Trip up to Shenzhen, hone my pitching skills again
- Tell Mgmt about my Decision
- Bake my dulce de leche
- Facial mid-week
- Gymming at least three times a week (1,3,5) hopefully
- Get HK Squash Centre membership up and in a team, and prepare for training!
- SMU Invitation on 31st Jul @ Conrad HK, Pacific Place
- Sze Min's going to be in town, so we should be going out by Friday or Sat
________________________________
- Keep reading about Sales, about Derivatives
- Plan August Beijing Trip!
- Post my letter to Alf
- Mom's Birthday on 25th Aug
- Book my Sept trip back to Sg?
- Paul returns on 1st Aug frm Taiwan
- Sg's National Day on 9th Aug
Time for bed now! I am so glad I am the stronger for it all.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
The decision
It has been one year and one month in this company, and almost time to make a decision between Sales & Account Management:
I am a friendly people person, but i am not comfortable to sell yet. That I have to try all ways and means to make people buy my product. Ie: Pushing, seeing/manipulating the numbers, continual talking, entertaining.
I am a sensitive person, and am not very thick skinned. Meaning, i dont handle rejections. I should use my sensitivity to size up a client needs, and learn how to make deals.
I can maintain relationships, and upsell when necessary, but closing a deal is quite a different animal. I have to be very agressive, which is in part, not my nature as I am not motivated yet. I guess the end game for me is to never never give up. That is my goal and my motivating factor now. To be able to sell. Why, it is just to prove to myself and others that I can do it. I won't let anyone tell me I can't do it. Currently, I have two people who believe in me, my mom and Alvin. That alone will take me the distance.
I like challenges, and my AM may provide a different set of challenges to do with managing clients and their expectations, hopefully in my current pet market: China
Meanwhile, Alvin advises that Sales can be learnt, so long I have someone to guide me/for me to learn from. And of course Mom tells me to read up on Sales Techniques. Given that I have the option to do AM, I should take my time, and take up Sales when i am comfortable and have built up my confidence. It is one thing to sell, it is another to sell in a new environment. So one step at a time.
As a backup, what can I do after AM?
http://www.wetfeet.com/Careers-and-Industries/Careers/Account-Management.aspx
I can work in a field that uses my wide network of clients in N.Asia
I can handle relationship management, and understand the sales process
I will have deep product knowledge in FX Options and Risk Mgmt
Depending on how things change, I may have the opp to do Sales and other types of Sales later. Ie: Sales and trading, sales and research, etc...
I guess for now, I have to be happy, comfortable. Some capabilities are god-given, and for me, i am blessed to be well-liked and hardworking. The rest that I haven't discovered yet, I will push my limits till I get there.
I am a friendly people person, but i am not comfortable to sell yet. That I have to try all ways and means to make people buy my product. Ie: Pushing, seeing/manipulating the numbers, continual talking, entertaining.
I am a sensitive person, and am not very thick skinned. Meaning, i dont handle rejections. I should use my sensitivity to size up a client needs, and learn how to make deals.
I can maintain relationships, and upsell when necessary, but closing a deal is quite a different animal. I have to be very agressive, which is in part, not my nature as I am not motivated yet. I guess the end game for me is to never never give up. That is my goal and my motivating factor now. To be able to sell. Why, it is just to prove to myself and others that I can do it. I won't let anyone tell me I can't do it. Currently, I have two people who believe in me, my mom and Alvin. That alone will take me the distance.
I like challenges, and my AM may provide a different set of challenges to do with managing clients and their expectations, hopefully in my current pet market: China
Meanwhile, Alvin advises that Sales can be learnt, so long I have someone to guide me/for me to learn from. And of course Mom tells me to read up on Sales Techniques. Given that I have the option to do AM, I should take my time, and take up Sales when i am comfortable and have built up my confidence. It is one thing to sell, it is another to sell in a new environment. So one step at a time.
As a backup, what can I do after AM?
http://www.wetfeet.com/Careers-and-Industries/Careers/Account-Management.aspx
I can work in a field that uses my wide network of clients in N.Asia
I can handle relationship management, and understand the sales process
I will have deep product knowledge in FX Options and Risk Mgmt
Depending on how things change, I may have the opp to do Sales and other types of Sales later. Ie: Sales and trading, sales and research, etc...
I guess for now, I have to be happy, comfortable. Some capabilities are god-given, and for me, i am blessed to be well-liked and hardworking. The rest that I haven't discovered yet, I will push my limits till I get there.