The Beat Goes On – August Recap

Today marks the last day of trading for the month of August and I have to say, it has been quite a month. With all the news about ISIS, the Ukraine and Hamas and Israel, you would think the world was coming to an end. Well, don't tell that to the stock market! It made all-time highs and put in a very solid month of returns in August.

Traditionally August has always been a rather slow month, as many traders and investors take off on vacation to spend time with family members and loved ones. This August was no different as trading volume slowed, but the market continued its upward trend.

The big winner as far as the indexes are concerned is the NASDAQ (NASDAQ:COMP), which is presently trading approximately 4.61% higher for the month. Closely behind the NASDAQ is the S&P 500 (CME:SP500), which is up 3.62% as of midday Eastern Standard Time. The DOW (INDEX:DJI), not to be out done, reversed its earlier weakness and rallied into positive territory for the month and is presently up 3.12%.

One would have thought with all the problems in the Middle East that crude oil (NYMEX:CL.V14.E) would've closed out the month of August on a positive note. Well, truth be told the trend in crude oil is down, approximately 2.27% for the month of August.

The gold (FOREX:XAUUSDO) market, which is traditionally a haven when uncertainty blankets the world, really did nothing other than lose ground in the month of August. For the month, gold is neither gaining nor losing and is generally flat on the month.

All these diverging trends underscore just how important technical analysis is in timing trades. For example, one might think the crude oil market should be going higher because of the ongoing problems in the Middle East. While that may be the thought of conventional thinking, MarketClub's technical Trade Triangles were telling a different story, one that has proven to be profitable an correct. Much the same thing happened in gold as the bull market fizzled and the trend turned down.

Eventually all trends change, the questions is, will you be ready when that happens?

In today's video, I recap the month of August for all the major indices, crude oil and gold. Be sure to watch this monthly recap and let us know what you think in the comments section.

Have a great weekend everyone, see you in September!

Adam Hewison

President, INO.com

Co-Creator, MarketClub

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How a plant-based diet can reduce hypertension and prevent stroke

MEATLESS BUT MORE NUTRITIOUS Malunggay soup (with tomatoes, onions, organic vegan bouillon cubes and Himalayan salt), string beans (with shiitake mushrooms, okra, eggplant, Braggs tomato sauce) and oil-less fried, non-GMO soy wheat stick (with seaweeds). Safe proteins were found to be from plants. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO by Tessa Salazar

What do five of the 10 leading causes of illness and death in the Philippines have in common? Coronary heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes and atherosclerosis are all associated with our diets.

In particular, stroke, a disease of the vascular system, has strong links to what we eat.

Experts say that nutrients found in plants are associated with a lower risk of cognitive decline in old age, and that food sourced from plants is one of our best natural allies to help prevent stroke.

Scientist T. Colin Campbell, PhD, coauthor of “The China Study,” cited a publication from the well-known Framingham Study which had researchers concluding that for every three additional servings of fruits and vegetables a day, the risk of stroke could be reduced by 22 percent. This was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (Jama) titled “Protective effect of fruits and vegetables on development of stroke in men” by Gilman M.W., Cupples L.A., Gagnon D., et al.

“Three servings of fruits and vegetables is less than you might think. The following examples count as one serving in this study: 1/2 cup peaches, 1/4 cup tomato sauce, 1/2 cup broccoli, or one potato,” said Campbell, who is a vegan, when he was interviewed by Inquirer Science and Health a few years ago.

Campbell said: “Half a cup is not much. In fact, the men in this study who consumed the most fruits and vegetables consumed as many as 19 servings a day. If every three servings lower the risk by 22 percent, the benefits can add up fast (risk reduction approaches but cannot exceed 100 percent).”

Campbell noted that this study provides evidence that the health of the arteries and vessels that transport blood to and from your brain is dependent on how well you eat. By extension, it is logical to assume that eating fruits and vegetables will protect against dementia caused by poor vascular health.

Effective vs hypertension

Vegetarian diets also reduce the risk of hypertension, according to new research published recently in the Jama Internal Medicine by physicians committee president Neal Barnard, MD, and researcher Yoko Yokoyama, PhD, MPH. The meta-analysis compared blood pressure from more than 21,000 people around the world and found study participants who followed a vegetarian diet had a systolic blood pressure about 7 mm Hg lower and diastolic blood pressure 5 mm Hg lower than study participants who consumed an omnivorous diet. The study was also published in the health website Fit Fathers.

“Instead of readjusting the definition for hypertension, as was done in the recent guideline revision, let’s write prescriptions for plant-based foods,” Barnard said. “Compared to antihypertensive drugs, a diet change brings only desirable ‘side effects,’ including healthy weight loss and improved cholesterol, along with the lower blood pressure.”

The Jama meta-analysis report also pointed out that:

Obesity, sodium and alcohol consumption increase blood pressure and risk for hypertension.

Potassium intake and physical activity correlate directly with lower blood pressure.

Unsaturated fat, protein, magnesium and dietary fiber may reduce risk for hypertension.

Hypertensive study participants who combine antihypertensive medications with a plant-based diet lower blood pressure by an average of 5/2 mm Hg in just six weeks.

A 2013 study from the American Journal of Medicine (T. Akbaraly, S. Sabia, G. Hagger-Johnson, et al.) indicated that eating more meat, dairy and other unhealthful foods could worsen the effects of aging.

After an average 16-year followup, people who consumed a “Western-type” diet, which consists of high intakes of red and processed meats, whole dairy products, and fried foods, were more likely to die prematurely and to suffer from various chronic diseases including heart disease, stroke, cancer and mental health disorders, compared with people who avoided such dietary patterns.

For alternative, nonanimal-based food sources, readers can look for vegetarian cookbooks or visit websites such as www.happycow.net.

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SHDA convention to promote industry growth

SHDA national president Ricky Celis. Photo from http://shda.ph/

(First of two parts)

The Subdivision and Housing Developers Association (SHDA) is confident that stimulating the housing sector may lead to further growth of the Philippine economy.

This pronouncement came after the organization noted that the sector made a significant contribution to the economy last year—accounting for P125 billion or 3.8 percent of the country’s P11 trillion gross domestic product.

And this is only the beginning, according to SHDA. “Thanks to the government incentives that give value-added tax exemptions to developers that produce socialized housing units, the licenses to sell issued by the Housing and Land Use Regulatory Board for socialized and low-cost housing is up by 17 and 23 percent, respectively,” said SHDA national president Ricky Celis.

The same goes for the luxury and high-end segments that have become a lucrative market for property developers in recent years.

But even as the country’s real estate sector is making great strides, developers are still behind the national target. The Philippines currently needs 3.9 million housing units, a demand that is growing at 3 to 5 percent every year.

“The prevailing environment only allows us to add around 200,000 units every year, which will not be enough since if we do not improve this capacity, the country would end up having a housing backlog of 6.5 million units by 2030,” Celis said.

Best strategy

Finding the best strategy to hurdle this challenge would be the main agenda of SHDA’s upcoming 23rd National Developers Convention, an annual gathering of members as well as allied industry partners and concerned government agencies.

SHDA first vice president Armenia Ballesteros explained: “Aside from satisfying one of the basic needs of man—decent shelter—real estate represents the spark plug which triggers income opportunities for various sectors and generates a market for the construction and allied industries. How do we stimulate growth in real estate? In 2012, SHDA challenged itself to answer this question and came up with The Philippine Housing Industry Plan: 2012-2030, an industry roadmap that provides data and other relevant information such as production capacity, affordability, financing needs, as well as regulatory framework.”

The roadmap is now an indispensable tool for industry collaboration, planning and coordination.

“With the roadmap, it should be easier for everyone to point out which segment of the market needs more of the houses that must be produced, what assistance from the government and other concerned agencies will be needed to realize this, and what other issues must be resolved as soon as possible,” said Ballesteros who is in-charge of the activities for the upcoming national convention.

Gaining ground

She added that the convention’s theme, “Gaining Ground: Collaboration for Continuous Inclusive Growth” sums up the aspirations of SHDA.

“We have lined up several topics that will be discussed during the two-day event happening on Sept. 25 to 26 at the Radisson Blu, Cebu City. On Day 1, ‘Recognizing the Economic and Social Contribution of Housing’ will give participants a better understanding of the current housing situation. This is important considering the housing sector plays a crucial role in the country’s infrastructure and social development,” Ballesteros said.

In the afternoon, the 23rd National Developers Convention will cover the topic, “Ensuring Industry Preparedness to Changing Business Environment.” To be discussed are a number of pending bills that both the Senate and the House of Representatives can pass to help the industry. These bills include land acquisition, site development and house construction, selling and property management. Emerging “green” technologies will also be discussed.

Best practices

For the topic, “Pursuing Synergy for 1 Million Homes,” the participants will discuss the best practices as well as address the bottlenecks that would affect SHDA members from achieving the short-term goal of producing one million homes by 2016. SHDA is also set to sign different memorandums of agreements with a number of concerned agencies as well as industry suppliers.

Ballesteros said: “Thanks to the roadmap SHDA prepared in cooperation with the University of Asia and the Pacific’s Center for Research and Communication, we now know that while supply of houses is fast catching up the demand in other sectors of the real estate market, particularly high-end condominiums, there remains a huge backlog in socialized (houses that are priced P450,000 and below), economic (houses priced from P450,001 to P1.25 million) and low-cost housing (house priced from 1.25 million up to P3 million).”

She noted that the government is now realizing that helping developers build more houses in these segments as well as assisting homebuyers to be able to pay for these houses will have positive economic impact.

Ballesteros said: “According to the roadmap we have prepared, a P1 million increase in investment spending in the industry generates P3.32 million in additional output to the economy. Also, a P100-million investment in construction is estimated to generate P47 million in additional household income which corresponds to 228 direct jobs created. There’s no more reason to ignore this sector.”

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Interior design styles that could be sources of inspiration

RUSTAN’S Ambassador Bienvenido Tantoco Sr. flanked by sons Donnie and Gippy.

Beautiful homes begin with stylishly designed interiors and creatively appointed furniture. When it comes to interior design styles, allow your creativity to define your living place.

As with any specific style, homes should be tasteful and interesting and not too thematic. Take elements of your preferred style and develop your own design keeping the focal furniture pieces as the key accents of the overall look.

There are several interior design styles that could be sources of inspiration. From that point, create a personal look with a mix of design patterns to have a more eclectic composition. For example, a mix of Italian furniture, vintage lighting and modern paintings could make a stunning interior statement.

MOROCCAN setup of Jia Estrella

Look more inviting

A functional home could look more inviting with a contemporary leather sofa and vintage throw pillows. This would create an old meets new feeling that would make the space more unique.

Collect ideas and influences from photos and interior design shops. While planning a renovation or redesign, it’s key to keep the functionality of the space in mind. If the area is meant for studying, add a built-in desk, bookshelves and a handy reading nook. If the space is for video games and playtime, there should be plenty of lounging area and a fully stocked TV setup.

CONTEMPORARY and joyful dining setup of Ria Prieto

Elegant ladies, their vignettes

If you are looking for interior design pieces or home furnishings for Christmas gifts, head to Rustan’s Department Store in Makati. The entire home section is celebrating Rustan’s Home & Entertainment Month.

Rustan’s Home chose several stylishly elegant ladies to create vignettes featuring the different brands that Rustan’s sells. Each lady was given a specific theme and space to design and compose a setup.

Inquirer’s Ria Prieto in her vignette

A contemporary breakfast in bed was the concept of beautiful equestrienne Michelle Barrera. Inspired by her passion for horses and her attraction to modern, Michelle created her living space that is clean and free of clutter. She continuously finds joy in simplicity so this is reflected in her setup.

With her busy and hectic days, she prefers to come home into a clean, crisp and restful living atmosphere. She chose to keep her interiors minimal and in monochromatic tones.

A Moroccan afternoon tea setting was the vignette of Jia Estrella. The enchanting Moroccan riyads served as her inspiration for the setting. Using jewel tones that represent the key cities, Marrakesh red and Essaouire blue were mixed with the traditional Moroccan zelig mosaic as backdrop.

The Riyadh is an ideal venue for elegant ladies to lounge and enjoy afternoon tea. Classic Moroccan lamps accent the vignette as well.

For Inquirer’s Ria Prieto, a warm eclectic dinner party was her unique setting. She used centerpieces that look like they were thrown together perfectly. She made sure not to use matching items to make a stronger personal statement and create a more inviting and guest-friendly setting.

Lots of flowers and fruits added color to Ria’s vignette. Her selection of items include Bernardaud dinnerware, Herdmar flatware and home décor from Entrada Global.

Other vignette was that of Rustan’s Sevrine Miailhe who created an elegant living space using Meissen, a German brand in her setup. Stephanie Zubiri used Marchesa by Lenox, Pols Potten and Cristal De Paris in her dining vignette. She played around with a Prussian blue wall with black, white and beige color combinations.

Visit Rustan’s Home and check out the other beautiful vignettes for excellent design ideas and early Christmas shopping.

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Ayala Land bags Best Developer award

Ayala Land was named the Best Developer as it received the most prestigious award during the second annual Philippines Property Awards held recently at the Fairmont and Raffles Makati.

During the awards night, one of the top honors was given to property tycoon Dr. Andrew L. Tan. He was chosen by the editors of Ensign Media’s Property Report magazine as the Philippines’ Real Estate Personality of the Year.

Ayala Land beat Filinvest Land Inc., which received the highly commended honor. It also received highly commended citations in the Best Housing Development (Manila) and Best Affordable Condo Development (Manila) awards.

Tan, who is the chair and chief executive officer of Megaworld Corp., was selected for leading one of the country’s biggest real estate conglomerates. The urban developer is celebrating its 25th year in the industry.

The property industry leaders and top real estate executives in the country gathered to recognize the best developers, developments and design firms at the exclusive gala dinner and awards presentation ceremony.

Guest of honor Tourism Secretary Ramon Reyes Jimenez Jr. gave an enlivening speech at the country’s biggest real estate event of the year.

High level of innovation

Terry Blackburn, CEO of Ensign Media, organizer of the Awards, said: “Secretary Jimenez called for the developers present to create iconic buildings for the world to associate with the Philippines. I am sure that call will be heeded and the quality of the developments recognized at the awards shows a high level of innovation already in the sector.”

He added that although the majority of development activity is still focused on Manila, it was great to see an even stronger presence from Cebu this year and high quality entries from Davao.

During the black-tie event handed out were 18 awards across three categories, namely: Developers, Developments and Design. More than 130 guests from all over the country came to cheer on the best companies, projects and properties in Manila, Cebu and Davao.

More competitive

“I do not think that many would argue with their Best Developer award this year and I am sure that the category will be even more competitive next year,” Blackburn said.

Anchor Land Holdings Inc.’s mixed-use residential development Admiral Baysuites, which faces the world-famous Manila Bay, was named Best Luxury Condo Development (Manila), while Azure Urban Resort Residences from Century Properties Group was recognized as the Best Mid-Range Condo Development (Manila).

Federal Land Inc.’s Marco Polo Residences Towers 1 and 2 received the Best Condo Development (Cebu) award while Abreeza Residences, another Ayala Land property, was named Best Residential Development (Davao).

Arya Residences, a flagship project of ArthaLand Corp. in Bonifacio Global City, was a double winner in the Design category. It took home the Best Residential Architectural Design and Best Residential Interior Design awards.

SM Aura Premier, owned by SM Prime Holdings, also received two awards: Best Commercial Development (Retail) and Best Commercial Architectural Design (Retail).

Meanwhile, SM Prime affiliate SM Development Corp. (SMDC) bagged the Special Recognition in CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) award for its positive impact on the Philippine’s burgeoning real estate sector.

This year’s winners at this year’s event are now eligible to compete for the region’s most coveted industry awards. The fourth annual Southeast Asia Property Awards will be held at The Shangri-La Hotel in Singapore on Oct. 16.

Panel of judges

This year’s highly respected panel of judges was once again led by Tajara Leisure & Hospitality Group Inc. president Cyndy Tan Jarabata, who ensured that all the eligible entries were comprehensively assessed.

Jarabata said: “The winners Ayala Land has a very comprehensive portfolio and deservedly won the evening’s top honor. They have everything from affordable to luxury, vertical to horizontal, hotels, retail, and they’re not just present in Metro Manila but in other cities in the Philippines as well. More important to note is that in almost all these categories, they’ve been successful as well.”

Other members of the central judges panel were: celebrated architect William V. Coscolluela; Lindsay J. Orr, chief operating officer of Jones Lang LaSalle Philippines; Rommel M. Leuterio, group president of Property Management & Development Group, Investment and Capital Corp. of the Philippines (ICCP); Jaime A. Cura, PhD, vice chair of the RGV Group of Companies; and Jose Oscar O. Salvacion, president of Design Coordinates Inc./Construction Project Managers.

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GERD treatment guidelines developed for Filipino physicians

The Philippine Society of Gastroenterology (PSG) has completed the development of treatment guidelines for gastroesophageal reflux disease or GERD, a bothersome condition whose prevalence in the country is increasing.

PSG president Dr. Peter P. Sy said: “While the bothersome symptoms associated with GERD are common reasons for clinic visits among Filipino patients, there are currently no clinical practice guidelines for GERD treatment in the Philippines. As such, we developed the Philippine Consensus Guidelines for the Management of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease.”

“In crafting these consensus guidelines, our goal was to address the need of Filipino primary care physicians and specialists for updated, evidence-based guidance in the management of GERD,” said Dr. Jose D. Sollano, PSG past president and lead convenor of the GERD Consensus Development Group of the PSG which developed the guidelines. “Moreover, the government’s Universal Health Care program may soon require country-specific guidelines for GERD diagnosis and management,” he added.

Faulty valve

After every meal, millions of tiny pumps in the stomach—proton pumps—produce the acid that helps digest food. At the bottom of the esophagus (the tube that carries food from the mouth to the stomach) is a ring of muscle called the lower esophageal sphincter (LES). The LES opens between the esophagus and stomach to allow food and liquids to enter the stomach.

If the valve doesn’t close tightly, or if it opens too often, stomach acid can move up into the esophagus. This condition is called gastroesophageal reflux (GER).

Most patients will not complain of symptoms. However in some patients, GER can cause troublesome symptoms like recurrent heartburn, sour taste in the mouth (acid regurgitation), chronic sore throat, hoarseness, sensation of a lump in the throat and chest pain.

“Occasional GER is common and does not necessarily mean a person has GERD. However, persistent GER that results in the annoying symptoms just mentioned is considered GERD,” explained Dr. Joseph Bocobo, PSG past president and member of the GERD Consensus Development Group.

Diagnosis

The consensus guidelines define GERD as “a condition resulting from the recurrent backflow of gastric contents into the esophagus and adjacent structures causing troublesome symptoms and/or tissue injury.”

Local primary care physicians can diagnose GERD in the clinic if the typical symptoms of acid regurgitation and/or heartburn are present. In this setting, the consensus guidelines do not consider an upper endoscopy as absolutely necessary to establish a diagnosis of GERD. Upper endoscopy is a procedure that uses an endoscope (a small, flexible tube with a light source) to see the lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract.

For patients who present with chest pain, even if suspected to be GERD-related, the consensus guidelines recommend appropriate cardiovascular risk assessment before starting treatment to ensure patient safety. This ensures that a heart attack is not misdiagnosed as GERD. Such a cardiovascular risk assessment should include, at a minimum, history and physical examination, 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) and Troponin I (a blood test that indicates a heart attack in people with chest pain).

Untreated, GERD can cause complications more serious than the bothersome symptoms mentioned previously. Erosive esophagitis develops when the esophagus is damaged by continued exposure to stomach acid. Barrett’s esophagus is a serious complication of longstanding GERD involving profound changes in the nature of the tissue normally lining the esophagus. It increases the risk of cancer of the esophagus.

Management of GERD

GERD can be managed through lifestyle modification and drug therapy. Antireflux surgery may only be required in patients who continue to have severe symptoms, erosive esophagitis or disease complications despite adequate drug therapy.

Proton pump inhibitors, also known as PPIs, are the first-line treatment for GERD. They reduce the production of acid in the stomach. Less stomach acid means less irritation of the esophagus if gastric reflux occurs, thereby allowing the esophagus to heal.

According to the consensus guidelines, “Standard dose PPI once daily for 8 weeks, taken 30 minutes before breakfast is the cornerstone of GERD therapy.”

Even with patient compliance, inadequate symptom control especially at night may still occur due to the failure of PPIs to provide 24-hour acid control. Dexlansoprazole, a novel PPI with Dual Delayed Release (DDR) formulation, was recently made available by Takeda Pharmaceutical (Philippines) Inc. to address this gap. The once-a-day capsule provides 24-hour control of acid production for round-the-clock symptom relief and improved sleep. Unlike other PPIs that must be taken 30 to 60 minutes before a meal for optimal efficacy, Dexlansoprazole can be taken anytime with or without food. This flexible dosing increases patient compliance and enhance treatment success.

When symptoms still relapse after the recommended standard GERD treatment, on-demand or intermittent PPI therapy is suggested for nonerosive reflux disease (NERD) while continuous PPI treatment is recommended for moderate to severe erosive esophagitis.

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Malaysia Airlines to cut 6,000 staff in overhaul

Associated Press

3:43 pm | Friday, August 29th, 2014

Visitors look out from viewing gallery as a Malaysia Airlines jet sits in the tarmac at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang, Malaysia, Friday, Aug. 29, 2014. Malaysia Airlines will cut 6,000 workers as part of an overhaul announced Friday to revive its damaged brand after being hit by double passenger jet disasters. AP/Lai Seng Sin

KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia Airlines will cut 6,000 workers as part of an overhaul announced Friday to revive its damaged brand after being hit by double passenger jet disasters.

The staff reduction represents about 30 percent of its current workforce of 20,000.

Khazanah Nasional, the state investment company that owns 69 percent of the airline, said the overhaul includes the establishment of a new company that will take over the existing Malaysia Airlines business and its reduced staff.

The overhaul and new investment in the carrier will cost about 6 billion Malaysian ringgit ($1.9 billion).

The airline will be taken completely under the wing of the government. Khazanah previously announced that it plans to take 100 percent ownership.

Investigators continue to scour the southern Indian Ocean for Flight 370 which veered far of course while en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing on March 8 with 239 people on board. In July, 298 people were killed when Flight 17 was blasted out of the sky as it flew over an area of eastern Ukraine controlled by pro-Russian separatists.

Khazanah said at a press conference that it has begun a search for a new chief executive for the airline, which is likely to be completed by the end of this year.

Current CEO Ahmad Jauhari Yahya will continue to head Malaysia Airlines until its new incarnation is established in July next year.

The state investment fund said it aims to restore Malaysia Airlines to profitability by the end of 2017.

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