Where to buy cheap Apple iPhone 3G in the Philippines
September 30, 2007
A year before Apple iPhone 3G phones arrived in the Philippines (thanks to Globe Telecom), hundreds of these exclusive cellphones showed up in several mobile phone retailers in the country.
Back in September 2007, we went to Virra Mall in Greenhills and found at least three stores selling open-line, ready-to-use 8GB iPhones for as low as P30,000 (US$714).
Bryan Marsden and wife charged in online investment scam
September 30, 2007
Former PIPS CEO and owner Bryan Marsden and his wife became the first people in Malaysia to be charged with operating an online investment scam, reports a Malaysian newspaper.
The Star confirmed that Briton Bryan John Marsden and Malaysian wife Phan Sew Ken on September 25 pleaded not guilty in a Kuala Lumpur court to charges of illegally collecting deposits through two Internet-based companies between 2004 and 2005.
The couple are accused of collecting deposits from investors around the world without a valid license, including at least 18 Malaysian depositors who were allegedly duped of 650,000 ringgit (US$185,710).
PayPal Philippines can now receive payments
September 28, 2007
Christmas has surely come early to online Filipino earners.
First, Google today surprised Adsense publishers in the Philippines by offering payments via Western Union free of charge. Now just a few minutes ago, PayPal started offering Philippine-based accounts the ability to receive payments from any PayPal account holder.
Adsense starts offering 1-day Western Union payments
September 28, 2007
I've been hearing stories about Google Adsense offering payouts via Western Union since last year. Until now, though, I still have not read specific experiences of people who have actually received Western Union (WU) payments.
I logged in to my Adsense account today and, to my surprise, I saw that this option is now available. I'm not sure, though, whether this payment method is still on beta test or being offered to all Adsense publishers.
Anyway I applied and, from the looks of it, I'll be receiving Adsense payments via Western Union starting next month.
Screenshots of the Western Union application page below.
Bonjour! C’est un PayPal phishing l’email
September 28, 2007
Pardon my French (literally), but a few minutes ago I received an interesting email supposedly from PayPal France.
The polyglot that I am (not!), I had to get help from a Language Translation site in order to decipher the message and, as expected, it is just one of those many PayPal phishing emails.
Phishing is a type of deception designed to steal one’s personal data such as credit card numbers, passwords, account login information, etc. Phishing emails are normally used to direct recipients to a fraudulent website where they are asked to provide personal information. This information is then used for identity theft.
The French PayPal email I got was no different from other spoof emails. All bore the warning that my PayPal account has been restricted and I need to access a certain website in order to lift the restriction.
Now the rule when receiving emails like these that ask you to login to a certain site: if the website’s URL does not appear to be the official URL of your bank, credit card company, or payment processor, don’t go there and don’t log in!
Yahoo! Messenger (YM) cellphone load scammer
September 27, 2007
Beware of scammers who use Yahoo! Messenger (YM) to lure victims to invest in a fake prepaid load business. If the potential victim decides not to join the “venture,” the scammer then attempts to hack that person’s Yahoo account.
Here’s how the modus operandi works.
Hacked iPhones may not work, says Apple
September 25, 2007
Apple Inc. on Monday warned iPhone owners who have used unauthorized programs to unlock the cellular service feature of their handsets that they may end up with a phone that doesn't work after the company's next software update for it.
Since the iPhone debuted in June, hackers have posted a number of methods online to make it possible to use the iPhone on cellular networks other than AT&T, which is the exclusive official carrier for the iPhone.
Apple executives say they have discovered that many of those unauthorized unlocking programs cause some software damage to iPhones. Now, a software update that Apple plans to issue later this week that will add features such as accessibility to the iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store may end up making the touch-screen cell phone completely inoperable if it has been hacked into.
Stocks Basics 1: What are Stocks?
September 25, 2007
What are STOCKS? What are SECURITIES?
Stocks are shares of ownership in a corporation. When you become a stockholder or shareholder of a company, you become part-owner of that company.
Securities, on the other hand, are proof of one’s ownership or indebtedness in a company. Examples of securities are treasury bills and commercial papers, which are considered as short-term and are traded in the money market; and stocks and bonds, which are long-term and traded in the capital market. Securities are easily bought and sold in the stock market.
Philippine Weekly Economic Recap: Sept. 17-21
September 25, 2007
Market-moving news for the week ended September 21, 2007:
US Federal Reserve cuts interest rate
The Federal reserve lowered its federal funds rate by half a percentage point or 50 basis points to 4.75% from 5.25% on September 18, 2007. The higher-than-expected rate cut by the Fed was intended to forestall the adverse effects on the economy arising from the tightening credit conditions.
RP deficit lower due to continuing budget surplus
For the third straight month, the government posted a budget surplus amounting to P13.9 billion in August. This brought the cumulative deficit incurred by the government for the first eight months of the year to P25.5 billion, lower than the P34.2 billion deficit posted in the same period last year. The surplus for the month was mainly due to the improved revenue collections of the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) and the Bureau of Customs (BOC), which increased by 12.5% and 14.7%, respectively, from the same month last year.
ADB raises Philippine GDP forecast
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) raised its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) forecast for the Philippines to 6.6% from 5.4% in 2007 and 6.0% from 5.7% in 2008. The improved outlook was due to the country’s stronger than expected economic growth for the first half of the year and the lower than projected inflation. For 2008, the ADB expects that growth will be sustained, albeit slower, driven by the growth of services sector and increase in consumption boosted by remittances.
PSE Weekly Stock Market Update (Sept. 17-21)
September 24, 2007
The Philippine Stock Exchange (PSE) applauded the decision of the US Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark interest rate by half a percentage point, soaring to 3,423.73 at the end of the trading week, up by almost 4% week-on-week.
Analysts, however, cautioned investors over some volatility this week. BPITrade sees the market extending correction this week, with investors remaining in the sidelines while waiting for 3Q results. 2TradeAsia also sees some profit-taking and expects the Philippine bourse to track markets abroad.
Week-to-week and Year-to-Date (YTD, i.e., beginning of the year until this week) performances of the Philippine equity sectors are as follows:
(Legend:) Market Sector : Week’s Closing ; 1-Week Change ; YTD change
- PSEi : 3,423.73 ; 3.92% ; 14.79%
- All Shares Index : 2,143.53 ; 2.72% ; 15.22%
- Financial Sector : 893.05 ; 2.81% ; 8.53%
- Industrial Sector : 4,512.13 ; 1.71% ; 14.51%
- Holding Firms Sector : 1,910.28 ; 3.93% ; 10.34%
- Property Sector : 1,498.40 ; 4.10% ; 18.76%
- Services Sector : 1,665.41 ; 3.74% ; 11.70%
- Mining and Oil Sector : 7,040.36 ; 9.55% ; 55.50%
Here are last week’s top 10 gainers and losers.
