Archive for the ‘Arts, Culture, Luxury & Sport’ Category
Of Art and Wealth
I have been meaning to write about art investments for some time. According to Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management and Capgemini, Singapore’s millionaires are quite fond of having art as part of their investments in luxury items, at 26% of value of luxury investments. The top preference are small items: gems, watches and other jewelry.
Investments in art is not only restricted to the very wealthy. As the middle-class art buyers in wealthy Singapore grow, galleries are aiming lower, taking advantage of an art-buying boom. Growth of so called affordable art and second Affordable Art Fair is reported HERE.
I recently met a friend who started a online Art portal for emerging countries’ artists – www.artyii.com. She wrote an article for Business Times as an introduction to art investment.
Capgemini & Merrill Lynch Asia-Pacific Wealth Report
Every year Capgemini and Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management will publish a World Wealth Report, in its 14th year now and also a Asia-Pacific Wealth Report, their fifth annual in-depth look at the high net worth (HNW) marketplace in the region. Both reports are the result of an extensive collaboration between the two firms, studying the key trends that affect high net worth individuals (HNWIs). It is really interesting read.
Download page here. Alternatively, you can ask me for a copy.
Asia-Pacific HNWI segment showed substantial gains in 2009. The combined wealth of Asia-Pacific millionaires surged 30.9 per cent to US$9.7 trillion in 2009, erasing losses in 2008 and surpassing Europe’s rich. More relevant to me is how HNWI invest. Some of the findings below.
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Fresh Graduate And Staying At The Sail?
Will you wish there was a housing crash in Singapore if you can get a 3-bedroom luxury apartment at The Sail over looking Marina Bay Sands for just $3,000 a month? The equivalent was what happened in Miami.
Brandon Klein, a 26-year-old tax accountant, stays at 50 Biscayne Boulevard, one of the luxury holiday condos built during the 2004 to 2008 boom to attract second-home buyers. Housing market has plummeted in end 2008, and with 7,000 unsold condos, almost a third of the 22,079 units in 75 buildings in Miami’s core, it has transformed Miami. With US$2,700 shared among 3 friends, Brandon is living in an apartment with 24 hour concierge, a ‘sick’ view of Downtown and a life he can never imagined. Some areas, previously only middle aged wealthy appear have transformed into dorm like residences. Interestingly, this has infused life into the vacation beach environment.
I’m going to be an Affluencer.
Parsing the Language of Influence and Affluence
Posted by Lewis Schiff in The Affluentialist
I recently read an article in The New York Times about an up-and-coming media mogul who claims to have coined the word “affluencer” which means: someone who tries to influence the affluent. In her role as the chief of NBC’s Bravo network, Lauren Zalaznick creates programming that will influence affluent people—in particular, her network’s target demographic of 18 to 49 urbanites.
Wine For Asia 2009
After attending this event thrice since 2006, I must say I’m pretty hooked. I just hope the format remains the same. Futhermore, I hope the exhibitors continue to be generous in allowing tasting and education the new wine drinkers in Singapore.
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Wine For Asia
(WFA) 2009, the most comprehensive international wine exhibition in the region, returns to Singapore from 22 – 24 October 2009 with the promise of another bumper event.
An exciting exposition that help you expand your footprint into Asia’s burgeoning wine market, WFA 2009 offers a one-stop opportunity to keep abreast of the latest wine offerings, complete with a myriad of first-class business, educational and networking opportunities and lifestyle pursuits. Exhibitors and visitors can look forward to three days of non-stop business, networking and learning opportunities.
Come feel the pulse of wine business in the fast-changing wine scene in Asia!“
Paying for news online
There has been some developments lately about the way newspapers and media companies are approaching online content. These couple of changes is likely to have a global impact on publications around the world.
The Paper That Doesn’t Want to Be Free
New York Times to charge for online content
A couple of years ago, The Financial Times stood alone in believing that they can succeed in charging for their site FT.com. Now many publishers are realising quality journalism should be paid for.
The move by Rupert Murdoch News Corp’s to start charging for online content will affect news websites visited by millions of people around the world, including popular tabloids like the New York Post, The Sun in London, as well as other papers such as The Times of London. Its large Australian newspaper stable includes Melbourne’s The Herald Sun, Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph and the nation’s only national newspaper, The Australian. The Wall Street Journal, owned by News Corp’s Dow Jones unit, already charges for access to portion of its site and has some free stories.
