Market panic: Wild gyrations, risks and opportunities in stock markets

BRAIN FOOD

Stephen Vines

Should investors be dumping stocks just because it's a recession?

No, as there are always chances to take advantage of the downturn, says author and successful businessman Stephen Vines.

In Market Panic, Vines, a former journalist whose Hong Kong-based company Pan Britain provides consultancy services to major corporations in East Asia, takes a hard look at current trends and offers simple tips for succeeding in volatile markets.

He challenges some long-held theories about the benefits of investment diversification; offers new ways of understanding the panic cycle and teaches investors how to predict the onset of panics.

"Stock markets show remarkable resilience in the face of crises, scandals and all other forms of extreme behaviour," Vines writes. "If more people understand the opportunities arising from markets at their supposedly weakest moments ... the potential for profit is greater than when fear, irrationality and extreme behaviour dominate stock markets."

Vines provides real-life case studies by interviewing fund managers and traders, who tell how they were caught in market panics and how they countered these challenges head on.

The book is easy to follow and jargon-free, perfect reading material for the budding investor. ZUL OTHMAN

From TODAY, Business – Monday, 01-Jun-2009

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CEO 101, from Canon CEO

How do you motivate your staff, especially in these economic times?

MR SATOSHI KIMURA, PRESIDENT AND CEO
SOUTH AND SOUTH-EAST ASIA, CANON :

The unprecedented nature of the current crisis makes employee morale-boosting measures an imperative. While I believe that senior management has a vital role to play in motivating staff, it is important to cultivate a corporate culture that permits self-motivation. Canon has put in place measures that are constantly helping our staff to keep a positive attitude. For example, we have incorporated a unique feedback feature in our operations model that allows customers to express their appreciation to our staff for the services rendered. Positive reinforcement like a kind word of praise goes a long way in helping employees to stay motivated.

From TODAY, Succeed
Monday, 30-March-2009