This week, MAS responded to the Bitcoin ETF that has been making waves in the cryptocurrency world. In short, not approved, but can buy it yourself with caution. In other updates, MayBank now offers fixed deposits for CPF and you can learn how to maximise your CPF! Also, is it true that fixed-income assets are gaining popularity in 2024?

For Singapore news, we looked at COE prices which increased (AGAIN)! We also dive into careers - more parental leave for dads, more individuals changing jobs, and higher salaries for polytechnic graduates.

In property updates, there's growing interest among Singaporeans to buy a property in JB for retirement, investment or leisure. This comes with the RTS announcement. Next, we dived into Budget 2024 and HDB resale prices.

Invest: Bitcoin ETF, Maybank, CPF, Fixed Assets

1. Bitcoin ETFs not approved for retail investors in Singapore: MAS [CNA]: Following the U.S. SEC approval of the Spot Bitcoin-ETF, MAS does not approve this product for retail trading in Singapore. MAS noted that investors trading Bitcoin ETFs in overseas markets must exercise "extreme caution".
2. Maybank becomes the first foreign bank to offer fixed deposits for CPF funds [ST]: Maybank is now the first foreign bank to offer fixed deposits for CPF Ordinary Account (OA). The bank promises a fixed deposit rate of 2.9% per annum for a minimum placement of $20,000 in OA funds for 12 months. There are only 4 banks in Singapore permitted - Maybank, OCBC, DBS and UOB. For those with excess CPF savings, the article also discussed T-bills as an option.
3. How to invest your CPF funds in Singapore [Yahoo]: If you are wondering how to get started with investing your CPF funds, this is a simplified guide. It covers the eligible CPF accounts, minimum investment amounts, options and (briefly) associated risks. This is a great starting point, but more due diligence is required before investing.
4. Fixed income assets such as bonds likely to star in 2024 on interest rate cuts: Bank of Singapore [ST]: Bank of Singapore noted that fixed income assets such as bonds are expected to become more attractive in 2024 due to anticipated interest rate cuts. Furthermore, the high yields on bonds are "currently helping" beat inflation for investors. BOS predicts a rise in the 10-year US Treasury yield, and advise clients to consider those with maturities between 8 and 15 years.
5. 'Can you take out a loan to invest?' We rate advice from Reddit [AsiaOne]: Should you be listening to investment advice from Reddit? Well, this article took a look at a few and gave their professional opinion. That aside, this writer also explained the different categories of loans, and most importantly, the pros and cons of taking loans to invest. [Editor's Comment: What is your risk tolerance? Seek professional advice before making any major decision like taking a loan!]

Singapore

1. Latest Singapore COE prices and bidding results (17 January) [Yahoo]: The latest COE prices in Singapore have increased for all categories, with the biggest jump for larger cars. The LTA raised the COE supply for the Nov 2023 to Jan 2024 period. It is unsure when the COE prices will drop again, as it is dependent on supply and demand. Currently, LTA adopts a 0% vehicle growth rate until 31 Jan 2025.
2. Guide To Understanding How Shared Parental Leave Works In Singapore [D&S]: From 1 Jan 2024, Singaporean fathers have up to 8 weeks of paid parental leave - 4 weeks of Government-Paid Paternity Leave (GPPL) and 4 weeks of Shared Parental Leave (SPL). SPL, with their wife's agreement, allows working fathers to share between 1 to 4 weeks of their wives’ 16-week Government-Paid Maternity Leave (GPML).
3. More S’pore professionals seeking to change jobs despite cooling labour market: LinkedIn [ST]: Despite a slowing job market, Singapore professionals are still actively seeking new jobs, driven by factors like higher pay and better work-life balance. The article also highlights the top 15 fastest-growing jobs in Singapore, many of which are in technology and finance.
4. More fresh poly grads in full-time jobs with higher pay in 2023 [ST]: Latest Graduate Employment Survey (GES) found that more polytechnic graduates landed full-time jobs in 2023, with higher median salaries. Health sciences, humanities, and IT grads earned the most.

HDB / Property

1. Singaporeans snap up residential units near RTS station in Johor Bahru [CNA]: In anticipation of easier access once the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link to JB is completed, analysts noted that home prices around RTS station have increased in recent years. Real estate agents added that there has been a surge in demand by Singaporean buyers for Johor properties since 2023, and those above 40 years old planned to retire in JB. Hence, is it time for Singaporeans to consider buying properties in JB?
2. Should we expect an uneventful Budget for Singapore property? [BT]: The Business Times looked at the previous Budgets' impact on the property sector and made some predictions for the upcoming session. Let's see!
3. Sluggish demand drags HDB resale prices in 12 towns [SBR]: HDB resale prices fell in 12 out of 26 Singapore towns due to weak demand and high supply. Prices are expected to rise slightly (3-5%) in 2024.

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