Archive for June, 2009

I join my fellow Michael Jackson fans in mourning his death today. In truth it feels like he died a long time ago and I am grieving for the second time. »

For weeks, rumours circulated about BlackRock buying BGI and several bidders for the Aviva Australia business. This month, it became official. BlackRock bought BGI while NAB trumped other bidders (ANZ, AMP, AXA - what is it with all these acronyms, eh?) to acquire Aviva. In other words, this month, the finance industry celebrated two... »

My friend, dance buddy and partner-in-crime Mishy is teaching a dance workshop next month at Dance Central. »

Snack before going to church. Only in Manila :) Kaye Martin from SBS interviewed me during my lunch break today. The interview is pre-recorded and will be aired on SBS Radio (95.7fm) this Saturday at 9.30pm. »

On April 8, 2009, I embarked on a 10-day exploration trip to Manila, Philippines. Ten days is a short time to do everything that I wanted to do but it was long enough for me to rediscover the city and fall in love with it all over again. »

In 2006, a group of Filipina-Australians collaborated to launch The Australian Filipina magazine, the only quarterly women’s lifestyle and business publication in Australia tailored to the Filipino community. »

Baltazar also outlines the disadvantages. Spread betting's biggest drawback is that you can lose more than your initial deposit or capital. »

Investors, gird your loins. No amount of foot-stomping, hair-pulling and chest-beating can reverse the market correction in recent weeks. As the Dow Jones vacillated, so did the ASX200, proof that even as Australia diversifies away from the US, we are still far away from severing the umbilical cord. »

People ask me this question as if I have a magic answer that will compel them to visit my country of birth. It’s odd I have to refer to the Philippines as ‘my country of birth’. As if I were to address my links to the country but stress it is "of birth" rather... »

Michelle Baltazar is an author, editor and web publisher focusing on finance and multicultural affairs. She is the editor of Financial Standard, an industry publication for fund managers, financial planners and wealth professionals in Australia. »