Funds GreatLink - Great Eastern Life
Funds GreatLink - Great Eastern Life
Funds GreatLink - Great Eastern Life
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LEAD STORIES<br />
2005 Sets the Pace<br />
for a Rosy 2006<br />
2005 was a good year for investors. Despite<br />
the many dampeners including spiraling oil<br />
prices and persistent US rate hikes, the year<br />
recorded positive results in many parts of the<br />
world. The US economy grew at a steady<br />
rate providing the backbone for sustained<br />
global growth. China equities grew strongly<br />
with a rise of 19.8%. The MSCI Asia Pacific<br />
ex Japan Index rose 21%. And the MSCI World<br />
Index rose a respectable 10%. Locally, the year<br />
ended with a flourish; the STI was near a sixyear<br />
high.<br />
<strong><strong>Great</strong>Link</strong> fund managers leveraged on the<br />
favourable environment and delivered attractive<br />
profits for our <strong><strong>Great</strong>Link</strong> policyholders. The<br />
<strong><strong>Great</strong>Link</strong> Enhancer Fund grew as much as<br />
26.09% last year. Other <strong><strong>Great</strong>Link</strong> <strong>Funds</strong> also<br />
delivered sterling results. For more details on<br />
the performance of <strong><strong>Great</strong>Link</strong> <strong>Funds</strong>, take a<br />
look at the fact sheets in this booklet.<br />
A ROSY 2006<br />
The start of 2006 did not disappoint. The<br />
world’s most widely watched index, the Dow<br />
Jones Industrial Average, closed above 11,000<br />
points for the first time in 4 1 /2 years.<br />
Indeed, 2006 has many ingredients for a bullish<br />
year. Rising income, increased spending, healthy<br />
balance sheets and attractive valuations give<br />
the foundation for continued global economic<br />
expansion. In fact, Singapore’s trade promotion<br />
agency, IE Singapore, forecasted that the surging<br />
global economy will push Singapore’s foreign<br />
trade to hit $800 billion this year.<br />
2006 is Not Without Threats<br />
There are however several risks that may stall<br />
or reverse the growth trend. There are<br />
concerns that while markets such as China,<br />
India and the ASEAN region are expected to<br />
continue to grow, the US economy may slow<br />
down. The other fears are Iran’s nuclear<br />
ambitions, rising oil and commodity prices as<br />
well as the possibility of a bird flu pandemic.<br />
Undeniably, there are threats lurking. How<br />
can we capitalise on investment opportunities<br />
while managing these risks? <strong>Great</strong> <strong>Eastern</strong>’s<br />
investment philosophy has always been to<br />
minimise your total investment risk exposure<br />
to a level that you are comfortable with. Our<br />
<strong>Great</strong> <strong>Eastern</strong> <strong>Life</strong> Planners have been trained<br />
to evaluate your investment portfolio in totality<br />
and determine the investments that will help<br />
you achieve a fair level of diversification and<br />
depending on your risks tolerance and<br />
investment objectives.<br />
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