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What is an 'Investment'

An investment is an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation. In an economic sense, an investment is the purchase of goods that are not consumed today but are used in the future to create wealth. In finance, an investment is a monetary asset purchased with the idea that the asset will provide income in the future or will later be sold at a higher price for a profit.

BREAKING DOWN 'Investment'

The term "investment" can refer to any mechanism used for generating future income. In the financial sense, this includes the purchase of bonds, stocks or real estate property. Additionally, a constructed building or other facility used to produce goods can be seen as an investment. The production of goods required to produce other goods may also be seen as investing.

Taking an action in the hopes of raising future revenue can also be considered an investment. For example, when choosing to pursue additional education, the goal is often to increase knowledge and improve skills in the hopes of ultimately producing more income.

For more on financial investments, see Security and Investing 101: Types Of Investments.

Investment and Economic Growth

Economic growth can be encouraged through the use of sound investments at the business level. When a company constructs or acquires a new piece of production equipment in order to raise the total output of goods within the facility, the increased production can cause the nation's gross domestic product ( GDP) to rise. This allows the economy to grow through increased production based on the previous equipment investment.

Investment Banking

An investment bank provides a variety of services designed to assist an individual or business in increasing associated wealth. This does not include traditional consumer banking. Instead, the institution focuses on investment vehicles such as trading and asset management. Financing options may also be provided for the purpose of assisting with the these services.

Investments and Speculation

Speculation is a separate activity from making an investment. Investing involves the purchase of assets with the intent of holding them for the long term, while speculation involves attempting to capitalize on market inefficiencies for short-term profit. Ownership is generally not a goal of speculators, while investors often look to build the number of assets in their portfolios over time.

Although speculators are often making informed decisions, speculation cannot usually be categorized as traditional investing. Speculation is generally considered higher risk than traditional investing, though this can vary depending on the type of investment involved.

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An investment is an asset or item acquired with the goal of generating income or appreciation. In an economic sense, an investment is the purchase of goods that are not consumed today but are used in the future to create wealth.

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Launched in 1990, Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) changed the landscape of investment for Bumiputera in Malaysia. It is one of the best performing fund under PNB management.

An income equity fund with a fixed price per unit at RM1.00, it is one of the few funds that offers a capital guarantee. It provides an avenue for Bumiputera to save and invest in a relatively low risk and long-term investment instrument, with consistent and competitive return of investment.

Even during the 2008 economy downturn where the KLSE crashed to a low of 876.75 points, ASNB were able to declare positive dividend returns for all their funds!

However, each eligible investor is limited to a maximum investment of RM200,000.

Why should you invest in ASB?

ASB should be the answer to any first time investors who have a low risk appetite due to these advantages:

1. There is no upfront payment such as processing fee or management fee.

2. Money invested (capital) will not depreciate as investment returns are guaranteed by the government and the investment made by the ASB is also controlled by the government.

3. Monthly benefits of the average percentage of annual interest will be applicable for investment as early as the first month.

4. ASB's returns has been quite consistent, with an average rate of income distribution per unit or investment interest between 7.30% - 7.65% (2009-2011). This rate is expected to increase each year in line with the economic development of Malaysia.

5. In addition to the investment dividends, ASB also give investors a bonus for each unit of investment. Bonus units will be calculated at the same time investment interest calculation is performed, usually on December 31 of each year.

6. Withdrawal of investment in the event of emergency can be done immediately during working hours without the need to wait for the money for two to three weeks.

7. ASB Certificates can also be used as in local banks as security to get a loan in the form of bank overdraft.

No capital? What to do?

Sounds like a good deal? Most people are skeptical towards investment due to the lack of knowledge first and then usually lack of capital when they want to start. Money makes money, after all.

However, ASB provides a few options for those who are keen to invest but have not saved up any money to kick-start their financial dreams.
EPF Members' Investment Scheme
This scheme allows EPF members with savings that exceed their Account 1 basic savings amount by at least RM5,000 to withdraw 20% from the excess savings to be invested in Ministry of Finance approved Fund Management Institutions (FMI), such as ASB.

For more information on this scheme, go here.
Salary Deduction Scheme
This scheme is applicable for ASB's unitholders only - for both public and private sectors.

For more information on this scheme, go here.
ASB Loan
Some local banks provide ASB loans for investors who are interested to invest in ASB but do not have to resources to do so. However, is it worth it?

Here's what ASB loan all about:
Maximum loan tenure: 30 years Interest rates: From as low as BR + 1.20% Maximum loan amount: RM400,000
Here's the math:
ASB loan amount: RM200,000.00 Interest rate: (BR) + 2% p.a. Loan tenure: 25 years Monthly instalment: RM1,193 Total paid for first year: RM14,316
Return from ASB:
Average rate of dividend: 8% RM200,000 x 8% = RM16,000 Your return in the first year: RM16,000 - RM14,316 = RM1,684
If you are confident that you will are able to consistently service your ASB loan for the first year, getting a loan to invest in ASB is quite an attractive way to get your foot in.

The best part is that you only need to service it for the first year as long as you ensure your annual repayments are less than the expected returns. Since the returns are pretty consistent you can easily plan it out so you only service the loan for the first year then let the ASB returns from subsequent years pay off the loan while also bringing it some extra returns on after that!

It is undeniable that we need to invest our savings to protect it from being eroded by the ever-increasing inflation, and also to achieve our long-term financial goals.

If you are eligible, why not?

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All About Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) | iMoney

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Launched in 1990, Amanah Saham Bumiputera (ASB) changed the landscape of investment for Bumiputera in Malaysia. It is one of the best performing fund under PNB management. An income equity fund with a fixed price per unit at RM1.00, it is one of the few funds that offers a capital guarantee.

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A lot of reports are written daily. Some of them are intended to document the progress of some activities, feasibility reports, investigation reports, some of the reports are for monitoring purposes, some are evaluation reports but it is clear that all the reports have some objective and purpose behind it. That objective and purpose can only be achieved if a report has the following qualities and characteristics:

1. It should be factual: Every report should be based on facts, verified information and valid proofs.

2. Clear and Easily understandable: Explained below

3. Free from errors and duplication

4. Should facilitate the decision makers in making the right decision:

5. Result focused and result oriented

6. Well organized and structured

7. Ethical reporting style

Reader-Friendly

Readers are various stakeholders who receive reports generated by M&E. If reports are reader-friendly, they are likely to be read, remembered and acted upon. Following decisions need to be made by CSOs to make their reports reader-friendly:

What do they need to know?

When do they need to know?

How do they like to know?

Easy, Simple Language

M&E reports are meant to inform not impress. Using easy, simple language, be it Urdu or English makes the report friendly on reader. To do this, here are some useful tips:

Write only what is necessary

Avoid repetition and redundancy

Give interesting and relevant information

Avoid preaching or lecturing

Compose short and correct sentences

Purposeful Presentation

Each report has some objective(s) to meet. The "objective" comes from analyzing the needs of the reader. A CSO is working for a project that has several donors, and is channeled through an agency that needs to be informed about some specific things going on in the field. CSOs reports are the main pathways or channels of information to the people who decide to fund this and other such projects. Similarly, field reports are the amin vehicles for the management of the CSOs to make decision regarding the project itself. A good report presents facts and arguments in a manner that supports the purpose of the report.

Organized and Well-Structured

Each CSO comes up with a format of internal reporting to suit its requirements. Reporting to donors is done on their prescribed formats. The M&E system should be able to generate information that can be organized using different formats. In the annex, this manual provides some useful formats that can be customized by a CSO.

Result-Focused

In general, all readers are interested in the RESULTS. Therefore, one over-riding principle that CSOs should aim for in all report writing is to report on the results of their activities. This requires some analysis on their part that goes beyond a mere description of their activities. Result-focused means that description of activities is liked with the project objectives. This aspect must be addressed especially in the project progress reports. According to Phil Bartle, "A good progress report is not merely a descriptive activity report, but must analyze the results of those reported activities. The analysis should answer the question, "How far have the project objectives been reached?"

Timely Prepared and Dispatched

M&E generate "Information Products", a customized set of information according to needs to a defined group of users. M&E's information products are time-bound for both internal and external stakeholders. Reports, in suitable formats, need to be timely produced and made available to the readers. It is useful to develop an Information Product Matrix (IPM) like the one described below:

Straightforward

A good report is straight forward, honest description. It contains no lies, no deception, no fluff. It is neat, readable and to-the-point. It is well spaced, has titles and subtitles and is free of language errors.

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Qualities and Characteristics of Good Reports

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A lot of reports are written daily. Some of them are intended to document the progress of some activities, feasibility reports, investigation reports, some of the reports are for monitoring purposes, some are evaluation reports but it is clear that all the reports have some objective and purpose behind it.

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Step-by-step guide on how to write the introduction section of a report.

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REPORT WRITING:TYPES, FORMAT, STRUCTURE AND RELEVANCE

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IT BASICALLY DEALS WITH WHAT A REPORT IS, ITS DIFFERENT TYPES, ITS STRUCTURE AND FORMAT AND FINALLY ITS RELEVANCE IN TODAY'S WORLD