Asian markets in post-FOMC trade as oil rebounds + MORE Dec 22nd

SEOUL, South Korea – South Korea lowered its growth forecast for next year, citing persistently weak sentiment among consumers and businesses. But the government predicted that overall economic conditions will improve from this year thanks to government measures, recovery in the U.S. economy and the fall in oil prices.
The finance ministry said Monday that Asia’s fourth-largest economy will expand 3.8 per cent in 2015. Six months ago, it forecast growth of 4.0 per cent.
It also lowered its forecast for this year to 3.4 per cent growth from the previous forecast of 3.7 per cent. In 2013, South Korea’s economy expanded 3.0 per cent.
The downward revision, which still represents an improvement from the growth estimated for this year, shows the government’s challenge in encouraging consumers to spend more and businesses to boost investment despite its expansionary policies and the central bank’s two rate cuts this year.
Director-General Lee Chanwoo said the recovery in consumer spending and capital expenditure remained weaker than expected in the last two months as consumers and businesses still have great uncertainties about next year…

The Castros already welcome foreign trade and investment. Fat lot of good it’s done for Cubans.

This post is a continuation of my series Then and Now where I revisit some older blogposts and either rip them to shreds (because my thinking has changed) or I’ll confirm my position on some personal finance topics or specific investments.   My previous posts in this series were about Enbridge (a star in my portfolio) and this dud which is no longer in my portfolio.
Then

I started writing about H&R REIT on this site back in 2010.
I think REITs have a good home in registered accounts (like TFSAs, RRSPs) because Real Estate Investment Trusts distribute their income (primarily from rent) to shareholders usually in the form of dividends, return of capital, and income. While it depends on the REIT, if the REIT distributes a portion of their income as income as return of capital, interest, capital gains or dividends, each portion will be taxed accordingly.  Keeping REITs inside a TFSA or RRSP avoids this tax complication.  Consider that for your portfolio.
I bought H&R REIT because it’s a core holding of most REIT Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)…

SEOUL, South Korea – Asian markets were mostly higher Monday after the Fed’s pledge not to rush to raise interest rates prompted investors to add risky assets ahead of the year-end holiday. A rise in the price of oil boosted energy stocks.
KEEPING SCORE: China’s Shanghai Composite Index added 2.4 per cent to 3,185.12. South Korea’s Kospi added 0.4 per cent to 1,936.79 and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 1.4 per cent to 23,428.73. Japan’s Nikkei 225 was unchanged at 17,621.66. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 gained 1.6 per cent to 5,424.90. Stocks in Southeast Asia and Taiwan also rose.
ANALYST’S TAKE: “Our markets have opened firmer after the strong rebound in energy prices,” said Tony Kwok, a sales trader in Sydney for CMC Markets. “Oil futures in particular, jumped 3.3%, despite Saudi Arabia refusing to cut production, which is seen as a very positive sign for the recently battered commodity.”
FED PLEDGE: Last week’s volatile stock movements found an upward direction after the Federal Reserve reassured investors on Wednesday it was in “no hurry” to hike interest rates and that a rate hike will not take place during the first quarter of next year…

CEO believes RBC earnings can grow by 7 per cent in 2015