Saudi Arabia’s decision to start using a new benchmark to price the oil it sells to the U.S. is setting up a battle between the two leading commodities exchanges, each hoping to become the dominant market for derivatives linked to the new benchmark.

IntercontinentalExchange Inc. and New York Mercantile Exchange parent CME Group Inc. are both launching crude-oil futures contracts based on the Argus Sour Crude Index, the index that Saudi Arabia is adopting for its U.S. oil sales in January. Saudi Arabia, which supplies about 5% of U.S. oil demand, had previously used West Texas Intermediate, or WTI, crude delivered in Cushing, Okla., as its benchmark. WTI is issued by Platts, a unit of McGraw-Hill Cos.

Saudi Arabia’s move may create demand for new derivatives linked to the Argus index, a previously little-used benchmark that is based on lower-quality oil produced in the Gulf of Mexico. The index was launched in May by London-based energy-market information service Argus Media Ltd.

The exchange operators are quickly rolling out the new derivatives to hold on to Saudi Arabia’s U.S. customers, who use futures to reduce the risk from the fluctuating price of physical oil. Futures tied to high-quality WTI wouldn’t provide the same protection for low-quality oil priced with Argus. Companies would likely have turned to custom, off-exchange derivatives had CME and ICE not acted. Both earn 6% to 8% of revenue from futures linked to WTI, according to Fox-Pitt Kelton.

Many people are facing credit problems these days. People get into bad credit problem due to one or the other reason. But now the low scorers need not worry as they can get Bad Credit Loans for their credit repairing. Bad credit loans are crafted specifically to help borrowers with finances, having scores of credit problems like CCJs, IVA, loan non repayment, arrears or defaults etc against them.

With bad credit loans you can easily materialize some of your personal needs like decoration of house, going for holidays, weddings, children’s higher education and many more such needs.

Bad credit loans can be broadly classified into two forms:
- Secured bad credit loan
- Unsecured bad credit loan

You can opt for secured loan type if you are ready to pledge your asset as collateral. The amount derived is based on the equity value of collateral. You can avail an amount ranging from?? 5000 and?? 75000 with a repayment term of 5- 25 years.

Unsecured loans are collateral free. So those who don’t want to risk their asset can opt for unsecured loan type. You can avail an amount ranging between 1000 and 25000 with repayment tenure of 6 months- 10 years. But the interest rate is slightly higher in case of unsecured loan.

You can find many lenders in the money market, who are ready to provide you bad credit loans. There are innumerable lenders available online also. Online lenders also offer these loans at very competitive rates. You can pick up the best deals on the loan by comparing the loan quotes offered to you by various lenders.

Bad credit loans are there to help the people who have bad credit score. With these loans they can also easily meet their requirements. And moreover, one can also improve one’s credit score by making the timely repayment of the loan amount.

It is undeniably true that banks and lending corporations have been very strict about watching the credit score and rankings of people who are frequently applying for loans. In the Australia alone, a massive amount of people are already experiencing bad credit and a terrible reputation in the banking industry. Who can blame them? Today’s economy has definitely pushed these people to the limits of loaning for an amount of money that they themselves are not capable of paying. These people are left with no choice but go to the banks and still make bad credit loans.

You may know someone who is experiencing this predicament or it is also probable that you are looking at yourself and completely relating to this situation. As some of you may already know, having a bad credit rating means not being able to enjoy low interest rates and permission from most of the banks to still borrow enough amount of money for your specific needs. In fact, bad credit loans are charged with higher rates. This is because lenders and banks use your credit scores as a reference. Thus, if you have recently loaned for a huge amount of money that you have not yet paid for, then do not expect to be granted with lower interest rates. This is also the case if you have a sluggish payment record from the past, or if you have had too much debt. In fact, other banks may turn down and decline your application to loan without remorse.

Therefore, it is always to remember some important things about bad credit loans. Banks will eventually find out about your credit score. These lenders will then provide you with lending options depending on how bad your credit is. Banks offer different types of loans. Hence, all you have to do is ask. More than these, one cannot probably escape from a higher interest rate and the need for additional security.

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If you are gradually being buried into an avalanche of debt and are finding it increasingly difficult to make those monthly payments, you have probably thought about going for debt settlement or debt consolidation services. Both can effectively eliminate or reduce your debt considerably. However, both methods of debt elimination will affect your credit ratings as well as your future financial status.

Debt Settlement Versus Debt Consolidation

If you are gradually being buried into an avalanche of debt and are finding it increasingly difficult to make those monthly payments, you have probably thought about going for debt settlement or debt consolidation services. Both can effectively eliminate or reduce your debt considerably. However, both methods of debt elimination will affect your credit ratings as well as your future financial status.

Therefore it is imperative that you examine the pros and cons of both before committing to either debt consolidation or debt settlement. The best part about debt settlement is that a major chunk of your existing debt is written off immediately by the lender. This will provide you with instant financial relief and make the rest of your payments much easier, particularly if you are looking for unsecured consolidation loan for credit card. A debt consolidation program even enables you to start rebuilding your credit scores and get rid of huge debt burdens and the problem of late payments, penalties, etc. From now onwards you can focus on managing your finances and credit ratings better.

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Phuketwan Statistical Analysis

DEBATE often surrounds the number of overseas residents who live on Phuket. The official figures, obtained by Phuketwan from Phuket Immigration, provide the most accurate guide.

They show that a total of 18,475 visas were extended in 2008, 9159 short-term (tourist, 60 days, 30 days, 15 days, seven days) and 9316 long-term (non-Immigrant B or O or student-teacher, plus others).

The figures include all those who sought to extend visas at Phuket Immigration.

The top 10 nations:
1. Britain, 2722 (1125 short, 1597 long);
2. Sweden 1404 (988 short, 416 long);
3. France 1321 (716 short, 608 long);
4. Italy 1278 (892 short, 386 long):
5. Germany 1261 (456 short, 805 long);
6. US 1143 (503 short, 640 long);
7. Philippines 875 (367 short, 508 long);
8. Australia 870 (396 short, 474 long);
9. Switzerland 762 (328 short, 434 long);
10. Canada 585 (340 short, 245 long).

Where are you from? What are you doing on Phuket? Please tell us in the Comment box below

At the other end of the scale with one visa each are Armenia, Bahrain, Belize, Botswana, Costa Rica, United Arab Emirates, Ecuador, Georgia, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya, Liechtensein, Nigeria, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Syria, Kyrgyzstan, El Salvador, Gambia and Macau.

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PHUKET CITY : The director general of the Land Department has reiterated that foreigners using Thai nominees to buy land anywhere in the country will have their land title deeds revoked if caught ??? even if the nominee in question is a lawfully wedded spouse.

Land Department Director Anuwat Meteewiboonwut made the comments during a recent stop in Phuket as part of a nationwide inspection tour of 30 provinces.

The tour is aimed at improving public services by land officials in three areas: dress, conduct when dealing with the public and working harder to eliminate a backlog of work.

Many members of the public have complained that it takes up to a year to complete a transaction that should only take one day, he said.

Mr Anuwat, a former governor of both Phang Nga and Samut Prakan provinces, said he was satisfied on the first two points, but rated the general level of success among land officials nationwide at speeding up their work rate at “only 30%”.

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