Los Ticos jumpa Oranje

Los Ticos jumpa Oranje


Los Ticos jumpa Oranje

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 05:24 PM PDT

Recife (Brazil): Costa Rica yang beraksi dengan 10 pemain lolos ke suku akhir selepas menumpaskan Greece 5-3 dalam penentuan penalti, pada perlawanan pusingan kalah-mati 16 pasukan, di di Arena Pernambuco, awal pagi ini.

Kedua-dua pasukan sebelum itu terikat 1-1, selepas 120 minit perlawanan, masing-masing menerusi jaringan Bryan Ruiz pada minit ke-52 dan gol di minit akhir perlawanan Greece oleh Sokratis Papastathopoulos.

Kemenangan itu itu menyaksikan Costa Rica yang layak pertama kali dalam sejarah ke suku akhir piala dunia bertemu Belanda pada saingan suku akhir, 6 Julai ini.

Kejayaan Costa Rica berpunca daripada penjaga golnya, Navas yang menampan percubaan penalti Theofanis Gekas, sebelum Michael Umana menyempurnakan percubaannya untuk memberkan kemenangan 5-3.

Foto

FOTO EPA


Costa Rica yang menjaringkan 12 daripada 16 gol pada babak kedua sepanjang kempen piala dunia kali ini memperoleh jaringan pembukaan pada minit ke-52.


Ruiz yang tidak dikawal menolak masuk jaringan itu selepas menerima hantaran daripada Balanos yang sebelum itu menerima tolakan daripada Campbell.

Pertemuan kedua-dua `underdog' itu menyaksikan pemain Costa Rica, Oscar Duerta dllayangkan kad merah selepas menerima kad kuning kedua apabila dia membentes
Cholevas pada minit ke-66.

Babak pertama perlawanan berlalu dengan kedua-dua pasukan saling menyaingi menguasai bahagian tengah.

Bagaimanapun, tidak ada satu pun usaha dapat memberikan hasil kepada kadua-sua pasukan.

Bagi perlawanan kali ini, penyerang, Christian Bolanos dan pemain pertahanan, Michael Umana kembali dalam kesebelasan utama Costa Rica.

Bolanos masuk sebagai pemain gantian ketika Costa Rica seri 0-0 dengan England, minggu lalu.

Pemain Celtic, Georgios Samaras, yang menjaringkan penalti dalam pertemuan yang menyaksikan Greece menang 2-1 ke atas Ivory Coast, mengetahui barisan depan bergandingan dengan Dimitros Salpingidis.

COSTA RICA: Keylor Navas, Christian Gamboa, Oscar Duarte, Giancarlo Gonzalez, Michael Umana, Junior D�az, Bryan Ruiz, Celso Borges; Yeltsin Tejeda, Christian Bolanos; Joel Campbell.

GREECE: Orestis Karnezis; Vasilis Torosidis, Konstantinos Manolas, Sokratis Papastathopoulos, Jose Holebas, Dimitrios Salpingidis, Ioannis Maniatis, Andreas Samaris, Giorgos Karagounis, Lazaros Christodoulopoulos, Georgios Samaras.

PENGADIL: Benjamin Williams (AUS)

Artikel ini disiarkan pada : 2014/06/30

Semangat Oranje

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 03:56 PM PDT

Fortaleza (Brazil): Dua jaringan lewat permainan Wesley Sneijder dan Klaas-Jan Huntelaar membolehkan Belanda menempah tiket ke saingan suku akhir selepas bangkit daripada ketinggalan untuk menumpaskan Mexico 2-1 dalam aksi dramatik pusingan kedua Piala Dunia di Estadio Castelao, awal pagi ini.

Kapten Belanda, Robin van Persie kembali mengemudi jentera serangan selepas digantung satu perlawanan kerana memungut dua kad kuning dalam saingan peringkat kumpulan.

Jurulatih Mexico Miguel Herrera pula terpaksa menurunkan pertahanan veteran Carlos Salcido untuk menggantikan Jose Juan Vasquez yang digantung perlawanan.

Aksi babak pertama lebih banyak dikuasai Mexico manakala rentak permainan Belanda seoalah terganggu dengan cuaca panas di Fortaleza.

Foto


Mexico memecah kebuntuan tiga minit selepas bermula babak kedua apabila Giovani Dos Santos merembat kencang dari luar kotak penalti menewaskan penjaga gol Belanda Jasper Cillessen.


Penjaga gol El Tri, Guillermo Ochoa yang menjadi wira ketika seri menentang Brazil dalam peringkat kumpulan sekali lagi menunjukkan kehebatan apabila menyelamatkan percubaan jarak dekat Stefan de Vrij pada minit ke-57.

Belanda menggandakan asakan ke kubu Mexico untuk mencari gol penyamaan dan berhasil pada minit ke-88 apabila Huntelaar menanduk bola kepada Sneijder yang merembat padu ke sebelah kiri gawang.

Lima minit selepas itu, kapten Mexico Rafael Marquez melakukan kesilapan apabila menjatuhkan Arjen Robben dalam kotak penalti dan sepakan penalti disempurnakan oleh Huntelaar untuk menjadikan kedudukan 2-1 sehingga wisel penamat.

Belanda akan bertemu pemenang perlawanan pusingan kedua antara Costa Rica dan Greece.

BELANDA: Jasper Cillessen; Paul Verhaegh (Memphis Depay, 56'), Ron Vlaar, Stefan De Vrij, Daley Blind; Georginio Wijnaldum, Wesley Sneijder, Nigel De Jong (Bruno Martins Indi, 9'); Dirk Kuyt, Arjen Robben, Robin Van Persie (Klaas-Jan Huntelaar, 76').

MEXICO: Guillermo Ochoa; Paul Aguilar, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Marquez, Hector Moreno (Diego Reyes, 46'), Miguel Layun, Carlos Salcido, Andres Guardado; Hector Herrera; Giovani Dos Santos (Javier Aquino, 61'), Oribe Peralta (Javier Hernandez, 75').

PENGADIL: Pedro Proenca (POR)

Artikel ini disiarkan pada : 2014/06/30

Kakak, abang ipar terapung dalam air

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 03:53 PM PDT

Alor Setar: "Luluh hati saya melihat mayat kakak dan abang ipar terapung dalam air di terusan itu bersama motosikal yang ditunggangi mereka," kata Rozhan Jaafar, 41, adik kepada Nor Hanida Jaafar, 51, yang maut bersama suaminya, Abd Muin Hamzah, 56, selepas motosikal Kriss dinaiki mereka terbabas ke dalam Terusan Wan Mat Saman, semalam.

Dalam kejadian jam 6.45 pagi semalam, pasangan suami isteri itu meninggal dunia di tempat kejadian di Batu 8, Jalan Sungai Petani-Alor Setar, Kota Sarang Semut yang terletak kira-kira 15 kilometer dari rumah mereka di Kampung Batu Menunggol, Pendang.

Pasangan terbabit yang masing-masing cedera parah di kepala dan badan ditemui terapung dalam air berselut di dalam terusan berkenaan.

Rozhan yang juga adik keenam Nor Hanida berkata, dia hanya mengetahui kejadian menimpa kakak dan abang iparnya selepas dihubungi anak mangsa yang memaklumkan ibu bapa mereka terbabit dalam kemalangan.

Foto

PENDUDUK menunjukkan lokasi mayat pasangan ditemui terapung. Gambar kecil, mangsa.


Bagaimanapun, katanya, dia tidak dimaklumkan mengenai keadaan pasangan itu sebelum bergegas ke tempat kejadian untuk melihat apa yang berlaku.

Dapatkan akhbar Harian Metro untuk berita selanjutnya.

Artikel ini disiarkan pada : 2014/06/30

5 beranak menjunam

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 03:53 PM PDT

Chukai: "Mujur mereka lima beranak tidak mati," kata seorang pengguna jalan raya Wan Afandi Wan Ali, 54, menceritakan kejadian kemalangan sebuah kenderaan yang menjunam ke dalam pembetung air di Kilometer 133, Jalan Kuala Terengganu-Kuantan, dekat Kijal, kelmarin.

Dalam kejadian jam 11.20 malam, pemandu Toyota Avanza, Abdul Halim Shah Kechil, 49, bersama isteri dan tiga anaknya dalam perjalanan ke Kuantan bernasib baik selepas kenderaan dinaiki mereka terjunam setinggi sembilan meter.

Kejadian dipercayai berlaku apabila kenderaan dipandu mangsa cuba mengelak sebuah kereta yang memasuki laluannya sebelum tersasar dan terjunam.

Wan Afandi yang bekerja sebagai pengawal keselamatan berkata, dia sampai di lokasi kejadian sejurus kemalangan itu berlaku jam 11.30 malam.

Foto

KENDERAAN dipandu mangsa cuba mengelak kereta yang memasuki laluannya sebelum tersasar dan terjunam.


"Suasana jalan di situ sangat gelap saya bersama beberapa pengguna tidak berani turun ke bawah sebelum bomba tiba.

Dapatkan akhbar Harian Metro untuk berita selanjutnya.

Artikel ini disiarkan pada : 2014/06/30

Han dalami Islam

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 03:53 PM PDT

Barcelona, Sepanyol: Usahawan muda, Wong Han Chen, 24, akui sedang mendalami Islam sebagai persiapan untuk berkahwin dengan kekasihnya, pelakon Tasha Shilla, 27, tahun depan.

Han ketika ditemui di sini semalam mengakui dia tiada masalah untuk menukar agama kerana keluarganya bersikap terbuka dan merestui hubungan cintanya dengan Tasha.

"Sejak lapan bulan rapat dengan Tasha, hati saya semakin dekat untuk mengenali Islam. Tasha tidak pernah pun memaksa saya untuk menukar agama tetapi perasaan ini terbit secara halus dari hati saya sendiri.

"Namun seperti yang diperbincangkan bersama Tasha, kami berdua akan merujuk semua perkara termasuk proses memeluk Islam dengan pakar agama, terlebih dulu apabila sampai masanya sekitar tahun depan," kata Han yang juga peninju sukan Muay Thai.

Foto

HAN bersantai bersama kekasihnya, Tasha.


Han yang fasih berbahasa Melayu berkata, sejak zaman persekolahan lagi dia banyak bergaul dengan rakan dan jiran beragama Islam. Malah, dia juga pernah belajar berpuasa untuk menjaga kesihatannya.

Dapatkan akhbar Harian Metro untuk berita selanjutnya.

Artikel ini disiarkan pada : 2014/06/30

Rasuah jadi punca?

Rasuah jadi punca?


Rasuah jadi punca?

Posted:

DALAM Bahagian Pertama Laporan Khas mengenai kegiatan mesin judi haram telah didedahkan bagaimana gejala itu semakin berleluasa dan berada pada tahap luar biasa seolah-olah tidak mampu dibendung lagi. Untuk...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Najib lawat Hadi Awang di IJN

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun - Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak hari ini meluangkan masa menziarahi Presiden Pas, Datuk Seri Abdul Hadi Awang di Institut Jantung Negara (IJN). Perdana Menteri yang datang dalam keadaan...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Kamal tempuhi 'lima Ramadan' dalam setahun

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun Ramadan yang bermula hari ini hanya membawa satu erti buat Kamal Abdul Rahman iaitu bulan mencari 'kekayaan' di akhirat. Pesta makanan di sepanjang Ramadan juga tidak pernah wujud dalam...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

TLDM letak titik noktah

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun - Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM) mengambil langkah proaktif bagi meletakkan titik noktah terhadap penglibatan warganya dengan sebarang kegiatan yang dapat menjejaskan keselamatan...

SKMM sedia sekat laman sosial babit aktiviti militan

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun - Suruhanjaya Komunikasi dan Multimedia Malaysia (SKMM) bersedia membantu Polis Diraja Malaysia (PDRM) dari segi teknikal mahupun forensik bagi menyekat penggunaan laman sosial membabitkan...

SJKT Ladang Nordinal dipindah ke Gersik

Posted:

MUAR 29 Jun - Timbalan Perdana Menteri, Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin bersetuju agar Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan Tamil (SJKT) Ladang Nordinal yang terpaksa ditutup kerana kekurangan murid, dipindahkan ke Kampung...

Krisis jawatan bukti pembangkang parah

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun - Krisis perebutan jawatan Menteri Besar Selangor yang disandang Tan Sri Abdul Khalid Ibrahim menggambarkan perpecahan yang semakin parah bukan sahaja di dalam Parti Keadilan Rakyat...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Rafizi mahu serang program kerajaan?

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun - Jaringan Melayu Malaysia (JMM) mendakwa Pengarah Strategi Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Rafizi Ramli mempunyai perancangan untuk ?menyerang? beberapa program yang bakal dilaksanakan...

PKR bukan parti pejuang hak Melayu

Posted:

MUAR 29 Jun - Ahli Majlis Tertinggi UMNO, Datuk Razali Ibrahim menyelar dakwaan Pengarah Strategi Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR), Rafizi Ramli yang menyatakan partinya memperjuangkan nasib orang Melayu. Beliau...

Dua sahabat baik cedera ditembak

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun - Dua rakan baik cedera selepas ditembak oleh seorang suspek bermotosikal di sebuah kawasan lapang berhampiran tapak pembinaan kuil di Puchong Gateway di sini hari ini. Ketika kejadian...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Belasah jurugambar

Posted:

KOTA BHARU 29 Jun - Dua beradik didenda oleh Mahkamah Majistret di sini hari ini atas tuduhan membelasah jurugambar Utusan Malaysia di pekarangan kompleks mahkamah, 18 Jun lalu. Tertuduh pertama, Abd. Jalil...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Reman suspek culik kanak-kanak disambung

Posted:

TANJUNG MALIM 29 Jun - Tempoh tahanan reman terhadap suspek yang menculik serta mencabul seorang murid sekolah tahun tiga di sini di­sambung sehingga Rabu ini. Ketua Polis Daerah Tanjung Malim, Supritendan...

Nilai pelaburan Malaysia di UK RM21.89 bilion

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun - Malaysia merupakan pelabur kedua terbesar selepas Amerika Syarikat (AS) dalam sektor hartanah di United Kingdom (UK) dengan jumlah pelaburan kira-kira 4 bilion pound (RM21.89 bi­lion).

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Posted:

Institusi-institusi perbankan Islam di Malaysia mempunyai peranan yang amat penting dalam memantapkan pembangunan dan kedudukan ekonomi masyarakatnya. Islam juga telah memberi garis panduan untuk mencapai...

Vendeur Festival 2.0 tawar jualan Mega Syawal

Posted:

KUALA LUMPUR 29 Jun - Himpunan usahawan atas talian terbesar, Vendeur Festival 2.0 (VF 2.0) menyasarkan kira-kira 15,000 pengunjung bakal memeriahkan festival itu pada kali ini yang akan diadakan di Pusat...

Rohingya ibarat tahanan di kem

Posted:

YANGON 29 Jun - Ketika umat Islam di seluruh dunia memulakan ibadah berpuasa, etnik Rohingya di kem-kem pelarian di barat negara ini pula diibaratkan berada di kem tahanan berikutan keadaan daif tanpa bekalan...

This posting includes an audio/video/photo media file: Download Now

Umana’s dreams come true against Greece

Umana’s dreams come true against Greece


Umana’s dreams come true against Greece

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 05:53 PM PDT

Greece's goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis reacts to conceding a goal to Costa Rica's Michael Umana during a penalty shootout in their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 30, 2014. — Reuters picGreece's goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis reacts to conceding a goal to Costa Rica's Michael Umana during a penalty shootout in their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 30, 2014. — Reuters picRECIFE, June 30 — For Costa Rica defender Michael Umana it was a case of dreams come true as he stepped up to take the decisive spot kick for his country in a World Cup last-16 penalty shootout with Greece today.

Umana calmly slotted the ball in the net to send Costa Rica into the World Cup quarter-finals for the first time, saying he believed it was his destiny.

"Last night, I dreamt this," he said in a post match interview. "It seems untrue. I was relaxed because I dreamed it.

"I dreamed it but I didn't tell anyone. I felt very confident."

Costa Rica coach Jorge Luis Pinto said he was also confident his team would win the penalty shootout even though his players had run themselves to the point of exhaustion.

Reduced to 10 men when defender Oscar Duarte was sent off for a second bookable offence after 66 minutes, Costa Rica gave up an equaliser in stoppage time then held on grimly in extra time to force a 1-1 draw.

"We had analysed everything, who would take the penalties, who would go first, second and third," said Pinto, who was banished from the sideline after he incurred a red card for arguing with the referee and forced to watch the shootout from the tunnel.

"We talked about this, that if we played for 120 minutes with one player less, we would take the penalties. It's the law of compensation."

Pinto also paid tribute to Costa Rica goalkeeper Keylor Navas who pulled off a series of stunning saves during the match then a one-handed stop to keep out Theofanis Gekas's fourth spot-kick in the shootout, which Costa Rica won 5-3.

"He's one of the best goalkeepers in the world. We continued with our ten men, and knew if we could not win we were happy to go to penalties," Pinto said.


  • Arjen Robben of the Netherlands is fouled in the penalty area during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against Mexico at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • A Mexico supporter reacts after they lost their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against the Netherlands at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Arjen Robben of the Netherlands celebrates after winning their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against Mexico at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Klaas-Jan Huntelaar of the Netherlands shoots to score a penalty goal past Mexico's goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa during their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Fans supporting the Netherlands react after defeating Mexico 2-1 in a knockout match in the 2014 World Cup round of 16 game, during a public viewing area in Paramaribo June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Fans supporting the Netherlands react after defeating Mexico 2-1 in a knockout match in the 2014 World Cup round of 16 game, during a public viewing area in Paramaribo June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Police walk past fans standing in a store after Mexico lost their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against the Netherlands, in the Huntington Park area of Los Angeles, California June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Police walk past fans standing in a store after Mexico lost their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against the Netherlands, in the Huntington Park area of Los Angeles, California June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • A couple hugs in a Mexican flag after Mexico lost their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against the Netherlands, in the Huntington Park area of Los Angeles, California June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Greece's Giorgios Samaras reacts after the 2014 World Cup round of 16 game between Costa Rica and Greece at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Costa Rica's Oscar Esteban Granados holds their national flag as he celebrates winning their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game against Greece at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

  • Greece's goalkeeper Orestis Karnezis fails to save the deciding goal by Costa Rica's Michael Umana during a penalty shootout in their 2014 World Cup round of 16 game at the Pernambuco arena in Recife June 30, 2014. — Reuters pic

"He is an extraordinary man, and he was recognised today for his abilities."

Costa Rica have emerged as one of the feel good stories of the World Cup, unexpectedly topping a group that included former champions Italy, Uruguay and England.

Despite their relatively small population of just under 5 million, the Central Americans have defied the odds to advance to the last eight and a showdown with the Netherlands.

And Pinto said the dream may not be over yet.

"To the people of Costa Rica, this is for you. This is a people that love football, this is to you. You will feel a lot of happiness," Pinto said.

"We will continue fighting, we will go on, we see beautiful things, but we want to develop and move on.

Costa Rica now face the Netherlands in a World Cup quarter-final in Salvador on Saturday.

"The Netherlands is a world class team, great players, brilliant players," Pinto said. — Reuters 

US Marine, listed as deserter, back in military custody

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 05:52 PM PDT

A US Marine, long listed as a deserter, is now back in Iraq in military custody. ― Reuters picA US Marine, long listed as a deserter, is now back in Iraq in military custody. ― Reuters picWASHINGTON, June 30 ― A US Marine listed as a deserter for almost a decade since going missing after his return to the United States following his brief disappearance in Iraq is back in military custody, the Marine Corps said yesterday.

Corporal Wassef Ali Hassoun, 34, is scheduled to return today to Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, 9-1/2 years after he failed to report for duty there on January 5, 2005, following a visit to his family, the Marines said. He had since been listed as a deserter, the service added.

"The Naval Criminal Investigative Service worked with Cpl. Hassoun to turn himself in and return to the United States to face charges under the Uniformed Code of Military Justice," the Marine Corps said in a statement. Media reports said he gave himself up in Bahrain.

Hassoun was first charged with desertion 10 years ago after disappearing from his base near Falluja, Iraq, in June 2004 and then turning up in Lebanon a month later saying he had been kidnapped by militants.

After a five-month investigation, the Marines alleged that Hassoun had "taken unauthorized leave of the unit where he served as an Arabic interpreter," the service said in a 2004 release.

During his disappearance, Hassoun was seen in a videotape, apparently being held by militants, blindfolded and with a sword poised over his head.

An Islamic militant website said later he had been beheaded. But he showed up unharmed at the US Embassy in Beirut in July 2004. Hassoun denied deserting and told reporters he had been captured and held against his will.

Shortly before the start of military proceedings against him, Hassoun failed to report back to Camp Lejeune after visiting his family in Utah.

According to media reports, Hassoun fled the United States through Canada and went to Lebanon, where he was born.

Media reports quoted a Marine official as saying Hassoun's case had no connection with that of US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who spent five years as a Taliban prisoner of war before being released last month in an exchange for five Taliban leaders held at the Guantanamo prison in Cuba. The exchange sparked a political uproar in Washington. ― Reuters

FTN Financial, the firm that gives some of the best bond-market advice

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 05:51 PM PDT

Estimates for US growth in 2014 were marked down to 2.2 per cent from 2.5 per cent the month before, according to economists in a June 6 to June 11 Bloomberg survey. — Reuters picEstimates for US growth in 2014 were marked down to 2.2 per cent from 2.5 per cent the month before, according to economists in a June 6 to June 11 Bloomberg survey. — Reuters picNEW YORK, June 30 — After travelling to Memphis, Tennessee, pay respects to Elvis Presley at Graceland, then take a short drive to FTN Financial to partake in some of the best bond-market advice to be found anywhere.

Working for a firm based about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometres) from Wall Street with roots that date back to the Civil War, FTN's Jim Vogel and Chris Low were among the few who correctly urged investors to ignore the consensus calling for an inevitable selloff in bonds this year. Since at least 2011, FTN's head of interest-rate strategies and chief economist have rightly gone against the pack by calling for low yields.

While the bears point to signs of budding inflation and reduced purchases by the Federal Reserve as reasons to stay away from bonds, FTN says Treasuries — the global benchmark for everything from home mortgages to emerging-market debt — are years away from reverting to pre-financial crisis levels as the labour market struggles. Getting it right has never been more important after a borrowing binge helped push the amount of debt globally to US$100 trillion (RM321 trillion) from US$70 trillion in 2007.

"If you don't expect interest rates to go back to where they were in the last cycle, you're essentially asserting that something is very different in this cycle," Low, 49, said in a June 24 telephone interview. "You can make that case more easily with every year that goes by when growth remains weak and several hundred thousand people fall out of the labour force."

Bond rally

Bond investors following consensus forecasts would have missed out on global returns this year that average 4.2 per cent, the best since at least 1997 when Bank of America Merrill Lynch indexes began tracking the data. Treasuries have returned 3.1 per cent after losing 3.4 per cent in 2013.

FTN, with offices 11 miles from the musical gates to Graceland, was one of 12 forecasters in a Bloomberg News survey of 67 in January that predicted yields on Treasury 10-year notes would be below 3 per cent by June 30. FTN's forecast of 2.6 per cent compared with 2.53 per cent on June 27.

Economists and strategists say they weren't wrong, just early. The median estimate in a survey taken from June 6 to June 11 is for yields to end the year at 3.07 per cent. Vogel and Low are calling for 2.55 per cent.

Surveys by Bloomberg show the consensus has a track record of overestimating yields after the Fed cut its benchmark interest rate to virtually zero in 2008 to bolster the economy in the wake of the demise of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. and the collapse of the housing market.

Faulty forecasts

Quarterly forecasts for 10-year yields made 12 months forward have overshot market outcomes by an average of 0.68 percentage point since January 2009. That's because the consensus expected the Fed's actions to result in more spending and inflation, as has historically happened when the central bank eased monetary policy.

"The market has assumed for the past couple of years that you'd see a pattern like we had in the past, so you have this expectation of higher rates," Priscilla Hancock, a global fixed-income strategist with J.P. Morgan Asset Management in New York, said in a June 25 interview.

The asset-management arm of the biggest investment bank by revenue has lowered its year-end forecast for the 10-year yield to 3 per cent from 3.5 per cent.

Anticipated bond losses have been pinned to signs of faster economic growth that would allow the Fed to stop buying Treasuries and mortgage securities as a means of injecting cash into the financial system and eventually raise rates.

Uneven recovery

The Labour Department's June 6 report showed nonfarm payrolls grew in May to above the pre-recession peak. Less than two weeks later, the consumer price index for May increased 2.1 per cent from a year earlier, the biggest jump since 2012.

Other data reveal the uneven nature of the recovery. The so-called participation rate, which shows the share of working- age people in the labour force, held at 62.8 per cent in May, matching the lowest since March 1978. Wages and salaries have increased 2.5 per cent year-over-year on average since the recession, compared with 4.3 per cent in the previous expansion.

An aging population, less spending, slower inflation and greater demand for low-risk, income-producing investments, will keep yields low for years to come, according to Jeffrey Gundlach, the star fixed-income manager at Doubleline Capital LP in Los Angeles whose mutual fund beat 96 per cent of its rivals the past three years.

Estimates for US growth in 2014 were marked down to 2.2 per cent from 2.5 per cent the month before, according to economists in a June 6 to June 11 Bloomberg survey. The International Monetary Fund lowered its forecast on June 16 to 2 per cent from 2.8 per cent in April.

Economic analysis

"Some of the growth we wish we could go back to was far more frail than most people realise," Vogel, 58, said in a June 23 telephone interview. Economic growth averaged 2.8 per cent during the previous expansion from the end of 2001 through 2007.

Many forecasts for higher yields reflect the teachings of "old analysis" that has become less applicable in an economy where more than three years of rising employment has yet to be joined by higher wages, Vogel said.

The market for interest-rate futures shows traders are lowering their estimates of how high the target federal funds rate will go once the central bank starts tightening. Prices now show it ending up at 3.13 per cent, compared with bets of more than 4 per cent at the start of the year.

In January 2011, when 10-year yields reached 3.49 per cent, FTN was the only firm in a Bloomberg survey of 70 analysts to predict the 10-year yield would fall to 2 per cent. The median estimate was 3.75 per cent, while the yield ended the year at 1.88 per cent.

Record yields

In May 2012, when the 10-year note was trading at 1.79 per cent, Low said Europe's financial turmoil and slow growth might push 10-year yields to 1.5 per cent. The yield fell to a record low 1.379 that July.

Low started his career in 1987 at Carroll McEntee & McGinley, a primary dealer. Low joined FTN, which trades bonds with institutions and advises on fixed-income portfolios, in 1998 when it opened its New York office. He has been collaborating with Vogel on interest-rate calls since 2000.

After leaving his first job as a business reporter for a now-defunct Memphis newspaper in 1978, Vogel was hired by FTN, working in the corporate treasurer's office, then moving to fixed-income in 1982.

The bond market consensus is coming around to the view of Vogel and Low. The year-end 10-year yield consensus has declined to 3.05 per cent from 3.44 per cent in January. Citigroup Inc. lowered its projection on June 27 to 2.95 per cent from 3.35 per cent, citing the Fed's reduced estimate for the ultimate level of its federal funds rate target.

Expensive bets

Traders are finding it too expensive to keep betting against bonds, forcing them to buy the securities to exit their so-called short positions, said Jim Bianco, president of Bianco Research LLC in Chicago. He said he expects 10-year yields to fall to 2.25 per cent this year.

"The relationship between nominal growth and interest rates is not as strong as they think it is," Bianco said in a June 25 telephone interview. "If you want a fundamental reason for the squeeze, the growth is not there. If rates go to 3.5 per cent, every single person makes money on it except Chris Low and me, because we're the only ones who are bullish on the market." — Bloomberg

Record 18,000 residents involved in Singapore PAssionArts fest

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 05:51 PM PDT

A 3D artwork Rotherham Gate shown at the festival. — photo courtesy of People’s AssociationA 3D artwork Rotherham Gate shown at the festival. — photo courtesy of People's AssociationSINGAPORE, June 30 — The annual PAssionArts Festival organised by the People's Association came to a close yesterday after six weekends of arts activities across Singapore.

This year, about 125,000 residents turned up at 40 arts villages in different neighbourhoods and a record-high of about 18,000 residents came together to co-create visual art installations with 80 artists.

At PAssionArts Festival @ Sembawang yesterday, 3D paintings by residents of old Sembawang landmarks such as Rotherham Gate, Canberra Gate, Sultan Theatre, Old Sembawang Fire Station and Andrew's Avenue Coffee Shop were showcased.

Old kampung games and traditional food were on hand to enhance the feeling of nostalgia. — TODAY

Next Media Video: Mexican helicopter fires at US agents in Arizona

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 05:46 PM PDT

Duration: 00:38, Published 30 Jun 2014

A Mexican military helicopter crossed into Arizona and fired two shots at US border agents on Thursday (June 26), according to US authorities. ― Reuters

The Times: Osborne may merge income tax, national insurance

Posted: 29 Jun 2014 05:37 PM PDT

Britain’s Finance Minister George Osborne will unveil plans to merge income tax and national insurance, as a key element of the next Conservative manifesto, the Times reported, citing sources. — Reuters picBritain's Finance Minister George Osborne will unveil plans to merge income tax and national insurance, as a key element of the next Conservative manifesto, the Times reported, citing sources. — Reuters picLONDON, June 30 — Britain's Finance Minister George Osborne will unveil plans to merge income tax and national insurance, as a key element of the next Conservative manifesto, the Times reported, citing sources.

The paper said Downing Street was actively considering the plan.

Fears that merging of the two systems would lead to security concerns had caused Osborne to pull back from making an announcement in April, the paper said citing a source.

"We came within a whisker of doing this at the last budget, but in the end we decided against it," the Times quoted a source as saying.

"They are currently on two separate computer systems and we thought the risk was just too great. But it's something we could do in the next parliament."

The Treasury's press office could not be reached for comment outside of regular business hours. — Reuters