Guide to Working with Health Insurance Agents and Brokers

Save resources by working with health insurance agents and brokers

Health insurance brokers can help you navigate the evolving healthcare landscape so that you can maximize your time and resources. Health insurance agents can serve as third-party sounding boards when you want to incorporate new plans for your staff. You can take advantage of the expertise developed by medical insurance brokers in a number of ways. Medical insurance brokers can expose you to new business practices that can prove to be more profitable for your company.

Health care brokers can provide information about opportunities in areas, such as preventive care and healthcare savings plans, that you may not have considered as well as help you reduce costs. Many group health insurance brokers are breaking ground with fresh ideas and new forms of dong business that includes outsourcing, lower rates and new insurance products. Find a number of ways to begin working with working with health insurance agents and brokers.

1. Work with health benefit brokers to set up a new employee benefit plan
2. Let an online health insurance agent handle your benefits3. Bring in a health insurance agent to integrate the latest technology

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use full-service health benefit brokers

Instead of going through a lot of trial and error and spending time and valuable resources finding different brokers for various insurance plans, bring in a health insurance broker to get you started off on the right foot. Health insurance agents can do everything from helping you find new plans and alternative benefit options.

I recommend: Find benefits calculators and informative videos that explain the various ways in which you can work with health insurance agencies at Life Happens. The Insurance Information Institute offers answers to many questions posed by small business owners. Before you go out and hire an agent, know your way around the issues.


Choose an online health insurance broker

Work with niche agencies to monitor your benefits packages and assist your HR department make the best choices. Consider hiring a healthcare broker for a focused approach to your business to bring in and retain line employees, managers and executives

I recommend: Familiarize yourself with industry issues and the current information in the health insurance industry through America’s Health Insurance Plans. Find a broker and keep up with the latest news affecting the industry at the National Association of Health Underwriters, one of the largest trade groups for health insurance professionals.

Upgrade your benefits with medical insurance brokers

You should consider working with medical insurance agents that bring a vast knowledge of technology and current benefit options and regulations to remain competitive. There are so many advancements in insurance products and benefit programs that you need to investigate all the alternatives to remain competitive.

I recommend: Find answers to commonly asked questions and get quotes from independent agents at eHealthinsurance. Get Health Insurance is an independent agency that can answer your questions and find various rates for your employees.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• Find a medical insurance broker that can offer your employees choices from a variety of plans at various price points. v

Australian Private Health Insurance

Health Insurance Brokers is an independent company that provides up-to-date advice regarding all aspects of Australian Private Health Insurance.

We have over 30 years experience within the Insurance industry & our team of friendly professionals will assess your requirements and guarantee you the most appropriate Private Health Insurance for your needs & budget.

We provide personalized service & you can talk to us personally anytime, unlike some other companies who rely on computer based software.

customer support team provide

Health Insurance Evaluation/Recommendation (you may request one re-evaluation per calendar year)- Assistance in matters such as claims, membership maintenance and complaint resolution.

In order for us to provide our professional service to you, we require you to complete our step by step Health Insurance Evaluation Form. This will enable us to recommend the most suitable cost effective health cover.

We will assess your individual health insurance requirements and provide a written recommendation(s) based on the most suitable, cost-effective health insurance.

We will also assist you with understanding and managing your private health insurance.

Every completed evaluation form is assessed on an individual basis. The information you supply is kept totally confidential and will not be divulged to any external source.

You will receive by mail (Australia Post) our written recommendation(s) clearly explaining details of the levels of cover that is recommended. The applicable health fund brochures and application forms will also be enclosed for your completion and return. All application forms are to be returned to Health Insurance Brokers, as we will arrange priority processing of your health insurance membership.

If you feel unsure about entering your personal details on the Internet please print friendly version of Heath Insurance Brokers evaluation form in Microsoft Word format and fax it to us directly on Fax : 02 9211 7790.

Expatriate health insurance Nepal

Are you moving to Nepal?

When living and/or working in Nepal, people may not have the same level of access to the healthcare system as to the local population.

Consequently, it is crucial to have some professional advice on how to choose the right expatriate health insurance in Nepal.

Knowing that the chosen insurance provider will have the expertise to ensure the best treatment in the best facilities in Nepal is priceless.

Our partner is an independent insurance broker offering free quotes and advice to the expat community in Nepal.

Nepal Life Insurance Company (NLIC

Nepal Life Insurance Company (NLIC), established in April 2001, takes pride in being the first insurance company that came up to deal on life insurance business exclusively in the country. For the two companies that dealt on life insurance business prior to it were composite companies covering both life and general insurance businesses.
"The establishment of an exclusively life insurance company was the demand of the time," says Kamal Raj Gautam, Senior Branch Manager of NLIC. Reasons: A specific middle class group was growing fast and they were gradually becoming aware of social dimension of insurance products. The level of awareness, of course, could not be gauged as 'very encouraging', but it definitely had create a room for a life insurance company to come into play, adds Gautam.
Like many other companies, NLIC commenced its services in the capital city, opening an office in Kathmandu. It took not much time to secure its place in the market here. So, in order to expand the pie and also to tap opportunities present in other regions, it opened branches in Biratnagar and Birgunj in subsequent years. Currently, the company operates through 10 branches in different parts of the country. It is also in the process of converting two of its contact offices into full-fledged branches soon.
NLIC offers an array of life insurance plans like Surakshit Jeevan, Dhan Varsha, accident benefits, Surakshit Bhavishya, Jeevan Shanti, and Child Education and Marriage Endowment Plan, among others. "Of these, Surakshit Jeevan turned out to be the most preferred product," says Gautam.
The company even takes pride in bringing innovative products in the market, targeting different groups of clientele. Child education and marriage endowment is one of such products. While the majority of products available in the market looks to secure clients in financial terms in the post-retirement period, products like these aims to pledge financial support to the clients in the middle-age.
"Insurance coverage, in any case, is extremely helpful for providing periodical financial needs of family, for making provision for old age and for covering the tangible risks in financial terms," says Gautam. However, there is a limited group of people who understands such benefits. Still less are the people who really take benefits from it.
No wonder, the initial days were really tough for the company, states Gautam. "It was mainly the people who had substantial disposable income and could pay annual premium with relative ease availed our services in the beginning," he adds.
But that section of population always stands in a modest number in a given city. Unless insurance education is incorporated in regular system and people are genuinely informed of its cost and benefits, insurance companies would really find it hard to explore new avenues, opines Gautam. "Poor awareness level has not only limited the real business pie, but also prevented companies from being innovative and coming up with new products from different age and social groups," says he.
Nonetheless, the company has already build a strong client base of more than 60 thousand policy holders in the span of just the three years. Also it has created employment opportunities for about 1,000 insurance brokers. It periodically trains its human resource in different aspects regarding the insurance sector.
"All our branches are given independence to formulate and carry out their own area-specific strategies and policies," says Gautam. Of course, those should be in line with the main corporate strategies and policies that are decided at the center, he adds.
Such decentralization in strategy formulation and operation has enhanced productivity, efficiency and overall performance of NLIC, say the company officials, who further give credit of its fastest growing customer base to such a way of operation and the brokers working at the grassroot level.
In order to remain distinct in the insurance market, it has recently upgraded its human resource as well as technical resources. "We have installed a new computer software, updated accounting and fine-tuned our services to deliver speedy services," claims Gautam.
NLIC currently employs 58 staff. It has re-insurance arrangement with Hannover-Re, a reputed German re-insurance company. Moreover, the company is planning to offer new "planned products", which the officials prefer not to disclose.
Despite portraying optimistic picture, Gautam, meanwhile, laments that the sound investment avenues have shrank significantly in recent period, which has forced the life insurance companies that have mobilized huge capital in the form of premium from making according contribution in the economy.
"The investment opportunities are already low. Hence, concerned actors and regulators should make a joint effort to explore out or create new investment avenues," he said, adding that the money collected by the life insurance companies, afterall, must be returned back to the policyholders adding bonus and other returns to it.

COMPANY HISTORY - GLOBALLY



ALICO, or Asia Life as we were then called, was started up in 1921 as the first company to offer life insurance to Chinese citizens। Since then we've come a long way, all the way round the world in fact, to reach 55 countries and 35 million customers।


And we've been through turbulent timeas as well as times of economic growth - as have our customers and their finances। Through periods like the 1929 Great Depression and the Great Inflation of the 1970's, our ALICO forefathers developed a staying power and prudence that set us in good stead, which is why the company that we are today is going to be around for a good few tommorrows as well - and policyholder's interests will be as well looked after as they've ever been।

COMPANY HISTORY - MEASA
ALICO has been present in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia region since 1952 with its regional headquarters at DIFC (Dubai International Financial Centre)। We have over the years maintained a leading presence in 14 territories across the region starting from Bangladesh (1952), Lebanon (1953), Saudi Arabia (1954), Kuwait (1954), Jordan (1958), Bahrain (1960), United Arab Emirates (1962), Qatar (1962), Oman (1971), Turkey (1988), Pakistan (1995), Palestine (1996), Egypt (1997) and Nepal (2001)।


Over the last forty six years we've become very used to listening to the local community and developing our offering according to people's needs। And we know that our success depends on the success of the local community। We've always done our best to nurture talent, as well as work with the government and partners to bring a strong regulatory framework around the insurance sector - so our customers have the very best protection।


We believe in diversity and ethnicity and make sure to reach people from all walks of life। In this region alone, we employ over 1,500 skilled insurance professionals from diverse backgrounds। We also maintain a sales force of around 16,000 trained and experienced insurance agents and sales representatives to ensure that you always have someone to turn to if you want to talk about your insurance needs।

INFORMATION

It is a legal requirement in Ireland to have motor insurance if you want to drive your car in a public place and you must produce a current Certificate of Insurance to pay motor tax। Failure to have motor insurance when driving in Ireland is a very serious offence and drivers will incur fines, penalty points and may be disqualified from driving. (See 'Rules' below).


Motor insurance is about protecting other road users as opposed to the driver of the insured vehicle and it is not an optional extra. Insurance companies provide motor insurance and unlike road tax, there is no such thing as a "standard"


Young drivers represent a high risk for insurers and the cost of motor insurance in this age group is considerably higher than for others both in Ireland and throughout the European Union (EU)। Ireland currently ranks extremely high of the 25 EU member states on road accident frequency and it has the highest fatality rate in Europe. In 2004, 379 people lost their lives on Irish roads. (The figure was 341 in 2003).



There are a number of things young drivers can do to reduce the cost of motor insurance:


Join a parent's insurance as a named driver as early as possible. This will enable you to establish a safety record, which is crucial when you want to apply for insurance in your own name. Some companies offer discounts to young people seeking insurance in their own name if they have been a named driver



Get a full licence as soon as possible. Having a full licence will reduce the cost of your insurance premium considerably. Savings vary, but it is possible for a young driver to save a vast amount (up to 900 euro or more) on the cost of his or her insurance premium simply by having a full driving licence.


Choose a car with a relatively small engine, as less powerful cars are cheaper to insure.


Drive carefully. The best way to reduce the cost of your motor insurance is to build up your no claims bonus.


MOTOR INSURANCE AND THE EQUAL STATUS ACT


The Equal Status Act, 2000 (Section 5(2)(d)) allows differential treatment in relation to the calculation of insurance policies in Ireland. This means, that insurance companies are allowed to charge higher or lower rates for policies on the basis of your potential risk as a driver. Given that younger drivers in Ireland are statistically more likely to have accidents, this explains why there can be sizeable differences in insurance costs between younger and older drivers


TYPES OF MOTOR INSURANCE POLICY IN IRELANDThe most basic insurance is "third party" and this is the minimum required by law. However, third party is only one of three main categories


COMPREHENSIVE


This is the most expensive type of insurance on the market and covers you for almost every eventuality: any damage done to the vehicle regardless of how it was incurred; life/accident insurance; loss of personal belongings from the car; the cost of a hired car if the insured car is off the road as a result of an accident; windscreen breakage, etc. With more brand new cars on the road than ever before, there has been a notable rise in people taking out comprehensive insurance. A brand new car should be comprehensively insured.


THIRD PARTY, FIRE AND THEFT


This is the most popular form of motor insurance in Ireland. It covers you for loss of the vehicle through fire or theft and for any loss as a result of attempted fire or theft. Damage to property is also covered. There are also optional extras available such as windscreen breakage


THIRD PARTY

This is the minimum cover required by law, but it does have restrictions and limits, leaving you open to substantial loss in the event of an accident. If you are at fault, then only your passengers and the driver and passengers of the other vehicle will be compensated. This type of insurance provides no cover for damage sustained in an accident to your car or if your car is stolen or goes on fire.

An insurance company considers many things when calculating an insurance premium. Most premiums are based on basic third party cover with the cost of extras added on. The main thing that will determine the cost of your insurance is what you actually want to be covered for. The following are always taken into account


LICENCE

Whether you are driving on a full or provisional licence makes a huge difference to the cost of your motor insurance premium. You can expect to pay hundreds of euro extra, if you only have a provisional licence.


SIZE AND AGE OF CAR

The engine capacity and age of the car play a large part in determining the cost of your premium। The older the car, the more difficult it can be to insure. Many insurance companies believe that the older a car is, the more accident-prone it becomes. A new car is more expensive to replace than an old car and will cost more to insure. Likewise, the more powerful the car you drive, the more it will cost to insure.



AGE OF THE DRIVERThe young and the old represent high-risk categories and pay more for insurance.
VALUE OF THE CARThe value of a car is taken into account for third party, fire and theft and for comprehensive insurance. What you have the car insured for, however, is not always what the insurance company will pay out in the event of a claim. In the event of the car being a write-off, the insurance company will only pay out what it feels the car is worth, which, more often than not, is less than the car is actually insured for. There is very little to gain by over-insuring a car and, equally, you should not under-insure it either.
EXPERIENCEAll insurance companies will ask if you have ever had insurance in your own name before. If not, they will ask if you have ever driven under someone else's insurance without incident. This will be taken into account when calculating a premium. Insurance becomes less expensive with experience and a clean driving record.
PROFESSION AND USESome professions are considered to be more at risk than others and will have a loading put onto their premium. What the car will actually be used for is also taken into account. A standard policy covers the vehicle for social, domestic and pleasure purposes, but not for the carriage of goods. If the car is being used for business, then a loading will apply. If the car is being used commercially, then an even higher loading will be imposed.
WHERE THE CAR IS KEPTThose living in a major city, particularly Dublin, will normally have a loading imposed. Some companies will also impose a loading if the car is not kept in a garage at night.
EXCESS & EXTRASMost insurance policies contain some type of an excess clause. This means that the policyholder is liable for an agreed amount towards the cost (e.g., the first 250 euro). The premium will cost more if this clause is taken out. It pays to shop around, because what might be considered an extra in one company (windscreen breakage, car hire in the event of the car being off the road, loss of personal effects, etc.) could be standard in another.
NO CLAIMS BONUSESA no claims bonus is built up over the years and gives the policyholder a substantial reduction in the cost of his or her premiums. The ceiling for a no claims bonus is usually around 60%, leaving someone who has never had a claim with only 40% to pay. In the event of a minor accident, it is sometimes cheaper to pay for any damage out of your own pocket rather than claiming from your insurance and losing your no claims bonus. If you make a claim and subsequently lose your no claims bonus, you can build it up again in a few years. Some insurance companies will even allow you one claim without it affecting your no claims bonus.
RULESYou must have motor insurance to drive a car in your own name or as a named driver on someone else's policy.
Failure to have motor insurance or driving without insurance in Ireland is generally punishable by:
A fine of up to 2,500 euro,
Disqualification of one year or more for a first offence and two years or more for a second offence, and
At the discretion of the court, a term of imprisonment not Exceeding six months
In the case of a first offence of driving without insurance, the court may decide in special cases not to impose a period of disqualification or to impose a period of disqualification of less than a year.
Since 1st June 2003, where the courts in Ireland decide not to impose a disqualification, drivers convicted of a first offence of driving without insurance will incur 5 penalty points on their licence record in addition to any other penalty imposed by the court.
If you commit a second offence for driving without insurance, you will be automatically disqualified from driving. You should also note, that where a member of An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) believes that a mechanically propelled vehicle being used in a public place, that is registered in the State, is being driven without insurance, your vehicle may be impounded.
IF YOU ARE REFUSED MOTOR INSURANCEIndividual insurers have the right to refuse you cover, but they must provide you with a reason for the refusal should you ask for one. However, even though you have been refused cover, you are entitled to go to the Declined Cases Committee of the Irish Insurance Federation who will obtain an insurance quotation for you. In order for the Committee to consider your case you must first have sought and been refused quotations in writing from at least three insurers. (See 'Further information' below).
RATES With more companies than ever before competing for business, it is possible to make considerable savings by ringing around for the best quote.
HOW TO APPLYYou can apply for motor insurance over the phone, in person or through a motor insurance broker. Motor insurance companies and insurance brokers are listed in your public telephone directory. If you want to drive as a named driver on someone else's policy, then that person must contact their insurance company and arrange to have you insured under their policy.
FUTHER INFORMATION The Insurance Ombudsman deals with complaints and disputes between policyholders and their insurance companies when the company's complaints procedure fails to resolve the problem. The Insurance Ombudsman can oppose an insurance company's decision in relation to an individual policyholder. This decision is binding only on the company, which means you may proceed with court action if you are not satisfied with the ruling.Insurance Ombudsman of Ireland, 32 Upper Merrion Street, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 662 0899 Fax: (01) 662 0890
The Insurance Information Service (IIS) is an information and complaints telephone service operated by the Irish Insurance Federation (IIF), which many insurance companies in Ireland belong to. Its purpose is to answer policyholders' questions and help them resolve problems. It has no binding powers and complaints that cannot be resolved are generally referred to the Insurance Ombudsman. Insurance Information Service39 Molesworth StreetDublin 2. Tel: (01) 676 1914
If you have been refused a quotation for motor insurance, you are entitled to go to the Declined Cases Committee of the Irish Insurance Federation who will obtain a motor insurance quotation for you:

















































Try Using a Life Insurance Broker For Your Policy To Save On The Premium

Today there are so many choices for life insurance policies that one often wonders how to get a good policy। Indeed we are almost bombarded by all kinds of products from various life insurance policy insurers. Some will advertise on television and many will try to call you to try and convince you to purchase their life covers. If you bank with a high street bank, and most of us do, your bank has more than likely tried to sell you a life insurance policy. But is it wise to purchase the first life insurance policy that someone tries to sell you? Clearly the answer to this question is no.


You should avoid to rush into any agreement as a general rule, no matter how convincing the salesman is। The temptation is to go to your bank or building society and conveniently purchase a policy. The problem is you may not get the best deal and your premium may not be competitive. Your bank probably buys insurance from an insurer and then sells it on to you. They are tied to their insurance supplier and therefore they may not have the best range of insurance products to offer you.


On the other hand, if you use an independent insurance broker you have a better chance of being offered the best deal। Life insurance brokers are specialists in finding and comparing life insurance policies from various policy providers. Brokers are generally people who have been in the business for a long time and therefore have an extensive knowledge of what's best for you, under your own particular circumstances. They have a wide repertoire of insurance providers from which to choose from. Insurance brokers also have good industry and sometimes inside information on the best deals around at the time.


Some insurance brokers are able to offer you good discounts on your premium। Insurance brokers generally get a discount from their insurers, this is how they make their money. If you know what you are looking for and go to a life insurance broker and negotiate well, you may obtain y premium than you would have got if you went to an insurer directly. Because the market is very competitive, the customer will generally be able to negotiate and bring the policy premium down to your budget.


Budgeting your life cover premium is very important too। Whilst it's generally easy to purchase a life insurance, you must make sure that you will be able to keep up with the policy premiums. In hard times like during a recession the temptation is to cut back on spend. Because an insurance policy does not pay back immediately, people tend to stop their premium payments if they feel they are paying too much or if they have wrongly budgeted. The problem is, as soon as you stop paying your premium, the policy is no longer valid and if you do not catch up on payments in time, you have lost the money that you have contributed over the years.


So make sure you get the best deal from your insurance broker by hunting around. But also, make sure that you are able to keep up the payment as per the insurance agreement you sign.
Billy Leverton is the life insurance author who likes informing people about insurance. Learn more about life insurance cover online

New Zealand Dollar / US Dollar Breakout Imminent, Downside Favored


The New Zealand Dollar exchange rate is wedged between support at 0।5035 near the previous swing low and the upper boundary of a bearish channel that has contained prices since December। A bearish Inverted Hammer candlestick has been followed by a Doji as prices increasingly run out of room to continue moving sideways। A breakout looks imminent, with the convincingly bearish bias of the overall trend favoring a short position. We will look for a daily close below 0.5035 on the current candle and position to sell NZDUSD, initially targeting multiyear support/resistance at 0.4790.


INDICATOR OF THE DAY" - REVERSAY DAYS

Over the past several years we have grown quite comfortable with candlestick analysis because of its ability to provide a clear picture of developments within price action. One of our favorite indicators is simply looking at price action on a given day to help better understand what exactly the markets could be telling us.In the above example, we can see that Usd/Jpy price action is starting to look bearish and could be warning of a short-term top. After rallying sharply for four consecutive days, the market has finally stalled out on Friday, unable to post a fresh higher high above Thursday’s high, and subsequently breaking back below Thursday’s low. This sets up a potential bearish reversal day (contingent on Friday’s close being lower than Thursday’s close), that could open the door to a more significant drop over the coming days. The market is telling us that it no longer wants to continue with the current trend after failing to establish fresh highs, which forces a pullback and triggers stop-losses below Thursday’s low to provide added confirmation and likely spark additional profit taking on longs along with fresh sell interest.

Individual Health Insurance Policies

People who buy coverage in the individual insurance market generally do so because they do not have access to employer-sponsored group health coverage and they do not qualify for public programs, such as Medicare or Medicaid.
Most people who purchase individual health insurance plans face difficulties finding policies that will accept them, that are affordable or that provide adequate coverage. People with serious or chronic conditions, such as diabetes, are likely to face substantial difficulty buying individual health insurance policies.

Purchasing an individual health insurance policy
States regulate the individual health insurance market। The rules as to who can purchase and what is included in the coverage vary depending on where you live. The individual health insurance market in most states is characterized by "medical underwriting." That is, insurers in this market decide whether to sell coverage (and if so, what benefits to offer and what premium to charge) based on the health status, prior medical history, age, gender, and other characteristics of applicants. Diabetes is a condition for which most medical underwriters will automatically deny coverage. However, this is not true in all states. For example:

In a few states, medical underwriting is always illegal in the individual health insurance market। All policies in such states must be sold on a "guaranteed issue" basis, meaning nobody can be turned down based on their health status. These states also prohibit insurers from charging premiums based on health status. Instead, insurers must use a single "community rate" for their premiums for all residents.

In other states, only certain residents (such as those with a continuous coverage history) must be sold individual health insurance on a guaranteed issue basis।

A few other states designate one or more insurance companies as an "insurer of last resort।" These companies (usually Blue Cross Blue Shield plans) must guarantee issue coverage, but other insurers can still medically underwrite. Community rating may or may not apply to the insurer of last resort, depending on the state.

In most states, all private insurers in the individual market can medically underwrite coverage at least some of the time. Many (though not all) of these states establish high-risk pools, which are public programs that offer coverage to certain "uninsurable" individuals whom private insurers turn down.

Learn more about individual health care coverage
Contact the office of your state insurance commissioner to find out what type of individual coverage laws exist in your state, and where you might look to obtain coverage. The Georgetown University's health insurance consumer guide for your state .
This information was drawn from "Health Insurance Resource Manual" prepared for the American Diabetes Association by Georgetown University's Health Policy Institute, ©2003, Georgetown University. All rights reserved.

Forex Trading: British Pound Remains Depressed Against All Major Currencies




The pound remains depressed against all the major currency pairs (EUR, JPY, CHF and the USD)
Against the USD, the GBP/USD remains above the lows set on Dec 4th at the 1.4466 level but traded at the lowest level since December 8th today. The low today has been 1.4570, The close on Friday at 1.4652 was the lowest close in the GBPUSD since June 10th 2002. The market today will need to move above this level today to turn some of the sentiment to the upside (i.e. suggest a short term bottom might be in place).


On the downside, the low on November 13th was 1।4558, the low on December 5th was 1.4525 and the low on December 4th was 1.4466. These levels are what is holding the pair up at the moment. Breaks of these levels should lead to further downside pressure as the economic climate in the UK continues to weigh on the currency.


Forex Trading Is More Fun When You Understand the Statistics

Most people today at least have heard about forex trading. It is a very
exciting and potentially profitable business that most people are trying their
hands on. However, not everyone excels in the business. The major reason for
this is because not many people understand the statistics in the business and so
they do not know when it is best to trade. It is important to understand the
concepts better.
Trade Balance
In business or in a country, there are
exports and imports. The difference between the imports and the exports of
tangible goods or even services is what is referred to as trade balance. If you
are interested in foreign exchange, you must know this balance because it is
actually the major indicator here.
The economic activity of an economy is
indicated with this balance. It will actually help you make the right decisions
as to whether it is worth engaging in foreign exchange at a particular time or
not.
Consumer Price Index [CPI]
There is a fixed price of consumer goods
and services. This is what is usually averaged to end up with the CPI. The
report is usually issued on a monthly basis. It is this report that is usually
used to determine the rate of inflation of the goods and services for consumers.
It is an important statistic to understand since the economic activity
usually takes into account consumer spending. However, the prices of more
volatile items like food and energy are usually excluded here. So, when the CPI
is high, there is usually an expectation of short term higher interest rate and
this would support the currency.
Producer Price Index [PPI] This is the same
description as that of CPI just that it relates to producers or manufacturers.
It indicates commodity inflation. It accounts for price changes within the
manufacturing sector.
When it is high, there will be high prices on consumer
goods and this would mean that the interest rates would also go high. With prior
knowledge of this, you can be prepared so that you are not surprised with the
commodity prices.
Gross Domestic Product [GDP]
At least most people
understand this statistic. It is usually issued quarterly and it reflects the
widest measure of economic activity. When it is high, there are usually high
interest rates unless the increased inflation pressure is concurrently
undermining currency confidence.
Payroll Employment [PE]
The government
and sometimes businesses usually employ people and pay them monthly. The total
number of people who belong to these two payroll types is what is referred to
here. So, PE is one of the primary monthly indicators of economic activity
because all the major sectors of the economy are involved.
When the PE is
high, the economic activity is strong and this means that the interest rates
would go high and the currency would probably be supported.
Durable Goods
Orders [GDO]
All new orders that are placed by domestic manufacturers either
for future or even immediate hard goods are tracked. This sum is what is
referred to as GDO. It is calculated monthly. It is accurate because usually
most productions are done when an order for the commodities are placed.
Defense and transportation orders are considered to be highly volatile and
so are not included in the report. When it is high it means that the currency is
supported as the interest will shoot.
Retail Sales
The receipts from
retail stores are also measured and this helps define consumer spending. Half of
total consumer spending and third of aggregate economic activity is involved.
Housing Starts
The number of residential units construction per month.
It assesses the commitment of builders to new constructions and when the figure
is high it means that the economic activity and confidence is equally high.
It is best to trade when the economic activity is high. So, watch out the
statistics and see when the right time has come.
About the Author
Having
the right description of the statistics involved in forex trading will help you get into the
business with confidence. The forex
statistics are usually available even online.

Broker's Services

As an insurance company, we offer an opportunity for the brokers to increase their trustworthiness in front of their traders by offering them an insurer authority to enable them to trade without any fear as the main concern of the traders is how the brokers secure their fundSo brokers are invited to be more securable and fully trusted by participating through our membership by having the logo of : insured by forex insurance in their web site which will be enough guarantee for the traders .Forexinsurance Program :On referring a trader from a registered Broker:1. Commissions granted is calculated by a constant percentage from our premium, which depends on the completely insured amount.2. A great promotion will be offered for the trader in the form of a discount in the premium.A code will be given to each registered broker for it’s trader in order to subscribe using it in creating their new insurance accounts By participating through the above program each broker will have a great impact on his business as a broker as for the first time in history the concept of insurance is applied in the Forex market

As an example:If a referral trader has $5000 as a whole insured amount The premium will be 5% from the completely insured amount that is equal to $250 The Broker 's commission will be 5% that will be taken from the premium that is equal to $12.5
At the same time, brokers will make a significant gross income on their business as a result of participating with us

Satyam issue a setback for India

The Satyam fraud is a setback for Indian business and will continue to be an irritant for India Inc in the global market place, the prime minister's economic panel said on

"The odour of this scandal will continue to be an obstacle and irritant for Indian businesses in their efforts to conduct business, acquire assets and secure finance in the global market place," said a review of Indian economy for 2008-09 by thepanel

The Prime Minister's Economic Advisory Council said it is imperative that the regulator and investigating agencies get to the bottom of this scandal and bring the guilty to book।

The review said the development should act as a reminder as to how much more careful an emerging economy needs to be in its efforts to maintain growth and secure a position in the world community।

"The recent fraud and possible embezzlement of funds ... is a setback for Indian business and for the economy at large। It has undercut confidence among customers, investors and employees in the industry," the report said.

"Satyam is really a setback, there's no doubt on that। But I think the government has taken swift steps to minimise the damage," panel chairman Suresh Tendulkar told reporters after releasing the review.

However, Tendulkar expressed confidence that the big Indian IT companies would not be much impacted by Satyam scandal, saying they have announced good results and are quite optimistic.
"I think our IT industry at one level has always surpassed everybody because they have managed to increase their productivity। That is quite remarkable. From that point of view, I don't expect the impact to be very significant," he said.

ensex ends week low at 8,674.35

The Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share bellwether fell to close at its nine-week low of 8,674।35 at the week-end, as global negative developments and disappointing quarterly earnings by some key corporates cast a shadow over the market sentiment.

The weekly slide was extended to third straight week as the bourses remained under pressure even as investors pinned hopes on Barack Obama, who took over as the 44th US President on Tuesday, January 20।

In the week to January 24, the BSE barometer registered a net loss of 649।24 points or 6.96 per cent from last weekend's close, on heavy selling triggered by worries that the global banking sector was in deep trouble after Royal Bank of Scotland on Monday forecast a staggering $40 billion losses -- the biggest in the UK corporate history.

On the domestic front, India's largest housing finance company HDFC and its third largest software exporter Wipro disappointed the market with their lower-than-expected third quarter results।

The market sentiment was dampened by Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia's statement ruling out out any more stimulus packages for the industry।

Quarterly results announced by Reliance Communications, Ranbaxy Laboratories and Reliance Infra also fell short of market expectations।

The country's largest private sector firm Reliance Industries, which has highest weight in the Sensex, recovered part of its initial losses after the company announced nearly 10 per cent fall in its Q3 net profit, as the fall was lower than the analysts forecast। RIL dropped by 5.36 per cent over the week.

All thirty shares from the Sensex pack showed marked falls in the week under review। The broader 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange tumbled by 149.90 points or 5.30 per cent to end the week at seven-week low of 2,678.55 from its last weekend's close.

The consistent capital outflow and negative activity by domestic institutional investors also were the major cause of concerns for the market।

The foreign Institutional Investors pulled out more than 2,268 crore (including Friday's provisional number of Rs 523 crore) from equity during the week। As per the Sebi data, they sold shares worth Rs 3,961.80 crore so far in the month.

The scandal-hit IT major Satyam Computer surged by Rs 14।40 or 58.90 per cent as several major corporates from India and abroad showed interest in acquire the software major.

Realty, Bank and Metal sectors witnessed large-scale sell-off during the week। Losses in these stocks could be gauged by the slide in their indices.

During next week, the Reserve Bank's quarterly review of the monetary policy on Tuesday is expected to set the tone for the market while analysts expected volatile trade ahead of expiry of derivatives series on January 29।

The broad-based BSE-100 Index slumped by another 331।97 points or 6.95 per cent to 4,441.81 from its last weekend's close of 4,773.78.

The BSE 200 Index and the Dollex-200 too were quoted sharply lower at 933।20 and 348.74 at the weekend, compared with 1,106.64 and 377.55 at the last weekend.

On the NSE, the S&P CNX Defty dipped by 122।95, or 6.12 per cent, to 1,885.35 from preceding weekend's close of 2,008.30.

The CNX Nifty Junior also plunged further by 321.50, or 7.46 per cent, to end the week at 3,989.40 from 4,310.90 last weekend.

Most Asian markets rise as US gains offset signs of deepening slump in local economies

HONG KONG (AP) -- Most Asian stock markets were modestly higher Thursday, as gains on Wall Street offset alarming new signs the region's economies were slowing faster than expected amid plummeting demand for their goods।

Japan's Nikkei 225 stock average was up 71।36 points, or 0.9 percent, at 7,965.04 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng gained 1.7 percent to 12,799.76. South Korea's Kospi added 1.3 percent to 1,117.74 while markets in Australia, Singapore and mainland China also gained.

Despite the modest rises, trade was cautious as investors digested a round of bleak reports about some of the region's biggest economies।

China's economic slump deepened in the fourth quarter, with growth sliding to 6।8 percent from 9 percent the previous quarter and 10.6 percent in the first quarter.

In Japan, exports plunged 35 percent in December, marking a third straight month of decline, the government reported। South Korea's economy shrank in the fourth quarter, contracting from the previous year for the first time in a decade.

The data, worse than many expectations, together highlighted the damage being inflicted on Asia as demand for cars, electronics, clothes and other goods evaporates in the U।S. and Europe.

"Clearly our region is really plunging into a steep recession," said Dariusz Kowalczyk, chief investment strategist for SJS Markets in Hong Kong। "We are going through a big slowdown."

Still, sentiment was buoyed by overnight gains on Wall Street। Investors seemed relieved by a recovery in banking stocks, stronger-than-expected results from IBM Corp. and renewed focus on the Obama administration's upcoming measures to boost the world's largest economy.

The Dow Jones industrial average rose 279।01, or 3.5 percent, to 8,228.10.

Broader stock indicators also advanced, with the Standard & Poor's 500 index up 35।02, or 4.4 percent, to 840.24.

Wall Street futures were slightly higher, pointing to opening gains in U।S. trade Thursday.

Oil prices, which have moved in tandem with equities in recent months, rose further in Asian trade, with light, sweet crude for March delivery up 55 cents at $44।10 a barrel. The contract jumped $2.71 overnight to settle at $43.55 a barrel on the New York Stock Exchange.

In currencies, the dollar weakened to 89.03 yen, down from 90.03 yen, and the euro was nearly flat at $1.3005.

Understanding life insurance policies

Life insurance is usually not a particularly popular subject to discuss। Images of pushy salesmen waving the policy that "you absolutely must have" instantly come into your mind. However, if purchased wisely, life insurance can be used to meet many different needs of the policy holders.

Life insurance is unique। No investment or asset can provide the purchaser with such extraordinary leverage and the ability to create liquidity when, in many cases, it is most needed. A young professional looking to create an estate in order to replace future income lost to the family in the event of a premature death cannot make a better purchase. But not everyone falls into this category.

Obviously, most people purchase life insurance solely for the ultimate payout upon the death of the insured in order to provide for their dependents। However, life insurance can also be used to pay death taxes and estate settlement costs, to shift wealth from one generation to another or to benefit selected charities. Certain types of life insurance also have an investment feature in which funds accumulate while the policy is in place and may be used to pay future premiums. In a business context, life insurance can be used to fund all or a portion of a buy-sell agreement between partners or co-shareholders.

Life insurance policies are typically divided into two major types: term insurance and permanent insurance। From these two basic policies, the insurance industry has developed a number of products using the same essential principals.

Term Life Insurance
Term insurance is a policy which will pay a death benefit only if the insured dies during the term of the policy। Simply stated, term insurance is "pure insurance." No benefits are paid if the insured lives beyond the term of the policy and there is no investment or cash value feature inherent in this type of policy. For this reason, term insurance policies will carry the lowest premiums in the earlier years of the policy. However, as an individual gets older, term insurance gets more expensive.

One of the biggest problems with term insurance is that once the policy expires, the individual will usually need to replace the insurance at a higher cost। For some individuals, insurability becomes an issue once a policy terminates if they are no longer in good health. As a result, insurance companies may offer "renewable" term policies. For a small additional premium, the insured is entitled to keep the policy in force at the end of the original term. Despite the fact that the insured is making a unilateral decision to extend the policy, evidence of good health is not required.

Some term insurance policies feature a convertibility option। At the request of the insured, the policy is changed from a straight term policy into a permanent whole life insurance policy. This feature will come at the cost of higher premiums than regular term life insurance and often expires after a certain number of years or once the insured reaches a predetermined age.

Permanent Life Insurance
The alternative to term life is a permanent life insurance policy। A permanent life insurance policy, often referred to as whole life insurance, is intended to provide protection throughout the life of the insured. In an effort to keep the premiums level while the policy is in place, the cost of a whole life policy is somewhat more expensive than for a term policy in the earlier years because, as the insured gets older, their mortality rate (risk of dying in the next year) increases.

One feature inherent in every whole life policy is a cash surrender value। In the earlier years of a whole life policy, a portion of the premium will exceed the real cost of the insurance. This excess is applied to a separately maintained account for the insured which will earn money just as any other investment. Without this cash surrender value, the insurance company would be unable to cover an insured for their entire life using a level premium since the cost to insure an individual naturally increase every year. The cash surrender value can then be used in the later years of the insured to maintain the policy at what is actually a lower cost than what they would otherwise pay with a term policy at that time. If the whole life insurance policy is cancelled for some reason, the cash value of the insurance policy is then paid to the insured.

As an offshoot of regular permanent life insurance policies, there is universal life insurance। A universal life insurance policy provides flexibility for the insured by allowing the individual to select the premium they would like to pay. The death benefit is then adjusted to match the premium payments based on current interest rates and mortality charges.

Another type of permanent life insurance is variable life insurance। This type of policy has grown in popularity due to the rapid rise in the stock market since the 1980s. Essentially, variable life insurance is a policy in which the insured has the ability to direct the investments of the cash surrender value to achieve potentially higher returns than could otherwise be realized. If the investments perform well, the death benefit will increase. On the other hand, poor returns on investments may decrease the death benefit, but not below a guaranteed minimum as stated in the policy.

Determining Your Need
There are a number of factors to consider when evaluating life insurance products। The most important of these factors is to determine the amount of insurance needed. The insurance need is usually the greatest when there are young children in the family, only one breadwinner, or there is not enough saved to support the survivors for any length of time. For example, a family with only one spouse working and two small children may face several obstacles if that spouse should die, e.g., funding education for the children and providing for the surviving spouse at a lifestyle to which they have grown accustomed.

The type and amount of insurance which is being considered must also be predicated on the affordability of the premiums। A policy which is too expensive to carry may result in an early termination. The insured would then need to reapply, usually at higher costs, and potentially subject him or herself to a physical examination to determine overall health.

At the same time, the duration of the need must be determined। If an individual knows that the need will exist for only the next 10 years or so, a different insurance policy is likely to be selected than if the need is expected to exist for "life".

Evaluating the Policies
Term policies from different companies can usually be compared relatively easily। You are paying a certain amount for a defined death benefit for a specified number of years. As long as the features which are included in the policies are identical, a true premium comparison will provide you with the most cost efficient life insurance policy.

On the other hand, whole life policies which are exactly identical in premium, stated death benefits and other options could be substantially different in many other ways। Insurance companies must use certain assumptions, guarantees and projections in valuing their policies. These variables could greatly affect the cost and level of coverage for the policy and include:

• Surrender charges। The amount the company will charge if the policy is terminated।

• Cash value projections. Shows whether the cash value will be sufficient to keep the policy in force इनlater years। These projections are based upon a guaranteed rate of return and a projected (higher) rate of return. It is essential that these rates be reasonable.

• Policy loans। Do the illustrations use policy loans to fund premiums in some years?

• Dividends। Ensure that the dividends which the company is projecting are in line with what the company has typically paid in the past.

• Mortality assumptions। Each insurance company uses its own statistical analyses to determine the risk of an individual dying at a point in time while the policy is in place. For this reason, some insurance companies are willing to price their product differently than others by assuming a more aggressive mortality factor.

The insurance company and their stability should be considered in evaluating any policy। A life insurance company whose financial stability is in question may need to price policies below that of their competitors. Several independent companies provide life insurance company ratings. The most well known rating companies are A.M. Best Company, Moody’s Investors Service and Standard and Poor’s Corporation.

Above all else, ask questions। Many of the answers will not be spelled out for the insured and others may be subject to interpretation. Life insurance is a very complex product and, yet, is essential for many individuals in order to protect their loved ones or meet the other needs for which it is being purchased.

Michael S. Jackson, CPA, a principal with the Philadelphia based firm, Martin J. Satinsky & Associates, P.C., is a certified public accountant with special expertise in personal financial planning.

Life Insurance Policy - Life Insurance Rate


life Insurance Policy
Welcome to LifeInsExpo।com. A life insurance policy is a lifeline. It is capable of saving a family from bankruptcy. It can help those that face life’s worst moments to make it through. It can also provide security when nothing else can. Having an insurance policy is essential, but having the right insurance policy is even more important.
Benefit of Online Life
By looking for your life insurance policy on the web, you can easily compare the options that you have। Not only can you compare the various types of life insurance but you can also look at the various life insurance rates that are offered. This is simple, fast and safe to do right here on the web. There are several reasons why you should work through an online broker for your life insurance needs.

Low Cost Life Insurance


Beyond anything less, the online broker can provide low cost life insurance। The only thing that would be better would be free life insurance. Since the web is a marketplace full of competitors, it is easy to see the benefits that are available here.


Affordable life insurance that offers the best coverage। Just because you are considering a life insurance policy online that is cheap, that does not mean that it will be anything but complete coverage. Look at the options that are available and decide what is the right coverage for your specific needs.


Responsible coverage is also available। That means that your life insurance rate does not sacrifice the need for customer service and immediate help when it is needed. Those that seek to provide a solid policy that will provide security and reliability should consider the online market place.


Why You Need Life Insurance

No one wants to think about the need for life insurance but there is a need to have it, in their back pocket in case something does go wrong. It happens to everyone at some point. If the family’s wage earner was to die, out of nowhere, would your family be protected? Would they be able to make the mortgage payments on their home? Would they be able to get the basic elements of utilities, clothing and food? If there is anything to count on in these worst of times, it is the life insurance policy that is available.
Today is the best day to get started at protecting your family. For those that are ready to provide affordable, solid life insurance policy protection to their family, request a life insurance rate quote today।


Life insurance offers financial security for you and your family। It can help fill the gap left by your sudden demise, in case.....

Online Loans – How Useful Are They (Part 1)


With the advent of technology, securing an unsecured loan has not only become easy but also speedy. We will have a series of arguments and counter arguments on how the online loans work and its pros and cons.


There are several money lenders who lend money through the internet. These moneylenders take out the stress of making several trips to your local moneylender. You need not go anywhere to ask money. You simply logon to the internet and fill in your details in a free form. Based on the information you provide, the moneylenders determine the amount of your loan.


Among other features of online loans are that these loans need not be secured. This means that you do not place any collateral. You can get anything from 50 pounds to 5000 pounds under unsecured loans. If you can place collateral, you can get even more, depending upon the value of your property.


Online loans are much faster than the loans offered by your local money lender. Online money advances do not require you to present the different types of papers that the normal money lenders need. This makes the process very easy

Online Loans – How Useful Are They (Part 2)


As of now, there is a tough competition going on between the moneylenders on the internet, due to which they are offering several schemes so as to lure the customers. There are different schemes available for different people and for different needs. You can ask for a payday loan, property loan, car loan, and personal loans among many other types of loans available with these money lenders.


While applying for a loan online, you need not worry about your credit ratings too. You may be having a bad credit, a good credit, or no credit score at all. The online companies offering loans do not take into account the credit rankings while approving your loan.


However, the bad credit may cause the interest on the loan to increase further. The poorer your credit ranking is, the more you need to pay as interest. In addition, there are several other factors that affect the interest rates, such as the location of the moneylender, the amount of loan, and the repayment tenure of the loan.

Online Loans – How Useful Are They (Part 3)


Online loans offer you a chance to repair your credit rankings. Normally, when you apply for a loan at your local banker, he will check your credit ranking. If the credit ranking is poor, he will never approve your application for the loan. But owing to the competition among the moneylenders on the internet, you can make good use of the different schemes available with them.


Log on to the internet and check the moneylenders’ websites. You will find a scheme for each purpose. You can see that you can avail a loan even if you carry a bad credit. If you want to repair your credit score, you may take a small loan from these lenders.


After taking the loan, make sure you pay the monthly installments on time. Once the loan is repaid successfully, you can see your credit ranking climbing up. If you repeat this few times, you can clear off the bad credit mark from your credit rankings. Of course, you will have to pay some interest. But remember, everything comes at a cost. This method is better than bribing the authorities of credit ranking entities.

Online Loans – How Useful Are They (Part 4)


Online moneylenders are now offering unsecured loans too. This means you need not place any kind of collateral to avail a loan. If you have any asset, you can easily get a loan from the local bankers. Even then, the traditional method of applying and verification, assessment takes too long. The moneylenders operating through the internet make it very easy for people who need fast money.


Even if you do not have any valuable asset to place as collateral, you can apply for the loan. Loans without any collateral are called unsecured loans. The amount of loan you can avail under the scheme of unsecured loans is dependent on your total monthly income. You can take a short-term loan or a long term loan based on your needs.


The unsecured online loans are especially useful for people who do not have any kind of assets to place as collateral. They can also be availed by people who have assets but who are not willing to risk the property.

Online Loans – How Useful Are They (Part 5)



As mentioned in the earlier articles in this series, there is a fierce competition among the online moneylenders and you can make good use of this competition to your favor. One of the schemes they offer is the unsecured student loans. These loans are very useful for students who are willing to pursue higher studies. They can avail these loans for their educational needs.
Many moneylenders also give these students a grace period so that you can get a part time job and then start paying the monthly installment. Some even go to the extent of waiting until your study is completed. You can pay after you get a job.

The amount of money that you can get as an educational loan is dependent on a number of factors, such as, the student’s academic record, his parent or guardian’s income, assets that the student holds. If you are doing any kind of part time job, the moneylenders also consider it. If you are willing to get your studies financed, you should check all the terms as well as the repayment methods and rates.

Online Loans – How Useful Are They (Part 6)

Do you have a poor credit? You do not have any property to place as collateral? And you need a car? How will you arrange cash to buy the car? Owing to the tough competition among these moneylenders, they are offering several schemes. One such scheme is poor credit auto loans.
As evident from the name itself, this scheme is meant for people who do not have a good credit ranking. If your credit ranking is bad or if it is the first time, you are availing a loan, chances are that no local banker will approve your loan application, even if you offer to place collateral.

You can make good use of the schemes available with the internet-based moneylenders. The poor credit auto loans are available especially for people who have a poor credit. And you need not place any collateral. You can visit the websites of these moneylenders and ask them quotations. Once the quotations are in your hand, you can select the best loan for your car. If you repay the loan properly without missing any installment, your credit score too improves.

Online Loans – How Useful Are They (Part 7)





One of the latest features that the online moneylenders are offering is the online FREE loan calculator. This gadget allows you to calculate the monthly installment on different loan amounts and on different repayment tenures. Based on this, you can decide how much can you set aside per month for the car, and thereby determine the loan amount.



Speaking of auto loans, these loans can be secured or unsecured. You can also get the loan if you hold a poor credit. Auto loans are available for both new and used cars. Once you buy the car through the moneylender, you can use it as you want. But the ownership of the car is under the moneylender until you repay the entire loan.




Once you repay it, you are the owner. But this does not mean that you have limited rights on the car. You can do anything except resell the car without paying off the car. Most moneylenders do not charge anything on the transfer of the car papers to you.

Online Loans – How Useful Are They (Part 8)

You must have heard of the payday loans. These are the buzz word among people these days. Earlier if you required money, you approached your friend who could or could not have helped you. These days, with the moneylenders operating from the internet itself, you need not ask anyone for the money. You can simply count on the online payday companies.

The payday loan companies boast of less than 1 per cent loan application rejection rates. This means almost every loan application is approved. The eligibility criteria of almost all the moneylenders are the same. You need to be above the legal age for entering into transactions. Other than that, you need to have a regular income. Also, you should have a checking account from where your moneylender will withdraw his money as repayment.

The payday loans are very small tenure loans ranging from 5 days to 4 weeks. There is nominal interest on the loans. It does not matter if your credit score is good or bad. You can always apply for the payday loan. Just remember to keep enough money in the checking account for the day when the moneylender will withdraw his loan with interest.

Insurance scheme for Indian workers in Qatar launched

Dubai-

Over 1,600 Indian workers in Qatar mostly belonging to low-income groups have enrolled for an insurance scheme launched by a voluntary organisation.
The scheme sponsered by Indian Community Benevolent Scheme (ICBF), includes low-income domestic workers, will provide coverage against accident deaths and total or partial disability, Qatar's Gulf Times reported.


According to the report, the scheme has been launched in association with India's National Insurance Company Limited and would provide a minimum one-time financial assistance of Rs 1,25,000 to the dependants of those covered. The insurance also offers worldwide round-the-clock coverage.


Sanjiv Kohli, the minister (political) and head of chancery at Qatar's Indian embassy, said it was a noble gesture on the part of the body to have paid the insurance premium of more than 1,100 workers for two years. Under the insurance, one gets a two-year coverage on a payment of 12 Qatari riyals. The insurance amount for more than 480 workers was paid by either the insured or their companies.


It was announced at the meeting that there is provision for insuring persons for sums upto Rs 1000,000 for two years on payment of a higher bi-annual premium. ICBF president Mohan Thomas told the newspaper that the organisation was exploring ways to find sponsors for giving insurance coverage to more people in the community.


The ICBF is a voluntary organisation for poor Indians established in 1988 by affluent community members under the aegis of the Indian Embassy. It hopes to rope in atleast 5,000 more Indian workers by the end of this year

Allosaurus: World's No. 1 Predatory Dinosaur



During the Late Jurassic, Allosaurus was the world's No. 1 predatory dinosaur. There is little argument to the contrary, given extraordinary evidence such as a discovery made at a Utah quarry. Paleontologists at the site uncovered more than 10,000 dinosaur bones. Most belonged to large, plant-eating sauropods, like Camarasaurus and Apatosaurus, which appear to have been victims of Allosaurus. The ratio of predator to prey bones suggests just a few Allosaurus were responsible for the prehistoric dinosaur carnage.
Skull and Head
It's hard to imagine how any creature could have survived an Allosaurus bite. This theropod's teeth were razor sharp, serrated and curved toward the inside of its mouth on the upper jaw. On the lower jaw, the teeth had a more upright position. This allowed the hunter to hack, axe-like, into flesh with its upper teeth, while its lower teeth could then rip flesh from bone before the dinosaur immediately gulped it down. All of this action took place in a huge head that was surprisingly lightweight, due to its bone consistency and large spaces holding the eyes and nose.


Puzzling Head Crests


A ridge of bone formed a crest in front of each eye and extended toward the nasal tip. This gave the dinosaur a sort of double Mohawk look. Paleontologists aren't certain how the crest functioned. It may have protected the eyes during fights with other animals. It also could have housed special, as-of-yet unidentified, glands for the eyes. Alternatively, it might have been an identifying feature, distinguishing males from females.

Built to Kill


Allosaurus was a lean, mean, killing machine. Muscles in its S-shaped neck allowed the dinosaur to grasp and shake large prey, such as multi-ton sauropods. Sturdy clawed limbs supported its 3.6-ton body, with the thick, strong tail adding extra support. It's likely that lone individuals stalked prey before attacking victims with long, sharp claws. The carnivore might have also hunted in packs, being careful not to run too fast. Tripping would have been a concern, since its very short forelimbs could have thrown the fleet-footed beast head over heels if Allosaurus made a wrong move, which probably didn't happen often.


Dino Fast Facts
Dinosaur Name: Allosaurus

Order, Suborder, Family: Saurischia, Theropoda, Allosauridae

Name Means: "different lizard," since it possessed unusually lightweight spinal bones

Time Period: Late Jurassic, 156-144 million years ago

Location: Western United States, Portugal, Australia, Tanzania

Length: up to 45 feet

Slender-billed Curlews Extinct?

Sometimes the daily habits of a certain bird species may be so obscure that ornithologists are not even sure how many of them exist. That certainly seems to be the case with the Slender-billed Curlew as it seems there is some doubt as to whether or not this bird is still surviving or has become completely extinct.

The last time there was a confirmed sighting of one of these birds, it was in Morocco in 1999. That may not seem so bad, but when you consider that these birds were quite common in the 19th century, you start to understand why only one occasional sighting raises concerns. In fact, between 1980 and 1990 it was estimated that there were only about 100 of these birds left and experts now guess that that number may be less than half – or the birds may have died out completely. However, ornithologists at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds and Birdlife International refuse to give up hope. They are asking bird-watchers to join in a massive operation to try and establish how many of these birds may still exist in the wild. Their hope is that if any of the birds are found still breeding, their natural habitat can be protected and the birds might stand a chance of recovering somewhat.
The speedy disappearance of the bird, however, might not be entirely due to diminishing habitat. It seems that the bird is also a target for predators and hunters, since it is plump and is not easily encouraged to flee from possible danger. Little wonder then with those characteristics – and its possible extinction – that it has been called the ‘European dodo’.
With possibly less than 50 birds remaining in the wild, one may be inclined to think that hopes of reviving wild bird populations, or the species as a whole, are hopeless. But according to Nicola Crockford at the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, this is not necessarily the case. She said: “Although the situation for the slender-billed curlew does look gloomy, that other species have risen from the ‘dead’ recently does fuel our optimism.” Hopefully these efforts will prove successful and, not only will the birds be found to be still existing and breeding in the wild, but they will be successfully protected and slowly start to grow in numbers.