Consumers have a hard time telling a genuine egg from a fake one. This is good news for unscrupulous entrepreneurs, who are even conducting three-day courses in the production of artificial eggs for less than S$150. A reporter with Hong Kong-based Chinese magazine East Week enrolled in one such course.
Series I bonds are sold at face value and mature after 30 years. Redemption rules are the same with Series I bonds as Series EE bonds. Series I bonds earn interest at a rate of 1.94% through Oct. 31, 2014.
Electronic savings bonds have more flexibility than paper bonds in that they can be bought in any increment of $25 up to $5,000. Paper bonds have seven increments of $50, $75, $100, $200, $500, $1,000 and $5,000. I savings bonds accrue value every month and take thirty years to fully mature. Interest compounds every six months. The formula is rather complicated: it is the fixed interest rate plus two times the half year inflation rate plus the fixed rate times the half year inflation rate.