Monday 29 July 2013

SPH Special Dividend

After successful listing of SPH Reit, good news for SPH shareholders is the proposed SGD0.18 special dividend will be paid out on 16th August.

The payout is attractive as it amounts to 75% of SPH’s FY12 payout and will potentially boost SPH’s FY13 dividend yield to beyond 9%.

Cheers to all SPH shareholders.

Wednesday 24 July 2013

SPH Reit - Successful IPO bid

After missing out on the Mapletree family and Cache IPOs, finally I got lucky this time and received 1 lot allocation of SPH Reit.

Actually  I have just applied for 1 lot at the ATM as I did not want to waste time transferring money over to my POSB a/c as I expected SPH Reit to be many times over-subscribed.

SPH Reit was offered at 90 cents apiece at the top end of its price range and indeed it turned out that the stock was 37 times subscribed.

I have 1 lot now and I intend to hold it long term and accumulate more in the future.

The shares jumped 9.4% to 98.5 cents at the close of trading today.



SPH REIT debuts at 9% above IPO price
Wednesday, 24 July 2013

Friday 19 July 2013

Alternative Investment - Detroit Exit Strategy

Just read from Channel NewsAsia that Detroit on Thursday has became the largest city in US history to file for bankruptcy protection after decades of decline and mismanagement rendered the home of the USA's auto industry insolvent.

I think this is not a piece of good news for investors on Alternative Investment - Detroit Exit Strategy.

For details, refer to article on Channel NewsAsia:

Link to Detroit is bankrupted


Another report from CBC News, with some photos of the houses in Detroit, looking so desolated and dismal.

Link to Detroit is bankrupted

Saturday 13 July 2013

Alternative Investment - MAS Investor Alert List

Last month I have a post discussing the alternative investments that I came across in the market place.  I have done further research and found that some of the companies selling these investments are on Monetary Authority Singapore (MAS) Investor Alert List.

The following companies are on that MAS Investor Alert List:

1. Solomon Alliance Management Pte Ltd
  - Hong Kong Land Asset Acquisition
  - German Government Listed Building Projects.

2. WealSol Pte Ltd
 - Brazil Opportunity investment

3.  Infinity Treasures Pte Ltd
 - Detroit Exit Strategy
 - Canada Crude oil

The MAS Investor Alert List

From time to time, MAS receives information on unregulated persons who have been mistaken as being licensed or authorised by MAS.  Consumers should exercise care when dealing with these persons or with other persons acting on their behalf.  Overseas consumers who receive solicitations by persons who claim to have an operation in Singapore should also exercise care and check if they are in fact dealing with persons who are regulated by MAS.

The MAS Investor Alert List is a list of unregulated persons who, based on information received by MAS, may have been wrongly perceived as being licensed or authorised by MAS.  The list is not exhaustive and will be updated regularly.
 


Link to MAS Investor Alert List

Companies that are in the above list meant that they are not regulated by MAS and the products that they carry are non-regulated products.

Again, the jury is still out on whether these are ponzi schemes, and no risk no gain, but Caveat Emptor !

Related Post:
Alternative Investments ???

Thursday 11 July 2013

Did I save $100K by the age of 30?

Last Sunday the Straits Times had an article showing that it is possible to save $100k with roughly 6 years of work.

So, did I save $100K by age of 30?

No, I did not as I have not met most of the assumptions in my earlier post:

1. Starting pay $2,550

No.  My starting pay was below $2K.

2. 1.5 months bonus every year

No.  I had only 1 month bonus for the first six years of my employment.

3. 4% pay increment every year

Yes.  My increment was more than 4%.

4. Saving rate 50% of pay

No.  I did not save 50% of my pay.

5. 60% of saving on investments with 4% returns 

No.  I did not have investment strategy when I was young.

Furthermore, I did not make other sacrifices:

1. Work near your home, minimize transportation cost

No.  I did not work near my home, so considerably more transportation costs incurred.

2. Absolutely "No-no" owning a car

Yes. I did not have a car.

3. Pack your own lunch to office, minimize eating out

No.  Not only eating out, I went to restaurants quite often.

4. Do not indulge in expensive hobbies

No.  I had expensive hobbies.  Brought some expensive stamps in my younger days.  Played bowling, brought personal bowling balls and shoes.

5. No branded or luxurious possessions

No.  I upgraded my watch from Casio to Tag Heuer to Omega.  Although I can afford a Rolex now, I did not buy one.  I guess my dream of chasing luxurious items is over.

6. Investment error

I had started out with Clob shares.  Though not fatal, the experience has stopped me from actively investing in the stock market for some years.

Related Post:
$100k by age of 30

Tuesday 9 July 2013

SPH REIT to raise up to $504mil in IPO

Finally, SPH Reit is coming soon.  Although the market sentiment has changed quite a lot since when SPH first announced that they are listing a REIT.

Still, Paragon and Clementi Mall are prime shopping malls and I would love to add SPH Reit to my portfolio.

Also, special dividends from SPH is coming after successful listing of SPH Reit.



Sunday 7 July 2013

$100K by the age of 30?

Today the Straits Times has an article showing that it is possible to save $100k with roughly 6 years of work.

The article showed that it is possible with a starting salary of $3,050, 15 months salary a year (3 months bonus), pay rise 4.5% a year and saving rate of 50% your annual pay.

For curiosity's sake, I ran a calculation with the following assumptions:
1. Starting pay $2,550,
2. 1.5 months bonus every year,
3. 4% pay increment every year,
4. Saving rate 50% of pay,
5. 40% of saving at bank generating 1% interest,
6. 60% of saving on investments with 4% returns (e.g. dividends from stocks).

AgeMonthly PayTakeHome PayAnnual PaySave 50%40% at bank60% investTotal Savings
252550204027540137705563859214156
26265221222864214321114041787229277
27275822062978714894175352788145416
28286822953097915489239683866162630
29298323873221816109307165026080976
303102248233507167533779262724100516


Therefore, we can just about making $100K even with my above assumptions.

However, great sacrifices must be made:
1. Work near your home, so as to minimize transportation cost.
2. Absolutely "No-no" owning a car.
3. Pack your own lunch to office, minimize eating out.
4. Do not indulge in expensive hobbies.
5. No branded or luxurious possessions.
6. No housing, wedding, honeymoon, children, medical, etc, commitments.

Besides these massive sacrifices, also:
1. No market crash during these six years, 
2. No fatal investment mistake.

So, do we want delayed gratification or eating our marshmallow immediately?

Thursday 4 July 2013

July's Fixed Deposit Rates Update - 1.18% p.a.at Bank of China

Bank of China will increase the Fixed Deposit promotion rates from 5th July.  The 12-month FD rates of 1.18% p.a. is highest in Singapore now.  The minimum deposit amount for BOC FD is S$50,000.

This promotion is valid for customers with fresh funds only, meaning it is not applicable for money transferred from existing BOC accounts.

There are few branches of BOC in Singapore:
1. Battery Road (BOC Building),
2. Chinatown branch (Furama Hotel),
3. Katong branch (188-192 East Coast Road),
4. Middle Road (BOC Plaza),
5. Maxwell Road (Maxwell House).

According to BOC's website, this promotion is for a limited period only.

Promotion Details:

 SGD Time Deposits Promotional Interest Rates % p.a.
3-Month6-Month9-Month12-Month
S$50,000 and above0.55%0.85%0.95%1.18%


Please let me know if there is better offer in the market.

Tuesday 2 July 2013

My Stock Portfolio @ end June 2013

No. Stock Name Lots Portfolio% Avg Cost$ Breakeven$ Market$
1
Starhub
5
20.73
3.22
2.92
4.18
2
SPH
4
16.55
3.98
3.68
4.17
3
SGX
2
13.95
2.68
0.97
7.03
4
CapitaLand
2
6.11
3.91
3.69
3.08
5
CapitaMall Trust
3
5.94
1.71
1.24
1.995
6
CDL HTrust
3
5.06
1.66
1.22
1.70
7
Starhill Global
6
5.03
0.71
0.58
0.845
8
Suntec Reit
3
4.69
1.52
1.21
1.575
9
SingTel
1.2
4.45
3.21
3.05
3.77
10
AIMS AMPI Reit
2
3.25
1.635
1.66
1.64
11
Hyflux
2.5
3.10
1.70
1.58
1.25
12
HPH Trust
3
2.71
0.90
0.88
0.735
13
FE Orchard
1
2.06
1.18
0.88
2.06
14
CapitaMalls Asia
1
1.81
2.12
2.06
1.825
15
CitySpring
3
1.40
0.65
0.49
0.47
16
Sing Post
1
1.29
0.875
0.73
1.30
17
FE HTrust
1
0.96
0.93
0.93
0.965
18
SP Ausnet
0.7
0.91
0
0
1.395
Movement in my portfolio in June:-
Sold:- Nil
Bought:- AIMSAMPI Reit.

Dividends collected in June: $115.68
2013 avg dividends/month: $344.59