CDP
| Security | # shares | Price S$ | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| DBS | 440 | 58.50 | 3.37 |
| UOB | 400 | 36.15 | 1.89 |
| OCBC Bank | 700 | 21.90 | 2.01 |
| SGX | 3,200 | 21.70 | 9.10 |
| ST Engineering | 6,900 | 10.72 | 9.69 |
| Powermatic Data | 13,800 | 3.41 | 6.16 |
| Sheng Siong | 19,100 | 3.03 | 7.58 |
| TheHourGlass | 19,600 | 2.35 | 6.03 |
| VICOM Ltd | 21,500 | 1.80 | 5.07 |
| Micro-Mechanics | 18,400 | 3.34 | 8.05 |
| UMS | 31,200 | 2.18 | 8.91 |
| Credit Bureau Asia | 34,200 | 1.24 | 5.56 |
| Riverstone | 40,500 | 0.745 | 3.95 |
| Info-Tech | 41,400 | 0.975 | 5.29 |
| China Sunsine | 41,800 | 0.69 | 3.78 |
| HRnetGroup | 21,900 | 0.745 | 2.14 |
| Nanofilm | 36,100 | 1.46 | 6.90 |
| Kimly | 27,000 | 0.395 | 1.40 |
| HC Surgical | 35,500 | 0.38 | 1.77 |
| Audience Analytics | 38,900 | 0.265 | 1.35 |
YTD Dividends Received = S$2,113
YTD SBL Fees Received = S$407
Trades
None
SRS
| Security | # shares | Price S$ | % |
|---|---|---|---|
| TheHourGlass | 5,000 | 2.35 | 6.91 |
| Micro-Mechanics | 5,400 | 3.34 | 10.60 |
| NetLink NBN Trust | 108,000 | 1.01 | 64.12 |
| HRnetGroup | 7,500 | 0.745 | 3.28 |
| Nanofilm | 12,500 | 1.46 | 10.73 |
| HC Surgical | 19,500 | 0.38 | 4.36 |
Trades
None
Singapore Savings Bonds
| Security | Amount | Coupon Now |
|---|---|---|
| GX22120S | S$14,000 | 3.58% |
| GX23010Z | S$15,000 | 3.25% |
| GX23110V | S$20,000 | 3.21% |
| GX23120Z | S$20,000 | 3.30% |
| GX24060A | S$20,000 | 3.26% |
| GX24070S | S$20,000 | 3.26% |
| GX24080W | S$20,000 | 3.19% |
YTD Coupons Received = S$866
Speculative Play
| Security | # shares | Price US$ |
|---|---|---|
| KORE US REIT | 70,000 | 0.20 |
YTD Dividends Received = S$223
Trades
None
Commentary:
April passed us by in the blink of an eye.
The equity markets have been resilent to the volatility in the Middle East, no less thanks to the strong set of earnings reported by AI-related companies. The S&P 500 Index closed up 10.4 percent MoM in April. The tech-heavy NASDAQ 100 Index gained a whopping 15.6 percent MoM. On our shore, the Straits Times Index closed slightly up 0.6 percent MoM, while the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index returned a positive 6.2 percent over the same period.
Crude oil - the engine behind the world's economy - saw its price went on a roller coaster based on news coming out of the White House. The two main parties Iran and the United States have been throwing verbal threats at each other. Both are wrestling for control over the Straits of Hormuz. Contrast this situation to four years ago when the focus was in Europe instead. Hardly anyone talks about the Russia-Ukraine war nowadays, even though it is still ongoing. This is understandbly so, since the Middle East crude oil supply disruption has much greater impact on everyone's lives.
Some stocks in my portfolio hit their 52-week high in April, and my CDP portfolio value has risen considerably. But it does not matter. Unlike a professional fund manager whose livelihood is dependent on the AUM (asset [value] under management), a high portfolio value has no significance for me. Instead, I pay more attention to the constituent company performance. If there is no permanent damage to the business fundamentals, and the company continues to pay out a reasonable dividend from the earned profit, I am happy to hold the stock forever. On the flip side, when stock prices are flying high, I feel the blues because there is less possibility to acquire the shares at a fair price. I can only wait for retracement.
Speaking of money, my wife has convinced me to open a new POSB SAYE (Save As You Earn) Account, and put some of my savings to work, earning a higher 3.55 percent interest rate over the next two years. While the total vested amount is not a large sum, it is still better than letting the money sit idle in my current account. The yield on 6-month and 12-month SGST has been hovering around a paltry 1.4 to 1.44 percent. With inflation above 1.7 percent, one is worse off rolling over short-term SGST. Even the 10-year SGST is earning only 2.1 percent yield at the moment. Stocks and property remain the best hedge against value loss over the long run, but each asset class comes with its own risks. Non-income producing assets such as precious metals and cryptocurrencies may seem alluring to some people, but they are dependent on the 'greater fool' theory, i.e. someone willing to buy it at a higher price from you down the road. This is a non-guarantee, and it requires guts & wisdom to sit through the huge price swings while earning zero return at the same time. I admit that I am neither brave nor smart, hence I prefer to stay away from metals and cryptos.
In the office, I am starting to get more involved in client projects. There are days when I dread waking up and going to the office. I have to explain to clients the postmortem analysis on unpleasant incidents. This is particularly sensitive and excruciating after they have suffered a financial loss due to the outage. Such are the times when I will find renewed determination to achieve financial independence sooner and quit my job. On other days, I feel like I can conquer the world. There is the deep sense of satisfaction when I manage to solve a complex technical problem for the client. Tackling these issues has become a source of joy for me, akin to tackling sudoku puzzles. (LOL) While the stress of the job is high, my employer - a global tech company - ensures that adequate compensation and benefits go along with it. I have no complaint.
At home, I am having conversation with my younger boy about the potential schools to apply for DSA-Sec (Direct School Admission-Secondary) when the window opens on 6 May. Several secondary schools are hosting their Open House over the next few weeks. This is an opportunity to visit the campus, interact with the teachers & students, and gather intel about the school. My son and I plan to visit National Junior College, Catholic High School as well as Hwa Chong Institution, where his older brother is currently studying. I foresee a hectic schedule every weekend, shuffling between school visits, tuition lessons and household chores.
Signing off for now. Take care, my friends!
The equity markets have been resilent to the volatility in the Middle East, no less thanks to the strong set of earnings reported by AI-related companies. The S&P 500 Index closed up 10.4 percent MoM in April. The tech-heavy NASDAQ 100 Index gained a whopping 15.6 percent MoM. On our shore, the Straits Times Index closed slightly up 0.6 percent MoM, while the iEdge Singapore Next 50 Index returned a positive 6.2 percent over the same period.
Crude oil - the engine behind the world's economy - saw its price went on a roller coaster based on news coming out of the White House. The two main parties Iran and the United States have been throwing verbal threats at each other. Both are wrestling for control over the Straits of Hormuz. Contrast this situation to four years ago when the focus was in Europe instead. Hardly anyone talks about the Russia-Ukraine war nowadays, even though it is still ongoing. This is understandbly so, since the Middle East crude oil supply disruption has much greater impact on everyone's lives.
Some stocks in my portfolio hit their 52-week high in April, and my CDP portfolio value has risen considerably. But it does not matter. Unlike a professional fund manager whose livelihood is dependent on the AUM (asset [value] under management), a high portfolio value has no significance for me. Instead, I pay more attention to the constituent company performance. If there is no permanent damage to the business fundamentals, and the company continues to pay out a reasonable dividend from the earned profit, I am happy to hold the stock forever. On the flip side, when stock prices are flying high, I feel the blues because there is less possibility to acquire the shares at a fair price. I can only wait for retracement.
Speaking of money, my wife has convinced me to open a new POSB SAYE (Save As You Earn) Account, and put some of my savings to work, earning a higher 3.55 percent interest rate over the next two years. While the total vested amount is not a large sum, it is still better than letting the money sit idle in my current account. The yield on 6-month and 12-month SGST has been hovering around a paltry 1.4 to 1.44 percent. With inflation above 1.7 percent, one is worse off rolling over short-term SGST. Even the 10-year SGST is earning only 2.1 percent yield at the moment. Stocks and property remain the best hedge against value loss over the long run, but each asset class comes with its own risks. Non-income producing assets such as precious metals and cryptocurrencies may seem alluring to some people, but they are dependent on the 'greater fool' theory, i.e. someone willing to buy it at a higher price from you down the road. This is a non-guarantee, and it requires guts & wisdom to sit through the huge price swings while earning zero return at the same time. I admit that I am neither brave nor smart, hence I prefer to stay away from metals and cryptos.
In the office, I am starting to get more involved in client projects. There are days when I dread waking up and going to the office. I have to explain to clients the postmortem analysis on unpleasant incidents. This is particularly sensitive and excruciating after they have suffered a financial loss due to the outage. Such are the times when I will find renewed determination to achieve financial independence sooner and quit my job. On other days, I feel like I can conquer the world. There is the deep sense of satisfaction when I manage to solve a complex technical problem for the client. Tackling these issues has become a source of joy for me, akin to tackling sudoku puzzles. (LOL) While the stress of the job is high, my employer - a global tech company - ensures that adequate compensation and benefits go along with it. I have no complaint.
At home, I am having conversation with my younger boy about the potential schools to apply for DSA-Sec (Direct School Admission-Secondary) when the window opens on 6 May. Several secondary schools are hosting their Open House over the next few weeks. This is an opportunity to visit the campus, interact with the teachers & students, and gather intel about the school. My son and I plan to visit National Junior College, Catholic High School as well as Hwa Chong Institution, where his older brother is currently studying. I foresee a hectic schedule every weekend, shuffling between school visits, tuition lessons and household chores.
Signing off for now. Take care, my friends!
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