9M 2013 income from S-REITs and more.

Three more months to the end of the year. Lots of things have happened in the first 9 months of the year. I want to zoom in on the investment front and record some of my thoughts.

The strategy to be invested in S-REITs for income is still working. Of course, with the spectre of the Fed cutting back on QE and a possible increase in interest rates in the next 2 or 3 years, Mr. Market has turned cautious on leveraged investments like S-REITs. This is only natural. Unit prices of S-REITs have become more realistic as a result.

When Mr. Market is pessimistic, that is when we are likely to get good deals. As to what is a good deal, I am sure this is rather subjective. Every person would have a different idea of what is an acceptable margin of safety. Every person would have a different perception of a REIT's prospects.

Having built up a relatively large portfolio of S-REITs, I devoted more resources to investing in what I believe are undervalued stocks, something which I continue to do in 2013.

So, essentially, what I have done is to keep what has worked well for me thus far while expanding my investments in certain companies, recognising possibly more difficult times ahead for S-REITs. 

This is an approach that requires more work than simply getting passive income from S-REITs but the time when it was a no-brainer to buy and hold S-REITs probably ended sometime in the second half of 2012.

For 9M 2013, how much did I receive in passive income from S-REITs? 

$92,872.65

Full year 2013 income from S-REITs is most likely going to be lower compared to 2012 because I sold a significant portion of my investment in LMIR earlier this year and also because Saizen REIT distributes income half yearly (i.e. there is no income distribution in December from Saizen REIT).

Also, we might want to bear in mind that, although hedged, the weaker Indonesian Rupiah and Japanese Yen could result in lower income distributions in S$ terms for unit holders of these REITs in the year 2014.

With twice as much industrial space being scheduled for completion in 2014 and 2015 than any single year in the past decade, the possibility of stagnating or even a reduction in income for industrial S-REITs in future cannot be discounted. This is why looking at WALE (Weighted Average Lease Expiry) of industrial S-REITs is more important now.

Although I would have liked nothing better than to sit back and collect passive income regularly from S-REITs, doing very little else, I decided to move out of my comfort zone. For sure, there were bumps along the way but my efforts have generally been rewarding thus far. 

What did I do?

I increased my investments in stocks which are likely to be dependable passive income generators such as SPH and NeraTel. 

I also hold long positions in stocks which I believe would benefit from the Chinese consumption story such as CapitaMalls Asia, PCRT and Wilmar. 

Any dividend from investing in these stocks and any gain from trading would go towards cushioning the possible decline in income from S-REITs in future.

Up to 15 September 2013, the total gain from trading this year amounts to: 

$188,625.13

It was fortuitous the way the China Minzhong saga turned out. It preserved my trading gains and grew it rather significantly at the same time. Apart from my long position in Wilmar, all other investments are in the black. 

So, what is my plan for the future? 

Nothing profound really. 

If prices were to decline much more, I hope I would be brave enough to buy more. If prices were to rise much more, I hope I would remember to sell some.

The grand scheme is to augment and not to replace my passive income portfolio. 

For sure, it doesn't mean that I think S-REITs are going the way of the Dodo. Indeed, they are still good investments for income at the right prices. For me, passive income from S-REITs will still be an important pillar in achieving financial freedom. This is unlikely to change in the foreseeable future.

Remember, this blog is not meant to instruct but if anyone finds it inspiring, I will be happy enough.

Related posts:
1. 2012 full year income from S-REITs.
2. Never lose money in real estate and S-REITs?
3. Do not love unless it is worth the loving.
4. Motivations and methods in investing.
5. Be cautious climbing the S-REIT tree.
6. Be comfortable with being invested.

Sound Global: Fully divested once more.

I entered long positions at 50c and 52c because, respectively, I saw critical support levels holding up and because the reversal signal was confirmed. With the stock spotting weaker numbers, I got back in more with a trading mentality.

The question really was when to sell?

Technically, I was not convinced that the declining 20d MA was a strong resistance because I saw low volumes as price hit it and softened. A much stronger resistance, I thought, was at 57c. If you take a look at the chart, you will probably see why I thought so.

Fundamentally, Sound Global had a bad 4Q 2012. Earnings sank some 46%, quarter on quarter, and some 23%, year on year. All said, the company is still very profitable and it is still growing.

Its biggest problem stems from much higher finance costs and although I feel that the longer term big picture still looks good for the company, this will remain a bug bear for quite a while more.

Why do I remain largely optimistic about the company's prospects?

1. Sound Global has a huge order book of some RMB 3b, the largest in its history.

2. Sound Global has more than half of its BOT projects due for completion by end of 2013.

These will increase earnings, everything else remaining equal. Will earnings improve enough to make Sound Global a compelling investment once more? This is a harder question to answer.

Annualising 1Q FY2013's EPS which is, in RMB terms, 4.77c gives us 19.08c for the full year which is approximately 3.8c in S$ terms.

This means that at 57c a share, we are already looking at a PER of 15x for 2013. This would mean that we have hit fair value for the stock. Why?

The company's competition's PER is about there. The historical mean PER of the company is about there too.

If we choose to err on the side of caution, then, this valuation of Sound Global's stock and the looks of the technicals suggest that selling at 57c is not a bad idea. So, with price a bit higher than 57c this morning, I fully divested my stake in the company which makes this the second time in slightly more than two months.

See Sound Global's 1Q FY2013 results: here.

Related posts:
1. Sound Global: Full divestment.
2. Sound Global: Long position at 50c.

Sound Global: Long position at 50c

Sound Global's share price is currently at an important support level. This approximates 49.5c.

I am once again a shareholder of the company with a long position at 50c. I bought some shares towards the end of the day when I saw how the support seemed to be holding up.

Make no mistake, Sound Global's stock is in a downtrend but share prices go down a river of hope and hardly in a straight line. Although no one can say that the stock has bottomed, it could be that it has found a floor.

I see a higher low in the CMF even as share price dipped lower. We see a positive divergence. The MFI does not spot a higher low but it has just dipped into oversold territory. We could be seeing some buying activity as the stock becomes oversold with volume increasing today.

A short white candle with a lower wick formed today. Although not strictly a hammer, after yesterday's black spinning top, this is a promising sign that the downtrend has weakened and possibly coming to a halt. This short white hammer is a reversal signal which would need confirmation tomorrow.

Fundamentally, I like the company's business. I am concerned about its higher financing cost but in spite of this, it is still a very profitable company with very good prospects. The selling down of its stock might have been overdone by Mr. Market.

In fact, EPS is likely to improve in 2013 because of a very strong order book. With China bent on improving water and sewage infrastructure, I expect Sound Global to be a logical beneficiary. Trading at a PE of less than 10x, Sound Global's stock is inexpensive.

With the stock currently in a downtrend, however, for anyone buying on dips, adopting a trading mentality could be more rewarding.

Related post:
Sound Global: Lost 17.2% in a day.

Sound Global: Lost 17.2% in a day.

Sound Global's chart looks bad and this is probably an understatement.

The black candle formed today is probably the ugliest I have seen in a long time. Gapping down and breaking through all the MAs, it was a headlong plunge.

Could we see share price sinking even lower from here? It looks like it could happen with the MACD diving steeply into negative territory and if it should happen, the next level of support is at 49c.

Fundamentally, I am concerned about the higher finance costs but they are not so destructive as to sink the company. It is still a very profitable company.

My estimate is that EPS could reduce some 20 to 25% this year, everything else remaining equal. If Mr. Market is unhappy with this, he could send share price back to test the low of May 2012 at 45c a share. With the estimated reduced EPS in mind, at 45c, we would be looking at a PER of 9x.

See Sound Global's financial statements: here.

Related post:
Sound Global: Full divestment.

Sound Global: Full divestment.

Although its latest quarterly report does not inspire much confidence, fundamentally, this should be a sound business in the longer run.

China is bent on improving its infrastructure, including the improving of sanitation and increasing the availability of clean water supply. Sound Global is a logical beneficiary.

In the shorter term, however, it would be reasonable to expect margin squeeze and higher finance cost which would be a drag on performance. The rather sudden departure of its CFO is also a possible red flag.

Technically, momentum oscillators continue to trend downwards. The breaking of the rising 50d MA to the downside in yesterday's session was a bearish signal. Today, that signal was confirmed as a doji was formed below the 50d MA.

With momentum weakening and signs of distribution, we could see a lowering share price over time and the longer term 100d and 200d MAs tested for support. These are at 58c and 57c respectively.

There could be a better time to invest in Sound Global again some time in the future.

Related post:
Sound Global: Would I buy now?

Sound Global and China Minzhong: Retracing.

Sound Global is going through a low volume pull back now but with the CMF negative and forming a lower low, I was probably too hasty in adding to my long position today at 66c.

Let us see if 64.5c is tested next. I have an inkling that a very strong support is at 61.5c, the many times tested resistance in the middle of 2012. 

59.5c would be an even stronger support as that is also where we find the 100w MA. In the short term, there could be further weakness but in the longer term, I see strength.

China Minzhong is taking a breather too. Immediate support is at 96.5c. If that should go, the next support is at 87.5c.

Related posts:
1. Sound Global: Another resistance level broken.
2. China Minzhong: Partial divestment at $1.01.

Wilmar, China Minzhong and Sound Global.

Wilmar's share price could not overcome the resistance provided by the descending 200d MA. Look out for a retest of the support which approximates the 100d MA at $3.20. I would buy more if that should be tested.

China Minzhong's share price has established 86.5c as the resistance to watch. There is still a chance of a pull back to support provided by the rising 100d MA. I have sold some at resistance as a hedge and if support should be tested, I would probably buy more. Breaking resistance at 86.5c could see share price heading towards $1.00.

Two dojis in a row suggest indecision on the part of Mr. Market with Sound Global although a higher high on the MACD suggests a strong positive momentum and we could see price pushing higher. Expecting a band of resistance from 68c to 70c while expecting a band of support from 59c to 61.5c.

Related posts:
1. Wilmar: Testing resistance with strong momentum.
2. China Minzhong: What are we to do?
3. Sound Global: Another resistance level broken.

SoundGlobal: Another resistance level broken.

The last time I had a detailed blog post on SoundGlobal was almost a month ago on 7 December. At that time, I said that the declining 100wMA would provide resistance at about 60c.

Daily chart.

Resistance was taken out decisively today as volume expanded. However, a long upper wick was formed on the white candle with price closing the session at 61.5c, a strong resistance which was tested many times in July/August 2012. It could not be taken out then. Could it give in this time?

Ah, it is always hard to say for sure but the momentum oscillators are definitely looking more bullish this time. There was a lower high on the MACD back then which hinted at a weakening positive momentum.

For sure, we can use TA to see where the resistance levels are likely to be if 61.5c should be taken out in future sessions. How? By using Fibo lines and candlesticks.

Fibo lines.

138.2% is at 68c which coincides with the highs of February 2012. 150% is at 70c and this coincides with the highs of July 2011. 161.8% is at 71.5c and this coincides with the support turned resistance of May/June 2011.

It is good to bear in mind that prices don't go up or down in a straight line. They climb a wall of worries and go down a river of hope. So, although sentiments have taken a turn for the better, it would not be wrong to take profit through partial divestments at these resistance levels.

Weekly chart.

The weekly chart shows a clear break out from resistance provided by the declining 100w MA. Of course, the week is not yet over. If the session tomorrow should see share price closing clearly above the 100w MA, then, in the new week, there is a chance of price rising to test resistance at 68c, 70c and even 71.5c.

Related post:
SoundGlobal: Breaking out of resistance.

-------------------
I like to share good deals when I find them and did just that in my blog post on Wilmar last night. I said there were two copies of "Technical Analysis for Dummies" for sale at US$9.48 each and that they were really great bargains. A reader sent me an email to say that they are no longer available. I was surprised and checked just now. Indeed, they were both sold to readers of ASSI. Hey, you guys are fast!

I don't know when they might have more copies at US$9.48 each since BetterWorldBooks sell pre-owned books and they don't have regular shipments from the printers.

Well, when I checked just now, there are 5 copies of this book left which are in much better condition than the two which were sold at US$9.48 each.

These 5 copies are priced at US$17.36 each. With free shipping, they are still fairly good bargains. Of course, you would also be helping the environment and funding literacy for the poor by buying from BetterWorldBooks. :-)

A simple guide to the fundamentals of technical analysis. 


See:
Technical Analysis for Dummies

A Christmas collection of charts.

Hello Kitty Christmas Tree!
Minneapolis - St. Paul International Airport

It is now the evening of Christmas and I have spent Christmas Eve and the whole of Christmas Day at home. I slept a lot and drank a lot of herbal tea. I ate mostly porridge. You guessed it. I am ill.

Here are some charts and my gut feel. Not much rigour but in the spirit of Christmas, I hope readers would be a bit more forgiving.

Target: 28c.

Target: 42c.

Target: $1.10

Target: $3.90

Target: 62.5c

Target: 83c

Take note that these are weekly charts and I am not expecting to make any fast money.

Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!

SoundGlobal: Breaking out of resistance.

I last added to my long position at 49.5c on 5 November 2012. For the reasons why I added to my long position then, please see my last blog post on the company.

Today, Sound Global's share price broke resistance and formed a long white candle on relatively high volume. A long upper wick was formed towards the end of the session. This tempers the bullish picture somewhat.

On the daily chart, the positive divergence which was spotted earlier is playing out. So, we had an early indication of a possible uplift in share price. Therefore, it should not surprise us that resistance was finally taken out although it was anyone's guess when it was to happen.

On the weekly chart, the MACD, a pure price momentum oscillator, looks to be on the verge of a bullish crossover with the signal line in negative territory. A rebound in price could meet with resistance presented by the flat 50w MA at 56c and the declining 100w MA which is currently at 60c.

Now, whether the counter's share price is able to finally form a higher high is anyone's guess although the higher lows formed in the MACDs of both the daily and weekly charts are very encouraging.

Fundamentally, SoundGlobal's valuation is undemanding. Technically, it does seem as if its share price has bottomed although we cannot say that for sure until a higher high in price is seen.

Related post:
SoundGlobal: Smart money is buying.

Sound Global: Smart money is buying.

On 17 Oct, I mentioned a downside target of 48c for Sound Global's share price. This might or might not materialise. Personally, I am not averse to buying a few bids higher if the technicals tell me that it could be a good idea.

As Sound Global's share price declined, volume has also declined. This picture of a low volume pull back suggests that the selling is weak. Indeed, looking at the MACD, we see a higher low possibly forming. Looking at Chaikin Money Flow, we see how money flow has turned positive even as its share price weakened lately.

Immediate resistance is at 51c while immediate support is at 49.5c.

This is another stock I am accumulating on weakness.

Water treatment investments are set to double in the 12th Five Year Plan Period (2011-2015) to CNY430b in an effort to improve China’s wastewater treatment rate to 85% by 2015, from 77% currently. Commercialisation and privatisation of the Chinese water treatment market is also a long-term trend. With over 20 years of experience, Sound Global has become one of the leading one-stop integrated wastewater treatment solution providers in China, with a respectable market share.

 

In our view, Sound Global’s revenue will be supported by: 1) continuous order wins thanks to a long-term relationship with the government, and 2) more BOT projects entering their collection period. A hike in water tariffs in China will also have positive effect on revenue.

 

Although we are positive on Sound Global’s revenue outlook, its high net margin of the past few years would be very hard to maintain, in our view. Recent high-cost borrowing will weigh on the company’s net margin for the next few years, assuming it does not redeem the senior notes before maturity.

 

Sound Global is trading at a large discount to its peers (6.7x FY12PE based on consensus vs average of 12.8x for HK-listed peers and Hyflux’s 16.7x). We currently do not have a rating and target price on Sound Global. However, we think the deep discount may not be justified given Sound Global’s comparable net margin and higher-than-peers ROE. Sound Global is worth considering if investors are looking for cheaper alternatives.
 

(Maybank Kim Eng, 8 Oct 12)

Related post:
Sound Global: Accumulate on weakness.

Sound Global: Accumulate on weakness.

Despite rather positive reports, the share price of Sound Global has been in retreat. Mr Market agrees with my earlier musings in July and August on whether it was a good time to sell, it seems.

Mr. Wen Yibo has been accumulating shares of Sound Global in the last one month and currently holds 56.2% of the shares. He probably knows something that we don't but even if we do not know what he knows, what information is publicly available shows that the fundamentals of Sound Global are sound and that the business is growing.

Technically, Sound Global's share price is experiencing weakness since forming a double top two months ago. The top was at 62c and the neckline at 55c. This suggests a downside target of 48c.

If we draw a trendline connecting the highs since early August, we see a resistance line that approximates the position of the declining 20d MA. Failing to stay above the immediate support at 51c and failing to break out of the down trend could indeed see share price moving to 48c.

What then? I would buy more.

Related post:
Sound Global: Retest of resistance likely.

Sound Global: Retest of resistance likely

On 7 July, I said that the technicals suggested it could be time to sell Sound Global's shares and that if price were to move higher, it would be a slow grind upwards. This picture has, essentially, stayed intact till now as its share price has been stuck at resistance, not being able to move convincingly above 61.5c, a many times tested resistance in the last few months.

Mr. Market is feeling slightly bullish of late and, so, could his attention move to Sound Global?

The company's fundamentals are strong and with sentiments improving, there is a chance that its share price could move higher. A retest of resistance at 61.5c looks likely. However, whether resistance could be taken out would depend on volume which has been rather low.

After 61.5c, the next major resistance is at 68c.

Related post:
Sound Global: Would I buy now?

Sound Global said it has agreed to undertake the second phase to expand the existing capacity as well as to increase the existing discharge standard of the wastewater treatment plant BOT project in Jingbian County, Shaanxi Province, China.

Sound Global wins Shaanxi wastewater treatment plant BOT project for $16m
Friday, 03 August 2012

© 2012 - The Edge Singapore

Sound Global: Would I buy now?

Fundamentally, a top down approach suggests that the industry Sound Global is in will continue to do well as governments invest in solutions to water related problems. My past research and experience with the company when it was known as E-pure also gave me the confidence required to invest in the company again although my initial re-entry price of 59c was less than ideal.

In the subsequent market sell down, I bought more shares at 46.5c on 31 May 2012 which means that my long position is now in the black. I am looking to possibly locking in some gain as the charts seem to suggest that this could be a good idea.

In the last session, a black candle was formed on the back of higher volume, suggesting that the bulls had a hard time pushing the share price higher. Do I see signs of distribution? Well, the OBV is still rising which does not suggest that smart money is leaving as price moves higher. Accumulation is still going on.

However, the lower high on the MFI which measures demand suggests to me that buying momentum is slowing down. Then, looking at the MACD histogram (MACD-H) which is a measurement of the distance between the MACD and the signal line, we see lower highs too. The MACD-H usually precedes the MACD itself. So, a change in trend could be on the horizon.

Could Sound Global's share price move higher from here? It could but the technicals suggest that it could be a slow grind upwards if it should happen. Would I buy more then? Probably not as I feel that, technically, selling could be a more palatable proposition.

SoundGlobal: Rising 14.1% in a day!

I am having some difficulties uploading charts this evening. Don't know why. So, you would have to search out the chart for SoundGlobal if you want to look at it.

SoundGlobal's share price went up 7c (14.1%) today to close at 56.5c. The long white candle started the day at 50c which is where we find the 20dMA. It dipped below this MA and touched a low of 48.5c before rocketing to a high of 56.5c where it closed, breaching resistance provided by the 50d and 200d MAs in a single session.

Momentum oscillators like the MACD and MFI are rising strongly. OBV has formed a higher low which suggests that there is accumulation ongoing. The bulls seem to have returned to the stock.

I bought more shares of SoundGlobal on 22 May at 46.5c as price opened at 46c which was higher than the closing price of 45c in the preceding session which formed a long legged doji after touching a low of 44.5c.

A long legged doji is usually a sign that things could be reversing but the signal needs confirmation the following day. In this case, the signal was confirmed and, hence, my purchase. The purchase helped to average down my initial long position which was entered at 59c a share.

I would like to see volume expanding in the next session if price were to push any higher in order to have a more convincing case to be bullish. In the meantime, it is quite clear that the downtrend that started on 15 February 2012 when the share price hit a high of 68c has been broken. Things are looking up for SoundGlobal's share price, it would seem.

Should have sold in May and gone away?

In The Straits Times and The Business Times today, there are at least three articles which mentioned "sell in May and go away" and whether it holds any water. Has anyone sold a large part or all of their investments in the last few trading sessions?

Well, today, global stock markets retreated as the Greeks and the French elected new leaders into government. They are sick of austerity measures and they spoke with their votes! European debt story is still very much the key sentiment driver for global stock markets, it would seem.

Asian markets and the euro slumped on Monday after voters in France and Greece voted out their ruling parties in a backlash against austerity measures aimed at battling the eurozone crisis. Read article here: CNA.

I am not an economist. I am not a political scientist. Some issues are definitely beyond me. So, what do I do?

Someone just told me that timing is everything and that now seems like the right time. Right time? For what? I replied that things are increasingly more volatile and I find it harder to time anything.

I am chanting the same mantra to myself and that is to stay invested for income while keeping a war chest ready. This is the only strategy I know which would work either way.

I know that the majority of my portfolio which is in S-REITs is actually doing better now than a few months ago. My more recent investments are not doing as well, notably China Minzhong, SoundGlobal and Wilmar. These investments were made as the counters' share prices retreated from recent highs. Do I press the panic button? I like their businesses and I believe they would probably be around for a long time to come. I like the investment themes of agriculture and water. So, I am staying vested. I would probably add to my long positions too if TA shows me clearer signals to do so.

Don't panic. Stay clear headed. Revisit reasons for being invested in the first place. Are the reasons still valid? Are the investments still fundamentally good? If you want to buy more, what does TA tell you? Think with our heads and not our hearts. Good luck.

Related posts:
1. Sleep well at night with a plan.
2. Why do I not panic?

STI declines 2.2% to 2,924.95 at closing
Monday, 07 May 2012

© 2012 - The Edge Singapore

SoundGlobal: Golden cross.

Are we about to see the formation of a true golden cross which is the bullish crossing of the 200dMA by the 100dMA?

"A real, true golden cross — a very Japanese signal — occurs when a rising 100-day moving average crosses above a flat or rising 200-day moving average. It signals positive price action." Goola Warden, The EDGE.

The 200d MA in this case is still declining. So, the case for a true golden cross is weakened. Nonetheless, there seems to be longer term support with volume dwindling as price consolidation continues.

Although there seems to be longer term support, the 20dMA is declining and what looks like a declining triangle has formed.

Immediate support is at 58c which is where the golden cross is found. If that support should break, we could see the counter's share price declining to 52c which is where the 161.8% Fibo line approximates.

I was once upon a time a shareholder of SoundGlobal when it was still known as E-pure. Today, I am once again a shareholder as I initiated a long position at 59c.

SoundGlobal profit increased 43.1% (29 Feb 2011): Announcement here.

Hyflux and Sound Global.

Regular readers know that I invested heavily in Hyflux Water Trust during the last crisis. I was drawn towards its very high distribution yield of some 17% and zero gearing at one stage as well as its very stable businesses. The Trust helped to grow my wealth significantly.

I continue to like the water business and believe that the world will continue to need solutions to water problems. In an earlier blog post, I said I would like to become an investor in Sound Global (the former E-pure) once again. Of course, I would also be interested in Hyflux. It is just a matter of finding an entry price I would be comfortable with.

If we look at Hyflux's chart, the downtrend is definitely intact. What interests me is the higher low on the MACD as its price formed a lower low. Yes, we have a positive divergence which is a reversal signal. What got me even more interested is that the white hammer formed yesterday was confirmed today as price opened and closed higher on the back of much greater volume.

I certainly do not know if Hyflux's share price has bottomed. It might be bottoming but we cannot call a bottom until it has formed. However, I might initiate a long position as a hedge and will not add to this initial position unless a clearer picture is seen.

Sound Global, on the other hand, is exhibiting more strength although it has come up against a significant resistance, it would seem.

As its downtrend is arguably intact, I am wary about initiating a long position when price looks like it could be testing the immediate resistance. So, for Sound Global, I will wait a bit more.

SoundGlobal: Sound the alarm?

On 27 Jan, I blogged about SoundGlobal and how I was, once upon a time, an investor in the company, when it was known as E-pure. I concluded that blog post by saying "I like to use Fibo lines in such an instance to see how low price could go in case support breaks. Support is, of course, at 70c. Looking at the chart, the three golden ratios are at 62c, 59.5c and 57c. Buy some at those levels? I might if the other signs are encouraging."

The counter closed at 61c today as price hugged the lower Bollinger. ADX has been rising sharply as the negative DI continues higher. More weakness is probable.

However, in case of a rebound, expect gap resistance at 67.5c and support turned resistance at 71c.

Fundamentally, the company's full year results announced today might have disappointed although a 1c dividend was declared.

Year on year, profit increased a mere 2.3% although revenue increased 36.5% and gross profit increased 42.8%. Expenses and income tax shot through the roof.

EPS: RMB 8.4c (Errata: RMB 22.4c)
NAV/share: RMB 149.5c

See announcement here.

So, will I buy at 61c? I think it is still pretty pricey with a PE of about 36x (Errata: 14.5x). I might still be suffering from the memory effect and 61c is just not an attractive price for me to go long on this counter again.

Errata: Made a mistake as I took in only Q4's EPS. At 14.5x, it doesn't look so pricey anymore.

Related post:
SoundGlobal: The former E-pure.

SoundGlobal: The former E-pure.

I was vested in E-pure when it was 20c a share thereabouts. This was back in early 2009. 

I was convinced that China's drive to keep its economy humming in the wake of the Lehman Brothers crisis would benefit the water infrastructure businesses. 





I was also heavily vested in Hyflux Water Trust at that time from 30c for the same reason.  

Read related blog post here.

E-pure was a Chinese company and was likely to be favored over Hyflux in China while Hyflux Water Trust was a business trust with zero gearing treating water for Chinese industrial estates and had a yield of about 17% at a unit price of 30c. 





I divested E-pure completely by the time it neared 60c a share and watched dumbfounded as the share price went on to form new highs, almost doubling from my sell price of close to 60c. 

Hyflux Water Trust was, of course, privatised a few months ago. 

Read related blog post here.





I have been wondering if I should re-invest in E-pure which has been renamed SoundGlobal for some time now. 

It remained on my watchlist but I simply refused to buy any of its shares at prices higher than 60c. 

That's just the memory effect working and, in this case, it seems to have paid off. Related post here.





I just told myself that if the price did not come down to more reasonable levels, there are always other investments out there.

Since hitting a high of $1.04 on 7 April 2010, this counter has not formed a higher high. It is currently hugging the lower Bollinger band as it fast approaches the lows of early September 2010 at 70c a share. 

The obvious difference is that the low of early September 2010 was part of a bottoming process and the MACD was getting ready for a bullish crossover with the signal line. 





The MACD is now declining rapidly in negative territory as its distance with the signal line widens. This is very bearish.

Having said this, both the MFI and RSI are in oversold territories and 70c, being a low that was the price of a successful bottoming process could provide some support. 

Whether it would hold up is another question. I would not speculate on the strength of the support here.





When to accumulate? 

We want to look out for possible positive divergence between price and the momentum oscillators or volume. 

We want to look out for the downtrend halting and clearer signs that price is breaking out of downtrend. 

I like to use Fibo lines in such an instance to see how low price could go in case support breaks. Support is, of course, at 70c. 





Looking at the chart, the three golden ratios are at 62c, 59.5c and 57c. Buy some at those levels? 

I might if the other signs are encouraging.