LMIR: Weakness is an opportunity.

LMIR closed 1c lower at 49.5c today, supported by the 50dMA.  Forming a wickless black candle on increased volume, more downside looks probable.  However, with the 20d and 50d MAs merging and rising in tandem, we should see support at 49c.  The trendline support nears 49c next week and 49c also happens to be a 38.2% Fibo support.

There is obvious distribution taking place today and this can be easily seen in the OBV but the longer term picture of accumulation is intact.  MFI continues to form lower highs and higher lows and the index does not indicate any trend per se.  The MACD turned down towards the signal line and we will have to wait and see if a bearish crossover takes place or if there will be a reversal.

I bought more units at 50c and 49.5c today.  I will now wait to see if the 49c support holds up next week.  If the 49c support breaks, we might see LMIR moving lower to test the recent low of 47c or even move to test the rising 200dMA as support.  The 200dMA is currently at 46c.

I mentioned that I have been waiting for months to buy more at 46c and I am probably not the only one.  If LMIR does test the 200dMA at 46c, I'm going to buy many more units to lock in a yield of almost 11%.  This weakness presents an opportunity to accumulate.

Related post:
LMIR: More units at 10% yield.

Golden Agriculture: Approaching supports.

The price of crude palm oil declined RM57 or 2.2% today to close at RM2,538.00.  Since testing the three months high of RM2,710, CPO's price has been in retreat.  There is a danger that we might see the formation of a double top.  This is quite clear in CPO's three month chart.  The neckline? RM2,400.00.  This situation bears watching.

On 12 March, in a post titled, "Golden Agriculture: Waiting for support", I said that "The ascending 20d and 50d MAs have merged and should provide initial support at 55c. I have also drawn a line connecting the previous two lows which would give an indication of where the trendline support is in the next session, 54c. If this uptrend is violated, the ascending 100dMA would be called upon as support, 51c." 

These observations are more or less still valid except that the trendline support is now higher up at 54.5c which also coincides with the gap support.  Interestingly, 54.5c has been a gap support and gap resistance in the recent past before 5 March. It is also a many times tested candlestick support and resistance level.  This implies that it should be a strong support if tested.

Golden Agriculture's price retreated 1c today to close at 56c.  This is after starting at a high of 57.5c in the morning.  So, we have a wickless black candle today.  Very bearish.  The MACD looks set to make a bearish crossover with the signal line. 

Expecting further weakness in price, I am ready to accumulate at supports.  However, if the price breaks through all the near term supports I have identified including 54.5c which I expect to be a strong support, I would wait to buy more closer to the rising 100dMA which would be around 51.5c next week.

LMIR: More units at 10% yield.

I have liked the Indonesian economy for some time now.  In fact, I've liked it before the onset of the last crisis.  I was accumulating units in LMIR when many others were giving it the "Indonesian discount".  During the last crisis, I bought more units in LMIR.  Just like units in First REIT which I bought at 42c during this last crisis, these units are for keeps as they have an estimated annual yield of 14.5% on average.  They have also appreciated nicely in price, of course.

Much of my funds was held in my investments in Healthway Medical and Golden Agriculture for many months.  I divested much of my positions in these two counters in January 2010 and again earlier this month, bagging some nice gains in the process.  See: Rationale for partial divestment. 

With the gains from the partial divestments, I have since increased my exposure in AIMS AMP Capital Industrial REIT and Saizen REIT to increase the size of my high yield portfolio.  After all, the core aim of my investment activities is to generate passive income streams with high yields. 

I have also been waiting for a chance to buy more LMIR at 45c to 46c since January when it declined after forming a high of 53c.  Unfortunately, it never did sink that low.

In LMIR's latest report, its NAV is a higher 83c per unit with gearing at a very healthy 10.5%.  At today's price of 50.5c, the discount to NAV is almost 40%! Yield is also a very attractive 10% at the current price of 50.5c.  The numbers are good.

Fundamentally, I believe in the strength of the Indonesian economy.  Susilo Bambang Yodoyono has led the country through the recent crisis without it sinking into a recession and the economy is likely to register even stronger growth in the next two years.  Indonesia has a large domestic economy and domestic consumption accounts for 60% of its GDP.  LMIR will be a key beneficiary of such a situation in an improving economy.

On the REIT level, LMIR's very low gearing will allow it to make yield accretive purchases without having to resort to asking for funds from existing unitholders.  LMIR will also have a ready stock of malls from its sponsor, Lippo, in Indonesia.  In the event that such purchases take place, we would most likely see an increase in the REIT's distributable income.  I also like the fact that Singapore's Mapletree, a Temasek company, is a partner in the joint management of LMIR.  LMIR has a strong pedigree.

Although I like the fundamentals of LMIR, I have been waiting for an entry point using TA.  On hindsight, when LMIR was testing the lower limits of the Bollinger bands at 47c, those instances could have been good opportunities to buy some units but the MACD was negative and the price could have gone lower.  So, I held back.

Anyway, I have been waiting for a couple of months but the merged 20d and 100d MAs are moving up in tandem now and seem to be giving LMIR a much needed push upwards.  Also, the price action seems to have formed a mini double bottom in February with the neckline at 50c.  This neckline is also a many times tested resistance for LMIR and will be a strong support one day, as a result.  Today, LMIR traded at and above 50c.  We will need confirmation on whether 50c is the new support in future sessions.

MACD has turned positive and the the OBV shows gradual long term accumulation.  All signs point to an increased level of safety in buying LMIR now.  Any negatives?  The volume remains low which seems to indicate a lack of sustainability.  However, if we remember, apart from a few occasions, LMIR has always been a relatively thinly traded counter despite having 1.075 billion units in issue.  If we look at the list of shareholders, we will know why:

1. Lanius Ltd                         19.7%
    (includes Lippo Karawaci)
2. Mapletree                          13.2%
3. Stichting Pensioen              9.9%

4. CPI Capital Partners Asia  8.4%
5. ABN Amro Asset Mngmt  6.4%

The free float is only 42.4% of all available units!

So, I decided to buy up some units today at 50.5c to increase the weight of LMIR in my high yield portfolio.  If 50c is confirmed as the new support for LMIR, I will buy more.  More units at 10% yield in the bag!

-----------------------------------------------------------------
The following was added on 18 March 2010:

Indonesia c.bank revises up GDP, sees low H1 prices


JAKARTA, March 11 - Indonesia's central bank has revised up its 2010 economic growth forecast to 5.5-6.0 percent from an earlier 5.0-5.5 percent rise, helped by stronger exports, deputy governor Hartadi Sarwono said in a statement on Thursday.


The central bank, which maintained its economic growth forecast for 2011 at 6.0-6.5 percent, also forecast no significant inflationary pressure in the first half of 2010. Stronger economic growth was being partly led by exports, Sarwono said.


"Besides strong domestic demand, the recovery especially comes from external factors, which is in line with the global economic recovery," he said in a statement on the central bank's website .


Southeast Asia's biggest economy reported a surge of nearly 60 percent in exports in January to $11.57 billion, bouncing back from a low base a year earlier... - Reuters - Friday, March 12


Related posts:
High yield portfolio.
New global economic leadership.
Lippo Mapletree Indonesia Retail Trust.
First REIT: This one is for keeps.

Japan's 2010 economic outlook.

I rarely cut and paste entire articles but I am sure that there are many who are concerned about the Japanese economy despite what Marc Faber might say about being a contrarian.  So, I am sharing this latest report from Bloomberg here:

Double-dip worries abating

Tokyo upgrades economic view for first time since July


05:55 AM, Mar 16, 2010, TOKYO - The Japanese government yesterday raised its assessment of the economy for the first time in eight months, saying the recovery had begun to spur profits, home building and consumer spending.

"The economy has been picking up steadily," though it remains in a "difficult situation" because of high unemployment, the Cabinet Office said in its report for March. It added that the rebound was still weak.

Reports in the past month have shown that the nation's export-led recovery is starting to benefit consumers, with wages rising for the first time in 20 months in January and households increasing spending for a sixth month. Yesterday's upgrade comes on the eve of the Bank of Japan's board meeting, where the central bank may expand credit measures amid deflation.

"There are budding signs for a self-sustaining recovery in domestic private demand," Finance Minister Naoto Kan said yesterday.

"Concerns over a double- dip recession are abating," he added.

The Cabinet Office raised its evaluation of corporate profits, business investment, consumer spending, housing construction and employment.

The upgrade of five components is the most since July 2009. The government had said last month that the recovery was "short of autonomous factors".

Earnings are "improving" and capital spending "is starting to level off", the report said. Housing construction and private consumption are "picking up", it said.

Profits surged 102.2 per cent in the three months ended Dec 31 from a year earlier, the first increase in 10 quarters, a Finance Ministry report showed this month. Capital spending fell 18.5 per cent, the smallest decline in a year.

The unemployment rate dropped to a 10-month low of 4.9 per cent in January. Though the labour market remains severe, evidence of an "incipient recovery can be seen recently", the government said.

The improvements in the job market helped consumer confidence climb to a four-month high in February, a separate Cabinet Office report showed yesterday. Bloomberg

Charts in brief: 16 Mar 10

The STI defied gravity to add 22.1 points today, closing at 2,896.43, it is only a bit more than 100 points away from the magic number 3,000.  However, today's volume of 1,143,954,590 and total value of  $989,019,766 suggest that the upward movement is weak.  Volume is low and the value is lower.  Activity has clearly reduced and moved to the pennies.

It would not be wrong to lock in some gains for anyone vested in index linked counters. For anyone looking to add to their positions, waiting for a pullback might be prudent.  However, if in doubt, my strategy is always to hedge.  For the person who is vested, divesting half of his position might be a good idea.  For the person looking to add to his position despite the technicals, adding a smallish position would be less risky.

Saizen REIT: 469 lots sold down at 16c towards the closing bell pushed the MFI further into oversold territory.  Stochastics has also dipped into oversold territory.  That buying momentum is lacking is quite obvious.  Any further weakness would be an opportunity to load up.

Golden Agriculture:  Price closed unchanged on lower volume today. It has formed higher highs and higher lows since early Feb.  Uptrend is intact and I am still waiting to collect at supports.

Healthway Medical: A black candle day on increased volume.  Since mid January, this is a rare black candle day with such high volume.  A decline in the OBV indicates that distribution is underway.  A lower high and a lower low on the MFI confirms weaker buying momentum. The MACD is closing in on the signal line which might result in a bearish crossover.  Initial support is still at 16c and it looks like it will be tested.

Charts in brief: 15 Mar 10

I decided to just do a summary, charts not included, to highlight what I think might be some interesting observations for a few counters I charted this evening.  I call this "Charts in brief" and this will be something I might do more often as and when I don't really have a lot to say about any counter in particular.

Golden Agriculture: The sell signal on the MACD is confirmed today.  Price closed at 57c, forming a doji, on reduced volume.  I am still waiting to accumulate at support.  Please see: Golden Agriculture: Waiting for support.

AIMS AMP Capital Industrial REIT:  MFI and OBV both turned up.  The MACD has crossed zero, suggesting a return of positive momentum.  An expansion in trading volume with the next upmove in price would be nice.  Please see: STI and Aims Amp Capital Industrial REIT.

Healthway Medical:  A black candle day but on much reduced volume.  OBV is flat.  So, no distribution.  MFI declined but is still in the overbought region.  Although the uptrend is intact, buying on weakness would be a safer option than buying now and hoping for a breakout.  Basically, the risk premium is much higher now.  Please see: Healthway Medical: A retest of recent high.

Saizen REIT: MACD seems set to make a bearish crossover with the signal line.  MFI has gone into oversold territory; buying momentum is weak. OBV has dipped.  This is a sign of distribution.  The uptrend is intact even if the price should retreat to 15.5c. I know many people ready to pounce on the counter if this should happen.  I would buy more on weakness.  Please see: Saizen REIT: March 2010 presentation.

Genting SP:  This counter has been enjoying a revival lately but on decreasing volume.  Daily volume has been lower with the price moving higher since 5 March, the day when price and volume spiked up.  This suggests that the buyers are, probably, mostly shortists covering their positions.  This is not to say that the price cannot move higher but without a significant number of new participants coming in on the long side, any move upwards would lack sustainability.  Please see: Genting SP: Stale bulls' second chance?

Saizen REIT: March 2010 Presentation

Regular readers would know by now that I am accumulating units in Saizen REIT as it is a huge bargain.  I have likened it to buying a $2.9m condominium unit for $1.6m before.  That analogy still stands.  On 3 March 2010, Saizen REIT's manager, Japan Residential Assets Manager Limited, presented their latest results and I would like to share some numbers here with fellow unitholders and other interested parties.

The NAV per Unit is S$0.40.  However, some are worried that the portfolio of properties under YK Shintoku might be foreclosed.  In case of foreclusure, the NAV per Unit excluding YK Shintoku would be S$0.36.  On top of this, some are worried about the dilution that would take place once all the warrants are exercised.  In such an instance, the diluted NAV per Unit would be S$0.28.  The diluted NAV per Unit is based on 1,446,357,417 Units and warrant proceeds of S$44.7 million.  Please find the full details at:
Saizen REIT: March 2010 Presentation

Saizen REIT is on track to resuming income distribution to unitholders in mid 2010 and its gearing level would fall upon the the full repayment of its CMBS loan for YK Keizan in April next month. A re-rating upwards by credit agencies is highly probable.


Although Saizen REIT's remaining CMBS loan for YK Shintoku is still being negotiated, personally, I do not foresee foreclosure taking place. If the loan is still being serviced, why would the lender want to proceed with foreclosure, especially with the punitive (aka lucrative) interest rate of 7% imposed on the borrower, more than doubling from the 3% before? Having said this, it would be in the interest of all unitholders that Saizen REIT's manager secures re-financing at a more reasonable cost soon.

June 2009 data from CB Richard Ellis, Colliers International, show that the average rental yield in Japan is the highest for residential properties at 5.5 to 6.5% p.a. This is followed by industrial properties, retail properties and office properties. Such high yields have attracted the attention of institutional funds which are expected to snap up assets at bargain basement prices. It is when things look the bleakest that the most opportunities are to be found. According to one Japanese investment bank analyst, for example, “we’ve been approached recently by many pension funds that want to increase their exposure to real estate because they realize prices are going down. They are happy to buy early because their return target is very low, maybe 5 percent.”

Some people have asked me why not go buy some Japanese residential real estate? Well, obviously, I do not have deep pockets like the institutional funds. I won't be able to buy a single apartment in Japan, let alone a whole apartment block.
The way I see it, Saizen REIT's financial health has improved significantly and will continue to improve. With its units trading at such a deep discount to NAV, if I have the money, why bother buying the underlying assets? I would just buy the REIT. To make it more tantalising, Saizen REIT is likely to yield upwards of 10% p.a. when it resumes income distribution to unitholders from mid 2010.  This is much higher than the average of 5.5 to 6.5% yield for Japanese residential real estate as reported by CB Richard Ellis, Colliers International in their findings published in June 2009.

Some people I spoke to responded by saying they have missed the boat and lamented that they should have bought some units when it was 10c.  I would tell them that I started buying at 13c, not 10c, and I am still buying today.  Why? The fundamentals are still very compelling and the charts look good.

Related posts:
Passive income with high yields: Saizen REIT.
Buy Japanese real estate.
Saizen REIT: Long-term buy.
Saizen REIT: A symmetrical triangle?

China Hongxing: Downside target?

On 6 Mar, I had a post titled, "China Hongxing: Another S-chip bites the dust."  In that post, I said: "Analysts are downgrading the prospects of the company en masse despite the company reporting a net cash position of 22c per share. The share price closed at 14c on 5 March. CIMB-GK and Kim Eng Securities even ceased coverage of the company altogether."

In 12 Mar, Lim & Tan Securities, remarked that although China Hongxing's price has declined, at the current level, it is still expensive compared to peers.  "While Hongxing has declined 14% since we downgraded it to a Sell on 2 March ’10, we see no reason to change it due to its still demanding valuations and potential for more market share loss..."

Technically, I mentioned that "..14c is currently at the channel support. However, if this breaks, the next support is at 12c and a stronger one is at 10c. Any upmove from 14c is likely to be just a rebound from oversold conditions and would meet with resistance at 16c, thereabouts, which is provided by the descending 20dMA. If, in the unlikely event that the 20dMA is taken out, very strong resistance is provided by a confluence of the 50d, 100d and 200d MAs, which are at 19c, thereabouts."

The decline in China Hongxing's price seems to have halted and rebounded as it was supported by the channel support at 14c.  The decline in price has been accompanied by a decline in trading volume.  The Stochastics has just turned up from the oversold region.  These indicators suggest that downward pressure is limited but it might be a temporary respite.

A broader head and shoulders pattern which stretched over a duration of about nine months is now quite obvious.  This, coupled with the obvious downtrend of all the moving averages suggest that more downside is on the cards.  Accumulating at supports in an uptrend is a good idea.  Accumulating at supports in a downtrend is a different story as supports could quickly become resistance.

Using Fibo lines, we see that 14.5c is a 123.6% support.  Unless there is an upmove with meaningful volume in the near future, a test of the 138.2% Fibo support is most likely and that is at 13c.  Thereafter, the 150% Fibo support is at 12c. Further downside cannot be discounted as a valid head and shoulders pattern would see the ultimate downside target somewhere at 10c.

The following video clip is quite funny.  It has a twist in the end.   I thought since this post is about a sneakers manufacturer, why not?  In case you are wondering, no, I'm not working for Microsoft and they are not paying me to do this.  Enjoy:



Related post:
China Hongxing: Another S-chip bites the dust.

Healthway Medical: A retest of recent high.

Healthway Medical moved from 17.5c to retest the recent high of 18.5c in the last session but failed to move higher, establishing 18.5c as a strong resistance in the minds of market participants.  This is all the more significant when we remember that the price action was accompanied by volume more than four times that of the previous session.  This might be a bit more than disappointing for shareholders looking forward to the formation of a new high.  The nagging question on their minds: Is it a sign that distribution has started?

Technically, any price movement up or down without significant volume is seen as unsustainable.  What about significant volume without any significant price movement?  Usually, it means we have a stalemate between the bulls and the bears.  Neither camp is willing to give the other any satisfaction.  That the price managed to inch up 0.5c at the close was a small victory for the bulls.  That 18.5c remains a significant resistance was a small victory for the bears.

Looking at the MFI, the decline has halted and formed a higher low.  The buying momentum stopped weakening although it has not strengthened enough to form a new high.  Now, look at the OBV.  No sign of distribution.  Instead, accumulation has spiked.  This is bullish.  Finally, the sell signal on the MACD has been negated.  All signs point to the bulls having the upper hand, for now.  However, we have to remember that these are lagging indicators.  TA can never tell us what will happen for sure.

So, in the event that price does not move up but declines instead, we should have a plan.  The uptrend is intact.  So, my usual style is to buy at supports.  Initial support is where we find the merged 20dMA and 50dMA.  Connecting the two previous lows yields a trendline support that coincides with these merged MAs at 16c.  This should be the initial support and also a strong one, albeit in the short term.

Related post:
Healthway Medical: A beautiful symmetry again.

Saizen REIT: A symmetrical triangle?

On 23 Feb, I had a post titled: "Saizen REIT: Obvious uptrend."  In that post, I said, "... given the trend of the longer term MAs, the downside is very limited from current levels. Any upward push in price will meet with initial resistance at 17c and if this is overcome, the recent high of 18c might be tested..."

Well, the initial resistance of 17c was not overcome.  In the last session, Saizen REIT closed at 16.5c after touching a low of 16c, forming a dragonfly doji. OBV is flat which suggests a lack of significant distribution or accumulation.  The MFI has dipped into oversold territory.  MACD's sell signal has not been reversed.  Lethargy is a signature of Saizen REIT's price action.

I have drawn a trendline resistance connecting recent highs and a trendline support connecting recent lows.  What looks like a symmetrical triangle took shape with its apex sometime in April.  Symmetrical triangles are not the most reliable patterns in charting but, if valid, a price action in the prevailing trend is not far off.  In this case, the trend is UP.  The ascending MAs make this quite obvious.

My decision to accumulate Saizen REIT from 13c to the current price is informed by a thorough FA with the understanding that it is terribly undervalued. Even if the REIT's portfolio of YK Shintoku were to be foreclosed and even after all the warrants are converted into regular units, Saizen REIT would still have a NAV of 29c per unit. At 16.5c, it is still a good 43% discount to NAV. I have blogged about this quite extensively and shan't dwell on the fundamentals too much in this post but I will say this again, "Think contrarian!"

A video interview with Marc Faber (Posted Mar 12, 2010 07:30am EST by Peter Gorenstein):



"If you are going to put money to work in stocks both market watchers think Japan is the place to be. After a 20 year bear market and despite high-debt-to-GDP levels, the pair think the market has become too cheap to ignore. Always a contrarian, Faber believes the lack of interest in Japanese stocks makes it one of the most compelling buys in the world. "

Related posts:
Saizen REIT: Obvious uptrend.
Passive income with high-yields: Saizen REIT.
Japan's debt issue and Saizen REIT.

Golden Agriculture: Waiting for support.

Having sold almost all of my investment in Golden Agriculture two days ago, I am now waiting for the price to correct to supports before buying again.

We have a sell signal on the MACD today after the price declined for two days, closing at 56.5c, after touching a low of 55.5 today.  The ascending 20d and 50d MAs have merged and should provide initial support at 55c.  I have also drawn a line connecting the previous two lows which would give an indication of where the trendline support is in the next session, 54c.  If this uptrend is violated, the ascending 100dMA would be called upon as support, 51c.

Even though we have a sell signal on the MACD and even though the MFI shows lower highs and lower lows, suggesting a weakened buying momentum, the price decline has been accompanied by lower volumes.  If we look at the OBV, we do not see any obvious distribution activity either, which is a contrast with what we observed for the month of January after the price peaked at 65.5c.  For anyone thinking of accumulating at supports, the low volume sell down plus benign signs in the OBV provide positive confirmation.

Healthway Medical: A beautiful symmetry again.

On 11 January, I had a post titled "Healthway Medical: A beautiful symmetry."  In that post, I said: "I am a believer in chart patterns. See how the cup formation troughed at 9.5c and topped out at 14.5c? The target price in case of a breakout of the top of the formation is just a projection of the trough to the top and beyond which gives us 19.5c. This target price was reached in just one week from the midpoint of the cup pattern at 12c."

Now, I observe a similar symmetry in Healthway Medical's chart once more.  Recent bottom was formed on 11 Feb at 13.5c before price moved up, formed mini ascending triangles before breaking out on 3 Mar.  The neckline?  16c.  Target price of the mini ascending triangles would be a projection of the bottom at 13.5c to the neckline at 16c and beyond which gives us 18.5c which was hit on 9 Mar.  OK, interesting geometry lesson.  Now what?

This suggests that 16c is an important support and resistance.  The merged 20d and 50d MAs which are rising in tandem would be at 16c soon and re-inforce the importance of this price level in the near term.

Price has not been able to form a new high since 9 Mar. Dwindling volume suggests a lack of buying interest.  This is confirmed by the lower high formed on the MFI signifying a reduction in buying momentum.  A sell signal was registered on the MACD yesterday and confirmed today.  So, is the price going to crash?

Looking at the MFI sometimes provides an incomplete picture without the OBV.  If we look at the OBV, we will see that there is no strong distribution going on.  So, although the MFI suggests a slowing down in buying momentum, the OBV reassures by suggesting that the counter is not undergoing any distribution.  The logical conclusion is that weak holders are once again being shaken out.  However, this does not mean that price will not drift lower.  We might see 16c tested yet.  That coincides with the fundamental fair value I have ascribed to the shares of Healthway Medical when I did a revaluation on 24 Feb: "Healthway Medical: An updated valuation."

If 16c fails to hold, we could possibly see 13.5c tested and would relegate Healthway Medical to a wide trading band although the rising MAs at the moment suggest that the uptrend is still intact.

Related post:
Healthway Medical: A beautiful symmetry.
Healthway Medical: An updated valuation.

Planning to travel? Check out ZUJI.

Do I make money from this blog?  I was asked this question recently.  Frankly, I started this blog out of curiosity last Christmas Eve as I was wondering what is this blogging business all about. I've always enjoyed sharing my ideas with friends and family.  So, I guess I've just moved up to the next level with my blog in that I am sharing my ideas with a bigger audience.  Of course, it helps that I actually enjoy writing.

I didn't know I could make money from blogging. However, I did discover quite quickly that there are many ways of making money through a blog, especially for a blog with a strong readership base.  I found out that there are sites which actually charge a membership fee and there are some which charge a fee for subscription (and within the first month of my blog being set up, I actually received an email asking me how much do I charge for subscription and, a little bewildered, I told the writer that it's free).

The most common way to make money from a blog is through ad placements.  For some time now, I've had ads in my blog.  There are companies which would pay according to the number of impressions my blog generates.  There are companies which would only pay if visitors actually click on the ads.  There are companies which would only pay if visitors click on their ads AND actually buy something.

I checked my account with ZUJI recently and found that someone made a purchase and I have been credited with a small percentage as a commission.  It works! 

So, when you plan your future holidays, please click on the ZUJI advertisement banner in my blog's header and see what they have to offer. You get a good deal AND make a small monetary contribution towards my blogging efforts at the same time.  Cool?  Thanks for the support.  :)

Golden Agriculture: Partial divestment at 59c.

If you have been following my posts on Golden Agriculture in recent days, you would get an impression of how TA works for me.  TA can never show us what will happen.  It can only show what might happen and there will always be two possibilities in price movement, up or down, with varying probabilities.  What we can see quite clearly would be things like supports, resistance and trend, amongst a few other things.  TA informs on fair exit prices in the event that price goes up and in the event the price goes down, what are safer entry prices.  If the uptrend is intact, buy at supports and wait to sell at resistance; if the price does not move up but moves back down to support, consider increasing exposure.

Using Golden Agriculture as a case study, let us do a recap:

In my post of 5 March, I mentioned that Golden Agriculture's price action formed a white hammer, closing at 54.5c, suggesting that a trend reversal is at hand.  Initial resistance at 57c, followed by 59c.  On 8 Mar, I mentioned that the white spinning top formed was unlikely to be a trend reversal signal because it did not take place after several consecutive days of upmove in price.  On 9 Mar, yesterday, a doji was formed, another possible trend reversal signal and it was accompanied by a decline in the MFI.  I suggested that if the malaise continued today, the counter might do a gap cover to 54.5c where it will have initial support and I would accumulate on weakness as the uptrend is intact with the rising 100dMA at 50.5c.

So, the strategy?  Divest at resistance of 57c and 59c in case of an upmove.  Accumulate on weakness in case of a move down to 54.5c and 50.5c as the uptrend is intact.  Whichever direction the price moves, we have a plan. My overnight sell queue was done and I have partially divested at 59c this morning, retaining a smallish position in case the price continues to move up.  This is a hedge, which is another one of my strategies.

For anyone who has been following my trading strategy so far, I hope you have made some good money.  Remember, it is never wrong to take profit.

Related post:
Rationale for partial divestment.

Golden Agriculture and Healthway Medical closed unchanged.

Golden Agriculture closed unchanged today on lower volume at 56c, forming a doji in the process. MFI has dipped below 50% which indicates a breakdown in positive buying momentum. If the malaise continues tomorrow, we might see the counter do a gap cover to 54.5c. This is very close to the rising 50dMA while the rising 20dMA is at 54c. If these supports break, strong support is provided by the rising 100dMA at 50.5c. Overall, the uptrend is intact and I would buy more on weakness.

Healthway Medical's EGM took place today to seek shareholders' approval on plans to expand in China. Shareholders' approval are also sought for the share placements to IFC and five substantial shareholders. Some were expecting this to give the counter a bit of a boost but that did not materialise today as the price hit 18.5c, the previous XR high before retreating to 17.5c, forming a graveston doji. Indeed, the bullish picture from yesterday did not follow through as the volume today was significantly reduced, suggesting a lack of strong buy ups.


As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've sold a third of my remaining investment in Healthway Medical at 17.5c and will sell more at 18.5c. Technically, if the counter does a pull back to 15.5c, which is where we find the rising 20d and 50d MAs, that might be a good entry price as the trend is still up.


This counter has run up from a recent low of 13.5c on 11 Feb to the high of 18.5c today. MFI shows how it went from being oversold to overbought in the same period. We should not be disappointed if it decides to take a break.

STI and AIMS-AMP Capital Industrial REIT.

STI's movement today shows indecision as it started the day higher, see-sawed a bit and closed almost unchanged at 2839.54. What we can say for sure is that the 50dMA at 2810 provides initial support and the rising 100dMA at 2780 provides a stronger support. It remains to be seen if it could overcome the gap resistance at 2850. If it overcomes 2850, it is good news for the bulls.


I know many out there are turning cautious and even bearish but the higher lows and the higher highs on the MFI are encouraging. We see that in the OBV as well. Failing to move higher, the STI should not come crashing down either. Please see my earlier post on how the STI might behave in March: STI: Marching in place in March.

Turning defensive, I bought more units in AIMS-AMP Capital Industrial REIT today at 21c. Fundamentally, I like the numbers. Please see:AIMS-AMP Capital Industrial REIT. This is probably the best value for money industrial property REIT in Singapore right now. Increasing the weightage of this REIT in my portfolio diversifies away from an emphasis I've had on Saizen REIT in recent months.
Technically, the price looks like it has bottomed at 20.5c and has begun to move up. The MACD did a bullish crossover with the signal line and the stochastics has started to move up from the oversold region. 21.5c is the resistance provided by the flat 50dMA. It might take a while for the counter to move up in price but the limited downside makes it technically attractive to increase my investment here.

Golden Agriculture: Buy signal confirmed.

Crude palm oil (CPO) closed up 1.46% today or RM39 to close at RM2,709 (US$811).  The outlook is bullish and CPO's price might push higher yet.  As mentioned in my previous post on Golden Agriculture, this is good news indeed for the company.

Golden Agriculture did a bullish gap up today, closing at 56c, forming a white spinning top.  Indecision?  Seeing how the spinning top did not take place after at least several consecutive days of upmove in price (because at least several days in one direction is required to qualify price movement as a trend), it is unlikely to be a trend reversal signal. 

The buy signal seen in the MACD is confirmed today.  50% on the MFI has lived up to expectations and acted as a support, preventing the index from declining which would have signalled negative buying momentum.  All in all, chances of Golden Agriculture's price pushing higher seems good.  In the event that 57c is taken out, 59c (138.2% Fibo resistance) would be the resistance to watch. Support remains at 50c, a many times tested candlestick support and resistance level which coincides with the rising 100dMA.

Healthway Medical: A boost from DMG & Partners.

Healthway Medical's target price was revised upwards by DMG & Partners to 26c from 21c after being reduced from 28c not too long ago.  Target price is raised this time "taking into account the potential growth that the new clinics can generate, despite an enlarged share base."  Why didn't they take this into account the last time when the target price was reduced to 21c (the reason given for the lower target price being the dilution from an enlarged share base then)?  It went on to say that "Healthway can potentially open another 30 medical centres in China....This would fuel earnings growth going forward."

Let's look at the charts today.  Price moved to touch a high of 18c after breaking a stubborn resistance level at 17c, forming a white spinning top in the process.  Spinning tops usually signify indecision and are generally treated by chartists as possible reversal signals.  The MFI has moved into overbought territory while 18c happens to be the 138.2% Fibo resistance as well.  However, the expansion in volume today, as price pushed upwards, is impressive and is more than three times the volume of the last session.  This suggests that the price might push higher yet.  If this happens, the XR high of 18.5c will be tested next.

I have sold a third of my remaining position in Healthway Medical today at 17.5c which I've identified as the XR equivalent of 19.5c CR.  This is also fundamentally trading at 10% higher than the fair value I've ascribed to Healthway Medical's shares, which is 16c.  I will sell more if its price moves to retest 18.5c.  Beyond 18.5c, the ultimate bullish target I have is 21.5c which is the XR equivalent of 24c CR I arrived at a couple of months ago.  At 21.5c, I would divest almost all of my investment in the company.  I would have hit my targetted investment returns then.

I maintain that buying into Healthway Medical at prices higher than 16c now is a bet on a very strong improvement in future earnings, strong enough to recover all the EPS lost in dilution and more.  It has to be more or else, Healthway Medical's fair value would stagnate.  I would prefer to be cautious in the midst of too many potentials, especially when mostly positive potentials have been emphasised.

Related post:
Healthway Medical: An updated valuation.

Money management: Is gambling a bad thing?

At first glance, the title of this post seems like a rhetorical question.  After all, the Chinese people have a saying, which literally translated would say "Ten gamble, nine lose." 

Even though the odds are stacked against us, many are attracted by the excitement that gambling offers and the possibility of instant riches.

Personally, I don't have a very strong stand for or against gambling.  However, from the standpoint of money management, anything that might cripple our finances should be avoided. 

At face value, rationally, since the chances of losing money is much higher compared to making it, gambling should be avoided like the plague (or H1N1, in today's context).

A real life story which I remember to this day was a TV interview with Ng Man Tat, a Hong Kong actor.  Before that interview, Ng was churning out movie after movie with Stephen Chow Sing Chi, the Hong Kong king of comedy, for a few years.  It was during that interview that I understood why. 

Ng was addicted to gambling and lost a fortune.  He approached Chow Yun Fatt, a Hong Kong superstar who has gone international, a very good friend, and asked for a loan but was turned down.  Initially, Ng was very angry with Chow but later on he became grateful as he worked hard to pay off his debts. 

Ng said that if Chow had helped him to pay off his debts, he would never learn and be rid of his addiction to gambling.

Many, if not all, of us must have a story or two to tell about the misfortune that gambling has brought to people we know directly or indirectly. 

However, we have also heard stories of people getting really rich through gambling, haven't we?  I remember reading in the papers how, over the years, in some months, the Singapore Sweep's top prize (which is S$2.2m today) was won by foreign workers who went back to their home country, bought land, became landlords, got married and lived happily ever after. 

OK, the last bit is just my imagination.

So, what am I trying to say? 

Well, I don't think gambling is totally bad.  It is not one of those things which is clear cut like a hit and run (which is what Dr Silviu Ionescu, the Romanian diplomat, is suspected of doing here in Singapore), rape, robbery or murder.  These are just plain evil. 

Gambling is more of a grey area.

From a money management standpoint once more, if we budget a small sum of money for entertainment and classify gambling as one form of entertainment, as long as we stay within what is budgeted, gambling would not become financially crippling and it might even be rewarding. 

The Chinese people have a saying, "mai ge xi wang", or "buying a hope".  This, I feel, is not a bad thing. 

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you could probably tell that I'm a pragmatist, not an idealist.  Everyone has his or her own beliefs and values.  Gambling is one of those issues that will always attract strong opinions.  That is why I thought about it for a long time before deciding to blog about it. 

I hope I won't be flamed for my ideas. -.-"

Interesting article:
http://sg.news.yahoo.com/cna/20100302/tap-130-casino-games-prove-popular-shops-231650b.html

China Hongxing: Another S-chip bites the dust.

Flipping through the latest issue of The EDGE, I found a full page write up on China Hongxing.  It is rather negative with a title like "China Hongxing unveils plan for cash pile, but analysts fear it is coming too late".

"China Hongxing's fast growing cash pile has been a source of consternation for investors for more than a year.  Some were irked by the company's apparent refusal to invest the money or return it to investors... Some were even concerned whether it actually had the cash reflected in its accounts."

Analysts are downgrading the prospects of the company en masse despite the company reporting a net cash position of 22c per share.  The share price closed at 14c on 5 March.  CIMB-GK and Kim Eng Securities even ceased coverage of the company altogether.

I decided to take a look at China Hongxing's charts.  Looking at the MACD, it is in negative territory, pulling away downwards from the signal line. The MFI has dipped into the oversold region and formed a lower high, signalling negative buying momentum. 

I have drawn the downtrend channel for China Hongxing in light green. 14c is currently at the channel support.  However, if this breaks, the next support is at 12c and a stronger one is at 10c.  Any upmove from 14c is likely to be just a rebound from oversold conditions and would meet with resistance at 16c, thereabouts, which is provided by the descending 20dMA.  If, in the unlikely event that the 20dMA is taken out, very strong resistance is provided by a confluence of the 50d, 100d and 200d MAs, which are at 19c, thereabouts.

Healthway Medical falters while Golden Agriculture shines?

Despite a return of positive momentum, Healthway Medical was unable to overcome the initial resistance of 17c which was identified in my post two days ago.  Instead it closed at 16.5c today, forming a gravestone doji in the process.  This is ominous.  Also of note is that the repeated attempts to overcome resistance is not accompanied by any meaningful increase in volume. The upmove might just falter unless we have an expansion of volume with the next push up.  Finally, the MFI is fast approaching the overbought region and bears watching.

Golden Agriculture's price action formed a white hammer today and closed at 54.5c.  This suggests that a trend reversal is at hand.  This is coupled by a buy signal on the MACD.  MFI has hit 50% which has acted as support on two other occassions in the recent past.  An upmove in price would meet with initial resistance at 57c, followed by 59c. 

Fundamentally, the price of crude oil has been on the rise (currently US$81.93 per barrel) and crude palm oil has risen in tandem, closing at RM2,670 today.  This bodes well for Golden Agriculture.

Saizen REIT: Buy signal.

For the first time in weeks, we have a buy signal for Saizen REIT in the MACD on the weekly chart as the price closed at 16.5c.  We see how the MACD seems to be pulling away ever so slightly from the signal line.  This is a positive sign.

On the daily chart, the MACD continues to pull away from the signal line further away into positive territory.  20dMA and 50dMA continue to rise in their merged form, providing a strong support.  The Bollinger bands squeezed four sessions ago and are expanding now, marking a departure from lower volatility as price sets off in one direction, which is up, in this case.

The MFI has formed a higher high which marks positive buying momentum.  Using the technical tool, Ichimoku, we see that Saizen REIT's price has emerged from the upper limits of the cloud (the translucent blue area) and this means that it has emerged from resistance and is free to move higher.

It might still be early days but the signs are promising.  We will need confirmation next week on whether Saizen REIT's price will continue its positive movement.  Good luck to fellow unitholders.

Genting SP: Stale bulls' second chance?

Genting SP experienced a white candle today on increased volume.  As the price touched 91.5c, approaching the 50wMA (93.5c), it lost momentum and closed at 90.5c.  Volume, although higher, is not significantly so.  The suggestion is, therefore, that the buy ups are half hearted.

The MFI and Stochastics are still in oversold regions and seem to suggest that if a reversal does happen, it is not unexpected.  We might want to remember that in a bearish scenario, MFI and Stochastics can stay oversold for a very long time.  MFI and Stochastics are also more accurate indicators in a trendless situation.

So, the price won't go higher?  If the 50wMA (93.5c) is taken out in the next session, we might see the price rising to the 20dMA, which is descending sharply and should be at 97c then.  All eyes would be on whether the price action would be able to break through the 20dMA to close higher, failing which, a resumption of the downtrend is more likely. I still see strong supports provided by the 100wMA (74c) and the 200wMA (70c) then. 

Do people really believe that the opening of Universal Studios on 18 March would have a huge positive impact on Genting SP in the near term?  The jury is still out.  More likely, this upmove is the stale bulls' second chance to reduce exposure or to get out totally as the downtrend is still intact.  Short sellers should find shorting closer to resistance almost irresistable given the bearish technical indicators.

Genting SP: When is it safer to buy?

On 25 Feb, I wrote the following about Genting SP:

"Genting SP continues to weaken as expected. The highest it got to this week was 98c to give stale bulls a chance to reduce exposure. Closing at 91c today hugs the lower limits of the Bollinger bands. The downtrend seems ready to continue as the MFI continues to decline indicating reducing buying momentum. In the unlikely even that the price moves up in the next session, resistance is at 98c.

"Looking at the weekly chart, we see a precarious situation. Price is hugging the lower limits of the Bollinger bands and the MFI continues to decline just like in the daily chart. However, what is important is that it has closed below the rising 50wMA which is at 92.5c. If price is unable to recapture this support level to close at or above 92.5c in the next session, which is the last trading day of the week, the chart would look very ugly. The ultimate downside target would be 74c, a support level provided by the rising 100wMA. Although there would be intial support at 80c, such a potentially huge fall in price would be too tempting for short sellers to ignore."

Today, Genting SP continued its downward slide, closing at 84.5c.  Momentum oscillators such as the MFI and Stochastics show that the counter is oversold.  The MACD plunges deeper into negative territory.  Longer term MAs are descending with the exception of the 200dMA which now acts as resistance in the event of any rebound.  This is at 98.5c. 

The MFI on the weekly chart is not oversold yet while the MACD is on the verge of plunging below zero.  On a weekly basis, there is a strong suggestion of more downside as well.  Trying to make some money from this counter by punting on the long side is going to require a lot of courage and luck at this juncture.  Having said this, the downside would probably be reaching an inflection point in the near future. 

The proximity of the rising 100wMA and the 200wMA to each other would provide a very strong support at 74c and 70c, respectively.    For investors who really like this counter for some reason, they could consider accumulating then, especially if the MFI and Stochastics indicate heavily oversold conditions by then.

First REIT: This one is for keeps.

You might have experienced deja vu before.  

It has happened to me countless times.  

Psychic?  

Maybe but sometimes, things just fall into place in the strangest ways.

Today, I received a payment voucher from my broker on income distribution from First REIT.  

This is not a very glamorous REIT but I count it as one of the strongest in my portfolio.  

The generous distribution put a smile on my face.

Then, I wondered if I should blog about First REIT, using it as an example of the type of REIT we want to have in our passive income portfolio.  

I got home, checked my blog and found two comments from anonymous readers, both stating that they do not like REITs.  

So, that made up my mind for me.






I first bought some units in First REIT in 2007 for an average price of 75c per unit.  

Through good and bad years, it faithfully distributed income to unitholders every quarter:

In the first year, it distributed 7c per unit for a yield of 9.33%.

In the second year, it distributed 7.62c per unit for a yield of 10.16%.

In the third year, 2009, it distributed 7.44c per unit for a yield of 9.92%.

Throughout the years, First REIT did not have to raise funds from unitholders as its gearing remained conservative at slightly more than 15%.  

The management did not act irresponsibly, expanding recklessly during times when credit was easily available.  






Its NAV today is about 98c per unit.  

It is still trading at a discount to NAV although, at today's closing price of 82.5c, not excessively so.  

At the current price, the yield (assuming a distribution of 7.5c per annum) is still a respectable 9%.

You might remember that I said I bought more units of First REIT at 42c during this last crisis.  

I have received the full distribution of 7.44c per unit for the year 2009.  

This translates into a yield of 17.7% (this plus a capital appreciation of almost 100%)!  

In five and a half years, I would have recovered my capital (everything remaining equal).  

This one is for keeps.





First REIT, I believe, is a powerful example of what makes a good investment in REITs for the purpose of passive income generation.  

Let us leave out the units I bought at 42c as that happened under extraordinary circumstances and is unlikely to be repeated.  

Considering just the units I purchased at 75c, it is more than likely that I would continue to receive 10% yield per annum.

Human beings like to classify things, organising things into groups.  

This is not a bad thing in itself but having a system of classification helps us to think more readily in general terms, making quick generalisations in the process.  

This encourages economy and masks differences, differences which could potentially separate the gems from the trash.  

So, next time, if you see what seems to be a heap of trash and think of passing it by, think again. 





Related posts:
High yields: Successes, failures and the in betweens.
Seven steps to creating passive income from the stock market.
High yield portfolio.

The same three counters.

Healthway Medical touched 17c, the initial resistance identified yesterday with the MACD indicating a return of positive momentum.  However, that the price closed unchanged despite increased trading volume indicates that many holders are making use of the upmove to lighten their positions.  A rising MFI shows increasing buying momentum and this is some way from being overbought, suggesting that there might be more upside.  17c is still the resistance to watch.  17.5c is the XR eventual target, the equivalent of the CR eventual taget of 19.5c.

Golden Agriculture closed at 53c, supported by the 20dMA.  This pullback is on the back of lower volume, suggesting that the decline is due to weaker holders being shaken out and not due to any drastic distribution activity.  However, with the MACD forming a bearish crossover with the signal line and the Stochastics continuing its decline, we might see the 100dMA being called upon to act as support yet.  I would accumulate then.

Saizen REIT formed a rare white candle today as price closed at 16.5c with a relatively surprising large buy up in the last trade of the day.  The rising 20dMA and 50dMA have merged to form support at 16c, suggesting that this is probably a very strong floor for the counter.  MFI has formed a higher low, marking sustained positive buying momentum.  MACD marks a return to positive momentum and the Stochastics has turned up as well.  Is this the beginning of something more interesting for believers of Saizen REIT or is it another red herring?  Time will tell but my investment in Saizen REIT is informed by my FA and I am holding with conviction. 

Initial resistance is at 17c, a recent candlestick support turned resistance.  Ultimate resistance for the week is provided by the descending 100wMA at 19.5c.

Golden Agriculture: Accumulate on weakness.

Golden Agriculture drifts downwards as price moves sideways, supported by the 20dMA.  Low volume is observed with a slight declining bias.  So, there is a chance of the 20dMA support breaking which would see the rising 100dMA providing support at 50c.  I would buy more, closer to the 100dMA.  I would also pay attention to the MFI and Stochastics.  If these are in the oversold territories then, I would buy even more.