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AK's AEI for Changi Airport!

Wednesday, January 16, 2013

These photos were taken in Las Vegas:

Looks like a casino?

Where is this place? There is a clue in the photo...

Gasp! The airport?! Bingo!

Singapore Changi International Airport could learn from this and generate extra revenue or not?

We have to make sure that the jackpot machines are found in designated areas only with attendants on duty to prevent under 18s from entering and losing their pocket money, of course.

Instead of painting yellow boundary lines around such areas, let us use green paint (the color of money) to differentiate them from the smoking areas.

You know what is the fantastic thing about this idea? Our country's airport already looks so fantabulous! There is no need to spend gazillions like MBS and RWS did just to house these jackpot machines!

Make full use of existing floor space! S-REITs call it AEI (asset enhancement initiatives)! I like it!

If Singapore takes to this idea, I hope the authorities would credit me with the idea.


Paying me a token (7 figure) sum in appreciation wouldn't hurt either. ;p

See photos of my recent trip to Las Vegas: here.

Related post:
Is gambling a bad thing?

Yongnam: Looking forward to further weakness.



I have made an interesting observation with regards to Yongnam's share price.


Do you see it? Supports and resistance levels seem to be at 1.5c intervals. I am looking forward to further weakness so that I could buy more at 23.5c or even 22c per share.

Related post:
Yongnam: The ADR effect.

Wilmar: Conflicting signals and what they could mean.

Wilmar's share price broke resistance at $3.64.

Volume has been declining as price pushed higher. Remember, volume is the fuel that drives rallies. Without rising volume, rallies could eventually sputter and die out. However, Chaikin Money Flow shows that smart money is still flowing into the counter.



The conflicting signals here suggest that Wilmar could do a correction using time and we might not see any hefty price correction. In case a price correction should take place, immediate support is at $3.64 and a stronger support is at $3.53.

The rising 20dMA will intersect the declining 200dMA at some point in the near future to form a golden cross. This suggests that the bulls have the upper hand and that any retracement in share price is likely to attract much buying interest.

It is always dangerous to try looking into the future with technical analysis but let me see if I am clairvoyant. With a healthy dose of patience and with a bit of luck, we could see $4.44 tested in the next two or three months. There. My powers are spent.

Related post:
Wilmar: Testing resistance with strong momentum.

Saizen REIT: Still a buy?

There is no doubt that anyone who bought units of Saizen REIT about half a year ago when its warrants approached expiry would have done very well with some 45% capital gains (based on the current price of 18.8c per unit). We would also have collected a DPU of 0.63c which translates into a half year distribution yield of 4.85% if we had bought at 13c per unit.

I have been asked by quite a few people whether Saizen REIT is still a good buy. So, is it?

A street in Shinjuku at night.

With the JPY having declined by some 17% since the last time I looked at it, Saizen's NAV/unit is probably closer to 25c/unit now. The REIT is flushed with cash from the exercise of its warrants last year and its gearing level is relatively low.

The rapid decline in the value of the JPY is a bug bear for investors who are after regular income. All else being equal, DPU would decline in S$ terms and at the exchange rate today, a DPU of 1.05c per year is a fair estimate. At 18.8c per unit, it would mean a distribution yield of some 5.59%.


Saizen REIT has acquired more residential buildings and is likely to continue to do so with its much stronger balance sheet. The type of residential buildings in Japan that Saizen REIT invests in are mostly selling at below replacement cost. Translation: they are good value for money.

There is a definite growing interest in real estate in Japan. Private investors from Europe, USA and China have been active investors. So, Saizen REIT's portfolio could see its value increase over time as its buildings are revalued. This could cancel out the effect of a declining JPY as it pushes up the NAV of the REIT.


As for distribution income, I would expect the management of Saizen REIT to employ some form of hedging strategy to protect DPU in S$ terms. This is necessary as Mr. Abe, the new Japanese Prime Minister, is determined to cheapen the JPY and to herald in an inflation target of 2% per annum for the country.

Over time, I expect DPU in S$ terms to be relatively stable although it could take a hit from the declining JPY in the next payout in March. In fact, DPU could increase in the longer run as Saizen REIT:

1. Embarks on more acquisitions.
2. Continues with share buy backs.
3. Has loans which are amortising in nature.
4. Negotiates for lower interests on new loans.

Fundamentally, Saizen REIT is still very much undervalued. Would I, therefore, say it is still a buy? Well, theoretically, it is. However, I would caution that compared to 13c per unit, the margin of safety that investors like to have is very much diminished now.

Know what you are buying, know the worth of it and decide if you are comfortable with the asking price.

Related posts:
1. Saizen REIT: Daily share buy backs.
2. Saizen REIT: 2H FY2012.

Bears and Samsung washing machines.

Tuesday, January 15, 2013

Samsung was having its new ad for the EcoBubble range of washing machines shot in British Columbia out in the snow when a huge bear surprised the crew!

See what happened next: Huge Bear Surprises Crew on EcoBubble Photo Shoot in BC

A simple concept to better mental health.

I used to buy and collect comic books when I was a student, believing the shopkeeper that they make good investments. 

See? 

Another example of AK's foolishness as a youth.

After a year or so, my collection filled up two small boxes. 







Till today, I still have no idea how much they might be worth or how to dispose of them for a profit. 

They could be worth next to nothing and the only value they could have is one of entertainment whenever I take them out for a browse. 

An exotic "investment" indeed.

Of course, it is not as exotic as investing in fine vintage wines, for example. 

That is big money and I have read horror stories of people losing large sums of money in wine investments. 






Anyway, I digress but if you should be interested, here is a story I read before:

"...historically fraudsters have capitalised on people's ignorance of the wine market to offer substandard products or – because of the delay between ordering and delivery – simply taken money without securing the product in return."
Source: Investors lose millions in fine wine schemes.





One of the things I have been doing more is visiting the public library near my parents' home. 

I really like the comics section although it is rather small. 

Although the selection is more limited and the comics are not "fresh", I have been out of touch for more than two decades and whatever is available is fresh enough for me.

Here is a pic of a comic book I borrowed recently:


In it, the wizard, Alben, said:

"Nothing really belongs to us... Things come and go... Just like life itself which lasts a mere moment, disappears and is born again..."

Being more inclined towards Buddhism, this resonates with me. 





Reminding ourselves that nothing is permanent, we will love people who love us more while becoming more detached to everything else.

Being more conscious of impermanence could improve our mental health.

Learn not to be too affected by the price movements in the stock market, for example. (wink)




Related posts:
1. Three point turn.
2. Counting our blessings.
3. Be comfortable with being invested.

Buddhism and the Science of Happiness - A Personal Exploration of Buddhism in Today's WorldGo on a journey to unravel what it is that makes us feel good about ourselves, our lives and our relationships.

Discover the conjunction between the classical teachings of Buddhism and the latest findings from today's sociologists, psychologists and neuroscientists. 

Discover who we are and what really makes us happy.

Get your personal copy:
Buddhism and the Science of Happiness - A Personal Exploration of Buddhism in Today's World


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