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Looking for an inexpensive and sleek notebook? This looks cool and the price is amazing!

CPU: Intel Atom D525 Dual Core, 1.8GHz.)
Chips: Intel NA NM10.
OS: Windows XP.
Hard disk: 64GB SSD.
System memory: DDR3 4.0GB.
Aluminum Shell Slim Notebook Computer.
Screen: 13.3 inch TFT color LCD display, resolution: 1366 x 768.
Keyboard: 84 key keyboard.
Touchpad: With touchpad.
WIFI: 802.11b/g/n.
LAN: 100Mbps Ethernet Access.
Storage device: Reader modules (SD/MS/MMC),MAX. 32GB.
Camera: 1.3 mega pixels camera.
I/O Port: 3.5mm audio jack, 2 USB 2.0 ports, Card Reader (SD/MS/MMC), DC IN, Mini HDMI. Adapter power supply: 100-240V Input; 19V/2.2A DC Output.
Battery: 7.4V/4200mAh.
Dimension: 334.5 x 223.5 x 21.8mm.
Weight: 1.45kg.
Language: English   

US$ 464.96! Free shipping!

Check it out:
13.3 inch Aluminum Shell Slim AirBook Notebook Computer with WIFI

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Black, white or grey?

I enjoy reading but the kind of stuff I read is mostly related to money and investments these days. Gone are the days when I would read a book of fiction every week.

A friend told me I have no life because I don't read the "Life" section of The Straits Times. Droll.

Anyway, just now, I read a story in Yahoo which evoked within me a mixed feeling of condemnation and sadness for the guilty party. Many times, things are not black or white although I would prefer for them to be so as it would make life easier.

This story has nothing to do with money and investments:

A 32-year-old female Singaporean teacher was sentenced to a year in jail on Monday for having sex with a 15-year-old boy in her school, local media reported.

The teacher, who was married with two children, started a relationship with the student last year after she started counselling him, the Straits Times daily reported on its website.

The teacher-student-monument in Rostock, Germany.

I think it is more common to read about male teachers in such cases or am I being sexist here?

After reading the story, my initial reaction was that the female teacher deserves the punishment. Pure and simple. Then, although I still think she should be punished, I feel a bit sad for her.

Under Singapore law, an adult found guilty of engaging sexual intercourse with anyone under the age of 16 -- even if it's consensual -- faces up to 10 years' imprisonment, a fine or both.

The boy is one year away from being legal. Could they not have been really in love?

Of course, there are other issues involved here such as how the teacher abused a position of power and trust. So, if the boy had been a JC student, the teacher could still have been dismissed by MOE but she would have been spared a jail sentence?

Once people are married, they are no longer fully their own person. They are only half a person. Whatever they do, they should think of the other half. If they have children, the responsibility becomes heavier as the children could be psychologically scarred for life through parents' thoughtless behaviour. So, I feel sad for her family too.

Then, I thought perhaps the boy's family could have thought about the teacher's situation and how they could have dealt with the issue differently. People do wrong sometimes. Perhaps, a private meeting with the teacher and a warning that she should stay away from their son would suffice?

Psychiatrists found "no predatory paedophilic tendencies" in the teacher. So, she is not a threat to the young in society at large. Of course, this fact only came to light because the case went to Court.

In a different time and age, could this have had a different outcome?

Read full story: here.

A blast from the past: Singapore blue chips or S-REITs?

I have been blogging for close to three years and looking back, I was a rather prolific blogger. Over the weekend, I read some of my older blog posts and found one which I have almost totally forgotten about.

Those were the days when S-REITs were largely unloved and shunned. Written in the first year of my blog's creation, to anyone who would listen, it was an effort to show that S-REITs could be great investments too.

Readers from my blog's early days might or might not remember this blog post but, I believe, all readers could benefit from the blog post as a reminder for us not to be bigots. It is a reminder to myself as well as I find that I have an increasing propensity to become mired in mental mud as I grow older. Feel the same way?

Then, you might want to read an ASSI forgotten classic:
Building and preserving our wealth: Singapore blue chips or S-REITs?

Three point turn!

This weekend, I am going to leave you with a very short blog post. Nothing original but sometimes, we need a few reminders, don't we?

Man is created in the image and likeness of God but there is nothing Godly about Man.

So, here are the three points which could turn our lives (for the better):

1.  We only need so much money in life. The rest is for showing off.

2.  Keep our needs simple and our wants few. We will have less money problems that way.

3.  Know what and who matter to us. Don't waste time and money on others.

True or not?





I hope we are all truly happier individuals over time. Have a good weekend, everybody.

"Every man is rich or poor according to the proportion between his desires and his enjoyments." (Samuel Johnson)

AIMS AMP Capital Industrial REIT: 2Q 2013.

A DPU of 2.5c has been announced. The REIT goes XD on 2 Nov 2012 and the income distribution is payable on 20 Dec 2012.

Gearing is comfortable at 31.5%. This leaves ample debt headroom for further yield accretive initiatives.

The REIT now has a new source of funding via a $500m Medium Term Note Program. It issued a $100m 4 years 4.9% fixed rate notes due in August 2016. Being an unsecured facility, the cost of debt is dearer but if we should continue to see positive rental reversions, this is still acceptable.

Indeed, the REIT manager has not disappointed as they have been successful in renewing leases with higher weighted average rental with positive rental reversion of some 17.3%. They have also reduced concentration risk as the proportion of leases expiring by 2013 have reduced from 35.7% one year ago to 9.9%. Of course, it remains to be seen if they could secure positive rental reversions by renewing the 9.9% now remaining. Negotiations are in progress.

The management should also continue to work towards 100% occupancy although, at 99.2%, it is already above average for industrial properties in Singapore.

Average security deposit of 7.2 months per property provides a peace of mind.

In the papers, it is reported that distributable income reduced some 5.4% but on a quarter to quarter basis, the reduction is much lesser at 0.6%. So, I wouldn't be too worried.

Although gross property income improved some 3% quarter on quarter, NPI reduced 1.4% due to an increase of 13.9% in property operating expenses. This includes repair and maintenance of some properties which should be a one off expense. Having said this, the management should continue to be prudent in managing expenses.

See presentation slides: here.
See financial statement: here.

Related post:
AIMS AMP Capital Industrial REIT: 1Q FY2013.

First REIT: 3Q 2012.

As the contribution from the divestment of its Adam Road property has run out, First REIT's DPU sees a reduction of 12.5%, quarter on quarter, from 1.92 to 1.68c.

Year on year, however, DPU has improved from 1.58c to 1.68c.

I would say that First REIT has produced sterling results yet again.

Income distribution is payable on 29 November 2012.

See financial statement: here.

Related post:
First REIT: 2Q 2012.

LMIR: More acquisitions and lesser DPU again.

The latest acquisitions of Pejaten Village and Binjai Supermall will further reduce DPU.

Of so many REITs I am vested in, LMIR is one which has constantly disappointed in more ways than one.

The management has listed the advantages of acquiring these malls and they sound like a rehash from their equally distasteful purchase of 4 malls recently:

1. Acquisitions are at a discount to NAV.
2. Enhance earnings of the Trust.
3. Properties are of good quality.
4. Increase economies of scale in operation and marketing.
5. Minimise concentration risk.

The price tag for the purchase of the two malls: $126.5m
NPI of the two malls: $7.0m
NPI yield: 5.53%

Just like its recent purchase of 4 malls, these acquisitions are not NPI yield accretive. NPI yield of the REIT's portfolio is being gradually diluted with these overpriced purchases.

It does not matter that purchases are at a discount to valuation. They are still too expensive if ordinary unit holders are getting less income even as the REIT's asset base grows! If there is nothing worth buying, don't buy anything. Doesn't sound too difficult or does it?

The primary beneficiary here is the REIT's manager as they will be paid an Acquisition Fee equal to 1% of the purchase price which works out to be about $1.3m!

I think Ms. Viven Sitiabudi should consider retiring as CEO.

Read announcement: here.

Related post:
LMIR: More benefits from acquiring 4 malls?