I always say that I don't know everything there is to know. I am not humble. I am just being honest. I am also not a very good investor. Again, I am not humble. I am just being honest.
So, when I get very difficult questions, I like to share the questions and hope that I will learn from other people who might have answers.
Here is a message from a reader:
Dear AK,
Hope all is well with you. I attended the second chit chat session that you organised. If you remember, I was the one who asked you about Malaysian Ringgit. I had some back then and eventually I remitted it out to Sg in US$ as I hope I can make some forex gain eventually.
If I were to ask any relationship managers what to invest in, they will advice that I buy products like bonds or funds that give out dividends. If I were to suggest US bank stocks, they will suggest products like structure notes which band 3 bank stocks and gets too complicating for me. My experience with relationship managers have never been good and most of the time I ended up losing or ended in positive territory after taking interest earned into account.
I am thinking of putting it in stocks and since with US$, I can only either purchase stocks listed in NYSE /Nasdaq or US$ denominated stock in SGX. I have shortlisted a few US$ counters in SGX and am of course leaning more towards the first two that give much higher dividend and perhaps GM. I would love if I can hear your view and advice especially on HPHT.
At this stage, I don't want too much risk and am more into capital preservation and hoping to get good dividends. Please feel free to make any other suggestions.
SGX
Hutchinson Port Holdings Trust 9%
Mandarin Oriental International 4.33%
Jardine Strategic Holdings 0-89%
Jardine Matheson Holdings 2.68%
HongKong Land Holdings 2.36%
Dairy Farm Internationals. 2,64%
NYSE
General Motors 4.58%
General Electrics 3.5%
Source: Bloomberg.
I had meant to write to you weeks ago but was kinda pei she to trouble you and to pick your brain but I know you have always been most generous with your sharing and so I have finally done it ! Thanks for sparing me some of your time smile emoticon
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Second "Evening with AK and friends" early this year. |
My reply:
I am sure you gave the matter much thought before converting your Ringgit to US$. I am happy for you.
With regards to your question on what to invest in, I believe you are right to avoid bond funds.
I don't know about the other stuff you asked about apart from HPH Trust. You could do a search in my blog for this and you will see what I think of it.
If you like, I could extract some bits of your message to me and share them on my blog to see what others have to say. I don't know everything there is to know, for sure.
So, if anyone has any good ideas to share, please feel free to do so in the comments section.
Related posts:
1.
Second "Evening with AK and friends".
2.
Nobody cares more about our money than we do.
3.
HPH Trust: Storm clouds over a safe harbour?