Turtle Portfolio Update - April 2012

Added another routine $ 888 saving to Turtle portfolio. Still no movement in my stocks.

I sleep well lately without have to worry many things like profit taking or cut loss. I am a lot happier these days because I finally have returned to who I am. The real me is a person who invest passively. I can now write when I feel like writing without constantly pressuring myself.

When I was a lot younger, I was very competitive. I want to win in everything I do. I believe I can achieve a lot of things if I set my mind on it. I will engrave the image of an objects that I want in my heart by internalize it by using NLP(Neuro-Linguistic Program) technique.

I will never show the weak side of me. However, there was this girl said something like this to me, it is not not a weakness that we admit that we are weak. Rather, it takes strength and courage to say that we are weak. I came across these phrases again recently

"The weakest thing in the world may overcome the strongest."

or

"The gentlest thing in the world
overcomes the hardest thing in the world.".

I have lost touched with that person for almost 18 years now but I think what she said makes a lot of sense to me, especially if I apply it in the world of investing.

Turtle Portfolio Update - March 2012

It's time for some portfolio records update again.

Cash = 46,830
Book value = 50,643
Return on Capital = 10.38%

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Why Singapore is way ahead of the rest of the world? It's because they ask correct questions and looking into the future way ahead of the rest of the world. Can you see how far out the Housing Development Board of Singapore look? It's almost 40 years ahead.



In 40 years from today, they recognize the shifting trend of ageing population and they also recognize the challenge of these 'old folks' will be battling. Recognizing facts are not good enough, it's only meaningful if you are able to turn analysis into actions. The HDB is so thoughtful when comes to life-cycle needs planning.



When young couples got married, they are qualified to buy a flat. As the couples have steadier and bigger incomes, they help them to upgrade. Finally when the kids grow up and leaving the house, it's time to adjust again -- downsize.

I like the idea of downsizing by selling a bigger house and move into a smaller house. Then you can use the surplus to finance your retirement. This way you don't have to burden your child or children.

In Malaysia I think we can be a bit more lucky because we can also sell our house in the city and move into rural area, by the hills or seaside. I believe a lot of people would like the idea of fresh air, sea breeze, serenity, quietness but not many willing to give up their current life-style. It will be even more complicated if it's involves your the other half, both of you must be able to agree too. The biggest hurdle I think it's mental and ego. It's not easy for somebody to renounce the materialistic world and reduce it to only oxygen, shelter, RM 50/day and food. If you are willing to change for a lighter yoke, you will feel less burdensome and be happy.

You may want to read more here: http://asiaforum.tsaofoundation.org/pdfDownloads/Day1/D1_plenary/plenarySession_1/Housing%20developments%20for%20ageing%20population%20in%20Spore%20-%20yap%20chin%20beng.pdf

Turtle Portfolio Update - Feb '12

I have to split my file into 2 tables because it is getting too big now. You need to click on table 1/2 and table 2/2 to see the details.

Added $ 888 saving to the portfolio. Sold MUI after hanging to it for almost 4 years. A reader asked me what have I learned from MUI. If I stuck to my view of the stock is undervalued based on the underlying of its assets and also mission to turnaround, I've the same convictions. But having assets and not able to unlock it by making it to grow more profits and pay dividend, it has no meaning. Most shareholders patience are thinning. Shareholders have been distributing their shares for almost 1 year instead of accumulating them. Holding on to them is expensive!




I guess I was wrong in judging the management on their plans beyond turnaround. In short, I was right on their defensive plan but I was wrong on their offensive plan.

What about other stocks that I sold? Fundamentals of the stocks that I sold have not changed much but overall sentiments remain bullish while the macro headwinds are coming. Having cash in hand will be handy if I want to buy buck at lower price on all the stocks I sold or I can buy stocks are even cheaper than the stock I sold.

The recent market rallies inspired by four things:

1. Very strong counter rally in the European equities.

2. Very stock tech rally. The tech sector has been beaten down for almost a year, there is again a very strong counter rally going on.

3. Less bad macro-economic news have taken to be a very good news.

4. Supportive liquidity. Jim Rogers said there are 40 elections in 2012. So the present governments around will certainly trying to hold things up or window dressing.

What I'm saying is there is a very strong rotational musical game going on right now. The winners are the one that can get 1 step ahead and not when it become obvious to everyone.

Sold MUI IND

Sold 10,000 shares MUI IND @ 0.26/share

KLCI = 1513.

Turtle Portfolio Update - Jan 2012

To many 2011 can be a disappointing year. KLCI ended flat compared to beginning of 2011.

I managed to turn in 3.67% annual compounding return for Turtle portfolio that I started about 47 months ago. I was thrilled last year because I achieved my target of 10% annual compounding return. It was a good year for everybody for sure. I am falling short of my 10% annual compounding return this year. Blame it to a flat year? Noooooo....

I supposed there is no need to come out with a long list of reasons why I should be happy or to thrash myself. Kicking myself harder or shower with more gentle words on myself will not help me to achieve my target. I am man enough to accept that I did not reach my target this year. I should never lower my bar of 10% target. 10% means 10%.

Unlike many need to re-write their new year resolutions, my annual review is usually simple. All I need is to measure myself against long term objectives that I set.

I have set an expiry date for this blog since day one(you may want to check out my first entry). I have made a 15 years commitment or 180 months. This is what I called BEGIN with the END in MIND. By February 12, 2023 this blog will no longer be talking.

I have just completed about 26% of this journey. I still have three quarter to go. I also made a goal to beat professional investors of which I have no idea whether I have done that or not.

I have no idea what 2012 will bring. My attitude towards life is like Forest Gump. “Momma always said life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.“

Just do one thing at a time. Keep walking buddy.

Turtle Portfolio Update - Dec '2011

I keep reminding myself on two things

1. how to fall safely and
2. get back up gracefully.

My brain is probably weighs around 1,300 gms. Small isn't it? It's so small that I cannot afford to store less than 1 byte four-letter-word called: Q-U-I-T.

I was too conscious of my public performance, keep looking at scoreboard, causing me to keep missing my moves. I hope one day, everything in the world will just disappear - in complete silence. I'm completely free, nothing to fear. It's just me and my stage. Just moves, dance and dance and dance...............

Portfolio Update

Recent market rebound added 1.3% gains to portfolio. Now stood at 9.3% gains through Oct 13, 2011. At the peak of the market, my Turtle portfolio gain only 20%, so I am not upset about it. I estimated that I can pick up another 2 more points when market is having less bad news.

I guess I shocked many from time to time but this time would be a Richter 8 quake shocked. Some reacted more than others but I believe these are good people. Those care enough will voice out their opinions. Thank you for everyone concern. I have not lost my minds nor I have been capitulated.

I see a number of stocks got bashed down a lot more than the index got bashed down. I know I have sold many strong fundamental stocks. I am thankful for that because it is precisely they are strong I did not suffer much, not like 50-60% down from the peak.

I believe a lot of people regretted that they sold their stocks two weeks ago, when they saw the markets accelerated sharply right after the hair pin turn, the got panic and rushed back to buy crazily.

Bad macro news from time to time will flush out the weak holders. With plenty of cash now, I am going to focus on my next few steps. It is time to identify the most mis-priced stocks now. Don't get me wrong that I want to jump back to market now. All I am saying is our time now should be devoted to look at companies rather than macro pictures. Macro big picture is a done deal, it will continue to drift for a while.

Have a nice weekend.

Sold PIE and CIMBC25

KLCI 1444.87

Sold 1,000 shares of PIE @ 3.45
Sold 4,000 shares of CIMBX25 @ 0.83

Two more dogs to go.

Portfolio Update -- Correction

Double Entry accounting is one of the greatest invention of mankind. It's a great way of recording transactions and can detect our slightest mistakes, up to decimal points.

I felt very strange when I looked at my earlier scorecard. How come my book value was 50 k but but my portfolio gain was only 3 k plus. It's either I overstated my assets or I under-recorded my investment gains. Tried to trace my records but finally gave up. I resorted to rebuild the whole portfolio from ground up by using old fashion way -- Double Entry. Finally got the book balanced. See this trial balance. A lot of works but worth it. Very satisfied now.



Since it's only involving a few simple accounts, I can do it with Excel. If I can get accounting software will be great but I think it's quite costly.



Never I anticipated this simple tracking has evolved into more and more complex as time grow. Not sure how my cash was overstated by almost 7k. Luckily the rest of the stuffs were correct. My cash now stood at 33 k.

Portfolio Update - October 2011

Added $888 saving for October 2011.

Okay, it's time to tally score. My portfolio stood at 8% gain through 6 October 2011. Cash is now around $40,000 on book value of $51,000. Almost 80% cash. The remaining stocks are still up for sales and hopefully I can salvage some of these dogs during counter rally.

The big pressure now is how to deploy $ 40,000 cash. My goal is get a 25% return on this $ 40,000 cash. This will put my portfolio back on track to achieve 10% return per annum. I hope my readers will understand me better now. It's no point to dwell in a decision I made. Yeah, looks pretty stupid when I got trapped by the market turnaround after hitting a new low. When the trigger alarmed, I have to act mean I have to act no matter how stupid I look. I have a plan and I have to stick with the plan.

The mission now is to get a 25% return on $40,000. I still need to wait very patiently before swinging my bat.

KLCI 1361. Sold Many Stocks

I am travelling this week. The timing has been very, well what shall I say ? Very untimely. When I woke up this morning, I saw the DJI already flashed red. I knew I have to do some selling today. I think the stock markets around the world are breaking down. It has been a long time that I don't have this discomfort level. I believe selling wave is brewing.

I sold these stocks to raise cash.

KSL 1,500 shares @ 1.31

Boustead 1,000 shares @ 4.84

BAT 100 shares @ 44.12

Amway 500 shares @ 8.55

iCapital 4,000 shares @ 1.98

SOP 1,000 shares @ 3.85

Tried to sell these stocks today but the prices are not good/poor liquidity......PIE, CIMBX25, MUI and EAH. Already lining up for sale.

Will update more over the weekend.

Turtle bought 100 shares of BAT

Bought 100 shares of BAT at $ 45.38/share. KLCI 1,521

Portfolio Update - August

I want to thank a group of readers that have been following my blog regardless of my conditions. I thought readership could gone down to zero due to extreme inactivity on my part. Instead, you come back faithful to check out whether I've updated my blog. I can't thank you enough. Low activity was one thing but I also felt that I made posting for the sake of posting but you still leave encouraging comments. And your encouragement has kept my afloat. Thank you.

To blog is not easy, especially you have been doing it for a while. We can run out of words. After saying certain things for while, your readers will know almost exactly what you are going to say because they "know" you quite well already. The other aspect is preparation, when I was hard pressed for time this month, I really felt the pressure.

What is even more difficult is the lukewarm market conditions. The bulls and bears were fighting for control which make things very difficult. Writer can sound pretty stupid because when they sound bullish, the bears will whack them the moment they hit publish post button. When they try to sound bearish, the bulls will trample them. When they say something bullish one day and bearish another day, they will look fickle minded and truly will look like they don't know what they are doing. This happen to stock analysts as well.

Turtle portfolio crossed 50,000 for the first time. I am glad that I did not lose my pant while tracking this extremely difficult market. Sikit sikit lama lama jadi bukit is certainly works out well. I do not have intention to lecture anyone but this is a testimony of how our wealth will grow day by day as long as we form the saving habits. You can also see yourself in my portfolio that not every transaction will make money. You can also see my other mistakes like selling out too early for Sapura Crest and Genting. You can also see that I am hanging on to MUI(call it aversion to loss if you will). The point is you don't have to be perfect when comes to investing. I guess we should be okay as long as we win more than we lose.

I was glad that my dividend strategy and picking on plantation stock help me to preserve my portfolio. I think one should continue to stick to high dividend yield stocks strategy under this environment. We should also start to read up cyclical stocks, I am not asking you to rush in but I think they got beaten up pretty badly. One of them that I am watching is Unisem. I'm waiting for more disappointing news in their coming quarterly results and hope that they got bash down to crazy price.

Turtle bought 8,000 shares of EA Holding

KLCI = 1,523.

Bought 8,000 shares of EA Holding at $ 0.405/share.

Malaysia Finance blog has done all the heavy lifting job analyzing the company. All Turtle needs to do is to wait for the right timing and opportunity.

Turtle Portfolio Update -- May 11

Added 888 saving to portfolio. There was some formula error in my spreadsheet, missed out a few months of capital and it has been corrected now. Sorry for any inconvenience caused. After corrected the mistake, portfolio stood at 22% gain.

Looks like commodities complex is correcting now.

The ringgit, which was weaker against the US dollar in the week just ended, is likely to retreat further next week to within the 3.0130 and 3.0200 levels, dealers said.

The local unit is also expected to see a further downside next week as demand is centered on the greenback, a dealer said.

"The market is liquidating long commodities and long Asian currencies now. This is expected to contribute to a weaker ringgit.

Read more: Ringgit likely to see further downside http://www.btimes.com.my/Current_News/BTIMES/articles/20110507115318/Article/index_html#ixzz1LlUMLkdE

This has set the tone of more equities weaknesses ahead. Like I said, we are going to see the consolidation, fluctuation within a band. It will move a bit lower but it will somehow find a support. It's also means that most likely it's a trader market for the next few months. A buy and hold portfolio like Turtle may be going no where but that is the objective of this portfolio so I will leave it alone.

Turtle bought 1,000 shares PIE @ 4.24/share

KLCI = 1561

Turtle Portfolio Update - April 2011

Portfolio return bounced back to above 25%. Cash level is getting closer to 34%, still have some work to do to get it down to 20%. Will not want to get fully invested as I believe the environment will remain volatile and having spare cash will be handy.

Turtle bought 1,000 SOP shares @ 3.51/share

Turtle Portfolio Update - March 2011

Some records update. Cash stood at 43% of book value, it's a bit high I know but it will be handy under current scenario of very uncertain market conditions.

Sold 1,000 Faber shares

Sold 1,000 Faber shares at $ 1.97. At one glance, the results were disappointing but excluding one off charges, it is not as bad as it seems. However, I have to raise cash bit, so selling down some stocks that don't have very positive sentiments is not a bad idea.