What stock to buy? (2)

Wow! Everyone must have missed yesterday's tremendous rally which saw the STI surge close to 40 points albeit on thin volumes. I have been doing my sums and looking at the charts and assessing the global situation. My sums look a bit precarious, as I intend to go overseas for one more trip as well as get a big item for my hobby. The charts tell me that there is a higher possibility of downside (2,900 - 3,000) but as we have witnessed, sinking below 3,000 seems like a hard task to accomplish. And the global situation tells me that yes, the financial stimulus are ending and debt fears are rising, but overall economies look firm (less China)- any financial apocalypse should be priced in.

So the question is, if I believe what I have said earlier, that there will be short term weaknesses but by the year's end all will be well, which stock should I buy? As MusicWhiz had posted earlier, it has been a time for contemplation and step up research since the markets are offering stocks on sale. Unfortunately for me, I have been a bit tight travelling and busy and work. On one hand, i am spared the gut wrenching market plunges but on the other, I am not attuned to which stocks hold value.

Tentatively, I will look through the stocks that I have covered before before making my move. What about you? What stock will you buy this time?

Money well spent?

I went to Vietnam from 9 - 16 June. I spent 8 days there of which 1 full day was spent at the airport.Inclusive of my taxi to Changi Airport there, my expenditure for the trip was close to SGD 1,150 assuming a USD/SGD exchange rate of 1.3. Bulk of the expenditure went to the flights, as I had to make additional trips to visit the other cities of Vietnam - Ho Chi Min, Danang and Saigon. My friend chose to stay in a budget hotel and that was a bit steep for me considering I was alone in the room and he could share it with his girlfriend. Nonetheless, I found the room rates acceptable considering that I do not intend to stay in a bed and breakfast style inn, yet.

Should I payoff my education loan at one shot?

It will be close to 3 years since I graduated from University. The cost of my degree was 4 times $6,000 = $24,000. Of which, 75 percent was paid from my Dad's CPF monies. After leaving the University for one year, I opted to pay $288 per month, to repay the monies owed to my Dad's account, including interest that would have been accrued.

back from Vietnam

I was away in Vietnam for the past week. I could access my the Internet but then the blogger had some issues. Overall, the trip was good. A good mix of touristy stuff and museums and activities. The latter included exploring the Marble Mountains in Danang as well as the coves in Halong Bay some way off Hanoi.

Keppel on track to deliver P-56 to Petrobras

Singapore, 5 June 2011 – The consortium of Keppel Offshore & Marine Ltd (Keppel O&M) and Technip Engenharia S/A is on track to deliver the P-56 Floating Production Unit (FPU) to Petrobras Netherlands BV (PNBV), safely, on time and within budget. The first FPU completely built in Brazil, P-56 achieved 9 million man-hours without lost time incidents. With a displacement of 50,000 tonnes, this massive FPU, one of the world’s largest, measures 110 metres in length and width, and 125 metres in height. Brazilian President HE Dilma Rouseff witnessed the christening of P-56 by congresswoman Luiza Erundina at Keppel FELS Brasil’s BrasFELS shipyard in Angra dos Reis. Also present were the Governor of Rio de Janeiro, Mr Sergio Cabral, Petrobras’ President Mr Jose Sergio Gabrielli, Keppel’s management and over 8,000 Brazilian shipyard workers. Mr Choo Chiau Beng, Chairman of Keppel O&M and non-resident Ambassador of Singapore to Brazil said, “P-56 is a shining example of the technology expertise and execution capabilities built up by BrasFELS and Brazil’s offshore and marine industry.

Oil and Gas Asia 2011 (OGA 2011)

I was in Kuala Lumpur the past 3 days to attend the Oil and Gas Asia 2011 (OGA 2011) as a visitor. OGA 2011 is held once every two years and the big Malaysian oil and gas players as well as international ones, attend this exhibit to make known their presence in the region. There were also the smaller players as well, which took this opportunity to identify business leads.

portfolio down ytd as small caps slide

I am out of country without a laptop. Just a quick update for the record.

Portfolio value 39,715
New stock 3,850



I'm slowly losing that swagger as my portfolio continues to under perform. I promise a comprehensive review of my stocks once i get my exams and holidays out of the way.