General market “The biggest risk of all is the possibility of rising interest rates. The downward trend in rates is over (if we can believe the Fed’s assurance that it won’t take nominal rates into negative territory). Thus, while interest rates can rise from here, they can’t decline. This creates a negatively asymmetrical proposition. Can… Continue reading Q1 2021
General From a health perspective, we are happy with the progress of widely distributed testing, enforced social distancing, mass mask wearing and the latest, strong vaccine pipeline with some major ones currently being used to inoculate front line workers and people who are in the key risked category. For those who are interested in a… Continue reading FY2020
Performance Since the depth of the Covid-19 induced crisis, the market has increased by 50%. The bullish market was driven by both fiscal and monetary stimulus from the US government and US central bank. What we learned from observing the period is that most of the bullishness might have been more driven by the fiscal… Continue reading Q3 2020
The comeback As noted in the Q1-2020 blog post, we would have bought more stocks even on a monthly basis if our base case had happened. Instead the worst case happened. The worst case is characterized by the c.40% increase in the S&P 500 from its trough of 2237 at the end of March 2020.… Continue reading Q2 2020
Portfolio As mentioned in previous quarters, I continue to trek along and to slowly close the underperforming gap. The record started at the same time I started my first full time job and had real money to save. I started with a combination of passive and active funds, then moved to owning individual stocks in… Continue reading Q1 2020
The portfolio increased 22.6% for the year, compared to 24.3%, 20.7%, and 21.3% of the S&P 500, MSCI ACWI and FTSE All World total return (GBP) indices respectively. (“The indices”). Since inception, the portfolio has compounded at a 13.0% rate vs 16.2%, 13.8% and 15% of the indices. From 28 Feb 2018 (when I started… Continue reading 2019 roundup
“For most people, the first $100k is a long slog” – Charlie Munger Portfolio Saving Portfolio The portfolio YTD has returned 20.5% vs 21% achieved by the S&P 500 (GBP). The portfolio saw quite a bit of activities in q2 and 3 as I firm up my conviction on several companies. Private equity I bought… Continue reading 2019 update
As at 16 August 2019 The portfolio is held with Interactive Broker, a very low-cost brokerage platform which charges $1 per trade and offers wide access to international markets and option markets. The remaining of the portfolio is in cash. As of 16 August 2019, cash accounts for c.7% of the portfolio.
My paper record for the first half of 2019 looks poor. For the global portfolio, the paper record falls behind the S&P 500 (GBP, net including dividends) by 5.8% as our top 2 largest holdings underperformed the S&P 500: Alphabet and Berkshire. My thoughts are that owning exceptional companies with awesome return on tangible capital,… Continue reading First half 2019
Some short updates on the Viet and global portfolios Viet portfolio The Viet portfolio represents around 5% of my parents’ net-worth. The portfolio is currently invested in 4 companies: Coteccons – led by Mr Nguyen Ba Duong, it is the largest contractor in Vietnam. It has expertise in projects ranging from residential housing to industrial… Continue reading Updates – May 2019
One idea at a time 