Well, with reference to my earlier post http://dowzjourney.blogspot.com/2009/07/pen-is-mightier-than-sword.html, i got my free Mont Blanc pen.
Not too bad. Total interest incurred 11 dollars (plus some transport cost to claim the pen), and i am the proud owner of a 'branded' pen.
So, some good things are quite cheap too.
Do note that i am not advocating a 'materialistic' or 'high roller' kind of life. Just wish to illustrate that when someone offers a good deal, grab it!
Side note: i was a bit worried that UOB would emboss 'UOB' into the Mont Blanc pen. Turns out that the fear was unfounded. Great!
Monday, October 12, 2009
Monday, September 14, 2009
Bull thoughts 2
The recent bull run also has inspired some thoughts in me.
I had added to my portfolio a little when the market was down. And i am currently now benefitting from it.
Unfortunately, i did not have the guts/conviction to purchase further when the market dropped more.
I am reading Snowball [the latest biography on Warren Buffett], and all the lessons which i read about kept flooding back... i need more intelligence as an investor.
I had added to my portfolio a little when the market was down. And i am currently now benefitting from it.
Unfortunately, i did not have the guts/conviction to purchase further when the market dropped more.
I am reading Snowball [the latest biography on Warren Buffett], and all the lessons which i read about kept flooding back... i need more intelligence as an investor.
Bull?
The last 2 weeks had been a time where the stocks are rising... like a mini-bull. A year has past since the Lehman incident, and the market is back at where it was since a year back. The bleak times in March etc is currently all but forgotten.
Stocks have gain noticeably the past few weeks - exhilarating to see your networth inching up.
Since i have also started a little on options 3 months ago, i made a quick comparison.
I made about 5% on my options capital for the past 3 months. Annualized [assuming all things constant], that would be about 20%. Not too shabby on its on.
However, if one had bought stocks, and had ridden along with the bull, 20% would have been trouced easily.
My thoughts ~ if the market is sideways or moving up/down slowly, the options strategy would be more fruitful. In a sharp rise or decline, longing or shorting stocks would have been the way to go
Stocks have gain noticeably the past few weeks - exhilarating to see your networth inching up.
Since i have also started a little on options 3 months ago, i made a quick comparison.
I made about 5% on my options capital for the past 3 months. Annualized [assuming all things constant], that would be about 20%. Not too shabby on its on.
However, if one had bought stocks, and had ridden along with the bull, 20% would have been trouced easily.
My thoughts ~ if the market is sideways or moving up/down slowly, the options strategy would be more fruitful. In a sharp rise or decline, longing or shorting stocks would have been the way to go
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wacky market
Clearing leave nowadays, hence a little more free to monitor the market.
Just realized that it's a wacky market nowadays. The swings/market gyrations is really really exciting. The screen tickers changing numbers every few seconds. If i'm a trader, i would be MOST tempted to buy/sell. So convenient, within a few clicks of a buttom.
One of my holdings - Sinwa Limited, rose sharply. Just within 2 days, my holdings went up by around 2k based on Sinwa alone - and i have no inkling as to what happened.
No announcements, no nothing.
Well, i'd just continue holding on. This is my all time favourite. I figured that i must have been holding this for at least 5 years. Everything still looks good.
Just realized that it's a wacky market nowadays. The swings/market gyrations is really really exciting. The screen tickers changing numbers every few seconds. If i'm a trader, i would be MOST tempted to buy/sell. So convenient, within a few clicks of a buttom.
One of my holdings - Sinwa Limited, rose sharply. Just within 2 days, my holdings went up by around 2k based on Sinwa alone - and i have no inkling as to what happened.
No announcements, no nothing.
Well, i'd just continue holding on. This is my all time favourite. I figured that i must have been holding this for at least 5 years. Everything still looks good.
Monday, August 31, 2009
Mediaringing up
Well, got a pleasant surprise today when i went to check the price of one of my holdings.
Mediaring went up 8 cents today. That represents a near 50% increase in a single day.
This made me backtrack and see what has changed.
The result?
Spice Innovations Technologies Pte Ltd is on the way to be one of the major shareholder in the company.
What changed?
The underlying business has not changed - only the shareholders changed. Will the new shareholders/management bring the company to greater heights? I am not sure.
But the increase in price is way too much for a (to me) non substantial reason.
Verdict? Sell. i'm going to exit tomorrow
Mediaring went up 8 cents today. That represents a near 50% increase in a single day.
This made me backtrack and see what has changed.
The result?
Spice Innovations Technologies Pte Ltd is on the way to be one of the major shareholder in the company.
What changed?
The underlying business has not changed - only the shareholders changed. Will the new shareholders/management bring the company to greater heights? I am not sure.
But the increase in price is way too much for a (to me) non substantial reason.
Verdict? Sell. i'm going to exit tomorrow
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Nothing much exciting
Well, haven't been updating much. Market's been up and rising.
I did not enter into new positions, or exit any.
Only thing i did was again to sell another 2 options contract, on the same underlying. The market's rising too fast, my options selling had some difficulty catching up.
Optionsxpress require a 100% cash security on my put options, and as my strike price is getting higher and higher, i had difficult in meeting their security requirements. I did not allocate enough play money into Optionsxpress.
This has resulted in me writing contracts at a lower strike price (so that if exercise, i can still afford to fulfil the contract). However, due to the low strike price, i am unlikely to get exercised. The index has to drop > 10% in a month for me to get exercise. Premiums, naturally are getting lower and lower for me then.
I did not enter into new positions, or exit any.
Only thing i did was again to sell another 2 options contract, on the same underlying. The market's rising too fast, my options selling had some difficulty catching up.
Optionsxpress require a 100% cash security on my put options, and as my strike price is getting higher and higher, i had difficult in meeting their security requirements. I did not allocate enough play money into Optionsxpress.
This has resulted in me writing contracts at a lower strike price (so that if exercise, i can still afford to fulfil the contract). However, due to the low strike price, i am unlikely to get exercised. The index has to drop > 10% in a month for me to get exercise. Premiums, naturally are getting lower and lower for me then.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Option expired
The first option i sold was successful. It expired out of the money.
USD 175 into my pocket. I promptly went to sell another option. This second one was more difficult. I was not able to get as good a risk/reward trade-off as the first trade, hence i erred on the side of caution, and sold the put option at a lower price [thereby decreasing the chance of being exercised] instead.
Well, i prefer to be safe than sorry.
USD 175 into my pocket. I promptly went to sell another option. This second one was more difficult. I was not able to get as good a risk/reward trade-off as the first trade, hence i erred on the side of caution, and sold the put option at a lower price [thereby decreasing the chance of being exercised] instead.
Well, i prefer to be safe than sorry.
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