Positions Round Up: January 2019

2019 has started off quite well. This was in part due to the heavy sell off in late December 2018.

In the increase volatility, some opportunities have emerged. I however lacked dry powder around that time to purchase several stocks that were heavily sold, in particular Fraser & Neave and Bursa Malaysia.

The two stocks had since rebound and gained capital-wise 11% and 8%, respectively. For Fraser and Neave, had one bought into the dip and stayed at least until end of January, he'd be reaping the 30.5 sen dividends as well, for a total gain of ~12%.

Bursa Malaysia meanwhile announced 11.6 sen dividends, with ex-date on 15th February.

This experience has taught me to always have dry powder set aside, and never to touch it unless an extremely attractive buying opportunity surfaced.

Nevertheless, January 2019 was also a month where two stocks that I followed suddenly dipped. I capitalized on that chance to purchase Petronas Chemical and Hartalega.

Petronas Chemical, a KLCI component stock, slipped starting early January, and continued zig zagging for the rest of the month.

Hartalega, a medium grower, slipped as well. Reportedly in the press due to "concern on the strengthening Ringgit". When the Ringgit is weak, you worry. When the Ringgit is strong, you worry about something else.  Well, must be hard to be regular traders to concern themselves to many variable flying around in the World...

To do so, I sold my remaining positions in MYETF MSCI Malaysia Islamic Dividend for a meager 1% gain, and additionally injected more capital (an addition of ~7%) into my portfolio.

Here, as I have previously realized, I need to refine my buying skills as I could've saved a bit more capital had I bought more intelligently. Things to remember next time. Patience, and skills. And more patience.

As at 31st January, my portfolio has produced -5.3% total return since inception, including ~2.6% dividends paid (only Inari for this year so far). As a comparison, at end of December last year my portfolio was at -7.8% on total return.

So not a bad January so far. Not bad at all.

Till then, stay knowledgable, and stay invested. Turn off the financial porn.