Jess Lee Kar Wei

What a CNY for this Seremban lass. Many might now know that she won the unbelievably popular and harsh singing competition in Taiwan, One Million Star. She is just 22, but many would not know her history and tenacious climb to be a recording artiste.She entered Malaysian Idol's first season in 2004, fumbled badly at auditions, but was still invited back to perform at the finals with a reverberating Kaulah Segala Nya. That was 7 years ago. She did improve when she entered Astro Star Quest in 2008.The never say die, but keep learning attitude kept her going, and she made it after 7 years .... and she is still just 22. Now she has a recording contract with Warner Music Group.Oh, btw, she also went and got her chemistry degree from UKM in between all that.Whatever you do, I know there are a lot...

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Have A Healthy, Prosperous and Joyful Year!

Drive safe, people ...

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Why Japan's Debt Is A Non-Issue

On January 27, 2011, S&P lowered Japan's long-term sovereign debt rating for the first time in nine years to AA- from AA. According to S&P, the government "lacks a coherent strategy" to tackle Japan's debt load, which could lead government debt ratios to peak only in the mid-2020s. Japan's gross-public-debt-to-GDP ratio, which was 189.3% in 2009, is the highest among developed economies.Though a sovereign debt crisis like that of Greece is not imminent, without increasing the national tax burden—which is relatively low compared to other major economies—Japan will not be able to sustain public spending without incurring more debt....

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Comments For Moderation

I have to apologise as I only realised there were plenty of comments waiting for me in the moderation mode. I thought (wrongly) that those comments were spams in general. I thought with 6,000 over daily readers, surely cannot have so few comments, right, or my readers are the silent type, lol. So sorry, I will visit the comments moderation page daily from now on. It was silly because I still get comments coming through to my malaysiafinance gmail inbox, so I thought that was it. The reality is, a small percentage crept through and the rest are left in the moderation box... I was shocked and embaressed that there were 640 awaiting my moderation, of course most were indeed spams.Those who requests a blog link exchange - I would have linked you guys up without you asking. If you have to ask,...

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Another TVB Drama In The Making

By Shai Oster and Kate O'Keeffe, Wall Street JournalHONG KONG—A behind-the-scenes power struggle for control of one of the world's greatest casino empires has burst into the open, revealing deep fissures in the family of ailing 89-year-old billionaire Stanley Ho. Opposing members of Mr. Ho's sprawling family publicly accused each other of trying to seize Mr. Ho's controlling 18% stake in SJM Holdings Ltd., the Hong Kong-listed operator of his flagship Macau casinos. The stake is estimated to be worth $1.7 billion. Lawyers who said they represent SJM Chairman Stanley Ho challenged the announcement...

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Mah Sing Looks Ripe For A Charge

We have had a tremendous run in SP Setia-WB, as mentioned before, the upside might be as good now as the bulk of news is out there. Although Mah Sing has had a good run up over the past 6 months as well, one should not overlook the further upside on the stock. I like it because of the recent strategies they have employed and is poised for a charge judging from the developments, volume and price movements.They have sealed two landbank deals in November 2010 spending RM323.8m which would yield a combined GDV of RM2bn. The land include 61 acres of freehold land in Batu Ferringhi and 4.7 acres in Jalan Ampang (MCity project). Mah Sing had also earlier...

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Roubini On Malaysia

Malaysia's policy makers have been forced to confront the factors blocking the country’s rise to high-income status. Facing higher labor costs, the economy has been unable to maintain a growth model based on low-value-added manufacturing that was largely successful for the 30 years prior to the 1997 Asian financial crisis.One of the most noticeable manifestations of this so-called middle-income trap has been the secular decline of Malaysia’s once-dominant electronics and electrical products (E&E) sector, examined in “Still Not a Tiger: The Decline of Malaysia’s Electronics Sector,” available exclusively to clients. At the sector’s...

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How Is The Patient

The global economy, time to take its temperature. It has been a difficult patient, let's see if his troubled parts are getting any better:US - Beige Book report for 4Q 2010, US economic activity expanding moderatelyFOMC - Meeting indicates no premature unwinding of QE2US Housing - November figures showed sales rose but recovery is still mutedIndia - Stocks there are likely to be volatile as inflationary fears will trigger an aggressive response in rate hikes 1H2011France - Consumer confidence declines and unemployment stays stubborn at 9.7%, still industrial output grew 2.3% in NovemberGermany - Retail sales fell 2.4% but outlook is OK, factory orders grew 5.2% in November, business confidence reached record highs in DecemberUK - GDP for Q1, Q2 and Q3 all revised downwards, still very sluggish,...

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Early CNY For The Market?

The question on everyone is asking is what the hell happened to the market over the last three days? Suddenly, it went to sleep, its like all the syndicates went to play golf. OK, that is not a fair comment but the market momentum kinda got sucked out for no apparent reason. There is no bad market news, nothing politically negative. Ask a remisier or dealer they will dig deep to give you an answer, and that answer will be "Aiyah, investors pulling out money from the market la for CNY".What kind of b.s. reasoning is that? Is this the first year we are having CNY?? It seems to me that its a healthy correction but nobody seems to think it is one. We see popular stocks dropping 2-3% a day, nothing major, we see volume on popular stocks dropping by 50% or more, but nothing major. If you check back...

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Market Outlook 2011 / DB

Let's see which research house is most bullish. Got my hands on Deutsche Bank's prognosis for 2011. My comments in colour. Off to a strong start (3.9% YTD); transformation underway In an ASEAN context, Deutsche Bank is positive on the Malaysian market in 2011. Confounding the skeptics, Malaysia is (finally) delivering on its ambitious transformation plans and this is increasingly being recognised by the market. Food and fuel subsidies are gradually being abolished (kerosene +4.2% since November, diesel +8.6%). This is a bold political move given decades of hefty subsidies. (Yes, they are bold moves, and necessary as well. Will that hit their...

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Why I Like Century Logistics

In the midst of a bull run, it is hard to stick to your principles of investing. You get dragged to punting stocks left right and center. Stocks you would never consider suddenly looked attractive. Still, one must shift their investing strategy slightly depending on the markets, without sacrificing the basic tenets of investing. As prices run, even so-so counters will rise. It just takes that much harder to locate gems about to start a run up - my type of strategic investing.Well, Century Logistics fits the bill as the long striving business nurturer. Following the difficult global trading conditions in 2008 and 2009, the company has maintained...

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Commentary On Hot Stocks

Well, its been oil and gas and more oil and gas, does it really matter which counter?SP Setia - 500% run for the warrants, I am happy, upside limited from here on.Affin - denied by CIMB and Affin, bottomline Affin will have to merge with someone within 6 months, bottomline, its still cheap ... single girl at a party with drunks, action not over yet.Hap Seng Consolidated - the selling over last 2 days was apparently by a fund (local), over done, scary though ... if go through exercise should come out ahead even if you bought at RM7.40.Air Asia - RM3.30 is about right in this run up.Gamuda - haven't moved really.DRB Hicom - when people say its a syndicate play, I say b.s., which syndicate has that kind of money to bring it up from 1.40 to 2.20??? shares being mopped up by you know who, an exercise...

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Tokyo Trip

I have tons of photos on my camera, my iPhone, my friend's iPhone ... its so hard to get organised. I could be posting for a few days straight on this trip alone. Not my first time to Japan, but it was well organised. Now that AirAsiaX flies to Haneda, there is no need to join a tour, just take a similar itinerary as below free and easy:Day 1: Asakusa, Sensoji temple, the rows of traditional snacks cooked on the spot delicious, just remember that you should not be eating as you walk, stay in one corner and finish your snack. Walk around Asakusa and then drop by Ginza.Day 2: Roam Roponggi, esp Roponggi Hills, a modern architecture marvel. Move...

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On My Way Back

Its been a tiring 8 days in the Land of the Rising Sun ... now stuck at Changi on my way back to KL. Read The Straits Times and thought it was very funny to see UOB Kay Hian circulating a memo to thier staff on "how to do self exclusion" from the 2 integrated resorts. You can actually apply to have yourself barred from entering the two casinos, or your parents or spouse could do that for you as well, provided there are sufficient proof that you are a problem gambler.Now, why would a top local broking house do that? Its a bit embarressing. A gentle reminder? Or do you already know of problem gamblers within your midst? Must be some over-power-hungry HR staffer trying to win brownie points.As if you didn't already know that stocks investing is almost like going to the casino - except that we...

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Hap Seng Consolidated Revisited

Assume 1,000 Hap Seng ConsolidatedCost = RM7,500Bonus Issue: 2,000 sharesTotal shares: 3,000 sharesRights Issue (1 for 5): 600 shares @ RM1.33 = RM798Warrants Issue (1 for 5): 600 warrants freeTotal cost: RM8,298Holdings: 3,600 shares + 600 warrantsTheoretical ex-all share price: RM3.00 - RM3.20Theoretical warrant price: RM1.50 - RM1.80Dividend @ 11 sen = RM396Shares Value: RM10,800 - RM11,520Warrants Value: RM900 - RM1,080Potential Proceeds: RM12,096 - RM12,996Cost of Investment: RM8,296Potential Return (on the 3 month exercise): +45.8% to +56.6%I am not the only one punching the calculator. The proposed placement of 124.532m new shares @ RM6.49 will bring about some RM808.21m cash to the company. Of that sum, RM240m is for capital expensiture for the existing group's businesses. RM300m is...

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Tokyo Rising Day 1 & 2

In Tokyo for now ... Pierre Gagnaire is a 2 Michelin star chef. Its pattserie is at the lobby. Will be trying its degustation menu later on Saturday. Life is too short.I must say, his tart was pretty mind blowing.Days 1 and 2 at Tokyo ... had to rush back to Shinjuku Washington to get the Nagasaki beef .. the Manhattan Table serves very good Miyago Prefecture beeft and Nagasakui tenderloin. They are not your Kobe beef or wagyu beef type ... more like great OZ or NZ material, but much softer yet flavourful.The yolky, chicken don at Roponggi.The unexpected Shiseido Gallery building selling sweet stuff @ Ginza. Pretty good macarons.TT Pierre Gagnier,...

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The Reinvention Of Hap Seng Consolidated

You know some stock tips, you give to people, they will mostly not follow because they had a look at the chart. Hap Seng Consolidated is like that. The stock did not have any major corporate exercises in recent years. The deep embedded value of this company appeals to many. However, when it started moving about 6 weeks ago, many long term holders would have taken the opportunity to cash out. Why not, it gave more than a 100% return. It is very natural to shy away from stocks that have had a run, thinking you were late in entering. That is a safe rule of thumb, but one which is tainted by our experience with speculative counters. When a speculative...

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