Portfolio Update: January 2016

It’s a new year and with the latest updates (here and here) on my evolving (hopefully not flip-flop) investment philosophy, there will also be a change in the format of this monthly update. Don’t say I didn’t warn you beforehand.

And yes, I have stopped calling it “passive income” even though my approach is definitely more “passive” than before. A portfolio is more apt since there will be 3 sections for the foreseeable future and here’s a short and quick explanation on each of them.

1. Core Portfolio

Asset Avg Price Amount Current Price Valuation Allocation
STI ETF $2.94 9,800 $2.67 $26,166 27.3%
Berkshire B $131.59* 80 $130.26* $14,589 15.2%
SSBs $1.00 15,000 $1.00 $15,000 15.7%
Cash (SGD) $1.00 40,000 $1.00 $40,000 41.8%
Total  $95,755 100.0%

The above will be the core portfolio going forward. I know I have not revealed the percentage allocation for each type of asset and don’t worry, the last post in the investment mini-series should be out in the next couple of weeks!

I am trying to increase this portfolio to $200,000 hopefully by the end of 2017 or even earlier! If the market (especially the US market) drops substantially, the process would be faster as I can then pick up more of Berkshire Hathaway B shares, which I am using as a proxy for the US market.

*The two numbers are in USD

2. Local Stock Portfolio

Stock Amount Price Valuation Dividend Est. Income
ST Engg 4,000 $2.820 $11,280 $0.1500 $600.00
Wilmar 4,000 $3.100 $12,400 $0.0750 $300.00
Kingsmen 17,000 $0.620 $10,540 $0.0400 $680.00
OCBC 1,200 $7.920 $9,504 $0.3600 $432.00
Semb Corp 3,000 $2.670 $8,010 $0.1600 $480.00
PLife Reit 4,000 $2.260 $9,040 $0.1152 $460.80
MCT 6,000 $1.405 $8,430 $0.0800 $480.00
Boustead 9,000 $0.760 $6,840 $0.0400 $360.00
Dairy Farm 900 $7.980 $7,182 $0.3200 $288.00
LKH 10,000 $0.555 $5,550 $0.0300 $300.00
Genting 8,000 $0.710 $5,680 $0.0100 $80.00
M1 2,000 $2.520 $5,040 $0.1890 $378.00
MTQ 10,000 $0.435 $4,350 $0.0400 $400.00
Super Grp 4,000 $0.735 $2,940 $0.0310 $124.00
Bou Proj 2,700 $0.745 $2,012 $0.0000 $0.00
Total $108,798   $5,362.80

I was debating with myself if I should continue publishing this but well, why not? Hopefully, this list will be trimmed to around 10 by the end of this year. I actually sold off my Jardine C & C a couple of weeks ago @$35 (and heck, it went up to $40 in the next week!). If I included the STI ETF, the stock portfolio actually eked out a small $1k to $2k gain over the previous month.

There is a chance I could maintain a $50k to $100k high-yield portfolio to make up the lower yield of the core portfolio but I am still thinking about it. More diversification by picking non STI-constituent stocks? A small REIT portfolio? Or just 5 core small-caps? Or maybe it’s just too much hassle?

3. Emergency Funds

Asset Amount
CPF OA $35,000 
Cash (SGD) $20,000 
FCL Bonds $20,727 
Alternative Currencies $14,000 
   
Total $89,727

I blogged about our $100k emergency fund a month ago and since I am having a tough time getting myself to buy the recent SSB launches, I have parked the somewhat stable FCL 3.65% bonds over here.

A voluntary top up to my CPF accounts as a self-employed is on the cards and in light of the recent weakness of the CAD dollars, I might be making a trip to Raffles Place Change Alley soon!

10 Replies to “Portfolio Update: January 2016”

  1. Would be good if u included avg price for your local portfolio too. But all in all, great blog post, appreciate the effort put in 🙂

    1. Hi GMGH,

      Bullion is definitely parked there. I definitely don’t have as much as you!

      Besides classifying under there, any better suggestions? =)

  2. Very smart of you to keep some cash earlier !

    Appreciate very much that you keep the update of the Local Stock Portfolio.

    May I ask where you buy the FCL bonds ?

    How about Gold investment ? Any consideration ?

    1. Hi Alan K,

      I have not disclosed my entire cash position and all in all, I am holding quite a bit of cash.

      Definitely much more conservative compared to a few years ago but that probably has more to do with our new employment status rather than the bear market.

      For the FCL bonds, I got it when it IPOed about half a year ago. It is traded on SGX right now.

      Regarding gold, I do hold a bit of it in my emergency funds. Two 50 gram PAMP bars.

  3. “in light of the recent weakness of the CAD dollars, I might be making a trip to Raffles Place Change Alley soon!”

    how competitive are the rate at change alley (CA)?
    i do abit of currencies exchange – primarily USD, but mostly at mustafa. have you tried comparing the spread between CA and mustafa?

    1. Hi foo,

      I have never been to mustafa, but my guess is the difference shouldn’t be huge? And since it’s more convenient for me to get to Change Alley, I always do my transactions there.

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