~~Towards Barista FIRE~~

This will be a relatively short post, just to update on the transactions for the month. For the month of May, violent volatility continues to be the main theme in the US market.  Seems like the saying “Sell in May and Go Away” is working its way through the market for most part of the month.  NASDAQ has dropped more than 30% from the high, and even S&P 500 has fallen into the bear market by falling more than 20%, before rebounding slightly last week.  The last index, Dow Jones Industrial Average, also rebounded, preventing it from falling deeper into the bear market.  For most part of the month, Mega-Cap Tech stocks are falling with no end in sight.  Apple, the only company holding up the indexes in April, has also joined the ranks this month, falling 25% within the month from its high.  Tesla is basically pulled down by gravity, free falling more than 50% from high. However, the mini-rally last week snapped the longest losing streak for DJIA, S&P...

Singapore Technologies Engineering Limited, (ST Engg) is a global technology, defence and engineering group with offices across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the US, serving customers in more than 100 countries.  The Group uses technology and innovation to solve real-world problems and improve lives through its diverse portfolio of businesses across the aerospace, smart city, defence and public security segments.  Headquartered in Singapore, ST Engg ranks among the largest companies listed on SGX, with Temasek Holdings Private Limited being the largest shareholder owning 49.78% of shares. Prior to 2021, ST Engg's business can be broken down into 4 large segments, namely Aerospace, Electronics, Land Systems and Marine.  Their revenue and earnings are also reported based on these 4 segments.  However since 2021, ST Engg's business has been reorganised into Commercial and Defence segments. What do I like about ST Engg that makes it my largest non-REIT holding in m...

It has been an eventful month filled with an emotional roller-coaster ride.  Amidst the stock market turbulence, the unstoppable rising interest rate, the heated inflation on consumer products etc, the biggest black swan event definitely goes to the disastrous and sudden crash of crypto Luna and UST.  It has caused many investors to lose their investment capital.  Although I did not invest in the UST or Luna, I feel the pain of the investors. This turn of event is unexpected for many, while some may say that there has been warning signs.  Regardless how we see it, many notable financial bloggers and YouTubers are affected by this event in some way or another.  Sg Budget Babe and Kelvin Learns Investing have recently posted a video on YouTube to discuss this event, share their situation in the Luna-UST crash, and to encourage other investors to remain their composure, especially when there has been post(s) in forums about investors wanting to 'seek an end'. ...

As of 12 th May 2022, the NASDAQ has entered bear market, plunging by 28.2% year to date (down 29.2% from recent high in November 2021), S&P 500 has corrected by 15.9% year to date (down 17.4% from recent high in December 2021), and even the less volatile DOW has dropped by 12.1% year to date (down 12.4% from recent high in December 2021).  Singapore's REITs are not spared either, as shown by iEdge S-REIT index, which has declined by 3.5% year to date.  However, a surprising twist is the Straits Time Index (STI), which has actually rose by 2.9% year to date.  Let's see how long more it can remain above water, with DBS dropping daily these few days! Market seems gloomy with the Russia-Ukraine war, persistently high inflation, FED raising interest rates, supply chain issues, sky-rocketing oil and commodities prices etc.  There are no near term positive catalyst at all, and talks of recession is all over social media.  In fact, the US has already reported a q...

As a full time private tutor, I am very fortunate that I was not badly affected in 2020 during circuit breaker periods.  This was due to the rise of video conferencing tools such as Zoom Video Communications, Inc. (NASDAQ:ZM) that helped businesses and self-employed like myself having other alternative means to conduct my lessons at home, and hence allow me to continue to work and earn my keep. Such video conferencing platforms are not new.  During pre-Covid times, one of the most widely used video conferencing platform was Skype, which was under Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT).  However, it has its limitations and functions more as a chatting tool than a teaching tool.  Other platforms available include Microsoft Teams and Google Meet (NASDAQ: GOOGL), both I have not used intensively before.  Hence, when I was first introduced to Zoom, despite being a total technology noob, I was forced to “master” the use of Zoom, and all its functions so that I can use ...