Ernest Lim's investing blog

Unique insights into SGX small caps

average

S&P500 closed at record high! What should we do? Buy or sell? (9 Aug 2021)

el15

Dear all S&P500 has clocked its sixth consecutive month of gains in July 2021. This is the longest stretch since 2018. Furthermore, S&P500 has touched a record high to close at 4,437 on 6 Aug 2021. In the next 3 months, are markets poised for higher highs? Or should we be prudent and take some profit off the table first? Let’s take a look.   Ernest’s personal market observations a) Lack of catalysts to push the market higher Since Covid last year, markets, especially U.S. markets, have been able to push higher due partly to the combination of ultra-easy monetary policies; […]

STI – Will it head for new YTD high after S&P500 clocked its 7th consecutive day of rally? (6 Jul 2021)

el15

Dear all S&P500 and Nasdaq clinch fresh record highs last Friday with S&P500 clocking in seven consecutive days of gains in its longest winning streak since August 2020. Despite the roaring U.S. markets, Singapore Straits Times Index (“STI”) has slipped almost 100 points from its 2021 intraday high of 3,237 on 30 Apr 2021 to close 3,141 on 5 Jul 2021. Can STI exceed 3,237 for 2HFY2021? Most strategists believe so, as their year-end targets for STI are easily above 3,237. Let’s look at the possible reasons why analysts are positive on our Singapore market.   Reasons to be optimistic […]

China Aoyuan – a potential value play? (15 Jun 21)

el15

Dear all Against the backdrop of rising inflation, some market strategists have recommended “additional urgency” to rotate from technology plays to “old economy value stocks” to hedge against potential inflation pressures (as they believe such inflation pressures are not transitory). A stock that may tick all the right boxes may be China Aoyuan (“Aoyuan”) (3883.HK). It belongs to the old economy stocks (i.e. property sector which may be a hedge against inflation) and seems to be a value play, given that it trades at HKD7.01 on 15 Jun 21.   Who is Aoyuan? Quoting from a report by DBS Research […]

My thoughts on Sing Medical Group’s possible share transaction (29 Dec 20)

el15

Dear all Sing Medical Group (“SMG”) announced on 18 Dec 20 that the Company is currently in discussions with a third party regarding a possible transaction involving the Company’s shares. The discussions are preliminary and there is no certainty or assurance that such discussions will progress beyond the current stage or that any transaction will materialise as a result of such discussions.   Why am I interested in SMG? My personal view is that at $0.315, given a potential share transaction scenario, the risk reward seems favourable. Please refer to my basis and the risks as highlighted below: 1) Past […]

City Dev falls nine out of ten sessions; near Mar 2020 low amid oversold RSI (2 Nov 2020)

el15

Dear all, Since 19 Oct 2020, City Dev has fallen nine out of ten sessions with a cumulative drop of 20%. City Dev closed at $6.20. Let’s take a look why this City Dev has slumped and why it has caught my attention.   Reasons why City Dev has underperformed The below list of likely reasons is not exhaustive. It is just based on my personal view what may have caused City Dev’s underperformance. 1) Concerns over how much support is required by Sincere Property Group Concerns over how much support is required by Sincere Property Group (“Sincere”) flare up […]

Singapore – Asia’s worst equity market YTD, any opportunities ahead? (29 Oct 20)

el15

Dear all It is less than a week from the U.S. election. U.S. markets are understandably jittery. S&P500 has fallen 316 points, or 8.9% from its intraday high of 3,550 on 12 Oct 2020 to touch an intraday low 3,234 on 30 Oct 20. In fact, S&P500 has tumbled 195 points or 5.6% this week. S&P500 closed at 3,270 on 30 Oct. The media has written extensively on the risks surrounding U.S. election since months ago hence the election event risk is hardly a new one. Examples of risks which media has written about is the possibility on contested election […]

UG Healthcare – 6 interesting aspects on UG which caught my attention! (26 Oct 2020)

el15

Dear all, UG Healthcare (“UG”) recently caught my attention. It has tumbled approximately 20% from an intraday high of around $1.15 on 7 Aug 2020 to close $0.915 on 26 Oct 2020. The doji formation on 26 Oct 20 on good volume may be an early indication that selling may abate in the near term. The recent weakness in UG’s share price is likely attributed to profit taking in the share prices of its Malaysia listed peers and occasional news on the development of vaccines which may result in demand for gloves and consequently their average selling price (“ASP”) falling […]

China Railway Construction (01186.HK) – Bargain buy, or value trap? (22 Sep 2020)

el15

China Railway Construction (“CRCC”) recently caught my attention as it has tumbled approximately 44% from an intraday high of $9.99 on 5 Mar 2020 to close HKD5.64 on 21 Sep 2020. Is this a bargain buy, or a value trap? Let’s take a look.   First up, a description of CRCC Quoting from its 1HFY20 results, CRCC’s businesses cover a variety of construction, survey, design and consultation, manufacturing, real estate development, logistics and materials trading and other business with refined industry chain covering scientific research, planning, survey, design, construction, supervision and management, maintenance, operation, investment and financing, etc.   Six […]

Riverstone – Is the recent 32% decline justified? (12 Sep 2020)

el15

Riverstone recently caught my attention. It has tumbled approximately 32% from an intraday high of $4.90 on 7 Aug 2020 to close $3.33 on 11 Sep 2020. One client even thought that Riverstone has already undergone a bonus issue! The recent weakness is likely attributed to its co-founder selling 15.5m shares at $3.95 (Bloomberg cites a 90-day lockup on seller); the possibility of a vaccine resulting in demand for gloves and consequently their average selling price (“ASP”) falling off the cliff and some Malaysia investors selling shares to raise cash, as their moratorium on loan repayment ends (click HERE for […]

Starburst – building order books; bright outlook (24 Aug 2020)

el15

In May 2019, I met Starburst’s Managing and Executive Director Mr Yap Tin Foo. Since Mar 2020, Starburst has been on a roll in winning contracts and I believe it is an opportune time to meet Mr Yap again. Despite Mr Yap’s busy schedule, he agrees to meet me on 1-1 basis to share his company’s business operations and prospects. Below are some of my takeaways from my discussion with him and from its recent results briefing.   Company description Quoting from Starburst’s press release, it is an engineering specialist in a niche industry, and designs, fabricates, installs and maintains […]