The longer I am in this investing business, the more difficult I find to comprehend it.
Markets are up, despite Brexit. And the US markets are chionging to new all-time highs, with REITs leading the charge.
My next prediction? Interest rates to go up despite Brexit and REITs falling back down. It has to obey the law of gravity but well, why listen to me? I have almost always gotten these stuff all wrong. =p
I guess I am starting to appreciate the fact that “inactivity” is the hardest thing to do in the market. On hindsight, the past month’s activities do look ludicrous on closer scrutiny, especially for a guy like me who doesn’t thrive on excitement or stimulation.
1. Core Portfolio
This Core Portfolio will be adopting the principles of the Permanent Portfolio/All-Weather Portfolio and I am in the midst of accumulating further assets by the end of this year to launch it properly at the beginning of 2017. Will be revealing the allocation percentages in due time for a $150,000 portfolio.
Financial markets are mostly up and this core portfolio has followed suit, increasing its value by close to $3,000 from the previous month.
| Asset | Avg Bought | Amount | Price | Valuation | Allocation |
| STI ETF | $2.92 | 12,800 | $2.96 | $37,888 | 32.5% |
| Berkshire B | $134.50* | 120 | $145.97 | $23,647 | 20.3% |
| SSBs | $1.00 | 15,000 | $1.00 | $15,000 | 12.9% |
| Cash (SGD) | $1.00 | 40,000 | $1.00 | $40,000 | 34.3% |
| Total | $116,535 | 100.0% |
2. Local Stock Portfolio
A very active month. Bought into shares like UOL and Singpost earlier and then sold my OCBC, Ho Bee and PLIFE Reit shares during the Brexit postmortem. This is probably my most active month to date as I expected Brexit to be a game-changer. But well, the markets always surprise.
Even though I have probably broken the adage of “Buy low and sell high”, I am just glad that on a whole, I haven’t really been missing out on the recently rally since this portfolio is still up close to 5% even after the many mistakes and transaction fees.
| Stock | Amount | Price | Valuation | Allocation |
| ST Engg | 6,500 | $3.370 | $21,905 | 18.14% |
| Kingsmen | 27,700 | $0.625 | $17,313 | 14.34% |
| CCT | 6,000 | $1.570 | $9,420 | 7.80% |
| MCT | 6,000 | $1.550 | $9,300 | 7.70% |
| Semb Corp | 3,000 | $2.940 | $8,820 | 7.30% |
| UOL | 1,500 | $5.680 | $8,520 | 7.06% |
| SingPost | 5,500 | $1.515 | $8,333 | 6.90% |
| HK Land | 1,000 | $8.290 | $8,290 | 6.87% |
| Boustead | 9,000 | $0.795 | $7,155 | 5.93% |
| Genting | 8,000 | $0.805 | $6,440 | 5.33% |
| M1 | 2,000 | $2.780 | $5,560 | 4.60% |
| MTQ | 10,000 | $0.480 | $4,800 | 3.97% |
| Super Grp | 4,000 | $0.800 | $3,200 | 2.65% |
| Bou Proj | 2,700 | $0.630 | $1,701 | 1.41% |
| Total | $120,756 | 100.00% |
3. Emergency Funds
I guess the only positive is that I managed to buy a little bit more of bullion and foreign currencies during the past month to boost the funds in this category.
| Asset | Amount |
| CPF OA | $38,000 |
| Cash (SGD) | $20,000 |
| FCL Bonds | $21,000 |
| Alternative Currencies | $20,000 |
| Total | $99,000 |
Hi 15 HWW,
You are not the only one scratching your head. I have gone from “huh? Ok, maybe next week
It will fall” to “bring it on, I am going to exit more positions”
Hi Sillyinvestor,
The changes in thoughts I have mirror yours. =)
A $330k portfolio in total! That’s incredible! Teach me how to get there leh I’m not that much far off in age but my portfolio value is HUGELY minuscule in contrast!
Hi Budget Babe,
I guess with your interactions with other experts, I am probably not in a good position to “teach” or even “advise”.
For our case, it’s really about living a “enough” lifestyle, socking away the excesses, and hoping for the best in the markets.
That’s a good portfolio. I just hit 100k not long ago (inclusive of CPF) hoping I can achieve a portfolio like yours. Maybe half when I reached 35 years old
Hi JYKL,
Thanks! I think you are making good progress too! Anyway, mine is a combined portfolio with the Mrs, so if divided by two, it won’t be so impressive anymore.
The great thing about the financial blogosphere is that in terms of personal finances, even though one might appear average here, he/she is easily in the top quintile among the population.
Your portfolio is amazing. I am also quite amazed the market didn’t go down as I predicted but rally instead. A bit irrational.
Hi MSR,
I am pretty sure your portfolio is doing well too, with the recent Reits run up. Noticed you have quite a few Reits in your portfolio.
Yup, I have pretty much given up on positioning my purchases with short term macro trends. It’s hard to predict the outcome of the voting machine, both politically and in financial markets.
The market is irrational
Good balance there my friend… i think you are ready to pounce on any opportunities whichever the market might go from here.
Just curious, which currencies that you have added on? Pounds?
Hi B,
I guess we are having similar allocations between cash/stocks.
I have added some CAD and gold bullion actually. I love Canada so the money is going to come in handy one day.