Sold Wharf REIC (HK.1997)

Sold this stock yesterday for an SGD 600 loss.  Two reasons:

One: China is not stimulating.  They are still in a downturn from the 2016 credit expansion.

Source: CEIC

Maybe they need lower US rates in order to stimulate.  China is short USDs (too many USD denominated loans, plus a current account deficit), they need to borrow them, and high rates hurt.

Source: hedgeye webcast (6th Nov)

Or maybe the CCP is just waiting for the US election to be over, before giving global stock markets some juice.

Either way its not here yet. I should have waited for the stimulus to start first.  Wharf REIC is a cyclical China play, and we need cashed up Chinese tourists buying LVs and Rolexes for it to take off.

Two: protests are getting worse.  On Sunday, a student was shot.  School holidays have started.  Protesters are now trying to disrupt the city's transport on weekdays - previously the effect was limited to weekends.  Parts of the city look like CNY on weeknights.  People are leaving work early most days, and even many normal restaurants and shops in the CBD are closed.  The protests will not die down, as I initially expected.

Tsim Sha Shui: 8pm Tuesday night

I was too early.  This may be a better trade in 3 to 6 months.

Bought CSE Global, Gazprom and a European Bank

Made three trades in the past month.

Bought CSE Global at 46c.  They are a technology company, primarily servicing the oil and gas sector and secondarily, government infrastructure.  Most of their work is project based - they talk about recurring income, but I'm not sure how 'recurring' it really is.  I bought because it was fairly cheap and it 5% yield is probably sustainable.  I can collect it while I wait for oil sentiment to improve.  Key numbers to watch are its order book, and receivables (they had a big problem with them in mid-2017).  Its 2% of my portfolio, due to its lumpy (project based) earnings.

Bought Gazprom at USD 6.91, a Russian gas giant supplying Europe and China.  It was cheap, paying a 7 percent yield (before 10% Russian withholding tax, plus ADR fees).  It should grow dividends to a 50% payout ratio, as their capex winds down and sales increase.  This idea is from Sven Carlin, here.   I'm not analysing it, as its a big company, not transparent, and theres no advantage to me doing so.  Its also 2% of my portfolio, with 2 big risks.  One, geopolitical risk (eg: wars) means gas to Europe may be disrupted, even if its cheap. And two: Putin decides this company should belong to the Russian people, once again.

Bought call options on a European bank.  This bank has gone through several rounds of capital raising and NPL disposal.  Its cheap, trading at half tangible book value, where similar banks from the same country are trading at 70+ percent.  It will probably pay a 5% yield (@ 50% payout ratio).  If it reaches 70% of tangible book by June 2022, my money gets multiplied 2 and a half times.  If not, then zero.  Its a 1% position.

[Edit 8-Nov: Bought more options, expiring in Dec 2021.  Another 1% of my portfolio].

Last month I finished buying Manulife US REIT, its now around 10% of my portfolio.