Stocks Investing – My Road to Wealth & to Help People


Why Warren Buffett chose Coca-Cola
July 30, 2008, 6:30 am
Filed under: Stocks Investing | Tags: ,

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/30/business/21952354&sec=business

GIVEN the weak stock market, we think now is the best time to search for the good and solid blue-chip stocks for long-term investment. However, most investors always have difficulties in choosing the right stocks.

Today, we will look into how world famous investment guru Warren Buffett identified his favourite stocks. At present, The Coca-Cola Co is one of Buffett’s key stocks that he will practically hold forever.

We believe a lot of investors would like to know why Buffett chose Coca-Cola as one of his key long-term holdings when one Wall Street analyst at that time labelled it as a “very expensive stock”.

Established in 1886, Coca-Cola is the world’s largest manufacturer, marketer and distributor of carbonated soft drink concentrates and syrups. At present, it operates in more than 200 countries and markets more than 2,800 beverage products. Besides, it also owns four of the world’s top five non-alcoholic sparkling beverage brands: Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Sprite and Fanta.

Why did Buffett choose Coca-Cola? He likes caffeinated soft drinks. He acquired 7% of Coca-Cola stocks in 1988 for a total investment of US$1.02bil or at an average price of US$5.46 per share. As at Dec 31, 2007, Berkshire Hathaway owned 200 million Coca-Cola stocks, or 8.6% of the company’s outstanding shares.

Buffett’s original cost in this company was US$1.3bil. Based on the latest market value dated Dec 31, 2007, he achieved an annual compounded capital gain of 11.9% for 20 years. However, if we include all the dividends received, we believe his return from this stock may be more than 20% per annum!

Buffett considers Coca-Cola “inevitable” where it has low business risk and is suitable for long-term holding. To him, buying Coca-Cola has far less business risk over the long term than any computer company. Being the most recognised international trademark, Coca-Cola enjoys global power with very high competitive dominance and economies of scales.

Coca-Cola sells 1.5 billion servings everyday worldwide. As a result of its strong brands, the attributes of its products and the global distribution systems, it has a very high business consistency and performance throughout the years. Given the certainty of its long-term prospects, Buffett may choose to hold this stock forever.

He also finds that Coca-Cola has a simple and understandable business. Besides, Buffett likes to acquire companies with high profit margins and return on equity (ROE). When he acquired Coca-Cola in 1988, it reported a pre-tax profit margin and ROE of 19% and 31.8% respectively.

Apart from that, Coca-Cola also showed very high cash flow or “owner earnings”. Buffett defined owner earnings as reported earnings plus depreciation and certain other non-cash charges, minus the average annual capital expenditures required for a company to maintain its unit volume and competitive position. In 1988, the company showed an increase in owner earnings to US$828mil against US$262mil in 1981.

Buffett always advises investors to study the raw data in the financial statement and trust our own eyes rather than analysts’ summaries. When Buffett acquired Coca-Cola, he paid quite a high premium compared with the overall market average. He paid about 15 times and five times for Coca-Cola based on price-earnings ratio and price-to-book ratio respectively.

Given the strong performance and certainty in management quality, Buffett felt highly confident that he would be rewarded by the management’s ability to generate more owner earnings and to realise the full potential of the business.

A good company should pay dividends to its shareholders. If the company decides to retain its earnings for future expansion, every dollar it retains must translate into one-dollar market value. Buffett labels this as a one-dollar premise.

Since 1987, apart from paying good dividends, the overall market value of Coca-Cola has surged much higher that its retained earnings.

In summary, even though it is not easy to identify the next Coca-Cola, with hard work, the current downturn provides us a golden opportunity to hunt for good fundamental stocks for long-term holdings.

l Ooi Kok Hwa is an investment adviser and managing partner of MRR Consulting.



Short-term positive for Maybank after BII setback
July 30, 2008, 6:22 am
Filed under: Stocks Investing | Tags: , , ,

good news for me. i also disagree with the purchase coz quite expensive and i suspect there is some politics involved in this one.

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/30/business/20080730101407&sec=business

KUALA LUMPUR: Maybank’s setback in its acquisition of PT Bank Internasional Indonesia TBK (BII) would be short-term positive for the former due to pricey valuation and high borrowings needed to finance the deal.

Analysts said Wednesday they were surprised by the latest development as it they had expected the transaction to progress smoothly after the central bank of Indonesia gave its approval.

“A collapse of the plan to acquire BII would be taken positively by the market as the deal has created negative sentiment on the stock, with the grouses being primarily the pricey valuation of 3.7 time to 4.0 times FY08-09 price/book value (P/BV) and the high borrowings needed to finance the deal,” said a research house.

It said Maybank might revert to a higher dividend payout ratio of 60% to 70% if it did not have to reserve internal funds for the acquisition of BII. Maybank was expected to fork out RM8.8bil to gain 100% control of BII.

On Tuesday, Maybank said it had received a letter from Bank Negara that due to recent changes in take-over rule enacted by the Indonesian Government on June 30, its take over of the bank might result in losses for Maybank.

The proposal may result in Maybank potentially incurring material losses from selling down of the shares and write-down of investment upon the implementation of the New Take-Over Rule.

Under the New Take-Over Rule, a new controlling shareholder is obliged to divest to public shareholders a minimum of 20% and at least 300 parties within two years after the tender offer is undertaken.

However, in the long term, analysts said if the BII deal failed, Maybank would have to fall back to its small existing operations in Indonesia where it had only two to three branches.

“Given the stance that Bank Negara has taken on potential losses on the BII investment, Maybank is likely to refrain from acquiring stakes in other major Indonesian banks, most of which are listed,” it said.



Bank Negara may act on price increases
July 30, 2008, 6:15 am
Filed under: Bank | Tags: ,

Another round of hikes may trigger ‘monetary response,’ says Zeti

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/30/business/21952368&sec=business

XI’AN: Bank Negara governor Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz said another round of price increases may trigger a “monetary response” after inflation surged to a 26-year high last month.

“Our concern at this stage would be the generalised second-round effect of price adjustments, which would prompt a monetary response,” Zeti said in an interview yesterday after a meeting of East Asia-Pacific central bankers. She wouldn’t specify possible measures.

So-called second-round increases occur when one price gain leads to others. Malaysia last month raised gasoline and diesel prices after oil surged to records, a move that Zeti said was likely to be “deflationary” in the longer term by subduing domestic demand.

The central bank unexpectedly kept its overnight policy rate at 3.5% for an 18th straight meeting on July 25, refraining from following its Asian counterparts in raising borrowing costs to fight inflation as it focused on sustaining growth. Bank Negara next meets to review rates Aug 25.

“The central bank has not completely forgotten about the risk of higher inflation,” said Tai Hui, head of South-East Asian economic research at Standard Chartered in Singapore. “They’re still adopting the wait-and-see approach. The comments today are a good reminder that they’re not completely against acting if needed.”

Bank Negara would probably keep interest rates steady “in the near term,” said Hui, who had accurately predicted the central bank’s decision to keep borrowing costs on hold last week.

The central bank has emphasised the risks to growth and the impact on inflation, he said.

Economic growth this year would be “at least 5%,” Zeti said, citing the low end of a central bank estimate in March. Last year’s expansion was 6.3%. Growth may moderate in the next 12 months, she said, declining to provide an estimate.

“The banking industry is still resilient with steady lending growth,” Zeti said.

“Our reserves level is very strong, there’s low external indebtedness, we’ve a diversified economic base and we’re a net exporter of oil and commodities.”

The government was due to release an economic forecast on Aug 29 with its 2009 budget, she said.

“If the public and private sectors can manage this challenging period well, conditions in the second half of 2009 will improve considerably, with lower inflation and a resumption in growth,” Zeti said. Still, “the external environment is less favourable, with commodity and energy prices at elevated levels.”

Inflation may slow to 4% in the second half of next year, Zeti said.

That compares with 7.7% last month and the central bank’s estimate of 5.5% to 6% for 2008. – Bloomberg



12 new ‘needs’ that drain your cash
July 29, 2008, 2:44 am
Filed under: Personal Finance

i like this article as keeps reminding me to be frugal ;)

12 new ‘needs’ that drain your cash

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/LearnToBudget/12NewNeedsThatDrainYourCash.aspx?page=all

Your mind-set about needs versus wants may determine whether you thrive or flounder. Here’s a closer look at some of the entitlements that people think they must have.

By Bankrate.com

True essentials never really change — food, water, shelter and clothing.

However, modern life has created a host of “necessities” that many people swear they could not live without, including a daily latte, premium cable TV, a weekly manicure, a new leased automobile and cell phones for the entire family.

In reality, there’s a more accurate word for those pricey add-ons: entitlements.

If you want to significantly cut spending, it’s important to take a closer look at what you consider to be needs.

“Basically, what we need has nothing to do with Starbucks coffee,” says money coach and psychotherapist Olivia Mellan, the author of “Overcoming Overspending.”

“A lot of us in wealthy, overspending America are either born or raised with a tremendous sense of entitlement. We say to ourselves, ‘I work hard’ or ‘I work at a job I hate — at least I should be able to have a Starbucks coffee every day or eat out for lunch.’ But, of course, those are not needs, they’re wants. They’re pleasures.”

‘Ugly attitudes of entitlement’

Mary Hunt, the author of “Debt-Proof Living” and a recovering overspender, fell into the entitlement trap to the tune of $100,000 in obligations before she realized that so-called necessities were burying her in debt.

Today, Hunt avoids malls, shares a car with her husband and spends much of her time helping groups wake up and smell the Folgers.

“When financial ignorance and availability of credit meet ugly attitudes of entitlement, that is a recipe for a horrible disaster,” she says. “I know; I’ve been there. That’s why I tell people the road’s out up ahead — turn around!”

Jeff Yeager, who has long lived the frugal lifestyle he espouses in “The Ultimate Cheapskate’s Road Map to True Riches,” says the irony is that the more we consume, the more we are consumed.

“When you simplify, you almost always save money, but the really great thing is it makes us happier,” he says.

Watch the slide show

12 new 'necessities'

Take a look at the costly culprits draining your bank account. See what you’re paying for that daily latte or bottle of water. Click here for the 12 new ‘necessities.’

“We take ’stuff’ as being such a positive in our lives, but I’m not convinced that it is. It’s certainly costing us more money. Not only does it not make us any happier, it arguably makes us less happy. It makes the quality of our life decrease.”

Dialing back the entitlements not only saves you money, it can start a domino effect. For instance, doing your own lawn care and dog walking can eliminate the “need” for an expensive health club.

Meanwhile, commuting by bike or public transit can eliminate the “need” for a second car.

Click here for the 12 new “necessities” you might find you could downsize or even live without. Average prices quoted are courtesy of Costhelper.com except where noted.

This article was reported and written by Jay McDonald for Bankrate.com.

Published July 29, 2008



Kota Damanasara – Hospitals come under fire
July 29, 2008, 1:30 am
Filed under: Real Estate | Tags: ,

Hospitals come under fire

By JAYAGANDI JAYARAJ and TAN KARR WEI

http://thestar.com.my/metro/story.asp?file=/2008/7/29/central/21901295&sec=central
TWO private hospitals located in Kota Damansara have come under fire from the residents and the business community in the area.

Residents and businessmen claim that the location of the two hospitals would only add to the traffic situation in the township.

One of the hospitals, which have begun ground clearing works, is located on a piece of land adjacent to the Giant hypermarket along Jalan PJU 5/26, next to the Dataran Sunway commercial centre.

Gugusan Dedap residents’ association president Zamarudin Zainudin said a hospital should not be built within a commercial area that was prone to traffic congestion.

Project under fire: An aerial view of the hospital site. In the background is Dataran Sunway (white buildings) and a block of commercial shoplots that is under construction.

“Emergency vehicles would have problems getting into the area,” he said.

MBPJ Town Planning Department director Sharipah Marhaini Syed Ali said the hospital must submit a fresh application for approval to the council.

“When the initial building plans were approved, there were no objections from the the Selangor Development Corporation (PKNS), the owner of the neighbouring plots. Since residents are now complaining, we have rejected the building plans. They would have to do a comprehensive traffic study and resubmit plans,” she said.

Meanwhile, there are mixed reactions from business operators at Dataran Sunway about the opening of another specialist centre in the area.

The location of the four-block medical centre, occupying the corner lots of the commercial building along Jalan PJU 5/6, opposite The Strand, is said to be not conducive due to the high traffic volume anticipated in area after the opening of the Giant hypermarket.

A businessman who owns several shoplots in the area said due to the anticipated high traffic, it would be difficult for emergency vehicles to gain access to the area.

However, there are others who think otherwise.

Lee Hui Seng said the specialist centre provided medical facility for the residents.

He said Kota Damansara residents needed medical facilities, as the only hospital in the vicinity was the Tropicana Medical Centre, located next to the Segi College.

“But that is a big hospital with ambulance facilities whereas this specialist centre is for outpatient treatments,” he said.

He added the specialist centre would not add to the anticipated traffic jam in the area as unlike shopping malls, people do not visit hospitals everyday.

“Besides, the specialist centre would only generate more business to the area.

“People should view it as a life-saving subject and not as a bad omen,” he said.

Sharipah said the building plans for the specialist centre has been approved.



Bank Negara Malaysia maintains OPR at 3.5%
July 25, 2008, 1:31 pm
Filed under: Bank | Tags:

As I mentioned in my previous post, Bank negara maintains its OPR at 3.5%

———————————————————————-

http://biz.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/7/25/business/20080725200927&sec=business

KUALA LUMPUR: Bank Negara’s Monetary Policy Committee has decided to keep the Overnight Policy Rate unchanged at 3.5%.

Announcing this on Friday night after a day-long Monetary Policy meeting, Bank Negara said while the risks to higher inflation and slower growth have increased in the next 12 months, “the immediate concern is to avoid a fundamental economic slowdown that would involve higher unemployment”.

“Slowing growth itself will contribute to containing the potential for second round effects on inflation, thereby containing further increases in prices in the second-half of 2009. Given the underlying fundamental strength of the economy, and the resilient banking sector, the Bank’s assessment is that after this transitional period, the Malaysian economy has the potential to re-establish its medium term growth path,” Bank Negara said in a statement.

According to the central bank, the performance of the Malaysian economy in the first-half of 2008 has been driven by robust domestic demand and reinforced by favourable export performance.

“The recent major restructuring of domestic energy prices to bring prices closer to the substantially higher international prices is intended to reduce the fundamental distortions that it might create, and to ensure fiscal sustainability. These adjustments are expected to have a deflationary effect on the economy in the second half of this year and into the early part of 2009.

“The Bank is projecting inflation to remain elevated in the second-half of this year and into early next year before moderating towards the middle of 2009. The average inflation for 2008 is projected to be in the range of 5.5-6%. The inflation rate is expected to moderate in the second half of 2009 in the context of a more moderate growth environment.

“Currently, much of the significant rise in inflation is due to the increase in fuel prices. At this stage, the concern is for broader price increases and second-round effects, which would result in inflation being persistent. In such circumstances, the appropriate monetary policy response will be taken in order to maintain medium term price stability and ensure that the high inflation does not undermine the longer term growth prospects of the Malaysian economy.”



Bank Negara Malaysia Hikes Interest Rate?
July 25, 2008, 3:10 am
Filed under: Bank | Tags:

Today Bank Negara Malaysia has a meeting whether to increase or not the interest rate. Most economists said that bank negara will increase the interest by 25 point basis from 3.5% to 3.75%.

I beg to differ from the majority. I think Bank Negara would maintain the current interest rate due to:-

1) Inflation is caused by speculation rather than by demand

2) There is no much growth in malaysian economy

Most of the inflation is caused by the increase of commodities especially oil. I think oil increase is due to speculation rather than real demand.



Palma Puteri Update
July 24, 2008, 4:26 pm
Filed under: Real Estate | Tags:

yesterday evening I called my lawyer asking my S&P status. She said waiting for the vendor to pay all outstanding maintenance fee. I think I can sign the S&P by next week.



Public Bank Q2 net profit up 13.2% to RM593.5m
July 17, 2008, 10:38 am
Filed under: Stocks Investing | Tags:
<!–

–> <!–

–>

money for me…hehehe

KUALA LUMPUR: Public Bank Bhd posted net profit of RM593.53mil for the second quarter ended June 30 this year, up 13.2% from a year ago.

Its revenue rose 3.78% to RM2.51bil from RM2.43bil while earnings per share was 17.69 sen, an increase from 15.62 sen. Its chairman Tan Sri Teh Hong Piow said in view of the sustained strong performance of the group, the board of directors had declared an interim gross dividend of 30%, which would result in a payout totalling RM745mil. The dividend would be paid on Aug 13.

“Pre-tax profit improved by 25% to RM1.76bil despite an increase of RM48mil in general allowance made due to the higher loan growth in the current period,” said

For the first half, net profit was RM1.31bil compared with RM1bil while revenue rose to RM5.15bil from RM4.57bil.

Teh said the record profit performance in the first half was contributed by strong growth in net interest and financing income and other operating income, partially offset by an increase in operating expenses and higher loan loss allowances due to higher business volumes.

He added the increase in loan loss allowances during the first half was mainly due to higher general allowance which increased by RM48mil arising from stronger loan growth as well as additional specific allowance made for old non-performing loan accounts secured by properties which are more than seven years in arrears.

He added these accounts were fully provided for with no value assigned to the collateral.



How International Bankers Gained Control of America
July 16, 2008, 7:33 am
Filed under: Bank | Tags: ,

How International Bankers Gained Control of America

From a Video Script Produced by Patrick S. J. Carmack

Directed by Bill Still
Royalty Production Company 1998

[QUOTE]
One month after the inauguration of Abraham Lincoln, the first shots of the American Civil War were fired at Fort Sumter, South Carolina on April 12,1861. …

Certainly slavery was a cause for the Civil War, but not the primary cause. Lincoln knew that the economy of the South depended upon slavery and so (before the Civil War) he had no intention of eliminating it. Lincoln had put it this way in his inaugural address only one month earlier:

“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the states where it now exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.”

Even after the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter, Lincoln continued to insist that the Civil War was not about the issue of slavery:

“My paramount objective is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or destroy slavery. If I could save the Union without freeing any slave, I would do it.”

So what was the Civil War all about? There were many factors at play. Northern industrialists had used protective tariffs to prevent their southern states from buying cheaper European goods. Europe retaliated by stopping cotton imports from the South. The Southern states were in a financial bind. They were forced to pay more for most of the necessities of life while their income from cotton exports plummeted. The South grew ncreasingly angry.

But there were other factors at work. … The central bankers now saw an pportunity to use the North/South divisions to split the rich new nation – t divide and conquer by war. Was this just some sort of wild conspiracy theory? Well, let’s look at what a well placed observer of the scene had to say at time.

This was Otto von Bismarck, Chancellor of Germany, the man who united the German states in 1871. A few years later, in 1876, he is quoted as saying:

“It is not to be doubted, I know of absolute certainty,” Bismarck declared, “that the division of the United States into two federations of equal power was decided long before the Civil War by the high financial powers of Europe. These bankers were afraid that the United States, if they remained as one block and were to develop as one nation, would attain economic and financial independence, which would upset the capitalist domination of Europe over the world.”

Within months after the first shots were fired at Fort Sumter, the central bankers loaned Napoleon III of France (the nephew of the Waterloo Napoleon) 210 million francs to seize Mexico and station troops along the southern border of the U.S., taking advantage of the Civil War to violate the Monroe Doctrine and return Mexico to colonial rule.

No matter what the outcome of the Civil War, it was hoped that a war-weakened America, heavily indebted to the Money Changers, would open up Central and South America once again to European colonization and domination.

At the same time, Great Britain moved 11,000 troops into Canada and positioned them along America’s northern border. The British fleet went on war alert should their quick intervention be called for.

Lincoln knew he was in a bind. He agonized over the fate of the Union. There was a lot more to it than just differences between the North and the South. That’s why his emphasis was always on “Union” and not merely the defeat of the South. But Lincoln needed money to win.

In 1861, Lincoln and his Secretary of the Treasury, Salmon P. Chase, went to New York to apply for the necessary war loans. The Money Changers, anxious to maximize their war profits, only offered loans at 24-36% interest. Lincoln said thanks, but no thanks, and returned to Washington. He sent for an old friend, Colonel Dick Taylor of Chicago, and put him onto the problem off financing the War. At one particular meeting, Lincoln asked Taylor how else to finance the war. Taylor put it this way:

“Why, Lincoln, that is easy; just get Congress to pass a bill authorizing the printing of full legal tender treasury notes… pay your soldiers with them and go ahead and win your war with them also.”

When Lincoln asked if the people of the United States would accept the notes, Taylor said:

“The people or anyone else will not have any choice in the matter, if you make them full legal tender. They will have the full sanction of the government and be just as good as any money … the stamp of full legal tender by the Government is the thing that makes money good any time, and this will always be as good as any other money inside the borders of our country. ”

So that’s exactly what Lincoln did. From 1862 to 1865, with Congressional authorization, he printed up $432,000,000 of the new bills.

In order to distinguish them from private bank notes in circulation, he had them printed with green ink on the back side. That’s why the notes were called “Greenbacks.” With this new money, Lincoln paid the troops, and bought their supplies. During the course of the war, nearly all of the 450 million dollars of Greenbacks authorized by Congress were printed at no interest to the federal government.

By now Lincoln realized who was really pulling the strings and what was at stake for the American people. … This is how he explained his monetary views:

“The Government should create, issue, and circulate all the currency and credit needed to satisfy the spending power of the Government and the buying power of consumers… The privilege of creating and issuing money is not only the supreme prerogative of Government, but it is the Government’s greatest creative opportunity… By the adoption of these principles, the long-felt want for a uniform medium will be satisfied. The taxpayers will be saved immense sums of interest. The financing of all public enterprises, and the conduct of the Treasury will become matters of practical administration. Money will cease to be master and become the servant of humanity.”

Meanwhile in Britain a truly incredible editorial in the London Times explained the Bank of England’s attitude towards Lincoln’s Greenbacks.

“If this mischievous financial policy, which has its origin in North America, shall become indurate down to a fixture, then the Government will furnish its own money without cost. It will pay off debts and be without debt. It will have all the money necessary to carry on its commerce. It will become prosperous without precedent in the history of the world. The brains, and wealth of all countries will go to North America. That country must be destroyed or it will destroy every monarchy on the globe.”

Keep in mind, by this time the European monarchs were already chained to their private central banks, hence the bankers’ concern to preserve their captive monarchs. Within four days of the passage of the law that allowed Greenbacks to be issued, bankers met in convention in Washington to discuss the situation. It was agreed that Greenbacks would surely be their ruin. Something had to be done. They devised a scheme gradually to undermine the value of the Greenbacks.

Seemingly unimportant limitations on the use of Greenbacks (printed on the green back), insisted on by the bankers, forbidding their use to pay import duties and interest on the public debt, were utilized by the banks to slap a surcharge on Greenbacks of up to 185%. This undermined the confidence of the people in Greenbacks and necessitated further concessions to the bankers to obtain more, discounted as the Greenbacks now were.

This scheme was effective – so effective that the next year, 1863, with Federal and Confederate troops beginning to mass for the decisive battle of the Civil War, and the Treasury in need of further Congressional authority at that time to issue more Greenbacks, Lincoln gave in to the pressure, which he described:

“They persist, they have argued me almost blind – I am worse off than St. Paul. He was in a strait between two. I am in a strait between twenty and they are bankers and financiers.”

Lincoln allowed the bankers to push through the National Banking Act of 1863 in exchange for their support for the urgently needed additional Greenbacks. This act created “National Banks” (hence the N.A. still in use after National banks’ names) and gave them a virtual tax-free status. The new banks also got the exclusive power to create the new form of money – National Bank Notes. Though Greenbacks continued to circulate, their quantity was limited and no more were authorized after the war.

[END QUOTE]

The ones who REALLY pull the strings in politics are the ones who pull the PURSE strings. Sharon, Bush, Blair and their ilk are merely puppets. The REAL tyrants – the Mammonites, the Plutocrats, the gazillionaires – almost always remain nameless!

Courtesy Ardeshir Mehta and togethernet