Stock Investing Philippines - 2014 Best Picks

The stock market rose 22%% year to date, the ghost month seems to be the bull month of 2014. Wow!  If you have selected the issues, then you have reaped hefty returns from investment.  The heavy weight TEL wow the index after posting a high of 3,394 and a return of 27% year to date.  EDC was noted to be the best performer gaining 30% year to date return.  Another favorite ALI has 26% year to date returns.

Looking at how issues move, I would say that investment in the stock market remain to be the most profitable and interesting hub to let your money grow.  EDC - Energy Development Corporation http://www.energy.com.ph/ was my favorite among all, it never leave my portfolio at any given time.  This company has a very promising prospect and one of the beneficiary of the growing demand for clean energy.  I believe that EDC will hit the high of 9 per share.  That would be a history for the Lopez Holding.  Given the recovery of it's plants and the foreseen increase in supply, 2014 could be a GREEN year for EDC.  I like EDC for it's improving EBITDA for the past years,  It has shown strong balance sheet and expansion abroad is underway.  Grab EDC now.

COSCO on the other hand lost its ground, declining by 18%.  This was attributed to Puregold's result 2nd quarter result which was lower than expected and way below the consensus of many analyst.  PCOR lost it's momentum with -7% year to date stock performance.  This drastic PCOR's downtrend seems to be a good entry point, I believe.  Let's observe for the next few months how this issue will perform.  I have started to get some, the downside is temporary given the bright prospect and its liquidity.  MBT remain in the consolidation phase and waiting for some catalyst for a swing.  Would it be uptrend?  I do not know.  I like MBT and has started to accumulate.

In the holding firms MPI remained to be flat.  AC gained strong upward trend and may possibly reach another record high.  Would it be 900?  Possible.

The Basics of Stock Investing - Philippine Stock Market

Many people thought that Stock Market is a very complicated investment arena.  I was one of the majority until I started to invest, I used the word "invest" not play.  I am an investor at the same time a trader, the two are different in many forms and objectives.  Firstly, I want to talk and about the basics of Stock Investing, no complications, it's Simple and Easy.

In every investment, we want a return.  How much? How big? How long?  That's what we need to define, we need to put our horizon.  Lets start now.

Stock Investing, Easy and Simple!

How much do you need to start?

Basically, $200-$500 could be a good start.

1.  How do you start?

Open bank account, enroll for an online banking for convenience.

2.  What is the next step?

Find out a broker. Firstmetrosec, COLfinancial, BPITrade, Macquarie, CLSA, to name a few.  Browse the net and go to their website, there are options to download forms and fill it out online.  Once you filled, print and send it for verification, they may need some ID issued by any government authority.  If you knew somebody with investing experience, better ask.

3.  How long the broker can open my account?

Depending on the broker, it may take 7 working day to 15 working days.

4.  How can I fund my account?

Do it via bank transfer, that's why you need online banking.

5.  Once funded, can I buy stocks?

Yes, you can start buying stocks of your choice.

6.  How do I know what to buy?

Make your own research of the companies listed in the Philippine Stock Exchange.  There are researches and write ups made by the broker's research team.  Use them as GUIDANCE.

(Next issue - Stock Market Investing Series)

The Man Called "Asim"

This was a long overdue since I left Kabul in March of 2014.  I promised to write more of the stories about the people whom I worked with.  The smiling moments and the bond of friendships among others.

This story is about a man, his name is Ahmed.  He is a cool guy, many times he is funny and sometimes out of his mind.  This man is so relaxed and made his day often as it passby.  How i wish I could have that mentality.  I saw from him the coolness, taking life easy as it was, no stress and keep the big smile often. Asim always brought a local dough every morning, I could not forget how good it was.  I always like the dough, it was a tasty pan; I told them once that it was the Taliban's masterpiece.

As an accountant Asim was assigned to do the banking transactions, going in and out of office everyday.  He worked on bank reconciliation too, but I am not sure if they are reconciled.  How he did his stuffs was all up to him, peace Asim.  Once gone out, expect that he will come back at three o'clock near to time out.  I remembered once when he went for bank and Teďdy called and asked if he was in Pakistan.  What a funny things to remember.  I always stared at him when he look at the ceiling and and waiting for a lizard to drop.  Whattaman.  My very good friend Asim was very nice, though.  He was really a good man.

When we went out, he toured us out around Kabul, he bought corn in cob for us.  He even told us that no one could touch us in his place.  Whattaman, his name is Asim.  We have secret about his crush, he wanted my help but I want to push him in the windows at the 10th floor because he wanted me to court for him.  What on earth, man.  I gave him Polo Ralph Lauren perfume as a lucky charm, hope that works.  He kept on sending me message that I don't do my part as a bridge.  Oh, do I look like a bridge when you cross into a troubled water?

Asim, left for Malaysia in early May of 2014 for a scholarship grants.  I was happy for him to have such opportunity.  But, this man was so different, when I got back to Kabul in July 2014, I saw him also back in the office.  What happened to this man?  He was late for the semester in a University in Kuala Lumpur, poor Asim, he flew back home.  Happy to see him back and disappointed to know what  had

happened.  Man be a man and learn from that experience.  Never go back without assurance that you have a class and enroled.  I always like Asim for being light in personality, he has shown friendship to me and I regarded him as my younger brother.  That's the very reason why I want him to marry a Filipina.  But, I do not need to do all his homework, he need to workhard and show that he is the best gentleman in Depot 1, at least.  Who knows, he gonna find the right woman for him, this time, HIS FILIPINA DREAM.

In my next entry, Making Money in the Stock Market (A Must to Read)