Philip Chua Business Blog

Archive for October, 2009

OUR small-cap portfolio slid about one per cent as investors paused to review the progress of the global economic recovery and the relative valuation of stocks. But blue chips held up rather well, with the Straits Times Index (STI) edging up 0.2 per cent in the week to yesterday.
Among the stocks in our portfolio, S-chips in the chemical fibre business were the biggest losers last week. China Sky … more

CREDIT card spending rose in the first two months of the third quarter compared to a year earlier as consumer sentiment improved, Singapore’s consumer credit bureau said yesterday.
Consumers owed an average of $4,489 per person on their credit cards in August, up one per cent from $4,446 a year earlier, according to Credit Bureau Singapore (CBS).
In July, the average outstanding balance of active … more

THE closure of the Hong Kong market for a public holiday yesterday meant that the local market was mainly left to run on its own steam and in this regard, it turned in a disappointing performance – stocks mainly drifted in low volume throughout the day. The Straits Times Index’s movements displayed all the hallmarks of a market unsure of what to do next while lacking in direction when it traded wi… more

(SINGAPORE) After reports that some Singapore-listed Chinese companies or S-chips were seeking secondary listings in Hong Kong and the United States, it has emerged that some of them have pinned their hopes on Taiwan.
Industry sources told BT that they have gained mandates from both Singapore and Chinese companies listed on Singapore Exchange (SGX) to issue Taiwan Depository Receipts (TDRs) to Tai… more

TRADERS had nothing much to get out of bed for yesterday, with no new directions or temptations to inspire share buying.
Blue chips languished within a tight price range, with investors preferring to keep their powder dry as they awaited the release of third-quarter results from the big guns.
These include CapitaLand, which reports its results today, followed by OCBC Bank tomorrow and United Overs… more

CONSUMER confidence continues to rally in the run-up to Christmas, with figures out yesterday showing that credit card spending is up while payment delinquency rates are at record lows.
The latest numbers from the Credit Bureau Singapore (CBS) show that spending patterns have stayed steady despite the recession.
‘The increase in credit card spending is in line with the clear but modest recovery th… more