GDP revision shows recession winding down

Enough said, it's time to take action. We had passed the pit of the business cycle, that's my analysis/prediction/gut feel whatever you put it and I had said it during recent a dinners with my ex-colleagues in SBS and SAF. They all believe otherwise. So I told them there is no point arguing, the result will be out soon and we can bet on it.

I had lately shared with 2 friends about an idiot-proof investment strategy which now is the right time to deploy. This strategy does not requires any analytical skill nor time to do close monitoring. I'll come to this strategy in my next sharing.

I never comment or pretend that I am a fortune teller based on hindsight, if you know me. All my blog sharing can testify that. The following is an excerpt from AFP:

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WASHINGTON (AFP) - – The US economy moved closer to emerging from recession in the second quarter, according to revised data Wednesday showing a smaller-than-expected 0.7 percent pace of output decline.
The figure for gross domestic product (GDP) was better than last month's estimate of a 1.0 percent drop, and stronger than the average estimate of private economists calling for a 1.2 percent annualized rate of decline.
The report appeared to confirm that the world's biggest economy was emerging from its long recession and rebounding from a hefty 6.4 percent tumble in the first quarter of 2009.
The latest data "sets the stage for an improved economic outlook for the rest of 2009 and throughout 2010," said Aaron Smith at Moody's Economy.com.
"The downturn appears to have concluded this summer, and the economy is on track to grow for the first time in more than year in the third quarter. The initial phase of growth is being driven by rapid recoveries in housing and manufacturing, diminishing drags from equipment spending and nonresidential construction, and government support."

2009 F1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix (2)

2009 F1 Singtel Singapore Grand Prix (1)

Potential pennies - the cigarette butt strategy

5 Common Warren Buffett Myths Debunked

Somebody posted an interesting article on an investment website about Warren Buffett which I agree in part. Although Warren Buffett has been my role model in investment management, some years ago, I realized that he doesn’t really practise what he preached. For example, he invested in China oil company, junk bonds, currencies etc.

Nonetheless, value investment is still a sound investment approach that works for decades, valid today and for the years to come.
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Berkshire Hathaway (BRKA) recently posted its worst loss ever and the media is buzzing again. This article attempts to clear up some of the most widely portrayed Warren Buffett myths.

Berkshire Hathaway stock, the most expensive stock in the world, peaked at $149.972 in December 2007 and has since fallen at one point over 50% hitting a multi-year low of $70,100 in early March, 2009. BRKA stock today closed at $81,690. Myths below.

1. He buys cheap stocks.

Probably the most common and widespread misconception of Warren Buffett is that he got so wealthy by buying cheap stocks. Though Warren Buffett advocates buying stocks at fair or even firesale prices if possible, it is not the only metric of his decisions. In fact, it may be a relatively minor factor in his considerations.

In his younger years, Buffett bought stocks he called “cigarette butt” stocks. Namely stocks that were selling for attractive prices (i.e. under book value, at a third of working capital etc). He did great but not very great. Buffett later acknowledged that he found out it was much better to buy good businesses instead of just cheap stocks. He later made the bulk of his fortune in American Express, Geico, Coca Cola, Gillette etc.

2. He’s ever wrong.

Yes, even Warren Buffett can be wrong! In the early 1980s, Buffett was worried that hyperinflation would make bonds unattractive investments. But inflation eventually ticked down and hasn’t raised its ugly head yet for nearly 30 years.

Buffett also made mistakes in his stock and bond investments. He bought preferred stocks in an airlines company that almost got wiped out and sold McDonald’s too early. He bought many stocks he later wished he didn’t buy. Most recently, he became the largest institutional shareholder of Conoco Phillips, an oil company, when oil prices were near their highs.

The lesson here is not knocking on Buffett. Instead, realizing that even the Oracle of Omaha can be wrong quite often tells you that losses and being wrong are an inevitable part of investing. The key issue is how we deal with risk and losses, and whether we make a lot more on our winners than we lose on our losers.

3. Buffett doesn’t trade.

Contrary to public opinion, Buffett doesn’t just invest in stocks. Though Buffett frowns on speculation, Buffett does not refrain from making investments in currencies, commodities or even the stock market of a speculative nature. In the early 2000s, Buffett actually shorted the Dollar, tidying up a handsome profit as he covered his positions a few years ago. Buffett has also been involved in silver, copper and oil (as can be seen from his letters to shareholders). Buffett also does arbitrage in the stock market. But he usually controls the sizes of his speculative positions. Perhaps the lesson to be learnt here is only to risk what you can afford to lose if you’re going to speculate.

4. Buffett doesn’t use financial leverage.

This may be one of the most persistent myths about Buffett. Buffett once wrote “Debt is a four letter word.” He strongly preaches against highly leveraged business/financial operations, but in fact, Buffett does use financial leverage. At the start of his investment career, he managed assets for other people. That’s leveraging his knowledge. Later on, Buffett bought insurance companies which generate lots of money from premiums known as “float”. Buffett could invest the float until there were claims from insurees. Though float is low cost compared to the profits Buffett generates from his investments, this is leverage nonetheless.

5. Buffett doesn’t diversify.

This is not true. Berkshire Hathaway owns dozens of companies and has investments in many sectors. True, Buffett says he like concentrating his investments in companies he fully understands. But he also recommends for the investor who doesn’t have much time for investment research that he “believes in extreme diversification”

The Oracle of Omaha is not a god, far from it, but he has many traits and his investment philosophy can be studied and learned from to aid our own personal investment decisions.

US consumer spending up 0.2%

Excerpt from AFP (28 Aug 09):

WASHINGTON - US CONSUMER spending rose for the third consecutive month in July while incomes were virtually flat, government data showed on Friday in a report suggesting demand picking up amid the long recession.

The Commerce Department said consumer spending - which drives two-thirds of US economic activity - rose 0.2 per cent in July, in line with the average analyst forecast.

Personal income was up less than 0.10 per cent and disposable personal income - income less personal taxes - slipped less than 0.1 per cent.
The department said spending rose a revised 0.6 per cent in June, a hefty 0.2 percentage point higher than the initial estimate.......