Benjamin

Melbourne, Victoria, AUSTRALIA


Joined July 13th 2006

Number of Posts:
232

Number of Comments:
38

Karma:
4



In the arena to seek the Alpha.

ABOUT BENJAMIN

Benjamin is a Melbourne-based editor-writer of Benkaiser.NET Investment Portal, a joint-venture by On Topic Media Pty Ltd and the writer, specializing on investment and finance issues.

He started writing business articles in 2003 focusing on Asian business and economies, especially Malaysia. In 2006 Benjamin narrowed the scope to writing on investment, finance and the Australia sharemarket as his main area of specialization.

Benjamin holds a Master of Accounting from Swinburne University of Technology and a Bachelor of Business (Economics and Finance) from RMIT University. He currently works as a Tax Accountant in a Melbourne-based accounting firm, and was a Finance Assistant to the CEO of one of Australia's leading retail company.

He can be reached at mel.trader@gmail.com

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Recent Posts

Hiatus

March 2nd 2008 04:58
The writer is currently on a hiatus. Will be back as soon as possible.

Sorry for the inconvenience.
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It is as good as dice throwing

February 1st 2008 14:59
Enters the second month of 2008, the markets rose. ASX S&P 200 benchmark index closed the first day of February 3.41% higher. Sounds good but.....

"Our market is over-reacting one day and then over-correcting the next ... it's uncertainty, investors really don't know which way it (the market) is going.''



ABN Amro Morgans private client adviser Simon Ferguson, quoted by The Age.

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Double Down: UBS and a Nervous Market

January 30th 2008 10:19
Folks, following the latest updates below what do you think will happen to the Australian sharemarket tomorrow?

From Bloomberg:

1: UBS Reports Record Loss After $14 Billion Writedown (Update3)

UBS AG, Europe's largest bank by assets, reported a record loss after about $14 billion of writedowns on assets infected by subprime mortgages in the U.S.

2: Stocks Fall in Europe, Asia, Led by BNP, RBS; U.S. Futures Drop

`Markets Nervous'

``Markets are very nervous,'' said David Buik, market analyst at BGC Partners in London. ``People are poised for today's Fed decision. They are not convinced we will get a 50 basis point cut. If we don't, the outcome could otherwise be temporarily disastrous.''

Europe's Dow Jones Stoxx 600 Index lost 0.8 percent. France's CAC 40 dropped 1.7 percent, and the U.K.'s FTSE 100 retreated 0.9 percent. Germany's DAX slumped 0.7 percent.

The MSCI Asia Pacific Index lost 1 percent. South Korea's Kospi Index fell 3 percent, the region's biggest decline. Japan's Nikkei 225 Stock Average dropped 1 percent to 13,345.03. Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index slumped 2.3 percent.


Some will feel their legs weak while there are some who see opportunities. Nevertheless the odds of a south are definitely not slim, unless the US market produce a miracle overnight but what are the odds of it?

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Cash is King

January 26th 2008 02:23
As long as the interest rate is higher than the inflation rate or simply, a positive real rate, shifting your investments into income assets such as term deposits would be a wise move, if the markets and the US economy dive further south, which is likely to be the case.

It was not surprising to see the market rebound on Thursday and Friday as many played the mind game of guessing that others will see a 'buying opportunity' after big fall over the weeks, as a chance to buy cheap stocks, shoot it up and unload them fast. The herd got it pretty well together this time.

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Recession, inflation and China

January 9th 2008 08:30
Still riding on the back of a 'looming' US recession, the local market fell marginally today. The ASX S&P 200 benchmark index shed 0.7% at closing. Now the question is how many times have we heard of a recession coming up in the US? Since mid last year and this time, experts believe, will be the real thing. Again another question, how many times have we heard a US recession is about to begin? Same answer.

The Treasurer believes that Australia could weather the recession but business confidence of the near future is not too bright. And it got dimmer today when Commonwealth Bank today joined NAB and ANZ in raising their interest rates.

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Go Steady, said Mr. Rat

January 8th 2008 09:26
If 2007 was a year associated with extremes than 2008 will be a year of moderation and taking it easy as believed by some.

The prediction game using Chinese astrology is going on strong before Chinese New Year on February 7th sets in, and it seems that the coming Year of Rat is giving hints to investors to go slow and steady. As reported by The Standard, Hong Kong-based group director and member of the Investment Committee of Financial Partners International, Peter Kande was told, 'So for those born in rat years, I am told, long-term investments could show favorable returns, since the earth components of the year prefers conservatism and practicability.'

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Sharemarkets worldwide today plunged on the fear of a possible recession in the US based on negative employment data.

The Australian ASX S&P 200 benchmark index fell by 2% welcoming the year of 2008 as normalcy returns. Is this the long awaited 'real' correction? Time will tell.

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2008: The Feng Shui View

December 27th 2007 11:50
It is a fact when we know we can determine an outcome using scientific method and one that can be rigorously tested. The point is that it is not some random event.

In terms of share markets the scientific method is usually referred as 'quantitative/technical' and/or 'fundamental' analysis. But then again, there is always the factor of 'error' to act as provision that an outcome may not turn out what we expect. Think 'random walk'. This is after all, a market that cannot be experimented in a laboratory. It is 'live'.

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Now comes the real work

November 25th 2007 05:48
We shall remember 24th November of 2007 as a day Australia began a new chapter in history. Finally John Howard is gone and enters Kevin Rudd. The campaign did not start six weeks ago but slightly less than a year ago when Kevin Rudd took over Labor's leadership.

The nation has decided for a change, a fresh leadership and fresh ideas. But the real work starts now. Mr. Rudd, the Prime Minister-elect, will now be under intense scrutiny for his performance as much as the hopes of the people are pinned on him to deliver.

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Apologies for the hiatus

November 7th 2007 01:45
It has been more than a month since the site was last updated and I hereby offer my sincere apologies to all readers for the lack of scribbles througout the period.

The past 38 days have been very hectic for me, bombarded with heavy workloads, but it did not divert my attention from the markets. In fact, I am waiting on the sidelines eyeing on any cracks that could lead to more cracks, if you get what I mean.

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Recent Comments

Comment by Benjamin
on What is fantasy and what is not

October 8th 2007 03:45
In a way yes but the point is that both strategies have their niche but the efficient camp most of the time dismiss active management outright in the face of strong evidence.

But of course, the arguments never end that border on obscure technicalities.

Comment by Benjamin
on Shareholder Activism: The Google Way

August 14th 2007 05:43
Thanks for dropping by, Andrew.

It is great to know that there other avenues of accountability that could be used apart from the usual legal method.

But I guess since Winfoong had passed the reso, it is now a matter of time to prove the effectiveness of "Shareholder Activisim: The Google Way" in HK.

Ben

Comment by Benjamin
on Blog Marketing

August 13th 2007 12:08
Yes, the trend of blog marketing is rising. Even e-commerce is adopting blogs as a sales medium, using blogs to sell goods online. It is getting very personalised.

Comment by Benjamin
on Thoughts About Blogging For Money

August 12th 2007 07:29
You can do it. Don't give up, work hard and believe in yourself.

Support ya.

Comment by Benjamin
on Do you think you are smart enough?

July 3rd 2007 04:12
Yes, you are right. All those academic studies are only a guide for us to understand the market better and then make a "reasonable" extrapolation from understanding and history.

I've had experience of being involved in an academic research to find ways to predict the market, and its a wild wild west.

Comment by Benjamin
on The strange business of investment

April 13th 2007 03:21
Not an absolute. Don't forget value stocks, mate.

Comment by Benjamin
on Warren Buffet on Market Efficiency

March 15th 2007 07:37
Yea, that is true. Buffet dabbles in one of the most efficient stock markets in the world, that is, like what he said, not always efficient. Otherwise he wouldn't be the richest investor in the world.

Comment by Benjamin
on Warren Buffet's Advice To Young People

January 19th 2007 15:15
Indeed a good one. Unless for emergency, personal credit corrupts. Might as well invest the interests and fees into yourself or some other assets, ie: mutual funds, stocks, bank deposits, bonds and others.

Comment by Benjamin
on Portfolio 701: Up And Running

January 13th 2007 11:49
Hi Aw,

The criteria for rebalancing mainly depends on any changes in the factor. For instance if the factor sustained a negative turnaround then it is a signal for selling and vice-versa. And of course, any market moving news or information affecting the portfolio shares would be taken into account of. Therefore there are no fixed schedules for rebalancing.

As for the methodology, perhaps I would need to consult with laywers first regarding my intellectual property rights. Just kidding. The second round is crucial for finding out whether the factor works, so it is not the time yet, mate.

Anyway thanks for visting

Cheers

Ben

Comment by Benjamin
on Adsense not adding up

January 12th 2007 02:44
So is there any other way to remove the blacklist?