DIGI and Sunway REIT(stocks of my interest)

from kenanga

 

DIGI: Its 2QFY2013 higher revenue was driven by increasing mobile internet usage. Some 64% of its subscribers are mobile internet users while smartphone penetration stood at 30.4%.

DIGI’s strategy to bundle voice and SMS into its data packages appears to be paying off, offsetting the decline in SMS revenue a subscribers turn, increasingly to messaging apps such as Whats-App. Voice revenue appears to have stabilized.

In tune with the global trend data, data consumption will continue to grow as more users upgrade from feature to smartphones coupled with increasing proliferation of tablet devices. Faster network speed and better consumer experience will further promote data usage. The average data consumption for smartphones is on an upward trajectory.

DIGI is positioned to capture this growth now (July 2013) that it has almost completed its network modernization exercise. The company has expanded its 3G coverage to 72% of the population and it is targeted to reach 75% by end 2013. The joint built fibre, with Celcom too is progressing well with some 1012km completed.

After the same time, the company has also started rollout for the next generation LTE network, beginning with the Klang Valley and it is slated to reach 1500 sites by end 2014.

 

While DIGI is not expected to excite with a blazing pace of growth, expect the company to report decent earnings expansion going forward. Its strong cash flow would also ensure steady and consistent dividend payments.

At the prevailing price of rm4.63, the stock is trading at lower valuations compared with Maxis and at just a slight premium to M1 and Starhub. Earnings for all telcos are predominantly domestic based whereas Axiata and SIngtel have wider geographical footprints. Overseas expansion offers the potential for stronger growth but also carry higher risks.

Although DIGI’s dividend yield for the current year (FY2013) is comparatively lower, there is a good chance for dividend growth gong forward. Due to the company’s limited reserves (following bumper dividends and capital repayments over the past few years), dividend payments are capped to annual earnings.

Given DIGI’s track record for returning excess cash to shareholders, estimates the company will pay out all of its profits

Note that should DIGI adopt a business trust structure – a move that is currently (July 2013) – the total dividends payable would likely exceed its existing estimates.

DiGi.Com Bhd is set for higher margins in the second half 2013 with potential for more capital distribution if it adopts a business trust structure.

The ending of additional operations and maintenance expenses relating to network upgrades in second half of 2013 would give a lift to DiGi’s margins. This also sets a higher (margin) base for 2014, and is a catalyst for a re-rating.

At higher levels of payout from DiGi going forward, as its parent Telenor will be making significant investments in Myanmar. There is a high probability that DiGi will take on a business trust structure which will enable it to distribute more capital (as it will benefit Telenor).

Sunway REIT: There are a myriad factors that would likely temper interest in REITS at least in the near to medium term.

Key among the issues is expectations of a gradual normalization of global interest rates from historic low levels as the US starts to roll back its aggressive monetary policies. Rising yields on risk free government bonds would render fixed income bonds and high yielding stocks less attractive.

Generally speaking, the latter category should fare comparatively better expectations that corporate earnings growth will translate into higher yields – and yields – over time. IN this respect, REITs could face some challenges.

High property prices make it difficult for REITs to expand via acquisition of quality, yield accretive assets. In the absence of new acquisitions, REITs would be dependent on organic rental increases to drive earnings.

For Sunway REIT, its earnings over the next two years from Aug 2013 will be affected by major asset enhancement initiative, currently (Aug 2013) ongoing for the Sunway Putra Mall. The trust acquired Sunway Medical Centre at end 2012 and income from the property will help partially offset the loss of earnings from Sunway Putra Mall.

Expect distribution per unit to drop in 2014 and 2015.

Occupancy and rental outlook for the office segments is downbeat on the back of forecasts of space over supply over the next few years from 2013. This will translate into limited income growth for many of the office focused trusts.

Office properties in Sunway REIT’s portfolio saw pressure in its last financial year ended June 2013. With a significant portion of leases up for renewal in FY2014 and FY2015, earnings could see further downside risks.

Sunway’s REIT’s hotel assets also fared poorly in FY2013 with revenue down on the back of lower occupancy. The trust is relying on its retail assets to be the primary driver for the growth.

Revenue from its four retail assets, combined was up 1.3% year on year contributing to 71% of Sunway REIT’s total revenue in FY2013.

Sunway REIT’s flagship Sunway Pyramid shopping mall registered 18.1% rental reversion for leases renewed in FY2013 which accounted for about a quarter of total net lettable area. The shopping mall alone contributed to 57% of total turnover for the trust.

With another 52.5% of its leases due in FY2014, Sunway REIT is banking on FY2014 rental, reversion to sustain earnings – partially offsetting the loss of income from Sunway Putra Mall which is close for two years from 2013 for extensive refurbishment. Refurbishment works are likely to affect occupancy at its adjoining hotel and office tower.

The trust has earmarked some rm500 million in capex over the FY2014 to FY2015 for various AEIs. Other than Sunway Putra Mall, it is also undertaking AEI at Sunway Pyramid which will see some 20362 sq ft of additional retail space.

Going forward, new retail space, with a number of sizeable shopping malls coming into the market amid slower consumption, could pressure overall occupancy and future rental increases.

 

 

Why SellDown In Malaysian Equities Market

From Mr Kok Chin Keong of kenanga investment, thanks

Why SellDown In Malaysian Equities Market

Asian markets fell sharply while currencies also weakened as foreign funds reduced their shareholdings in emerging economies and headed back to developed markets.

The slide in Malaysian equities was also in line with the current (Aug 2013) regional markets, including Indonesia and Thailand on weakening economic growth. There were rising concerns about a contagion effect from Indonesia.

World shares sank as unease about an expected cut in U.S. stimulus and a related rise in bond yields left markets on edge.

Such concerns are also spooking Malaysian investors with Malaysia's own current account surplus witnessing a narrowing trend over the past few quarters.

Economists predict that Malaysia’s current account surplus will continue to shrink on sluggish exports. Some also did not rule out the possibility of a current account deficit in the second quarter 2013. If that happened, it would be the first since 1997.

Malaysia also is vulnerable to the US Federal Reserve's (Fed) plans to scale back on its loose monetary policy because foreign funds holds a large chunk of its bonds. Foreigners held an estimated 46.8% of domestic debt securities worth RM228.9 billion in June, down from 49.5% in May 2013.

Foreign funds were also net sellers of Malaysian stocks for the past three weeks. In the last three weeks, a total of RM2.1 billion had left Malaysia equity.

The Fed's meeting on Wednesday as a potential "flashpoint" for the equity market as it may contain "insight" of the the Fed's level of commitment to scale back on its asset purchases come September 2013.

Market turbulence was bound to pick up further as the Fed starts to switch policy direction. People will start to wonder whether there is anything in the fixed income world that is really safe.

Things may only settle down once the Fed’s plans become clear. The base case is that the Fed will announce the start of a modest and gradual tapering at its Sept 2013 meeting. By then, it should be fully prized in, so it seems logical that we would see some degree of stabilization.
If we also get a continued improvement in Chinese economic data, then Asian currencies could find a more solid floor but for now (Aug 2013), having gained so much on the back of Fed from 2009 to 2012, some of that is being given back.

Investing 101 – Knowing Yourself

Investing 101 – Knowing Yourself

 

Before you set out to ask yourself what type investment you should pursue, you need to ask yourself: what kind of investor am I? 

 

This is an extremely important question because every person is different and every investor is unique.  The level of risk that you’ll be able to tolerate, the amount of gain that you are willing to pursue and the different combinations of investments that you can manage, depend greatly on the type of investor you are. 

 

The more you get to understand the type of investor that you are, the easier it will be and for you to choose the right investment for yourself. 

 

What Is Your Age? 

 

It is generally agreed that a young investor is likely to recover from a huge loss than an older investor.  This means that, a younger investor will be better able to tolerate fluctuations in investment, much better than an older one. 

 

On the other hand, someone who is older, say someone who is over 50 years of age, should be more conservative when it comes to approaching investments.  He should not take investments that are too risky.  This is because it is more unlikely for him to recover from a loss than a younger investor. 

 

How And Where Did You Get Your Wealth?

 

The other thing that will determine the type of investor that you are is the place where you got your wealth and how you got it.  Someone who got his wealth through land speculation, selling off risky assets, and engaging in stock exchange trading at an early age is a person would be willing to tolerate risk.  On the other hand someone who got his wealth through conservative spending and put in a lot of his wealth in savings, is not going to tolerate risk very easily.  Such a person will tend to be conservative when it comes to choosing investments. 

 

Your Attitude Towards Wealth

 

If you feel that your wealth is too small and that you cannot afford to lose it, then you’re going to be a very conservative investor.  On the other hand, if you believe that you can lose part of your wealth and still live comfortably, then you are likely to be a risky investor. 

 

It is important that you consider the kind of investor you are because it is not a simple decision.  This is not the decision of going to a supermarket and picking the best brand of crisps; not at all. It is about making a decision that will determine your quality of life.

 

This post is brought to you by www.iMoney.my- Malaysia's first free, independent comparison portal for financial products, providing calculators and comparison of credit cards, home loans, personal loans and investments.

10 things to give up to be a doctor

a very good article for students and parents as well!!!

10 things to give up to be a doctor

 

BY LEO

Following a recent article elsewhere which generated an interesting discussion, I started thinking about the things one must give up on the road to becoming a doctor. It’s a long road, beginning with an initial decision, some early voluntary experiences, an application to university and some hard work trying to achieve the barely possible at GCSE and AS / A2.

But it doesn’t even end there. The hard work really only begins at medical school where long hours and repeated exams are considered normal and where you need your patients more than they need you.

There are plenty of things you have to give up along the way, here are my top 10:

1. Your desire to be wealthy

Very few people in medicine ever become hugely wealthy, at least not in Europe. If riches are what you desire there are many many easier ways of getting that involve alot less heartache, money and stress. If you want to be a millionnaire before you’re 30, my advice would be to avoid university altogether. Most doctors are in the profession for genuinely altruistic reasons as well as the satisfaction that comes from knowing that you have the skills and knowledge to save lives and apply these every single day as a routine part of your work.

2. Your desire to change the world

Equally you must, eventually, give up on the idea of becoming some sort of medical superhero who can solve the worlds medical problems one by one. Yes doctors can do some impressive things when applying their skills to the right situation. But remember that however good your intentions, you will not be able to overcome the problems caused by poverty, war, government neglect or abuse, or coorporate profiteering at the expense of the sick. That doesn’t mean you can’t try to help people afflicted by any of these, you’ll just find that you are usually too small to make any real systemic difference.

3. Your free weekends

It starts at medical school when the work starts to pile up, and weekends are sacrificed to meet deadlines and for exam revision. Once you start working as a junior doctor, you’ll find yourself scanning each new doctors rota to work out where your on-call weekends have landed and who can swop with you so that you can still go on that holiday or get married or whatever. There will be sunny weekends when your non-medic friends will be having a barbecue whilst you sweat it out on a ward seeing yet another gastrointestinal bleed wondering why you chose this path.

4. A good nights sleep

Gone are the days where doctors would be on call for 48 or 72 hours and then do a clinic for the boss before retiring to bed. However, modern working arrangements have brought into existence the ‘week of nights’ where you work 4 or 5 and sometimes 7 night shifts in a row.
As someone who has done these I can confirm that doing nights is pretty inhumane. The talk amongst doctors doing nights together often centres around changing specialty or leaving the profession. Don’t worry, it all gets forgotten once normal daytime duties are restored.


5. Your desire to avoid feeling like a fool
You will make mistakes from time to time in this job and your mistakes will all be potentially serious ones, simply because everything you do affe
cts your patients’ lives directly.

Furthermore, there will be times when you have to withstand an onslaught from senior doctors who feel that teaching by humiliation is the only way forward. You will feel like an idiot at times and if the thought of that frightens you you should promptly pick a different profession.

6. Your desire to always put friends and family first
As a doctor your job usually takes priority and you simply cannot shirk your responsibilities simply because you have prior engagements of a personal nature. Over the years I’ve known many difficult situations including a colleague who had to turn down a role as best man for a close friend because nobody could swop his on-call weekend with him and the hospital refused to organise a locum to cover him.

Apart from sickness or bereavement, your first priority will be to your profession. Your friends and family may find that difficult to understand at first. They’ll come round to it with time, especially once they delete your number.

7. Your desire to please everyone.

Whether it’s your friends or family, as above, or your future patients you’d better get used to upsetting people from time to time. Telling your wife you need to postpone an evening engagement because you are still operating on a difficult case, or telling a patient you won’t be operating on them as they only have three months to live, are both likely to be met with upset. Each situation has it’s unique challenges and needs some communication skills, but the bottom line is that you will have times when you will have to make someone want to either hit you or cry in despair.

8. Your creativity

Not many people admit this but medicine takes people who are often very creative and turns them into workaholic, automatons who have little room left in their lives for creativity. If you want evidence for this, go to any dinner party that includes more than one doctor. Chief discussion topic will be work and medicine.That’s partly because anecdotes from doctoring are entertaining, but also because if the medics stray from this conversation topic, they will rapidly expose their banality and limited insights in other areas particularly all things creative.

Much of medicine does not allow much creativity in it’s day to day practice and the intensity of the work beats any desire for creative thinking right out of you before you even realise it’s happening.* Of course whilst accepting this fact you must fight this tendency and attempt to keep up your other interests, otherwise, I can guarantee medicine will invade everything you do.

*There are a few notable exceptions to this!

9. Your desire to stay in one place / live close to friends and family.

Want to do something competitive, like medicine? You have to realise that choosing your location is a luxury and you may have to follow your dream in a less than ideal location. Even after you graduate, having your heart set on one speciality is a sure way to geographical instability. Some people don’t mind this, but some with strong family ties or a mortgage, the need to move frequently is a pain.

I began to come to terms with this when I found that even the most obscure places have hospitals. Working in these places you’re just as likely to meet doctors who have also had to move from here from the other side of the country. It’s a great way to meet people but easy to lose touch once you move on.

10. Good health

You may not know it, but you’re joining a profession that has high rates of physical and mental illness as well as drug and alcohol misuse. Doctors are also less likely to seek help than other professions which all adds to a rather worrying picture.

Although ill health isn’t guaranteed in a medical profession you should realise the future risk now and take steps to formulate good lifestyle habits to minimise your risk factors. A good network of non-medical friends should also protect you from neglecting your own needs while you’re treating your patients.

That’s plenty to sacrifice just for a job isn’t it? However, I guess the reason you’re in medicine (or trying to get in) is that you’ve realised that medicine is not just a job, it’s a whole way of life, that’s difficult to let go of once you’ve decided to enter it, and these sacrifices are simply part of the deal.

Well, those are the 10 points I thought were worth including. If you have more I’d love to hear about them.

Leo

How to manage your cash

How to manage your cash
http://www.thestar.com.my/Business/Business-News/2013/06/17/Managing-cash-the-KASH-way.aspx

Cash is king, so they say. True. But how do we make cash king? What are the simple fundamentals when it comes to dealing with cash? KASH WONG offers a simple way to teach us using the K.A.S.H. acronym.

K-nowledge: Know where and when our money is coming from and going out to. It’s a task that’s simple enough but not many do it.
If you don’t practise it, start now. Carry a pen and a notepad with you at all times or better still, type it straight into your smartphone for each expenditure you incur and/or income acquired.
Keep your financial records up to date. This is especially useful for those who would like to start saving.

A-ttitude: If you are a parent, educate your child about the value of money. Nowadays, there are seminars and financial education classes for young children and even adults. Learn about making smarter choices when it comes to dealing with monetary issues. Having the right attitude towards the value of money would definitely make you and your child more financially literate.

S-kills: Money needs our attention and to do this, we need to acquire a set of money skills to guide us in managing our own portfolio, generating multiple income streams, being more rational than emotional when investing, and learning to recognise opportunities as well as investment scams. Most of all, we develop skills to create, protect and preserve our wealth which leads us to last part of K.A.S.H.

H-abits: Once we start ourselves on this course of action, we will form a set of healthy financial habits that will give us the clarity and understanding on money matters. Good habits such as these, in the long run, would allow us to save and generate a positive cash position. This will enable us to own a more diversified investment portfolio, including alternative investment vehicles which can enhance our net worth, thus allowing this cycle to continue on indefinitely