Single Stock Not Best Choice for Long Position on Macro Trend
Prelude I invested in a company operating in a dominant position of its segment within China’s processed–food chain. I liked the investment idea based on the theme that processed food consumption typically rises alongside a country’s rise in income and urbanization. We see this play out when branded products on the shelves of the modern food retail networks replace wet markets, butchers and greengrocers (produce markets). …
Read Full PostHard Lesson About Compounding – Could Have Been Better with Coke
Prelude As an excited 17-year-old who had saved up a little more than US$2,000, I wanted to buy some stock. I held small amounts of two other stocks at the time, so I purchased Coca-Cola shares with the money I had saved. Ignorance is not bliss when missing big future interest I don’t know what I was thinking when I sold the Coke shares around six months later, ignorant…
Read Full PostHow Poor Execution Turns a Great Idea into the Worst Investment
Prelude In early 2017, I was shown an opportunity to invest in a US$6.5m simple agreement for a future equity (SAFE) note issued by BuildDirect.com Technologies Inc., a $1bn Canadian e–commerce company. All of business’ facets looked solid My client had made previous investments in the company and had a strong conviction in the team, the company, the market and this “new marketplace” opportunity. The company sells heavy construction supplies, such as tiles and…
Read Full PostFutures Investor Takes Eyes Off the Ball and Pays the Price
Prelude Around 2013-2014, I had a short-term market speculative position on the Thailand Futures Exchange (TFEX) using a SET50 Futures contract. One day, the market slid around 10% because of political unrest, and I was on the losing side of the equation. Too busy to watch an investment It was a busy day at work, and I would generally not think too much about my position unless I received a call from my broker. I received a call. My broker told me that my position had to be forced closed. At the time, I was…
Read Full PostFalse Hope, Poor Due Diligence Blinds Oil Industry Investor
I invested in an oil and gas industry offshore support vessel company in the first quarter of 2014, driven mainly by the desire to cash in on the presumed success of its parent company—an oil and gas industry engineering, procurement, and construction firm.
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