Author Archives: edmund

Mutual funds + EPF

Will it be good idea to use the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) to invest in mutual funds?

I personally don’t think it is worth to take the funds out to invest in mutual funds. The reason is simple, if you use EPF to invest, you not only forgo the 5-6% of annual dividend but you also have to pay a management fee of 5-6% to the fund manager. So, even before you start, you are already lost by 10-12%.

The only time I would use the EPF is to pay for a property and anytime you take the money out from EPF is good thing because EPF is a legalised Ponzi scheme where new contributors pay for the retired ones.

So, better think twice before to use the EPF to invest in mutua funds!

January CPI

Malaysia CPI in January has dropped to 5 years low at 1%; Hence, Bank Negara likely to hold the interest rate. Last month (December 2014) CPI was 1.9%.

Inflation has cooled down because of the drop in crude oil (~$50). Everyone will be happy because of spending less on fuel.

So, the good news is that it can help to boost the consumers spending and the bad news is its going to hit the oil and gas industry very badly; layoff is on the way 🙁 Some are hoping that the crude oil could go back up to $100 again. I wish too. Mission impossible I guess unless OPEC considers to cut the oil production.

I maybe next to be laid off!

CIMB(1023)

My second Purchase in 2015 is CIMB at 5.50RM.

Overall KLSE closed 20points higher at 1781 in month of January.

KLSE likely on the selling pressure for this coming CNY 2015!? Looks like the economic engine not really start up despite numbers of QE continued roll out one by one; the recent is ECB QE. All banks still maintain interest rate at rock bottom and some even near zero.

I guess QE is bad for economy, huh!? Oil price perhaps could be a good indication.

Public Bank

My first purchase in 2015 is PBBANK. I bought 500 units at RM17.80 and its shares likely to go down again due to bank negara introduces new base rate which increases the competitiveness in the banking sectors.

And it is also due to the market sentiment, making most of the stocks will continue to head south. Good news to me that i can start to accumulate more and average down.