Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Daylight Saving Time (DST)

Hmm...didnt realise the impact of this DST. It delays the opening time for foreign markets, but also affect FX market also in a way as it confuses the traders what hours to use despite FX is tradin 24-7 till sat.



DST for US, UK Equities market in SG/HK timing
Source: http://www.dbsvonline.com/English/index.asp

SGX Extended Contracts

Another new deriativies will be lanuched next year.

One can long or short and hold on to this open position till the end of the month, the last working day for the month. Margin will be required and of cos, there will be margin calls etc. Will update more once more information is available.

The key features of ES contracts are:
- Each contract will be for 35 days, starting from the 25th of each month until the last trading day (LTD) of the contract month, i.e. the 31st of the following month.

- If the 25th and/or 31st are non-trading days, the contract will start from and end
on the last trading days before those dates. For example, an ES contract that starts trading on 23 January 2009 will have its LTD on 27 February 2009.

- Settlement will take place by way of delivery of the underlying securities on LTD plus three days (LTD+3). If bought on the first day of the ES contract, this gives investors up to 38 days to settle the contracts with the actual securities – 35 days longer than for normal securities investments.

- Margins, which are a fraction of the full trade value, are required to be paid to trade ES contracts. The margins range from 5% to 20% of the cost of one lot of the underlying stock. The full amount of the trade is payable on settlement day, which is LTD+3.

Source: http://info.sgx.com/webnewscentre.nsf/b9c790d0d5ba5d2548256dcf0049ce28/48256838002f07b1482574f80019600c?OpenDocument

Sunday, October 26, 2008

CPF counters

If you wonder which shares can be settled using CPF, here is the link.

http://info.sgx.com/webstocks.nsf/CPF+Investment+Scheme+Stocks?OpenView

This information is important as not all platforms offered by brokeages automatically reject orders that cant be traded using CPF. Thus always do your homework to avoid disputes.

CFD providers and counter list for SG market

CIMB
https://sgcfd.cimb.com/emidas.html

KIM ENG
https://www.kecfd.com/markets.asp
https://www.kecfd.com/pdfs/CFD%20Initial%20Margin%20SGX.pdf

PHILIPS CAPITAL
http://www.poems.com.sg/cfd/sic.html
http://www.poems.com.sg/cfd/attachments/PhillipCFDCounterList.pdf

LIM & TAN
http://www.eq.com.sg/

CMC MARKET
http://www.cmcmarkets.com.sg/en/content/about_us/index.jsp
http://www.cmcmarkets.com.sg/repository/docs/sg/Product_Schedule_Singapore.pdf

SAXO MARKETS
http://www.saxomarkets.com.sg/private/cfds/Saxocfds.aspx

IG MARKET
http://www.igmarkets.com.sg/
http://www.igmarkets.com.sg/content/files/shares_list.pdf#page=127

Will continue to update this list if found new information..but of cos, please do check out various sources or email the CFD provider if you seek further information. As for which provider is better, i wont know since i didnt try all of them. But one variable one can consider is cost of transaction, list of shortable counters (thats important), the relability of the platform in terms of price entry, order types (different order types for different platform)

Each provider also requires different requirements to open an account, so do read up and see which is better for you.

Saturday, August 30, 2008

Trading OTC markets

Over the counter (OTC)
In general, the reason for which a stock is traded over-the-counter (OTC) is usually because the company is small, making it unable to meet exchange listing requirements. Also known as "unlisted stock", these securities are traded by broker-dealers who negotiate directly with one another over computer networks and by phone.

As such, OTC stocks are generally unlisted stocks which trade on the Over the Counter Bulletin Board (OTCBB) or on the pink sheets. Be very wary of some OTC stocks, however; the OTCBB stocks are either penny stocks or are offered by companies with bad credit records.
Source: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/o/otc.asp

My Opinions
Hmm..means even small businesses can be listed and raised funds in this markets. But its very high risk. Reason?

What i observed, from trading OTC, you wont be able to know the buying and selling price in queue for this market unlike equity markets such as NYSE or SGX, where brokeages offered services to see the queuing volumes and prices offered.

You may be queuing to buy at 0.05c for that counter, and the order may not be filled even if the platform shows that your price has been penetrated.

To know if the stock is a OTC counter, normally they have a stock symbol will end with a .PK or . OB, depending where it is traded, i guess...haha..will need to confirm this detail.

Risks of OTC
Although stocks quoted on the OTCBB must comply with SEC reporting requirements, other OTC stocks, such as those stocks categorized as Pink Sheets securities, have no reporting requirements, while those stocks categorized as OTCQX have met alternative disclosure guidelines through Pink OTC Markets.

The OTC market presents investment opportunities for informed investors, but also has a high degree of risk. Many OTC issuers are small companies with limited operating histories or are economically distressed
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Over-the-counter_(finance)

Readings on FAQ on OTC Mtk trading:
http://www.pinksheets.com/pink/faq.jsp#investor

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Stop orders

Recently learn this new order...haha..kinda sad that only few brokerage offer this option.

Stop order allow traders to key in a price which he want to buy or sell. Isnt that same as a limit price?

Hmm..kinda off...the difference is this

If you key in a stop buy order at 1.00 and a limit price order at 1.00. If the price is to hit 1.00, both orders will get penetrated. But in the case, if the price is to gap when the market opens, the price hit 1.2, the limit order at 1.00 will not be filled but the stop buy order will be filled as the price penetrated 1.00 and get filled at the market price of 1.2 at that point of time.

Disadvanatage of stop order is that, there will be circumstances that your order may be filled at a higher buying price or cut loss at a lower selling price as there is no limits once the price penetrated further than expected or anticipated.

Thus there is another type of order known as Stop limit order, where one can determine the stop limit at the entry and exit point. But think this type of order isnt free. Haha...one will have to subscribe. Perhaps there are brokeage which offer free stop limit orders usage in their system...just im unaware of it.

Do spend time researching on different orders types in the trading platform given by your brokeage. They will definitely better better explaination than mine version. :)

Will correct and update on this post once i familarise on this order type.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

CFDs

Recently just started exploring CFDs, Contract for Differences, a derivative product where one can "short or long" the market without involving trading with the mother share but playing with the price flucuations.

If one participate in CFDs, one doesn't participate directly in the market by buying and selling the mother share itself. One is actually betting with the broker, the broker will earn the commission fees, while borrowing shares from its inventory to hedge its position.

One can long or short CFDs and the price is the same as the mother share.

Assuming if it's a bear market,if one have the patience and cash, you want to have a long position, you "feel" the price is cheap, you buy...but how long will the share appreciate or see day light, break resistance? 2nd thing is that your cash will be locked in the share. Are you planning to be a long term investor by choice or by circumstances?

One can short using CFDs, in this bear market, to earn a relatively safe returns as the stock is going down trend and of cos, there will be probability that it will go uptrend then you will have to learn to cut losses and cover your position.

When choosing brokeage to trade CFDs, do know that different brokages some offer a longer list of shortable shares, some counters lack liquidity, thus will need for a higher initial margin.

Remember, CFDs are leverage products and there will be margin calls if there are increase unexpectated volatility.

For now, i will continue to explore and share if i have future experiences.