Financial Review - October, 2017

October was another positive month for the portfolio with positive movements in Hong Kong, emerging markets and precious metals offsetting declines in New Zealand sharemarket and the NZD producing a 0.95 percent increase in net assets.

For the year, the portfolio is up 17.22 percent. The adjusted change from when I retired in September 2013 is a 24.71 percent increase. Hong Kong liquidity stands at 27.58 months of estimated outgoings, well down on January's 38.6 months due to new investments + transfers to New Zealand.

Here are the details:

1. my Hong Kong equities increased. I  purchased a few additional shares in CNOOC (HK:883), GDI (HK:270) and took the dividend reinvestment option on my shares in K Wah (HK:173);

2. my AU/NZ equities were mixed with Australia being marginally ahead and New Zealand slumping sharply on a combination of another earnings downgrade from Fletcher Building (NZX: FBU) and the election resulting in the centre-left government being replaced by an unstable far-left coalition;

3.my equity ETFs were up slightly (India, Hong Kong and China) in line with the local markets;

4. my position in silver rose and my small position in platinum recovered slightly;

5. all tenants are paying on time and all properties are let. Unusually, there were no repairs at all in October ;

6. the AUD and NZD were were down against the USD/HKD. The NZD in particular slumped following the political pole-vault to the left;

7. my position in bonds remains modest. I have a margin facility in place and my carry trade is doing its thing and generating a small amount of additional income;

8. expenses were low.

My HK cash position fell during the month. I currently hold 27.5 months of expenses in HKD cash or equivalents (down from 38.6 months on 1 January).

I have revamped my spreadsheets to capture all debt (previously some accounts were entered on a net basis). Total household gearing ((debt+accruals)/assets) is 9.97% of total assets. Property prices are as at 1 January, 2017, so this overstates the gearing ratio. With a mark-to-market of equities, bonds and FX this number will fluctuate even if the amount of debt is being slowly amortised.

I would like to make some additional investments but am struggling to find good value in the markets I follow. With expectations of further rises in interest rates muted, I remain tempted by the carry trade and would do one or two more should the right offers be available. I am currently having a look at Singapore REITS and some of the smaller investments in the portfolio with a view to either exiting or adding to my positions - too many very small investments are taking up a disproportionate amount of time to monitor.