Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Understanding ETF

Understanding ETF

Q: What is an exchange-traded fund (ETF)?

An ETF is essentially a unit trust fund, except that it is traded on a stock exchange. It represents a basket of securities and is designed to track the performance of an index. The performance of an ETF usually mirrors that of the index it tracks.

Take the FBM30etf as example. Since it tracks the FBM30, it will buy the index's constituent stocks. The number of shares bought for each stock will be based on its weightage on the index.

Q: What benefits does an ETF bring to investors?
Unlike unit trust funds, investors can buy and sell units of an ETF at anytime during trading hours like trading a stock. An ETF is traded in blocks of 100 units.

Instead of buying shares of each and every stock, ETF allows investors to gain exposure to a basket of securities with just a single purchase of ETF units. ETF offers portfolio diversification like unit trust funds.

ETF incurs low management fee as a result of passive management. Transaction cost is low (0.6% via brokerage) compared with unit trust fund (3% to 5% sales charge).

Q: How do I buy or sell ETF?

Like ordinary stocks, you can buy or sell ETF through your broker.

Q: How is the market price of an ETF determined?

As an ETF is traded like a stock, the price of each unit is determined by the supply and demand of the market, and in general, will be traded closely to the market value of the underlying basket of securities.

Q: How do I value an ETF?

An ETF is valued according to its net asset value (NAV). NAV is the fund's assets minus its liabilities divided by the number of outstanding shares. At the end of each trading day, the NAV will be calculated. The increase in NAV means the increase in the value of one's holdings.

Investors should also look at whether an ETF is traded at a premium or discount to the index it tracks.

Q: Does an ETF pay dividends?

Most ETFs do pay dividends. However, investors should study the prospectus of the particular ETF on its dividend policy.

Source: The Edge

Tradewinds surges 27% in early trade

13-06-2007: Tradewinds surges 27% in early trade

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Tradewinds Corporation Bhd’s share price surged as much as 27% or 41 sen to RM1.89 in very active trade on June 21 after a foreign research house re-rated the counter.

It opened at RM1.51, up three sen. Within the first two hours, there were 38.33 million shares done at prices ranging from RM1.51 to RM1.89.

At 11am, it was trading at RM1.78, up 30 sen.

The company reported net profit of RM7.86 million in the first quarter, compared with a net loss of RM23.61 million a year ago.

Earnings per share was 1.28 sen versus 3.79 sen loss per share. Its net assets per share was RM2.18.

Source : The Edge

BROKER CALL Malaysia's oil/gas sector 'overweight' on firm demand

BROKER CALL Malaysia's oil/gas sector 'overweight' on firm demand - Aseambankers
13/06/2007 11:39:00
KUALA LUMPUR (XFN-ASIA) - Aseambankers Research said it has kept its
''overweight'' rating on the oil and gas sector as it expects global energy
demand to remain robust.
"Global energy demand is expected to remain robust over the next few years,
underpinned by rapid economic growth in Asia (i.e China, India and Middle
East),'' it said in a note to investors, adding that oil consumption is expected
to grow by a cumulative annual growth rate (CAGR) of 1.6 pct from 2007-2030.
However, the research house acknowledged that "long term sustainability could
be a key issue due to exhaustion of hydrocarbons."
"Elsewhere, escalating costs and skill shortage will remain an issue to the
sector, at least in the near-to-mid term in the era of high oil prices,'' it
added.
"Nevertheless, we remain overweight on the oil and gas sector, in anticipation
of a greater push for exploration and production activities, leading to greater
demand for supplies and services,'' Aseambankers concluded.
It has maintained its "strong buy" recommendations on Ramunia, with a target
price of 1.80 rgt; and KNM, target price 17.0 rgt; as well as "buy" calls on
Petronas Gas, target price 11.20 rgt; EPIC, target price 2.60 rgt; Dialog,
target price 2.35 rgt; Wah Seong, target price 4.10 rgt; Petra Perdana, target
price 4.10 rgt; and Alam Maritim, target price 4.65 rgt

Source: Osk Wirenews

BROKER CALL - Malaysia's water sector 'overweight' on 9MP rollout

BROKER CALL - Malaysia's water sector 'overweight' on 9MP rollout - Aseambankers
13/06/2007 12:28:00
KUALA LUMPUR (XFN-ASIA) - Aseambankers Research has kept its ''overweight''
rating on the water sector pending the rollout of projects under the Ninth
Malaysia Plan (9MP).
"We reaffirm our positive outlook for the water sector, especially for the long
term,'' it said, and noted that the government plans to call for an
international tender for the 44.6 kilometre tunnel works for the Pahang-Selangor
water transfer project "within these few months and for construction works to
start in early-2008."
"This would lead to the rollout of the other main packages of the larger
Pahang-Selangor water project, which we estimate would cost at least 9 bln rgt
in total,'' it added.
Potential beneficiaries of the projects are Gamuda, IJM Corp, and UEM Builders
while smaller players like Loh & Loh, Salcon and Taliworks could feature at the
sub-contracting levels, it said.
Aseambankers said national water asset management company PAAB's active
involvement in discussions to take over water-related assets in the two states
of Negeri Sembilan and Melaka, "is also positive development."
"Here, we understand that Ranhill Utilities is vying for a role in the
operation and maintenance of water treatment plants in Melaka,'' it noted.


Source: Osk Wirenews

BROKER CALL - Malaysia's MRCB kept 'buy' on huge order book

BROKER CALL - Malaysia's MRCB kept 'buy' on huge order book - CIMB
12/06/2007 10:40:00
KUALA LUMPUR (XFN-ASIA) - CIMB Research has reiterated its "buy" call on
Malaysian Resources Corp Bhd (MRCB) as the firm could potentially emerge as the
best play for exposure to mega projects planned for Penang, and to overseas
ventures particularly in the Middle East.
Apart from the 1.2 bln rgt Penang Monorail and 1 bln rgt Penang outer ring road
(PORR) projects, MRCB could add another potential mega job -- the 1.2 bln rgt
new Penang international airport -- to bag three mega jobs in one state, CIMB
said.
The Penang monorail, the 9-bln-rgt Bakun power transmission project and more
overseas contracts are expected to drive MRCB's order book which currently
stands at 1.7 bln rgt, it said.
The company is targeting new contracts worth 1.5 bln rgt by the end of the
year.
There is speculation that MRCB will acquire a stake in Equine to participate in
the building of a new airport in Penang.
"We are surprised by this news and would take a slight positive view should it
materialise," the research firm said.
As for Saudi Arabia, MRCB has been working with several parties in the Middle
East on a potential transport hub, which may provide another big boost to
overseas contributions.
MRCB's 33-year toll highway concession for the Eastern Dispersal Link will
feature a new stream of recurring income by 2011, it added.
CIMB is keeping its target price of 3.15 rgt for MRCB.
At 10.36 am, MRCB was down 0.03 rgt or 1.20 pct at 2.46 rgt and Equine Capital
Bhd was off 0.02 rgt or 0.63 pct to 3.18.
(1 usd = 3.47 rgt)


Source: Osk Wirenews