GRY

When it announced a great exploration result, there was almost no interest... so I topped up my holding with a lot of apprehension.  Why apprehension?  Banks are reluctant to lend money to miners!

But today, a Canadian company is bidding for it.  Supposed to be worth about 20c but the share price is hovering around 16c.   Strange.  But at least my loss is not as bad anymore!  Hopefully, it could even be profitable.

WBC

A few days ago, when banks were tumbling in share price, there were lots of experts coming out to sound the misery for banks.  However, when the dividends are reliable and good, it is hard to ignore them.  So when I put a low price on WBC, I was disappointed that the price went down further.

Well, I am glad it has bounced well over it..

GMM

I don't trade because it is too much a gambling exercise.  However, when a stock rises phenomenally without any good explanation beyond what was a reasonable announcement, sometimes I do sell.  And then if it falls phenomenally after that for no obvious reason, then I would buy what I sold back.

So, I sold GMM at 70c+ and then it crumbled to below 50c.  And now I am selling the same small parcel again at a much higher price.  Today, it is 86c.  Because it has been crazy so I put a higher sell price... 

ASX

I am referring specifically to ASX itself.  Like SYD, this is one of the best monopolies to hold.  While it isn't strictly speaking a monopoly, for practical purposes, it is.  Chi-X has made only minor inroad so far.

Based on the current rate of dividend returns, it is almost 15-20% return when calculated on my original purchase price 10-15 years ago.  The share price has gone up by more than 3 times.  I have more than recouped my capital investment.  Today, on the portfolio it resides in, it is now the biggest individual parcel.

We nearly thought of selling this parcel to fund the purchase of an investment apartment in the city.  Luckily, we didn't as the return is better than rent and the apartment price would not have gone higher compared to ASX.  And we don't have to deal with estate agent or tenants.

SYD and FAR

FAR has made among the biggest discovery of oil in the last few years, yet the share price has tumbled rather than heading skyward.  The obvious reason is the falling price of oil.  I put a low price and collected a parcel a few days ago at 8.1c.

Meanwhile SYD continues to record increasing number of passengers coming through Kingsford-Smith Airport with more and more Chinese tourists flooding into Oz.  Well, the tourist industry would be moribund without them.  And in the meantime, with the fall in AUD, the Yankees are coming too!

SYD is in a monopoly business.  Based on my original purchase price, my dividend return annually is from >30% to >50%.  It also has the right to the first bite of the cherry at the second Sydney airport in Badgery Creek.  When the price fell back a little recently, I also caught a little top up to round up our holding.  From the perspective of my capital outlay, I have collected the premium I put in to purchase this stock.  This stock has been giving one of the best dividend returns in the ASX... not to mention its paper capital gains.  Great to have a great FEMALE CEO!