Raul Di Blasio " Mediterraneo"

Another gem from Raul Di Blasio. I find this piece pleasant to the ear. Somehow parts of the music sound like that song recently released for 56th Malaysia Merdeka Day (2013)... but of course this piece is released much earlier.

Juan Gabriel - Hasta Que Te Conoci ( Until I Met You )

Somehow Latin music and songs like Latin dancing to me are very attractive. One cannot help but move with the music either mentally or physically. The musical arrangement of this piece is a joy to listen to and the artiste, Juan Gabriel certainly knows how to entertain his audience as he sings with such natural emotion. I listen to this and forget about things around me: a kind of relaxation. Great music heals the mind.

Second Penang Bridge ready for use... great news

Despite a faster air travel, I prefer to drive over Penang Bridge which is becoming irritatingly congested over the years and as such that there were times then we would rather go on the ferry instead... yes, good old ferries with names like Pulau Aman and Pulau Undan  were really nostalgic for Penangites like me. Although I have already relocated, Penang  still holds a special place in my heart.

I am elated that now we have a second Penang Bridge. It would be a beautiful travel from Batu Kawan on the mainland and entering the island at Batu Maung which used to be a very quiet little town. Things are set to change in these two areas for sure.Wished my paternal aunt had not sold her land in that area 10 years ago!

Westports' IPO Applicants - The Joyous and The Crestfallen

Balloting for Westports' IPO was conducted on Wednesday October 2 2013. By midday Thursday October 3, Jeff sent an SMS to inform that a full refund of his application had been credited into his bank account at HSBC. In short he failed to get the shares. What a disappointment!

I went online at 4.30pm the same day to check on my status but there was no indication that my application was successful or not. In the meantime I alerted a couple of relatives who also applied to check online. Early on Friday October 4  I received SMS from the two telling me that they were also not successful, not even a single lot! Almost audible sighs of  lack of luck.

I was thinking that I might be in the same boat as three out of three had so far failed to get the IPO. I knew I would be crestfallen if I didn't get it as well especially after my frantic and  almost last-minute effort to scramble a substantial fund to apply for these coveted shares.

 I only managed to check online late Friday afternoon. What I saw in my account made me gasp, there, in front of me, only 33% of my application was refunded and that means I managed to get about 66%. What good luck! Yes, it's nothing guys but my luck for being balloted. Of course I cannot hide my joy but have to restrain it as none of my dear relatives have the same luck.

Luck is seldom recurrent

But I suggested that they buy the shares in the open market upon its listing on October 18 2013. It is  advisable to avoid big price fluctuation on the first two to five Bursa days before acquiring them. I myself will purchase additional shares with my refund.

Though the market is still kind of volatile and the negative effects of a prolonged US government partial shutdown are hovering over us, value investors will ride this period out and be with the company to enjoy its business growth in services and ultimately in profit. I am looking at the dividend proposal of not less than 75% of the company's profit as stated in the prospectus. I am also one of those who look for a longer term investment on this stock due to the nature of its economy-promoting business for Malaysia.

Congratulation those successful Westports IPO applicants and now the exciting time waiting for its debut in the market in less than two weeks time. Apparently the institutional portion was 10 times oversubscribed and that of the retail portion 30 times. Those who are not successful can buy it following the listing or could wait after six months when the cornerstone investors may want to unlock their profit and send the shares price downward? One word of caution though, do not try to time the market because it is known to be highly efficient on most occasions.

Whatever happens, as far as the stock price is concerned, on October 18 when Westports is listed on Bursa, I will take it in my stride and have fun watching the ride.