Seeing cryptocurrency as a get-rich-quick investment can be a massive mistake

cryptocurrency symbols

The word “cryptocurrency” has been thrown around rather frequently these days. However, this precarious investment may not be for everyone.

In fact, please don’t take our word for it. The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has warned the public on its volatility, and that risky investment products are unsuitable for retail investors. To be honest, it’s not hard to understand why.

Do you know that between 2018 to 2020, there have been over 500 police reports of crypto-related cheating, fraud, or other crimes? Nearly 400 of them were made last year, and the news revealed that roughly S$29 million was the figure for investors’ losses.

Experts highlighted the main risks:

  • Falling for scams
  • Jumping into crypto projects that fail
  • Involving in bad investments of obscure coins
A closer look into the scam tactics

Choo Oi Yee, chief commercial officer for private capital platform ADDX, shared that scammers are tapping onto examples of people who have struck it rich in rousing the greed of investors.

Ms Choo added that there are two scams under the Ponzi scheme:

  • Money from new investors is used as returns for earlier investors.
  • Pump & dump: Scammers buy a coin to push its price up misleadingly and then dump it after others jump on the bandwagon.

Hong Qi Yu, the founder and chief executive of the digital trading platform Tokenize Xchange, also commented regarding this issue. He said that scammers might use third-party accounts to hide their mischief.

Common tactics include:

  • Hacking into accounts
  • Using undoubting individuals as money mules
  • Threatening vulnerable individuals to use their accounts

To counter the ever-evolving strategy of scammers, Mr Hong urged legitimate operators to enhance their surveillance of unusual activities. He also recommended ​​“hot” and “cold” crypto wallets to reduce the risk of being hijacked.

Do your homework before cryptocurrency dealings
a person using laptop while researching

Image Credits: unsplash.com

With all that said, Ms Choo encourages potential cryptocurrency investors to do their homework. Crypto is complex, and a sound investment strategy involving investing in a range of assets is crucial.

Ms Goh (who declined to give her full name), who lost about S$30,000 to cryptocurrency trading platform Torque, prompted the public to learn about what they’re buying.

“Learn how to use the (crypto) exchange because different exchanges have different fees. You can save a lot on fees if you’re using the right exchange for the right coins.”

Another investor, Andy (not his real name), who lost about S$38,500 as a scam victim, asks investors to do their due diligence.

“The entire blockchain and cryptocurrency space (are) highly volatile. And the technology behind it is very difficult to understand, so unless you’re highly passionate about this whole landscape, don’t see it as a get-rich-quick scheme,” he noted.

When investment opportunities sound too good to be true, they probably are. Don’t let your hard-earned money go to waste via hasty investment decisions.

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Follow These Steps To Acquire Stocks In Singapore

With an abundance of low-cost investment brokerages and a wide range of investment products, we believe that anyone can get started on investing. Unless your ambition is to become a day trader, you do not need to master technical analysis or complex charting techniques.

Simply carve out your path by following these steps.

#1: OPEN AN INVESTMENT BROKERAGE ACCOUNT

Unlike your comfort food, stocks cannot be bought at a store and taken home in a paper bag. You need to go through an account with an investment brokerage. A brokerage is a company or firm that acts as the middleman to connect you to the stock exchange.

Brokerage companies usually receive compensation by means of commissions or fees that are charged once the transaction has been completed. Brokerage accounts charge through minimum fees (i.e., to pay on each trade) or trading fees (i.e., percentage of each trade). These fees will affect your profits, so ensure that you do your research.

#2: FUND YOUR ACCOUNT

It is necessary to transfer money to your account to begin trading. Take note of the brokerage company’s requirements such as the minimum fee.

These companies generally accept multiple funding methods such as PayNow transfer, FAST transfer via online banking, or overseas remittance. Use a method that suits you best.

#3: DETERMINE WHICH STOCKS TO INVEST IN

Do your research, ask financial questions, and compare the facts to determine which stocks to invest in. There are different types of investment products such as Blue chip stocks and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs).

Blue chip stocks are the stocks of well-known, high-quality companies that are leaders in their industries. Investors usually hang on to these stocks for long periods and collect its dividends. Local “blue chips” include Singtel, DBS, and ComfortDelGro. Many Singaporean investors prefer to invest in blue chip stocks because of its perceived certainty and stability. Local blue chips are deemed to be less risky and are often common household names that most Singaporean investors can relate to.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) allow you to buy shares in a variety of properties. For instance, CapitaLand and Ascendas gives you access to purchase shares in commercial properties such as shopping malls and office buildings. It is one of the most popular options for investors seeking regular income.

#4: ACQUIRE YOUR FIRST SHARES/STOCKS

Once your funds have been sorted out, you can buy your first shares/stocks using your brokerage’s online platform. As a beginner, you may make investing a regular habit by spending a fixed amount every month on generic Exchange Trade Fund. The Exchange Trade Funds (ETFs) are similar to mutual funds in many ways. Although, ETFs are bought and sold throughout the day on stock exchanges.

Image Credits: unsplash.com

The idea is that over the long term, the ETFs will rise. By buying a fixed sum every month, you will be able to spread out your risk through ups and downs. Consistently funding your account is key.

Sources: 1 & 2

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Consider these options to start investing from $100

$100 Singapore notes

Do you know that according to a study of Singaporeans’ financial wellness state by OCBC last year, only 60% of women have investments? Faring better on the flip side, 75% of male respondents aged between 21 and 65 noted that they are investing.

Are you a novice when it comes to investing? If you have a low-risk appetite and not so investment savvy at the moment, fret not. All you need to take is baby steps.

“You don’t need a lot of money to start investing,” highlighted Vasu Menon, executive director of investment strategy at OCBC Bank. “A regular investment plan where you squirrel away small amounts each month into pre-selected investments is one fuss-free way to start building a portfolio.” 

Consider these options to start your first investment from $100!

#1: Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs)

The OCBC Blue Chip Investment Plan allows you to invest in ETFs from just $100 a month. Just in case you’re clueless, ETFs are funds that are listed and traded on the stock exchange.

Even if you do not know much, that’s okay. The great thing about ETFs is that you don’t need a lot of market monitoring, thanks to the dollar-cost averaging. By regularly investing a specific sum of money over time, you can potentially lower your average price per counter.

“Diversify over time by phasing your investments into the markets through a regular investment plan, so that if the markets see a drawdown or sharp volatility, you will have dry powder to buy at lower levels, which reduces your average cost. A regular investment plan allows you to benefit from dollar-cost averaging,” Menon shares.

#2: Unit Trusts
working with a fund manager

Image Credits: scripbox.com

For folks who want to know that their money is in good hands, unit trusts would be a good investment strategy. To put it simply, an experienced fund manager oversees a pool of funds from a group of investors and uses it to invest in a range of financial assets.

The good news is that you don’t need significant capital to access a diversified portfolio. You can choose between making consistent investments from $100/month or opt for the minimum $1000/month lump sum route.

Purchase methods include cash, Central Provident Fund (CPF) Investment Scheme, and the Supplementary Retirement Scheme (SRS) for selected funds.

“For myself, I started my investment journey by investing my own CPF monies since the funds were just sitting idle in my account, out of sight and out of mind. I took the first step by setting up a CPF investment account and began exploring opportunities to invest,” said Tan Siew Lee, Singapore’s head of wealth management at OCBC Bank.

#3: Robo-Investing

As we come to a close, robo-investing is our last option. Through this investment strategy, novice investors who want to invest actively via algorithms will be able to construct, monitor, and review portfolios.

Menon shares that OCBC RoboInvest could be one way to begin. Selected portfolios just require a small initial investment of US$100, making a fantastic way for almost anyone to kickstart their investment journey.

While we can’t say the same for other robo-investing platforms, Menon assures us that OCBC RoboInvest automates investments with guidance and validation from wealth experts to give you peace of mind.

However, that doesn’t mean a hands-off kind of financial venture. While your portfolio is monitored and periodically re-balanced based on economic and market movements, you hold the final say to approve any changes made to your portfolio.

Want to find out more on OCBC RoboInvest? Click through this link: ocbc.com/personal-banking/investments/roboinvest.

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Tighter COVID-19 measures have led to Singapore shares reaching more than two-month low

watching the stock market

The tighter measures made known by the Ministry of Health (MOH) yesterday (14 May) probably came as a shock to many.

However, it’s absolutely necessary in response to the spike in COVID-19 community cases recently. As we gear up to work from home, there are also daily and social routines to make adjustments to.

In terms of investments, Singapore shares aren’t looking that good. With the latest restrictions announced, investors are reacting accordingly.

Straits Times Index (STI) fell more than 3% initially

After the news report, the benchmark STI dropped by 3% before closing down at 2.2% or 3,055.02 points. Since 8 March, the decline on 14 May marks STI’s lowest level.

DailyFX’s strategist Margaret Yang commented that the market is not ready for the newly set COVID-19 measures, considering that the social gatherings group limit was only cut from eight to five people just a week ago.

“On the economic level, there will also definitely be some adverse impact on the services and travel sectors,” she added.

To that, IG’s market strategist Yeap Jun Rong said that the current situation had cast doubt on the pace of economic recovery ahead. Since a significant portion of STI’s constituents is cyclical, the economic cycle will have a massive impact on its numbers.

Aviation-related counters most badly hit
an SIA flight

Image Credits: CNBC

It’s probably not a surprise that the aviation-related counters are the ones most affected.

To give you some numbers, Singapore Airlines (SIA) fell 5.7% to an 11-week low of S$4.50, while flight caterer SATS plunged 3.9% to S$3.69. Integrated resort operator Genting Singapore also dropped 3.1% to S$0.79.

Ms Yang noted that investors were hoping for the vaccine roll-out to spur economic recovery and border reopening. But with Singapore now reversing, this means that it will probably take more time for the aviation industry to get back on track.

What’s next for the stock market?

According to CMC Markets analyst Kelvin Wong, the unlinked community cases will play a vital part in deciding how the stock market will react for the rest of May. Should it see an increase, more stringent measures may pass and, travel-related stocks will further weaken.

While it is too early to comment, Mr Yeap expects retail, hospitality, and entertainment-related stocks to come under pressure if the COVID-19 situation continues to spiral downward in Singapore.

“That said, the overall downside impact may be limited considering that prompt action was taken to limit the virus spread and more than 20% of Singapore’s population has been fully vaccinated,” he added.

 

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Here are some investment-worthy gemstones according to a Singapore-based Italian jeweller

diamonds

What are the gemstones that come to mind when we mention “investment-worthy”?

Maybe some of you might be thinking of rubies, emeralds, and diamonds. While the three are definitely high in value, they are not the only stones deserving of all your attention.

According to Danilo Giannoni, a Singapore-based Italian jeweller, there are other sparkly rocks likely to grow in value. So, stay on this page if you want to work out your next investment move.

#1: Royal blue sapphire
a blue sapphire ring

Image Credits: Arte Oro

Since a saturated royal blue sapphire is internationally recognised and highly sought after, an investment in that would be considered “safe”. Expect to spend in the range of US$50,000 per carat if you’re looking to purchase a decent-grade blue sapphire.

However, it’s also worth noting that other colours are quickly gaining popularity. You will want to spend some time researching the saturation and tones to find the right sapphire for investment.

#2: Scarcely precious tanzanite
A pair of unheated tanzanites

Image Credits: Arte Oro / Client’s private collection

When something is in short supply compared to the demand for it, its value shoots up. This is a simple concept most of us understand, especially since the early days of the pandemic has led to high prices of face masks being sold.

Similarly, since tanzanite can only be sourced from a small area in Tanzania, supplies are limited. The prices are currently reasonable at US$1,000 to US$5,000 per carat, way lower than sapphires. But still, it’s forecasted to rise sharply in price should interests peak.

#3: Mid-range toned Paraiba tourmaline
A pure and almost luminous turquoise tourmaline

Image Credits: Arte Oro

Speaking of rarity, the Paraiba tourmaline wins the comparison against tanzanite. They can only be extracted from three mines situated in the remote areas of northeastern Brazil.

Thus, you can expect its high price tag of up to US$100,000 per carat, though its exact figure greatly depends on tones and colours. While clarity is essential, it’s not the top deciding factor for the best returns.

#4: Beautifully reactive alexandrite
an alexandrite engagement ring

Image Credits: brides.com

When we say reactive, we mean that this precious mineral reacts to various light sources to emit its colour-changing characteristic. Thanks to its chemical composition, a person who owns this gem can observe its colour change from blue-green to red-purple from day to night.

It’s not just stunningly beautiful to observe, but it also performs well in the markets. Over the last few years, alexandrite has seen double-digit annual returns by collectors worldwide. An extraordinary carat with top-tier quality can cost up to US$100,000.

#5: Bright pink-red spinels
A very rare 10.5-carat Mahenge spinel from Tanzania

Image Credits: Arte Oro

As we come to a close, we have bright pink-red spinels to end us off this list. Spinels may not have been popular a few years back, but now, it’s a whole different story. With more buyers attracted to candy-coloured designer jewellery collections in recent years, spinel has climbed up the ranks to be considered investment-worthy.

Interestingly, it’s not the pure colourless spinel that is desired but the red, hot pink, and flame orange ones that are now in the spotlight. To be exact, neon pink-red spinels from Tanzania are the ones with tremendous investment potential, with prices up to US$50,000 per carat.

Now that you have an idea of what’s trending, do your due research and start collecting!

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