08/02
Need some type of marker for the self-managed port. Making a ball-park guess on high water mark. Based on that, port is about 8.03% [Edit: 7%] off the high mark. The idea that stands out wrt “money-left-at-table” in 2024 is Mr Wireless Chips i,e, QCOM, and a distant second is likely NVDA. After the dust settles a little, both those names will likely move higher.
[Edit: Correction on the 2nd placed “money-left-at-table” name – it is CELH, not NVDA]
08/05
Blood on the streets - Trying not to panic. But, I’m also telling myself there are things that bounced too high or their sector is being hammered e.g. chips, semiconductor materials.
2nd half of trading day
08/06
Late yesterday saw a story on the Tokyo market bounce. Figured the market would act in a similar manner in the US.
08/07
With the monetizations from earlier in the week, cash has built up in the coffers. There isn’t a rush to put all of it to work right away. But selectively adding to existing names seems reasonable.
Scanning more names than usual - commented on SMCI, ALAB elsewhere. Both AI related, the latter on my watchlist. No rush to add right away.
08/08
In some cultures or groups, this is supposed to be a lucky day.
I think I feel lucky and acted on it
During the turmoil of 08/05, I had dumped my BROS stake in the Roth ac (I have additional shares elsewhere). At the time, it was primarily a move to monetize gains. The next two days, BROS shares moved higher. Looked like a bad move, … until 08/07 after-hours. BROS results weren’t bad. The results were good, the forward guidance was cautious … And the market overreacted. BROS started 08/08 with shares down almost 30%. To me, that’s nuts – I restarted the idea in the Roth ac below $29 - a huge discount to my exit price.
That got the ball rolling
Feeling the “luck has arrived” moment (tis a casino slot thing), I became more open to try things. More AMBP in Roth ac.
The NVDY div to account, so I trimmed the Roth ac stake.
AMBP continued slipping,. So I picked up more in the taxable ac.
Opted to trim some of my higher-cost FLNG shares. Yes, a loss. But, a smaller loss than prior. VERI bounce on reasonable results- another “smaller loss” strategy in an iffy market mood.
LPG trades ex-div today. Cap gain basis, position negative, total return basis still positive.
Obviously, smaller loss strategy moves may backfire. For me, just a way to recycle capital. Port still concerning as it slips between positive and negative, then positive again.
08/09
In terms of significance in the numbers, the prior week had a more significant impact. In terms of port composition, this week was more eventful. A prior Top 10 idea, Dutch Bros (BROS), dropped out, and trimmings occurred across several other names in the Top 10. The new name in the Top 10 is Ardagh Metals (AMBP)
Ideas outside the Top 10 were also “touched” or closed out. With few purchases, there was a major jump in the cash position (about 17%-ish to 27%+). For the companies I own that reported this week, most were pretty decent. I particularly like INSW for results and div payout, and BROS (which I feel was unfairly punished). Have already added to each position, and may continue to do so next week.
08/12 - 08/16
Somewhat quiet week for me. Was on the road, so I followed market less closely, till today
Wow! VERI has been on a tear this past week (NVDA recovery lifting boats??)
With the BROS repurchases & the share price rebound over $31, BROS reclaims its spot in my Top 10
08/19
Lots of smaller moves
Interesting development with Avance. The pair of newbuilds sold at the start of 2024 look decent given the gain of value between when the order was placed, and its current pricing. Wouldn’t that have raised the price of its 4 newer, higher spec South Korean built assets? Does JF see downward pressure on the VLGC market the next few years?
08/22
Ugh! Power intermittent, home Internet down first 4 hrs, came to library.
Then saw BW LPG announce results - first skim, ok - but div slashed to 58c, port having a negative day (tech mostly, shipping to a lesser degree) . Thinking ahead, some big names still to report are Nvidia and Frontline
08/23
Via Seeking Alpha, I get notified on QCOM related news. Well, today was the news that QCOM is acquiring Sequans’ (SQNS) 4G IoT business. Maybe 8 - 10 years ago, I had a small SQNS position, held for about a year or so, and didn’t go anywhere. The news today caused the share price to pop. FWIW, QCOM is paying $200M for the IoT biz, and the SQNS market cap is now ~ $73M, with today 111% increase. Good for them. Will keep an eye on the name – a true “cigar end (MF censors won’t let me post the “utt” word”).
Speaking of “cigar ends” a small tech idea I owned earlier this month, Amtech (ASYS) popped last week when I was on vacation. I had a nice gain upon exit, but ASYS bounced 20% early last week. Tiny tykes can be interesting and bouncy. No ASYS, but I do have VERI
08/26 - 08/28
Quiet week as I waited … primarily for Nvidia (NVDA) this week. To a lesser degree, Frontline (FRO). Another entity that reported while I was out-of-town was Torm plc (TRMD) in mid-Augusr 2024 (Stealth mode, one has to retrieve announcement from their website - will peruse later)
In the interim
Today, Nvidia announced results. Revenue grew, company increased buyback capacity. Market reaction tomorrow??
SMCI delayed results - Problems??
CLCO dipped > 10% prior to earnings. Does someone know something? Not me. I was tempted when shares retreated below $10.75 in a prior instance. Did it again today, and closed below $10.50 today. Let’s see what happens tomorrow.
08/30
With the closing bell, trading for Aug 2024 is done. Been somewhat of an odd two weeks. Took a week off a couple of weeks ago. Though I was off-line for good portions of the trading day, I did more trading that week than I did this past week. I haven’t given up on the market. I’m probably just less enthused. Big holdings Nvidia (NVDA) and Frontline (FRO) reported this week. While Blackwell chip has been delayed, it is not terrible with NVDA. And the normally weaker Q3 tanker market seems to be less challenging in 2024 (at least, the 70 - 80% qtr-to-date) for FRO. Meanwhile, top holding Berkshire (BRK-B) seems to be cruising along.
Short-term plans: Keep an eye on the ancillary AI-related names e.g. SMCI, ALAB, CAMT. I know some of what is hurting SMCI, but I need to dig deeper before I consider a nibble. Though GSM position is red, I am happy to keep nibbling below $4.50/sh. The company has shifted focus and the debt situation is less of a problem (inferred from the share buyback announcement). On the shipping side, more recent tanker listing Hafnia (HAFN) represents a decent option. Their Q2 results were good, the company has a nice payout, a larger-than-average fleet, and some complexity (partnerships involving some vessels muddies the waters). But, the payout has a debt dependency, and debt is < 30%
With the cash position > 23%, I think I’m in the more cautious mode than in steady mode. Will see how I feel after the Labor Day holiday.
09/03
The return of the carnage days 
Ugh! Two of my main sectors - tech, shipping started out red and continue in a clobbered state. Finance was slightly better to start: BRK-B, BNS were holding up, ETFs not as much. Then BRK-B flipped
Decisions, decisions:
09/04 - 09/05
Not severe, but port still bleeding. Made a comment on DLTR after Q2 results beat-down. An entry at the start of trading (09/05) would have been well rewarded.
09/06
The bleeding continues and today there was more reaction
–
Golar LNG (GLNG) has a bond offering.
GLNG has a healthy cash balance. But, I also understand why the company opted for this action. Timing of revenue and capital spending are in opposition in a tighter credit market.