When December rolls around in Singapore, the first obvious sign to most Singaporeans isn’t necessarily the lights on Orchard Road.It’s Mariah Carey.The moment “All I Want for Christmas Is You” starts echoing through every mall and supermarket, we know the festive season has officially begun.. along with one of the most expensive months of the year. Between gatherings, gifts, holidays, and outings spending tends to rise even as work winds down.And that’s exactly when dividends start to feel like the real Chr ...

Core Investment Strategy - The article emphasizes the importance of having a clear investment process rather than being overwhelmed by numerous options [2][16] - A five-step plan is proposed to guide investors in making informed decisions for 2026 [2] Step 1: Define Investment Goals - Investors should clarify their objectives, whether seeking steady dividends, long-term growth, or a combination of both [3] - Understanding goals simplifies the decision-making process and helps avoid chasing trends [3] Step 2: Asset Mix and Diversification - Investors need to determine their asset mix based on their goals, focusing on growth or income [4] - Diversification across industries is crucial to withstand varying market conditions, with a balanced portfolio including banks, industrial leaders, and REITs [5] Step 3: Core Singapore Stocks - Three Singapore companies are highlighted for their steady performance and reliable cash flow: - **Oversea-Chinese Banking Corporation Limited (OCBC)**: Offers a trailing dividend yield of 5.3%, with a net profit of S$1.98 billion in 3Q2025, up 9% quarter-on-quarter [7] - **Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (ST Engineering)**: Benefits from global defense demand and has an order book of S$32.6 billion, with revenue growth of 12.9% year-on-year [9] - **CapitaLand Integrated Commercial Trust (CICT)**: Singapore's largest REIT with a portfolio occupancy of 97.2% and an annualized yield of 5.2% [11] Step 4: Stay the Course and Reinvest Dividends - Investors are encouraged to hold onto strong businesses and reinvest dividends to compound their portfolio over time [13] Step 5: Quarterly Review and Focus on Fundamentals - A quarterly review of the portfolio is sufficient to stay on track, focusing on steady dividends and healthy earnings [14][15] - Maintaining a long-term perspective is essential for peace of mind in investing [15]

Core Viewpoint - Several companies on the Singapore Exchange have shown impressive year-to-date gains, with Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd, DFI Retail Group, and Jardine Matheson Holdings being notable performers [1][2]. Group 1: Singapore Technologies Engineering Ltd (SGX: S63) - The company reported a profit of nearly S$403 million for 1H2025, marking a 19.7% increase from the same period in 2024 [3]. - Year-to-date returns for ST Engineering are approximately 86%, driven by increased global defense spending and strong demand for digital solutions and cybersecurity [3][4]. - The aerospace segment saw a 5% year-on-year revenue growth, contributing to overall positive returns [4]. - ST Engineering secured S$9.1 billion in new contracts for 1H2025, resulting in a robust order book of S$31.2 billion [5]. - The company faces risks related to its cyclical exposure in aerospace and dependence on government contracts, which may be affected by global economic conditions [5][6]. Group 2: DFI Retail Group (SGX: D01) - DFI Retail Group's total underlying profit attributable to shareholders for 1H2025 reached US$105 million, a 39% year-on-year gain [9]. - The stock has shown approximately 64% year-to-date returns, largely due to the retail recovery in Asia [9]. - The Food division profit grew 14% year-on-year to US$24 million, while the Health & Beauty sector saw a 4% growth [10]. - The company is restructuring and divesting non-core assets, including a S$125 million divestment of its Singapore Food business, which supports its strong performance [10]. - DFI faces intense competition and cost pressures, which could challenge its profit margins [11][12]. Group 3: Jardine Matheson Holdings (SGX: J36) - The company reported a 52% year-to-date return and an underlying net profit of US$798 million for 1H2025, a 45% increase from the previous year [14]. - Astra International was the largest contributor to profit, with US$388 million in underlying profit for 1H2025 [15]. - The property arm, Hongkong Land, saw an 11% increase in underlying profit to US$320 million, driven by contributions from Singapore residential projects [16]. - Jardine Matheson is focusing on higher-growth sectors while reducing exposure to weaker sectors, such as China's Build-to-sell property [16]. - The company’s reliance on the Asian market presents risks related to economic shifts and currency fluctuations [17][18].