At year's end, we face again a market truth: One's bets on what seems a sure thing have a way of turning out differently, within a short single year.

And then there are those results that give us reason to continue to have faith in our investing expectations.

Here, we look back on 2018 through the lenses of 5 stories that we have published on this website.


To start, oil prices were regaining pre-2014 levels in 1H2018, and investors turned bargain-hunters of oil stocks.  

550 oilrigREX will start production at its Oman oil well in 2H19 with 5,000 barrels per day. REX holds indirectly a 92.65% stake in Masirah Oil Ltd, which holds a 100% interest in the 17,000 sq km Oman concession.

REX International was one of them, tripling (from 4 cents in Aug 2018 to 11.7 cents Sept 2018) in a brief burst of time: REX INT'L: Turning Around; Targeting First Oil Production

Oil prices have slid sharply since October, pulling down REX (currently: 5.5 cents) and other related stocks.

Somewhat similarly, Sunpower Group's stock was poised for a takeoff as its green investments looked set to turn on a gush of cashflow.

Hence: SUNPOWER: 95-c target as it transforms into cashflow-rich utilities company

In fact, operationally, things have turned up but shareholders are left shell-shocked by the fall in the stock price from 58 cents in Oct to 34 cents currently. 

It emerged that there was a dispute between two key management figures and America 2030 which was supposed to give them a loan.

Another stock that disappointed: Oxley Holdings.

Hopes were high that its astute early purchases of land parcels would lead to a winning streak: 


Alas, the government came up with more measures to put a lid on any runaway market, sending Oxley down from 55 cents in Jan 2018 to 29 cents currently.

There was, on the other hand, a nice finish to the year for shareholders of certain companies.

Cityneon started the year promisingly at 94 cents (CITYNEON: Looking Forward To A Great 2018) and ended with a takeover offer at $1.30.

DRsSecret17DR's Secret range of premium skincare products by Best World.Even more sizzling things happened at a direct-selling company which achieved 100% gain this year: 
BEST WORLD: Stunning 3Q18 profit, cashflow; now, a billion-dollar company


To end, we bring back the incredible story of a Malaysian who has made good in HK.

He too has had his share of stocks that left him crestfallen and those that made him dance:  
CHEAH CHENG HYE: OK, so here's how I made all that stuff!

Counter NameLastChange
AEM Holdings2.340-0.020
Best World2.460-0.010
Boustead Singapore0.960-0.005
Broadway Ind0.1330.004
China Aviation Oil (S)0.9250.005
China Sunsine0.415-
ComfortDelGro1.480-0.020
Delfi Limited0.895-0.010
Food Empire1.260-0.010
Fortress Minerals0.305-0.005
Geo Energy Res0.310-
Hong Leong Finance2.5000.010
Hongkong Land (USD)3.1200.050
InnoTek0.520-0.005
ISDN Holdings0.310-
ISOTeam0.0430.002
IX Biopharma0.041-0.002
KSH Holdings0.250-
Leader Env0.051-
Ley Choon0.045-0.001
Marco Polo Marine0.0670.001
Mermaid Maritime0.140-0.001
Nordic Group0.310-0.030
Oxley Holdings0.089-
REX International0.136-0.001
Riverstone0.815-0.005
Southern Alliance Mining0.430-0.015
Straco Corp.0.5100.010
Sunpower Group0.205-0.005
The Trendlines0.067-0.002
Totm Technologies0.022-
Uni-Asia Group0.825-
Wilmar Intl3.5000.020
Yangzijiang Shipbldg1.750-0.030