EPF back to old games?

[sashimaalTop contributor]

Questions are raised in the capital market about the recent behaviour of the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) pertaining to a blue-chip company with many pointing fingers at the state pension fund for manipulating the share market. ”The EPF has called more than four stockbrokers and placed ‘sell’ orders on John Keells Holdings (JKH) in a bid to bring its price down,” an analyst said. According to brokers the EPF is eyeing a larger parcel at a lower price. “They quoted Rs. 140 per share for a large block, but didn’t specify the quantity. This selling down is actually dumping and will bring the market down which shouldn’t happen.”

Another analyst pointed out that this was tantamount to manipulation. “The EPF, the largest fund in South Asia is not the private fund of a few people who decide on its investments; particularly questionable transactions in the CSE where allegations of ‘pump and dump’ have been made.”
The new plan of the present government is to set up a public trust to independently manage the Employees Trust Fund and EPF by amalgamating them to create a new national pension fund that will have a combined worth of Rs. 1.7 trillion.

http://www.sundaytimes.lk/160131/business-times/epf-back-to-old-games-180942.html

[කිත්සිරි ද සිල්වාTop contributor]

Thanks sashi.
( Looter's Mafia is still active and all out to bring disgrace to the present government.
But why nothing is being done to negate their malicious schemes by the NATO boys is the biggest mystery ).

[sashimaalTop contributor]

Yes Kithsiri .

NATO boys lacks "ground level" wisdom in handling MARA manipulators

[කිත්සිරි ද සිල්වාTop contributor]

Sending a few bigwigs behind bars recently will sure to send the right message to the sleepers of Looter's regime who are still playing without impunity.

Yes Kithsiri .
NATO boys lacks "ground level" wisdom in handling MARA manipulators

[sashimaalTop contributor]

FCID/CID sending big wigs behind bars is a good sign - however SEC needs to understand their role as a "watch dog" and not a "blood hound"

Otherwise there will be no one to "move the price" as we all want to buy at lowest (regardless of the PE, future growth, etc) and sell at highest....some people should be there to move the price...

Sending a few bigwigs behind bars recently will sure to send the right message to the sleepers of Looter's regime who are still playing without impunity.

Yes Kithsiri .
NATO boys lacks "ground level" wisdom in handling MARA manipulators

[Deegoda Gamage]

Can any one give correct sales of EPF during last two weeks

I do not think EPF behave like a stock trader

It was obvious last management use epf money for a BORU SHOW in the stock market

If present management also do same thing other way
it is intolerable pathetic situation

I do not believe this allegation until correct statistics
are presented

[sashimaalTop contributor]

EPF sales data will not be freely available at this point of time.

If they have managed to secure a block of JKH for Rs 140 or 145 (for example) , the market price has to be 5% above atleast to make the crossing. What they can do at that point is to make the selling down process to be quick and get the transaction done fast.

Good if they secured JKH at such a price. JKH should be trading over Rs 300 in 3 years easily.

Previous Govt would gave got such a block at Rs 200-220 ............ (fill in the blanks)

Can any one give correct sales  of EPF during last two weeks

I do not think EPF behave like a stock trader

It was obvious last management use epf money for a BORU SHOW in the stock market

If present management also do same thing other way
it is intolerable pathetic situation

I do not believe this allegation until correct statistics
are presented

[Future123Active Member]

Thanks sashi.  
( Looter's Mafia is still active and all out to bring disgrace to the present government.
But why nothing is being done to negate their malicious schemes by the NATO boys is the biggest mystery ).

People still see MR avatar everywhere

Ravi K had put his catchers everywhere. MBSL board is full of his catchers and do you think NATO boys would still keep MR people in the decision making authority at the EPF? Highly unlikely ne? If they still keep them it shows NATO's inefficiency.

Meanwhile, is it a responsible act by the EPF to sell JKH at low prices while bringing down the entire market? Doesn't government owe a duty to protect many innocent small investors? What does the EPF gain just by selling at 150/= and buying back at 145/=? All these shares EPF bought above 170/=. Don't you consider this is market manipulation?

[Deegoda Gamage]

If EPF is doing this it definitely market manipulation

Central Bank can investigate

So far no one has given sales statistics of EPF

Former Centrel Bank governer and present Finance minister are from same Boat

[nis2008]

I think FM is trying to dump the market to make a good base for new investors such as සෝරොස්(Soros might saw that CSE overvalued) and etc.

[sashimaalTop contributor]

If you were EPF and if you secured a big block at Rs 145 by negotiation, how else would you make the deal happen?

If EPF is doing this it definitely market manipulation

Central Bank can investigate

So far no one has given sales statistics of EPF

Former Centrel Bank governer and present Finance minister are from same Boat

[Deegoda Gamage]

EPF is not expected to deals.It is always riskey

They should invest for the benefit of there contributors

No one can use public funds for gambling or other  personal benefits

Anyway with out statistics we can say the allegation is correct

[sashimaalTop contributor]

Question was , if EPF was capable enough to secure a BUY for them at RS 145 (say a large parcel of approx 5% of JKH due to the prevailing market sentiment) and if the current price is Rs 158, how can the transaction happen without bringing the price down?

EPF is not expected to deals.It is always riskey

They should invest for the benefit of there contributors

No one can use public funds for gambling or other  personal benefits

Anyway with out statistics we can say the allegation is correct

[කිත්සිරි ද සිල්වාTop contributor]

I think the JKH management knows and a few privileged ones too the true value of the company having access to information, you and I as investors sometimes have no access to.
Otherwise, the price 145 would not have been agreed by the seller.
So, at the end HUNTER is right.
80 - 100 is likely.    

Question was , if EPF was capable enough to secure a BUY for them at RS 145 (say a large parcel of approx 5% of JKH due to the prevailing market sentiment) and if the current price is Rs 158, how can the transaction happen without bringing the price down?

EPF is not expected to deals.It is always riskey

They should invest for the benefit of there contributors

No one can use public funds for gambling or other  personal benefits

Anyway with out statistics we can say the allegation is correct

[sashimaalTop contributor]

Rs 140-145 would be a steep discount and a super buy by EPF considering long term.

This would surely trade over Rs 300 within 3 years (maybe much earlier).

Financial year 2017/2018 will be a star studded one for JKH .

[The AlchemistTop contributor]

Thanks sashi.  
( Looter's Mafia is still active and all out to bring disgrace to the present government.
But why nothing is being done to negate their malicious schemes by the NATO boys is the biggest mystery ).

People still see MR avatar everywhere

Ravi K had put his catchers everywhere. MBSL board is full of his catchers and do you think NATO boys would still keep MR people in the decision making authority at the EPF? Highly unlikely ne? If they still keep them it shows NATO's inefficiency.

Meanwhile, is it a responsible act by the EPF to sell JKH at low prices while bringing down the entire market? Doesn't government owe a duty to protect many innocent small investors? What does the EPF gain just by selling at 150/= and buying back at 145/=? All these shares EPF bought above 170/=. Don't you consider this is market manipulation?

The way i see it, it is very simple.
our EPF is seriously UNDER-INVESTED in Equites. last time i checked it was something like 6 % of their entire fund. Calphers (one of the world largest pension funds based in California) is invested 60 % in Equities.

Do they really care about the poor future retiree's ? no chance ! they rather invest the money in Treasury Bills and let Inflation eat away at the future Retiree's Purchasing Power.

So if the EPF etc is selling now, why ?

1. The government needs cash now to subsidize the bloated Public Sector and the EPF is a captive Fund that can buy Treasury Bills issued by the Treasury for that very same purpose.

2. By the act of Selling and therefore increasing pressure for the Market to come down, they can attract the much needed Dollars from Foreign Funds like Soros, Mobius et al.
Already Stocks are attractive for Foreigners with the recent devaluation of the Rupee so cheaper Stock with a Devalued Rupee is a double Bonus.

3. "Friends & Countrymen" of the Current Regime can buy/ accumulate stock at cheaper prices for the future.

Win Win Win !

So who wants the market to be up ? Certainly now the Govt. what do they gain ?
So they will spin the tales saying Gloomy External conditions, Global crisis etc and all that bullshit.

Bottom Line - RW, AM, RK do not care two hoots for the Stock Market. They have "bigger" things to worry about. I said it in November 2014 before the Election, remember ?

100 day Program and then then 280 days or going to sleep with good doses of Bond Scandal, Budget Fiascos etc. But dont worry folks we are continuing to have meeting conferences, Davos, Summits etc.  

Aw to hell with them all. if you like a company, it is doing well, becoming cheap, just buy and hold. As my Finance Professor said a long time ago when i wanted to be excused to step outside to smoke a ciggy, he said " If you have em, smoke em".

[Future123Active Member]

Alchem, Good points. This is exactly what is happening.

[HAL9000Top contributor]

Good analysis, EPF holds some significant amount of blue chips specially banking stocks. We will be able to go through the coming quarterly reports and find out our selves to which extent the EPF funds have disposed.

If this is true the RK is very naive and stupid that he gave us an early clue to buy before foreigners sets in !. Has he ruined the plan ?    

http://newsfirst.lk/english/2016/01/import-taxes-shares-and-canned-fish-controversy-finance-minister-explains/126697

[pathfinderTop contributor]

EPF is not on the selling side as some of the members said,



But they may have asked some of the broker huts to do so.

[Future123Active Member]

EPF is not on the selling side as some of the members said,



But they may have asked some of the broker huts to do so.

EPF may be selling as per the news last couple of weeks. This financial statement is as at 31/12/2015.

We don't know the recent movements.

[sashimaalTop contributor]

The news was about EPF going to BUY at a low price.

I have repeatedly mentioned it in this thread.

But certain people continue to write what they want to see...

EPF is not on the selling side as some of the members said,



But they may have asked some of the broker huts to do so.

[HAL9000Top contributor]

The news was about EPF going to BUY at a low price.

I have repeatedly mentioned it in this thread.

But certain people continue to write what they want to see...

EPF is not on the selling side as some of the members said,



But they may have asked some of the broker huts to do so.

Goebbels theory is going on in big way !

[pathfinderTop contributor]

Goebbels theory is going on in big way !

No matter what's the truth people see what they want to see,especially when seen through coloured glasses.