Asian guru reveals value-investment secrets

Rising Above Financial Storms by Dr Tan Chong Koay Book rating : A

IN the annals of value investing, the gurus of world renown are Warren Buffett, Benjamin Graham (co-author of the 1934 tome, Security Analysis, and who taught Mr Buffett) and Peter Lynch who wrote the 1989 classic, One Up On Wall Street. Almost all found their investment ideas - from which they derived their investing philosophies - largely in the highly liquid US stock market.

But Asian equity markets are much more volatile, and follow rather than lead US and European trends. The inherent volatility and diverse investing environment has left few fund managers with performance records that have withstood the test of time. The few who defy the odds seem to follow the ancient Chinese adage that a good kung fu master does not teach everything to his students: he keeps some secret moves, just in case.