I don't think 6% this year but just over 5% is possible and maybe 6% next year. ASB1 dividend at the end of Dec 2025 (paid 1/1/26) will almost certainly set the upper limit for the remaining ASB/ASM funds through 2026. There are some geo political variables to consider but I think >6% for ASB1 at the end of this year is very possible - likely even.

Well, it 'can't' be more than 5.75% and, using last year for guidance, I think the absolute best you can expect or hope for is 5.75% for ASB2/3 and 5.25% for ASM1/2/3.

Not wishing to go off topic but more and more issues are appearing with EVs. Range anxiety, purchase cost, charger availability, cost of replacing the batteries, greater depreciation etc.

But I agree with Nexona, I can't see ASM1 getting above 5.5% so whatever car you buy I hope it brings you happiness.

This post has been edited by MattSally: Mar 17 2025, 01:54 PM

Correct. The amount in ASB1, ASB2 can go above 300k due to dividends being reinvested but not by buying additional units. ASB3 is purely subject to availability and that is where most of our ASM/ASB investment is. If you have a long enough time horizon, the effects of reinvesting dividends in ASBx in particular (ie, not withdrawing dividend units), and compound interest are very good - our ASB1 fund, for example, is over 500k because we invested to the initial limit which was 200k, then invested another 100k when the limit was raised to 300k and just left it alone after that. One other point of note. If ASB1/2 goes above 300k due reinvested dividends you can add funds to go back to the high water mark of your investment after you have made a withdrawal. Eg: If you invested 300k and reinvested dividends had taken the value to 350k, you could withdraw (for eg) 50k to bring the balance down to 300k but at any stage thereafter you can add 50k to go back to your high water mark of 350k units. If another dividend had been paid before you added the extra 50k, you can still add the full 50k even if that puts the new value at, for eg, 365k. I hope that makes sense.

This post has been edited by MattSally: Mar 17 2025, 02:30 PM

I am fairly sure you have covered the likely range with those two numbers.

I think this year's dividends will each be better than the corresponding dividend for last year, but I am not sure by how much, maybe by 0.25% or 0.5% maximimum I think. There is still plenty of this year left yet so I will hold off on any predictions for 2026 just yet, I think.

Some investment funds thrive on volatility in the market. They tend to be higher risk and probably not suitable for ASM/ASB to include in the portfolio but high returns are available if you know what you are doing. Sadly, I don’t have sufficient confidence, knowledge or spare funds to gamble with so I will leave well alone.

If ASBx can deliver not less than 5.5% and ASMx not less than 5.0% for the next few years I will be happy enough. Not ecstatic but happy enough.

It will be interesting as there have been three solid quarters followed by Trump disrupting the markets in the 4th quarter.

My gut feeling is that ASM1 will still be in the 5.0% to 5.5% range and that ASB2 will be in the 5.25% to 5.75% range.

But I think the market disruption will impact ASM2/3 dividends later in 2025 if common sense is not restored in USA.

This post has been edited by MattSally: Mar 24 2025, 08:47 AM

I am inclined to agree. ASB1 gave 5.75% (5.5% + 0.25% bonus) so that has very likely set the upper limit for all FP Funds in 2025. ASB2 and ASB3 will almost certainly do better than ASM1/2/3 so to generate the necessary 'wriggle room' I would be surprised to see ASM1 dividend at 5.5% this year. Though it is not impossible if ASM2/3 then give 5.0% or 5.25% with ASB2/3 declaring 0.25% higher than the corresponding ASM funds.

Hopefully we will find out on Thursday or Friday.

KLCI is down but it looks to have bottomed out and started to recover.

Correct, but it has had the best part of a year of steady gains before the recent fall and it does appear to be moving back in the right direction once again. It is 'only' down by around 1% on where it was a year ago but it is down circa 10% on its High Water Mark in the last 12 months. Quite what effect that will have on ASM1 dividend I do not know. I suppose it will depend on how quickly and how smartly the ASM1 Fund Manager reacted to events.

We shall probably find out tomorrow or Friday. I do hope we don't have to wait all weekend for the news.

Fingers crossed for >5.0%.

This post has been edited by MattSally: Mar 26 2025, 11:11 AM

As of this morning the KLSE is now back at the level it was at a year ago so the recovery continues.

Fingers crossed for good news today or tomorrow.

It depends, but in the current situation there are likely to be more downsides than upsides.

This post has been edited by MattSally: Mar 27 2025, 11:44 AM

That is the most important thing. The recovery must continue. I actually think that Trump probably cost us 0.25% of dividend so I hope this can be 'taken care of' one way or another before ASM2, ASM3 declare later this year.

KLSE closed today 5.13 points up on a year ago so we are moving the right way again.

Correct.

App won’t be updated with latest figures until 1/4/25. Check again then and all should be good - though it can be difficult to log on as a million or so other people will be trying to log on at the same time.

Ah, ok. Where are you seeing those figures -app, website or just general internet?

I use the app on my iphone. Open the App, click on Unit Trust (top left) then Performance (bottom right) and it will show dividend history. Mine shows 4.75% for ASM2 and ASM3 for 2024.

This post has been edited by MattSally: Mar 28 2025, 05:25 PM

I think he may have a point. I just clicked on Unit Trust then ASM2 fund and it also showed 4.5% which is clearly wrong.

Yes, me too. I think there are a few IT issues with the app but the important thing is that the dividend reflects the 5.0% declared. Mine does, to the cent.