Published January 1, 2010 Investors take to Z-Obee dual listing plans Stock biggest percentage gainer for 2009 along with Medtec By JAMIE LEE Z-OBEE Holdings stock was 2009\'s biggest percentage gainer as investors gave the nod to the company\'s push for a dual listing in Hong Kong. The counter\'s value increased eight times to 24 cents by Dec 31, up from three cents a year earlier. Fears that the China-based maker of mobile phone handsets would not be listed in Hong Kong through a transfer of shares have ebbed, after it said on Wednesday that the authorities there have lifted the suspension that they imposed on the plan. Like Z-Obee, Medtecs International Corporation - which launched an alternative form of dual listing in Taiwan - was also among 2009\'s top gainers. Medtecs, which makes medical masks, jumped more than seven times to end at 15 cents yesterday, up from two cents on Dec 31, 2008. Last year, the company received approval to convert its ordinary shares into Taiwan Depository Receipts (TDRs) and sell them. Its move to convert ordinary shares into TDRs began in 2007, prompted by the significant premium at which the TDRs there were trading, compared with shares here. Medtec shares also went on a joy-ride as investors bet that fears of H1N1 flu last year would boost its sales and earnings. Both Medtec and Z-Obee could offer arbitrage opportunities for investors, given the dramatic price difference between their securities on separate exchanges. But profiting from this difference may be more difficult than it would appear, with market watchers saying that it can take several weeks for a share transfer to go through. Shares of Osim International - known for its massage chairs and equipment - jumped almost eight times to 53 cents at Dec 31, 2009, from seven cents a year earlier. This was after Osim - ranked second among the top gainers in percentage terms - wrote down $77.3 million for its sullied investment in US retailer Brookstone and returned to profitability. \'The positive movement in our share price shows the investing community now understands us better and has gained confidence,\' Osim founder Ron Sim told BT. Last year\'s top loser was the stock of life sciences company Transcu Group, which was hit by a massive sell-down after it converted $5 million of structured notes and placed out shares to private investors. A trading restriction in October by Singapore\'s largest brokerage UOB-Kay Hian also spooked investors into dumping the stock. Transcu lost 84 per cent from the start of the year to finish at 12.5 cents. Wayward S-chips - dogged by fears of fraud and poor governance - were among 2009\'s top losers in percentage and dollar terms. They included Sino-Environment Technology Group and China Sun Bio-chem, which are still suspended from trading. The top gainers in dollar terms last year included the three Jardine companies - Jardine C&C, Jardine Matheson and Jardine Strategic - which are fund plays for window-dressing. Jardine C&C, which gained $17.50 to $27 during 2009, was the second-biggest gainer. DBS Group and United Overseas Bank were also among the top gainers, as investors saw Asian banks emerging stronger from the financial crisis. DBS shares added $6.98 over the year to end at $15.40, while UOB shares gained $6.78 to finish at $19.70. Overseas Union Enterprise - which has just opened its new mall, Mandarin Gallery - bucked the trend among property counters and landed in 2009\'s top-loser list by dollar terms. The stock - the year\'s second-biggest loser - gave up $3.10 to end at $9.10
congratd, give us the Next Big One.... I read your posting in another thread - you were promoting TECHCOMP the other week. this one very quiet, nobody traded the stock on New Year\':blink: :blink: s Eve ....
