THE local bourse traded higher on the last day of October, ending a month that saw volatile price swings.

After a poor start to the month amid heightened growth worries in Europe, Japan and China, stocks around the region have since regained some lost ground.

Investors have been assuaged by a positive assessment of the US economy, and the Federal Reserve’s comments that interest rates are unlikely to rise anytime soon despite the end of the Quantitative Easing programme.

Meanwhile, investors on Friday received an expectedly pleasant surprise in the form of a new stimulus programme in Japan. The nation’s $1.2 trillion pension fund also announced it will increase its holdings of equities.

The FBM KLCI added 0.67% to close at 1,855.15. Trading was active with 2.75 billion shares changing hands.

My portfolio value rose by 0.27% to RM 107,235.

The portfolio started on 8 July 2014 with a capital of RM100,000. Since then, it has outperformed the FBM KLCI by 9.2%, and has registered an annualised return of 22.8%.

 Total gains stand at RM 7,235.

 Most of my stock prices were unchanged on Friday. The only gainer was KSL (+2.7%) while Willowglen MSC lost some ground (-0.6%).

Last Friday, I sold my remaining stake in SLP Resources, amounting to 12,900 shares for RM 0.725 per share.  The investment here has yielded a return of 4.3% compared to my purchase price of RM 0.695.

This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on November 3, 2014.