Shares - save or sell?

skintchick

Hi peeps

I have some shares in Emap, which are currently going up in value, and I wondered if I should sell them?

They are worth about £870 at the current price, and in the last nine months the lowest they've been worth has been about £750. (obviously I have to pay a fee to the broker who sells them out of that)

I don't NEED the money, but would I be better off getting it as cash and then sticking it in an ISA?

What would you do?

(Funkygibbons' advice especially appreciated, no offence to anyone else!)

Bokken_2

If you had the £750 in a ISA you would only have cleared £37.50 over the year,it seams to be doing better where it is at the moment.

skintchick

But the price of shares can go down as well as up

I'm not very good at high finance type things.

Keeval

Hi there,

I'm in no way a professional investor, but after having a look at Emap, it seems to me that they are coming up on the end of a good run. Their finances look pretty good, but from what I've seen the price of their shares at the moment looks a little high so now may be a good time to sell.

I wonder what other (more professional investors) think though.

-Keeval-

MoneyEarningExpert

However, I'm sure Keeval would also like to point out that nothing in his post constitutes financial advice, and that he cannot be held responsible for any action taken by any person as a result of his post!! :A

skintchick

But of course!! I just have never had shares before and know nothing, so I wondered. They have been going up and down since I had them you see. Maybe I will sell.

Thefunkygibbons

One of the things about shares is the risk that you end up trapped in the what if's

You could sell tomorrow and next week they get a bid approach and they jump 40%

Alternatively, they could lose the management team and fall 40%.

If you decide to sell, sell and don't look back.

My view would be simple, if you are not interested in researching a number of companies and being an active investor, then you are better off with an index tracker.

Then, one should use an ISA wrapper to minimise the tax. I started one last year and using regular savings and lump sums, have already seen over 10% growth on the back of general stock market increases.

In terms of selling, broker fees should not be too bad. I used a link over at MF to buy some shares recently, and paid £12.50 commission. So not expensive.

skintchick

How come you know everything Funky?? Thanks for that, think I will sell them and save the money for the proverbial rainy day.

I don't think Emap is going to fold (!) but the glory days might be over perhaps.

Kevicho

If i were you Id sell, shares are risky at the best of times, especially when you owe money

theres prob better things you can invest in at this time

skintchick

I was given them, so it's not like I'm losing money whatever I do, but I take your point Kevicho. TBH there's a months' freelance wages (minus lodger's rent) right there in them thar shares.

micheleen

If you sell them it's money in the bank, if you keep them you're gambling on them remaining worth something. Depends whether you like a gamble or not really IMHO