So, with savings so low...

RenovationMan

You would be better off putting your money into an ISA and buying into a fund that invests in a broad portfolio of global businesses and industries. If you want the investment to grow over the long-term then invest in the accumulation version of the fund, if you want it to pay you a regular income put it into the income version of the fund.

I put a packet on Artemis Strategic Assets when the fund first started and I'm 37.4% up so far.

Alternatively, if you want very low fund charges, invest in a stockmarket tracker. By their nature you will only get average performance but it should beat cash thats for sure.

Graham_Devon

Thank you everyone.

I must point out that the long term stuff isn't so much an issue at the moment, that will come when I'm happy with trading, selling, terminology etc, as the long term stuff will have more money pumped into it.

I've only really bought into BP and Tesco to see how it goes, get the feel of longer term stuff.

Hopefully this is making it very clear this 1k is an amount I'm happy to play with, and not overly concerned if I come away at the end of it £500 down. Simple reason being, I want to learn, i want to trade, and I want to get the thrills and spills, learn the ropes etc with a small amount.

When that's done, I'll get to the serious stuff, or even, find myself so disgusted that I go back to savings accounts, who knows.

I'm just looking out for key investments, where I can get the feel of things over a shortish period of time...and then can go from there. On looking on other boards there are people talking about selling high, then buying back in at a lower prices etc. It's that I'm interested in, and I assume that that can burn you the most.

I know me, and if I invested wisely at the moment, I'd get bored, and try to get clever. So that needs to go out of my system first!!

Suppose I'm looking for a gamble. Will look into other share accounts next month and try and set up a proper portfolio, after having learnt what does work and what doesn't.

crux

Good luck GD, i'm pretty much doing exactly the same thing myself.

One of the best educational experiences I have had so far was following the DES saga over the past few weeks on relevant bulletin boards.

Thankfully I was not invested in DES with anything but pretend money, but what an eye opener to oil speculation and share volatility.

I'm finding the hardest thing is to have the patience to wait for a genuine retrace in a shares price before investing. It's too tempting to buy into a rising share only to see your investment turn red in a big way as investors take profit.

Graham_Devon

crux wrote: »

Good luck GD, i'm pretty much doing exactly the same thing myself.

One of the best educational experiences I have had so far was following the DES saga over the past few weeks on relevant bulletin boards.

Thankfully I was not invested in DES with anything but pretend money, but what an eye opener to oil speculation and share volatility.

I'm finding the hardest thing is to have the patience to wait for a genuine retrace in a shares price before investing. It's too tempting to buy into a rising share only to see your investment turn red in a big way as investors take profit.

Good to find someone doing the same!

Are you new to it all too?

I haven't really followed DES. I did look at it and saw the large drops, thought nah, and moved on.

Reason I'm looking a these sorts of shares is because I want to be involved. Funds would probably be more beneficial over the long term, but doesn't feed my appetite.

How are you doing? How long have you been doing it for?

Cleaver

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I've got £200 with XTR at the moment, but as I'm relatively new, made a silly mistake with the software, so my average cost is 3.04p. But have learnt since and waiting for opportunities to top up.

I've also bought some BP and Tesco, for a more long term focus.

So, any general tips? I don't mind losing the £500. However, obviously I'd rather keep it. I may chuck some more into XTR just based on the opportunties of profits of several times what I have put in.

I'm thinking more along the economy lines? Maybe alternative energy?

I invest in two ways. Most of my money goes in to sensible funds for which I have a (very) long term plan. Money gets drip fed in to these on a monthly basis, and I plan to make around 6% a year on average. That's the plan anyway and I treat this as a serious, long term investment strategy.

I then put some money in to a pot to buy shares with each month. I treat this money as just for fun, and if I make money then great, if I lose it then so be it. I really don't think I know any more than the market, so I personally think that a lot of share buying is research, but then with a whole heap of luck and being in something at the right time.

My advice, for what it's worth:

• If you're investing less than £1,000 in any share you need to be pretty sure you're in it for the very long term, or completely convinced that it's a share with plenty of upside. If you buy, for example, £500 worth of a share then after dealing costs and the spread you may need the share to rise 10% just to break even.
• Pretty much ignore everything on share bulletin boards aside from the odd decent poster. Just like if you were thinking of buying a house you'd probably avoid this board for advice. Anyone can make up anything to make a share sound amazing.
• If you're just looking to have some fun, along with potential massive upsides and huge downward trends, then have a look at miners and energy stocks on AIM. BHR and HER are two that have recently made me a nice pile of cash.
• Robbie Burns 'Naked Trader' book is a good read. Gave me lots of basics when I started trading.

crux

I have been 'live' for two weeks with part of my 1k stake in OTC & HER. Due to the spread and dealing fees I'm getting quite comfortable with seeing red numbers

Not doing too great so far then, but then I'm learning a lot and that's probably worth the investment.

I'm currently waiting for a couple of prices to drop down to a level I'm happy to buy in at, just need to sit on my twitchy fingers until then!

Graham_Devon

Well it would be good to see updates from you!

crux

On of the things I'm trying to get a handle on is doing your own research. What research do people do?

One of the shares I'm looking at is a gold miner/prospector that listed on the AIM yesterday. They have a pretty good web site and the presentations are plausible. I see that JPM just took an 11% stake in them and the directors hold substantial share holdings. I can see that there are other gold mines in the region.

But all the above is quite low grade surface research, really I don't know that much about prospecting for gold!

I'm tempted but seeing as the share price has dropped since the listing I'll will wait and see where the share price levels out at before deciding to buy. In the mean time I'm just trying to learn what research I should be doing.

Lennys_Shinpad

Graham_Devon wrote: »

I've actually got this on my watch list.

I'd buy in at around 6.5-7p.

Well if it gets to that range again I may be putting my house deposit on it!

Seriously, if it traces below 8p tomorrow it is a definite BUY. 3/4 Russian agencies have okayed the licence application. I am expecting the final decision before end of January.

Good luck with whatever you invest in.

Lenny.

1984ReturnsForReal_2

1984ReturnsForReal wrote: »

Not being funny but I would look at the current ([STRIKE]past[/STRIKE]future) financial interests of the people that run Tory Party & the front bench.

Then fathom out which companies can bid on Government contracts.

http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/news_and_events/news_centre/index.cfm/id/87E244BA-6705-4C83-B69E68C94B1C8924