Is now the time to buy stocks/shares??

gadgetmind

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Just as the banks were, or thought to be.

True, which is why you need equities across a spread of sectors, and (of course) assets other than equities. If you're using this as an annuity replacement, you also need a decent cash buffer to tide you over thin dividend years or instead go for income oriented Investment Trusts as they hold a reserve.

GardenSun

is in a normal state? Is there a danger of major countries going broke?
How such fears could affect stocks?

Is there the danger that central bank intervention will lead to accelarating inflation? This all one has to consider when investing in stocks.

My opinion: When the Federal Reserve starts the next round of quantitative easing policy stocks will be supportet again, but not as much as last time. I would wait for another crash and then go into the big international players.

And gold mining stocks. I know, this nearly all of you will consider crazy. Because all learned: Gold is crazy, bonds are safe. This is now the otherway around. But most CANNOT believe.

jimjames

PJC89 wrote: »

Hello

in April i took out over 90% of my money out of a isa investor with halifax which now i see as quite lucky. So i am starting to add to it now but i would rather buy company shares but have never done it beforeand dont know who to invest in. I have see a company in the Falklands 'Argos resources' that caugh my eye. has anyone else looked into this company?
Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Assuming you sold unit trust funds in April and are now looking at a single AIM share or couple of shares you are completely changing your risk profile. Even a FTSE100 share would be less risky but if you are not sure what you are doing then buying one off shares based on tips could be a good way to lose a lot of your money quickly.

IronWolf

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Just as the banks were, or thought to be.

In my investing life time a few companies that spring to mind.

GEC, Hawker Siddley, Marconi, BTR, Hanson, Lucas, Racal and Trafalagar House.

Business moves in cycles.

That's why you look at other factors over and above dividend yield. There are businesses around that don't have cycles and have gone from strength to strength.

Its also important to look at the economic moat and stability of its earnings. Dividends will be paid if the earnings continue strongly. A company like Walmart isn't going to suffer a 20% decline in earnings unless something extraordinary happens, so you can be pretty confident they'll continue paying good dividends. But for a bank, with the amount of derivative contracts and investment operations Id be surprised if even the CEOs know how stable their earnings are.

Thrugelmir

IronWolf wrote: »

That's why you look at other factors over and above dividend yield. There are businesses around that don't have cycles and have gone from strength to strength.

Companies such as?

atush

Buying stock on marlket weakness can be a good idea IF you have had time to do properresearch before this or any crisis.

I made big gains buying after 9/11 and other market crashes. And where money remained invested, it didn't take too long to regain lost ground.

but to buy in panic w/o research is as bad as selling in panic.

gadgetmind

atush wrote: »

but to buy in panic w/o research is as bad as selling in panic.

Agreed. I have a watchlist of about a dozen companies and if/when there is a big dip, I see what I can pick up on the cheap. I mainly go for non-cylicals such as food and drink, utilities, and energy, but I do stray into insurance, defence, and even (gasp!) banks at times. Sadly, fags are off the table due to wifely veto.

atush

gadgetmind wrote: »

Agreed. I have a watchlist of about a dozen companies and if/when there is a big dip, I see what I can pick up on the cheap. I mainly go for non-cylicals such as food and drink, utilities, and energy, but I do stray into insurance, defence, and even (gasp!) banks at times. Sadly, fags are off the table due to wifely veto.

OK, so why did your post get a thanks and not mine LOL? I said it first after all ;-)

I have delved into all of the above at times, apart from tobacco. Still makes economic sense (given al thise rising living standards int he developing workd and their thrist for tobacco) but I am with the wifely veto on this one. I was (in my non wifely years) an AIDS and cancer researcher ;-)

gadgetmind

atush wrote: »

OK, so why did your post get a thanks and not mine LOL? I said it first after all ;-)

Dunno, but I just went back and gave you a thanks to try and stop your mithering. :-)

I am with the wifely veto on this one. I was (in my non wifely years) an AIDS and cancer researcher ;-)

Yup, I didn't give too much kick back regards the fags. However, that we still invest in booze, dyno-fuel and defence does make it all a tinge flimsy.

moneylover

where is the best place to set up a watchlist? Not very good on my dealing site. Or is this the only place?