Share Dealing Discussion Area

sabretoothtigger

The times published their tips for 2009 today. Always form your own opinion is my advice

ma7pmb

Hi,

I have been asked by my MD to set-up an account to trade in shares for the business ... it's an owner-managed limited company. Is this feasible? I am a finance professional and am slightly concerned about this.

Thanks

chintanm78

Hi there
I'd like to buy some shares this year and want to do it online. I know there are some favourites mentioned here and Hoodless seems to be pretty much the cheapest cost wise but I wondered if anyone had heard of these guys?
http://www.finspreads.com

Is spread betting the same as share dealing online? They seem to have low costs and be affiliated to a large share dealing software company.

What are your thoughts anyone please?

Happy New Year to all !

sabretoothtigger

No spreadbetting is very dangerous as the losses can be unlimited where as share dealing is ownership not betting and you might lose all your money but nothing more then your original investment


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spread_betting

fullstop

fullstop wrote: »

Yes I see they have fallen by more than 45% this year, the last month was probably the best time to buy them,but will keep a watch on the share price early in 09 to see what happens, could be a long term hold.

Good start to the year for Standard Chartered today, up 53.50p to close at 923.00

Blah99

ma7pmb wrote: »

Hi,

I have been asked by my MD to set-up an account to trade in shares for the business ... it's an owner-managed limited company. Is this feasible? I am a finance professional and am slightly concerned about this.

Thanks

Yes, totally feasible. Companies can hold shares as assets.

No spreadbetting is very dangerous as the losses can be unlimited where as share dealing is ownership not betting and you might lose all your money but nothing more then your original investment

That's not necessarily true (unlimited losses). Many spread bet firms offer guaranteed stops, where you know exactly what your losses will be limited to in advance for the price of a wider spread. All spread bet firms offer standard stops, which gives you an approximation of potential losses.

Spread betting is a leveraged product, which is where the risk is.

That said, to the original question: do not, under any circumstances, start spread betting until you've been buying and selling shares for at least a year. Before even starting spread betting make sure you understand the risks and mechanisms behind it. I thoroughly recommend "Financial Spread Betting Handbook" by Malcolm Prior as a starting point.

ma7pmb

ma7pmb wrote: »

Hi,

I have been asked by my MD to set-up an account to trade in shares for the business ... it's an owner-managed limited company. Is this feasible? I am a finance professional and am slightly concerned about this.

Thanks

Cheers Blah99; thanks for the help!

sabretoothtigger

Holding shares as assets sounds similar to banks holding mortgages as assets, doesnt always turn out so great

sabretoothtigger

RBS – along with Lloyds the most vulnerable in terms of further share price declines, with a significant level of support at 40.2p. This level held firm in November and December of last year. A break of this key support would open up fresh lows of 30p.

HBOS – finding a good degree of support between 55p and 60p area – the price was unable to break below this level despite a number of attempts to do so between October and December last year. This should remain underpinned as long as the deadline date of 16th January for the Lloyds merger remains intact.

Lloyds – another stock vulnerable to further declines, this stock is exhibiting classic dead-cat bounce behaviour as the 16th January deadline for the HBOS takeover nears. The current low of 115p remains under threat until the full extent of what they are taking on becomes apparent. The stock needs to recover significantly above 150p to stabilise.

HSBC – finding support around the 600p area for now but is vulnerable to its exposure in Asian markets. Any significant downturn here would undermine here and could signify further declines. A recovery above 750p is needed to stabilise here.

Standard Chartered – has rallied significantly off its lows at 580p, but needs a move back, and close above, 955p to reduce the likelihood of a drift back towards its November lows.

Barclays - stuck in a range at the moment but gaining support off significantly higher levels, after making a low in November of 117.20p, but needs to hold above the November/December highs around 170.50p to signal a move towards the 200p mark. There is minor trend line support currently around 145p.

HBOS 72.70p +5.5% Lloyds TSB Group 123.90p +4.1% Barclays 169.80p +4.0% Legal & General Group 80.00p +3.1%

http://www.digitallook.com/digital/strategy_article_archive.cgi?story_id=2536942&

Blah99

RBS - if you'd like a punt, and the idea of 50/50 odds on red or black is far too safe an option for you, buy lots of these shares.

HBOS - plenty of support in the share price, so buy now to maximise your losses when the merger fails and everything goes a bit "Pete Tong".

Lloyds - this isn't a dead cat bounce, unless the cat morphs into a 2 ton elephant on the way down. If you're sick of your cash and want to make some room in your bank account, buy Lloyds.

HSBC - everyone else knows what's coming next year, even if you don't. So if you buy now you'll gain maximum exposure to global recessionary conditions, giving you plenty of that lovely downside you bank share buyers crave.

Standard Chartered - does anyone really care what they're doing? No? Thought not.

Barclays - You've been desperate for some exposure to oil, and now you can have it thanks to a motley crew of middle east investors. Yes, that's right, for only the price of a whole shedload of shares you too can be at the mercy of terms worse than the UK government bailout. For the next shareholder meeting please ensure you practice the following phrase:

hal yuwjad aHad hunaa yataHaddath al'ingiliiziyya?