Current Spread Betting Commentary

It's all good news. The consultant had a very long look at the upcoming baby and said everything was fine. He doesn't say much so there was a worrying few minutes at the start.

 But he says this pregnancy looks a lot stronger than the last and Elizabeth can feel movement which she couldn't feel in the last.

 Of course we can't relax after the death of our last one at 29 weeks. We've bought a baby heartbeat monitor so we can check everyday to see if the heartbeat is there.

 Thanks to you all for your kind messages of support. Whenever I think about stopping doing this website and get back seven hours a week, I remember all that support and carry on.

 I realise many of you enjoy the daily ramblings and I want to give something back to you all for all that love I feel coming through cyberspace (aw shucks!) I also know that weird Indian lady from my dream in March is looking after us this time!

Right, onto the markets!

 It's all a bit gloomy however actually all my lot are well up over the last few weeks despite the main market falls.

 I think if you can work hard there are opportunities out there. It looks a very dangerous time to be in the very small volatile stocks and I would steer clear till later in the year.

 The best ones to be in are mid-ranking (market cap £50-300m) with solid businesses - these will still prosper during difficult times.

 It's always worth looking at shorting - all my shorts are going well with Close Brothers the best - I'm up 100 points on the down bet.

 With the markets likely to drift further I suspect 3i Group (III) will be hit and I've shorted this morning through Cantor with a £10 short at 578p (equivalent to 1,000 shares) Target is 520p with stop loss at 605p. It's looking weak and could suddenly go lower.


 Havelock Europa has proved a cracking buy - up from my buy at 95 to 115 in a few weeks. It's announced another acquisition today and this one is really going places - more to come I think.

 Dignity is rising slowly and steadily up from my buy at 251 to the mid 270s - I would look to take profits just below 300.

 Monday's buy VP Group looks a strong market - it looks like TA traders are getting into it as it's broken out of a year's range. I really rate this one and expect it to hit at least 180.

 All my recent buys are holding up at increased prices. Helphire, 600 Group, White Young Green, Havelock, Sondex, Burren, all look good and give my portfolio a really solid defensive look but also plenty of scope for upside with few shocks likely.

 A nice report from Keir Group today - I'm up nearly 60 points on my spread bet - I fancy it'll get to 700 at which point I'll bank the proceeds.

 Brown and Jackson may prove volatile in the run up to an important statement at the end of the month - definitely worth holding onto because if the statement shows a good turnaround at the new Instore shops, the shares will rocket.


 Big Brother has proved a betting disappointment this year mainly because Sporting isn't doing spreads on the percentages on evictions this year which is where I used to clean up.

 Looks like we're going to be left with the usual boring ones at the end! TV watchers should realise it's much more fun keeping the lively ones in (Ahmed, Jason and Victor!)

 It's amazing the poor yields offered by the terrible annuities. If you have a pension fund of say £100,000 - you only get around £7,000 a year pension income! £200,000 would only get you £14,000!

 In my SIPP I am forced at the moment to buy an annuity when I get to 75 years old. What a load of nanny state crap! Just give me the money and let me invest it as I want! It's outrageous!

 These thoughts lead me on to the benefits of becoming a part-time distributor for Telecom Plus. It took me 3 years (of admittedly hard work) to get a £1,500-£2,000 a month income from Telecom Plus. Consider to get this kind of sum through a pension I would have to have built up a pension pot of £300k!

 Now imagine you are 35-year-old and just spend the next 30 years getting say only 30 customers a year and build up a network of distributors... can you imagine the possible income for your old age!

 And if you really put effort in, how wonderful do you think it would be to tell your boss: 'I quit' (or in my case try to annoy him to get a redundancy cheque as well!) and go and lead a new life away from corporate bull.

 TP also has a 'retirement option'. That is, you can lock in the income you have built up once you get to a certain stage.

 This is something I am looking at and I'm hoping to do this once I get to around 50-years old. At this point I expect my TP income to reach £5,000 a month.

 If you also throw in share options and other bonuses I cannot praise the potential of this business enough. And why shouldn't I, it helped me to free myself of office life.

 While you have to put the effort in and not be shy about selling the services - I believe anyone can do it with a bit of effort and commitment.. and the ability to put a bit of money into what is in effect a business venture.

 For those of you wondering whether to take the plunge or not I suggest maybe you try the services first and see how you like them. I suggest you take the TP home phone service and the energy services.

 Look at your bills when they come in and see how cheap they are and how efficient TP's billing and customer service is.

Wendesday 14th July