*** Next update May 6th ***
A reminder the website is taking a bit of a Florida Holiday, Easter Holiday, Bank Holiday, Royal Wedding Holiday and can't think of any other holidays.... but it will be back with regular updates from May 6th.
Robbie Burns - On behalf of all investors:
******* ***** this ********** market is **** and it's impossible to ***** *********** **** .
One minute it's ******* up then down then ******** all over the ****** place.
Arrrggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!
That's better.
First thing to say I suspect nearly everyone reading this has probably taken losses this week or at least lost some paper profits due the black swan event in Japan outside our control.
But remember: you still have a house (well, I hope) , money in the bank and somewhere safe to live. You're not in fear of your life from an exploding nuclear plant or radioactivity, or fearing another earthuqake.
You could have just had your life totally devasted like the poor souls in Japan who have literally lost absolutely everything.
So if you are upset about any losses, consider how great your life really is here in the UK and in reality the money you lost is irrelevant over the longer term as long as... you really were using money you could afford to lose.
And we should also be grateful that despite its faults, we live in a peaceful democratic country that doesn't have earthquakes.
I know I am very grateful, however dire our politicians happen to be.
Now you know why I as well as many others always repeat this (don't use money you cannot afford to lose) and why my books contain so many stories of people losing nearly all their money, often in the main because of overusing leverage.
Also the market for investors anyway, should be considered a medium to longer term thing. If you didn't sell at the top, consider whether your favourite company is likely to be higher by the end of the year.
I've certainly lost some great paper profits this week by staying in some things, but my thoughts are they will be higher, and in some cases, much higher later this year. So I'm pragmatic about it. And also I've lived through similar crises and lived to tell the tale.
And like the website I don't ever consider a profit a profit till it is well and truly banked.
Markets have surely tumbled more than they should have if there weren't so many robot traders and leverage trading on CFD's and spreadbetting.
With I suspect so many investors and traders having overleveraged or borrowed money to trade they didn't have, the whole situation has been made a lot worse.
Margin calls will have forced many to sell most of their holdings, the good with the bad and so the good gets hit indiscriminately.
There's so much fear about at the moment. But remember when the papers and the TV says "fear of"... it is just fear. It fills airtime and inches of newspaper space which lots of lovely drama which gets bigger audiences.
I absolutely hate getting suckered into selling stuff at the bottom of fear selling. I saw an interesting chart somewhere on the net, can't remember where showing how markets bounced back after a nuclear incident, and pretty much each time the market sold off heavily, and then after about 4 days it began a bounce. Also on each occasion after a few weeks the markets were way higher than when the sell off began.
So how did I handle the nightmare week so far? Well, I tried to keep my nerve and hold onto what I consider are my good companies with the help of some FTSE shorts and the 2x super short for my isa. I also shorted a few bigger shares and short-term made a decent sum.
I got a decent couple of grand with quick shorts on Fresnillo and Asos and another couple on some hefty FTSE shorts. These really helped me to hold my nerve. I chose Fresnillo and Asos just because they trade in the thousands of points so easier to get say 100 points of downside.
I'm not going to claim any of those profits here, they were short-term and this site is all about medium-term investing. I'm glad though I shut down a number of spreadbets before this happened and ended up with some cash on the side.
I thought the results yesterday from Capital Drill (CAPD) were excellent, good improving profits and a swing into net cash too and an excellent outlook so I bought 4,000 yesterday at 80. (Well actually 80.01 but if it's ok between us I'll ditch the .01)
Even better, it's bounced off this level before and looks good to me for a rise back up to at least 100p. Target 100 stop 73.
I think Capital Drill was unlucky to report on a bad day yesterday as its good statement just got passed by. However I think CAPD will gradually get rerated.
I sold Acal at 340, it didn't quite get into the smallcap.. for a profit of £398. I do like this one and would look to rebuy soon especially as it would hopefully get in in June.
I sold Encore at 112 for a loss of £180 as support had been around 115 for so long and bought it back at 102 where the value looked too good. Some smoke still around about a potential move for it from Premier.
I sold Macfarlane at 28.5 for a profit of £100. Just finally got bored of the non movement. And I sold Wood at 624 for a profit of £1,040. Actually kind of wishing I hadn't but there we are. Probably re-enter it at some point. XChanging went at 77 for a profit of £350.
Total profit banked for the site is £1,708.
To the rest, overall of course I've lost some decent paper profits but actually it could have been an awful lot worse so for now I feel it was just about ok to dump some of those spreadbets while in the main hanging onto the ISA positions.
Big shout (who do you think you are, Pete Tong to those shares that held or only fell a little during all this turmoil. To me it shows they are very resilient and makes me more determined to hang onto them for more gains.
Recent buy Alternative Networks never moved a muscle, looks good for more gains. Indeed rising again today, a lovely share. I think 230 likely here in time and with patience.
Volex managed a gain up to 290 but fell back again but still strong support at 250. The recent Dignity short is now in profit. The website ftse short at over 6100 is bringing home some profit.
Kofax held pretty well too but does need to conquer the 500 area. Dropped into the 480s today so need to keep an eye on it. It came up about a month ago where I made quite a lot on it in my pension fund, buying at 350ish and selling at 470ish.
Micro Focus dipped and then rebounded. The short in Ocado goes well.
Dialight held reasonably well too. It said today its pension scheme has been bought out at a better price than thought which has given the shares a new lift. The website holds profits of nearly £40,000. In reality, my profits actually way greater than this. I'd expect to continue to be patient and would hope to see a tenner maybe by year end. Potential as a bid target too.
Filtrona..so annoyed I never took the profit! Still, good support at 290 star mover is Xp Power has kept its value well and looks like it could take it to 2000! I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago with a profit of £15,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time!
Character Group surprisingly got hit. Not a clue why, maybe the Japanese buy a lot of toys? However I have stuck with it but in a loss now. I'd be surprised if it didn't go higher from here.
Yule at last looks like it has bottomed and seems very undervalued. Devro has moved smartly higher it produced another fabulous report and it remains a brilliant long-term bedrock with great profits already and I think more to come. Can it push through 300?
African Aura hit 300 but has come back since then. It's confirmed it will split into two separate companies sometime next month. Up more than £4,000 now and a lovely near trebler. I think I will stick with it. Continued excellent statements and possibly more to come. Indeed one broker is targetting 400 which would give me a four timer! However for now hope it can consolidate after its retrace. Up well today.
Entertainment One continues to be a star performer, it has got hit a little by the downturn but I suspect is is overleveraged spreadbet forced selling that has done it. Profits close to £5,000. It's raised some more money for acquisitions and it announced institutions have really backed the placing at 160. I would not be surprised to be still holding this one in a year's time.
Microgen has held its own throughout and some lovely profits of more than £20,000 for the site. What a lovely share this has been since I bought it at 45p. It hasn't budged during the turmoil/
Oil gamble Cadogan has risen quite nicely and sits a bit higher for now. Seems happy sitting in a 35-42 range for now. Waiting some news soon. Of course it is a gamble and could just as easily skid down as hike up.
Exillon showed great resilience in holding over the turmoil. Porvair too has held well wow, what a share that is proving and I've now doubled! It produced an excellent statement which produced profit taking - that often happens on even good results - but one to stay with I believe for more upside.
AZ electronic got hit badly and after being in a good profit now breaking even . The weakness looks overdone.
Telecom Plus is always a lovely share to have in a savage sell off. It It has made it onto the FTSE 250 reserve list. . Website profits are up and over £25,000. And it's starting to move higher again today. This is also my big dividend earner which brings me cash of more than £15,000.
The Vitec Group has held well. Petrofac has come back on middle-east worries but remains a core hold. Though easy for me to say that as I bought in the 350 area. Together with spinoff Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £30,000.
Well, who knows where we go from here? All eyes on Japan. But if it goes down much more at some point there will be a monster rally.
Well, the instability in the Mid East continues to cause headaches for investors though a delight for the in and out day traders.
As I wrote last time though, buys at the greatest time of fear continue to pay off.
EG. Just at the point you think, sod the stock market for a game of soldiers I'm going into premium bonds or sticking cash under the bed and selling up.. well, that often is a great time to do the opposite and buy.
In fact if you think about it, given 70-90% of traders lose depending on circumstances you just need a roomful of them, give them any share or commodity ask them whether it's a buy or a sell then do the exact opposite of the majority.
I went long on oil and the trade was soon up £55. We watched it during the last session, and it was about £75 up. So I decided to close for the profit... except I left it too late and the oil market had shut for the weekend! Cue great hilarity in the room!
I know those of you who came wanted to know what happened to that trade. Well, it has just carried on going up, and I am now in profit on it to the tune of over £500!! I've kept moving the stop up around 3 dollars a barrel behind the current price so I ought to get at least a £200 profit on it. So thanks delegates!!
It's the same with say a FTSE bet. Ask a roomful of traders in the morning whether the FTSE will end up higher or lower by the day's close and nine times out of ten, do the opposite to the majority call and you'll make money.
A stock that popped up was 2 Ergo (RGO) which I bought on Monday.
Never came across this one before - it was a boring one that was just flatlining but in a sudden major uptrend after a deal with Microsoft. Once you get Microsoft linked with a company then people tend to buy.
I got 3,500 RGO shares at 133 and £30 on the spreads at 133 and a tad on Monday.
I also bought some Acal (ACL) - 1,500 at 313.5 today, they were on the shortlist and looked a good time to buy on weakness.
Acal looks a nice one even though it's gone up quite a bit. Very nice growing profits and tons of cash with also promotion to the small cap index likely soon either next week or June as it is right on the cusp of getting in and therefore attracting the attention of fund managers.Target 400 stop 260.
Croda (CRDA) also came up. Really excellent set of results from this chemicals outfit and I was keen to wait to try and buy on weakness. In a rough market said weakess appears and got a fiver a point on the spreads at 1548. It's a big company and very volatile but the plan is to hold for a good while. Stop 1400 target 2000.
Mothercare (MTC) came up as a potential short. Asking mums about it recently they reckon it's pretty dated and they don't use it as much as they did. Results aren't so great either so shorted this for a tenner at 477. Target 420, stop 505.
And I bought some Micro Focus (MCRO), £20 at 289 on the spreads. Looked like a decent recovery play with good fundamentals and plenty of cash. Target 380 stop 250. This one appears to be heading higher today.
I took my nice quick profit in Eaga at 119 to bank a decent £1,484 profit.
Doesn't look like a bidding war there so would rather take the money now. Best trade of the year so far I reckon. I was losing my profit quickly on African Min so sold at 549 to bank a profit of £160. Disappointed as it did hit 600. I bought back at 531.
Darn it, I sold the short in Arm too early. Never mind. Some analyst changed his mind on them, they started to shoot up and I sold at 607. That does bank a profit of £240 but they are lower than that now and I made a mistake there. Bloody analysts! I sold the disappointing Communisis at 32p for a loss of £50. Results are tomorrow and with so many companies getting a kicking on results day I chickened out. Seemed a lot of sellers around on the orderbook too.
That's a total profit banked for the website today of £1,834..
Elsewhere my decision not to get scared out of the good stuff has paid off so far. Not so sure about the shorts though.
The Ftse short remains for now and lowered the stop a bit so it should end up in profit.
The short in Ocado was going well... till Goldman put out a new rating on them and they shot up. So I missed selling at the bottom but still in profit and still looked overhyped.
Dialight (DIA) remains a real star and up more than 100 points again since I mentioned them in the last update. Hoping for another 300p here and there is bid potential too.
The short term ITV trade appears to be working out - with today's rise it should sneak into the FTSE 100 next week. Up quite nicely on it now, major point is the reduced debt. Also it will soon be allowed to show 12 mins of ads during a movie instead of the current 7 mins, and of course there is now product placement available. Wondering whether to hold onto it for a bit longer than I intended, not sure yet. See if it can break 100 before taking the profit.
Filtrona appears to be trying to close above 300 so here's hoping it can manage a run up. It's doing well today so buying before it went above 300 might pay off. Could easily sneak up 30 points from here.
Encore Oil hasn't done much, markets don't seem too sure right now.
New Brit came up with a decent statement and they are on the rise again, hitting 900 or profit of over £7.000.
Other star mover is Xp Power has started another surge and up and over 1700! That's down to another fabulous trading statement. I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago with a profit of £15,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time! Of course hindsight is marvellous and all I ever needed to do was put all I had into it at 164 ! Never mind!
Now of course it is very tempting to now take these profits. Trouble is it is so nice to see a share which says +700% on it that I cannot bear to part with it!! Yes, I have become emotionally involved the hypocrite I am.
John Wood has consolidated higher well thanks to top notch results and a disposal where it got a better price than the market assumed. So I'm up now around £1,300 - I think I will bank those soon as the company wants to return cash to shareholders. I hate this! Why do I want cash? I would rather they spent the money on acquisitions.
Character Group has come back a bit today but not bothered short-term there.
Nice profit on Pace but it is a right old tease, just when you think it is going to break up over 220 for a ride up to 250 it heads back to 215 and down to 212 now. Maybe patience is required here! I know 215 was my target but it does show signs of wanting to go higher and would hate to miss it.
888 is moving up you never know there as a bid could come anytime. Volex produced a nice report but inevitably there was profit taking. 300 looks good support and think holding my nerve might pay off.
Devro produced another fabulous report and it remains a brilliant long-term bedrock with great profits already and I think more to come. It's gone up a lot this week.
Little long-term punt Loq has moved into profit. Management has changed and seems keen to drive it onwards and upwards and I expect to stay in for hopefully about 200.
African Aura hit 300 but has come back since then. It's confirmed it will split into two separate companies sometime next month. up more than £4,000 now and a lovely near trebler. I think I will stick with it. Continued excellent statements and possibly more to come. Indeed one broker is targetting 400 which would give me a four timer!
Entertainment One continues to be a star performer and has more or less consolidated recent fantastic gains and profits close to £5,000. It's raised some more money for acquisitions and just a question of patience now. I would not be surprised to be still holding this one in a year's time.
Oil gamble Cadogan has risen quite nicely and sits a bit higher for now. Got up to early 40s but has fallen back a bit, but that's par for the course.
Gamble Emed Mining is volatile but back in profit and has come back a bit but in for the sipp from 8p and for the Isa and website from 16p so worth sticking in. These commodity tiddlers can be a hard ride.
Chime holds reasonably well - it has already doubled and more for me and still looks cheap.
Exillon is looking very good: seems to have definitely broken 400. produced a decent statement but tries hard to get through 400, seems quite strong and it holds above 400 today.
Kentz burst through 400 but fell back on profit-taking and mid east worries, which is fair enough but I remain in for more. Another good contract announced
Sepura has moved up well since I bought but 50p proves a barrier for now still.
Porvair, wow, what a share that is proving and I've now doubled! It produced an excellent statement which produced profit taking - that often happens on even good results - but one to stay with I believe for more upside. It's down a bit this week but wonder whether to top up on weakness.
AZ electronic keeps trying to break above 300, can't quite do it but getting there! Maybe it is there today. AZ Electronic makes sophisticated chemicals that are used in electronic goods such as semiconductors and smart phones and is used in ipads and iphones. It has gone into the FTSE 250.
Carclo came back a bit on understandable profit taking but looks welll supported around 260.
Telecom Plus looks like it might make a stab at 500 soon. . Website profits are up and over £25,000. And it's starting to move higher again today. This is also my big dividend earner which brings me cash of more than £15,000. It got number one Broadband/phone bundle in the current issue of Which Magazine .
Cineworld has fallen back a bit, not sure why but climbing again now. Some talk in the papers it might be a bid target. The Vitec Group gave put a decent report and is settling around the 550 mark - been brilliant so far. Aggreko remains volatile with the ftse but longterm uptrend is up.
Petrofac has come back on middle-east worries but remains a core hold. Though easy for me to say that as I bought in the 350 area. Together with spinoff Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £30,000.
If you are playing the market, you have to remember it is quite a nasty thing.
And (sadly) you have to consider all your opponents in the markets as total ******* and you've got to play the game. Trading is a like a game of cards and you need to weigh up your opponents.
Remember the market will deliberately toss your share price about to make you scared.
It's amazing but every market scare I can remember recently, finance scares in Dubai, Ireland, Spain, Portugal and now political scares in Egypt... the best time to buy would be in the middle of the scare and a sinking market. And the worst time to sell is... well usually when you are at your most scared. It's human nature after all. We are always scared of losing the lot.
Of course one has to set aside the 2008 crash which really was justified with banks in real danger of going under.
Anyway it's all very well me saying this but it is hard to buy in the middle of a scare. One or two shares I bought in the middle of the 2008 scare I have simply kept hold of with marvellous results. Like Petrofac I bought around 350 and held onto most of them and now at 1600 ! It goes to show if you get a great price and have the balls to hold on for say a year or two, it can really pay off.
Being happy with what I've got I made a small buy on fear trade and bought the ftse at 5880. Going nicely right now but of course this is not my scene so I'll simply raise the stop up as it rises. So far pushed it up to 5930. Ftse trades 24 hrs so usually a stop would get activated unless it's the weekend.
I've bought Cadogan (CAD). Actually quite a lot. Reason is the risk-reward ratio looks good on the upside and limited on the downside as it has a decent amount of cash worth a good part of the share price.
Other positives are it is very liquid so easy to buy and sell tons and market makers have hardly any influence on it. it's Isaable, and it's in an area which could be lucrative and an overhang is clearing and it looks cheap. Negatives: well like all oil stocks there is always the chance of a we didn't find any oil statement. And it could be politically unstable. So one always has to go into these realising there is potential for a bigger loss than say a company that makes widgets. But I think there is more chance of this one doubling than halving.
I bought initially 25,000 at 26.7. I then also bought some spreadbets on top between 27 and 30 but keeping those to myself! Targetting initially 50p but would hang on if further rises looked likely. It's moving up nicely now and hitting 32 as I write this. It could even be one worth hanging onto for a year or two for much bigger gains. We'll see.
I bought some small Creston (CRE) this morning, 4000 at 86.67 before a statement due tomorrow. It's an annoying one this as it looks so cheap but the market refuses to rerate it. Maybe the market is right, we'll see tomorrow but if the statement is good I'll get more tomorrow and if there is something wrong a loss will be taken on the chin. It struggles to get above 100 and the spread can cause problems too. Worth a shot though. Target a hopeful 120.
I stupidly forgot to move a too tight stop on Essar down on fear day, just missed moving it totally so got caught out as it went at 510 for a loss of £160. Of course it then spiked up and I missed quite a few points but got back in at 521. Well, it's only a tiny trade so no matter. But it was my own fault for not checking the stop.
As I thought would probably happen E2v fell even though it was an excellent statement which is why I sold some and was waiting to buy in lower. As it happens it never fell that far and got 4,000 back at 109.8. I took profits on Afren (AFR) last week as it couldn't get through 150, but then it did seem to be breaking through so in again for £30 at 150.5. Of course it could dip below that again but worth a shot on the new breakup.
Ocado is plain weird. It loses money, yet has a price tag of over a billlion. I know the market looks forward but I'd want to see it making at least £100m first before it was worth that price. It started to go up so I sighed and decided not to fight the market and exited at 227 for a small profit. This morning I have given it one last go and shorted at £20 for 240. And alreadylosing on this as it is 246 as I write. Just goes to show I'm probably being really stupid and no point trying to fight a market in a stock even though you think the market is wrong. In fact I've gone against what I'd normally do on this, the hypocrite that I am. So serves me right if this loses. I can't let it go much above 255 and I deserve a loss here.
I sold Ocean at 1365 for a profit of £285. No big reason but wanted some cash for Cadogan and this one is a mighty slow mover and thought Cadogan a better place for the cash.
Elsewhere some more lovely gains for some of mine.
Star of the week has to be African Aura! Up more than £3,000 now and a lovely doubler. Continued excellent statements and possibly more to come. Indeed one broker is targetting 400 which would give me a four timer!
Entertainment One continues to be a star performer and has more or less consolidated recent fantastic gains and profits close to £5,000. I would not be surprised to be still holding this one in a year's time. And I wouldn't also be surprised to see it another 100 higher.
Recent buy Pace has shot up to 200, now to see whether it can clear 200 and get up to the 215/220 area. I was interested in taking profits there, however if 220 got broken I might stay with it. The rise is due to a report that it's now tied up with the Sky equivalent in India where the market could be huge. I'd be loath to take profits on this if it really breaks up so will be very careful not to sell it too early. Could be worth holding onto despite the sharp rise.
Microgen shoots up yet again today and is now a trebler and massive profits for the site of about £18,000. Well, actually I bought Microgen a year or so ago and it never stopped going up.
RPC continues its mega rise, lovely trade so far. It should I hope head for 300 where I'd consider banking. Gamble Emed Mining has come back a bit but in for the sipp from 8p and for the Isa and website from 16p so worth sticking in. These commodity tiddlers can be a hard ride.
The adding to Chime dings nicely - it has already doubled and more for me and still looks cheap. Up yet again the whole week.
Exillon tries hard to get through 400 and looks worth sticking with, glad I bought some more.
Kentz burst through 400 but fell back on profit-taking, which is fair enough but I remain in for more
Capital Drill can't quite seem to conquer the 100p mark. Sepura has moved up well since I bought but 50p proves a barrier for now still.
Porvair, wow, what a share that is proving and I've now doubled! It produced an excellent statement yesterday which produced profit taking - that often happens on even good results - but one to stay with I believe for more upside.
AZ electronic keeps trying to break above 300, can't quite do it but getting there! Trying hard to get above that again today. AZ Electronic makes sophisticated chemicals that are used in electronic goods such as semiconductors and smart phones and is used in ipads and iphones. It has gone into the FTSE 250.
Carclo and Dialight consolidate recent big gains very nicely. Dialight has nearly quadrupled for me - you might remember me buying that live at 140ish - now it is close to 600.
Little gamble Asterand has gone nearly 50% higher for me and also hold onto its good gains. There appears to be some good buyers in it recently though the market makers have cleverly tried to prevent trading in it by widening the spread.
Telecom Plus has soared again and as I thought it would has hit 450. I would think it could hit 600 by year end. Its new mobile deal looks incredible. Website profits are up and over £25,000. Trading statement due soon which I hope will see get up to near the 500 area.
Innovation gently rises most days. Cineworld has fallen back a bit, not sure why but climbing again now. The brilliant Volex has risen up to 350 and says dividends are on the way sooner than expected. I've doubled on the original lots I bought in the low 100s and in a really super profit of over £13,000.
The Vitec Group is heading back up nicely and is trying to crack the 600 mark - been brilliant so far. Aggreko remains volatile with the ftse but longterm uptrend is up.
Hyder carries on going up and Xp Power has started another surge and up and over 1300! Amazing!l I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago with a profit of £16,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time! IMI gets a yellow card today, it seems troubled but giving it a bit of space on yellow before a red is handed out.
Lovely Petrofac remains a core hold and has soared. Together with spinoff Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £30,000. Of course it's volatile but a strong uptrend remains intact.
Right just a reminder this is the last market update till I'm back from South Africa and the next update will be on January 12th. I hope not to trade too much from the hotel pool but have got the laptop so I guess I will be sneaking the odd trade here and there!
So just to wrap up a few bits and pieces and then a review of the trading year.
What is going on? The Santa rally seems to have started early. The market has been rising since the beginning of the month which is quite unusual. Normally it starts rising from now till year end.
It's risen 22 out of 25 years between now and year end. With the short day on Xmas Eve usually being pretty good!
As usual I've uncovered a number of shares that look interesting! Wish I could buy them all but with the holiday I can't.
However I've bought MacFarlane (MACF) - I picked up 20,000 shares this morning at 28p. Target 35 stop 25. An interesting recovery story here - management report stronger sales and debt is coming down nicely so a little gamble on the recovery in place for further upside, nice-looking upwards chart too.
I've also bought a little Communisis (CMS) 10,000 at 32.5 - again this looks another recovery play and it appears to be picking up lots of new contracts so worth a few quid of investment. Target 42 stop 29.
Abcam (ABC) came up on a screen and I bought a tenner on the speads at 370. It had a share consolidation recently which seems sensible and what's not to like about its big growth? Target 500 stop 340. Could be a lovely winner this for 2011.
Finally Wood Group (WG.) appeared on the scan - loved the look of the figures and the acquisition and bought a tenner on the spreads at 520. target 700 stop 490. Looks like it could also enter the FTSE 100 in the next reshuffle.
Right, I sold all my Nestor at around 111 which gives me total profits of.. wait for it ...£38,600
I guess this has to be the share of the year with the brilliant bid! And got dividends on top.
In the end might as well sell now and not worry too much about the final dividend.
Yule Catto has shot up after the surprise rights issue and acquisition, the market seems to love it and I can buy loads of new shares at a fraction of the current price which is even better! I called the spreadbet company to check and the rights issues shares will be credited to the account so that is even better!
Yule has ended up a fantastic trade and now up nearly 100 points from the first buy in!
The Betfair short has been a real winner! Massively in profit now and it tumbles another 100 points on a rather poor trading statement.
Little gamble Asterand is paying off so far - I can see why the buys were coming in.. It's paying for what looks a decent acquisition in cash avoiding the need to dilute shareholders which is very good news. Could be a nice winner for 2011 this one and I would expect to hold it for longer to get max value and there is a potential doubler here for 2011.
Other recent buys go well: Essar Energy is rising nicely as is London Capital. Norcros too is heading upwards.
IMI made it (just) into the FTSE 100 which prompted profit taking! However it's on the way back up and a tenner at least looks likely in time.
Telecom Plus has convincingly broken through the 400 mark. It's one of those that plateaus for ages then gets rerated and looks in the middle of that and looks like the rerating could take it up to 450-470 area, it went ex dividend last week and didn't go down much, a very good sign, for now a rerating up to 500 looks about right - the cold weather will be helping its profits too. It has also told distributors it's going to launch the cheapest mobile deal in the UK before Xmas. That could really push sales. Anyway website profits are up and over £25,000.
Two of my long-term favourites continue to go very well. Both Carclo and Dialight are seeing some good buyers. Bothshares remain under the radar which is fine for me but both could have amazing 2011,
Dialight has trebled for me - I bought that at 140ish - now it is trying to close over 500. The US government says it is going to be using LEDs for its traffic lights and says it will not be allowing tendering from foreign companies so Dialight looks set to benefit from the cash going in. If it can get above 500 there could be new rise on the cards.
Carclo is rising very steadily and breaking out nicely - shame about the silly spread sometimes though. Not that this matters as I expect to get a big payday here next year. Again potential to double next year.
BTG is rising steadily after the dip from buying Biocompatibles,
Innovation is rising quite well after results this week, the share price seems to be rising slowly but surely - and a bid is in there for nothing so I'll continue to hold. Another possible good winner for 2011.
Ocean Wilsons creeps up. Porvair with another contact win announced is trying to leave 100 behind terrific! Up very nicely this week.
Recent buy Hilton Food Group rises slowly and calmly, worth 300 early next year. Other recent buy AZ Electronics is beginning to shoot up well. AZ Electronic makes sophisticated chemicals that are used in electronic goods such as semiconductors and smart phones and is used in ipads and iphones. It goes into the FTSE 250 next week.
Fenner has seen a very good rise the last couple of days as has Afren which looks like it might have a go at 150.
Recent buy Bioquel remains nice and calm a bit higher than when I bought it and . Judged on this, looks like a good chance of this one getting back up to the 150p area. Commercialisation of its new product looks like it has a decent chance and could be worth a lot of money, with submission now made to the regulators.
The recent Cineworld top up on weakness has paid off well so far!
and nicely up now. 888 Group is now on the rise after decent figures from Sporting Bet. Looks good for another few points. Entertainment One consolidates after recent rises, patience should pay there. .
The brilliant Volex has risen this week from 320 ish to 340 ish and says dividends are on the way sooner than expected. I've doubled on the original lots I bought in the low 100s and in a really super profit of over £13,000.
Superstar Oiler Bowleven (BLVN) has got nicely through the 330 mark this week and indeed looks like it is trying to tackle 350. .The recent statement was a decent find and there is some talk about it being the next Tullow - well that is just talk but it would be nice
Recent top up Devro proved good timing as it's already climbed 10% since I bought! It has also for the moment gone through the previous sticky area. It couldn't quite manage 270 but I would expect to see 300 early next year.
Gamble Orosur Mining is on the rise again after dipping on profit taking.
Long termer Heritage is heading back higher this week and flies through 400 - some bid rumours appear in the press today. The Vitec Group is heading back up nicely and is trying to crack the 600 mark - been brilliant so far. Aggreko rises after a couple of downdays - I shall carry on holding - still up 400 points and may top up if it weakens any more.
Splendid profits now in African Aura, it seems to rise gently every day and up again today,it raised estimates again this week - it will split into two companies next year which looks a good move. It's up very well today on another good announcement.
Hyder produced a decent statement this week and I remain a holder and in good profits. And there is a bid possible in there for nothing. It's been rising all week and went ex dividend today.
Xp Power is starting another surge and looks to leave a tenner behind today. I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago and it's now trying to get to 1100 with a profit of £13,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time!
.Lovely Petrofac didn't give back too much in the melee and remains a core hold and soars today. Together with spinoff Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £25,000. Of course it's volatile but a strong uptrend remains intact. 1500p seems a tough nut for it to crack at the mo though.
Spirent has doubled for me and there recent top up is in profit. It is trying to stick above 140..
REVIEW OF 2010
I really thought at the start of 2010 it could be a difficult year and I'd be happy with making less than before.
So to sit here and write I had my best year ever is a real surprise but no complaints. I'm too lazy to add it all up but I'm guessing in reality across all accounts I probably made around £200,000.
Throughout the year big profits were banked from £1,000 through to the £40,000 and losses? A few but all were cut quickly with most losses in the very low 100s with the worst around £900.
The year's results show this: If you cut losses quickly and hang onto the winners for a decent period of time there are big gains to be made.
Best result of the year? Got to be Nestor Healthcare which got a bid and made me profits of near £40,000. I bought around 30p as they looked cheap and simply continued to scale in as they went up buying more in the 40s, 50s and 70s.
Other big gains for the year include Mulberry where I banked £10,000 quick time last week.
Long-term hold Telecom Plus had a great year rising steadily and also giving out two huge dividends - just a fantastic share with profits over £25,000.
Spice got bid for 70 sparking profits of more than £3,000. Dimension Data was also a massive winner and got bid for and I also got a bit for Morse - lovely profits of more than £10,000 on these two.
New Brit has had a spectacular year, and become a multi-bagger for me, and looks like more come for next year.
Aggreko, Volex, Devro, Yule Catto and African Aura have all been sensational with African now nearly doubling.
And little Dialight proved a massive star trebling and more for me this year.
So I am delighted with 2010 - I've cut losses fast with not a single loss over £1,000 and held onto the winners with many huge winners over £10,000. Got to be the way to make money!
My one mistake? Probably still selling good ones too early. I shall try to rectify that in 2011 should it be a good year for the markets. Goodness knows what will happen but I will continue to try and follow the market rather than second guess what might happen.
I wish you all the best of luck with your trading and hope you all have many winners in 2011. Happy new Year and see you again from Jan 12th.
Crikey! I'm glad I follow the markets and not try and guess the next move - so many were predicting terrible crashes in October including both of the biggest investment magazines.
QE has gone down very well and conditions are superb for making money and I am trying to make the most of it right now.
The market has soared since QE although it is going down today giving some back, not exactly a surprise, we will see if it starts to head back up again. Actually a bit of down would probably be healthy now for a nice run up to year end.
I've bought 2,000 shares in Exillon Energy (EXI) at 265p.
It's an interesting independent oil producer with assets in the oil rich areas of northern Russia, Timan and West Siberia. There's been a recent significant upsurge in production which sees the current share price soaring - and soaring so much it looks like there is more to come.
The other point is it's been accepted into the FTSE indicies and at its current market cap it will go straight into the FTSE 250 in December which should see a whole lot of new buyers as tracker funds will have to buy in. So looks a good thing to me for at least another 100p. Target 300 stop 240.
And though the spread looks wide it isn't really and for example as I write it's 295 but buys are being made at 287.
I'm back into old friend Centamin (CEY) where I've made some nice sums this year and last year. This time with Isas fully loaded it's a spreadbet for £30 at 180 - it's been making some decent progress and looks set to have a bash at getting over 200 - if it can 220 could be a quick next stop. Target 240 stop 160.
And as I mentioned last time I was looking to top up once again into the brilliant Volex (VLX) while it was still under 300 and copped another 1,500 at 291. Target 350 stop 280. I've doubled on the original lots I bought in the low 100s and in a really super profit.
If Volex can manage the same spiral upwards as XP Power in the same sector then some even bigger gains could be there for the taking.
Those of you who get my email with my pension trades know I've been heavily into oiler Bowleven (BLVN) and been buying for a while. With a statement due I also got some on the spreads, £30 at 189 figuring rises meant good news was due which is exactly what happened and they are already a lot higher. I still think they have a lot further to go and happy to be in this on the spreads too. Target 450 stop 180.The statement was a decent find and there is some talk about it being the next Tullow - well that is just talk but it would be nice
I've taken profits in 4 Imprint selling at 260 for a nice profit of £1,137. It's been trying to get over 265 but can't seem to manage it so that was my cue to bank the profits.
Supergroup has been amazingly super! And super statement today. The only thing is really after doubling and a bit the share price looks up with current events so I banked the spreadbet at 1220 to bank a profit of £1,931 .
I waited a bit longer to sell the standard trade but it started falling and exited at 1193 for a profit of £4,570, a total Supergroup profit then of £6,501.
The Betfair short went very well - but with stabalisation in progress I noticed buying coming in (stabalisation is allowed in new issues to stabilise the price) so I exited my short at 1362 to bank a profit of £740. The brilliant thing about the stabilisation is I reckon they will try and get the price back up to 1500 at which point I will short again and hope to collect another 100 odd points!
That's a total profit banked for the site today of £8,378. Great one!
The portfolio continues to boom!
Recent top up Devro proved good timing as it's already climbed 10% since I bought! So that's one star! Another has to be New Brit (nbpo) which continues to rise yet again Already in profit by over £6,000 with the current positions - looks to be heading up to a tenner.
Entertainment One holds onto its big gains very well. The Times ran a story about a potential bid at 130. I always take bid rumours with a large pinch of salt but can't imagine Entertainment taking such a low bid - its library alone is worth 250 million dollars.
Gamble Orosur Mining is another star up very well this week. Carclo consolidates its big recent gains.
Hikma came back a bit after the big rise on the acquisition news - been a nice one so far and the rise looks set to continue. Heritage has been going very well today.
The Vitec Group holds nicely over 500 after succumbing to just a spot of profit taking, I stick in there.
Aggreko is down but looks like profit taking after a good ride as the statement was cracking - I shall carry on holding - still up 400 points and may top up if it weakens any more.
Xaar goes back up again and I'm entitled to some new shares at 170.. The recent sell and buy back in Zotefoams has worked out nicely so far.
Davis Services Group short is now making good progress and drifts down for me - any move under 400 could see a move down to 380 quickly, it's weighed down with big debt. It also had a an investors day for institutions but interesting that it didn't prompt any buying.
And the Ocado short still delivers!
Cineworld consolidates nicely after its Toy Story 3 inspired gains. Yule Catto has motored this week and glad I held on!
My lovely long-term winner BTG Group is rising very nicely and now I'm up more than 100 points on the first buy, looks set to be a doubler if it goes up a bit more. Up yet again today.
E2V produced a very powerful ahead of statement and once profit takers are out of the way I hope for this one to power on and upwards through 100p. However for now 100p looks a barrier however there seem to be some buyers around so a push through 100 looks possible quite soon. It might need some patience.
Porvair has seen some nice buying, might pick up a few more now on any weakness - good profits building.
Xp Power consolidates its recent big gains I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago and it's now around a tenner with a profit of £13,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time!
Microgen produced another excellent statement and it's risen yet more and it continues to look exciting and having doubled now hoping for the treble and it doesn't look far off - if as I suspect it will carry on being re rated as a tech stock it should head up to at least 120.
IG has risen nicely recently.
.Lovely Petrofac has surged again after a bullish broker note and now consolidates over 1500! Together with spinoff Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £25,000. Of course it's volatile but a strong uptrend remains intact.
Spirent has doubled for me and there recent top up is in profit. It goes higher and trying for 150.
Still waiting on Nestor news. It seems to be taking ages, I guess there must be some very long meetings but would imagine a statement either way must be imminent. The AA has raised its bid for Nestor to 100p - My profits currently are well over £20,000. Worth holding to see what happens.
Mulberry continues to rocket after results with the spreadbet up nearly £5,000 now - indeed it has doubled and with Mrs NT and friends continuing to buy their handbags and boots there I continue to hold! So thanks again for this one to Mrs NT for Mulberry bags and boots appearing at home was a big buy signal and B) - thanks to the ladies for agreeing Mulberry was the hot place for the ladies to be.
Fascinating times. As the FTSE gets closer to that most recent high of around 5,800 so it, and the American markets back off, afraid to go through.
The next few weeks look pretty vital: are the markets about to top out again and go down? Well, a quite easy case could be made for that. Shorts placed around 5700-5800 could pay off.
However another case could be made that every time it tries to slip down support is found. The Chinese put up interest rates, the markets didn't like that.
For now it looks a bit inconclusive and possibly the markets are about right and perhaps we might get a tight sideways move. Who knows? I don't. In the end it's best to follow it rather than try and guess.
I bought 3,000 Zotefoams (ZTF) at 134. I've noticed some buys going in here but interestingly Blackrock, which is pretty sharp has been buying up shares and now over 13%. Looks like they are in the market for more and I think this could push the shares up even further for a potential run up to 180. Looks like the market makers are short of shares because of the Blackrock buying so hopeful for a further push up - target 180 stop 120.
I bought 7,000 shares in Orosur Mining at 49 (OMI) It's not my usual kind of share but it's unusual to be able to put this kind of small mining share into an ISA. Just a bit of a fun gamble as I have no exposure to mining in my Isas and if it doesn't work out I'll cut it fast. Target 100 stop 40. The hackneyed phrase "Not for widows and orphans" obviously applies and as I'm neither and this proves a stinker I can afford the loss. So please don't mail me to tell me this company does not comply with my usual investment rules, I know.
New Brit (NBPO) continues to rise and I bought yet more using my usual build big positions in the big winners strategy getting another 1,000 shares at 670. Target 800 stop 600. Already in profit by over £5,000 with the current positions. The palm oil price continues to rise and the share goes up well.
TT Electronics (TTG) has crossed my radar as it's on a lovely looking run and picked up a £30 spreadbet on the shares at 151. Probably a shorter-term idea this one and with the powerful move up would look to try and take profits around the 200 mark if it gets there. Target 200 stop 140.
I've taken a short (spreadbet in it to fall) in Davis Services Group (DVSG) for a tenner at 421. Two reasons: first it has run up to the 420-430 a number of times and each time fallen back so it looks like this is as far as it goes and secondly it has an enormous debt.
At best Davis Services shares look at the top of where they should be so I'd expect a pullback down to 400, then possible 350. So two targets! If it finds support at 400 I'd take the profit but if it falls through there I'd hold onto the short. If it climbs above 430 ish then I'd take a small loss as that would nix my scenario. Targets 400/350 stop 435.
I've taken part profits in Supergroup - this one has been super but looks like I was getting too greedy in expecting it to get to 1400 so fast. However I have sold only half the spreadbet at 1114 to lock in some great profits of £3,060 by closing out the last position. I continue to hold the other position while it's over a tenner - profits there still over £4,000. Eaga spreadbet went at 101 for a loss of £360 - it turned out a rubbish trade that hasn't looked convincing since I bought and was stopped out just after the chancellor mentioned Warm Front, one of its contracts and it began to fall.
Sporting Bet fell though the stop and with level 2 looking weak too, sell decision easy to make and it went at 69 for a loss of £450. However I think I'll get that back with the right timing! As usual happy to take losses of £500 or less and profits of £1,000 or more! Andor top up went at 344 for a profit of £360. I held onto that topup one for too long as it went down. However, I still hold onto the long term holding in my pension where I have still doubled and a half. I got taken out of half my Ocado short as I'd raised the stop loss on half of it and got cut out automatically as it rose at 132 for a profit of £600. However a much wider stop on the other half which I continue to hold. If it rises much more I'll probably add more of a short again as I think the recent rise is shorters taking profits rather than anything good in the business.
Right so profits minus losses of all closed trades work out at a profit locked in for the website of £3,210.
Elsewhere the nice rises continue in some, others are staying even and nothing much falling for now anyway and everything sitting in profit.
Joint star awards go this week to Yule Catto and Volex, lovely rises for both. Bid rumours seem to be swirling around Yule. Who knows it could come to nothing but little matter as the figures are good anyway and it seems to be still undervalued compared to peers. I'll carry on holding and see what happens. It went un to 275 on bid rumours but is back to 260. But still massive profits for me.
Volex has stormed right through 300 and up to 320. Profits up and over £10,000 on what one, a lovely one.
Promeathean has been relieved of yellow card status as it rises back up and sits in profit. Nice rise for Kentz today.
Entertainment One continues a nice slow march upwards. Recent spreadbet buy Hikma is going nicely already. 4imprint has a good sprint up but fell back again to support levels.
Savills short is back to where I sold after being in profit so a close eye on that one. However the Galliford short goes well.
E2V produced a very powerful ahead of statement and once profit takers are out of the way I hope for this one to power on and upwards through 100p. However for now 100p looks a barrier.
Xp Power consolidates its recent big gains I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago and it's now around a tenner with a profit of £13,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time!
Carclo looks very strong pushing up over 180. If its new technology proves a winner I would expect a big leap over 200.
Recent top up Alternative Network is beginning to move up again and looks worth at least another 40p in my view. And that's without the bid potential where I see take out as high as 300p.
Microgen continues to look exciting and having doubled now hoping for the treble and it doesn't look far off - if as I suspect it will carry on being re rated as a tech stock it should head up to at least 120.
African Aura has rocketed this week there was a bit of a shake but is on the way back and a quick star performer! Decent announcements keep coming. Photo Me continues a brilliant run - looks like it will shortly be a doubler - it's not sure currently in the 70s so it might take a while before a possible next step up. Some buying in there today.
Recent buy The Vitec Group has managed to break up a bit. Patience should pay off! Gone ex dividend so a payment coming too. Pushing 500 at the moment and looks like it might get through but proving a tough nut to crack.
Recent top up Alterian is having a good go at holding above 200 and some nice buying there.
IG has risen nicely recently.. Devro has come back a bit, not sure why but I remain a holder.
.Lovely Petrofac has surged again today after a bullish broker note and now tries for 1500! Together with spinoff Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £25,000. Of course it's volatile but a strong uptrend remains intact.
Hyder climbs again after its excellent statement. - a bid still looks like it's in there for nothing!
Aggreko has shot up again this week.. Some bid rumours have been floating about in the papers but who knows? Spirent has doubled for me and there recent top up is in profit. It goes higher today after a broker upgrade.
The AA has raised its bid for Nestor to 100p - Nestor appear to be playing this very well! They now say kind of grudgingly that they will meet the AA again to discuss but 100p still undervalues the company. Looks like some good negotiating going on there - if I was going to bet on it I reckon they'll get it to 110p. Which is just fine. My profits currently are well over £20,000. Worth holding to see what happens.
Mulberry continues to rocket after results with the spreadbet up nearly £5,000 now - indeed it has doubled and with Mrs NT and friends continuing to buy their handbags and boots there I continue to hold! So thanks again for this one to Mrs NT for Mulberry bags and boots appearing at home was a big buy signal and B) - thanks to the ladies for agreeing Mulberry was the hot place for the ladies to be.
The markets were waiting for this lunchtimes figures from the US. Something thing about pay rolls in farms. Or was it bog rolls?
Don't ask me, I'm not an economist. Oooooh, what was going to happen? Well actually not that much as I write this just after it happened, the indices went down then up then down, I guess the Dow will decide it all later. Right now no-one seems to have the foggiest what to make of whatever the figures were.
A lot of traders have been caught out by shorting too early or trying too hard to guess any turn. I'm sticking in there for now, doesn't matter if I give up a bit of profit - again I'll trade what happens rather than what I can only guess might happen. For now though in the main steering clear of FTSE100 stocks because of the likely volatility,
I have treated myself to Treat (TET) getting 1,000 shares at 345 yesterday. They were really hard to get hold of. Couldn't get any online and had to use an old-fashioned thing called a "phone" to get them.
This one popped up on a screening. I thought the recent statements looked good but I thought it would stick around 325 till the results confirmed the company was now doing very well and I wasn't sure about buying.
I was wrong and yesterday it really started to motor. So I waded in and bought. I thought they looked cheap up to 400 on the last statement but there is also some caution that can this company's fortunes continue to climb? We shall see! Target 420 stop 320. The idea is a short hold till results an if results confirm good fortune I'll buy a few more or sell up.
Heritage Oil (HOIL) has been a brilliant buy - held all the way from 175 and got a 100p special dividend (which means the current price would be 100p more without).
I've been thinking of topping up on this future giant and it's been moving nicely the last couple of days so got a few on the spreads for a change, £15 at 325. Target 450, stop 300. It's moving up again today and for now seems little that might stop it from heading up to the 400 area initially although possibly 350 might be a barrier for a bit. I now know the reason for the rising price has been reported as positive drilling report on the way. Well that's what the papers say anyway.
However my timescale remains long-term on it so would expect to hold the spreadbet into next year and the longer-term hold too which was bought at 175.
Loads of huge profits still sitting there and it's a question of when to take them really.
Not really any statements to discuss... Afren completed its recent acquision which the market appears to like.
Oh hang on there is one! Mulberry produced some amazing results - well ahead of forecasts and amazingly since it came up it has nearly doubled making me a profit of near £3,000. The results caused the shares to surge nearly 20%!
So thanks for this one to - A) Mrs NT. Mulberry bags and boots appearing at home was a big buy signal and B) - thanks to the ladies for agreeing Mulberry was the hot place for the ladies to be.
Thank you girls! I am tempted to bank the profit but the figures look so good, I'll keep them. Go BAGS Go BOOTS! And even better, the Mulberry website is still on the recent history of Mrs NT's computer so good news!
The AA has raised its bid for Nestor to 100p - Nestor appear to be playing this very well! They now say kind of grudgingly that they will meet the AA again to discuss but 100p still undervalues the company. Looks like some good negotiating going on there - if I was going to bet on it I reckon they'll get it to 110p. Which is just fine. My profits currently are well over £20,000. Worth holding to see what happens.
Recent buys 4imprint and New India both go well. So do the shorts in Galliford, Savills and Ocado.
I wait to see if I bought Cape on a high or whether it'll keep going. If it's wrong entry I can get out with a small loss if needed.
Carclo seems to find it hard to put out, shall we say, enthusiastic statements! Its short update this week for this company was positively glowing! It's rising nicely now as perhaps the market starts to see the big potential here. I expect to see this one rocket later this year or early next. One of those undiscovered gems.
Xaar consolidates its recent big gains I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago and it's now over a tenner with a profit of £13,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time!
In the same sector Volex has powered over 300 - a cracker too! Profits up and over £10,000 on what one, a lovely one. Today it tries to see if it can stay above 300p. Currently trying hard!
Recent top up Alternative Network is worth at least another 40p in my view. And that's without the bid potential where I see take out as high as 300p.
Supergroup has just about doubled since I first bought - it's coming back now - hard one to decide on because of the spread.
Microgen continues to look exciting and having doubled now hoping for the treble and it doesn't look far off - if as I suspect it will carry on being re rated as a tech stock it should head up to at least 120.
African Aura has rocketed in the last couple of days as well - indeed up had a bit of a shake but is on the way back and a quick star performer! Andor say they are ahead of expectations which is good news. The share price should continue back up as it looks like profit takers are nearly done. The Ocado short is delivering bigtime!
Photo Me continues a brilliant run - looks like it will shortly be a doubler - it's not sure currently in the 70s so it might take a while before a possible next step up. Sporting Bet has come back a touch but the idea is a longer-term play there, it should grow on acquisitions or get snapped up itself.
Recent buy The Vitec Group has managed to break up a bit. Patience should pay off! Gone ex dividend so a payment coming too. Pushing 500 at the moment and looks like it might get through
Recent top up Alterian is having a good go at holding above 200 and some nice buying there. Promethean gets a yellow card though as it's flirting around a stop loss. A tight one though so it's getting a bit of leeway before the red card comes out.
Ig keeps on rising. And Devro seems to be starting a new run up it got through 250 and now having a crack at 260. What a brilliant one this has been..
Dialight's amazing run continues and it seems to have conquered the 400 at last, closing above there a couple of times. Can it stay above 450 now? Shame about the wide spread though.
Lovely Petrofac has surged again heading for over 1400 and together with Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £20,000. Of course it's volatile but a strong uptrend remains intact.
Hyder climbs again after its excellent statement. - a bid still looks like it's in there for nothing!
Aggreko has seen a massive rise and it gets further bought every time it weakens - made a big amount here in a short time but I'm intending to stay with it. Some bid rumours have been floating about in the paper s but who knows? Spirent has doubled for me and there recent top up is in profit. It goes higher today.
How can I say this without sounding rude? Well, ok the markets seem to be, erm, coming to a bit of a climax.
(which reminds me of yesterday afternoon). Ahem, anyway... what I mean is the big rises of the last few days have pushed up the FTSE to where it got to on its previous recent high. This is either good news or bad.
It could now start to sink again making a double top, or if it pushes through we could even have a very nice end to the year. The market likes Quantitive Easing. However I do feel it only delays problems that might occur in the future.
There's a jobs report coming out in the States on Friday afternoon and that might prove a tipping point. We wait with bated breath!
I bought 4imprint (FOUR) 2,500 at 214.55. I've played with this one before - looks cheap so had it on a watchlist.
I bought because it was rising all of a sudden. Little did I know at the time the reason was a director had bought 10,000 shares - that pushed up the price unknown to me but I bought ten minutes after him! Four makes promotional stuff for companies and fundamentals look good. It's risen further since I bought over 230 now. Interesting as that's trying to break previous chart resistance so a good chance of a push up to 260-280 as this should shortly register on TA screens! Target 280 stop 200.
I've added to my energy/resources related stocks with a buy of Cape (CIU) on the spreads for a tenner at 341. A very strong uptrend here and potential buyout. Target 420 stop 320. One that would tank with a falling market so a close eye on a stop.
I've also dipped into New India Trust (NII) - I bought this a week or three back in the low 200s. I didn't put it up here as I didn't fancy getting loads of emails asking about Investment Trusts and how to buy them etc.
Anyhow I bought some more, 2,000 at 262.7. In a nutshell it's like buying a number of Indian companies - if the Indian market goes up so does the trust. More about Trusts are in my book!! Target 330 stop 230.
I think the property market is heading for a fall so I'm going to start shorting property companies - my starter for ten is Galliford Try. (GFRD) Good company actually but I think it'll get hit with a lot of other property shares. I've shorted for £15 at 330. Target 250 stop 350.
Well when I say starter I already shorted Savils a couple of weeks ago.
With these property shorts I intend to come out for small losses if my timing is terribly out. If it isn't and property sinks this winter/next year I'll scale in for more shorts.
Sometimes you buy what you think is a cheap company. But it doesn't move. For ages. And ages. Then eventually you think "sod it" and sell it. Inevitably it gets bid for the next day!
So expect a big rise for Creston shortly! I sold it even though it looks cheap. But it doesn't move and I needed the cash and it seemed the obvious one to let go for now and sold at 88 for a profit of £155. Better to use the money for the so many stocks out there moving higher. This one doesn't want to join the party
I've taken profits on Micro Focus at 373 - that's a profit of £880. I sold after a share in the same sector warned this morning - sentiment began to turn negative for the sector so.. I quit!
The buy of Morgan Sindall proved disappointing - my original reason for buying (bought contracts from Connaught) hasn't really worked out so it's gone for a loss of £220. It's a good company but seems pointless to hold a dull market in a good market.
The portfolio is booming and I can't remember a time ever when I was making so much money so quickly. And when you write statements like that it's probably time to think about selling!
Some very good statements from some of my companies.
A good statement from recent buy Sportingbet - excellent figures and it had a very good world cup - with the litigation issue settled I might hold till what I think will be an inevitable bid..
Carclo seems to find it hard to put out, shall we say, enthusiastic statements! Its short update this week for this company was positively glowing! It's rising nicely now as perhaps the market starts to see the big potential here. I expect to see this one rocket later this year or early next. One of those undiscovered gems.
Talking of gems what can I say about the statement from Xaar ! A real cracker. I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago and it's now over a tenner with a profit of £13,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time!
In the same sector Volex has powered over 300 - a cracker too! Profits up and over £10,000 on what one, a lovely one.
Recent top up Alternative Network reported very positively today - cash looks good as does the business, shame it's under the radar, worth at least another 40p in my view. And that's without the bid potential where I see take out as high as 300p.
Recent top up Afren already rises strongly. Still waiting developments at Nestor! The share has gone through the bid price of 90 - My profits currently are well over £20,000. In particular the spreadbet has made a fortune! It'll be fascinating to see how it plays out and whether there it a new bidder, or the bid falls flat. Doesn't matter too much as the shares are worth at least 80p even without the bid.
Microgen continues to look exciting and having doubled now hoping for the treble and it doesn't look far off - if as I suspect it will carry on being re rated as a tech stock it should head up to at least 120.
African Aura had a bit of a shake but is on the way back and a quick star performer! Andor say they are ahead of expectations which is good news. The share price should continue back up as it looks like profit takers are nearly done. The Ocado short is delivering bigtime!
Photo Me continues a brilliant run - looks like it will shortly be a doubler - no sign of it stopping.
Recent buy The Vitec Group has managed to break up a bit. Patience should pay off! Gone ex dividend so a payment coming too. Pushing 500 at the moment and looks like it might get through
Recent top up Alterian is having a good go at holding above 200 and some nice buying there. .
super Yule Catto continues to rise, 250 could be on the cards. IG appears to be starting a new strong run up.
And Devro seems to be starting a new run up it got through 250 and now having a crack at 260. What a brilliant one this has been..
Dialight's amazing run continues and it seems to have conquered the 400 at last, closing above there a couple of times. Can it stay above 450 now? Shame about the wide spread though. Mulberry continues its good run and now battles with 400 leaving me nearly 150 points up! .
Lovely Petrofac has surged again heading for over 1400 and together with Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £20,000. Of course it's volatile but a strong uptrend remains intact.
Hyder climbs again after its excellent statement. - a bid still looks like it's in there for nothing!
Aggreko has seen a massive rise and it gets further bought every time it weakens - made a big amount here in a short time but I'm intending to stay with it. Some bid rumours have been floating about in the paper s but who knows? Spirent has doubled for me and there recent top up is in profit. It goes higher today.
So all is good. But can this rise last and would it be sensible to start banking profits?
** No update this Friday. Back again as usual with next Wednesday**
Well, markets continue to do well. However there is something to be said for the cliche sell when everyone is buying and buy when everyone is selling.
So with massive profits sitting there, my finger is getting closer to pressing some take profits buttons.
We're heading for an interesting period where the FTSE ran out of steam before. Can it get through? Are we due pullback? Don't ask me - ask one of the pinstriped experts who will tell you for sure (!)
I bought some Eaga (EAGA) - a spreadbet for £30 at 113p. Looked way oversold, fundamentals look great and there's plenty of cash. Looks like it was fears over Government cutbacks on its Warm Front Green initiatives. Apparently these won't be axed. Target 140 stop 100.
Another buy was African Aura (AAAM) 3,000 bought at 95.5. I bought live there as level 2 looked extremely strong - this buy has worked out nicely with the shares now hitting 107p. A decent update on Tuesday helped. Sadly I sold this at the wrong time recently and also missed ten points of the rise but that's the way it goes. Target 150 stop 80.
The update was interesting and shows how much African Aura shares could gain over the coming months. Management seem very upbeat about its prospects - they reckon to be developing a significant Iron Ore prospect and with Iron Ore in demand too, this could all be good for the share price. It's just one of those shares that has potential doubler written on it. Of course because of that there is risk too.
Porvair (PRV) continues to look good and topped up again with 5,000 shares at 72.9. Nice trading statement, good prospects and a bid target to boot. Anyone for 100p? Target 100 stop 63. Well in profit on the shares bought here over the last year and I hope to get my ultimate reward of a bid to bank something like 10k.
Those of you get the SIPP email know Andor (AND) has proved an excellent buy more than doubling for me - level 2 looked hot as it moved higher and I nabbed £10 on the spreads at 332 . Lovely company this and hope it can make me some money on the spreads like it already has in my pension. Target 450 stop 300. Apparently Jim Slater has bought a wedge of Andor which can only be a good thing!
I also shorted Savills (SVS) for a tenner at 315. It's possible property might get hit this autumn so looking around early for some potential shorts in that area. Target 250 stop 325.
The portfolio continues its thrilling ride northwards.Things remain good with mighty profits of over £150,000 sitting there.
Recent top up Alternative Network (AN.) goes very well. Next target has to be the 200 area, any move through there and it looks bullish. Really just holding for a bid.
Another patient hold Carclo continues to move highter has moved much higher today which looks off the back of some large buyers - I think this one again is unregarded by the market but if its new technology takes off has the potential to double. Happy to sit and hold and wait for the good times to roll.
Talking of patient holds doubler Microgen has started to move nicely up again - bought on March 09 it's done nothing but slowly move up!
Photo Me has had a brilliant run. It needs another push to get up above 70p though. Trifast released a bullish update, should start to go higher but shame about the silly spread.
Supergroup has absolutely bolted up and amazingly reached the new 1300 target already. With it going so well I'm looking at 1500 now though pretty sure profits will be taken there! 1300 will probably take a bit of cracking though, it's not sure today at back at 1225 after rival Asos got a downgrade. So despite being many many thousands up here going to be greedy for a bit more! Maybe it will be my undoing...
Recent buy The Vitec Group has managed to break up a bit. Patience should pay off! Gone ex dividend today so a payment coming too.
Recent top up Alterian needs a good few goes to get through 200 but any more above there would be bullish.
Micro Focus continues to recover nicely, super Yule Catto continues to rise, 250 could be on the cards.
Volex has sparked up yet again this week and has gone from 230 to 275 fast. Doubled on this one now and still holding. 300 looks the next target. Can it...?
Devro seems to be starting a new run up it got through 250 and now having a crack at 260. What a brilliant one this has been..
Dialight's amazing run continues and it seems to have conquered the 400 at last, closing above there a couple of times. if it can consolidate 500 appears to be a possible. Mulberry continues its good run and now battles with 400 leaving me nearly 150 points up! .
XP Power has zoomed up even higher and now past 800!! I'm still holding onto the original buy at 150! Shows sometimes it really is worth being patient. Touching 900 now.
Lovely Petrofac has surged again heading for nearly 1400 and together with Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £20,000. Of course it's volatile but a strong uptrend remains intact.
A potential bid for Hyder still looks like it's in there for nothing! It can't get through 350 but a bid could easily see 500. The Ocado short goes well.
Aggreko has seen a massive rise and it gets further bought every time it weakens - made a big amount here in a short time but I'm intending to stay with it. Some bid rumours have been floating about in the paper s but who knows? Spirent has doubled for me and there recent top up is in profit.
A bit of luck the markets were strong while I was away! I had no net access at the Devon cottage so went into the hotel twice a day with the laptop! However there were no major things to worry about!
While the market looks strong, the higher it goes of course the bigger the chance of a nasty pullback so while profits are still rocketing I need to be a little cautious with what I buy at these higher levels. There are some encouraging economic stats out and about but September can be a horrid month with grumpy traders back in front of their screens after a month of sand and sangria.
Promethean World (PRW) has been one of the worst IPOs this year slumping badly ever since admission. However at the current price it looks too much of a bargain so I snapped some up, 3,000 at 118 with a medium term view and a target of 150. Stop 110. I think the market has got this one wrong and is scared of schools not being able to spend in the UK. But the UK is not its market! The USA is a massive market with very few schools over there having access to interactive whiteboards and other tools. I have the feeling this could be a nice winner with a return to the issue price of 180 a possible.
I topped up with some more Alterian (ALN). I bought another 2,000 at 178.9 even though I still hold onto some I bought at 50p where I have more than trebled. A peer in the US got bid for and I think it's a matter of time before it's taken out in the 250-300 area. So I hold medium-term for hopefully that event! Target 250 stop 150.
Micro Focus (MCRO) looks a good recovery play - this one got slaughtered recently but it's on the way back. A new head cheese is in place too. Bought this on a spreadbet for £20 at 329. target 400 stop 315.
Finally I picked up another load of Yule Catto (YULE). I thought it was way undervalued when I bought at 195 and they still look undervalued at 230! This time with the ISAs pretty fully invested I went for an extra spreadbet with £20 at 229 with a raised target of 270. Stop is 210.
Onto some sells.
I sold PV Crystalox at 59 for a profit of £425 - its report didn't quite convince. However could be interesting after a recent pullback soon.
Latchways has bored me into submission so sold with a yawn at 705 for a massive profit of £34. But I did get a dividend on it as well. The short in Chemring was doing well but it started to climb strongly so I exited at 2690 for a profit of £170.
So the portfolio has done rather nicely while I've been away without me having to do a thing and there have been a number of decent dividend payments too.
Massive profits remain on paper with something like profits of £100,000
Creston is creeping up nicely and continues to look undervalued. Photo Me has rushed up to the mid 50s. The Ocado short is doing ok. It released a statement which didn't go down well. Revenue is up but show me the profit!
IG Group has surged higher while I've been on holiday and continues to look good. It's also gone ex dividend for a nice payout. Actually quite a lot of dividends have been paid out including the special one of 100p from Heritage.
The bid for Spice has been raised and looks like it'll go through at 70p to make it a nice double my money and a bit! Sitting for the moment just in case of any further bids.
Devro has been doing really well - a lovely profit on that now and the strong uptrend remains in place. 240 currently proving a bit of a sticking point though.
Dialight's been very strong though not surprisingly pausing around the 400 level for now. JP Morgan has snapped up a huge load of shares. . I'm up more than £10,000 here. If it can break 400 that would be extremely bullish. No harm in it at least consolidating the recent massive rises. However 400 may remain a barrier till another update perhaps.
Gold play African Barrick is going well and has nearly hit the target! And the HMV bet is going well, very nicely higher today!
Little gamble Trifast remains steadily higher.
Volex has boomed after its update and despite nearly doubling now I'm holding tight!! I'm having a great run with Mulberry and the good news is the Mrs NT signal is still green as once again she's been looking up Mulberry bags on the internet! They've also appointed a new director who looks good.
Telecom Plus is heading up to its all time high near 400 but this time there shouldn't be much to let it slip.
Enormous profits here - in real life with options I got I have profits of something like £120,000 - if you include the huge dividends including something like £6,000 on the way this month it's been an amazing investment. It is tempting to take profits but there looks like more to come. Obviously many would be tempted to take profits around here but this long-termer looks like it could stop here for a bit and then get another re-rating.
XP Power has zoomed up even higher and now past 800!! I'm still holding onto the original buy at 150! Shows sometimes it really is worth being patient. Touching 850 now.
Lovely Petrofac has surged again heading for nearly 1400 and together with Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £20,000. Of course it's volatile but a strong uptrend remains intact.
A potential bid for Hyder still looks like it's in there for nothing! It can't get through 350 but a bid could easily see 500.
The Nestor Heathcare bid story hasn't worked its way through yet. As I write the market continues to think there won't be any rival bidders or a higher bid than 90p. However I haven't taken profits because even if the bid is called off the shares are worth 80p anyway and in the end a bid will come, and as it could easily be higher than 90p I'm sticking with it for however long it takes. I wouldn't be surprised if AA/Saga come back in with a higher offer.
Aggreko has seen a massive rise and it gets further bought every time it weakens - made a big amount here in a short time but I'm intending to stay with it. Some bid rumours have been floating about in the paper s but who knows? It's going higher today.
No real disappointments and nothing on a yellow card which is rather nice.
So, extremely pleased with progress.. it's anyone guess now what happens. Double dip or no double dip? Get set for the game to commence...
Some uncertainty creeping in after some very decent risers with not surprisingly many deciding it's not a bad time to take some profit off the table.
The glum Bank Of England boss who looks like the panicking Jones off Dads Army is as downbeat as ever and some figures from the US aren't that great so some profits being taken.
As I said last time my current policy and what I've been doing for a while is to clear out shares that haven't performed during the upsurge while in the main hanging onto the good performers..more on that in a mo.
I came across a stock I've never had much time for - HMV. I've always thought it was on the ropes and no-one bought stuff from them anymore. But I had a run through the figures and actually they're doing ok and what's more management has a pretty good plan to turn it around. I got £100 a point on the spreads at 54p. The reason I got the price some way below the current market price is that I bought a December spread - the price already incorporates the massive dividend that's about to be paid out. The share itself will drop substantially when it goes ex-dividend and that's why the spread firm quoted such a low price. Target (Dec spread price 68 stop 48 (Dec spread price post dividend).
Cineworld (CINE) has been producing good figures - the cinema chain goes well and film attendance looks good - it can be risky buying a share around a whole number but I'll take the chance and bought 2,000 shares at 201.9. Target 230 stop 180. The current buying around 200p looks good and I often find shares which push up through 100 or 200 often put on 30p quickly (such as Devro recently).
I've added a small gamble - this one not a widows and orphans candidate, but fun for naked traders... indeed it's got a wide spread and I'd usually avoid something like this but it's produced a decent recovery statement and on that I've taken a risk and bought a small amount, 10,000 of engineer Trifast (TRI) at 34.34.
TRI had a disastrous time in the recession but looks to be recovering fast, - this week's statement was confident - and if that recovery continues the shares could get rerated. Target 43 stop 28. Often with shares like this a re-rating can take place in a couple of days.
It's great when a bid story works out - I've been buying Nestor on its bid prospects since 30 and at last bid action has started with the AA/Saga bidding 90p today. Lucky for me I got a final lot of 6,000 at an average 73.5. I've been rewarded by adding to these regularly with paper profits now of more than £20,000.
However, the company has rightly rejected the 90p offer. This is way too low and this could start a bidding war or alternatively the offer should be raised. One suspects they will try 100p next but in all fairness somewhere between 115 and 130 is about right. Especially if rival bidders emerge.
And for that reason, as they say on Dragons Den, I remain in! Of course there is a risk no bid happens but the shares are still fairly valued without them up to 100 anyhow!
I've shorted Ocado (OCD) for £30 at 159. Target 100 stop 175. The only reason it isn't lower is that the price is being stabalised during its first weeks on the market. I really think it's only worth 100 for now. And so, for that reason, I'm short. I don't actually think it will go below 150 while stabilisation is in place but once that's gone. the shares I think will be delivered to their rightful place much lower. It's a shame because I love the company and we use it and it's brilliant. I just think the valuation is too high in its current form.
I've had a big clearout over the last couple of weeks and sold anything that hadn't been going up in the up market - as I remarked before - if they don't go up in a strong market it's not a good signal. Indeed often it's a warning signal that something isn't right.
I took yet another loss on Essar which kept falling again - really I played this so badly - the downward pressure on the shares just carried on - I was out at 433.5 at a loss of £111. I do like the story here but it looked pointless arguing with the market on it. As that's the third loss on this I'm a bit wary of a four timer!
Mouchel kept falling so I sold that at 115.4 and the spreadbet at 115 for a total profit of £1,570. I was in for a bid but sellers keep taking it down so it seemed reasonable to bank. It also wasn't heading higher in the strong market.
Micro was yet another sold as it wasn't going up in the up market, sold at 421.9 for a profit of £132. A stroke of luck there as the reason it wasn't going up is now obvious as a poor statement drove the shares down and I would have lost £700 instead on the opening price today if I'd kept it. Might be worth keeing an eye on for a bounce when the selloff is done. Another not rising with the market was Fresnillo which was also sold and went at 1071 for a profit of £570.
I sold another that wasn't rising - Norcros at 10.57 to bank a profit of £1.710. And Afren has gone at 96 for a profit of £575. Again, not really rising after a strong run and it's petered out at around this price many times.
That's a total profit banked for the site of £4,446.
Some very nice big upmoves in a number of shares.
Yule Catto has climbed nicely since I bought - companies in its sector have been reporting some good figures and it looks undervalued and is on a nice run higher. It's hit 220 now.
Devro has been doing really well - a lovely profit on that now and the strong uprtrend remains in place.
Dialight's been very strong though not surprisingly pausing around the 400 level for now. JP Morgan has snapped up a huge load of shares. . I'm up more than £10,000 here.
Volex has boomed after its update and despite nearly doubling now I'm holding tight!! I'm having a great run with Mulberry and the good news is the Mrs NT signal is still green as once again she's been looking up Mulberry bags on the internet!
Telecom Plus is heading up to its all time high near 400 but this time there shouldn't be much to let it slip.
Enormous profits here - in real life with options I got I have profits of something like £120,000 - if you include the huge dividends including something like £6,000 on the way this month it's been an amazing investment. It is tempting to take profits but there looks like more to come.
XP Power has zoomed up past 700! I'm still holding onto the original buy at 150! Shows sometimes it really is worth being patient.
Pace produced a decent report and acquisition and has shot up giving me a very decent profit... I wondered about taking profits but I think there may be more there yet.
Lovely Petrofac has surged again heading for nearly 1300 and together with Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £20,000. Enquest has bought up another company and has had a very decent rise
Hyder produced a very strong statement and a potential bid looks like it's in there for nothing! It can't get through 350 but a bid could easily see 500.
Aggreko has seen a massive rise and it gets further bought every time it weakens - made a big amount here in a short time but I'm intending to stay with it during any dips like the last couple of days. Although Loq isn't moving much I'm staying with it for the potential of its new products.
Long-term core hold New Brit is having a good run and another long-termer Heritage looks like it's down a lot but in fact it's paid out a massive 100p dividend today. PV Crystalox has shone recently and good profits building there now.
Interesting! The dips keep getting bought and it continues to be an excellent couple of weeks for both traders and investors. Except perhaps for those heavily into gold.
I notice chemical companies are going well so I went for the cheapest one I could find which is Yule Catto (YULC) getting 2,000 shares on Monday at 195.5 plus a £20 spreadbet at the same price.
Some really good figures coming from Yule Catto which makes chemicals which are used in many of the things we use at work and home. A nice surge through 200 should see 230 but I'm after 250 within a couple of months. Target 250 stop 177.
I noticed Mouchel Parkman (MCHL) has fallen to under 100 and I couldn't resist that - especially given the share has already been a bid target so I picked up £30 on a spreadbet at 93 and 5,000 in real shares at 97.2. This proved an excellent buy as the share has already gone back up over 100. Target 160 stop 90.
I've also bought some Creston (CRE) - in fact looking at the trades I was the ONLY buyer before results getting 5,000 at 85.1. Results showed the company is now cash positive after making £28m on a sale. This makes it look extremely cheap now and with the debt gone makes it an interesting take over target.
At its current price and with an impressive list of top clients I think if I was a rival much bigger advertising firm I'd be snapping it up Creston at this sort of price. So while the price hasn't moved much on results I intend to hold this for a while as I think value will ultimately come out and there might be some decent upside. Target 140 stop 80.
I sold off two shares that I've been holding for some time!
I hadn't intended on selling PZ Cussons...I've held for a long time and indeed I was expecting to hold for another couple of years. But I sold because although results were excellent for right now after a massive rise of 100 points in just a few weeks the price looks up with events and so I'm banking profits, hoping to buy back again a little lower at some point.
I sold at 354.5 and 354 banking a lovely profit of £4,804 on the share positions and spreadbet. It's been a truly fabulous trade and it won't be long before I'm back in.
I also sold my SDL 548 for a profit of £1,341 and the spreadbet at the same time at just under 547 for a profit of £3,960 to make a total profit of £5,301.
My reason is results are due and looking at it again it made an acquistion which won't benefit profits for quite a while, so as with PZ, I think shares are up with events and again I look to buy back a bit lower later this year.
Of course this is just my view and the market might disagree in which case I've sold off two decent shares too early. Still, very decent profits banked in both, indeed profits on both amount to a total of £10,105.
And sometimes, it is nice to get a big profit in the bank!
Good news abound around the portfolio.. where to start with plenty of my companies reporting!!
Pace produced a decent report and acquisition and has shot up giving me a very decent profit... I wondered about taking profits but I think there may be more there yet.
Volex produced another very decent update - a nice profit and that statement means I'm holding tight!!
Dialight's results were top notch.. excellent growth here justifying a more than double in price since I bought with huge profits building there now. And directors think there is more upside with some good buying yesterday. I've lifted the target here to 500 which I think it can get to based on current trading.
Long-termer Microgen produced another brilliant report - doubled on these after buying them last year. It has tons of cash and will be returning some - really well done to this company.
African Aura too produced a decent and promising update but it seems to move very slowly, patience required I guess.
Star performer for this update goes to BTG Group - a fantastic lift over 200 - and great profits - this is one I won't be letting go of just yet!
Supergroup couldn't manage to get through 1000 after doubling but it's likely to have another go but what a terrible spread! Recent buy Mulberry has zoomed over 300 but couldn't quite hold there. Waiting for another attempt.
Nestor Healthcare is trying to crack zoomed up to 70 though it can't quite crack that yet - lovely performer this one now has profits of more than £13,000. Must be something good coming here judged from the trading. And there is already bid activity in the sector.
Devro hit 225 but slipped back from there but just a matter of patience for a ride up to 250 I think
IG Group reported brilliant results - seems to be growing in all areas - I was tempted to take profits but there looks to be more upside. It's growing nicely outside the UK.
Spice sits nicely higher after it rejected yet another bid this time at a higher price of the mid 60s. I reckon Spice topbrass are holding out for 75p a share which would suit me just fine!
Essar remains one I seem to struggle with, but I'll give it a bit more time just in case.
Lovely Petrofac has surged again heading for nearly 1300 and together with Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £20,000.
What can I say about XP Power except wish I hadn't taken profits along the way.... now nearly a four timer with massive profits.
Alternative Networks consolidates well after its recent rises. Micro Focus has slipped a bit - bit of a yellow card on that one for now.
Hyder produced a very strong statement and a potential bid looks like it's in there for nothing! It can't get through 350 but a bid could easily see 500.
Aggreko has seen a massive rise and it gets further bought every time it weakens - made a big amount here in a short time but I'm intending to stay with it during any dips like the last couple of days.
So again good progress with little work for me to do. I wonder whether perhaps this could be a nice quiet summer?
Wow. I really never expected such a powerful upmove!
However of course I'm very happy about it and the last week has been incredible with some huge gains across the board.
The only problem is after such a big move there has got to be some profit taking so one imagines a pullback here but could it be followed by more upside? if only I knew! I currently am sitting on about £4,500 in profits on FTSE upbets - right now despite today's pullback still sticking with them.
With such a powerful upmove I tend to simply hold onto the good stuff but get rid of anything that didn't move or went down - ie I prefer to take small losses on the non performers than bank the giant profits in the goodies.
After the decent Fresnillo (FRES) profit I bought back in with a spreadbet (or two) getting a fiver on at 1013 and another at 1015. Bid rumours are persistent on this one so it's nice to be in. It's trying to crack 1100. Of course if can move 50-60 points in one hit so it remains dangerous. Target 1200 stop 990.
I bought a few Mulberry (MUL) on the spreads as it's aim for £15 at 252. This came up late - one of the ladies told me Mulberry was hot right now and its bags are in big demand. And what do you know? The Mrs has one and apparently she and friends lust after these high margin bags! Worth a go! Target 350 stop: whenever the Mrs sells the bag and moves onto a different label.
As I said I looked to get rid of anything going down in the up market so Mouchel went at 129-50 for a loss of £40 and Essar at 448.75 for a breakeven. Both were falling while the market rocketed which was a good clue to exit for now. However both have potential so I'll watch. Wee gamble Vislink produced a statement which I can't describe in words on a family website and it went at 18.3 for a loss of £370.
London produced a decent statement but it didn't stop the seller in there I talked about before coming back in strongly so I gave up for now and it went at 130.25 and 125.25 for near breakeven. They look very undervalued now and expect to be back in when seller clears. The Ite short never looked like paying off and that was exited at 142 for a loss of £60. I closed one of the Afren spreadbets at 85 for a profit of £100 leaving the other as though support is there in the low 80s it looks unconvincing at the moment and didn't take part in the up move.
I banked one of the Supergroup spreadbets at 805 to bank a profit of £1,330 leaving the other open - just seemed an idea to bank some of the good profits before results as they're really roared. If they fall on results then at least I've banked some good profits, if they go up I still have a bet live!
That's a total profit (minus the losses) for the site of £960.
There are so many star performers this week it's hard to give the top award. However I suppose just about squeaking it is Devro which has risen very strongly - it simply looks like it continues to get a re rating. It's risen to 220p area very nicely and would hope for a consolidation here.
Nestor Healthcare probably gets the next star award for a lovely jump over 60p - this one now has profits of more than £12,000. Must be something good coming here judged from the trading.
Telecom Plus put out a very confident statement today, all appears to be going very nicely there - and it also went ex dividend for a massive 14p which means in a month I'll get a whopping dividend cheque of over £5,000. Better than having the money in the bank? I think so! Looks like a continued great hold for a whacking dividend and further capital increase. Massive paper profits here of over £20,000.
Spice sits nicely higher after it rejected yet another bid this time at a higher price of the mid 60s. I reckon Spice topbrass are holding out for 75p a share which would suit me just fine!
Lovely Petrofac has surged again and together with Enquest sees me sitting on profits way in excess of £20,000. Volex has nearly doubled for me and goes well.
What can I say about XP Power except wish I hadn't taken profits along the way.... now nearly a four timer with massive profits.
IG Group has been a fab trade and up strongly this week - volatility working well there.
Top up PZ Cussons still goes strong, consolidating its brilliant run and has now hit nearly 350. Been superb and keeps climbing ignoring whatever the FTSE is doing. Been a magic trade - it is tempting to bank profits but there seems little holding it back for now.
Alternative Networks consolidates well after its recent rises.Micro Focus is doing nicely but can it get through the sticky 450 area?
Hyder produced a very strong statement and a potential bid looks like it's in there for nothing!
BCG Group also said things were going well and shares have responded. 200p is the price to beat.
Aggreko has seen a massive rise and it gets further bought every time it weakens - made a big amount here in a short time but I'm intending to stay with it during any dips.
Dialight has soared over 300 and looks strong after a statement which looked good. I've doubled on these now and more and wonder if 400p is achievable.
SDL has hit 500 again handing me big profits - I can't decide whether to take them ahead of results in August.
Markets remain extremely nervous. The worry is about the double dip. I think it should be noted the market is about half way between where it topped out recently and where it bottomed when we had the bank crisis.
Which is probably about fair. But then we have fear which could kick it down a lot further than is really fair.
Every set of stats coming out of the US is poured over to decide where we are going.
Today's non job farm manure tractor pay roll double skinny latte stats seemed to go down ok and markets are rebounding as I write but can they keep up any bounce? Especially as US shares are closed on Monday? How the hell should I know? Ask one of those important-looking people in suits on BloomCNBberg.
Given the best time to buy shares is when investors have sold everything and run for the hills, I now have some cash ready and waiting for any super dupa dip.
I'm eyeing up Mouchel (MCHL) as a new potential bid candidate and bought some today - 2,500 at 130.7 - I also have an order on the book for 2,000 at 128.75 which I might only get if the market tanks this afternoon.
On the fundamentals it's not one I would normally go for as debt levels are a bit high than usual for me and the chart looks horrible. However. there is a lot of bid activity around and at this kind of level it wouldn't be a surprise to wake up one morning and see a bid for this at the 200 area.
As I'm cautious about it otherwise the stop is quite tight as if it kept on going down I wouldn't like to stay in. Target 200 stop 119.
I hardly ever average down as it usually means I'm just buying more of a crap share I shouldn't have bought in the first place.
However I've taken a chance with African Aura (AAAM) and topped up today buying a further 5,000 at 78.8. Target 120 stop 68.
AAAM has been hit like the rest of its sector but seems to have been overhit. The chance is taken, the bet is on. It was too tempting. My guess is those that got scared out by the fall will soon be back in.
My short-term Weir short idea worked out a treat - I looked for a quick bounce down to 1000 and got it. So it was a bit unfortunate I was out at the time and missed banking right on target. I settled for 1019 instead which is still fine for a quick one banking a profit of £390.
Talking shorts I shorted ITE for £30 at 140 - it struggles around the 140 level and looking for a drop to 125. Target 125 stop 146.
Tricky one but took profits on Centamin - mainly because it's struggling to go higher for now. I do like it so it was a close call. However it's gone at 160 for a profit of £675.
Elsewhere recent buys go very well. Alternative Networks (AN.) is going great guns and rises even when the market falls - up again today.
Devro is trying to tackle 200 and is nearly there. A close above 200 a few times would look good for more upside. Micro Focus is going great guns already and looks like a nice buy for now. Hyder goes very nicely and in excellent profit there now and very hopeful of a bid coming there.
Recent buy Supergroup is proving really Super... up more than 60p for a profit of over £1,000 already. Could easily whizz up to a tenner at which point I'm definitely out!
Looks like it could be a super summer which will help LOQ. Shares have rebounded.
BCG Group and Aggreko have fallen back a little after their major gains but still, not bad considering market falls. Dialight got hit a little by not unexpected profit taking but remain in for the longer term.
Top up PZ Cussons still goes strong, consolidating its brilliant run and has now hit nearly 340. Been superb!
Recent buy Essar has had a great day today and held up strongly in the down market too.
Volex hold well in the down market and even rises a little, still looks undervalued despite the gains this year.
It looks a volatile scene with downside bias with likely sudden upside bounces too. Not ideal for investors!
Right enough about shares here are the answers to the quiz questions:
What does this stand for? 4POAM ? Four Presidents On A Mountain!
7AOM = 7 Ages of Man
Which fast food restaurant chain launched in Ohio in 1952? A: Kentucky Fried Chicken
Which is the most dangerous job in the US with a mortality rate of a massive 9%? (Good one this!).
Oh dear - another wobbly. What was it this time? Greece, Spain or Portugal? No - China this time. Hey maybe they won't consume as much as we think.
Or maybe we were worrying too much about that? Let's worry about North Korea then. Or Iran. Or, of course, the football. But most of all, why is no-one worrying about Peckham?
It really is a stock specific market - there is still money to be made in the right stocks and strangely I am still having a good year. However that could change and I'd be an idiot if I just sat on everything and just watch them fall over losing profits. It's could be a hard summer. I've taken some profits and added more defensives.
The problem really is: Where is the good news coming from?
I've bought 1,500 shares in Devro (DVO) at 192.1 and I bought another 1,500 on Monday at 192.9.
A nice defensive against a falling market - it makes sausage casings and other meat casings. A butcher told me he was ordering more casings than ever from Devro so sausages are going well - add in some decent weather and some excellent recent statements I'm happy to be in here. Target 245 stop 158. Apparently Devro has very few rivals. Anyone fancy setting up a sausage casings company?
Another popping up on a scan was Alternative Networks (AN.). Pretty good recent interim figures from this one and I figure any number of rivals could at some point look at these for a potential buyout. The shares are gradually rising and I think there is 20% upside without a bid anyway.
I was going to buy Monday morning at 149 but then nipped into the garden from some tea and toast. When I got back they were 154 to buy! Darn it! Never mind, got 2,000 at 154. Target 190 stop 140. This one could be a nice find.
With Scott Wilson's bid price going even higher I bought a few more Hyder Consulting, (HYC) another 1,000 at 299. Once that bid game is over the bidders might turn their attention to this one or so I hope...
Finally on buys I've been eyeing up getting back into Micro Focus (MCRO) - results were ok but the CEO leaving sent the shares into a nosedive. However back at 400 they looked good value - I was hoping to get back in a bit lower than 400 however they started to bounce nicely this morning so got 1,000 at 408.7 hoping for a ride up to 450 and then maybe 480. Stop 390.
I shorted Weir for a fiver at 1097. It came up recently and on research it's done very well, just looks about 100p too high for now. The more I looked at it the more it looked like a short. Target 1000 stop 1130.
I also shorted Game (GMG). Another one to come up on a recent scan. This one looks a mess in a bad market and I'm targetting a fall to 55ish at which point it would become a decent recovery play! I shorted for £80 at 67.5. Target 55 stop 72. No-one's buying games at actual shops, say my youth correspondents. They go to Game to look at the games then order them cheaper at Amazon. That's what I'm told, I've never played one figuring I'll get hooked on them and never do anything else.
I've had a bit of a profit take.
Fresnillo has been wonderful but it reached the target and more - I stayed too greedy with it and could have taken profits at near 1100. However 999.9 will have to do which is where I sold it today for a profit of £864. Given resource stocks are under pressure it seemed sensible. I had a large spread bet on it too - got a profit of a touch over £4,000 on that one! I think at some point it could be a bid target so would expect to reenter at some point.
Gem Diamonds went at 218.18 for a profit of £41. It hit a downtrend again. And this is one I can never ever seem to get right. I topsliced a few Huntsworth after a strong run selling some at 84.31 to close the last position opened in it for a profit of £961. I hold the rest. Four produced a reasonable statement but it wasn't strong enough for more upside so closed at 223.62 for a profit of £99.
Hilton went at 236 for profit of £351. Boredom set in on that one at last. Dimension went at 99.5 - 100 seems a step too far for now and a profit of £163.
So total profits banked for the site today is £2,479.
I've got a FTSE short open and a put covered warrant in my sipp for the time being which means I can pick up some downside money while still holding onto some of the stronger longs.
Not a bad performance at all from the portfolio given the tanking market this week. Mine haven't faired badly though obviously I need to keep my eyes open but the fall action appears to be in the top stocks for now. Under the radar stocks are sitting there ok.
An excellent statement from Nestor this morning which gives a lift to the shares. I'm in profit by nearly £10,000 on these and bid prospects beckon for more. I feel I can safely hold these for some final upside and a hopeful bid. Also a good statement from Porvair today - bit under the radar that one but hoping for progress up to 100.
My last buy Supergroup is proving really Super... up more than 60p for a profit of over £1,000 already. Could easily whizz up to a tenner at which point I'm definitely out!
Looks like it could be a super summer which will help LOQ. Shares have rebounded.
Dialight's held on to most its big recent gains. BCG Group and Aggreko have fallen back a little after their major gains but still, not bad considering market falls.
Top up PZ Cussons still goes strong, consolidating its brilliant run and has now hit over 330. Been superb!
African Aura has disappointed the last couple of days falling back after hitting 100 but getting tempted to top up on the weakness. Would imagine it will bottom around here before going back up. However it has been hit the same way all the miners have. In hindsight I should have bagged some profit at 100 and now In couldn have bought back. Easy on hindsight though.
Recent buy Essar has had a great day today and held up strongly in the down market too.
London Capital is disappointing but I can't see how its next statement can't be decent with all the volatility in its favour so for that reason it remains a firm hold.
Carclo holds onto its recent good gains after its excellent statement. Entry to smallcap makes it more liquid. Centamin Egypt rises again after its upgrade to its Sukari Gold Project which went down well .
Volex hold well in the down market.
It looks a volatile scene with downside bias with likely sudden upside bounces too. Not ideal for investors.
** No update this Friday as I'll be at a seminar.. Back again as usual with next Wednesday**
Arrrggghh! I made a buy with gritted teeth if that's possible.
I was intending to buy some Supergroup during its float a few weeks ago at 500. For some reason or another I just forgot to. Even worse at a seminar I even had it on the shortlist and we looked at how it would be possible to buy some in the float.
Well, they are now nearly 700 - hence the gritted teeth. But I could resist getting a tenner on the spreads at 662.1 during admittance to the FTSE 250 which caused a price shake-out. I also got another tenner at 672.
Supergroup (SGP) is the supercool fashion retailer that sells to the likes of Posh Spice. It's still expanding and it could get up to the 1000 area. target 1000 stop 590. I set the stop very low as the spread can be crazy early on and it's to save me getting stopped out by the spreadbetters.
I've taken a gamble and nipped a small amount of a dodgy penny - Vislink (VLK) - I bought as it seemed to be stirring from the dead and at its current price I can imagine a predator. Some interesting buying caused me to get 10,000 shares at 22. Target 30 stop 18. It's gone up a little today and I also bagged a 1p dividend as it went ex dividend this morning! Complete gamble.
I hadn't intended on getting any more LOQ but couldn't resist another 1,000 at 106.5 as it turned back up - I think the weakness was Mail on Sunday punters getting scared out of it by market makers after the tip. Now they're out hopefully it'll be marked back up! Target 200 stop 90. See the archive for why I bought LOQ.
The portfolio continues to zoom up, really quite amazing.
Dialight takes centre stage for the big winner of the week! It's doubled and more since I originally bought late last year and I've topped up all the way. Some great buying since it got promotion to the small cap index and even better - Blackrock has bought a load of shares taking it over 15% and there was a 100,000 buyer at 340 today! Some massive profits here but I think there is a more upside still.
BCG Group and Aggreko share joint honours for best other recent risers Let's take an example, Aggreko, profits of nearly £3,000. It's tempting to take profits on something up nearly 300 pts but it just keeps powering on up.
Recent buys all go ok, Photo Me maintains the rise but still looking for more there. Top up PZ Cussons still goes strong, consolidating its brilliant run. Four Imprint couldn't break the 230 area. Jury out.
African Aura has disappointed the last couple of days falling back after hitting 100 but getting tempted to top up on the weakness. Would imagine it will bottom around here before going back up.
Hyder Consulting shares go well and await a hopeful bid there. Same comment with Nestor - it hit 60p and it's trying to hold there. If it can another 10-20p looks likely. I'm in profit by nearly £10,000 on these and bid prospects beckon for more. 60p a tough nut though.
.Fresnillo has been marvellous - it smashed through the 1000 barrier and now sits more than 200 pts higher than the entry price. Seems to want to maintain its rise. Next barrier is 1100 and trying to get near that today.
IG Group has soared again for very quick big profits! . Volatility should continue to make IG shares a must hold along with London Capital Group - seems to be a seller in that at 138 but once gone the shares should motor a lot higher. The rise in CGT should make spreadbetting even more of interest as it is tax free.
PV Crystalox goes very nicely now, though hard to break 60. Essar isn't doing a lot yet but plenty of potential.
Carclo holds onto its recent good gains after its excellent statement. Entry to smallcap makes it more liquid. Centamin Egypt rises again after its upgrade to its Sukari Gold Project which went down well . Kentz goes well after a decent statement.
Huntsworth continues to rise after a seller has cleared out and looks set now for a run into the 90s.
Volex sees continued good buying with more very large buyers all getting in at 160 - now up 60% plus on my original buy and now well up on the recent top up as it motors up to 200.
Petrofac sees another surge yesterday to confirm that one has trebled for me too, alongside XP Power, a trebler and Heritage,a doubler.
It's been a brilliant couple of weeks which means I ought to be really taking some profits soon!
Arrrrgghh!! I'd been lining up Photo Me (PHTM) for my big summer winner. My plan was to buy roughly 50 grands worth over the next couple of weeks in the run up to results at 30pish and sell at 40pish for a 10k profit.
The reason was the company looked in good shape and the drift down looked like boredom selling - on top of that the price has massive support at 30 and bounced off there any number of times. So how annoying for me when they released an early update saying things were ahead.
I managed to get 10,000 shares at 31.85 right at the opening and £10 on the spreads at 32 before they went up. So although it looks like I'll make a profit it isn't going to be the big one I was planning. I think they're worth 40p on that statement. Maybe I'll hold them for the longer-term now. Target 40p stop 28.
If you remember I was looking to top up in my long-termer PZ Cussons (PZC) if it went above 300 convincingly - which it did and added a further 1,000 at 303. Already in a fab profit having bought at below 250 this lovely share keeps going higher. Very strong performances in all its markets and it's risen well this week. Expect to hang onto it with the other lot for more longer-term gains. There could be another 100p of value there. Target 420 stop 290.
I saw some big trades coming into promotions company Four Imprint (FOUR) and so picked up 1,500 shares at 217. The shares appear to be rising strongly on these trades - 225-230 looks a level where if it breaks out it could go considerably higher. Recent statements have been very strong so it looks worth a try. Target 280 stop 195.
The BP punt went very well to start off with as they headed back up to 400 where I nearly took profits. Sadly I stupidly let them come down some way before grabbing the profit and ended up selling at 376.58 and 375 on the spreads for a total profit of £353. It was bit of fun for me rather than investment to small stakes and in the end found a crazy share like this is just too stressful. I hate buying into shares you have to keep tabs on all the time.
Effing Renold has done me over yet again! I took a loss of £375 after another not so great statement. Even when I bought it I knew I shouldn't. I think all investors have a share like this! The short in Euromoney started well and was up bigtime - but it started to heave up and with level 2 looking strong I exited at 589 for a profit of £70. Fenner's had a good run and as it's struggling to get above 220 I took profits for now at 216.4 and 216 on the spreads for a total profit of £741.
Two bid stories for me this week! The first - Portrait - which is in my sipp (those that get the mail know about that one!) went to 31p from 22p for a great profit.
The second in my sipp and in the ISAs too was Spice where profits are very nice indeed now. A bid was mooted at 56p however Spice has turned that down leaving the field open for hopefully a bidding war. Whatever happens certainly looks like it's worth holding onto the shares! A great result for me here having got the shares a lot lower - looks worth holding for even more.
African Aura has already made me a nice profit in just a few days and an encouraging announcement today - looks like a nice keep in a drawer share for some further good upside.
Hyder Consulting shares go well and await a hopeful bid there. Same comment with Nestor - it hit 60p but couldn't quite hold there but looks likely to have another go. I'm in profit by nearly £10,000 on these and bid prospects beckon for more.
Fresnillo has been marvellous - it smashed through the 1000 barrier and now sits 200 pts higher than the entry price.
IG Group has soared again today for very quick big profits! . Volatility should continue to make IG shares a must hold along with London Capital Group - seems to be a seller in that at 138 but once gone the shares should motor a lot higher. PV Crystalox goes very nicely now, trying to break 60.
Aggreko continues to zoom up and up more than 150 points there now already!! Up nicely again today. Should be a star of the FTSE100 whatever happens to the index itself. Defensive qualities too in a falling market.
Carclo holds onto its recent good gains after its excellent statement. Centamin Egypt rises again after its upgrade to its Sukari Gold Project which went down well . Kentz goes well after a decent statement.
Huntsworth continues to rise after a seller has cleared out and looks set now for a run into the 90s.
Volex sees continued good buying with more very large buyers all getting in at 160 - now up 60% plus on my original buy and now well up on the recent top up as it motors up to 200.
Dialight's having a good run and doubled on the first lot. 300p is proving a bit of a barrier but it could run much higher if it can close above that price a few times. Standard has bought more than 400,000 shares. And it appears to be getting more liquid.
Petrofac sees another surge yesterday to confirm that one has trebled for me too, alongside XP Power, a trebler and Heritage,a doubler.
Recent buy BTG Group rises yet again today, up nearly 35 points higher than my entry price and looks to be heading to 200p.
Things look interesting but the market could easily tank again.. however individual stocks could still prosper.
There's been no let up in the crazy theme park ride which must have new investors wondering what they have got themselves into.
Some shares are so crazed with anxiety, fear and greed that they can move 10-15% in just a few hours.
I have seen this pretty much over the years so I'm pretty used to times like this so this time in particular the volatility seems to be the worst I've probably encountered.
We have Israel and N Korea troubles, and the BP spill which has really complicated things. BP is the largest constituent of the FTSE 100 so BP alone has been responsible for a lot of the FTSE fall but of course it affects sentiment. I'm certain many have been trying to catch the falling knife with BP shares - just not something I'd personally get involved in. It could just as easily go lower as higher.
Well, it's been a while since I last reported so quite a lot to get through!
I took advantage of the fall in miner Fresnillo (FRES) picking up 500 at 827.19 - target 1000 stop 800. Keeps being mentioned as bid target in the papers and gives me some more mining exposure.
One of my favourite ploys is to top up on shares I bought lower down. More often than not it pays off though not always.
Although I already have a ton of these picking up more shares as a price goes up can pay off so I secured another 1,000 Dialight (DIA) at 269.13 despite already having nearly doubled on the first lot I bought. It's now trying to clear 300, if it does 400 looks in play by the end of the summer. Some big buyers around mopping up in the 280s and 290s. Its LED market is in full flavour right now, and some massive director buying has been going on.
Same comment with Volex (VLX) where I topped up with another 2,500 at 135p. Great statement yesterday bodes well for a possible 200 later this year - already up 40% on the original buy.
I've topped up again in Dimension Data (DDT) - bought the first lot in the 60s and still holding those and recently I took good profits on a second lot. Time to get in again here so I bought 5,000 at 96.24. Target 120 stop 92.
And the last top up was in London Capital Group (LCG) where I got another 3,000 at 132.842 (wacky price!) As I said when I bought at 120, the volatility should be excellent for this spreadbetting firm. Target 180 stop 100.
Not sure why Scott began to tumble and with regret as Lord Sir A might say I got out at 87 to take a small loss of £178 . A shame as I was in a good profit there. But I was always going to take a small loss on that as I said when I bought. I just can't seem to play Hunting well at the moment and sold at 487.5 for a loss of £46 despite the fact I could have got out at 522 for a good profit.
After a great profit built up on Gem D it crashed violently towards the stop where I exited at 245 for a loss of £340. I have no idea why it kept on falling so I bought back at 215.4p. Target 290 stop 195. Figures still look fine. Maybe people are going to stop buying gems. Worth the chance it will bounce back.
I bought some Spice (SPI), 10,000 at 39.08 after it confirmed it has sold off the division that was causing it so many problems. I like the fact it is refocussing and could be a nice recovery play. Target 50 stop 33. Phew!
Holding my nerve and not selling what I think are my good ones has really paid off as the profits in many of them are tremendous now.
Xp Power came up with a tremendous ahead of expectations statement and trebled nicely there! Petrofac has risen solidly to confirm that one has trebled for me too, including the free Enquest shares that's a profit of just about £20,000.
As mentioned earlier good statement from Volex for a 50% rise on the original buy.
An excellent statement from Porvair this morning - it's motoring on all cylinders and up very nicely but seems overlooked by the market. Throw in the very good chance of a bid from Italy and it looks a great hold indeed.
Telecom Plus came up with the goods in its statement: it produced decent figures and growth looks likely with brokers targetting 380. It goes ex dividend soon so that'll shortly produce a nice income cheque of more than £5,000 for me. One would imagine at some point in the future it looks a likely target for Talk Talk.
My most recent buy BTG Group has gone well, up about 20 points higher than my entry price. Needs a good break up through 180 to get up to the 200 area.
PZ Cuzzons is trying to get above 300 today, and looks very exciting for a defensive and nicely up here. Carclo moves up nicely ahead of results next week.
All in all I'm happy I'm managing the volatilty - hanging onto the good ones has worked with some continuing higher and getting out quick with small losses on mistakes also works. However this summer will definitely test the mettle of all kinds of traders and investors and it's probably wise to have some cash on the sidelines.
Lucky I stay unemotional regarding markets. As I always say one must stay cool, calm and collected.
Shouting various words, most of them containing four letters at the screen is not going to help, ok.
I know you've been doing it haven't you? Of course I haven't being cool, calm and all that. Ok, then I admit it I said a few rude words too. But only when the cat was out of the room.
However it's pretty hard for most to decide what to do. It's one of those sods laws things as in...
Sell your shares and watch a massive rally immediately take place.
Or buy hoping it's the bottom for a rally and immediately watch someone in Germany say something on telly to make it all sink faster than Jonathan Ross' career.
When it's like an Alton Towers rollercoaster sometimes it's better to stand back and wait for a return to the little baby ride at the local fair.
Trying to pick turns and constantly coming in and out of shares as sentiment changes by the second usually just leaves big commission and stamp duty bills.
Mr Market is simply totally bonkers this week and I don't recall in any of my more than 10 years of this such massive swings. Not only massive swings but they can happen in ten minutes. Blame the rise of the machines. Maybe some of them need to be terminated. Where's Arnie when you need him?
Nip out for a cup of tea the FTSE can be down 100, come back and it's up! Crazeee. This afternoon it's come back like a steamtrain as the Dow soared on goodness knows whatever someone somewhere has said about something.
Lots of bargains are appearing and I think one more tankdown and it'll be too hard to resist getting stuck in to them with some of the cash now waiting.
In general I've been successfully shorting the FTSE - just the FTSE rather than individual shares like I did last time shares tanked because, quite simply, it's a lot easier and quicker. I got a decent FTSE short on at 5220 for example. And I've been using the ETF to short in the ISA.
I just knew I shouldn't have mentioned the ETF short for the ISA. It means I get loads of emails asking questions. It's something you may want to research but it's not a tool if you're a beginner as it contains traps as well as good things. Like sometimes the spread is too wide.
The supershort goes up twice as much as the FTSE goes down. The code is SUK2. You buy and sell like a share. Now go research if you want to...
I have quite a bit of this ETF in my ISA which currently makes money from the downside. For example one buy was at 5992 - I sold it today at 6550ish making a profit of £558 from the FTSE fall. I have bought other lots too. It's like a bit of an insurance policy.
For example let's say I had £25,000 worth in an ISA and the FTSE fell 10% to 4500 (possible) then I'd make 20% or £5,000. Enough of this - please can I reiterate this is not a tool to use unless you have some experience and know what you're doing.
I've held drugs company BTG (BCG) for some time, and in reasonable profits - the statement looked good today - it would be considered overvalued on my usual metrics however, the potential of its pipeline looks topnotch and it has plenty of cash so even on a bad day like this I topped up with another couple of thousand at 160. Profits could soar from here on in and it goes into the long-term drawer with a target of 250, stop 120. Some risk with the markets tanking but patience may pay off and not a bad entry point I hope.
Given the market volatilty and half-term is next week I've had a further clear out/declutter so I don't have to spend too much time at the computer - this leaves me further into cash ready to get stuck in at some point, preferably during a big fearful down day. I've closed out anything that's bothering me, and anything with a really big profit asking to be taken.
So, the axe has fallen on:
The final Bioquell at 115.1 - loss £927. Havelock at 13.5 for a profit of £1,050. Treat at 280 for a loss of £490. Harvey Nash at 46.6 for a profit of £1,180 and the final amount of bid story Morse, sold at 50.26 for a profit of £946. Seems pointless waiting for the extra 0.75 pence and doesn't look like there is a further bid coming.
Topsliced Alterian at 160 to close the last position for a profit of £400. However I keep the initial position where I've still nearly trebled. Afren spreadbet is gone at 92 for a profit of £755. However I was looking for a bounce at 82ish where it bounced before and so just bought back at 84.5.
I've also sold and bought back Medusa. I had a massive profit on it and let it slide - I felt I had to sell it as it slipped into a loss and sold at 269.66 losing all the profit, but bought back at 247. The sell-off looks overdone even in this market. However I'd sell quickly on any further tank. All of which cleaning up earns the site a profit (after losses subtracted) of £2,903.
And finally after selling Centamin (CEY) earlier in the week for a profit last time, I was looking at 140 as a reentry area and bought back at 137.5. Targetting where it ran out of puff before at 160, aiming to quick fast on any further market tanks at 130ish.
I've held onto most of my strongest stocks - those holding up well might even go on a list to buy more in the future. I've held onto anything with good solid earnings and strong balance sheets. And anything that was always long-term.
London Capital should be coining it in with all this volatility so happy in there right now - it ought to be going up more if I'm right. Dialight remains a star - those recent director buys help shore it up a do keen buyers on the order book. Buyers keep appearing here. I wonder....
Defensives like PZ Cuzzons and Telecom Plus always hold up well in difficult markets. And long-term shares like Petrofac and Heritage stay there - obviously both were bought at way lower levels so quite an easy decision as both have great long-term futures I think.
Personally I think the market is jerking around so much that for me I'm happy to just stand clear for the moment and see how and where it settles. I could miss a mini rally but I don't have the time and energy to chase them about.
However you are handling it, I wish you all the best. Always better to have a bit of cash ready. I'm wondering where the max point of fear will be to get the best bargains. Could be right now!
One thing is for sure: it's going to be a mighty interesting summer.
The papers say the FTSE falls today because of the election worries - this is rubbish in my opinion! We just follow the US markets point for point as usual!
As I said above somewhere, I really, really thought I had seen everything in the markets but yesterday has to be marked down as new.
And I think it is very worrying that someone can type in a wrong trade, causing a plunge of 1,000 in the Dow Jones - apparently an idiot typed B for Billion instead of M for million. How can there not be something to stop this?
This trade panicked the trading robots into immediately selling everything causing some shares to go to zero. A bit like Terminator! Rise of the Machines!!
What kind of market is that? That's not a market, it's some kind of weird super casino and you;re playing against crazy robots.
As an investor I am absolutely shocked that because of this so many people would have had their stops taken out over there, making any falls instantly worse.
In fact it's not worrying. It is downright unfair! Investors who had, probably rightly, been in a very solid and safe company Proctor and Gamble suddenly found their investment half gone because some halfwit made a mistake.
(It was a phat finger trade in Proctor that sparked the trouble).
Also, it was caused by what's called "High Frequency Trading" - a computerised programme that can sell huge amounts of shares in a nano second.
The same kind of thing is happening here too. There are computer programmes, robots and machines working against each other everywhere.
The worst thing is for more illiquid stock traded electronically and with market makers. Panicked investors selling up exaggerate the falls which are then made worse by the robot sellers, and CFD traders.
I think the fact robots, machines and crazy traders can screw up a market and make a share go to near zero for no reason at all is a total disgrace, and sheer daylight robbery.
I hope systems will be worked on here to ensure it doesn't happen. In some automated traded shares it just takes a sell of a couple of grand to drive down a price - an auto trade sell of 50 grand could push it down 20% in a flash. It's not right and needs to be looked at urgently.
If it isn't, investors might decide enough and enough and give up putting their money in the markets for fear of wild swings.
Even after more than ten years in sometimes crazy markets this week takes the biscuit and making any decisions is very tough. The temptation is to go crazy, keep pressing the buttons, quick, sell it's going down!! Quick buy it's going up!!
Hard to resist doing that but I've just stayed calm and in tea and toast mode - maybe it's best to let it just play out. I'm lucky in that I have sold off quite a bit over the last couple of weeks and what I did keep is relatively ok though of course that could change.
Normally I'd wade in and buy at the highest point of fear which could be today - however I've just held fire in case there's a another wave down. Also I'd normally have a few shorts open - but it just didn't happen with lots going on at home. Never mind.
So you may be surprised but..I've done very little. I hate being diddled out of good ones by panic markdowns.
But I added some Centamin Egypt (CEY) - despite the sell off up over £600 already on the spreadbet and bought some real shares this time - 3,000 at 142. I like the strength shown during the sell off too. Target 170 stop 120.
I sold the Domino spreadbet at 425 to take a profit of £500 and Pace spreadbet went at 178 for a profit of £60.
Other than that, where time allowed I just played the FTSE up and down on the spreadbets - I don't usually find this easy, but this time once a trend established for a few minutes it seemed to keep going.
Being mostly in small caps my general experience is the worst thing to do is sell on the morning of a sell off as market makers will already have marked down the shares expecting sellers at any price. But as long as it's not Armageddon, often the prices begin to rise again as the lower prices tempt buyers back in at much better prices.
Quite deliberately for now most of my shares are under the radar types - some were marked down early door but most got marked back up.
My defensives where profits remain good all held up pretty well such as Hilton Food, Cuzzons. Most were all marked down but all in the end a penny or two.
Next week is going to be fascinating. Are we going to get a recovery.. or is there more downside? I wonder whether this dramatic sell off will end or last for longer.
However what is very exciting is the number of great bargains that are appearing - and if there is another big leg down I don't think I'll be able to resist buying.
If you are a new trader/investor and got wiped by this sudden move, I feel very sorry. And I don't think it's been fair. However, the very first company I ever bought went bust and the second halved!
So I have been there - and I did fight back. Hope that helps!
Honestly - which useless market commentator wrote this on Friday?
"I'm glad for now as I mentioned before that I didn't get shorting as it looks like there is upside left still with the trend still up. Every crisis and dip ends up getting bought."
Oh balls. It was me!! Nothing like the exact opposite happening and why I never forecast anything. I should have shorted the moment I wrote that smug sentence!
All I can say is: get your revenge and don't vote for Greece (or Portugal) in the Eurovision song contest as it's all their fault.
The question is whether this crisis will pass like the others or are we all really in the s***? Don't ask me.
One argument is: buy now as it's always best to buy at the height of fear.
The other is: Get out in case things get worse, I'm scared. Both arguments, sadly, carry weight. Greed and fear, fear and greed as usual. There is never going to be a right or wrong answer and we can just do our best.
Main thing is always never to trade more than you can afford. In this current market a lot of spreadbets will have hit stop losses - the problem will be when people get calls from spreadbet firms asking for money. If they can't afford to pay they have been over using the credit. Beware of doing this - people have lost their houses.
Unusually for me I've been playing with the FTSE short-term - with it in freefall it was quite an easy decision to go short for a bit even though I missed a lot of it and I collected about £500, closing out this morning. Obviously I shan't be claiming any of this short-term gain for the website.
Then I went long! Hard to find the biggest point of fear.. anyway I bought the FTSE at 5580 - again I guess this will be short-term but it has come back a long way in a short time. Maybe this will pay off maybe it won't. I shan't let it make much of a loss though.
Anyway looks like we could be entering a period of turbulence so it's a matter of being cautious.
When it gets volatile like this I tend to scale back on volatile stocks - so far my smaller ones are in the main not affected much - and in particular spreadbets. Here is what I've been up to:
I sold Easyjet at 492.35 for a profit of £200 and at 491 on the spreads for a profit of £320. It couldn't get through 500 but in any event it was always a short-term idea.
I've sold and rebought Fenner (FENR) It went at 232 for a profit of £540. I only sold it because the market was slumping and it was in good profit, not realising a statement was due today. The statement included a placing - but for some reason they overreacted crazily to the downside just as I write this and I have literally just bought back this time with real shares - 2,000 at 197.38 which looks a fantastic re-entry point especially as the placing was at 210. Target 250 stop 180. Blimey O'Reilly they just went back over 200. Maybe that was a good price. I would expect this to be a medium term hold now.
Hunting went for a loss of £167 as it hit the stop at 590 - however it ended up being sold below the stop selling at 587. A poor buy (Buying against a downtrend).
Zotefoams went at 108-1 and 105 for a total profit of £546 plus a 4p dividend. . It's been hard to judge whether to flog off any of risky oil play Aminex. It's been going down and went through a stop so I've sold around two thirds at 10.5 but all the spreadbet with an eye on a potential buyback. For website purposes that's the last trade for a loss of £625 and half the previous one for a profit of £975 - the spreadbet makes a profit of £1,200.
I also sold the last XP top up while keeping the original treble holding - I think I got that wrong selling at 546 for a profit of £306 - it's already gone higher - still at least I have the original holding... Sdl has become disappointing so topsliced some of the spreadbet at 455, keeping half of it, that's a profit of £600.
That's total profit minus losses on those trades, a profit of £ 3,895.
Elsewhere LOQ has risen very nicely yet again on another contract win and a decent AGM statement - looks to be like this company is only just starting and I think it's possible I will double or even treble my money on this one. Very glad I topped up when the tipster said sell.
Looks like the Morse bid is going to go ahead at 51p. The price won't go above 51 now unless there is any sign of a counter-bid. I'm going to hold for just a bit longer in case especially as it's either going to end up at 51p or more to bank a profit of near £2,000.
Porvair went ex dividend for 1.5p today so in effect it's up - my next bid hope!
Most of my shares have luckily held or only down slightly in the recent melee which is a good sign.
Shares that have gained a lot for me like Volex, Kentz and Scott Wilson have remained pretty much unaffected. Microgen has held onto its recent gain after a decent statement - - doubled on this since bought last year in March.
Dialight reported a decent-looking acquisition today - probably would have gained on a better day - this one remains a decent longer-term hold, shame the spread is sometimes so wide - the company ought to consider trying to make the shares more liquid somehow. Longer-term expecting this to be a big winner.
Nestor Healthcare is on the move after a long quiet spell, already in big profit here but buyers coming back in here could see a nice move up to 60p.
Domino Printing has actually gone up while the market was tanking and the spreadbet in very good profit now. Hilton Food Group is trying to conquer the 250 there may be some more upside. In the meantime a nice dividend.
Alterian where I'm up a few thousand goes well. Axis Shield is up nicely over the last couple of days and holds well, too in a down market.. 450 next stop?
Spirent remains a near doubler. PZ Cuzzons has started another nice rise.
Petrofac's has come back but as I bought the main lot in the 300s I can't be too worried and with the free Enquest shares, profits are up and over £19,000.
So, with volatility in the air things look set to get a bit rocky, and handling it will be an interesting challenge.
Well, the uptrend in general continues and who am I to fight it?
However with such big profits building it's getting very hard not to start pressing one or two take profits buttons but recently whenever I've done that the share in question carries on rising! One would really think the market was due a pullback but I'll stay greedy for a bit longer.
I've made a few quid out of Scott Wilson (SWG) in the past and it looks cheap for me at these levels again so I bought 4,000 at 91.45 yesterday- it ran into trouble during the recession but is on the recovery trail now. I'm looking for 30% out of it medium term. Target 120 stop 85. It's going well this morning. If it can get through the hard 100 barrier, then my target of 120 looks feasible.
Another recovery play looks to be Management Consulting (MMC) and I picked up 15,000 at 23p. Looks in strong recovery mode for a rerating back up to the 30p area - I'm after that as quite a short-term idea. Target 30 stop 19. Has some risk but there's been some nice buying in here this week - it peaked at 30p before hence the target.
Finally on the buying side I've had a little gamble on shower-maker Norcros (NXR). I've bought because after doing nothing for a long time there are buyers coming in. I'm just following. I got 50,000 at 7.74 this am after it was already up more than 10%. Target 12 stop 5.5. It's really a recovery play - debt has been reduced a lot after a placing though still on the high side - however any recovery at all in the next results could see a massive rerating if it could break back into profit later this year. Considering a medium-term hold here. Still, a risky play.
I've ummed and ahhed about taking profits in Micro Focus as it jeeps knocking against 540-550 and can't break through. So as I hold shares and a spreadbet I compromised and sold the spreadbet for now at 536 for a nice profit of £1,490.
Elsewhere the portfolio goes very well in an excellent marketplace.
Domino Printing which came up late night is really doing well now - it's sprinted up and past 400 and seems to keep going and the spreadbet now in a very nice profit.
Spreadbet Kentz has been really motoring this past week. Profits now rapidly approaching £1,000.
Recent buy Xchanging continues to rise nicely and steadily and hopeful of my target medium term. Eaga issued a steady as she goes statement but still looks undervalued. LOQ remains a great market, hot weather over then summer will really help. That rises today.
Hilton Food Group is trying to conquer the 250 there may be some more upside. In the meantime a nice dividend. Zotefoams is up again today.
The Wolsely short remains in good profit and isn't going up when the market rises which is a good sign.
Alterian where I'm up a few thousand goes well - looks like just a shake in Harvey with profits still at £1,000.
Axis Shield is battling with the 400p area and recent top up Nestor Healthcare has flown nicely higher after those big director buys. I'm up more than £5,000 now including the spreadbets.
Spirent remains a near doubler. PZ Cuzzons has started another nice rise. Little gamble Asterand has been rising well.
SDL keeps trying to crack 500 and great profits here. That last 1,000 of Barclays I kept is doing very well! The spreadbet in Fenner is in good profit as is the spreadbet in Pace - 200p looks a hard barrier to get through for the minute.
Volex carries on looking strong - long-termer Heritage remains doing fine.. The BT pension fund has finally sold out of Dialight which hopefully clears any overhang. LOQ rises again today after profit taking.
Petrofac continues to blossom and with my free Enquest shares, profits are up and over £20,000. XP Power tries to break up through 600 and remains a lovely trebler.
So the portfolio continues to prosper - but can the markets carry on rising?
Another good week for the markets and with the end of the tax year and new ISA money about to go in, the downside looks limited. Then again after such a rise so does the upside!
I'm a little wary of doing an awful lot of new buying and something has to be spot on for me to buy for now.
However Hilton Food Group (HFG) looks a nice one and I took a chance and bought some before results. Tried hard on direct access to buy some at 200 and 201 but couldn't get any so sadly ended up buying at the buy price getting 1,500 at 212.6.
Looks well undervalued - profits nicely higher together with a dividend payout of nearly 5% and also defensive if the market falls. A nice little tuckaway that I'd expect to hold longer-term, maybe a year or two. Target 250 stop 199.
Zotefoams (ZFT) has been going well for me and reached my target with a nice profit - but sometimes I buy more at targetish which I did getting another 3,000 shares at 103. target 120 stop 92. There is some nice buying going on with this one that I like the look of, so more going in!!
I'm in a great profit on the Afren spreadbet, (AFR) up nearly £800 - I loved the statement and it looks like an oil giant in the making.. there was some profit taking after and I bought some real shares now on the dip, 3,000 at 99.3. Target 140 stop 88. It's likely to be volatile so a hard hat and patience required.
There wasn't any real buying coming in ahead of tiny gamble Asterand's results so I sold at 17.35 for a profit of £ 105. Just as well as the results weren't great. However it overshot down and I picked up the 10,000 again on the turn at 13.45. It's a small gamble for small money and entertainment for me and not to be confused with proper investing.
I sold the spreadbet in Mouchel after results at 205 for a profit of £420. I was amazed. I thought the results were terrible and thought they would tank right away and I'd lose so I gratefully exited. They are tanking now though. Weird.
Styles kept sinking and I quit as it got to the stop with a loss of £498 selling at 20.51. Lesson for me here, bought too many of a risky one. It could easily head back up now but I'll live if it does. I sold half the rm at 170 for a profit of £395 - nothing much wrong here but needed some cash for elsewhere and it was the most dull non mover. Keeping the rest.
I leave the best till last.
Dimension has been a terrific share for me but its inability to get above 95 has convinced me to take profits which are huge!
I sold at 92.2 on the normal shares making a profit of £2,497 and out at 92.1 on the spreadbet to bank a marvellous profit of £4,880 to give total profits banked on this share of £7,377. Thanks Dimension!
That's total profits banked for the site of a lovely £7,799.
Elsewhere extremely happy with the last buy I recorded here, when I bought LOQ at 96 - it has since risen to nearly 120! Target is 200 so I hope with patience there is plenty more to come and a hot summer would really help. It rose strongly after it released an excellent statement revealing lots of contract renewals, and mutli year renewals too. Very happy to go from 96 to 120 - and still think 200 is my destination here.
Other recent buys Aggreko and Domino Printing go ok though nothing special yet. The Wolsely short is in the money for now.
Recent buy Axis Shield has stormed up to over 400 and recent top up Nestor Healthcare has flown nicely higher after those big director buys. I'm up more than £5,000 now including the spreadbets.
Bioquell has seen some very good buying - and a couple of very good buys at 3p over the prevailing price yesterday - nice. Market makers seem to want shares here which is good.
Petrofac has come back a little after a good run but profits for the website now hit over £16,000 and I reckon I should end up collecting £20,000 on these.
Holders should be aware next week it demergers part of the group and a new company called Enquest will be on the market - this means Petrofac will probably fall 120pish on the morning of the demerger but all Petrofac shareholders will get new shares in Enquest. Those with spreadbets should see new Enquest shares in their accounts but personally I have taken all stops off Petrofac in case the spreadbet cos try and stop one out on the demerger!
Centamin is in good profits now motoring up towards my short-term targets.
Recent top up New Brit goes very well indeed and is trying to break through 550.
Spirent is really going for it! The top up goes really well and it doesn't look long till it joins the list of doublers. PZ Cuzzons has started another nice rise.
SDL seems to be on the way back up and great profits here . Long-termer Heritage is on the march again getting up to highs. That last 1,000 of Barclays I kept is doing very well!
A brilliant time for the portfolio with massive profits building up everywhere. However can this really go on? Dunno but short-term at least, it seems so. Anyway glad to bank some profits this week too!
Goodness and still they go well. I think there are many expecting a top around here (they may be right) but a lot of shorters are getting burned. As they say markets can remain wrong for longer than you can remain solvent and for the meantime I'd wait to short the index until a definite downtrend has been establised whenever that might be. This time of the year tends to be pretty good for markets.
I've bought some Aggreko (AGK) - a FTSE 100 company that specialises in power supplies. Why? Because I think this is going to be one of the massive growth businesses of the next few years. It supplied the recent winter olympics, got a good chance of getting the 2012 business. But power supply problems are increasing all over the world and it looks only likely to get worse. Of course being a FTSE company it is likely to get buffeted about however I'm thinking longer-term here. I got 500 at 1158. Target 1500 stop 1020.
My little boy loves theme parks and rides. I was sick on the last one he took me on so forget it - I'm not going on one again!
But at these parks I did find myself renting out a pager device which for a tenner stops you having to wait for up to an hour to get on a ride. As any parent will tell you, kids get pretty fractious having to wait for long and very soon you'd give a passing stranger £50 to get on the ride NOW! You just key in which ride you want to go on, and it books a time for the ride for you so you can wander around doing other things instead of sitting in a queue.
Great idea I thought and so I looked up to see if the company was listed. It was! Called LO-Q (Loq) I was pretty pleased with the figures the company is already generating - the company's share price is booming but it seems to me there is still more upside as it breaks into the States and elsewhere. If you owned a theme park why wouldn't you subscribe? Fundamentals look good and not even any net debt.
.. I tried to buy 3,000 LOQ shares when the buy price was 94p and had to pay 2p over the odds at 96p. Shows the shares are in demand but my plan is to sit on these for a good while. I hope I don't have to queue when it comes to selling them... Target 200 stop 82. I guess if I win on these it'll be down to my five-year-old. I guess I'll have to give him a cut. Unusually for me it's an AIM share so it's gone into a small account I hold outside Isas.
I also got some Domino Printing (DNO) for a tenner on the spreads at 376. This one came up during a recent screening and I do like the figures here: mamagement seems very confident. target 450 stop 345. I was kind of surprised this business appears to be doing so well but the statement is certainly very bullish so I'll see what happens.
I've made some good money shorting Wolseley (WOS) over the last couple of years and it's time to short again after a very poor statement I thought. Shame I hadn't shorted before the statement came out, still, I think there is 100-150 pts downside here. I got a fiver short at 1615, Target 1500 stop 1645. (Short means I am betting on it to fall)
I've sold the last of London Capital at 123 to bank a profit of £309. Corin has gone at 62.35 for a loss of £26. Sellers kept coming in at this sort of level so I quit. Disappointed with that one but level 2 helped to make that decision.
Recent buy Axis Shield has stormed up today up and over 400 and recent top up Nestor Healthcare has flown nicely higher after those big director buys. I'm up more than £5,000 now including the spreadbets.
Top up Petrofac continues to soar and is flying higher as I write up to 1230 which is fantastic. Profits for the website now hit over £16,000 and I reckon I should end up collecting £20,000 on these. There seems to be little stopping this tremendous rise. I bought the first lot in the 300s. Ah, if only I'd bought more..
The two volatile plays Afren and Centamin both in good profits now with both motoring up towards my short-term targets.
RM has announced more contract wins and goes nicely back over 170. Recent top up New Brit goes very well indeed and is trying to break through 550.
Spirent is really going for it! The top up goes really well and it doesn't look long till it joins the list of doublers. After cracking 120 it's trying 125 as I write.
PZ Cuzzons has come back a bit but still in good profit there and hopeful it will rise again.
Dimension Data is still trying to get through the sticky 95p area up more than £3,000 already on the big spreadbet I have on it and more than £1,000 on the standard trade.
SDL seems unwilling to rise further and a buy tip in the Mail nearly made me sell! . Long-termer Heritage is on the march again getting up to highs. That last 1,000 of Barclays I kept is doing very well!
Mouchel remains nicely higher since my buy. Needs a bit of a kick though.
A brilliant time for the portfolio with massive profits building up everywhere. However can this really go on? Dunno but short-term at least, it seems so.
**No update this Friday as I'm busy attending a seminar. Goodness me and they still look strong. Last night's fed meeting where it looks like US rates will be low for some time to come has helped maintain positivity. However a lot of problems still remain but as they say, markets like to climb a wall of worry.
The only thing that comes to my mind is ensuring I've taken some profits before the wall crumbles....
Profits aplenty coming in right now so no complaints...
It's a bit tricky to buy right now because there is a chance we're somewhere near a top. However...
I have no idea why Bioquell (BQE) fell yesterday on terrific results! However it did give me the chance to top up, surprisingly hard to buy any which makes me think a rise back up is not far away and I got another 2,000 at 145 in two lots of 1,000. Target 200 stop 120. It's rare to see a share where I can't argue there could be some downside and cannot see how it can be worth any less than this! I can't see them being at this level for too long.
Increased profit, increased dividend, and it's got cash! On top of that its decontamination products seem in demand in both healthcare and defence and I can only see this sort of market growing, plus bid prospects thrown in for nothing makes this a must buy and hold for me. They'll be tucked away nice and cosy in my Isas for some time to come and I expect at least 30% out of them plus dividend (and no sleepless nights). If their new product to eradicate superbugs in hospitals takes off then there could be even more upside here.
I've bought back into a very old favourite of mine that's made me a lot of money over the years, Fenner (FENR) getting £20 at 205 on a spreadbet. It's been heading upwards for a while and that upwards momentum looks good. However there is a possibility I could be buying near a high so a careful stop loss of 195 but a target of 230. It was badly hit by the recession but really recovering now.
Recent buy Axis Shield produced a very decent report - figures were in line - but the outlook is what looks so encouraging - and it's also sensibly rebought its full US marketing rights for its Afinion analysers. Good move. Needs a couple of closes above 400 for a motor up to 450 and deserves a premium rating.
Recent top up Nestor Healthcare has flown nicely higher after those big director buys. . I'm up more than £5,000 now including the spreadbets. Corin has been rising very nicely and I'm very hopeful of my 80p target on these.
Top up Petrofac continues to soar and is trying hard to conquer 1200 which is fantastic. Profits for the website now hit over £16,000 and I reckon I should end up collecting £20,000 on these.
The two volatile plays Afren and Centamin both in good profits now with both motoring up towards my short-term targets.
Oil gamble Aminex reported a successful drill today and is nicely up - this could could end up a big winner, could this be the start of good things to come?
Spirent is really going for it! The top up goes really well and it doesn't look long till it joins the list of doublers. After cracking 120 it's trying 125 as I write.
PZ Cuzzons continues to look good - bit of profit taking in the late 280 but now on the up again. Little gamble Asterand is already paying off - rising nicely in the run up to results later this month.
Dimension Data has gone up even more strongly over the last couple of days after its excellent statement and now up more than £3,000 already on the big spreadbet I have on it and more than £1,000 on the standard trade. Trying to conquer 95 still. 100 will be the big one.
SDl has dropped a little this week but still giant profits and it's heading back up today. Long-termer Heritage is on the march again getting up to highs. That last 1,000 of Barclays I kept is doing very well!
A brilliant time for the portfolio with massive profits building up everywhere.
Of course when you're doing well you have to be careful! The market likes biting you just when you think you're doing well... (and so it probably should!)
Well, it doesn't seem to matter about the really cruddy economic figures coming out of our country as the FTSE seems to care less about and keeps going up?
Why? Well because all it cares about is the US and what the Dow is doing. And as the Dow seems to be set on a punchdrunk course up. I don't know how long it's going to last but it would be no surprise to see it all end in tears. And I hope they won't be mine.
Recently I made a tidy sum going short of Corin - (CRG) a short I banked recently. Well, I've now gone long. Sorry for the jargon.. in plain English I made a good profit betting on it to go down but now I'm betting on it to go up!
I thought the statement was reasonable enough to give hope, and couple with strong buying I bought some this morning and they were really hard to buy (a good sign) I ended up with 2,500 at 61.8 and 3,500 at 63.5.
Target 80 stop 56. There is such good support around 60 that for now there appears little downside but tons of potential up for what I hope will be a nice 20% over say a couple of months.
Well having already trebled on Petrofac (PFC) with a profit of nearly £15,000 racked up you wouldn't expect me top up? Not on a company I bought in the 300s, surely?
Well, I did! This time on the spreads for a fiver at 1097. I think. Let me check. 1097.6 actually - I'm sure you'll let me off the .6 though? Thanks. Target 1300 stop 1050.
I thought the statement superb and there is more value here. I remember buying these a while back - how I regret not buying a whole lot more. Super share. Would not surprise me to see it four time for me.
I've had a little dabble on Latchways (LTC) - some good figures coming from the safety specialist and it appears undervalued so I just nipped 500 at 698.2. Target 800 stop 640. The problem is the 30 pt spread although one can deal inside it. If I was the company I would have a share consolidation to bring the price back to the 200 area - other problem is only two market makers. Without those considerations I would probably have bought a few more.
Well, the portfolio is doing so nicely that even though there is so much profit everywhere to take I'm, riding my luck for a bit more even though personally I can't think the market can have that much upside left. But I do think even if it dips this year there will be tons of chances to make money from various stocks. However the risky Avanti spreadbet has been cut at 454 for a loss of £280 as sellers were coming in on the order book. It's falling today though that looks like a shake and should be a chance to buy back lower.
Harvey Nash is the star buy out of my most recent buys - indeed it is nearly up to the target price already with nearly 20% bagged. But, with such big buying going in yesterday and today my finger is not on the take profits button yet..
The two volatile plays Afren and Centamin both in good profits now with both motoring up towards my short-term targets.
Spirent is really going for it! The top up goes really well and it doesn't look long till it joins the list of doublers. Trying to get over 120 today.
Dialight has settled down after results. Looks good it went ex dividend today and looks like a squeak of being promoted to the small cap index if it proves liquid enough.-
Carclo has risen so much that it is well inside the scope for being promoted to the smallcap index - but there is a liquidity test and hoping it will pass!
Long-term doubler Chime reported a decent set of results today and I'll carry on holding there.
PZ Cuzzons continues to look good - bit of profit taking in the late 280s but now on the up again.. Little gamble Asterand is already paying off - rising nicely in the run up to results later this month.
Micro Focus goes well now and up again today but can it break 500 again? Dimension Data has gone up even more strongly over the last couple of days after its excellent statement and now up more than £3,000 already on the big spreadbet I have on it and more than £1,000 on the standard trade. Trying to conquer 95
A fascinating time, how far can this rally go? Can anything stop it?
A very pivotal time - we're pretty much at where the market topped out before. Is it to breakout and will be see further rises? Or is this a double top and time to sell?
Amazing to see as I write we are over 5500 - looks like even 5600 could come into play which could see us move back up to 5800 which would be amazing. I do think anywhere back up at 6000 and I will be getting some big shorting boots on.
Anyone with a time machine please let me know when we topped out...
Mouchel Parkman (MCHL) has been in the middle of a bidding threesome concerning VT and Babcock (it's too dull to cover, google it!) The shares slumped when the bid was called off and this looked like a great time to buy - the shares began to rise strongly from the slump so I nipped on a spreadbet for £30 at 191. Target 250 stop 170. It's almost inevitable it'll be bid for again at some point so this looks like a great entry price. Especially as Mouchel shares look worth 190 on their own merit anyway so looks like a little downside big upside share, the kind I like!
I've taken a little pre-results gamble on Zotefoams (ZFT). Results are on Tuesday but the last trading statement was pretty bullish so I've got 5,000 at 91.9. It's risky as if results disappoint with the spread I could easily lose, but the risk/reward ratio looks just about good enough. Management said results would be better than expectations so they ought to be all right though you never know for sure.
I sold and rebought Hardy (HDY). I sold at early doors yesterday at 240.6 and rebought them later in the day at 227.63. target 300 stop 215. That's a profit on the original purchase of £247. I sold as profit takers came in on inline results - but buyers also came on the order book strongly at 220 which seems decent support.
With the market continuing to be strong I've axed the remaining shorts. No point swimming against the tide but I'll be back for them when the trend changes back.
So it's goodbye to Next at 1895 for a profit of £225, Wolsely at 1586 for a profit of £155 and Imagination at 243 for a profit of £75. Northgate at 191 for a profit of £300 closing out for a total short profit of £755.
Of course in hindsight all these should have been closed earlier for way better profits but I wasn't sure about the market breakout and in any event of course the longs go up.
Elsewhere a nice rise from recent buy Harvey Nash which continues to look underrated - a good start for this trade. Other recent trades Nestor Heathcare and Huntsworth also go well with Huntsworth continuing to buy up its own shares.
The two volatile plays Afren and Centamin both in good profits now.
SDL has got to be the best trade of the year so far! Very quick profits of more than 20% there, bought just at the right time and it's trying to get up and over the 500 mark. It's past target but I do like to run winners so passed on the tempation of bagging the nice profits of well over £3,000.
Spirent is really going for it! The top up goes really well and it doesn't look long till it joins the list of doublers.
Dialight has settled down after results. Looks good - profit-takers seem done and would expect a rise up to the 300 level in the next few weeks. Axis Shield starts a bit of a rise.
PZ Cuzzons continues to look good - bit of profit taking in the late 280s but now on the up again.. Little gamble Asterand is already paying off - rising nicely in the run up to results later this month.
Micro Focus goes well now and up again today but can it break 500 again? RM has gone above 170 which looks bullish. It also confirmed a big contract win today.
Dimension Data has gone up even more strongly over the last couple of days after its excellent statement and now up more than £3,000 already on the big spreadbet I have on it and more than £1,000 on the standard trade. Trying to conquer 95now.
Long term trebler and then some Petrofac is booming and has soared up to nearly 1100 now. Fantastic share this has been!.
A pretty strong showing over the last few days - can it last? I have some doubts and would not be surprised to see a fall. I'm not a forecaster but lots of things look priced about right for now - it's a matter of where we will be in a year from now. Your guess is as good as mine and I can't guess it.
I've bought some Axis Shield (ASD) - been eyeing these up for some time but they looked weak over 400 so I've been waiting for a lower entry and I think I got it, we'll see. A tricky one to get right so would take a small loss quick and buy back lower if needs be. I bought 1,000 at 369.9, target 450 stop 345.
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New Brit(NBPO) has been a good doubler and a half and I wish I hadn't taken part profits recently. I saw some strong buying volumes early this week so topped up getting 800 at 474.7. Today I can see why: it's making an acquisition and full-year figures look good. Target 550 stop 420.
I've had a tiny gamble on Asterand (ATD) getting a small 10,000 at 16.3. An interesting little biotech that might come good but that could take time - at this sort of price though for a small amount for an interest it's worth it I think. Target 22 stop 14. Market-makers have a wide spread but I could deal well inside it.
I topped up on Carclo (CAR) getting a further 1,500 shares at 165 to add to the ones already bought at 127. If commercialisation of its CIT technology takes off the shares could be worth a whole lot more and this one could be a big winner for 2010. Target 250 stop 120.
I'm having another bash with a short on Next (nxt) with a £5 at 1940, close to where I put it on last time. Target 1800 stop 1970. Retailers look like they're having a bad time since VAT went back up. A tricky short though as it can rise as fast as it can fall. Going well so far but very volatile.
Talking shorts well, it proved one Wolsely short too many! After months of making many decent sums they surprised by saying profits looked better than expected. The price shot up not because actually the statement was so great but shorters had to close fast. The spreadfirm took me out rightaway at 1555 for a loss of £345. Bearing in mind I believe the price rose so much because of a bear squeeze I'm tried again for a fiver at 1417 near the close yesterday. It's worked so far. My hopeful plan is it will establish a new trading range of 1500 to 1625 which I am going to try and play.
Intec couldn't manage to break the 100 level and tried a few times so on that basis I sold the hopeful bounce back shares at 99.34 for a profit of £250. However giving the benefit of the doubt to the remaining shares bought a lot further down where a profit of £3,000 is still intact.
XP Power which I've trebled on has gone higher again after an excellent positive statement and good results - doesn't look like much downside from here so will continue holding onto the original purchase and wish I hadn't taken part profits last week.
Elsewhere the portfolio goes nicely. Recent buys PZ Cussons and SDL in particular have flown higher
SDL has really gone for it for me - with profits of nearly £1,500 in double quick time - nearing 450 as I write, it it can get above that it would be bullish for 480 which is what I was looking for. PZ went ex dividend today so a nice cheque due shortly as well.
Microgen reported a great set of figures which showed at worst it should be trading about here and best, should be higher. One to hold onto. Micro Focus goes well. Risky oiler Aminex has risen nicely again since my top up. Much depends on news as to whether the rise can be maintained. Fingers crossed.
Beazley has shot up very nicely now and puts the spreadbet on it into nice profit and it appears to be sailing up nicely to the target area.
Contract wins continue to come for RM. Good profits but a rise over 170 needed to go further. Dimension Data continues to look strong after its excellent statement and now up more than £3,000 already on the big spreadbet I have on it and more than £1,000 on the standard trade.
My lovely trebler Petrofac is booming and has soared well back over 1000. Long-termer Heritage has been climbing very well and that's a trebler too.
Despite the recent market climb plenty to be cautious about. Still delighted with the splendid profits there on paper and that have been banked recently.
Well, it really is a good old fashioned ding dong between bulls and bears at the moment. The question is who is going to win??
The bulls think the markets are still undervalued, we are coming out of recession and everything is rosier than it appears while the bears think another massive tumble is coming mainly because everything is currently being propped up and it won't take much for the stick to be kicked away.
I don't make forecasts so don't ask me. If you had a gun to my head I'd go with the bears.
But the bulls have been in charge this week and it is nice to see the markets rise after a couple of weeks in the doldrums. Can it last though? Dunno.
OK onto some trades.
I'll kick off with oiler Aminex (AEX) topsliced some profts there recently and it wasn't doing much until earlier this week when suddenly buyers started to come in strongly, taking my cue from the buying I picked a new batch up, 25,000 at 13p. Stop 11, target 18. The buying might mean some good news is on the way. That adds to the holding I kept where I've doubled my money. However of course it is a risky one, if it makes a find could be worth a lot more, if not it might slump and market makers are enjoying moving this all over the shop as it's impossible to value.
I'm back in at Micro Focus (MCRO) where I took lovely profits recently too. Looks a good time to get back in after the profit-taking has ended. I got back in with 1,000 shares at 461.37 - this company still looks like it is going places and nice to get back in nearly 40p lower than when I took profits. Target 520 stop 445.
I've tried for a short in Imagination (IMG) again - took a small loss last time I tried to short it. While it's a great company with good products the value still looks overcooked so I've tried again at £20 at 258 which is about where I tried last time. Again I'll come out hopefully with a small loss if I'm wrong again but something needs to happen here surely to keep the price as high as it is. Target 210 stop 270.
I bought 5,000 Intec Tel (ITL) at 94.35 after it started to rise from a massive fall after a trading update. Target 105 stop 90. I've noticed this year if you have a share with good profits nearly every time it's profitable to take the profits or some profits the day before results. Because any even slight disappointment with results sees a savage markdown.
So I topsliced Intec the day before the statement and I berated myself on statement day. Why hadn't I sold the lot? Well, hedging my bets I guess. Anyhow I topsliced at 113.5 for a small profit and some on the spreads at 113, but left the rest which in hindsight was a mistake. Buyers have since come in and it's going back up with 100 now being pretty crucial. I suspect I'll sell some if they can't get over that hurdle but try and give it some time. Let's see if directors buy some.
I also topsliced some XP Power as they've been stuck in a rut for a while. Trebled on these and sold some at 419.2 for a profit of £892 on the last position. No real worry here exactly but the non move for a while means it's sensible to lob a few out.
Onto shorts and with the market rising fast I cut half the Wolsely at 1385 for a profit of £435 leaving the other one to run (might be a mistake given it's rising fast right now!). Also Next was beginning to soar but didn't really close quick enough there at 1928 for a profit of only £85. Shame as there was a much bigger profit there earlier this morning. Really should have taken profits way faster on those.
Elsewhere the portfolio goes nicely but the biggest surprise is PZ Cussons I expected this to be a slow steady riser and wasn't expecting such a big rise so quickly. I shouldn't be complaining I guess! Looks like this one is going to bring home the profit quicker than I expected.
SDL has really gone for it for me - with profits of nearly £1,500 in double quick time - nearing 450 as I write, it it can get above that it would be bullish for 480 which is what I was looking for.
Carclo has started a little rise and again I think this one is overlooked by the market. Still unsure with recent buy Batm and will take a quick small loss on it if it doesn't work out. Doubler Microgen reports tomorrow - wondering whether to topslice a few before the end of today just to be on the safe side.
Yet another contract win for RM. Good profits but a rise over 170 needed to go further. Dimension Data continues to look strong after its excellent statement and now up more than £3,000 already on the big spreadbet I have on it and more than £1,000 on the standard trade.
Alterian - well the jury is out still - needs a good close above 140 really and at the moment I'm not sure. Still, I'm so well up on the first lot it won't matter too much if this trade doesn't work out. Kentz is rising slowly but surely. Style is down on my buy but I'll give it a bit more time unless support goes.
My lovely trebler Petrofac is booming and has soared well back over 1000. Long-termer Heritage has been climbing very well and that's a trebler too.
The market volatility continues and the current upside surprises but most of us investors are not complaining about it! However, we can't expect an easy ride either and caution is still required. Still delighted with the splendid profits there on paper and that have been banked recently.
...still remain tricky!
Oh no Greece is going to default.. down we go. Oh it's ok it'll be bailed out, up we go.
Hang on it will, no it won't, oh what's this someone you never heard of is saying, oh no we are down again. But hang on now someone else you never heard of said something else. Phew!
Having no idea what to make of it all except as far as I can see it's all a whole lotta nothing!
The main thing for me is not to get caught up in anything too volatile as it is too easy to stop oneself out, or get stopped out at the wrong moment.
After some major sells and buys in the last report not much to report this time!
I've taken a bit of a gamble on a potential recovery play in Styles and Wood (STY). I seem to click with this one for some reason and made a few quid on it in the past.
It's had a terrible time during the recession - as a shop fitter it got hit hard. But I noticed a piece in The Times this morning that it''s rumoured to be in the running for a string of new contracts. John Lewis is said to be launching 50 At Home stores with STY in the running.
Looking at the figures, a recent fund raising means it has cash so unlikely to go bust - and if it starts to make contract announcements there could be some lovely upside. Initial target is 30, but if things look better and it goes through that, I'd hold for more. Downside looks limited for now.
So I picked up 20,000 shares earlyish today at 23p. Target (initial) 30 stop 20. Some nice strong buying has been coming in all morning which bodes well.
I've taken profits in the Centamin spread at 118 for a profit of £360. Looks to be in a tight range from 108-121 for now so bagged the profit while it is still there.
And profits taken in PVCS short at 50.5 which banks a profit of £475. Support looked good here at around 50 so it's time to call it a day. Target reached, tried for a little more but it didn't happen. Total profit banked for site today is £835 which adding the rest of the week's profit taking makes banked profits this week of well over £7,000.
There's not really a lot to talk about with no major or even interesting moves for the portfolio since Wednesday - I might as well retire to bed for the day and watch Cash under the table or whatever it is on the TV.
Elsewhere recent buy PZ Cussons is really doing the business, already up majorly - bit of a surprise as I thought it would be more of a slow and steady climber.
SDL is proving very volatile, up 15 one day down 20 the next but no matter, to me a lovely hold now at the price I got. It's quite illiquid for a FTSE250 stock which means holders like me need to hold their nerve - it's easily manipulated now on small orders.
Nice report from Carclo yesterday which saw the price marked up a little. I wasn't impressed with the one or two broker comments I saw. They haven't realised the commercialisation prospects of one of Carclo's divisions and I'd expect to hold for most of this year with I feel some great gains to come. A possible double over the next year to 18 months for me.
Recent buy Batm seems a touch becalmed at around where I bought it. One I'd take quick losses on if it starts to weaken.
Shorts in Wolseley still there and going well with more than a grand in profit at the mo. Difficult to know when to close this out as well as the FTSE short which is very well in profit. The new short in Northgate currently goes well. Of course all these would need closing out quick if the market was to rally strongly. I'd be foolish not to bank.
Dimension Data continues to look strong after its excellent statement and now up more than £3,000 already on the big spreadbet I have on it and more than £1,000 on the standard trade.
Alterian - well the jury is out still - needs a good close above 140 really and at the moment I'm not sure. Still, I'm so well up on the first lot it won't matter too much if this trade doesn't work out. Kentz is rising slowly but surely.
Intec Telecoms nearly doubled but seems to be a little stuck right now. My lovely trebler Petrofac is on the move up again and seems to have strong support at 950ish and is trying to get above 1000 again.
The market volatility means some nerve is needed! February as usual is not going to be easy!
