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I have some spare cash (after the rainy day fund), that I am tempting to put into equities for a (potentially) greater return than I'm getting for my cash.
Up untill now the only shares I've bought/sold are company ones, either through sharesaves (near zero-risk) or buying on the open market.
I have a few shares I would be willing to invest in, though i have read for the newbie investor it can often be more beneficial to invest in a managed fund (keeping an eye on the fee's of course).
Thoughts of the collective?
I'm dipped my toe the past few weeks and bought 2 batches of shares (under a grand in total) in a bank and an oil company, looking at this as investment for a year or longer as the returns should outweigh the pittance in interest.
The company I purchased the shares through has a 30 day period where all buy/sell transactions are charged at £1, and the minimum transaction is I think £100. After the 30 day period the charge is about £6, there are no annual charges etc either.
Moneysupermarket and moneysavingexpert have details of such companies.
I also find it best to remember I'm in for a long term and stop looking at the daily price fluctuations....
National savings certificates might also be worth thinking about.
Currently offering guaranteed (and tax free) 0.5+RPI which at current inflation rates is a pretty good deal.
[url] http://www.nsandi.com/savings-index-linked-savings-certificates [/url]
Bullion
Gold is currently a good investment, it is true. However, only if you sell at the right time.
Gold will crash soon.
Dave TheAlchemist
If you want to keep your money, stick it underneath the bed for the next few months. Buy shares when Market low, but Markets will probably drop again in the coming months. Opinions like bums, everyone and his dog have them, buts that's mine.
Gold and silver always are.Gold was a better investment a year ago than it is now though, I've just made about a forty% mark up on last year's buy.
I've never bothered with anything except precious metal bullion and it consistently out performs the stock market overall,providing you buy in adequate quantities.
When Hugh Hendry said gold was a good buy it was - at 295. I didn't buy when he advised and I'm definitely not buying now. What happens if/when endebted govenments start selling reserves?
Funds or shares? Unless you know a company very well (well enough to be acused of insider trading) I think you'd be better with funds. I did a little buying last week but haven't bought with much conviction since selling in early 2000. My current portfolio is a nightmare selection of stuff that's left over having taken profits on anything that made a profit. Worth keeping if only to remind me that bear markets can last a long time. Ask the japanese.
[i]I've just made about a forty% mark up on last year's buy.[/i]
I take it you have actually sold it. Otherwise you haven't made 40%
Cheers guys. I'm aware there's a lot of volatility in the market at the moment (in fact its served me quite nicely 😉 and aware that there could be more trouble ahead in the next 6 weeks.
I didnt want this to turn into a gold buy/sell thread, just wanted advice on the pro's & cons of direct stocks and managed funds.