Stocks And Shares

[Iskra]

Does anyone here trade or invest in these?

It's been a great day today!

I invested in Oil, Coca Cola and HSBC starting back in lockdown and I've made a healthy return so far. Obviously I have had a couple of setbacks along the way but I think that's pretty normal!

 

[radamfi]

Does anyone here trade or invest in these?

It's been a great day today!

I invested in Oil, Coca Cola and HSBC starting back in lockdown and I've made a healthy return so far. Obviously I have had a couple of setbacks along the way but I think that's pretty normal!

Probably the vast majority of people here invest in the stock market, albeit not in individual shares, a lot of them without even realising. I have held Coca-Cola for a few years but most of my portfolio is in ETFs and investment trusts. Investing in individual shares only has a point if you think you can beat the market, or want high yield. Even in the case of the latter you can get high yielding funds. I'm considering ditching my few remaining individual stocks.

 

[Iskra]

Probably the vast majority of people here invest in the stock market, albeit not in individual shares, a lot of them without even realising. I have held Coca-Cola for a few years but most of my portfolio is in ETFs and investment trusts. Investing in individual shares only has a point if you think you can beat the market, or want high yield. Even in the case of the latter you can get high yielding funds. I'm considering ditching my few remaining individual stocks.

That’s true. Anyone with a pension is likely to be investing!

Interesting!

 

[Domh245]

Funds are definitely the recommended way to go if you want a relatively low effort and lower risk way to get involved. Low rate index-linked tracker funds are usually a safe bet, but equally if you're willing to pay a little more for actively managed funds (and the knowledge of those fund managers) you stand to potentially gain a lot more than you'd lose in the higher fees.

It definitely has been a good day today, though as the warning text always says - the value of your investment may go up or down. A little over 2 weeks ago the market had a big drop for a couple of days before rebounding, it's certainly a fickle thing! I'm personally holding off buying anything more though until January (or at least, that picture becomes clearer) - could be some relative bargains about then!

 

[mikeg]

I too have invested heavily in recent months and traded to a certain extent too in a share dealing account I'd had dormant for a while. I also have shares in my lifetime isa, which are still slightly down. My main investments have been in telecoms (bt and talktalk), oil in rdsb and banking (natwest group and a turnaround punt on metro Bank). I've done pretty well. I've also traded in and out of AA and sold my shares in Bpost at about 8 point something having bought at the high 5 point somethings, two companies I believe have done well out of the pandemic. I retain a holding in the former as I believe its value is not yet realised. Problem is its a regular shared ealing account and if I do too much better and want to sell up I'll have to pay CGT, which I've never had to do before. I dread having to do a self assessment. But yes despite moving out I now have more in savings than before. Its my buy a place fund.

Incidentally did anyone else's stock brokers website crash today? I couldn't have gotten out if I wanted to.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I used to hold about a dozen different stocks directly, and only lost money on two of those - and one of those two was because I was on holiday when an expected takeover bid materialised but by the time I got home the price had fallen back as the bid had failed to get anywhere!

These days my direct holding is a single stock which I ended up with through some takeovers and mergers which meant the shares were effectively free, so I'm not too worried that this means I'm "overweight" on that stock; it does produce a decent dividend.

 

[Bayum]

I’ve got a few. Gutted I didn’t put anything into Pfizer! Mainly, I’ve focussed on travel - aeroplane companies and a couple of retailers too.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Rolls Royce share price seemed to do quite well yesterday. Up 43% from 69.5p to £1. Of course, the art of dealing in the stock market is knowing when to time your trades!

 

[Jozhua]

I dabble, mostly as a hobby with 20 quid. Lose a few, win a couple kinda thing... I'm using Trading 212, so probably getting screwed somewhere lol. Tried to buy Pfizer this morning and it crashed :/

Overall, I'm net - £2, but I've found that sticking with the stocks a bit more is a better approach, I'm not perticularly clued in, or great at it, which is why I'm only using a small amount of money. I could use the practise account, but then Where's the fun in that?

 

[D365]

Of course, the art of dealing in the stock market is knowing when to time your trades!

That's exactly why I haven't looked into stock trading yet. Buyers/sellers remorse

 

[DarloRich]

funny how this kind of betting seems to be more acceptable than the 3:15 at Towcester.

 

[nlogax]

Put a fair amount into funds during March when things were going south and across everything I'm up in a double digit percentage. Can't really complain.

 

[najaB]

Put a fair amount into funds during March when things were going south and across everything I'm up in a double digit percentage. Can't really complain.

I'm down on my airline stocks, but that's a long-term investment.

 

[nlogax]

I'm down on my airline stocks, but that's a long-term investment.

Yep that's the trick. I'll never get rich quick doing this

 

[ainsworth74]

I opened a Stocks & Shares ISA a few months ago and put it all into one of those index tracker fund thingies. It's been quite interesting watching it go up and down in value. I don't think it's tipped negative at any point but on average it's gone up by around 2% which considering the current interest rates on a savings account isn't bad at all! Checked it just now however and it's up by nearly 7% long may it continue!

 

[GRALISTAIR]

My brother in law in Preston has his own company so I let him take care of my UK assets -but as is said above, interests rates are lousy so I put about 20K sterling in Premium Bonds. Had a few prizes too.

 

[Mojo]

I use Trading 212 (I know not the best but it's simple and easy) mobile app for individual company shares as well as Oil. Individual companies I have only really invested in airlines as have made all the investments in the past few months.

I've also got a stocks and shares Isa which I only really set up to make me eligible for a HSBC Premier account but I've ended up putting more in it recently because interest rates are so poor.

 

[deltic]

The stock market is still 20% down on the beginning of the year and is lower than its peak in 1999! Investing in individual shares can be highly risky. Regular monthly investments in a range of stocks (ie via a pension fund) is generally a safer way to invest also has huge tax advantages. I see Pfizer share price is also lower than it was earlier this year and well below its 1999/2000 peak.

 

[mikeg]

funny how this kind of betting seems to be more acceptable than the 3:15 at Towcester.

Because the 3:15 at Towcester is a net loser, whereas on average over the long term the stock market makes money. Especially if you reinvest any dividends, it outperforms pretty much any investment available to us mere mortals.

The stock market is still 20% down on the beginning of the year and is lower than its peak in 1999! Investing in individual shares can be highly risky. Regular monthly investments in a range of stocks (ie via a pension fund) is generally a safer way to invest also has huge tax advantages. I see Pfizer share price is also lower than it was earlier this year and well below its 1999/2000 peak.

Which to me in my style of value investing, suggests there's a good potential for long term or even short term investment. Has to be said the US market was and is overvalued as a whole though. The British Market is currently still cheap largely because any effects of the B word are priced in, as well as the pandemic. Such huge drops are rare, although an element of risk you're more likely to make money long term than in a savings account. In fact I'd say a savings account is a bigger risk as once inflation is taken into account most are guaranteed to lose you a small amount of money each year, which over many years adds up.

 

[radamfi]

Because the 3:15 at Towcester is a net loser, whereas on average over the long term the stock market makes money. Especially if you reinvest any dividends, it outperforms pretty much any investment available to us mere mortals.

At this stage someone normally mentions property as a more reliable long term investment. I wonder if @DarloRich is one of those who thinks that? Both property and share investment involve risk but a lot of people consider property as a one-way bet and think share investment is like going to the casino. However, when share investment is packaged and labelled as a "pension", people suddenly think it is safe.

 

[DarloRich]

Because the 3:15 at Towcester is a net loser, whereas on average over the long term the stock market makes money. Especially if you reinvest any dividends, it outperforms pretty much any investment available to us mere mortals.

All you are doing is using the financial times vice the racing post for your form guide. You are still trying to pick a winner no matter how you dress it up. The value of your bet can go down as well as up.

BTW - I usually come away from a racecourse up on the day and when I was at uni I lived on football betting winnings. I don't bet now as I am not as stupid or desperate!

At this stage someone normally mentions property as a more reliable long term investment. I wonder if @DarloRich is one of those who thinks that? Both property and share investment involve risk but a lot of people consider property as a one-way bet and think share investment is like going to the casino. However, when share investment is packaged and labelled as a "pension", people suddenly think it is safe.

Share investing, at least as described here, IS like going to the casino and sooner people admit that the better! That's fine but If I want to bet I will go to Ladbrookes. BTW Property is safer than betting on the stock market although much more long term in results.

Also my pension fund has a very secure, low risk, investment portfolio. They aren't looking for a quick buck. They are looking for steady, stable returns from steady, stable companies over a very long period. That isn't what amateur day traders are looking for.

This is all very Gordon Gekko wannabe stuff anyway! Plus I ( nor my family) have never had the money to invest in anything.

 

[radamfi]

Share investing, at least as described here, IS like going to the casino and sooner people admit that the better! That's fine but If I want to bet I will go to Ladbrookes. BTW Property is safer than betting on the stock market although much more long term in results.

Also my pension fund has a very secure, low risk, investment portfolio. They aren't looking for a quick buck. They are looking for steady, stable returns from steady, stable companies over a very long period. That isn't what amateur day traders are looking for.

Short term trading isn't investing. Property can be very risky, especially in the short term, as gains/losses are magnified if you are using borrowed money, which most property investors do. Many people have lost a lot of money in property. For example, some people buying in London in the late 80s, or in Northern Ireland in the 2000s. It is also difficult to diversify using property as most people can only afford to buy one house. At least most people doing short term share trading generally don't bet with borrowed money. Spread betting on share prices is a different matter, of course. You used to be able to bet on the UK property market at spread betting firms. Not sure if that exists now. That was really risky.

Out of interest, do you know what "secure, low risk" investments your pension fund is using? If they are too low risk, your money might not grow enough by the time you retire. More likely you are invested in a variety of low and higher risk investments.

 

[DarloRich]

Short term trading isn't investing. Property can be very risky, especially in the short term, as gains/losses are magnified if you are using borrowed money, which most property investors do. Many people have lost a lot of money in property. For example, people buying in London in the late 80s, or in Northern Ireland in the 2000s. It is also difficult to diversify using property as most people can only afford to buy one house. At least most people doing short term share trading generally don't bet with borrowed money. Spread betting on share prices is a different matter, of course. You used to be able to bet on the UK property market at spread betting firms. Not sure if that exists now. That was really risky.

Out of interest, do you know what "secure, low risk" investments your pension fund is using? If they are too low risk, your money might not grow enough by the time you retire. More likely you are invested in a variety of low and higher risk investments.

All betting has risk and "investing" is betting dressed up with fancy words and phrases. I have got nothing to " invest" anyway. It is all in my house which I bet will make me more money over a longer term than I would ever get off the stock market.

Like I said no one in my family has ever had money to invest in stocks and shares so it all seems a bit like witchcraft! Great if you understand it all. I don't. I do understand property.

PS on the pension I have spoken to the trustees and the administrators, seen their presentations, questioned them and read the performance reports. The portfolio looks, to my untrained eye, sensible and solid. There is, of course, some risk but not large risks at least in pension terms!

 

[JonathanP]

All betting has risk and "investing" is betting dressed up with fancy words and phrases. I have got nothing to " invest" anyway. It is all in my house which I bet will make me more money over a longer term than I would ever get off the stock market.

PS on the pension I have spoken to the trustees and the administrators, seen their presentations, questioned them and read the performance reports. The portfolio looks, to my untrained eye, sensible and solid. There is, of course, some risk but not large risks at least in pension terms!

I think you are defeating your own argument here.

Portfolio = a set of bets
Performance reports = the current value of the bets
trustees and the administrators = people who make bets

 

[radamfi]

All betting has risk and "investing" is betting dressed up with fancy words and phrases. I have got nothing to " invest" anyway. It is all in my house which I bet will make me more money over a longer term than I would ever get off the stock market.

Like I said no one in my family has ever had money to invest in stocks and shares so it all seems a bit like witchcraft! Great if you understand it all. I don't. I do understand property.

PS on the pension I have spoken to the trustees and the administrators, seen their presentations, questioned them and read the performance reports. The portfolio looks, to my untrained eye, sensible and solid. There is, of course, some risk but not large risks at least in pension terms!

As I said earlier, a lot of people have an cavalier attitude to property ("you should always buy the biggest house you can afford") yet are extremely risk averse regarding shares, which is illogical when looking at the historical returns of the two kinds of investment. The financial industry is mostly to blame, as they make the stock market look a lot more complicated than it actually is, but it should be taught in schools.

You say that you have nothing to invest, but you are probably already investing heavily in the stock market through your pension and hopefully your pension will contain hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of shares by the time you retire, which will be necessary if you want to have a comfortable retirement.

 

[DarloRich]

As I said earlier, a lot of people have an cavalier attitude to property ("you should always buy the biggest house you can afford") yet are extremely risk averse regarding shares, which is illogical when looking at the historical returns of the two kinds of investment. The financial industry is mostly to blame, as they make the stock market look a lot more complicated than it actually is, but it should be taught in schools.

You say that you have nothing to invest, but you are probably already investing heavily in the stock market through your pension and hopefully your pension will contain hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of shares by the time you retire, which will be necessary if you want to have a comfortable retirement.

I agree. My ignorance of the stock market, pensions and the operation of finance and financial institutions in general is shocking.

 

[mikeg]

The financial industry is mostly to blame, as they make the stock market look a lot more complicated than it actually is, but it should be taught in schools.

Was certainly given a basic lesson on shares in my gcse business studies, the teacher even ran a fantasy shares competition (think I came third or so). That was 2004.

 

[radamfi]

The stock market is still 20% down on the beginning of the year and is lower than its peak in 1999! Investing in individual shares can be highly risky. Regular monthly investments in a range of stocks (ie via a pension fund) is generally a safer way to invest also has huge tax advantages. I see Pfizer share price is also lower than it was earlier this year and well below its 1999/2000 peak.

The FTSE 100 was just under 7,000 in 1999 and is about 6,300 now. But that doesn't include dividends. When you include them a lump sum investment made in 2000 would have more than doubled by now. If you had made regular monthly investments, as you suggest, you would have bought shares at the lower prices available around 2000-2002 and then again 2008-2010 which would be very profitable by now. If you had invested in an S&P 500 tracker in 2000 that would have done much better.

 

[najaB]

All betting has risk and "investing" is betting dressed up with fancy words and phrases. I have got nothing to " invest" anyway. It is all in my house which I bet will make me more money over a longer term than I would ever get off the stock market.

That would entirely depend on your choices, but smart investors typically make about double the returns on stocks as people who invest in property.

 

[mikeg]

I agree with @najaB on this. Also putting so much into your house is like putting all your eggs into one basket, something even a semi clued up investor would never do. I suppose if there was a house price crash what would you do?

Regarding @DarloRich s assertion that it's all very Tory I would reluctantly have to agree but being obsessed with property isn't? A house is a machine for living in, not an investment vehicle.