Since my last post the markets have become increasingly volatile. The Greek crisis is back, Goldman and financial institutions are back under investigation and the UK economy expanded by 0.2% in the first quarter. The UK elections are on our door step and we may end up with a hung parliament.
This was half the expected rate. All this volatility etc has not affected my portfolio my positions are increasing in value.
Since the beginning of the competition two months ago I’m up 22%.
When profits are there take them and that’s what I’ve done. My cash position is back to 19k. I’ve halved my position at Astrazenaca, Ladbrooks, and SAB Miller.
The reason for selling out of these positions was because I wanted to release cash and take some profits when I had them. It took a while for Ladbrooks to turn profitable. I didn’t make much money but I got out with profits.
I sold SAB on the day of their results which was good as the stock continued to gain. Overall a 10% profit on SAB Miller.
My biggest performer is Royal Bank of Scotland. I first purchased shares at 35p now they are 55p and have broken through technical resistance on the upside. I might add to them, I need to analyse the charts, RSI and MACD first.
Other holdings that are performing well are Kingspan, and the retailers. The change in the weather will have positive affects. People love hitting the shops.
BG is still my laggared. Losing £300 quid on it. I won’t sell till its back in the black, but I will find an alternative commodities or oil and gas company to invest in if I can.
Overall I’m happy to be at the top of the leader board. Staying their will be the challenge.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Sunday, 4 April 2010
Timing and the decision to sell
Timing and the decision to sell
It’s been another good two weeks on the fantasy share trading game for the Cass MBA finance society.
The portfolio is now up 10% since I entered the competition. Pretty good and it’s out performing the FTSE 100 index which is my bench mark.
Since I last wrote I invested £10k in Astrazennaca. I did this because they have the biggest exposure to the US market of the UK pharmaceutical stocks.
The recent legislation change in the US should benefit them. But I’m now beginning to think, that upside benefit maybe after the competition has ended.
Unlike Ladbrokes, which had a few weeks of under performance, I knew the calendar was full of near term events to provide a catalyst to the share price, Cheltenham, World Cup and a new CEO.
My investment paid off and they are proving a good investment.
All the other stocks are in profits.
Now timing and the decision to sell:
The global recovery is back on track. US unemployment is stabilising, consumer confidence and retail sales are improving and factory output is increasing.
All good news, but the markets have run away with themselves to some extent. I guess I could be clever now and take some profits, but I think I will wait till the end of the month. I’m still sticking to the sell in May and go away principle.
I will convert a lot of stock into cash in May.
Near term I think I will sell my BG position and increase my position in Kingspan and RBS.
Retailing is also still interesting. An improvement in the weather will see a change in people’s mood and they will go shopping. It’s been too cold for people to take a day trip into the west end to go window shopping, but when the weather breaks I expect the people to go shopping and the stores to break out their new spring / summer wear which has been sitting in the stores waiting for the weather to break.
Timing is everything!
It’s been another good two weeks on the fantasy share trading game for the Cass MBA finance society.
The portfolio is now up 10% since I entered the competition. Pretty good and it’s out performing the FTSE 100 index which is my bench mark.
Since I last wrote I invested £10k in Astrazennaca. I did this because they have the biggest exposure to the US market of the UK pharmaceutical stocks.
The recent legislation change in the US should benefit them. But I’m now beginning to think, that upside benefit maybe after the competition has ended.
Unlike Ladbrokes, which had a few weeks of under performance, I knew the calendar was full of near term events to provide a catalyst to the share price, Cheltenham, World Cup and a new CEO.
My investment paid off and they are proving a good investment.
All the other stocks are in profits.
Now timing and the decision to sell:
The global recovery is back on track. US unemployment is stabilising, consumer confidence and retail sales are improving and factory output is increasing.
All good news, but the markets have run away with themselves to some extent. I guess I could be clever now and take some profits, but I think I will wait till the end of the month. I’m still sticking to the sell in May and go away principle.
I will convert a lot of stock into cash in May.
Near term I think I will sell my BG position and increase my position in Kingspan and RBS.
Retailing is also still interesting. An improvement in the weather will see a change in people’s mood and they will go shopping. It’s been too cold for people to take a day trip into the west end to go window shopping, but when the weather breaks I expect the people to go shopping and the stores to break out their new spring / summer wear which has been sitting in the stores waiting for the weather to break.
Timing is everything!
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