Last week, markets across the world were extremely volatile. Concerns over growth of the world's economy dented investor confidence. The swings on the market were hard to keep up with.
It's when the markets are like this that risk management becomes ever more important. When markets are trending upwards, it's easy to forget about vital strategies such as stop losses.
So why are stop losses s... ››› more
Large companies have always been attractive to investors. If you have a pension fund or invest in unit trusts, chances are you've got some money in these massive institutions.
There's a belief that bigger is better when it comes to investing safely. But is this actually the case?
Maybe the lumbering giants of the globe's stock markets are actually too big.
Let's take a look…
The p... ››› more
BHP Billiton made the headlines a couple of months ago after the commodities giant revealed it was spinning off some of its non-core assets to form a new company.
So is investing in a company spin-off a good idea?
Let's take a closer look…
How to get your hands on shares in a spin-off
When the parent company initially spins off its assets to form a new company and it lists, the sh... ››› more
In August, BHP Billiton announced its decision to move some of its non-core assets to form a new company.
So does such a move by a company present investors with a good opportunity?
Let's take a closer look…
Why spin-offs can be good for investors
Generally speaking, when one company buys another company, the shareholders often lose out. That’s because the price the buyer pays i... ››› more
The stock markets are all over the place. In the space of a few hours, they swing from a couple of percent down back up into positive territory.
Just a few short months ago, stock markets were continuing to do well after five-years of a bull market.
But things have changed.
So what's going on in the markets? And what can you do to survive?
Read on to find out…
The changing fort... ››› more
There are of course risks investing on the stock market. But there are some things you can do to lower the risk you take on.
If you want to seek out the safest stocks on the market, what should you look?
Let's take a closer look…
The safest shares on the stock market
If you look at shares on the stock market, one key principle is that selling the basics works. And if you’re look... ››› more
Quality stocks are those of businesses that through generating high sales and cash, and keeping an eye on costs, grow in a stable way.
These stocks tend to perform better than other companies when the trading environment takes a turn for the worse.
So what's the best way to find quality stocks?
Read on to find out…
Three ways to identify quality stocks
Quality stock indic... ››› more
If you look at the behaviour of investors, it's surprising how many investors make the same mistakes.
If you can pinpoint these investor mistakes and have strategies in place to help you avoid them, your investing success should improve as a result.
So what are these common investor mistakes? And what can you do to avoid making these mistakes?
Let's take a closer look…
Investor mi... ››› more
There are various strategies and ways to look for stocks that are going to perform. The latest craze is looking for ‘quality' stocks.
So what exactly are quality stocks? And how does looking for quality stocks differ from other investment strategies?
Let's take a closer look…
Popular investment strategies to make money in stocks
There are a whole host of investment strategies th... ››› more
If you want to build a core portfolio of stocks that are going to stand the test of time and perform, where do you start?
By focusing on a few key factors, you can increase your chances of making the right long-term investments and reap the benefits as the years pass.
So what should you look for?
Let's take a closer look…
Warren Buffett knows this secret to investing for the long-... ››› more
It's much publicised that Warren Buffett is a value investor. He looks out for stocks that are trading at a discount to their true value.
This may be true. But around the start of the 1970s, Warren Buffett started doing things a bit differently.
And it was this change in his investment strategy that helped to amass the riches he has today.
Let's see what Warren Buffett did and how you can... ››› more
Once you've done your research and unearthed some shares you want to invest in, the next hurdle you face is buying them.
Yes, you could go straight to the stock market and buy. But are you paying a fair price?
So how can you work out if the current price is good or not?
Read on to find out…
How much should you pay for a stock?
Paying too much for a stock is always a worry. The... ››› more
Building a successful portfolio isn't an easy task. You want to buy the right shares that will last for the long-term, performing for you along the way.
So what should you do when building your long-term investment portfolio?
Let's take a closer look…
How to make money investing in shares
There are three main principles to building a portfolio of shares:
Invest in compan... ››› more
When you invest, you may be worried that the market is going to take a turn for the worst and leave you with losses.
But you shouldn't let fear stand in the way of you investing in the market. You could be missing out on gains in the market.
The good news is, there are a few things to do to help you buy into stocks that should weather a market storm well and how you can react to the market's... ››› more
Finding undervalued shares to invest in can be very profitable.
You hope that over the long-term, the market will recognise the underlying value of the company and reward you handsomely as the share price moves higher.
So how can you go about finding such stock market bargains?
Let's take a closer look…
Start off with a company’s book value
A company’s book value comes und... ››› more