Strategies

Why you must cut your losses to be a profitable investor
Being a smart investor comes down to the way you manage your risks. The one thing that pulls so many investors' portfolios down is not cutting losses. The impact is huge. Let's take a closer look at why keeping your losses small is so crucial to your investment success… Don’t let losses decimate your investment portfolio Investing all comes down to making money. You invest in sh... ››› more
[19 February 2015]

Consumer inflation drops nearly 1% on significant fuel price cuts
Earlier today, Stats SA released its consumer inflation data for January. The data showed that inflation eased sharply from December to January. The main factor behind the drop in inflation was the lower fuel price. Let's take a closer look at what the data showed… Consumer inflation for January came in at 4.4% Consumer inflation, as measured by the consumer price index (CPI), “... ››› more
[18 February 2015]

Asset allocation uncovered: Don't worry too much about how you split your investments, watch what you pay in fees
Asset allocation is the process of splitting your investments amongst a number of different asset classes. For example, investing across a range of asset classes including shares, bonds, property, gold and cash. Asset allocation reduces your overall investment risk and smooths out returns over the long-term. If you've given asset allocation any thought, you may be wondering what the best spl... ››› more
[11 February 2015]

Use this technique to spot a bear market
As an investor, you want the market in a sustained upward trend (a bull market). But there are periods when the stock market enters a bear market - the price of stocks starts to trend downwards. So how can you tell if a bear market has arrived? Read on to find out… The best indicator of a bear market The best indicator of the arrival of a bear market is seeing lower highs and l... ››› more
[02 February 2015]

A simple investment strategy to get you firmly on the path to wealth
If you're looking for an investment strategy to help you build long-term wealth, the easier it is, the better. And that's exactly what this investment strategy is. It's easy to follow and you only have to get to grips with one concept. Read on to find out more about this investment strategy… Focus on capital efficiency This investment strategy involves focusing on capital efficien... ››› more
[27 January 2015]

Stick to these four rules to become the best investor you can
If you invest or are thinking about investing, you'll have various forces driving you. These may include building a nest egg, generating an income and growing your wealth. Whatever your reasons for investing are, there are some factors you should always bear in mind. Keep these rules at the forefront of all your investment decisions and you'll be a better and more successful investor as a re... ››› more
[23 January 2015]

If your investment portfolio is on the risky side, rebalancing could hold the key to boosting returns
Rebalancing your portfolio is all about keeping the different types of assets you hold within certain percentages. The idea behind this investment strategy is to reduce your portfolio risk by ensuring you don't let you portfolio get too heavy in certain assets. But what about your returns? Rebalancing can limit your returns as by selling off assets that have grown in value, you can lose out ... ››› more
[22 January 2015]

The best way to rebalance your portfolio and reap the benefits
When you first invest, you should decide on what asset allocation you're going to stick to. For example, what percentage of your portfolio you'll hold in stocks and what percentage you'll hold in bonds. Over time, the asset allocation of your portfolio will change as their underlying values rise and fall. So every now and then you need to rebalance your portfolio. But what's the best way to ... ››› more
[21 January 2015]

Are jittery markets making you worry about your portfolio? Use this investment strategy to reduce your stress levels
Stock markets the world over seem a bit all over the place at the moment. If you're watching every market move and worrying about the impact on your investments, it's time to give your portfolio the once over. So how can you change the holdings in your portfolio to survive any stock market storm? Read on to uncover an investment strategy to do just that… The core principle at the hea... ››› more
[20 January 2015]

Why you should hone in on companies that communicate well with their shareholders
The JSE's stock exchange news service (SENS) is a vital component of being a listed company. Through SENS, companies communicate to their shareholders and the market. On SENS you'll see results, trading updates, news of potential buyouts, and much more. So can what a company says through SENS give you hints about a business itself? Read on to find out… The importance of shareholde... ››› more
[19 January 2015]

Investing strategy uncovered: How to ensure you don't fall for a ‘value trap'
When you come across a seemingly good company with a share price that seems lower than it should be, before buying you need to check it's not a value trap. So what should you do if a company looks great, but its share price seems abnormally low? It could be a great investment opportunity, but it could be a value trap. Read on to find out what you should do… What is a value trap? ... ››› more
[19 January 2015]

What's the best way to insure your portfolio against the downside?
Chances are you'll have insurance for your house, your car and your life. This helps to protect you against the unknown. But when it comes to your investment portfolio, what's the best form of insurance? Unlike car and home insurance where you don't expect to make a profit, there is a form of investment insurance that could see you making some money. So what is this form of investment in... ››› more
[16 January 2015]

Follow these six secrets to grow the value of your investment portfolio
Investing can seem complicated. It's hard to know where to start off and what you can do to grow wealth over time. But there are six overriding factors that will determine the value of your investment portfolio over the long-term. It's these six factors that you should concentrate on to attain your long-term investment goals. So what are these six factors? Read on to find out… ... ››› more
[13 January 2015]

Three ways to improve the performance of your investment portfolio in 2015
At this time of year, many people embrace the fresh start, desperate to make and stick to a few resolutions. Your investment portfolio should be no different. If you haven't made any resolutions for your portfolio so far, here are three to get your started. They could make a big difference to the performance of your portfolio this year. Read on to find out what they are… Investme... ››› more
[07 January 2015]

How to handle a crashing stock
Yesterday, stocks on the Johannesburg Stock Exchange fell almost 4%. That's the JSE's worst fall in more than six-years. When you own stocks, it can sometimes be a white knuckle ride. So what's the best way to handle a crashing stock? Here's what you should do… What’s the best strategy to deal with a crashing stock? When a stock you own starts heading south quickly, it’s n... ››› more
[06 January 2015]

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