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People are worried that the markets are near highs...

Published: 15:19 05 Oct 2017 BST

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MARKETS

I noted quite a bit of fear about over the last couple of seminars just completed.

People are worried that the markets are near highs. Thing is over the years there have been so many fearful events if I had taken notice of all of them I would never have placed a single trade.

There's always something to be worried about.

I made some great profits on the FTSE shorts - not as much if I was clever enough to get out at the bottom but the stops in profit did the trick and they stopped me out for a nice few grand.

Shares in bog roll maker Accrol were suspended today - lots of things were hidden under the U-Bend: increased debt, not selling much, and loads of other nasties.

These have been tipped by Investors Chronicle all year, and the Telegraph just the other week.

Again, always be careful of following other people's tips. If you follow tips written by people who have full-time jobs on papers or magazines think: if they were any good at shares they wouldn't need a full time job!

Anyway once trading resumes at probably half the current price the company will be offering a BOG OFF

- Buy One (share) Get One Free.

The seminars have come up with some very nice ideas and a brand new list of shares to watch for me. One of the reasons I love doing them! Thanks to you all at the follow up for your great ideas.

Headlam (LON:HEAD) was suggested at the follow up seminar. This floor coverings outfit looks pretty cheap.

Profits are rising and a great dividend of more than 5%. With the market at highs looks like a safeish choice as a tuckaway with potential for good capital growth maybe back up to near highs of 700p.

I managed to buy them at the then sell price live at the seminar. It's hard to find value as we sit near highs but there may be some here. The spread is the only issue and that's why I bought it on direct access.

If you want to learn how to get shares at sell prices there is still space for my beginners and improvers extra event this Monday! Email me for details - as it isn't full I'll throw in the early bird discount.

Numis (LON:NUM) also came up, a suggestion from Andy. Interesting one.

A very strong trading update this week with profits forecast to grow nicely. The company reports the second half the best on record.

Meanwhile a Dutch fashion magnate has taken an 11% stake raising speculation it could shortly be a takeover target as the last independent broker in the city.

Anders Holch Povlsen who owns near 30% of Asos and lots of other brands spent £30m on the stake in Numis.

Given he is not exactly stupid he wouldn't be buying unless he saw lots of upside one way or another so looks like one to be in and await developments! Could be some very nice upside indeed.

Another share raised at the seminar was Supergroup (LON:SGP) - fashion is fickle so it's not something I expect to be in for long. After all teenagers must be getting fed up seeing their dads in superdry stuff.

How uncool, check out my primark jumper!I've got for a short-term spreadbet in this one with the simple idea of getting around 100p from early 1700s to early 1800s. We shall see!

What's not to love about Iomart? (LON:IOM).

It just gradually goes up and made me a packet. And after this week's trading statement I struggle for a reason not to buy more. I couldn't find one.

This cloud computing outfit does everything right. The growth keeps coming and its recent acquisition is bedding in well. To reward shareholders the company has nearly doubled the dividend.

It says cash generation is high. And it has been bid for before, now I think we would be looking at 450p!

Best time to buy Photo-Me (LON:PHTM) is on any dip. It sometimes does that just because someone sold a few on the order book so I keep an eye out for any occasion like that. So I bought more on the dip this week.

I talked about it a lot in the last update so check back there for more.

I have shorted Pets at Home (LON:PETS) .

For newcomers that means I have bet on it to go down. Why? I have bought it in the past and it is not a bad business. But it has risen a lot recently from 171 up to 220 ish and it looks too high above 200p. Forecasts are flat and net debt is quite high.

So quite simply I think the recent rise is overdone and looking for a fall to below 200. Also quite a short-term idea. Once it is back below 200 - say around 185-190 I would turn buyer.

I've sold the final lot of Paysafe after it looks unlikely another bidder will come forwards, and I don't think it's worth waiting quite some time for an extra 7p on the price.

It's been tough to work it out as I had so many positions in it but profits for the website work out at about £72,000. And a lot more personally.

Thank you Paysafe (was optimal payments). I'll miss you but look forwards to using the cash elsewhere.

Elsewhere  YU group were I am up more than £15,000 on the site positions keeps on going up, really nice one.

Entertainment One keeps on motoring higher as does my other media pick ITV. This sector appears to be in favour.

Next Fifteen came up with a good statement and another acquisition. Shares rose after that but fell back after directors sold. On current weakness looks like a nice buying point.

K3C is going up very well after a share placing at 150p. Now over, the price should climb some more.

Volex appears to be climbing a lot today, no idea why but it's fine!

Everyman Cinema has raised loads of cash to create many more cinemas. The placing was oversubscribed which shows a lot of managers think Everyman is on the right road. Continues as a long-term hold.

Ten Entertainment bowled some nice figures - at some point I think it will be bought. Animo is coming up with lots of new deals that look promising, one in Finland and one in Germany,.

  Microgen and Burford Capital hold onto massive gains well. IG Group is trading well higher. I wonder if it can manage a run up to 700.

Safecharge on higher quality customers - a very good move - it should either go naturally higher or get bought out.


An interesting new high risker for me is Ceres Power (LON:CWR) which calls itself a world leader in next gen fuel cell tech for use in power products that is very green!

Lowers co2 and other emissions, increases efficiency and improves energy security. It has a technology that generates power from widely available fuels at high efficiency and it can be mass produced at affordable prices.

Worth checking out the website for more. It has quite a bit of net cash but is also loss-making.

It's a sink or swim one, it'll either be four times higher in a couple of years or four times lower.... hence the high risk! The market seems to buy into the story and I bought some on weakness today post results.

I added some more Sophos - one that is hard to value but the market really likes it so I bought some more on weakness. It is in the right sector at the right time so given market strength, it looks like there is more to come.

I have subscribed to the offer in new shares in ITM - and also asked for more at the issue price. A reminder
  the potential is huge for the alternative energy outfit. There could be some big growth in the markets. It's announced an electrolyser project with Shell.

And it is going to be producing hydrogen for zero emission French bus routes.

Cambridge Cognitition (LON:COG) rises yet again after weakness on results day. It has been granted funding to develop its pain measurement system and the long-term prospects continue to look excellent. It expects a strong H2.

  IQE has been a bit weak but rebounded sharply

Sopheon has been rising well thisweek, its software is being picked up now by bigger companies. Profits are going up, it has a nice cash pile, directors are buying and a dividend is promised.

Petrofac has put on a few quid but remains very high risk. A dividend pay out too.

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