Markets
Well they were happy up to yesterday when Trump problems hit the US markets which rolled onto ours.
The FTSE has had an unhappy couple of days. As I write though it seems the falls are due to some big market caps falling and it doesn't seem to have spread to the wider market yet. So personally not affected much so far.
I wonder whether it will just be a bit of froth coming out rather than a big slide as with interest rates so low, where does the money go?
But I do wonder whether the economy is like a toppling tower of Jenga and we just need two or three more pieces to be pulled out for it to collapse.
Might take a while though. With markets near highs I've taken out a little protection with a short or two in spreadbets and the isa. Nothing major yet.
As usual I tend to try and follow. I realise it is not possible to get everything right or even mostly right. I've made a lot of money this year but values go up and down so perfectly relaxed if I lose part of the profit - that tends to be a given.
I find my pot goes up a lot, then down a bit, then up a bit etc. Main thing is try and avoid a massive hit if poss. Some short protection helps.
Those of you who came to the seminar remember the two major protections I showed you live for the isas and spreadets.
Despite market unhappiness this week being either foolish or brave, maybe both have done some buying as well as topslicing. I now hold a decent cash balance so if something weird happened and Labour won, I have some firepower.
I've bought some Concurrent Technology (LON:CNC) .
This computer board developer's profits are booming along with a nice-looking cash pile.
Profits are forecast to go higher. It has some risk attached as it is still quite small but... there is also potential high reward too.
The price can move around quite a bit so will give it a lot of leeway and try and hold firm.
I have also bought some Polypipe (LON:PLP). Made over £1,000 on this a while back. It's one of those boring sounding ones I like.
While most people go tearing around buying the next trendy oil share I am hunting for boring companies but ones that actually make real profits! This one, erm, well, makes pipes and stuff. Looks like people want to buy them though.
Profits are booming and the share price is gradually rising. The one downside is the debt is quite high but it is coming back and it only just within my usual tolerances. However that is probably priced in. Now, got to go out shopping. Got to get some new pipes for the garden...
I've also picked up some Up Global (LON:UPGS). (They don't like it up 'em either). I like its half year report especially the word "transformational" (used twice).
I love transformational companies. Often it transforms the share price.
Anyway it designs all kind of gadgets and stuff that you order on amazon. Internet sales are lifting profits and they bagged the former CEO of Poundland, an excellent appointment. Underlying profits are up a huge 78%
. Looks like this one has a lot further to rise and expect to tuck these away for a while. Dividend payer too. I've taken some profits off the table and topsliced here and there too as it has been a good year.
I also took up some shares in the Tritax Big Box (LON:BBOX) offer - this one has been brilliant for the portfolio, capital up nearly 40% and a lovely 5% dividend too! Excellent management at that company and a lovely long-term hold.
Long-term hold Vec disappointed with a statement on one of its drugs so banked some profits on three positions, however have left the rest which are in very nice profits some running for recovery which should come. Banked £1,284.
I sold spo for a loss of £54 under get out quick policy on new ones that don't go up. Sellers kept coming in on level 2 and so I quit. However I will try an entry point again on that one. (I try three times and after that always leave it alone for at least 3 months).
I took profits on Redrow - property companies aren't really my thing so decided to bank after a strong run picking up profits of £744.
I took a loss of £440 on Sopheon as it looked like my top up was bought near... the top! It kept drifting down. Not really sure why, possibly just profit taking. But held onto currently profitable positions in it and considering buying back any minute as surely it must be worth more than now!
Som raced ahead and smashed through target so sold a few for a profit of £1,002. But I kept hold of the rest for now. I see they are down a bit today (Trump?) so considering picking up more.
Emis spreadbet went well and sold it for a profit of £630.
I sold my Harvey Nash this morning at 75.4 for a profit of £548.
Topsliced some Softcat has been a lovely trade and sold a few today for a profit of £1,427 closing out one of the site trades. Total profit banked for the site today then £5,141
Elsewhere Long term holding Dignity's statement pleased the market with a lovely rise, profits for me in real life stand over £30,000. Death defying!
Convatec has been a great trade. GB pleased the market with a massive acquision and it managed to raise a lot of money very quickly.
Safecharge has charged up and getting close to the 300p mark. Purplebricks is close to highs - question is can it break through?
Science has had some great gains and doesn't want to stop. Yu Group has dashed up and past 400p. IG Group has risen nicely (here's hoping for good news on the way).
Morgan sindall has dashed up a couple of hundred points and NMC! Fantastic rise of nearly 400 points.
Anyway hold onto your hats we could be in for a volatile few weeks - thanks to our old mate Trump!
I've bought some ULS Tech (LON:ULS) for the high risk portfolio.
Looks rather a nice one with risk obviously!
It provides B to B transactions in the conveyancing markets and this looks like a growth area
.Its recent statement was very positive and expects to perform ahead of expectations so we can expect the next results will be very decent.
There also seems to be strong buying coming in so looks a decent addition.
Recent buy Applied Graphene Materials (LON:AGM) is doing fine for the moment let's hope the first orders for fishing rods grow!
Big money possibly could come from collaboration with Airbus Space and Defence . There are a load of other areas where contracts could be made and materials used. One decent win could see the share price way higher.
Looking around the riskers, Concur Tech maintains recent rises well and I have also bought some for the ISa as stated above. Recent buy ECSC was tipped by the mail on Sunday and has risen 25%! WTF! I sold half obviously but even without the tip it goes well though also because of the tip it is now crazy volatile.
Recent buy Ergomed (LON:ERGO) goes well. Positive noises from its development partner and the chairman bought 100,000 shares.
High risk Purplebricks (LON:PURP) has zoomed over the 300p mark, a good sign and now tries to get over highs at 350. Expect volatility here.
Cambridge Cognition (LON:COG) holds well as does Benchmark.
And Fevertree (LON:FEVR) continues to fizz higher. I suspect someone is going to buy it sooner than later? Maybe Schwepps?
Stockopedia is indeed like a stock market encyclopedia and a great place to scan for new shares to buy, check out fundamentals, discuss on a sensible bulletin board. Each share gets a ranking, you can use "guru" screens to find shares, there is even a stock screen loosely based on my criteria! You can try it for free too.