Hi folks, I've just signed up on here, and I'm relatively inexperienced at trading. I was curious as to whether most of you on here are professional traders, or private investors (like me). I don't mean to be nosy of course!

well newbie, the vast majority of posters here are private but you have the occasional pro. the only comment i would have is to enjoy and participate on the boards but only play with what you can afford to lose. basic stuff i know but there are some characters who seek to ramp/deramp stocks and will print any lies to get people involved. Do your own research is the best advice when you find a stock you like. enjoy!

Do you mean as in full time or part time traders (private individuals)? Or employed to trade?


Good luck with your trading.

Thanks Proptrade, I did wonder if any ramping etc. went on, appreciate the advice. :-)

Hi Jumpin, I suppose what I really meant was full or part time.

anytime. any market stuff you are unsure of just post and there are quite a few old hands on here are willing to answer questions.

brittsac - yes ramping is alive and well and you need to be careful
of it. Any posts (on any BB's) that say a company is a SURE winner
or WILL BE a certain price in X amount of time is most probably
just someone ramping the share as nothing is that certain in the
market.

Proptrade is absolutely right - only trade with money you could
afford to lose if things went pear-shaped.

Lastly, find your own system and stick to it and always do your
own research, never take anyone elses word, check it yourself.

Good Luck
Stockbunny
PS - If you want a break pop into the dutch coffee house, everyone's
welcome and it brings some light relief to the serious stuff.

I am a full time addict, uh, I mean trader :)

Thanks again Proptrade, and thanks to you too Stockbunny, I'll do that sometime.

LOL Jumpin.

I guess I'm full-time, part of the time. Sounds strange I know.

Would echo other, brittsac. Take your time, research your own stuff and plod away. It's fun.

Thanks all, now, can anyone point me in the direction of a good glossary - I've seen lots of terms on here which I don't recognise.

If you can still get one there's a UK stockmarket almanac
published by Harriman House - you should be able to find it
in the bookshop - link in main menu across the screen above.
That has a glossery and lots of info that you may find
interesting. Check out the review if you can still get it.

best one i like is:

http://www.investopedia.com/university/

looks like alot on there but top left in a dictionary with all you need at this level in finance. happy reading!

Great, thanks Stockbunny and Proptrade, I'll have a look - much obliged. :-)

Just checked it's out of print - be careful about the other
one listed, it could relate to the US market and not ours.

stockbunny....was that the book that the FT were selling/offering free with subscription or tokens years ago? if so i remember it as SUCH a great read but probably out of touch now anyway...i used it to crib up on before my earliest city interviews. thx for the memories!

I don't know proptrade, it comes out each year, part diary
part information from various sources on the market and trends etc.
But if it made your Monday it can't be a bad thing
:>)

Phew, just found what looks like the last one in the whole world! On Amazon, 14. Thanks for the advice.

And yes, it was the UK one. :-)

:>)

what a happy monday all round! it was a different book but whatever, it brought back funny memories.
i also recommend some classics to see how things can go wrong. just found an excellent link to a great book: Extraordinary Popular Delusions And The Madness Of Crowds
By Charles MacKay 1841:

http://www.litrix.com/madraven/madne001.htm

old stuff but all holds true today.

also fread Liars Poker. great book.

rgds
PT

Alvin Hall has written a basic guide to shares and investing
"Winning with shares" should be widely available if you are
looking to start a library for reference - you may not actually
intend doing this britt but chances are you will in the end! LOL
After the basic stuff, there's loads and loads, just check if they
centre on the US or UK markets or a spread of markets. A lot of
the books about centre on the US (Alvin Hall's doesn't) which is
OK but not the same.

He's the guy who does that TV program, Your Money or Your Life isn't he? I'll have a look around for that too. Thanks.