Hi,
As you can probably tell from my request I am new to the share dealing game. After investing my money (not much, but all that I could afford) I was somewhat disappointed to see the results of the so-called professionally managed funds in which I had invested.
So, I have decided to look at doing it myself. I have read many of your messages on this site but would like to address this question to the more experienced investors amongst you: I realise that the share tips you mention are only recommendations and you all repeat the mantra do your own research which I thoroughly agree with. However, being a novice can you recommend any reading materials (books, websites etc.) that will offer me a sound introduction as to how to analyse a stock?
Any help would be very gratefully received and who knows, one day I too could be exchanging share tips with some of you experts!

Couple of ideas from me, but there are masses of people on here more experienced than I am..

Read both Shares magazine and Investors Chronicle both have good company
reports in them and keep the magazines!! They are valuable sources
of reference for research.

Read the FT even if it is only the Saturday one.

'Schwarz trends' is very interesting - can be picked up on BBC 2 Ceefax on the
weekends plus there is a website and a book if you can get hold of it...

Alvin Hall has a very very basic book on shares, this may give you a very
basic idea of looking at companies/reports etc. Explains terms etc.
"Winning with shares" is the title of that one.

Which? used to produce a book
on shares (mine is old and tatty but reprints or 2nd hand copies may be around)
"Which? Guide to shares" for that one.

After that you can get into all those techno-bookies on charts etc! Places like Amazon will have lists of those, just use the search engine.


Lastly - remember how we all learn?
By making mistakes....there is NO magic formula...
Just don't have too much riding on any one thing that the mistake is
one that leaves you high and dry.....
Good Luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Very good advice from above ,Take it in and learn.

..and given that's what everyone is doing try and find a less well-trodden path. Who makes surfboards? Are energy efficient lightbulbs catching on.
?..Think outside of the box and have an eye for a story..

hi
yes as above
always be on the look out

if you go into a shop (quoted share) and the service is great consider if that is representative of all shops owned or if your local is just a one off
equally
if service is awful are others finding the same, and therefore ill go elsewhare next time
is it busy???
are buses in demand this season?

there is /are lots of ways you can 'see' what is happening

my best advice is DO NOT FOLLOW WEEKEND TIPSHEETS/PAPERS

if the tip looks interesting leave it a week or so and 'watch' the price

MMs will mark up price on the monday after a wknd tip
but usually itll come back
when the writer of the tip sheet sells his shares which were bought before he wrote the tip!!!!

BE A CYNIC

Absolutely agree!!

Thanks to all of you for your advice and ideas - now if you excuse me I have some reading to do!

pma68 - I began trading full time in October 2003, slow going to start with, I began with a nominal amount of money, I thought this was the safest way as I learnt the ropes etc. Since Christmas things have gone extremely well, this week especially.

If you feel a share is a good buy try not to get frustrated if it does not move straight away, if it is a decent one it will eventually. Follow your gut feeling to a certain extent. Don't get emotionally attached to a particular company, I have known many people do this, remember it is your tool to make money. I have now upped my funds considerably as I feel I am gradually learning. I tend to spread my funds between three or four shares which I would intend to hold for any length of period between a day to two months. Charts are very good indicators. Don't buy a share that has flown recently. I nearly bought African Diamonds at 19p just after Christmas but decided against it (my big loss), I definately would not buy it now at approximately 80p. The odds are stacked against it maintaining that sort of progress.

All in all in my view share dealing is about luck, guts, research, trends, market sentiment to a particular sector, charts and particularly timing.

Good luck and I hope you are very profitable.

Hi pma68 - welcome to the financial world, I thought these web sites may be of interest to you.
http://www.moneyextra.com/stocks/ftse100
http://investor.stockpoint.com/inter.asp?
http://.investorease.com
http://advfn.com
http://uk.finance.yahoo.com
http://stockcharts.com
http://www.investtech.com/main/index.php
www.fxcm.com
http://stockcharts.com/education/ChartAnalysis/index.html
http://www.mrswing.com/artman/publish/cat_index_3.shtml
http://fast.quote.com/fq/cts/livechart.html?
http://infoex.hemscott.net/INFOEX.HTM (B/Board)
http://www.iii.co.uk
http://www.snappytrader.com/info/info.htm
http://money.msn.co.uk
http://www.foxinvestments.com/index.asp
http://www.tradersworld.com/updates/070203/TradingTheS&P.htm
www.the-way-trade.com (a most informative book a 'must read' by John Piper)

Think thats about it for now, should give you somthing to do over the weekend!

Hope there sites will help you on your way to financial success.

Cheers Mike...

pma68 - Click on 'edit' next to (Filtered) to read my post!

sorry, I filtered myself out could not read my post, fixed it now!!