We have lots of experienced traders on MoneyAM who would be glad to help if you have any trading questions.

RNS = Regulatory News Service

Most significant company announcements are made between 7 and 8 on a morning before the mkt opens. On Stockwatch there's a little N in a box if there's any new news. Click on the N and it brings up a list of the news for that stock. New ones are at the top and have today's date. Click on the summary and you have today's news. Now all you have to do is decide whether it's good or bad - don't forget how very contrarian the market can be!!!

Question for The Playboy, can you please tell me which method you prefer (cfd's/futures/etc) and which Broker when trading the DOW index?

YOYO-I trade futures now, trade cfds last year but have had a change for the better, suits my trading style, only one was to trade futs and thats Direct access, I use Gni, other IB, if not CMC as a spreadbetter have the tightest spreads for ftse 2pts, I don,t trade the dow but same rules apply for co,s as for ftse traders i would have thought, hope this helps!

Many thanks

FTSE Cash & S&P cash, found its far cheaper than spread betting.

Hello

I was wondering if someone here could help me out on an issue

I have read on a number of occasions about "closed periods". I understand that this is aperiod where officers of the compnay are prohibited from trading. Often they are pre-empted by heavy buying or selling of stocks by directors and other compnay officers.

What I would like to know is how can one ascertain when a closed period is approaching?

Can anyone help please

i wanted to open a cfd acc at my online broker - thats ok but i am classified as "intermediate client" -this means if they go under my funds are not safe - ie no money in a segregated account - does anyone offer a "private client" cfd service ???

thanks in advance
ken

Ken,
Most of us are in a similar situation but do not put all our money into the account. Even with a small sum they give you at least 10X equity. So you can deposit 5000 and are still able to buy 50,000 of stocks. You are then using their money and not yours so you can minimise the risk.
D.

Pumacat, the closed period is always ahead of results, I think by 4 weeks but happy to be corrected on that, so if you know when a company's results are due then you can work out when their closed period is.

Thanks Seymour

Puma, closed period: generally the two months leading up to results. There are restrictions on directors dealings but contrary to popular belief the company CAN still talk to the market. Details in the Model Code, part of the Yellow Book. Do a search on Google for Model Code and FSA.

DC

Hi
I have come across this from Trendwatch.I have never bought shares before and as you know am mainly a s.bet and Index person -but want to try other things aswell.
Can you give me "idiots Guide" as to how i go about buying this share.

The Select Media Group (TSMG) -they plan an AIm float in late may or june this year.The shares are selling at present around 67p and proposals are that the TSMG will list on the AIM at a multiple of this price.

My questions are:
How and where can i buy these shares NOW. and who should i use.
What is the normal buying size usually.(max/min)

Sorry to ask such dumb questions but am sure u will help.

I hold my shares in certificates. If I sell a portion of my shares and submit my certificate do I then have to wait for my new certificate to be returned before I could sell more of the shares?

Thanks.

Eckoh, depends on your broker but mine used to insist I .wait to received my new certificate because their admin couldn't do it any other way.

I always stayed certificated to get info and vote, but I have opened accounts which are supposed to allow me to "receive corporate actions" so as I have started to lodge the certificates in the accounts that I intend to sell sooner or later - and reduce my dealing charges too. This way I can sell immediately and not have to worry about certificates.

zarif, If The Select Media Group (TSMG) is currently not listed then it is very difficult to buy their shares until they are. When they become a AIM share thats when they first get listed.

I'm having problems tracing this company, so I presume the only way of buying some of their shares is either directly from the company, or from an existing shareholder.

You can keep track of AIM new issues from this site: http://www.londonstockexchange.com/newissues/default.asp

Zarif, I did a search at company house and The Select Media Group is a new Limited company registered 20 Jan 2004. I would have expected them to be a plc, if they intend to list. Also they have no trading record, as the are a new company.

I presume they are currently trying to raise money privately - but unless they are a plc, they cannot promote private share sales......mmmmm I would keep away, they may be breaking the law promoting themeselves and anyone investing would have no way of getting thier money back if they just wound themselves up!

The close period of a share for directors starts the day after the end of the trading period they are reporting for. i.e if the annual results are for the period ending 31st December 2003, then the close period starts when trading ceases on the 31st December and re-opens when the results are announced

Hi LW, Seem to have had a COLD for the last few days....but feeling better now. I had a problem last week where I had sold and sent my cert. back but they hadn't received it so hadn't released the money!!! Wanted to buy so after pushing them they 'lent' me the money, although by the afternoon they HAD found the cert. I'm going to change accounts so I wondered who you had changed to and the charges per trade. (12.50 & .5% was Nationwide/Stocktrade that I was thinking of). Many thanks and it was great to meet you all, only half way thru my reading matter.

Hi amberjan - hope I didn't give you my cold!

I have 2 accounts - one with Hoodless & Brennan (https://www.hoodlessbrennan.com/index1.htm) They charge 7 a deal, (everyone charges 0.5% as thats stamp duty) which is my short term portfolio. What I really like about them was in the first month all I paid was stamp duty - I did over 50 deals in the my first month! Limit/stop loss etc orders can only be entered for 14 days. (Hence short term portfolio!)

My long term money is with Comdirect (http://www.comdirect.co.uk/) A bit more expensive 12.50 a deal but you can put limit orders in for 90 days.

I've had no problems with either accounts (which is more than I can about other accounts I have had in the past!)