Hello traders!

In the US tonight, the Dow Jones industrial average fell 59.95 points to 11,125.73 and the S&P500 lost 5.74 points at 1,270.92. According to preliminary calculations, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 29.48 points at 2,061.99.

See you in the morning with updates.....

G.

Good morning all

I've been having a really good look at the shares I have purchased over the last 25 plus years, I can say the "safe" and boring ones, made me a lot of money, paid large dividends (a few I still hold 10 years later, are currently giving 35-40% return on the original amount, and of course the shares are worth 4 to 8 times what I paid), whereas the more speculative shares have had their values wiped out, or I was lucky enough to get out with a loss, and most of those are either not trading anymore or have a non existant value.

If I'd stuck to the safe and boring I would have done a lot better - the "quick buck" investments really has not worked.

little woman - Same here - lost money on the small speculative ones but the "safe" boring ones have done well.

LW,
Hope you don't mind but I have brought your post to the attention of another thread (SEO) as it kinda fits with a heated discussion from the other day.
I too watch my "real" stocks do very nicely, if slowly, while my silly punts fritter it all away.
Alan

BTW, LW.
You seem to be in the know on charts. Have you seen the HYC chart? Golden cross approaching, but i cannot see how it can then maitain momentum from there. What do you think?
Alan

Endorse fully LW comments. Compounded dividend growth really adds value over time. Held BP BAG BARC HLMA KIE and PZC through thick and thin and overall return excellent - occasional sales/topping up, but would have been much better if traded regularly at or near high/low points. That is beyond most to gauge (including me). On the rare occasions I have invested in companies short of cash/not yet profitable almost all have cost me money.Only "decent" one to fail was Marconi and worst mistake was to sell 150,000 Ashtead for a small loss at 15p!

Should also have said don't believe in using charts (possibly because I don't understand how they are supposed to work) but do believe in cash flow analysis and getting to AGMs to see what the management looks like face to face. Easier to do this now retired from full time work. (Missing HLMA today for first time in years, but chairman's comments look reassuring enough!)

Morning All,

Some wise words above for any people looking in who are not very savy IMHO.

I only use charts for spread betting intra day. I struggle to read them, except for the "obvious" general trends! ;-)

I have shares that I have watched for years, and follow the trends of those. From time to time I add a few, and lose a few - but I'm no longer going to "add" any AIM shares and certainly keep well away from anything "tipped".......

Do you know the worse thing about this!

I'm sure I've said something like this before - but like many I keep forgetting to learn from my mistakes.

To err is human - and everyone does it.After 35 years of dealing, most difficult decision still is to sell at a loss. LW - think there is value in some AIM shares if selective, particularly some of those previously with full listing. I am very pleased with LTHM and hopeful that RSG will be a winner in 2007 (two years after moving to AIM, with elderly Chairman holding 70%). Favourable IHT and CGT situation also makes looking at (and holding for 2 years or more) better quality AIM shares a consideration for anyone whose estate faces substantial payment to Mr Brown.Funny how you start looking at these things a bit more when you get past full time work.