Buying And Selling

The rapid devaluation of the Pound, following the Brexit vote, boosted the value (in Pounds) of the DIY Income Investor portfolio. That seemed like a market over-reaction to me: and it seems like the currency market is now reappraising Sterling following statements by the Bank of England.

The Pound goes back up and the London Stock Exchange goes back down. Do these fluctuations in currency value offer an opportunity to take quick profits?

Bond dilemma? (Portfolio Buy)

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Profit-taking - by selling some of my largest holding APF - means the opportunity to buy something new.

It's trite to say but the 'buy' decision is what makes you money - coupled, of course, with selling at the 'right' time. Which is to say, it's difficult.

Investing = Gambling?

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Sometimes the Stock Market is compared to a casino. I don't think that is a fair comparison. Although there is an undoubted random factor in daily events - which affects prices - I believe that there is a lot of skill involved in successful investing.

At least that's what I like to think. However, many observers point to the possibility that seemingly successful investors might just be lucky.

Taking Profits (Portfolio Sale)

The London Stock Market is on a roll - and with it the DIY Income Investor portfolio, which is showing a total return of 32% in 2016 so far.

There comes a point when you need to take profits; but this is always difficult (if not impossible) to time correctly - selling is much harder than buying.

Lucky Timing (Portfolio Buys)

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Usually it is a mug's game to try to time your purchases or sales. The market is such a seething mass of information, opinion, fear and greed that it is almost impossible to know where it is going.

Sometimes, however, you get lucky and buy at the right time...