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Asif Rashid
Posted: 28 December 2012 17:33:19(UTC)
#1

Joined: 28/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7

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Quantity Name
118 DIXONS RETAIL
19 BTG
66 QUINTAIN
66 COALFIELD RESOURCE
119 LLOYDS BANKING
6 TESCO
805 BANK OF IRELAND
125 WOOLWORTHS GROUP
96 BARCLAYS
17 ICAP
25 ITV
11 CENTRICA
33 STOBART GROUP LTD
15 VODAFONE GROUP
28 BBA AVIATION PLC
48 MAPLE ENERGY PLC
697 PENDRAGON
52 MONEYSUPERMARKET
18 SHELLSHOCK LTD
5 CARPHONE WRHS
11 TALK TALK TELECOM
14 PREMIER FOODS
7 ROYAL BK SCOT GRP
30 DIRECT LINE INS GR
105 RANGERS INTL FOOTB
2 x 2g UBS Kinebar gold bars

Above is my current portfolio, current value is around £1350 purchase cost was £1550.

I dont invest much but what do you guys think? Any suggestions or improvements
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TJL
Posted: 28 December 2012 18:29:37(UTC)
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I don't invest in individual shares so can't help, but I like the idea of 'rate my portfolio'.
I would be happy to post mine for critical comment if others thought it was a useful exercise.
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Roydo
Posted: 28 December 2012 19:22:52(UTC)
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That purchase price & valuation missing a nought or two?
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jeffian
Posted: 28 December 2012 19:32:34(UTC)
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Well it rather depends on what you are trying to achieve (income? growth? risk profile? etc.) but, rather than comment on individual shares, the most glaring point to me is that you are trying to spread too little too widely. Your holdings are so small (sorry if that sounds rude!) that the spread and dealing costs mean you are running to stand still (I use Hargreaves Lansdown who charge £11.95/trade plus Stamp Duty - and your Coalfield Resources shares are currently worth less than £4!). I only use managed funds to a limited extent myself but this looks like a case where the money available is crying out to be put into a fund until you have built sufficient capital to make it worth holding individual shares; a fund will give you the wide spread you seem to want and, although some people don't like the fund management charges, those will pale into insignificance compared to the dealing costs you have incurred with this little lot.
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eyeboy
Posted: 29 December 2012 07:58:20(UTC)
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I agree with jeffian. Hard to critique a portfolio without knowing what the goal is and there are far too many holdings for such a low portfolio valuation. Dealing charges will cripple a portfolio of that value. You would have been better buying a mutual fund of some sort, maybe even an Index Tracker until you had a little more capital to play with.
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ERic Hancock
Posted: 30 December 2012 10:08:24(UTC)
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This 'portfolio' must be somebody's idea of a joke. Nobody in his right mind would split £1,550 of investment into more than one holding, because of transaction fees.

This is just ridiculous.

Eric JH
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3 users thanked ERic Hancock for this post.
Clive B on 01/01/2013(UTC), colin wilson on 02/01/2013(UTC), John Patridge on 02/01/2013(UTC)
Redundant (Old Timer?)
Posted: 30 December 2012 12:03:57(UTC)
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You will have a small Capital Gains Tax loss on the Woolworths Group shares. It was the holding company of the Woolworths Group and they all went under in 2008/9. Deloitte are due to finishing winding up the the company this month or next.
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Income Investor
Posted: 30 December 2012 17:38:04(UTC)
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Asif

Marks for enthusiasm but - as others have pointed out - common sense would suggest a much smaller portfolio with a specific logic to it. Also start out in a tax-protected ISA.

Probably the best way to start out (in that it is relatively safe and low-cost) is with ETFs. Decide how you want to invest - growth, value, income - and then find a suitable ETF. Follow what the managers buy and as your capital increases maybe buy some individual shares.

Good luck

See my website if you want some ideas on income investing
http://www.the-diy-income-investor.com/

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David J Robertson
Posted: 30 December 2012 17:49:56(UTC)
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Hello Asif,

When I 1st looked at your portfolio, I recognised most of the names and the shares held were to few to be a valid amount and when I saw the total value of you portfolio I was frankly astounded.

I totally agree with Jeffian & Eyeboy, 25 holdings far to many for a portfolio of £1,550 (your broker MUST love you).

Seriously my portfolio has ONLY 10 companies in plus 5 managed funds but the total value is nearer £200k. There are times I feel I could do with a greater spead, but I am comfortable with 10 (at the moment) however I may reduce my holding in some companies and the research for some companies to be added to my portfolio.

I never invest less that £1,250 in a company and if the share price increases I may add to my holding. To make a purchase of less than £1k is not benefical because the costs makes it non econmical.

Advice for what it is worth
Sell your holding in 18 companies (2 are no longer trading) and invest in a managed fund with a resonable growth.

Or as Eric H said you are having a joke...........
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Asif Rashid
Posted: 31 December 2012 18:19:06(UTC)
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Thanks for all the feedback

What I am trying to achieve is INCOME

I use Barclays who charge about £12.95 per trade.

I dont have enough capital thats why over the last 3years or so I have been buying shares which I see potenital on thats why I only invest £100 or so in each company, so i can minimise any risk/loss

What fund would be ideal in order to maximise returns?

What would you say is an ideal investment e.g. more than or less than £1000 or £500?

Any other advise/suggestion is appreciated :)

Happy New Year guys
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Asif Rashid
Posted: 31 December 2012 18:19:25(UTC)
#11

Joined: 28/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 7

Thanks: 2 times
Thanks for all the feedback

What I am trying to achieve is INCOME

I use Barclays who charge about £12.95 per trade.

I dont have enough capital thats why over the last 3years or so I have been buying shares which I see potenital on thats why I only invest £100 or so in each company, so i can minimise any risk/loss

What fund would be ideal in order to maximise returns?

What would you say is an ideal investment e.g. more than or less than £1000 or £500?

Any other advise/suggestion is appreciated :)

Happy New Year guys
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gggggg hjhjkl;'
Posted: 31 December 2012 20:14:30(UTC)
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Asif Rashid

Well Done for your efforts !!

But, and there is always a but, as others have said you need to get more "bang for your buck" by consolidating your investment strategy until you have a substantially more significant investment value.

I would suggest a more widely diversified portfolio and whilst I reject giving tips, I think something like the Merchants Trust Investment Trust might me your needs very well.

I do not currently invest there myself but have done so in the past and whilst a bit more risky than some others, feel if it offers the diversity plus a good dividend that might meet your needs.

Good Luck with your investing efforts!!
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Angel Methe
Posted: 01 January 2013 06:22:09(UTC)
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Joined: 21/12/2012(UTC)
Posts: 2
You can't tell how expensive a stock is by looking only at its price because a stock's value depends on earnings, a $100 stock can be cheap if the company's earnings prospects are high enough, while a $2 stock can be expensive if earnings potential is dim.

It’s best to hold stocks from several different industries. That way, if one area of the economy goes into the dumps, you have something to fall back on. It's smarter to buy and hold good stocks than to engage in rapid-fire trading.
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jeffian
Posted: 01 January 2013 19:25:01(UTC)
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Asif,

I'm sorry if this sounds cynical but there is a lingering suspicion this is a wind-up (as others have mentioned above). You now say -

"What I am trying to achieve is INCOME"

- and yet over 50% of the investments you have chosen produce no income at all!
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1 user thanked jeffian for this post.
Clive B on 01/01/2013(UTC)
Matthew Charles Flinders
Posted: 02 January 2013 10:04:59(UTC)
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No point in selling the holdings, he'll be paying another £12.50 for each redemption he places.

Madness.
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Clive B
Posted: 02 January 2013 12:02:31(UTC)
#17

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Asif

Ignoring the gold, you appear to have bought 25 share bundles at £12.95 each. That's in excess of £300. For ease, let's call the total purchase £1500 (you say £1550), so after fees you're down to £1200. That means you need a 25% gain simply to cover your fees and get you back to the £1500 start point. Perhaps not the way to go.
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eyeboy
Posted: 02 January 2013 12:58:22(UTC)
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Matthew Charles Flinders;17355 wrote:
No point in selling the holdings, he'll be paying another £12.50 for each redemption he places.

Madness.




I agree that there is little financial benefit in selling his current holdings due to dealing costs. Moving forward, I think the answer is in a low cost mutual fund until sufficient capital is available to make buying individual shares worthwhile.

Just my opinion though.
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1 user thanked eyeboy for this post.
Clive B on 02/01/2013(UTC)
Lyndon Edwards
Posted: 02 January 2013 14:34:58(UTC)
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If you want to make a small fortune hand your broker a large one. . .
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Graham D-C
Posted: 02 January 2013 14:51:55(UTC)
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asif post is a wind up.
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banjofred
Posted: 02 January 2013 14:57:11(UTC)
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dID YOU PAY vat ON THE GOLD BARs?

need sovereigns, even 10th sovereigns

no vat no capital gains, no worries about the turds running this show printing more notes
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