Share this page:
Stay connected:
Welcome to the Citywire Money Forums, where members share investment ideas and discuss everything to do with their money.

You'll need to log in or set up an account to start new discussions or reply to existing ones. See you inside!

Notification

Icon
Error
Are you buying back into shares?
+ Reply to discussion
Options
Joe Soap
Posted: 04 September 2010 07:57:28(UTC)
#21

Joined: 24/01/2010(UTC)
Posts: 235

Thanks: 1 times
Was thanked: 7 time(s) in 6 post(s)
For the record, I only invest via unit trusts, but I'm very picky who I buy into and I'm ruthless about cutting losses but never shy of taking a profit and moving the money elsewhere. I do not get it right every time, I have mistimed Gibbs at Jupiter Financial Opportunities recently and I have lost faith completely in Woodford at Invesco, but overall I'm doing OK. The time to sell equities is when you see all the articles telling you to "sell your granny and buy in to the market, the only way is up, it's different this time" etc... This approach works every time, though it still does make me nervous, I have to admit.
Back to top Quote
Ines
Posted: 04 September 2010 09:25:08(UTC)
#22

Joined: 22/06/2009(UTC)
Posts: 44
I avoid unit trusts because of the costs, I do look for reliable but unloved investment trusts at a big discount (and with a nice dividend if possible) and sell when they recover, but wonder if ETFs would be a cheaper route into collective investments. Any thoughts?
Back to top Quote
Jeremy Bosk
Posted: 04 September 2010 10:05:13(UTC)
#23

Joined: 09/06/2010(UTC)
Posts: 980

Thanks: 4 times
Was thanked: 39 time(s) in 26 post(s)
I agree with Ines about unit trusts being expensive, even with supermarket discounts. I use investment trusts and REITs myself . ETFs are generally cheap and good to access particular markets or sectors, currently through Invesco Powershares Palisades Global Agriculture Fund based in Dublin. I have been thinking of swapping it for an agriculture themed investment trust. You can use ETFs to access sectors not represented in the UK market such as steel companies.

The trouble with ETFs is that they tend to mimic indices which is generally not good. There is very little alternative for access to some countries such as Brazil. A few that apply some kind of selection process such as the Lyxor Eurostoxx 50 Dividends or iShares FTSE UK Div PLus and the Powershares RAFI series of intelligent trackers are worth a look. All in the right conditions. But some of the agriculture and commodities ETFs and ETCs are a lot more complicated than they look involving futures and all kinds of expensive dealing. Gold can be either the physical metal or all kinds of derivatives. You really have to do your research and understand what you are getting into.

Over the years I have probably broken even in ETFs and their relatives. Covered warrants on the other hand have generally been a disaster in my attempts to call the market.
Back to top Quote
2 PagesPrevious page12
+ Reply to discussion

Markets

Other markets