tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591Wed, 13 Mar 2024 11:53:07 +0000Are you looking for free, no BS info about investing in the stock market, trading shares and options trading - written by an experienced Australian share investor, for Australians? Well look no further :-) ...http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)Blogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-2162319896454845437Thu, 25 Mar 2010 08:30:00 +00002010-03-25T18:33:41.923+10:00The Australian Stock Exchange's "Find a Broker" service is a great place to start your search for a stockbroker...It provides a list of brokers and their Web addresses based on criteria you select, such as location and the type of securities traded.If you're after an online broker, you can do an in depth comparison of the features and pricing of a range of brokers using a handy interactive tool http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2010/03/how-to-find-stockbroker.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-3019750050507652827Sat, 13 Mar 2010 08:16:00 +00002010-03-13T19:10:04.156+10:00It's a good idea to shop around a bit when looking for a broker. Different investors' needs will vary, but some things you might want to consider areDoes the broker display a courteous attitude over the 'phoneAvailability of margin lending facilitiesAccess to floatsEase (and promptness) of communicationBrokerage feesDoes the broker provide research and advice?Speed of order executionShould you gohttp://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2010/03/brokers-what-to-look-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-5495355079440084463Wed, 10 Mar 2010 09:47:00 +00002010-03-10T22:35:32.950+10:00While online discount brokers have become increasingly popular in recent years, there can be some disadvantages.For example, despite the automation provided by the Internet, the sheer volume of orders attracted by such brokers can introduce a delay in the time it takes for your order to be filled. This could be a particular problem for short-term traders such as day-traders who rely on quick http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2010/03/penny-wise-and-pound-foolish.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-1409194412610141900Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:30:00 +00002010-03-10T19:29:23.205+10:00Discount brokers are gradually coming to dominate the stockbroking scene. These are brokers offering a cheaper service where they are basically order-takers, processing trades without offering the advice and management services of the more traditional full-service brokers. As the name suggests, discount brokers are popular because they charge less per transaction. They can do this because they http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2010/02/broker-wars.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-4516311927410035155Tue, 23 Feb 2010 08:01:00 +00002010-03-10T19:27:33.478+10:00Australia is a nation of share investors, with nearly half of the adult population investing in the market. But many don't have much idea of what a stockbroker does.Shares are bought and sold on the stock market, but can you imagine how chaotic it would be if all the buyers and seller had to individually negotiate with each other.In practice, the market is kept orderly by having licensed members http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2010/02/how-web-has-transformed-share-investing.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-2899486441718894332Wed, 17 Feb 2010 08:35:00 +00002010-02-17T18:55:43.759+10:00It's often been said that Australia is a nation of share investors. So I guess I shouldn't be surprised that a study conducted in late 2008 - after a year of plunging share prices - found that aussies were relatively unfazed. Some 80% of participants in the study thought that it was a good time to buy or hold onto shares.Here's the full story from Melbourne's Herald Sun:Fewer Aussies owning http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2010/02/shell-be-right.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-4057611893871506689Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:02:00 +00002010-02-16T00:21:19.538+10:00Up and down cycles are a fact of life in the stock market, and the reason is very simple - human emotion. Investors become caught up in a buying frenzy during the boom times, and panic-sell when the market starts to drop.Take a look at this chart of the last quarter century or so of the overall performance of the market (the All Ordinaries Index) :We see a history of ups and downs includinga big http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2010/02/opting-out-of-meltdowns.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-3614837075758499866Sat, 21 Nov 2009 03:45:00 +00002009-11-22T12:45:37.553+10:00At the end of last year, while most of the media were playing up the "doom and gloom" angle following a year of plummeting share prices, Julia Lee on the Web site compareshares.com.au was sensing opportunity:Looking at the glass half fullJulia Lee, equities analyst, Bell DirectHow much further can the market fall?The market is down almost 50% from the all time high of 6851.5 reached on 1st http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2009/11/be-greedy-when-others-are-fearful-be.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-7911520721204250710Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:37:00 +00002009-11-21T09:40:14.365+10:00During the long-lived "global financial crisis" bear market of last year I read many comments from disgruntled investors saying they would never again risk a penny in the stockmarket. I even read serious articles suggesting that this "crash" was the death knell of the capitalist system! But history shows that stockmarkets rise and fall, and sometimes very dramatically. Cycles in the market are http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2009/11/during-long-lived-global-financial.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-8252009486691784272Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:18:00 +00002009-10-21T19:36:37.166+10:00So I'm talking to my wife the other day about this new trading system I'm working on and, feeling pretty pleased with myself, mention that it shows a historical return on the total trading account balance of 4% a month.You know what she says?"Four percent?!... that's pathetic!"Always ready with a snappy comeback, I reply, "Huh?!""Four percent?!", she says, "That's like... bank interest!!""No, no,http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2009/09/how-pathetic-returns-can-bring-you-joy.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-3331926662534692085Tue, 27 Mar 2007 04:48:00 +00002007-03-27T14:48:50.437+10:00If you're just starting out with the sharemarket, you might be interested in this recent article from Brisbane's Courier Mail.The idea of investing a little regularly over time is a good one - it teaches you good saving habits and let's you get started quickly without having to amass a fortune first. Room for small investorsNoel WhittakerMarch 10, 2007 11:00pmPRIME Minister John Howard last week http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/03/from-little-things-big-things-grow.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-5808643034160501474Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:51:00 +00002007-03-26T13:52:15.692+10:00For those who are new to share investing, let's take a look at some basics...The most commonly traded share is called (surprise!) an Ordinary Share. When you buy a share in a company you own a portion of that company - and as a part owner (albeit a small one) you are entitled to a percentage of the profits (albeit a small one) which you receive in the form of a dividend.And/or the company may http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/03/sink-or-float.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-8988680455834951552Thu, 22 Mar 2007 03:39:00 +00002007-03-22T13:39:58.471+10:00Most long term investors favour Blue Chip shares. "Blue chip" companies are large, well established companies that are considered to be strong and dependable, including such household names as Telstra, BHP, Woolworths and the ANZ, Commonwealth, National and Westpac Banks.Such companies are generally perceived as reliable investments. But unfortunately, it ain't necessarily so...Consider again, http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/03/blue-chip-blues.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-7088946325006034472Wed, 21 Mar 2007 04:30:00 +00002007-03-21T14:30:45.574+10:00Another approach to the sharemarket is the short term trading approach. Traders monitor prices and actively buy and sell shares to profit from short term market movements.As we have seen, this type of investing has been made accessible to the ordinary individual thanks to the Internet and the availability of share charting software for the personal computer.Being an active trader requires puttinghttp://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/03/volatility-is-not-dirty-word.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-6522676385691178571Mon, 12 Mar 2007 03:05:00 +00002007-03-12T13:07:42.946+10:00If you decide that direct share investment is for you, there are essentially two main approaches to investing in stocks. One is the approach of the long term investor, the second that of the short term trader.The long term investor seeks out companies whose share price is likely to increase over the long term, purchases share in those companies... and waits! A strategy known as "buy and hold". http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/03/long-and-short-of-it.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-470530316255081046Fri, 09 Mar 2007 02:14:00 +00002007-03-09T12:15:04.341+10:00If you're a working Australian, you're almost certainly a share investor whether you know it or not. The reason is compulsory Superannuation. Your super fund very likely invests in shares on your behalf (as well as cash and property).Unfortunately, for most Australians, superannuation is unlikely to provide, in retirement, the same level of income you've become accustomed to while working.If you http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/03/how-will-you-manage.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-8791179266828446659Sat, 03 Mar 2007 07:38:00 +00002007-03-03T17:37:38.282+10:00The key to successful investing and achieving high interest rates of return is to educate yourself. It's a trite saying, but true: No-one will take care of your money as well as you will. If you feel you lack the confidence and knowledge to manage your own investments - try a trip to the finance section of your local bookstore. It's likely to be much cheaper than engaging the services of a http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/03/if-you-think-education-is-expensive-try.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-4464321307400597524Thu, 01 Mar 2007 03:18:00 +00002007-03-01T13:16:49.751+10:00Many Australians retiring in 5 to 15 years will need to proactively take control of their finances to achieve better returns than those available through managed funds... without getting sucked into phoney Get-Rich-Quick schemes.Let's take the Rule of 72 again, and once more start with $30,000 to invest. If we can achieve an annual compounding rate of return of 18%, how long will it take to http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/03/levers-of-prosperity.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-7305538476878654486Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:42:00 +00002007-02-28T10:45:54.115+10:00Ever heard of the Rule of 72?The rule of 72 is a shorthand rule-of-thumb for working out what interest rate of return you'll need to achieve, to double a given sum of investment capital, in a given number of years.Or, alternatively, to calculate how long it will take to double that sum of money at a given interest rate of return.It works like this. Say we have $30,000 to invest. What annual http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/02/rule-of-72.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-5070693771652718603Tue, 27 Feb 2007 07:01:00 +00002007-02-27T17:00:06.074+10:00You're probably aware of the looming "baby boomer retirement crisis". If not, the problem in a nutshell, goes like this...Following the Second World War, there was a "baby boom" in the former allied nations. These victorious nations, looking forward to a future of peace and prosperity, were willing to raise large families and had a lot of kids.We call this generation the "baby boomers", usually http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/02/boomers-boom.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-947931318647106306Mon, 26 Feb 2007 04:06:00 +00002007-03-20T19:21:39.107+10:00I think the stockmarket should be an essential component of everyone's investment and retirement strategy. But there's probably two main things that put people off:they think it's too complicated, too hard to learnthey think it's too volatile - one minute the market's going up, the next it's going down. What happens if there's a crash and I lose everything?Ironically, it's actually the volatilityhttp://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/02/constructing-his-own-financial-future.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-5020644282750346200Fri, 23 Feb 2007 05:21:00 +00002007-03-09T17:40:54.776+10:00There are basically three traditional investment vehicles available to the individual investor - Cash, Property and Shares.By cash, I'm referring to investment in a mutual fund, term deposit, and so on. With this type of investment we earn interest income, and that's it. And even the interest is low - 4 to 10% and you're doing well.With property and shares, as well as investing for income, we http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/02/choose-your-vehicle.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-1868803011903837042Thu, 22 Feb 2007 02:58:00 +00002007-02-22T12:56:56.181+10:00The Internet has really opened up the market to the regular bloke. I honestly think the most incredible change in the investment landscape over the last few years is the way that instantaneous stockmarket data - once only available to brokers and stockmarket professionals - is now available to anybody with a computer and access to the 'net.The Sydney Morning Herald recently published (courtesy ofhttp://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/02/trading-for-living.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-1121403703362655676Wed, 21 Feb 2007 02:52:00 +00002007-02-21T12:51:13.729+10:00Following up yesterday's post on the property market situation, I just came across this by Robin Bowerman in Albury-Wodonga's Border Mail - Pain in property cycle: THE great Australian dream is turning into a nightmare for people looking for their first home.In economic terms, first home buyers are caught in something of a perfect storm — house prices continue to rise while rents also are rising http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/02/whats-your-house-worth-when-nobody-can.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31456591.post-1439168883310500247Tue, 20 Feb 2007 04:30:00 +00002007-02-20T14:35:19.296+10:00Despite the popularity of share investment in Australia (highlighted a couple of posts ago), traditionally Aussie's have focussed on property investment as the number one way of securing their financial future. But the times, they may be a-changin'...In this story, with the cutesy title It's bye buyers as market is rent by Generation X, Sunanda Creagh and Catharine Munro write in the Sydney http://aus-stock-trading.blogspot.com/2007/02/property-safe-as-houses.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (John Roberts)0