Are You Bullish or Bearish? (Shares)

Member Name: ickleannie

Product:	Shares
Date:	10/05/09 (99 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great Hints and Tips On Stock Market Investing

Disadvantages: Expensive

My husband is an RAF engineer however when he is at home he fancies himself as a bit of a would be stock broker. I must admit he has done pretty well over the years dabbling in buying and selling share stock generally for the most part in obscure companies that most of us have never heard of. It is actually hilarious if you catch him unawares sometimes, sitting in his recliner chair laptop on his knee CNBC on sky and the obligatory copy of the financial times and not to mention his copy of shares magazine beside him. I have to admit I think that most of his success has been down to shares magazine in all honesty and not as he puts it in his natural talent and ability to be able to read the stock market. This review is about his precious shares magazine. My biggest love rival!!!!

Shares is a weekly magazine which was founded in 1999. It has won a number of awards and its mission statement is "champion of the private investor". It is released on a Thursday the magazine is mainly aimed at those who trade in UK stock. It costs a pretty hefty £3.75 per issue. I am glad he has made enough on his hobby to cover the cost of this over the years, and he has the cheek to moan about the cost of my weekly mag!!! My husband picks his copy up from WHsmith. It is quite specialised so is not available in general newsagents. It can be ordered for home delivery however or can even be accessed online. Anyway to get back to the point. The purpose of shares is to take a weekly look at all aspects of the stock market an area I have to say I am not too expert in although I do hold a few stocks and shares of my own. I do however read shares weekly as it is a fascinating insight into this high-flying world and I have to say I thoroughly enjoy it. Who knows I might find the next google to invest in and make my millions one day.

So what do you get with each issue? Well it is split up into several sections. 'Inside this week' gives you the general contents of that particular issue with page numbers. It also shows you details of the cover story and any featured supplements. There is a column which gives details of the magazine (Its writers etc.) and how to get in touch with them in addition they provide their website details. There is also a telephone number for phone subscriptions here too. The Opinion section gives you information about what has been happening in the stock-market around the world with analysis on how some of the big players are doing and if there has been any significant rises and falls in the market sector. It also highlights any potential areas to avoid trading in due to financial instability.

Agenda Tomorrows News Today and Key Trades feature a selection of companies both on the way up. Ones that have shown little growth and the ones that are probably on the way down. This gives you a little insight into various companies and gives a little of their history, what it is they actually do and whether or not you should invest in them or not. They have a handy traffic light system which tells you Green whether or not you should buy shares in the company or red if you have shares already that you should sell your stock. Or hold if they haven't decided whether you should buy or sell. Based on what the market in general thinks about them. Obviously don't just take their word on whether or not you should buy this is purely a guide expressing opinions only. I would suggest doing a lot of research before making a commitment. Its worth remembering that stocks go down as well as up!!!!!

I have to admit I bought shares in a company called Central African Mining (a company which I had never heard of before after reading about it in shares magazine). I purchased at six pence a share and have made more than doubled my money as they are at 13p each now. Long may it continue? This section also consists of a handy trader's timetable too which tells you when companies will publish their financial results; hold their annual general meetings and when dividend payments will be paid. The next section deals with the cover story and could be about absolutely anything relating to the high-flying world of the stock-market. They are usually extremely interesting reads again these stories tend to give a few hints regards whether certain companies have the potential for growth or not in the coming months and years. I have to admit I have gained a wealth of experience from reading this section. It also features useful insight from specialists in this field who throw in their tuppence worth. There are also interviews throughout with company directors and other successful people who pass on the secrets of their success. Amazing really when you think that most of them started with nothing. Well look at the likes of Sir Alan Sugar!!!!. Commodities looks at hidden market gems these are companies in the little known AIM markets which pretty much no one has ever heard of (like my Central African mining). These are the companies you take a risk investing in. Again it tells you if it would be a good idea or a bad one to put your cash into these companies. The trend setter looks at the highs and lows of various sectors, whether it is coal, gold, gas, retail etc and gives you analysis on the risers and fallers. There is also advice for those who wish to spread bet and the hold, target and stop loss amounts they should set. I must admit this is way above my level of understanding I definitely stay away from this type of trading.

Now this is the bit my hubby scours as soon as the magazine is in his possession, it is the 'Top 50 Calls' This is basically a list of the top 50 best performing broker buy or sell recommendations of the last three months. These tell you if a companies stock should be bought, will outperform the market, or if it is overweight i.e. Stock price is too high and may collapse. It gives the company name. When it was released into the market the start and finish date and finally the crucial part its performance percentage.

The final pages are filled with adverts for stock-brokers, share dealing accounts, spread-betting websites etc. Throughout there are very few adverts which is great as sometimes magazines can be taken up with them and it becomes a bit irritating? Overall a great read which holds the attention and who knows might make you a fortune one day with its handy hints. Recommended.

Summary: You Might Finf The Next Google To Invest In!!!!!