Member Info for Alas_Smith

It is always dispiriting to see paper wealth evaporating for investors. But experience has demonstrated to me over the last 5 decades that reacting to short term events is folly. Severe falls provide opportunity to improve quality or strengthen foundations so having some cash to take advantage of attractive entry points is necessary.

Sharp falls also provide catalyst to ditch losers, the straw which breaks the camels back. releasing cash crystalised (albeit as a loss) can be put to use and losses clawed back in another company, one appropriate for the future as it unfolds. I took exactly that decision yesterday in disposing of my shares in Illumnina.

Will I be adding greater exposure to MTU? No. In common with many, I am sitting on an ugly percentage loss so will just sweat things out for the time being. I have though, added to my holdings in Nat West, EasyJet, CGI and UEM yesterday. I have yet to re-invest the proceeds of ILMN. Time will determine the sagacity of my decision.

I have taken advantage of todays weakness to add a few more. 2022 has been a brutal year thus far, but markets are never static.

Me.....today is an ugly day. 2022 has been an ugly year.

Should see some uplift tomorrow if there is any justice in the world. 2022 has, though, been a year of surprises.

Since the majority of commoddities are priced in dollars, changes by the Fed have greatest effect on exchange rates and a ripple effect for currency exchange. As a brutal tool to stimulate growth, low interest rates have failed. The Japanese know about this. In terms of using interest rates to control inflation, small changes may help, but from the point before emergency reduction was made and not the artificial lows that have been in place and falling over the last decade.

minniethemouse - quite untrue and I dislike contributors that post false information.

The vote to leave was taken was in June 2016. Markets the world over have done extremely well since that time. There was a massive V shaped contraction the world over in 2020 for ALL exchanges but most, well certainly those in which I hold investment (UK, Dow, Nasdaq, Frankfurt, Australia and Tokyo) are up substantially. 2022, however, has been horrid thus far through a mixture of Russia/Ukraine, Shanghai lockdown, energy concerns and inflation.

As an investor to start my portfolio in 1977, I have seen many changes of Government, strikes, riots, wars in different parts of the world, house price crashes, interest rates at 18% or close to that, foreclosures, suicides and negative equity. I've also seen eye watering salaries paid for pretty useless decision makers running companies and the gradual distancing of bosses from reality.

My average annual portfolio gain (and I have plenty of disastous investments) had up to 2012 been 12.5%. Since then, it has risen and although am down around 16% this year am up an average of 13.5% since starting.

It is, of course, entireley possible that YOU have found the UK market to be uninvestible. Might I suggest that you either look elsewhere to invest or that investing is not your metier. As I am now in my early 60's, I am preparing my portfolio for retiremenAs this will need to last 30 years, perhaps a little longer, I am increasing exposure to risk.

This news is likely to put a floor on raw materials prices

https://edition.cnn.com/2022/04/27/economy/china-xi-infrastructure-push-covid-lockdowns-intl-hnk/index.html

Thanks…. Will start my research. Much appreciated

I'd talk to the head of compliance and move account to a better outfit. Many brokers will accept holdings transferred in-specie. However, this can take about 6 weeks. Both Charles Stanley Direct and Hargreaves Lansdown are competitive in terms of fees, BUT the drawback with HL is that they are for the most part a "fund supermarket".

If you have a portfolio that is of sufficient substance, you might wish to have the hassles of picking winners eliminated by looking at a discretionary wealth manager. Fees can be eye watering but does open up many other exchanges and instruments that might otherwise be unfamiliar.

My bargain to buy was dealt at or close to the lowest price for the day. It showed as a sell.

Time will determine wisdom or folly.

A profit is only a profit if in the bank. The price might rise further and I have no problem with that I try to leave something for the next man.

We have some turbulent times ahead of us and my business is a very good indicator of recessions (we do very well in such circumstance) and this is (for my company) especially welcome after 8 lean years. Discretionary spending therefore is going to come under greater pressure and with crude oil prices set to stay at high levels for another 18 months or so, foreign travel for the "bucket and spade" brigade may be curtailed.

It does not mean that RFX will not do well despite all that. But, as I indicated earlier, converting paper profit to banked ones is how wealth is increased. First difficulty for investors is to find a potential winner, next to invest sufficient amount and finally to realise the investment. Ordinarily I would let profits run, but markets are very volatile and not helped with Ukraine/Russia, French election underway, an idiot for a UK PM that is treating the electorate as idiots, high chance that May local elections will be brutal and lastly the maxim to sell in May and return after the Leger has been run (September).

So..... are there any companies that you might suggest I begin to research, preferably in the FTSE-350 rather than AIM?

My holding in RFX was sold yesterday to realise a decent profit.

Good luck to all. And now to research next investments for proceeds….. thoughts of others always gladly considered.

HL are always very tardy in assigning dividends. Charles Stanley Direct are VERY punctual. Should be in your accounts during this afternoon, though not worth holding breath.

Mr Market seems pleased.

Footandmouth, FWIW, my portfolio is structured for capital growth and any dividend thrown off is a bonus. Shares today have been marked down because iron ores production has been lower than expected. The important thing to remember is that although RIO seems late to the party in regards to commoddities needed for the renewable transition, it is well placed to own those assets in the future.

I too own shares in some investment trusts for the exposure it gives to markets that need broad exposure. The advantage of holding shares in a diversified miner which RIO is for specific focus based on a well run company.

Yesterday I dipped a toe in with a small purchase on behalf of one of my children in a LISA. The holdings are for capital growth and any dividends thrown off are considered a bonus. Time will determine whether this investment will be beneficial.

Frankly, I have no idea what you are wittering about, Qzqz - neither do you.

Qzqz - I am not sure that you are fully abreast with world news. The world is moving towards renewable energy and hydrogen is another link in the chain that is being forged that will work in conjunction with oil for a decade or more before it becomes a primary chain.

Around 7% my portfolio is interested in renewable energy and it is currently underwater (matter of timing). This includes Varta (batteries)- 2% and AFC Energy 3.5% (hydrogen).

Sure the cash element is considerable (7.5bn in perspective is roughly the number of seconds in 1,000 years) but not in the overall scheme of things

I have added some into a SIPP for my wife today. Time will determine the folly or wisdom. I'll be adding more for elder son in his LISA later this month and for myself in my SIPP as funds permit

I appreciate that, when compared with businesses that consume my annual volume daily mine is a minnow, but it is highky likely that we will use many sizes of cardboard boxes each day, from single skin for say a picture frame to a double skin for glasses and in different permutations with protective sleeves or z cards etc. It could also contain a wicker hamper or gifts such as commemorative plates, T shirts etc

Promotional fulfilment tends to be of very short duration, perhaps 6 weeks. It might take as many months setting up before launch, having supplies for fulfilment in place well before launch so that packaging can be ordered. As it might just involve 100 prizes, bespoke boxes are needed. A very different animal from prodution line stuff.

But… my point was that the board cutter had a lead time of 3 months to obtain board and now it is down to 48 hours. That suggests that either supply of raw materil has been ramped up or there is reduced demand from the volume buyers