DIY Investor Magazine
/
2015 Issue
44
Exactly a year ago DIY Investor Magazine’s very
own DIY investor, Humbug, set himself the target of
achieving a 20% return on his £50,000 portfolio.
Having shared his highs and lows with brutal
and engaging honesty, here Humbug reveals the
results of his travails and whether the lessons he
has learned along the way will change his future
investment strategy.
WEDNESDAY 28TH JANUARY
Looking at the market whilst in the middle of a war
zone. Ian the brilliant chippie/general tradesman
has my kitchen and bathroom in pieces tracing a
blocked pipe. It’s interesting how the human mind
can focus on something else whilst there is chaos
all around.
Advanced Oncotherapy (AVO) a tiny company
pioneering a new type of cancer treatment has
been making happy noises lately. This morning
it announced that it had signed a long lease on
a building in Harley Street and the landlord is
carrying the costs of the conversion. I’ve been in
this one before but this time will stick with it till its
revolutionary machines are in use in a couple of
years. A small trade of £1,000 at 3.96p, no stop
loss and no target - could make monster money or
it could crash and burn.
Topped up my holding in Renew Holdings (RNWH)
£2,000 at 288.4p, stop down at 251p, initial target
360p and then look to top slice; a great little firm
churning out good numbers time after time, this
one is not set to destroy my beauty sleep and the
dividend goes XD tomorrow. Yeah good.
WEDNESDAY 4TH FEBRUARY
Van hire business Northgate PLC (NTG) has been
on a roll – up 37% in three months from a low of
450p to 619p at the end of January. The business
is turning around but I think the price has got
ahead of itself, a case of too much happiness; I’m
betting on a fall as per the Dow Theory - two steps
forward, one step back.
I shorted on the spreads, taking a small £2 bet
per penny which equates to selling two hundred
shares at a market price of 583p, stop 625p initial
target 500p. The company’s trading statement
is due in five weeks time, so I want to hit and run
before then.
FRIDAY 6TH FEBRUARY
I’m not that keen on pigs; Babe in the eponymous
movie was quite cute and my granddaughter has
introduced me to Peppa. However an awful lot of
bacon gets eaten each day, so when Cranswick
PLC (CWK) a food company majoring on pork
products came out with yet another good trading
update I bought in as the price started moving
upwards again. £3,000 invested at 1347.28p, stop
1225p and initial target 1500p.
TUESDAY 10TH FEBRUARY
I aim to buy good news and hide behind my mum
when the bad news strikes. Cello Group (CLL) that
I bought into in December got its VAT returns in a
twist; the share price fell 10% at high speed on the
news and a half decent profit became a £65.94
loss which I instantly took.
WEDNESDAY 11TH FEBRUARY
My trading chum Simon flagged up National Grid
(NG.) this morning - a nice upward trend following
a fall in price - what’s not to like? A small trade
equivalent to 100 shares on the spreads at 904.9p,
stop at 880.9p and a limit order to take the profit at
949.9p. No big deal, just a bit of fun.
THURSDAY 12TH FEBRUARY
No joy with NTG - its price rose every single
day since I bet it would go down, duh. Stop loss
triggered at 625p midday today for a loss of £89.
DIARY OF A
DIY INVESTOR
BITTER
SWEET
