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Benchmarking Our High Yield Portfolio

March 1, 2012
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As our demonstration HYP approaches its first birthday, it’s time to think about how to track how well it’s doing (or not, as the case may disappointingly be!)

25 comments

The case for Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust

January 27, 2012
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Here’s a way for UK investors to get exposure to value-based smaller companies. The Aberforth Smaller Companies Trust currently looks good value, to boot.

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Six small cap property companies

December 16, 2011
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I think all these companies have some attractive qualities and good potential, but obviously also risks.

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UK commercial property trading at a discount

December 15, 2011
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Commercial property is an attractive asset class to own, and I think now looks a good time to buy – not as cheap as in 2009, but unless you expect a European blow-up not as risky, either.

21 comments

Buy shares in house builders, not new build houses

November 25, 2011
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I’ve a hunch that listed house builders will do a lot better than an investment in housing in the next few years. Here’s why.

7 comments

Back into bank preference shares?

September 29, 2011
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Bank preference shares have fallen with bank shares on summer’s worries – to the extent that they’re tempting me back for a second look again.

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Good shares to buy now

August 9, 2011
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Here’s some shares I’ve been looking at in the aftermath (so far!) of the stock market crash.

24 comments

Investing in Caledonia Investments

July 8, 2011
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Caledonia is the sort of investment trust that takes you back in time – and sure enough, the discount suggests its best days are behind it. But I’m more optimistic.

22 comments

Dividend income and the Monevator HYP

July 1, 2011
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Everybody loves to receive dividend income, which is a key component of the rewards of being a part-owner in a business. The demo HYP has already begun to earn it.

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The Monevator HYP: It’s alive!

May 12, 2011
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I could have spent £5,000 on a great holiday, a decent car, or a bad woman, but instead I’ve spent it buying high yield shares for your delectation.

21 comments

An update on 2007′s high yield portfolio

April 19, 2011
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I’d rather not review the HYP, in that it was a portfolio of shares bought just before the crash. But needs must, and you might be surprised at how it’s fared, however.

18 comments

The bewitching appeal of Lloyds suspended preference shares

July 29, 2010
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Why take one unloved banking preference share into the portfolio when you could have two? Well, a few reasons actually, but they didn’t stop me.

15 comments

Lloyds shares: Medium risk but high potential reward

June 16, 2010
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For the third time in five years, I own Lloyds shares. What’s the case for the company this time around?

5 comments

Are BP shares a buy?

June 4, 2010
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Sometimes the best time to pick up a bargain is when everyone else is running the other way. Is it time to buy BP shares?

29 comments

What first attracted me to the 9%-yielding Natwest preference shares

May 18, 2010
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I recycled some of my equity portfolio into Natwest preference shares. Out of the frying pan, into the microwave oven?

10 comments

Bank preference shares: A brief history

May 18, 2010
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Did you buy bank preference shares when the market was giving them away? Me neither. What an incredible opportunity it was.

4 comments

Companies paying dividends early to beat higher UK tax rates

February 19, 2010
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Companies can’t get dividends out the door quickly enough, for major private shareholders, who face a 10% tax rise on dividend income in April.

5 comments

Bolton’s China trust is worth a small punt

February 11, 2010
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Anthony Bolton’s China fund surely won’t repeat his glory days, but it’s not a bad way to invest in China.

25 comments

Six reasons not to invest with Bolton in China

February 11, 2010
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Bolton’s got a great track record – but he earned it 6,000 miles away from Beijing.

4 comments

Six reasons to back Bolton’s China investment trust

February 11, 2010
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Here are a few good reasons to back Anthony Bolton in China via his new Special Situations Trust.

1 comment

Should you back Bolton in the China shop?

February 11, 2010
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Today is Anthony Bolton day on Monevator, in recognition of his exciting new Chinese investment trust.

5 comments

Monevator share write-ups review

July 28, 2009
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I have written about several specific company’s shares here on Monevator over the past six months. How have they done?

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Why I’ve bought Lloyds Banking Group

July 2, 2009
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Buying Lloyds shares is basically a bet that sweating its assets will out the earnings, eventually.

9 comments

Is it too late to buy Barclays shares?

April 20, 2009

I looked last week at the steep rises in US and UK bank share prices as the fear factor has fallen back. U.S. banks are up 50% over the month, for instance. But in the case of certain UK banks, the reversal has been even more extreme. Consider Barclays shares here in the UK. When [...]

4 comments

Trusting in the Rights and Issues Trust

March 31, 2009

Important: What follows is not a recommendation to buy or sell the Rights and Issues Trust. I’m just a private investor, storing and sharing notes. Read my disclaimer. Rights, Issues and complications The Rights and Issues Trust is a tiny, £33 million split cap investment trust focusing on UK smaller companies. It invests in small [...]

0 comments

Sparking up an investment in electrical contractor T.Clarke (CTO)

February 11, 2009

Important: What follows is not a recommendation to buy or sell T.Clarke. I’m a private investor, storing and sharing notes. Read my disclaimer. Name: T.Clarke Ticker: CTO Listed: London (FTSE Small Cap) Business: Construction and materials More info: Digital Look / Google Finance Company: T.Clarke website Key numbers for T. Clarke (10/02/09) (From Digital Look) [...]

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How to invest with the Rothschilds via RIT Capital Partners (RCP)

January 14, 2009

Important: What follows is not a recommendation to buy or sell RIT Capital Partners. I’m just a private investor, storing and sharing notes. Read my disclaimer. Name: RIT Capital Partners Ticker: RCP Listed in: London (FTSE 250) Business: Investment vehicles More info: Digital Look / Google Finance Official site: RIT Capital Partners Some say it’s [...]

3 comments

Bought The Clapham House Group (CPH)

December 22, 2008

Important: What follows is not advice to buy or sell ANY shares. I’m a private investor, storing and sharing my notes. Read my disclaimer. Just a quick update to my share write-up in November on London-listed The Clapham House Group. (Google Finance: LON: CPH). The shares have moved from 53.5p to 93.5p, so my caution [...]

0 comments

How I bought the mortgages the banks don’t want via Prodesse (PRD)

December 18, 2008

Important: What follows is not a recommendation to buy or sell Prodesse Investment Limited. I’m just a private investor, storing and sharing notes. Read my disclaimer. Name: Prodesse Investment Limited Ticker: PRD Listed in: London (FTSE Small Cap) Business: Investment Entities More information: Digital Look / Google Finance Official Site: Prodesse Investment Key numbers for [...]

2 comments

Will Blinkx (BLNX) be the UK’s answer to Google?

November 10, 2008

Important: What follows is not a recommendation to buy or sell Blinkx. I’m a private investor, storing and sharing notes. Read my disclaimer. Name: Blinkx   Ticker: BLNX Listed in: London (AIM)   Business: Technology More information: Digital Look / Google Finance Official Site: Blinkx Key numbers for Blinkx (10/11/08) Share price: 19.25p Market cap: £53.4 million [...]

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