Share Forum - Discuss JSE shares and join the Investor Challenge

I am a newbie too and this is what I have learned so far:

1. You have to decide now if you want to be a trader or an investor. There is a big difference. If you want to be an investor, you are in it for the long run and you won't care about what is the right number at which you want to sell. You will instead learn about identifying good ETFs and companies to invest in and then stay invested in them unless you get some information that makes you lose confidence in that ETF or company. Only then will you consider selling whatever shares you have.

2. You are considered a trader if you hold a share for less than 3 years. If you sell before the three years are up whatever gains you made will be taxed as income tax. If you held it for longer than three years it will be taxed as Capital Gains Tax. For CGT you won't be taxed on the first R30 000 you make each year. Anything above R30 000 will be taxed at 17% as I understand it.

3. As long as the share price is going up, in the long run, keep holding it. I don't think there is a sweet spot number out there. Just because the price has gone up by 15% doesn't mean it has reached its peak and you should get out. On the flip side, just because it has gone up by 15% doesn't mean it will continue to go up either. But more often than not it will. If you look at 5+ year charts of most shares you will see that they go up in the long run. And since you are in it till retirement you can just as well hold on to them until then. The secret is just that you make sure you invest in something you understand and have confidence in.

4. Most importantly, you need to learn about valuing stocks and growing your investing knowledge in general. You do not want to be invested in a stock that is overvalued. If it is overvalued the market will correct the price downwards. I would advise you to go to YouTube and search for 'Buffetts Books.' Those videos were very informational to me as a newby and taught me a lot. Once you search that term you will see there are playlists for each of the three courses. I would strongly recommend watching all the videos in each course. Most videos are only between 10 and 15 minutes long so do yourself a favour and watch a video a day. I would also recommend visiting justonelap.com. They have a lot of webinars on there. Also sign up for their mailing list and be notified about new videos and podcasts.

That's the best newbie advice I got for you. I am sure the more seasoned investors on here can tell you more.

I'm a South African who moved to China in 2013. Earning RMB as a currency makes me smile because the exchange rates has gone from about ZAR 1.8 to ZAR 2.2 over last two years since I arrived.

Anyway someone referred me to itradedata.co.za website a while ago when I asked for suggestions on a tool to track stocks, do research and easily access financial ratios and other important indicators for value investing. This is great for SA listed companies.

My question is what is the best central place (website or software) to track JSE, LSE, New York, and perhaps Hong Kong stock market? Your advice would be great appreciated.

I'm a South African who moved to China in 2013. Earning RMB as a currency makes me smile because the exchange rates has gone from about ZAR 1.8 to ZAR 2.2 over last two years since I arrived.

Anyway someone referred me to itradedata.co.za website a while ago when I asked for suggestions on a tool to track stocks, do research and easily access financial ratios and other important indicators for value investing. This is great for SA listed companies.

My question is what is the best central place (website or software) to track JSE, LSE, New York, and perhaps Hong Kong stock market? Your advice would be great appreciated.

http://money.cnn.com/data/world_markets/americas/

Contrary to the belief that we think the world knows who we are, and know what Mr Zuma, Julias are up to, nope, we not on the list...no JSE

 

I spend a lot of my time researching, researching and researching once again!! It has been an amazing experience!!

Good, keep doing it, if u wanna u can share some of u info with us.

I am very happy to say that as of yesterday, I am in the profit.!! Very proud of my shares,

Once again very nice, just do not get to confident, the market will bring u back to earth.

When is a good time to sell your shares? Some articles recommend when you get to 15% profit..

As per Fawkes, I agree, if it moves 15% up, just adjust your stop loss.

Down stop loss is not so easy as it sounds

If u did not follow ustop loss on African bank u would have real problems.

If u followed a 10% stop loss, say on NPN, u would have sold long time ago and would have lost out on the price were it is now.

I use the stop loss, not to sell, but it tells me to have a good look again at the share I hold. If it scares me, I sell, if I still like the company I hold.