Making sense of a balance sheet is important when you’re deciding whether or not to buy shares, because you want to be sure a company you’re investing in is not heading for trouble. Tom Stevenson, investment director at Fidelity International, explains the basics of reading a balance sheet using drinks giant Britvic as his test … Read more
Russ Mould , investment research director at platform AJ Bell Youinvest, explains what admin, tax and currency issues to be aware of when buying and selling shares listed outside the UK It is as easy to buy and sell shares listed on most developed, Western stock markets as it is domestic, London-listed ones. You can … Read more
Why do people invest directly in shares rather than letting a fund manager do the work for them? For some it is because they think they can beat the market and the manager, for others it’s the attraction of owning a direct stake in a company, and for many share investors it comes down to … Read more
Mark Northway is chairman of ShareSoc, a group that champions and lobbies on behalf of individual investors. Here, he outlines what rights shareholders have over companies they own and how crucial it is to use them. Corporate culture: Using your shareholder rights will mould the character, behaviour and thinking of a company board for the … Read more
When it comes to investing, it can be almost as difficult to sort out the ‘how’ as the ‘what’. Selecting shares is tricky but choosing the online platform or app to buy them through can also be bewildering – and less exciting. There are a host of different options, with very different fee structures. But having … Read more
Got a handful of old shares it’s not worth the cost or hassle of selling? You could donate them to charity – here’s how ShareGift accepts donations of shares, typically worth just £15 Holders are willing to offload them, since trading fees can wipe out any profit Proceeds are handed to a big range of … Read more
I would like to start investing in shares for my 10-year-old grandson with the view of him eventually making the decisions when he becomes an adult. What type of account should I use and are there any rules around investing for children? What is the best way to do this – should I use a … Read more
There’s no getting around it, you need do some homework and maths if you’re thinking of buying shares. But which sums are the most useful to investors when weighing up a stock? And how do you track down the figures you need in a company’s financial reports? Sheridan Admans, investment manager at The Share Centre, … Read more