All the latest articles & insight from our investment writers to inspire your own research and analysis.
Michael Taylor explores the hidden problem with demo trading – not the lack of skill, but the absence of emotion. He explains why finding the right balance of risk is essential for developing discipline, consistency and long-term trading success. Demo accounts are the source of contention amongst traders. Some say they are a way to
It is four out of four this time, as Cerillion, Hollywood Bowl, Ramsdens and RWS all pass the 5 Strikes test. Richard Beddard explains why Cerillion is the pick of the bunch, with a rare perfect score and a financial track record that merits closer scrutiny. 5 Strikes I’ve got good news and bad news.
A screen for high margins and high ROEs perhaps surprisingly identifies Hollywood Bowl. Maynard Paton studies the bowling group’s growth history, lease accounting, hefty capex and commendable leadership. Today I have revisited a ShareScope screen that applies two ratios favoured by ‘quality’ investors — operating margin and return on equity (ROE). The exact criteria I
Bruce takes a look at the causes of volatility in the natural gas price, and what this might signal for equity markets. Companies covered CKN, EYE, CTG. The FTSE 100 was down less than 0.5% over the last 5 trading days, but remains above the 10,000 level. Nasdaq was off less than -1%, while the
Michael Taylor examines why the trading industry is so profitable for brokers, educators and promoters, yet consistently punishing for most participants. He explores the structural incentives, behavioural traps and discipline gaps that explain why so many traders fail despite lower costs and better access than ever. The trading industry is extremely lucrative. But not for
Richard puts the last 10 shares to pass his minimum quality filter through 5 Strikes and finds two exotic companies. One is making less money in a roaring market. The other is making big profits in a declining one. Today, I am collecting up stragglers, the last companies to publish annual reports in 2025 that
David Stevenson reviews an exceptional year in which most asset classes delivered strong returns, challenging assumptions about US market dominance. He also highlights a UK income trust, a Vietnam-focused opportunity, and the striking rise in precious metals, particularly silver. 2025 was a fairly extraordinary year in which nearly all risky assets and markets, including gold,
Bruce looks back at how his and others 2025 investment ideas performed, and offers some more ideas for 2026. Only one stock covered, NXT, the retailer often considered a “bellwether” for the UK economy. The FTSE 100 was +1.3% since the start of the new year to 10,064. Babcock, Rolls Royce and BAE Systems were
Richard reveals the names of all 211 shares that pass his minimum quality screen, and the Strikes he gave them in 2025. Despite striking out, AstraZeneca features. Following my 5 Strikes explainer, I thought I would share the whole list of shares that passed my minimum quality filter in 2025. Shares that do not pass
Bruce Packard reviews a year where gold has outshone global equity markets, with a muted Santa Rally doing little to close the gap. He examines the forces behind the surge and assesses a mix of consumer, mining and leisure stocks. Companies covered WINE, JLP, BOWL, XPF. The FTSE 100 was up +2% to 9,879 with
Richard is screening for companies that have grown under their own steam. He explains the filter he uses to pick candidates for long term investment and the financial statistics that underpin it. Since this is my last article before Christmas, I wish you a happy one. ShareScope is my main tool for discovering shares. 5
A screen for high insider ownership identifies GlobalData boss Michael Danson and his £500m shareholding. Maynard Paton delves into Mr Danson’s impeccable track record of creating, buying and selling data businesses. I can’t be the only investor who likes to see directors aligned with ordinary shareholders by owning lots of stock. Hence this revisit to
