Michael Taylor made the move to trading the stock market with his own capital on a full time basis in December 2016. As well as ShareScope, Michael contributes to Investors Chronicle and other online publications. He has also written a free book on getting started in the UK stock market, along with a stock trading handbook – both of which are available to download from his website at www.shiftingshares.com
I believe that anyone can learn to trade if they are able to remain objective and are willing to put the hours in. I lost a lot of money early on by not having a proper strategy and following the crowd. If you want to make money then you need to generate your own ideas – I use SharePad to find and plan my trades, and ShareScope to run on my trading screens.
Michael Taylor explores what really matters when markets turn hostile, cutting through the noise with practical lessons from past crashes. He shows why survival – not prediction – is the key to coming out stronger on the other side. There’s a quote often misattributed to various people. My favourite is the one in The Big
Michael Taylor explores the double-edged nature of share buybacks, highlighting how they can enhance shareholder returns when used well. He also warns how, in the wrong hands, they can quietly benefit executives at investors’ expense. Share buybacks are neither good nor bad. They can be both. But when used effectively, they can be a hugely
Michael Taylor explores some of the most dangerous phrases investors and traders can fall into, and why they often lead to costly mistakes. Drawing on past market bubbles and trading discipline, he highlights the psychological traps that continue to trip up market participants. It’s often said there are four dangerous words in investing. Traders, meanwhile,
In Part II of his trading timeframe series, Michael Taylor explains how to categorise trades as M2M or T2H before entry – and why that decision is critical to discipline and performance. He also highlights the costly mistake of converting short-term trades into long-term holds, and how to avoid it. In my last article we
Michael Taylor explores why so many traders fail by blurring short-term trades with long-term investments, and introduces his M2M versus T2H framework to define each clearly. In Part I, he explains how aligning timeframe, risk and discipline with the right strategy is critical to consistent performance. Most traders fail because they don’t know what game
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
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
As the year draws to a close, Michael Taylor reflects on the importance of using the Christmas break to review trading performance, habits and discipline. He then shows how careful analysis and effective use of auctions can create opportunities when markets react to unexpected news. Another year has passed and we move into the second
The opening and closing auctions hide far more complexity than most realise. In this piece, Michael Taylor breaks down how they work and why knowing the mechanics can make all the difference to your trading. I sometimes get asked why I don’t trade US stocks, as the volatility can be higher and liquidity far superior.
Most traders focus on when to buy or sell – but how your trade is executed can make or break your results. Michael Taylor explains the key differences between SETS and SETSqx, and how understanding them can save you costly mistakes. Most new traders think that buying and selling involves clicking a few buttons. They’re
This final instalment of Michael Taylor’s position sizing series dives into scaling in, scaling out, and keeping emotions in check. He rounds things off with a simple checklist to help you trade smarter and stay in the game longer. This is the final part if my four-part series on position sizing. If you’ve not read
Knowing the rules is one thing – applying them in live trades is another. In Part III of his position sizing series, Michael Taylor explains the spreadsheets, numbers, and mindset you need to size positions like a pro. This is part 3 of my multi-series on position sizing. If you’ve not already, then I’d suggest