Being fully invested can feel like the obvious way to maximise returns, but today cash and bonds can offer meaningful returns without the same volatility. Michael Taylor looks at why opportunity cost matters again, and how investors can think more carefully about risk, time horizons and keeping some powder dry. Back when the pandemic was […]
Headlam boasted an industry-leading position, an asset-rich balance sheet and a long record of dividends… and yet still went bust. Maynard Paton recaps what went wrong at the floor-covering distributor. I wrote about Headlam for ShareScope during 2020 and gave a bullish verdict: “Headlam seems to possess the industry position, balance-sheet strength and management experience […]
Doing nothing can be one of the hardest disciplines in trading, especially when a stock you missed suddenly takes off. Michael Taylor looks at why the urge to act can be so costly, and why learning to sit on your hands may be an edge in itself. GCM Resources went up over 400% in a […]
UK small caps can offer private investors an edge, with less institutional competition and greater scope for overlooked opportunities. Michael Taylor explains how disciplined stock selection, risk management and a consistent process can help tilt the odds in investors’ favour. The game is rigged. It always has been. But maybe not in the way you […]
Michael Taylor looks beyond charts and risk management to explore how sleep, stress and lifestyle can affect trading performance and decision-making. He shares practical ways investors can improve their wellbeing to help stay sharper in the markets. I was talking to one of the top UK YouTubers recently about an investment we both hold, and […]
Michael Taylor explains why learning to lose well is one of the most important skills a trader can develop. He looks at position sizing, stop losses and the dangers of averaging down, showing how keeping losses small can help traders stay in the market long enough for their winners to count. My first ever trade […]
Michael Taylor explains why one of the most valuable investing tools isn’t powered by AI or an app. He argues that pen and paper can improve focus, sharpen decision making and even help investors spot costly mistakes. The world is increasingly digital. We are connected by our phones, and this means we can be in […]
Michael Taylor follows up his US market bubble analysis by focusing on the practical steps investors can take to protect themselves if volatility strikes. From position sizing and cash management to trimming winners and avoiding emotional decisions, he explains how traders can stay prepared without trying to call the top. In my last article, we […]
Michael Taylor examines whether soaring US valuations are flashing warning signs of a market bubble, and what it could mean for UK investors. From the Buffett Indicator to AI-fuelled exuberance, he explores the risks, the bull case, and why concentration in the Magnificent Seven matters more than ever. I trade UK small-caps for a living. […]
Michael Taylor continues his bear market series by focusing on process over prediction, showing why waiting for confirmation beats trying to call the bottom. He also explores the mental discipline needed to endure downturns and stay positioned for the eventual recovery. This is the second article of a two-part series. If you’ve not read the […]
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 […]
In part two of his position sizing series, Michael Taylor moves beyond the basics and dives into more advanced techniques that separate disciplined traders from the rest. From adjusting risk based on volatility and conviction to avoiding common pitfalls, he shows how smart sizing can protect your capital, compound your edge, and keep you in […]
Michael Taylor tackles one of the most overlooked yet crucial aspects of trading: position sizing. Get this wrong and you risk blowing up your account — get it right and you give yourself the best chance of staying in the game long enough to win. Let’s get one thing straight. Position sizing isn’t glamorous. There […]
Michael looks at the emotional effects on position sizing and how to size appropriately, showing why it’s the trader’s final line of defense. In this insightful piece, he shares practical strategies to balance risk, protect capital, and keep emotions from undermining performance. The art of sizing correctly Sizing correctly isn’t just a science. It’s an […]
In this article, Michael looks at how to develop your ‘trading board of directors’ to level up your trading. Most people treat trading like a solo game. It is. It’s certainly not a team game. It’s a sport where everyone else can be winning, and you keep getting struck out on trades. Or a friend […]
In part two of his trading hacks series, Michael dives deeper into the mindset shifts and tactics that can truly transform your trading game. This is the second article in my two-part series ‘How to hack your trading’ – you can read the first part here where I cover the first three points. We left […]
Michael looks at small but productive ways for traders to improve P&L with the first of this two-part checklist and walkthrough. Let’s get one thing straight… There are no shortcuts in trading. I wish there was because it would’ve saved me a lot of time and money. But sadly, there is no way to quick […]
I got lucky when I started trading. Well, my first trade was a 100% loss with a company called PeerTV. So whilst that wasn’t exactly lucky, it was lucky that I kept going. And also lucky that back in 2016, the market was in a huge bubble for small-cap stocks. You didn’t even have to […]
I got asked this week about growing a small trading account and was told that a lot of the advice and suggestions given out are for around a large trading account. I’m trying to think what would be different, but let’s start out with a small trading account of £5,000. When I started trading, IG […]
It’s gutting news for Argentex shareholders as earlier this week the business announced that it had suspended trading as a result of its financial position. The latest is that the company is in “advanced discussions” with IFX Payments regarding a possible offer at 2.49p per share for Argentex stock. Given that the last traded price […]
Michael looks at recent events and the importance of protection. Well, it turns out China wasn’t big enough to bully Trump into submission. But the bond market was. As my Grandad once told me… there’s always someone bigger. And in this instance, US Treasury Bills are far bigger than any President. The Federal Reserve doesn’t […]
“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.” Or so said Samuel Johnson back in 1777. Back in that time, high mortality rates and the disgusting living conditions suppressed the birth rate and life expectancy of native Londoners, and so the city grew only because of new migrants who replaced the […]
Is this the beginning of the end? Michael looks at the future of the London Stock Exchange and Beeks Financial Cloud. Five years ago we marked the bottom of the Coronavirus crash. It went as quickly as it came. Boris put us in lockdown and markets rocketed. Helicopter money, furlough, work from home, and not […]
In this article, Michael looks at things to look for before buying stocks in order to check up on potential red flags. Before buying any stock, it’s important to do some quick checks to stop you from buying a complete crock. Depending on the type of trade will depend how deep you go. For example, […]
Michael looks at the pros and cons of trading as both the house and the player. I’m often worried that whenever I mention the words “position sizing” you will groan and think “Not this again”. But it truly is the most important factor in trading. Not the only important factor, of course. There are many. […]
In this article, Michael looks at the ramifications for Nvidia’s fall and his RNS layout. What a week. Nvidia took a dive on news of DeepSeek which, if we’re to believe is true, is able to compete with ChatGPT-4 and Claude for a fraction of the resources. It might not look much. But that drop […]
Happy New Year! Hopefully you have come back refreshed and energised, ready to compete in what is one of the world’s most competitive arenas. As the new year begins, traders everywhere are setting fresh goals and looking to make the most of a clean slate. It’s natural to want to start the year strong – […]
Michael suggests some ideas to look at in an annual trading review. Five years ago, we had no idea of what was about to come. Whispers of a new virus in December. Mildly interested chatter in January. Concern creeping in at the start of February, yet markets powered higher even though the virus swept into […]
Michael looks at the recent cryptocurrency euphoria as well as two UK plays. Bitcoin has shot past $100,000. Its market cap now stands at nearly $2 trillion. Not bad for what is deemed a nothing asset by many. Dogecoin – a joke coin with no real tangible useful value and a picture of a cute […]
You’ve probably seen Jaguar’s new rebrand, which looks similar to a cosmetic or a fashion ad, without any mention of cars, and some vague slogans which mean little to anyone. Marketers worldwide have crowed about how “Jaguar has destroyed its brand” and that this is financial suicide. Maybe. But they missed the point. Jaguar barely […]
There are two approaches to trading: discretionary and systematic. The former relies on the trader’s judgement to make decisions, whilst systematic follows a set of predefined rules. Both of these have merits and drawbacks, and it’s not untypical for traders to look down upon the other group as inferior. Which, given we’ve had the budget […]
Michael takes a look at some sectors that could be affected by the upcoming autumn budget. The budget day is going to be like a firehose of RNS announcements attached to your face. Lots of changes are going to be anticipated and there will be plenty of volatility. This volatility presents an opportunity (both for […]
Michael looks at the benefits of a sharper mind and how to cultivate an edge in trading. The difference between winners and losers is almost always the mindset. And yes, there are lots of other things that go into successful trading, such as knowledge, hard work, and the ability to learn quickly. But you can […]
In this article, Michael looks at flipping direction and two trade ideas. It’s been a big week for volatility. China’s stimulus plan jumpstarted the resources sector and helped the luxury sector too. China’s slowdown in consumer spending has been responsible for a big part of the luxury slump, and sales collapsed in Mainland China for […]
In this article, Michael assesses whether sellers present opportunities and a potential early stage two stock. I got asked this week about known sellers and if it is a good opportunity to buy a stock when there’s a seller. The reasoning behind this is that once the seller clears, sometimes there isn’t much of a […]
In this article, Michael covers the recent stock market fall and two trade ideas. Two weeks ago stocks were tanking. This week stocks are up. If you were on holiday the last fortnight and didn’t bother checking the markets, then you might not have noticed anything was up. As I wrote in my Slack group […]
Michael looks at some of this week’s action and notes some commonalities between trades. Riddle me this… If the market is efficient, then why don’t prices gap up and open without moving? The simple answer is because the market isn’t efficient. In this basic assumption, we assume that all (or at least a big majority) […]
In this article, Michael looks at the effects of loss and the damage it can do to a trader’s P&L. Trump getting shot on Saturday saw several stocks and sectors move quickly. Overall, the market saw it as a positive. Not that he was shot, but because of his now significantly increased chances of winning. […]
In this article Michael looks at share placings and how to take advantage of them. Equity placements, also known as share placings, are a critical aspect of the financial markets. They are what you might call a necessary evil and are often used by companies to raise capital. That said, not all share placings are […]
Michael looks at the various types of stockbrokers in this article and how they can be used effectively. Having the right stockbroker can have a huge impact on your P&L. It came as no surprise to me that Shares decided to close down its UK operations. You most likely haven’t heard of this broker – […]
Michael breaks down the breakout including why and how to play this trading pattern. For those who have followed my articles then it’ll come as no surprise that I love trading breakouts. Why? Simply put: trading breakouts is a powerful strategy for capturing significant price movements in stocks. When a stock’s price moves above a […]
In this article, Michael Taylor looks at a way to increase your trading strike rate by varying stop losses. What if there was an easy way to increase your strike rate? Managing risk is paramount in the volatile world of trading. You’ll have heard of Mark Minervini talk about ‘batting average’. This is your strike […]
In this article, Michael revisits the indices and looks at what they mean for traders. Almost all of the trades I do are specific to the chart and to that company itself. For example, a strong stock in a bear market will get bought, and a down-trending, stock-breaking support in a raging bull market will […]
Michael looks at trades that don’t come through the RNS yet can still be considered price-sensitive news. The RNS is one of the best place trades, whether the trades be Opening Drive scalps or swings. Setting up your own specific filters (or using mine) is another of the best places. Examples of places that are […]
Michael looks at a roundup of the weekly news and highlights one stock to avoid. There’s been plenty of action this week. And perhaps sentiment for the UK market is on the mend? The news is full of articles sounding the alarm for the UK stock market. Peel Hunt’s chief Steven Fine said that there […]
You often hear of people who are staunchly for either technical or fundamental analysis. Chartists will sneer at those who read the financial statements because they have no predictor on price and fundamentalists will claim that chart-reading is kooky and for those who need to give their head a shake. I’ve never understood why these […]
Michael looks at a profit warning and some reactions to the news. It’s been a busy week in the markets and about to get a lot busier as March brings a whole load of results and trading updates. Last week, we saw profit warnings from Halfords and FD Technologies, along with some ahead statements and […]
Are we in an early-stage bull market for small caps? Michael Taylor shares his experience on trend trading and how now could be a good time to get on board some trends early, taking a look at two potential examples in BKS and IGP. Intraday trading is fun. But it’s hard, most people fail, and […]
In this article, Michael looks at trading external news events and opportunities that are set up as a result. External events that have an effect on a stock but are not directly news events from the stock can be hugely profitable. I talked about the Supreme Court of The United States’ decision to allow sports […]
Michael covers recent events and looks at two potential breakout trades. A lot has happened in the last two weeks. The US and the UK have attacked Iran-backed Houthi rebels. The SEC Twitter account got hacked and posted a tweet saying that the Bitcoin ETF had been approved. Then the Bitcoin ETF finally did get […]
Michael looks at some of the results from his classic filter to see if he can find potential trades. I’ve written about my 10% within 52-week highs filter twice, introducing it in May 2022 and again in February 2023. After a big market rally in November and December, there are going to be plenty of […]
Michael explains his new filter and goes through some of the stocks it has provided. My 10% within 52-week highs filter is starting to pick up plenty of names. Does this mean the bull market is back? Well, not exactly. But it does mean that stocks are approaching their 1-year highs and threatening to either […]
Michael looks at assessing news premiums and news discounts with two recent examples. One question I’m often asked by clients is how do you gauge the news and what price to go within the uncrossing trade? Whilst much of trading can be systematic, such as following entries, stop losses, position sizing, and risk management, intraday […]
Michael looks at staggering stops and position weights to increase the likelihood of profit on the trade. Many regular readers will know I’m a fan of staggering stops in volatile markets. The beauty of staggering stops is that by splitting the position into mini positions, you can widen part of your stop without taking on […]
Michael takes a look at the week as well as the AIM market index. This week there were plenty of trading opportunities (none taken by me as I was away). It’s very much a trader’s market at the moment, and many stocks are reporting, missing, and getting crucified. That was the case for newly listed […]
Michael takes a look at profit warnings and how to play these with several examples. Profit warnings are appearing on an almost daily basis. Despite two years of a grinding bear market, there are still companies out there that have yet to be beaten down. Stocks falling 40 percent or more on the […]
Michael looks at two examples of high-beta stocks offering news to trade. For anyone wanting to trade intraday then high beta stocks – stocks that move more than the market – are ideal stocks to trade. Especially when it comes to news that can move those stocks. Here are some examples this week. Gulf Keystone […]
The market saw a boom in new listings in 2020 and 2021 as companies were greedy to slurp on the capital market teat that provided fertile ground for rocketing IPOs. Companies would list and there would be a huge secondary market in order to lap up the stock and push the price to closing highs. […]
Michael looks at the first two hours of the trading day and how to view potential mispricing. The hour between 8am and 9am is just as important to the intraday trader as 7am to 8am. Whilst 7am to 8am is the time to meticulously work through RNSs and come up with a shortlist to dig […]
In this article Michael Taylor looks at the trading impact of rumours, overloads and spikes from Social Media. What to be aware of and how to navigate them to your advantage. The influence of social media platforms on various aspects of our lives is undeniable. One area where this impact has been particularly pronounced is […]
Michael looks at 7 more of the greatest trades of all time. In my last article, we looked at the best trades you’ve never heard of. And now that’ve read it, you have heard of them. But here are seven more… 1. John Templeton’s World War II capitulation trade Back in 1939, Germany invaded Poland […]
In this article, Michael looks at some of the greatest trades in history. The markets have always offered opportunities for those who either do the work and think differently. Most of my trades are systematic, however, every now and again opportunities open up. It’s important to log your trades in a trading journal (I am […]
In this article, Michael looks at the importance of checking RNSs when management thinks you’re not looking. Last Friday was a nice summer evening (at least it was for me, I can’t assume that it was for you), and a company decided to slip out an RNS at 17:56. The market has been shut for […]
Michael talks shorting and specifically – using this weeks news story on Ocado as an example – when the shorters get squeezed. Let’s be honest. Everyone loves a short squeeze. Unless, of course, you’re the shorter being squeezed. Then it’s like being nailed to a chair that’s set on fire. But shorting is an active […]
In this article, Michael looks at two of the best trades of the 20th Century by Sir John Templeton. Sir John Templeton was an American-born British investor, philanthropist, and fund manager. He was born in 1912 in Tennessee in the United States and passed away in 2008 in Nassau, Bahamas. American-born British because he gave […]
Michael looks at the overall market and another intraday play in this article. AI will be the growth driver for the next bull run. At least that’s what everyone is saying. Here’s Nvidia’s chart. The stock gapped up more than 25% on earnings. Not something you see on mega caps every day. Or even every […]
I’m often asked about my strategies on intraday trading. Intraday trading is fun but incredibly difficult. And whilst it often looks cool in films with all the screens and flashing lights and plenty of action, the reality is somewhat different. The failure rate of intraday traders (individuals who engage in short-term trading within a single […]
I’ve written extensively about breakouts. Breakouts are a popular strategy used by traders in the financial markets. It involves identifying a price level at which the market is expected to break out from its current range, and then entering a trade when that level is breached. Why does this work? Because the price breakout from […]
Michael looks at the indices after a spate of bank collapses that rocked financial markets. Worries about contagion and banks failing caused the markets to take a lurch downwards. Or did they? Am I making it up after the fact? The truth is nobody ever knows and it’s easy to say why something moved after […]
Consider Wandisco. It’s a software company that specialises in providing data management and replication services for businesses. The company was founded in 2005 and is headquartered in San Ramon, California, with additional offices in the UK, India, and Poland. Wandisco was listed on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market in 2012 and has been a […]
Michael looks at what the recent all-time high in the FTSE 100 means for traders and two trade ideas On Wednesday the FTSE 100 hit a high of 8,002. This is an all-time high and the holders of blue chips and dividend stalwarts alike will have been cheering. All stocks have rallied in the last […]
Following on from my last article where I discussed intraday trading, it makes sense to write about swing trading. Intraday trading sounds glamorous and for this reason, it gets a lot more attention. Tell people you’re a day trader and people will hang onto your every word. But tell people you trade long-term trends and […]
Many people like the idea of day trading: being able to open and close a trade within a few minutes, banking a nice profit, and doing nothing for the rest of the day. Unfortunately, that’s all it is. An idea. The reality is somewhat different. Yes, you can close a trade in minutes (and even […]
Michael takes a look at some of the profit warnings announced in the last week and how they could’ve been avoided. It’s been a quiet week in the first trading week of 2023. But the profit warnings are out in force, with Bidstack, Angle, and Heiq all seeing a share price whack. Profit warnings are […]
2022 has been a whirlwind year. After 2020 and 2021, it was inevitable that we’d need to pay for the disruption Coronavirus caused. And John and I were saying it repeatedly on our podcast (which relaunches in the New Year!) – we just didn’t know when. After all, you could’ve sold and gone to cash […]
Another week passes and more takeover bids appear. This time for K3 Capital (K3C) and Crestchic (LOAD). And whilst takeovers are never terrible news, the majority of shareholders (at least the ones who voiced their sentiments on social media) appear to be disgruntled. This is because both the bid prices of the two companies in […]
It’s beginning to feel like we’re well into this bear market. Stocks are no longer looking like easy shorts. Many stocks have already bottomed and are trending upwards. As I said in my last article – I don’t know if this is the beginning of the new bull market. And I still don’t need to […]
Michael looks at the price action of the indices over the last few weeks and includes two potential breakout trades. US stocks had their second-best day in history this week. The indices have continued to rally since I last wrote two weeks ago. Many UK stocks have seen uplifts in their valuations too. The market […]
Michael looks at three features of new market leaders that will show themselves in the new early bull market. It’s goodbye Truss and hello Sunak. It was a success for the Daily Star’s lettuce and a brief rally with Sunak’s appointment. Markets have been anything and with the third Prime Minister of the year (and […]
Michael looks at several academic studies covering retail investors and what we can learn from them. We last looked at an academic article on trading in the summer of 2020. For a refresher, there were several findings. 1. “Retail investors tend to trade as contrarians after large earnings surprises, both positive and negative” Retail investors […]
Michael looks at The 90% Club from 2021 and how to avoid getting caught by overpriced IPOs. Warren Buffett doesn’t like IPOs. In fact, this is what he said about them: “An IPO is like a negotiated transaction – the seller chooses when to come public – and it’s unlikely to be a time that’s favourable to […]
In my last article, we looked at the first seven steps to profitability. We’ll continue where we left off: with the trading journal. 9. Check what happens after you close a trade to see if you’re leaving money on the table. Trading is about: Losing less from your losers Winning more from your winners Increasing […]
Michael outlines how to get to profitability as a trader in the first part of his 15-step walkthrough. Every trader’s ultimate goal is to be profitable. It’s a long journey which many fail. A statistic I display at the top of my trading course is that 90% of traders lose money (Barber, B.M., Lee, Y.-T., […]
Michael provides a breakdown on why cutting losses is crucial to scaling as a trader and two actionable steps to manage this Everyone pays lip service to risk management. However, it’s easy to move your stops “just this once”. Those three words are some of the most dangerous words in trading. If you move your […]
In this article, Michael looks at five different stocks and casts an eye over the charts. I recently wrote a Twitter thread where I gave my thoughts on several charts. Many said it was useful, so I thought an article where I do the same in a bit more detail may be of use in […]
We looked at five losing trader mistakes in my last article and this week we’ll cover five more. Being aware of mistakes can help you recognise the problems in your own trading. Once you’ve identified these you can then take steps to fix them. Let’s move on to number 6. 6. Getting emotional Emotions wreak […]
Following on from my last article on trading biases, this week I’ll be running through some of the biggest losing trader mistakes. I’ve made several of these in the past and it’s good to be aware of these so you can check if you’re falling into the traps. 1. Not having an edge Not having […]
In this article, Michael looks at 8 trading biases and how to mitigate these. It’s comparable to a video game. You press certain buttons to make certain things happen because you want a certain result. The better you press the buttons, the higher your score. Only in this game, the score is not meaningless. It’s […]
In this article Michael Taylor looks at stocks that are trading near their lows and that could potentially fall further. He also uses the SharePad filter library to look for those that might break out including Wood Group plc, Softcat plc, Safestyle uk and Restaurant Group. The market today is different to the market of […]
