** My new book - about spreadbetting - has just been published, you can order it here:

http://books.global-investor.com/books/401334.htm?ginPtrCode=10453

Welcome to any new readers coming to the website from the new book, I would suggest you read the spreadbetting book in conjunction with Naked Trader, available here:

http://books.global-investor.com/books/27120.htm?ginPtrCode=10453

** Apologies, have cancelled the Aug 1st seminar as we want to stay on at the music festival for Mark Ronson, but have moved the usual autumn seminar to an earlier date, so the next seminar is now September 16th.

Sorry to those of you who'd already booked but I'll be in touch and hopefully you can move to the September date *****

Yes, surprise! I am updating a much earlier than normal. In the early morning. Quite unheard of and only after one bit of tea and toast.

This is because of golf. You may remember from last time I have an anxious friend desperate for me to get learning fast. Because we are spending a week at a castle in July and he wants to play lots of golf.

So later today I am having a lesson. And after that I think I am to be marched to the golf shop. For golf shoes, maybe golf clubs. Or some horrible golf clothes, I'm not sure.

After that at least it's lunch. I thought I would be too knackered to update when I got home. Hence this early update.

I must admit I just can't imagine wearing checked trousers and multi-coloured pringle pullover.

I wonder what happens if you turn up at a golf course in pyjama bottoms? Maybe security hauls you out. Hey, I have business to attend to... I'm networking.. I sell pyjama bottoms for christ's sake...

Anyway, who knows? I might hit a good shot today and become hooked on it. In which case expect an update once a month instead of once a week.

Where the hell does the time go? As you get older it seems to go faster and faster and I now have no idea how anyone finds time to do real work for a living.

Going out for a meal with some old work colleagues one said she felt like she was "hurtling towards death" - which is exaggerating just a little....

All of a sudden it's the longest day already and the nights are soon to draw in.

But hang on, I realised I have done quite a lot this year already and I'm very pleased I've made the most of the long evenings out there playing football (loosely speaking) with the lad.

Or, flavour of the month is a new type of light frisbee which even an idiot can hurl a long way.
Well, at least I spent the longest evening in the park with the lad. Got to be worthwhile.

Anyway lots of fun to come this year I hope. Looking forwards to the music festival and our stay at the castle next month. We did the same last year, are we getting boring or is it a good idea to repeat something you liked last time?

Father's Day was nice. My present was eight bars of my favourite choc bar from M and S. The orange truffle one. Hands off they are mine.

And to think a year ago I was crazy about Yorkie raisin bars. How fickle. Anyhow the cleaner doesn't seem to like the M and S stuff, she loved Yorkies.

My friend who lives in Shepherd's Bush is very happy QPR have made it back to the big time. He and his son of course support QPR as they live over the road.

And I of course live over the road from Fulham.

So I'm getting tickets for Fulham Vs QPR in October. Only thing is we'll be in the Fulham fans stand. And doubtless they will stand up and yell if QPR score!

Doesn't much matter as it is a friendly ground and I'll just pretend in any event that I have never met them before. (Actually QPR won't score so the event is unlikely!)

I'm sure we'll have a good afternoon out and I can introduce them to the world's worst tribute to Michael Jackson, the awful Michael Jackson statue.

And one thing I definitely won't introduce them to is the equally bad Fulham hamburgers at half time.

You may as well eat a mouthful of cardboard. The so called hot dogs are even worse. You need to go to Chelsea for the decent stuff.

Funnily enough my father was a QPR fan having spent time as a doctor around Shepherds Bush, then as a postman after he got struck off for drug abuse. I could tell you a few hair-raising stories about what went on around that football ground... maybe one day!

I look forwards to seeing some of you at the seminar on Friday. I always end up enjoying them. Every one ends up being a bit different as it all depends on who is there and sometimes there are some very different roads we end up in.

Quite a few beginners coming to this one so there will be a beginners session, I really enjoy the basics.

And often seminars are also great for my trading as inevitably in all that time some shares come up that I might not otherwise have spotted and researched.

In the years I've been doing them I remember some fantastic ones popping on screens, the best one was the seminar where Mulberry kept appearing at 250... I remember buying the following Monday and although I sold out too early at 950 it was a tremendous profit. And the other really good one was Dialight that was 150 at the seminar and pushes 700 now. Microgen was also a goodie I remember.

Those of you coming on Friday doors open 9.30am... follow the signs to Naked Trader..

Please come and register first from 9.30am and then find a seat - coffees will be there waiting for you.....and some snacks are in the ajoining room on your right. And there's another load of coffee and tea and snacks due to arrive at 11am. Hopefully some cheese and ham croissants which is what I asked for.

Hopefully something nice for lunch and then more snacks a bit later. I've asked for some mini steak and chicken pies which are yummy.

Please do not worry if you are late, it's easy to get delayed Mrs NT will direct you to a seat.

Grab a coffee and just relax, I promise to be gentle with you all..

I hope you all enjoy the day, as it's live from the markets who knows what will come up. Hopefully we will find some interesting shares to research and some good level 2's to puzzle out timing.

It's likely the event will carry on into the evening as once I get going it's hard to get me to finish!

Do chat to other delegates, part of these seminars is to find similar people interested in trading and there are a lot of friendships made. So make sure you note down some email addresses!

Anyway see you all there and hope you enjoy it and find it a very useful day. And I really hope you find it very educational, useful and will help your trading immensely, especially some of the timing part.

As of this morning (Wednesday) there is still space so if you want to come last minute, mail me!

I've decided to go ahead again with a summer seminar especially for those of you who find it difficult to come during term-time.

So if you missed this one, I've just booked the next date!
Booking is now open then for Friday September 16th at Heathrow. If you are interested, mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with "September seminar interested" in the subject line.

There is a decent early bookers discount for, er, well, early bookers which you will be if you book at this time!

Beginners and improvers welcome! Come and spend the day with me, the markets and some lovely people - and of course, lunch!
If you mail me I will then send you details and a full agenda of what is covered. Also more details below somewhere.

My seminars are designed for beginners, dabblers and improvers and deals with everything from how to look for winners, how to research, spreadbetting, level 2 use how to time trades and short, how to use advfn properly and run your portfolio without having to spend money on systems and tipsters.. and tons more.
A lot of the day comes directly from the live markets and I show you many of the tricks I use to get good prices live. And there might even be the odd live trade or 2!

A reminder for those who have been to previous seminars I am also doing a follow up seminar at heathrow on Friday July 8th. That's all about a refresh of the previous seminar and also all day live level 2, timing, research and trade placing.

Do mail me with "Follow up interested" in the subject line. It is for a small group only and there is only some small space left.

I get quite a few mails asking what magazines or news services I subscribe to etc. Well, hardly any!
However I do take (£8.99 a month though take the yearly option at 20% discount to that) a daily email which is my main source of news about such things as broker upgrades, main news items, analysis of stocks and markets, forthcoming company statements and events, stock recommendations and targets from the top brokers, what kind of earnings expected from companies and a whole heap more useful stuff.
I sometimes get ideas from this for companies to watch or monitor or even buy. And it's handy to get a summary of what the brokers are saying and looking at future earnings etc.
It usually arrives around 5ish every day.
I contacted the people that put it together and they offer a free 14 day trial of it to my readers - so you can cancel after 14 days if you don't feel it's useful enough.
Once you cut and paste this link into your browser, click "uk 14 days free trial" then I would go "yearly option" which gives a 20% discount making it just over £7 a month, as you can still cancel seems worth it. Hope you find it useful like I do. It's one of the few paid for news services that has really impressed.
http://bit.ly/eBPXuG

I do also get the Investors Chronicle delivered by the newsagent every Friday. It's always worth a read and brings to my attention things I may have missed.

An interesting email from a reader. The thrust of it was he was going to buy a share after doing a lot of research but then it went up 12% and he hadn't bought it yet. So he felt angry.
How does he stop/halt the feelings of anger?
Well, you have to take the emotion out of trading. Which isn't easy.
I suggested he should read this book.. by Jason Zweig
http://books.global-investor.com/books/256158.htm?ginPtrCode=10453
This is the one to read on psychology. Great read.
Fancy getting the naked trader updates direct into your inbox? And a bit before it gets updates on the net including news from my pension trades made from my SIPP?

All you have to do is take a phone or energy service from the Utility Discount Warehouse at www.utilitywarehouse.org.uk/fabdeal.

I get some commission and you get the service! On top of that you ought to make some amazing savings on your phone, broadband, or energy use or all! There's even an internet phone where you can make free calls from wi fi hotspots!

Prices are guaranteed lower than the top 6 suppliers but even better you can get huge discounts on your energy/phone bill if you shop at places like Marks and Spencers, Boots, Sainsburys and a whole load more. 5% of your spend comes directly off your billl. Many are saving a fortune from their energy bills.

So save a few quid, and get my stuff in your inbox! A win win? Mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with "mail service" in the subject line and I'll send you details.

Spreadbetting firm Tradefair Spreads has upped its offer exclusively to Naked Trader readers to a £100 credit. This offer is exclusive to me and not available anywhere else...
I've been using them for a few weeks to check that I'm happy with the service. As you know I don't take ads or allow referrals on the site unless it's a company I've used and I feel confident about.
What I like about it is it's easy to use, spreads are surprisingly tight on the smaller companies and interestingly an automated stop loss is applied to each trade - so beginners know what their max loss is from the outset.
Anyway they now offer a £100 credit as long as you deposit £100. You get the credit after you placed 5 trades (Terms and conditions apply)
If you'd like to apply for an account with Tradefair Spreads and get the freebie click this link:
http://www.tradefair.com/promo/spreads/nakedtrader100/

The number of emails to me is nearly reaching saturation point and I'm struggling! I'm getting 100s which is lovely in a way but killing me in another.
The main problem is the length of some of them, indeed some run to the length of novels, so, please, help save my eyes and please keep mails to under 150 words.. you can do it! It's close to the stage where I am going to have to say I will answer all mails but those over 200 words will get deleted. Keep them short and sweet, please!!
Also, it's possible the answer you seek from me is already in FAQ's. And do remember I can't discuss individual shares with you as it would be classified as investment advice which I'm not authorised to give.
Many of you enjoy the cheap advfn toplists bronze deal through me as do many of you with the cheap level 2. However many of you say you want a half-way house to include real-time share prices always on.
So I'm pleased to announce I've managed to seal a new deal with Advfn for its "Silver" service - that's always on real-time share prices for a good saving (Bronze toplists etc are included in this).
The deal is via me you can save £30 for your first year by paying just £138.06 inc vat via me instead of £167.47.
Just mail me for full details if you'd like it with "silver" in the subject line.

They've just re-published "The Zulu Principle" by Jim Slater who's written a 2008 update at the beginning.
This is a brilliant classic book. Reading this is a real pleasure and it was a great idea to republish.
Jim believes like I do the best gains can come from smaller stocks and in an easy to read style takes you through how to evaluate smaller companies that are about to become bigger ones - he uses some excellent examples.
Really this is a must read for all more longer-term investors or anyone looking to grow their money... a number of you have also written to me about this book and praising it.
Here is the link to buy it:
http://books.global-investor.com/books/167207.htm?ginPtrCode=10453
Here's a very topical one: The Little Book of Bull Moves in Bear Markets by Peter Schiff.
The book is all about how to keep portfolios up in a down market. He focusses a lot on how to play commodities and win with some sensible advice especially on natural resources and precious metals. He is very much a realist and there is no rubbish here: some straight talking and some interesting strategies.
Everyone who invests should think seriously about keeping portfolios up in bad times so this book should be read.
Well worth picking up at this link:
http://books.global-investor.com/books/271958.htm?ginPtrCode=10453
To order my new book Naked Trader 2 for next day delivery click this link... or the cover of the book top right!
http://books.global-investor.com/books/27120.htm?ginPtrCode=10453
Several people have asked me for a recommendation on a book which shows how to study accounts in a reasonably easy way. The one I like the most is http://books.global-investor.com/books/15717.htm?ginPtrCode=10453 by Robert Leach. Ten crunch questions to ask before buying any company.
It' s a decent easy-to-read book with several key chapters and it's highly recommended. It's one I keep and dip into from time to time. To order, click this link... http://books.global-investor.com/books/15717.htm?ginPtrCode=10453
The best book on charting and easiest read on the subject is http://books.global-investor.com/books/15618.htm?ginPtrCode=10453 by Alistair Blair. Click here -> http://books.global-investor.com/books/15618.htm?ginPtrCode=10453
Another good one is the second edition of http://books.global-investor.com/books/23792.htm?ginPtrCode=10453 by Peter Temple. Included in this one is how to use spreadbetting, CFD's warrants and trackers to reduce risk. And there are some decent trading strategies too.
This is an excellent book for new investors and also experienced ones. It explains all the things you may not be sure about in the markets and will explain the tools that are there. To order The Investors Toolbox by Peter Temple (new edition) click the following link for delivery in 24 hours... http://books.global-investor.com/books/23792.htm?ginPtrCode=10453

**** BOOKING FOR FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH AT HEATHROW NOW OPEN**

Fancy spending a day with me, learning all the ways I have learned over the years to find good shares and play the markets? Well, you can at one of my seminars!
Booking is open for the Naked Trader seminar on Friday September 16th

Price is £550 plus vat. There is an early bookers discount currently available.
That includes three course lunch, coffees, snacks etc. There is an early bookers discount currently available.
The seminar is mainly aimed at beginners and dabblers though improvers are welcome too.
Topics covered using live market feeds all day include: Market psychology, level 2 - a simple guide to how to use it for better timing; how to value companies; finding companies that are about to rise. I will also cover techniques for handling events such as the recent meltdown and volatility.
Spreadbetting: How to use it to gain an edge and go short. Market makers - how they work and how to beat them; how to stop losing money and make it instead and plenty more.
How to plan trade entries and exits - how to research companies and understand reports, plus all those niggly questions you always wanted to ask. How to set stop losses and targets. Charts and how to use them.
Also covered: Market maker tricks: How to spot tree shakes and use them in your favour, How to tell when NOT to buy a share. I use live ADVFN all day with lots of level 2 and looks at all kind of live market data.
The idea behind the seminar is SIMPLICITY. I don't use jargon or fancy words - everything is in PLAIN ENGLISH! No question is too stupid and the event is held in a friendly relaxed and supportive environment.
The idea is you will come away from the event I hope a wise and better investor with lots of new ideas. I try and translate complex topics into easy bite size pieces. I also aim for it to be entertaining as well as instructive.
If you are interested please e-mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with "seminar interested" in the subject line and I will send you full details of the event including comments from those who have come to previous seminars and you can then decide whether you would like to come. See you there!
One seminar attendee Clare wanted to write a testimonial about her experiences at the seminar which follows now!
"I've just come back buzzing from one of Robbie's seminars. What a day! He's just brilliant, and manages to pack an awful lot into one day, and with his enthusiastic and humorous delivery the day just flies by. There are no gimmicks, no sell, no "˜get-rich-quick' promises, just his own solid, sound approach which he has learnt over the years and which works.
He shows you how to minimise the risks and maximise the profits and points out the banana skins on the way. Where the seminar really comes into its own is when he teaches using live level 2. Hearing him talk through his thought processes and reasoning is invaluable, and really brings home everything from the book. He has endless patience answering peoples' questions, and really seems to care that everybody understands.
On top of that, you meet some really nice like minded people and swap e mail addresses, you're plied with
chocolates and coffee all day, have a great lunch and spend the evening getting tiddled with Robbie in the
bar afterwards! You might even get to see the amazing crocodile boots . . . .
Don't worry about the cost, it's easily worth it, and you'll soon make it back with your new-found investment skills, and in what you're no longer losing. If you're thinking of going along to his next seminar, whether you're a novice or an experienced trader, don't hesitate ""just go!
Thanks Clare, did you want the tenner in cash, or will a cheque do?

I've started using Tradefair for spreadbetting - I like the auto generated stop losses which help to maintain discipline and that's good for beginners I think. And exclusively for Naked Trader readers they upped the offer to £100 credit.
So there's now a £100 credit on offer for anyone opening an account via me. You get that after 5 spreadbets (terms and conditions apply)
To get the offer, click here:
http://www.tradefair.com/promo/spreads/nakedtrader100/

The high street continues to be run down, sad to see so many empty premises.

I wonder whether some radical thinking would help. Indeed I can't help but think there has been no real radical thinking for many years.

If I was involved with government I would find a group of people who would be encouraged to come up with new ideas to help the economy, or new ideas to help anything.

They'd be encouraged to make the ideas as crazy and wacky as they wanted. Because you just never know.

Here is an idea, maybe it is crazy.

How about the Government buys the freehold to say, three empty premises on each high street.

Offer them up to independents who want to start a business with total rent free for the first year. Then gradually rise the rent as they attract business in following years.

At least then we as taxpayers will own the freeholds and we get some businesses going, jobs created and ensure our high streets aren't all stuffed with just the chains.

okay I know this would need to be thought through, but something in it, no?

Interesting that apparently the use of internet to make supermarket orders is on the way down.

Once again people actually find it more fun to visit the store. I think this is good news. Nice to get out!

Indeed I notice Mrs NT is using the local butcher etc more now and visits Waitrose instead of using Ocado (good for my short).

Also have you noticed they always never deliver the one item you really really wanted?

Easy Jet founder Stelios continues to try and find an "Easy" idea that works. Easy Cruise? Stinker. Easy Internet? Stinker! Easy Cinema? Never happened. I could go on.

Now it's er... Easy Gym! Yes,a gym with, well no towels, showers or indeed a swimming pool. Just running machines.

I can confidently predict this will be yet another stinker. Well, without showers the gym will definitely be a stinker! Phew!

People want towels and showers and a pool in their gym. Otherwise why pay anything. You just go out for a run instead and it's free! Doh!

Why doesn't he just realise the easy brand apart from planes doesn't work? If people want cut price things they already exist. I think the lad should just relax, enjoy his milllions or else come up with some really new ideas. (Easy sex?)

Lord S managed to fire the right guy last time. But really he should have fired the project manager too who agreed with the name "Hip Replacement" for an over 60s mag.

I would never go into business with anyone who even remotely thought this was a good idea.

But phew, bambi didn't get fired. Bambi is the dark horse of the competition. Though she can't make herself heard over the alpha males she actually does seem rather sensible. She needs to be made PM asap.

Both teams showed how useless they were with those cringe making magazine ideas. Can they really do no better?

Tonight they are off to France. I suspect this will be a cue for lots of silly accents, French jokes and silly language problems...

I see beansprouts have been blamed for the outbreak of e coli..

Thanks goodness for that. I just do not get beansprouts. You might as well eat nothing as they taste of nothing.

Their major use seems to be as cheap padding for supermarkets selling "Chinese stir fry mix".

It's Wimbledon again. I've backed Petra Kvitova with Sporting Index at 16 for the Ladies, an interesting one, I make money as long as she gets somewhere near the quarters. If she got into the final I'd win a lot!

The spreadbetting firm I use for sports betting is here:
Via this link Open a Sporting Index account and there's £100 cash offer - please check terms and conditions which apply.

http://www.sportingindex.com/?tpid=6755
Do remember if you do bet you ought to treat sports spreadbetting as entertainment - and expect to lose! Also with spreadbetting work out what your max loss could be and make sure you can afford it! In other words if you say backed the favourite at 15 for a fiver and they come nowhere your max loss is £75.

Carole writes :
This is only my second email to you since last September's seminar, promise. Catching up on one of your archived diaries, for a laugh, I have to disagree with your comments re the royal wedding.

I am much looking forward to it. And Prince William was great in Christchurch last week at the Memorial Service, all my many friends living there have commented on his presence, some attaching photos they had taken! But do, please, keep writing and rambling.

You're allowed to disagree with me if you want. But I think the Royal Wedding is more of a girly thing isn't it?

I don't think us men are really that interested in the whole thing. But I hope you enjoy it, they appear to be a nice young couple and wish them all the best.

But it must be a little strange at that age that whereever you go, people wave at you and you don't see any real life..
Duane writes:
Wanted to say a big thank you to you and Mrs NT for an amazing day of learning and fun at your seminar.

The way you explained the share trading from start to finish was understandable and really interesting, well worth the seminar fee!
It was great to hear such down to earth and honest assessment from a successful trader like yourself. The way you explained everything was good revision from your book and gave further insight into successful share trading.

I particularly liked your live trades and going through your accounts when you gave snippets of why you invested in certain shares and why you kept/dumped them. Also helpful was the way you searched for prospective shares and within minutes discounted them or put them on a short list for further examination and correct entry points. Amazing!
You could really tell that you loved doing what you do and your energy levels to keep going till 10pm was well....... I had to leave at 9pm I was shattered!

Thanks again Robbie I am keen to put into practice what you have taught me. Even though you make squillions from your trades and I am sure don't need to do the seminars for financial gain, but please keep doing those seminars for newbies like me!

Thanks Duane! Don't expect to be doing them foreever but very rewarding for me to help people so expect to carry on for a while longer.
Malcolm writes:
A thousand thanks for the seminar, which I found both informative and inspiring. If I can keep my own psychology somewhere near balanced I can make steady money at this until I pop off.

I was particularly pleased to find your approach so simple. This chimes with Warren Buffet, who of course says,

'If calculus or algebra were required to be a great investor, I'd have to go back to delivering newspapers.'

It also confirms my own prejudice, and what my friends in the City have told me, namely, that the financial complexity is unnecessary, only there to bamboozle the unwitting public, and doesn't make it any easier for the City boys to make money. Hence nine out of ten funds haven't beaten the index in any four year period since 1914 (Motley Fool).

Thanks Malcolm. Glad to hear and hope you don't pop off just yet. I agree: simplicity is best and all the jargon tends to be just there to make the jargon talker sound important or that they know what they are talking about.

Terry writes:
Fantastic seminar.

I have always been sceptical of the public testaments you see on web sites
saying how great an event was. Now I'm one of those people!. I
genuinely believe that the tips and techniques as well as the overall
approach you demonstrated will radically improve my trading performance

Thanks Terry, well all the testaments are real but know what you mean and glad you feel it was worth it!
Stephen writes:
I read your book and did the course - and I wasn't sure if I'd recoup the cost, it's been 2 years and I've made £38k + saved a loss transferring a Jupiter ISA heavily invested in BP. I can't tell you how important this is or how grateful I am. That's just me, who knows how much people have made with your help and saved by not making mistakes. I wanted to get into shares as they recovered after the crunch, but I assumed I had to put a large amount in one company I thought would make a big jump.
But what happens when you make £1m on the website, will you still do courses? I don't know how you do your ISA and SIPP investments, write the website, books, courses and answer e-mails. But please don't give it up. Couldn't you do the courses and have a standing website which gets updated with your trades say once a month so people can see what you do..

Stephen thanks so much for such a nice mail and much appreciated! Dunno about the future, I feel like I'm getting jaded. It's possible I might just reduce it all at some point to twice a month after going weekly - that would probably help. The other problem is other people's angst is getting to me and the email workload becoming overwhelming. I think after ten years it might be time for me to quit. Anyway good luck with your trades and hope you make a lot more.

I have 3 great offers from ADVFN.

SAVE OVER £120 !
First great deal: If you want level 2, though me it is only £305 for your first year including VAT!
This compares to £432 direct from advfn so this deal saves you over £120! ADVFN level 2 also includes all the live trades made through Plus Markets which I find invaluable.
To accept this great deal just e-mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with "Level 2 offer" in the subject line and I will tell you how to get it. Level 2 gives you access to all the market maker positions and the order book and I would not trade without it! More on level 2 in my book and I spend hours on it at my seminars.

Deal two is ADVFN's bronze subscription - normally £72 pa - available from me for only £41! (inc vat) That's a saving of over £30! You access to the premium bulletin board which contains my discussion forum with direct access to chat to me and some very good traders. Plus you get ADVFN's premium top lists which I think are a must for finding great stock picks. That includes great lists like ex dividend dates, market maker buys plus chart breakouts and downs. All as explained in the book.
To take up the offer, e-mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with Bronze in the subject line and I will tell you how to claim the deal.

Bronze is included inside the level 2 deal.

Deal three is ADVFN's silver subscription - for those of you who want all the benefits of Bronze AND always on real-time prices.. no more using the back button and getting frozen out!

The deal is via me you can save nearly £30 for your first year by paying just £141 inc vat via me instead of £169.20.
Just mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com if you'd like this deal with "silver" in the subject line.

Want to try out broker Selftrade superb trading system for no risk? You only have to trade once to get £50 bunged into your account! You get £50 and I get £50.
All online deals are just £12.50 with no funny small print. Charges for phone deals are higher, check terms and conditions. They also charge £35 plus vat pa for all accounts. Follow this link...
http://tinyurl.com/57hp4n

(This markets piece was written Tuesday evening so doesn't account for anything that happened today - off out for a lot of today, see above!)

Well, they continue to look a little fragile but not too bad considering the economic problems around the world. They don't seem to want to totally tank.

Actually it wouldn't be so bad if they did, kind of get it over with! But the markets are proving resilient to various crises and end up brushing them off. Maybe they are used to it.

People often email me and ask stuff like "What do you think of the Greek crisis, will the markets fall further".

I reply I don't have a clue and don't really care nor have I any idea at all what might happen in the future. All I want to do is follow the market slowly whichever way it goes. I'm not an economist nor a soothsayer.
So it is pointless asking me! Try one of the suited blokes that spout their predictions on the TV.

But don't believe for a second they know what they are talking about! Also don't believe the false charting gurus or elliott wavers or whatever. Especially the ones that have spouted doom and gloom for months. Of course they will be right sometime.... but they are usually wrong for nearly all of the time!

In general I would say the time to buy recently has been on the day of biggest fear about a crisis in one country!

It never happens. The market never gives you easy money. It doesn't happen. Well it just did for me probably for the first and only time!

I had just come back to my desk with a cup of tea and toast at just past 11am. If I had been even 2 minutes later back at my desk this would never had happened.

Just before the tea break I was looking at some positions and wondering whether to buy some more Laird (LRD) to add to the ones I already had. They looked cheap but I wasn't sure yet so I had a break before checking level 2.

As I sat down I saw the news announcement symbol come up and I pressed it. "Rule 2 announcement" it said. "Hey!" I thought. "Doesn't that mean a bid offer of some kind?" I had Tradefair open and immediately bought £30 at 143, it went through in an instant.

I then clicked on the story and my eye boggled when I saw a bid mentioned in the 170s I think. I pressed £30 buy again and got some more this time at 150p.

About a minute later the price was in the 170s. An instant profit of nearly £2,000.

Then I thought: Why why did I not buy £100 then another £100??? Arrrgggghhhh, I thought then I really should have just been pleased that with a huge slice of luck and help from Tradefair I'd literally bought a bid just as it happened.

This will never happen again. I can only guess the reason it happened was "Rule 2 announcement" sounds boring and that is why the market was so slow to move giving me the chance.

The shares are now knocking 200p on the chance of an upped bid making it a £3,000 profit plus the profit I have on my normal shares position bought before.

Anyhow I share this story with you because it is such a rare event. One thing perhaps to say: If you just happen to be at your monitor and a news story flashes up click on it fast! You never know!

Of course the only thing is the bid might not happen in which case it'll go back down again so maybe I ought to beware, a profit isn't a profit till banked!

I've topped up on Oxford Instruments (OXIG) getting 500 at 847.5. They fell back just after I bought! But still, as I mentioned when I bought them on a spreadbet, looks a lovely company on its way to a tenner at least. Already up nicely on the spreadbet. I might hang on if they break a tenner as shares going through a tenner often bust through dramatically.

I sold Character (CCT) for a loss last week but I said I would buy back if they fell much lower, indeed they did and I bought back getting 2000 at 139.3. Just too cheap to ignore! Then the company confirmed there is nothing amiss with a trading statement and the shares are going up again. I would think they would head back up to near the 200 level from which they should never have departed. Sometimes markets are funny things. We all sell at the same time assuming something is wrong when sometimes there isn't anything wrong at all.

I've topped up on the wonderful Microgen (MCGN), I noticed it was going up again so I lobbed in for another 2,500 at 146. Since then it looks like someone bought around 1,5m shares ish. Could be more good news is on the way? Microgen remains a cracker and some lovely profits of more than £20,000 for the site. What a lovely share this has been since I bought it live at a seminar at 45p. It holds its value and slowly advances. Up again today, and it has also paid out some nice dividends.

Onto spreadbets and I have shorted Ocado (OCDO) again getting £30 at 210. Shorting means I am betting on it to go down. The valuation remains a mystery to me and I feel it is only a matter of time before it tanks. Waitrose, its supplier is about to go head to head with Ocado in London. I just don't get why anyone would buy it at this valuation except for the outside bid from a supermarket who might want its vans. A guaranteed stop at say 250 would limit any loss on that. It issues results next week and is expected to declare a profit for the first time. Well, I guess that could lift the price. But then again it is expected to make a loss again in 2013. Anyhow I just don't get the valuation of this one at all. However I have fought Mr Market on this a few times and have both won and lost on it.

Charter (CHTR) issued a profits warning. I don't normally touch shares with a warning but the 30% off seemed way overdone - also one of Charter's divisions is actually doing well. Anyhow got a spreadbet on this one, probably short term for a tenner at 515p. I think it will head back to 600ish.

You may remember a while back I made a fortune on Supergroup (SGP). I sold way too early and it went up even more crazily after I sold it to nearly 20 quid! However it has since come back down to earth and I couldn't resist picking up a tenner at 831. 800p seems fair value for the mo and there could be some upside back up to a tenner or so. It's madly volatile though and can move a quid in a day easily.
Two sells: Avation just hasn't taken off and even a good statement couldn't do it so I gave up and sold at 117 for a profit of £278. I had a brilliant run with the short of Glencore and decided to grab the profits at 466 as it was near enough target way quicker than I ever thought.. Profits are a very nice £660.

That makes total profit for the site today of £938. (Sadly I thought I could easily work that out in my head but after 5 second I reached for the calculator. Another brain cell gone)

Recent buys are all going nicely - Ms International has cruised nicely over 300 and I believe further decent upside there as the market continues to rerate it.

Latchways too keeps bouncing higher on a re-rating.

Telecom Plus also getting a re-rating after its entry to the FTSE 250. Bounced right up to 700 before dropping back to not surprising profit taking. I suspect it will go quiet for a while now ranging between 6 and 7. Day to day price action doesn't interest me and indeed I hardly ever glance at is as I think I'll be selling these shares one day in the 1500-2000 area. Just a question of waiting. I have well over £200,000 of these shares for the slow steady increase in capital and the big dividend which brings me a good yearly income. Website profit for the shares must be well over £30,000 though I'm too lazy to add it up. Profits in real life are nearer £150,000.

Alternative Networks heads back up after the profit takers have done. This one I feel is a bit like Telecom Plus were barring an exceptional event it ought to carry on higher with profits and dividends just keep rising . I would expect them to hit 400 within a year.

Volex held very well when the market tanked and that is a good sign. it's on the rise again. Hyder has pushed on over 400 so resisted the urge to bank some nice profits. Capital Drill holds above a quid after it reported three good contract wins and another from BH Billiton. Continues to look a nice long-term hold ignoring short-term fluctuations.2

Gresham is quietly still going higher under the radar! It's gradually lifting unnoticed by the market, which is fine by me!

The short in Linkedin is going very well indeed with profits of over £2,000 already! It is shortable again with Tradefair who I used. And the Mothercare short remains in a good profit.
Entertainment One tries to rise but doesn't seem to want to go higher for now even though it came up with an excellent statement, Peppa Pig is booming in the USA and it looks alike a great share to hold onto long term. A library worth a fortune too. I reckon it will power up to 200 odd from here in time.

TT Electronics hasn't done much for me yet but 200p looks like becoming support.
London Capital Group can't seem to hit over 80p for now. The Vitec Group, an unsung hero of the portfolio reported great results and I'm up and over £4,000 profit here. Looks good for a few more points. Electrocomponents has been disappointing and it's heading towards a yellow.

Dialight can't crack the 750 though support in the low 700s. it is expanding into Japan. The website holds profits of nearly £40,000. In reality, as those who've come to seminars have seen, my profits actually way greater than this.

Similar story with Carclo this is a nice long-term hold where I have doubled my money. Exillon didn't manage to hold the 450 level, however plenty of support in the low 400s which is fine for now. Avon Rubber holds well, already up more than 30% since buying recently, it has support now at 300. It's trying to push higher.

Kentz goes from strength to strength and is going to move to the main market and about time. Once it does will get some in my ISA. Until then happy to hold in a spreadbet where I'm in profit by over £5.000. It's weakened a bit but that is good as dying to get some in the isa!

Yule Catto has at last picked up after some poor days and looks like it has bottomed at 200 and seems very undervalued. Now trying for over 230/ Picked up a dividend there. . BTG, long-termer continues to look good has nicely doubled and looks strong this week after another good statement.

Harvey Nash has slid after getting into the small cap, I put it down to the fact it is now on the order book so I've stuck with it.

Petrofac remains a core hold. Though easy for me to say that as I bought in the 350 area. Together with spinoff Enquest sees me sitting on profits of £30,000. Porvair is on the way back after some weakness.
I will be back with more on the markets next Wednesday
I've been getting e-mails regarding my use of direct market access and who I use. I've tried a few and for me the easiest system for me is here:
http://www.igmarkets.co.uk/?QPID=1079&QPPID=1
Direct market access means you can place orders directly onto the order book bypassing brokers and market-makers with a chance to buy at the "sell" price. I would suggest you ensure you know what you're doing first but IG does provide much education with its "tradesense" educational tool which comes with it.
I also use its spreadbetting service too along with other firms like Tradefair because it now provides trailing stops which to me is a pretty sensible way of trading. Link is here: -
http://www.igindex.co.uk/?QPID=1078&QPPID=1
that also includes a pretty decent educational programme. As usual before opening accounts please read all the warnings on the sites. You can lose a lot of money if you're not careful so pay close attention to them and make sure you always understand what you are doing and what your potential losses are.

I've also started using Tradefair for spreadbetting - I like the auto generated stop losses which help to maintain discipline and that's good for beginners I think. And exclusively for Naked Trader readers they upped the offer to £100 credit.
So there's now a £100 credit on offer for anyone opening an account via me. You get that after 5 spreadbets (terms and conditions apply).
To get the offer, click here:
http://www.tradefair.com/promo/spreads/nakedtrader100/

If you want to get the contents of The Naked Trader website into your mailbox instead of waiting for the update to come through, plus exclusively news on the progress of my SIPP from the old Sunday Times column inc new higher risk Aim buys made for that, e-mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with SIPP in the subject line for details of how to get it.

Want to quit the rat race? Try and start a new source of income so one day you can tell the boss to stuff it? You could do what I did to escape my grotty office job and become an independent distributor for the Utilities Discount Warehouse.
You get to sell great broadband, phone packages and energy to friends, relatives, contacts and anyone else you find and you get cash for each sale but more importantly you get a cut of their spend EVERY MONTH for as long as they are a customer!
It's called residual income and is a far better way to enjoy a ripe old age than relying on a pension. Because even after you stop selling the money STILL comes in!
I still get paid EVERY MONTH for sales I made back in 1999! Every time a customer uses broadband or the phone or switches on a light you get paid.
It's a great business and backed by a stock market company (Telecom Plus), a dedicated team of advisors.. and me to help you on your way!
Not only do you get paid out every month for each customer you can take on distributors. encourage them like I do and get paid on their sales as well.
One day, say you could made redundant, needed a year off or wanted to retire early can you imagine what joy it is to have the regular income coming in. It's wonderful.
You have to work at it, but if you do genuine repeat wealth could be yours. I did it. You can too. For full details, why not email me at robbiethetrader@aol.com.
An overview is also available at http://www.telecomplus.org.uk/fabdeal you can sign up directly there but do tell me!
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Trade tables follow! Trades are current open and recently closed trades. Closed trades feature the closing price and the amount I won or lost. All others are open. Trades get updated a little later than the narrative. Trading costs are ignored, however I also do not add in dividend payments and with the kinds of companies I buy, dividends tend to equal or outweigh costs. Spread rollovers ignored for web purposes. Tables as accurate as poss however a mistake or two can creep in and very occasionally if I forgot I sold or bought something it will be added at a later time.
Trades first reported Wednesday afternoons under "Markets" section..