When I shelled out nearly £80k to pay for Christopher's school fees till he's 13 (thank you markets - got the money tax free from my isas) I never realised how long private school holidays were!
Half-term amazingly started at noon today! And they don't go back for weeks. And it's not even Easter till the weekend after next! Maybe I ought to work out how much it costs per day he's actually IN school. Or maybe I won't actually... well, I guess in the end private schools are businesses.
At least paying the money up front I got a very generous discount saving something .And the school is lovely - he just loves it. The teachers are fantastic and both him and us are very lucky.
It means a lot to me to be able to give him a good start in life from my own endeavours. I never got left any money. Of course being in the markets is a risky occupation so I always tend to pay for things way in advance, makes me feel secure and better than having it in the bank.
I ought to add here that I'm very happy to have the boy around and enjoy his company! Although afraid to say we will be away doing things with him on Friday so there won't be an update then. BUT he is enrolled in a school club for three days next week (10-3) which means I WILL be doing a Wednesday update just before Easter (which will be the next update).
We have lots lined up for him: Indeed part of Friday will be spent watching "Fireman Sam - The Movie". I have the feeling the plot will be something to do with something catching fire and Fireman Sam putting it out. Just a hunch!!
We're also going to have a go at tennis as he now has a racket and lots of cycling around the river... it should be fun!
I blame Fulham's amazing win over Juventus for not being able to sleep the night before Friday's seminar.
It was all so exciting that during the game and afterwards by accident I ate two creme eggs and a snickers bar, plus drank three coffees.
After all those stimulants at 3am I was up, reading a book, still unable to sleep!
Lucky for me I eventually found a copy of Shares Magazine and was asleep in no time. I think I ended up with three hours and so started seminar day at a big disadvantage.
But hey, look I'm a professional and when it got going I forgot all about being tired. The delegates were all so nice and motivated I used their energy to keep going till.. 10pm! A few headache pills did help. Thanks to whoever donated those!
Some tremendous input from delegates all day - and a lot of energy which really helped me. Some excellent questions and also it was an interesting day on the markets so there was plenty of interest to look at on level 2.
I also looked in my accounts and I appear to have made a trade or two! I hope making a few trades live on my accounts was helpful.
We had some pretty good fish and chips for lunch - just mailed the hotel to tell them how good it was. Lovely batter.
Unfortunately Mrs NT had to leave just after lunch as we got a call to say Christopher wasn't well. Glad to say although he had a high temperature he was back to normal and in school by Monday. We were just a little worried as we nearly lost him to a major illness a while back. But sound as a pound now!
Thanks very much to Mike! The radio/cd on my car hasn't worked for a long time - lucky for me I knew Mike was the boss of a car equipment company and he came to the seminar early and installed it for me - working beautifully Mike, thanks, and good to have some music in the car again!
Well done to Tanya for winning the FTSE prize competition - she also gained from the winning trade I put on on behalf of the winner.. a FTSE short which we banked £105 on at the end of the day which was added to the prizemoney.
What impressed me most talking to some of you who came was your determination to do well and to have a proper disciplined approach to trading. Also a number of you have the most amazing occupations - some really interesting ways of making money.
I have absolutely no idea at all how I got back up to my hotel room at near midnight. I remember seeing the bed, collapsing in a heap until the morning.
The Saturday was spent in a total haze, unable to speak or do anything! As Christopher was a little sick he spent most of the day on the sofa and so did I, watching Fireman Sam and Tom and Jerry.
I picked up a bit on Sunday and right as rain by Monday! Especially when I discovered five of you appear to have left your creme eggs behind so I am now eating my way through them..
Thanks so much for all the emails regarding the event. Some lovely feedback, I won't print 99% of them because it makes me look like a bit of a tosser printing emails praising myself but you know who you are and my thanks.
If you missed this seminar the next date is now fixed for May 14th at Heathrow. Even better at this early stage there is an early bookers discount available!
If you're interested in coming then email me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with "May seminar interested" in the subject line.

I'll 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! E-mail me for details.
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.
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/
MF Global offers a free £2 bet on the FTSE to all readers.
To take up the offer either click the MF banner you should find somewhere on this page, or cut and paste this link into your browser and you can sign up online:
http://tinyurl.com/c524ku
Terms and conditions obviously apply
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.

Those of you looking for some extra income could be interested here:

http://www.ei42.com/Nakedtrader/ then click "earn money" on the rhs.

So for free you can sign up and get this shopping site for yourself. What's brilliant is any product you want type it into the search and it will come up with it, which store it is at and where it is cheapest, then buy it and earn commission on your spend!
Everytime you buy anything yourself on your site you get commission.. So if you normally shop online anyway it's a no brainer: just use your own site instead of going direct and get some commission every time you shop.
Then you just get some friends to sign up and get their own site too - when they do online shopping using their mall, you get commission too. Simple as that.

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
I've had heaps and heaps of praise from many of you regarding The Financial Spreadbetting book.
The book really seems to have helped a lot of you understand spreadbetting a lot more than you did. You say it's really helped you with ideas too. The writer deserves commendation. With the ability to go short so important in these volatile markets, it's a must read. To order click this link... http://books.global-investor.com/books/23307.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 MAY 14TH AT HEATHROW NOW OPEN**

(March seminar is sold out)
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 now open for the next Naked Trader seminar on Friday May 14th
Price is £495 plus vat. However there is an early booking discount now available.
That includes three course lunch, coffees, snacks etc. And most importantly it covers choc bars and fruit gums too.
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 "May 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?

Exclusive One Point Spread, £250 Cashback Offer

Still a massive response coming in for the sensational 1 point indices spread offer plus £250 cash back on losses - my mail box continues to be full of enquires - don't miss out!
I have arranged a deal with a spreadbet company that gives you just ONE POINT spreads on all the major indices and very tight spreads on everything else. A one point spread is just amazing and you can use it on the FTSE, DOW, Nikkei etc...
Not only that, I can offer those of you interested a fantastic £250 cash back on any realised spreadbet losses made within your first 8 weeks. That means you get back any losses up to £250 which could come in extremely handy.
If you'd like the details of this offer just mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with "£250 cashback offer" in the subject line. This really is a great offer which will have a limited lifespan so if you want it, get cracking!

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/

Remember the Government is supposed to be being careful about what money it spends - after all remember how much we owe!
One of the careful ways they have just spent money is on... hiring "comedian" Ruby Wax as an "advisor" to its staff!
She provides lessons in "leadership" and communication. She shows clips of Madonna and teaches "self awareness" and "relationship management". There's a surprise, the Government spending money on BS!
The Budget was really about politics today and not much else with battlelines now drawn between the "rich" and the "poor".
The one thing that suits me is the rise in ISAs to 10.2k as I pretty much only invest in Isas this is a real help for me!
But I think we can fairly sum it up though. This government has spent way too much, screwed the country and our kids will still be paying it off the debt in the years to come. Oh and all of us will be paying a lot more tax, and that's for sure!
If you like cider better stock up as it's going up by 10% from Monday! I can see a lot of students crowding into Tescos over the weekend....!
Civil servants are on strike today. Funny how the country seems to run fine without them! I guess a lot of them will have to email their mates and go on Facebook from home today instead of the office..
TV is getting worse and worse - wall to wall celebs skating, dancing and whatever else or those dire soap operas. Full of their depressing downbeat storylines.
Well, at least there is still the sublime Mad Men which gets better and better.
Inside John Lewis was a tad disappointing. Not sure why. Possibly because the way it's been cut is like no-one ever really argues about anything. Almost as if they are all hypnotised.
I used to like Masterchef but is there too much of it on now? I think there's only certain amounts of lamb on spinach dishes with crushed potatoes I can take...
Good luck to our next door team Fulham in the FA cup replay tonight which is on UTV. I'll be cheering them on but it's a bit of a tall order to beat Tottenham at home as they're a really good team. Still, you just never know!!

Sporting offer £200 credit for new accounts at this link, see terms and conditions.. click this link to get the offer:

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.

Craig writes:
Couldn't agree more with you about Cadbury's cream eggs. They are selling packs of 12 in Tesco at half price. Went back today to 'top up' (cream egg trading speak) and they were temporarily unavailable (*ollocks) - I reckon everyone has reaslised what a good deal this was. I'll be back at the weekend to see if they have restocked. I take them out of the packet and put them in the fridge in the specially moulded parts designed for poultry eggs - great.

They're just that bit better fresh out of the fridge. Bet the cleaner wont find them there! Anyhow, I swear blind they are quite a bit smaller than they were last year - what does everyone else reckon? Trouble is there is now way of finding out, or proving it!!

Sounds like a good tip Craig, in the fridge they go but I still reckon the cleaner will find them!
Neil writes:

Neil
I'd just like to thank you for an excellent March seminar. I'd recently been on another seminar and to be honest it came nowhere near yours. Your approach was professional but down to earth, which captured me straight away. There was no bullshit or arrogance on your part just honesty and a genuine belief you wanted to help us make it on our own. There was no hard selling, which was a breath of fresh air.

Thanks Neil - well, I know you pay but I do genuinely enjoy putting people on the right path....
Andy writes:
I am reading your book. I am sending you this email not in direct reference to anything financial but musical. I am many things including a DJ.
No man of your standing should be subject to commercial tripe when it comes to dance music.
There is no reason why one should dis-like "Put your hands up for Detroit" , but if my surmise is correct, if you like the commercial stuff, you would probably be left speechless by the good stuff. Here i can help -I think. Both my wife and I agree, that of all the music I have, the Global Underground series is excellent. Nick warren, Sasha Darren Emerson and almost all of the 38 albums so far in the main series are great. "Communicate" by Sasha and John Digweed is also an album i hold dear and one i am quite sure you would love. Sometimes it takes a couple of listens to really get it but they are a world away from the "commercial"
Hi Karl!
Thanks for that. What you may not have taken on board is how crap my music taste is - I just like stuff that gets me up on my feet with a happy tune and a good beat! But I'll order one of those and give it a try - thanks for trying to broaden my horizon!
David writes:
What a marathon of a seminar it was! In fact I told my wife it was the "mother of all investment seminars" when I got home so late - just in case she thought I had not actually been at a seminar, as it did go on just a bit later than these things normally do. In fact I have never been to a 13 hour (virtually non-stop) one before and still don't know how you keep going at such a pace.

All in all a very useful day, exceedingly well run and loads of great insight and useful tricks of the trade from you for us all to start using straight away.

I am very pleased I decided to attend and wish I had done so when I first read your book nearly two years ago. Excellent book by the way - much the most useful "how to" investment book I have read.
Thanks David - I think it was a mix of chocolate, coffee and headache pills that kept me going....

Alistair writes:

I just purchased your book and just wanted to drop you a quick email to say that I am, so far, thoroughly enjoying it. I didn't realise how much it would make me chuckle! I especially enjoyed your comments about Prime Minister's question time.

I too find Gordon Brown's inability to complete a sentence without stuttering or mispronouncing words highly entertaining. It was one of my favourite Wednesday morning hangover remedies before I graduated. However, as the looming general election draws nearer I have to ask myself whether this is a substantial enough reason to vote for the man?

Glad you like it!
Not a bad reason to vote for him though personally I'm fed up with the whole lot of them!

I have 3 great offers from ADVFN. First great deal: If you want level 2, though me it is only £299 for your first year including VAT!
This compares to £360 PLUS vat from ADVFN direct (£423) so this deal saves you over £100! 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 for only £299 for a year (including vat), or under £25 a month!!

Deal two is ADVFN's bronze subscription - normally £60pa - available from me for only £40! That's a saving of £20! You get 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 talk about in my book and 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.
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.

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 £30 for your first year by paying just £138.06 inc vat via me instead of £167.47.
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 deals are just £12.50 with no funny small print. They also charge £35 plus vat pa for all accounts. Follow this link...
http://tinyurl.com/57hp4n

Goodness and still they go well. I think there are many expecting a top around here (they may be right) but a lot of shorters are getting burned. As they say markets can remain wrong for longer than you can remain solvent and for the meantime I'd wait to short the index until a definite downtrend has been establised whenever that might be. This time of the year tends to be pretty good for markets.
I've bought some Aggreko (AGK) - a FTSE 100 company that specialises in power supplies. Why? Because I think this is going to be one of the massive growth businesses of the next few years. It supplied the recent winter olympics, got a good chance of getting the 2012 business. But power supply problems are increasing all over the world and it looks only likely to get worse. Of course being a FTSE company it is likely to get buffeted about however I'm thinking longer-term here. It was also voted by delegates at the seminar as best share of the day! I got 500 at 1158. Target 1500 stop 1020.
My little boy loves theme parks and rides. I was sick on the last one he took me on so forget it - I'm not going on one again!
But at these parks I did find myself renting out a pager device which for a tenner stops you having to wait for up to an hour to get on a ride. As any parent will tell you, kids get pretty fractious having to wait for long and very soon you'd give a passing stranger £50 to get on the ride NOW! You just key in which ride you want to go on, and it books a time for the ride for you so you can wander around doing other things instead of sitting in a queue.
Great idea I thought and so I looked up to see if the company was listed. It was! Called LO-Q (Loq) I was pretty pleased with the figures the company is already generating - the company's share price is booming but it seems to me there is still more upside as it breaks into the States and elsewhere. If you owned a theme park why wouldn't you subscribe? Fundamentals look good and not even any net debt.
.. I tried to buy 3,000 LOQ shares when the buy price was 94p and had to pay 2p over the odds at 96p. Shows the shares are in demand but my plan is to sit on these for a good while. I hope I don't have to queue when it comes to selling them... Target 200 stop 82. I guess if I win on these it'll be down to my five-year-old. I guess I'll have to give him a cut. Unusually for me it's an AIM share so it's gone into a small account I hold outside Isas.
I also got some Domino Printing (DNO) for a tenner on the spreads at 376. This one came up during a screening at the seminar and I do like the figures here: mamagement seems very confident. target 450 stop 345. I was kind of surprised this business appears to be doing so well but the statement is certainly very bullish so I'll see what happens.
I've made some good money shorting Wolseley (WOS) over the last couple of years and it's time to short again after a very poor statement I thought. Shame I hadn't shorted before the statement came out, still, I think there is 100-150 pts downside here. I got a fiver short at 1615, Target 1500 stop 1645. (Short means I am betting on it to fall)
I've sold the last of London Capital at 123 to bank a profit of £309. Corin has gone at 62.35 for a loss of £26. Sellers kept coming in at this sort of level so I quit. Disappointed with that one but level 2 helped to make that decision (seminar goes will know what I mean).
Recent buy Axis Shield has stormed up today up and over 400 and recent top up Nestor Healthcare has flown nicely higher after those big director buys. I'm up more than £5,000 now including the spreadbets.
Top up Petrofac continues to soar and is flying higher as I write up to 1230 which is fantastic. Profits for the website now hit over £16,000 and I reckon I should end up collecting £20,000 on these. There seems to be little stopping this tremendous rise. I bought the first lot in the 300s. Ah, if only I'd bought more..
The two volatile plays Afren and Centamin both in good profits now with both motoring up towards my short-term targets.
RM has announced more contract wins and goes nicely back over 170. Recent top up New Brit goes very well indeed and is trying to break through 550.
Spirent is really going for it! The top up goes really well and it doesn't look long till it joins the list of doublers. After cracking 120 it's trying 125 as I write.
PZ Cuzzons has come back a bit but still in good profit there and hopeful it will rise again.
Dimension Data is still trying to get through the sticky 95p area up more than £3,000 already on the big spreadbet I have on it and more than £1,000 on the standard trade.
SDL seems unwilling to rise further and a buy tip in the Mail nearly made me sell! . Long-termer Heritage is on the march again getting up to highs. That last 1,000 of Barclays I kept is doing very well!
Mouchel remains nicely higher since my buy. Needs a bit of a kick though.
A brilliant time for the portfolio with massive profits building up everywhere. However can this really go on? Dunno but short-term at least, it seems so.
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 Weds and Fri afternoons under "Markets" section.. afraid I can't do live trades as that would turn me into a tipster and I'd have to be regulated!