** 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
**

May 4th flash: I'm here and busy replying to all the emails. You should all get a reply soon unless your email was bonkers.

Just a note to those of you coming to next Fri seminar (13th), you all ought to have got venue details if you didn't and are booked in please let me know.

There is still space at next Friday's event, if you fancy spending a day with me, live markets and some nice people, see below for details and mail me for info.

See you here with a full update on May 6th!!!

*** Next update May 6th ***

A reminder the website is taking a bit of a Florida Holiday, Easter Holiday, Bank Holiday, Royal Wedding Holiday and can't think of any other holidays.... but it will be back with regular updates from May 6th.
E-mails: Obviously especially during the next couple of weeks I can't promise my normal speedy replies, I am taking a laptop but it's a holiday! Email replies should become speedy again from say mid April.
However if it's a cut and paste job, ie you want advfn details or seminar details etc, that's pretty easy and will do 5 mins cutting and pasting per day! But if you're telling me your life story or asking me a complex question about acid test ratios (what the hell are they?), you'll have to wait for an answer for a while.
In the meantime you may find the answer you seek by clicking "FAQ" on the site where you'll find answers to questions I get asked the most.
While Mrs NT continues to do some frantic packing for Florida, actually, lucky me I don't have much packing to worry about.
Why? Well, it's a Disney style holiday so my packing is rather simple.
All I'm talking? Erm, well 10 T shirts, 2 shirts, two trousers and 5 pairs of shorts. Oh and of course my trusty speedos.
Don't worry, the speedos are only worn when no family members or anyone who could possibly know me are around...
I find it slightly sad when I see the jealous looks men give me when in speedos. It's not my fault, after all, you can't choose what you are born with...
Can't find my Ipods, that's all three of them missing. Probably buried somewhere at the bottom of a box of toys. (kids toys, what a filthy mind you have).
This never used to happen with Sony Walkmans. Wish I still had one. Never lost it, too nice and bulky!
Yeah bring back walkmans and definitely videos. Videos were lovely. They never went wrong, they were always where you left them. They never got scratched or refuse to play. And you could fast forward through those effing piracy warnings..
Back at home Grandad is looking after the place and has promised to paint the whole place for us while we are away.
Yes, now Christopher is six we decided he probably won't grafitti the walls any longer so it is safe to paint.
Christopher wants a space themed bedroom so Grandpa has promised some space style painting. We already bought the space duvet.... Spoiled? What can you possibly mean?
We're taking a daytime flight out. Lucky us have got business class seats with BA, and pretty much free using loads of BA points we collected from our pricey Xmas flights to South Africa.
Keeping a 6-year-old amused during nine hours could be tricky but they have a laptop charger so hopefully a few DVDs will help.
So far we managed to keep him away from computer games!
First of course got to handle Gatwick Airport but it's nicer than Heathrow, like every other airport in the worlds (except perhaps Libya airport).
Laptop out, throw away water, show passport, show passport, show boarding ticket, show passport, bag search.. phew.
Anyway once we make it there it is a lovely hotel with loads of pools and tennis courts. Vaguely wondering about having a starter golf lesson.
We're really looking forwards to lots of fun days out, games and laughter. Mrs NT has a relative out there who's going to show us around.
The real problem is how can I avoid those horrible rides? Pretend to be feeling sick is going to be my default position..
Alternatively I could pretend to take golf lessons then sneak back to the hotel and sit on a sun lounger all day...
I've looked some out. One is described as like being "dangled out of a 23rd storey window".
There is no way whatsoever I am getting on that one.
Anyhow lots of Florida news on the way when updates resume on May 6th!
A big thanks to all of you who came to Friday's seminar.
Quite a number of you hardy folk stayed till late so I had to admit defeat at 10pm !
I still have no idea how I got into bed, that is the most tired I have ever felt after a seminar. Personally, I blame the audience for that.. still why not get value for money..
Great to meet so many interesting people from all walks of life, all interested in making new income from the markets.
Thanks for all your interesting questions, the live markets took us in some fascinating directions - also I feel some very nice stocks came up on the screens and I came away myself with plenty of good new ideas.
I had my usual row with Starbucks, all I want is a coffee with not much milk in. They screwed it up again so I just left the coffee behind, not having the strength to argue.
After a while the Starbucks guy walked into the seminar and told me I left the coffee behind. I told him it wasn't dry like I asked. He went back and made it again!
The feedback has been excellent, thank you. Glad so many of you see how important level 2 is as part of your armoury plus the other tricks I showed you how to tell why a share price is moving, if it's a treeshake etc.
I do wish you all well in your trading and I know some of you will do really well. I can feel the determination and one or two emails I have got back pretty much tell me some of you have the discipline and will to succeed.

Remember to put the effort in and keep practising all those things I taught you before making a buy or sell!
If you missed Friday's event the next seminar will be Friday May 13th at Heathrow. Of course a good early booking discount will apply for that, for details mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with "May seminar interested" in the subject line.

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!

For those who have been to previous seminars I am 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.

And there's some small space left for the Technical Analysis seminar on Saturday May 21st for those of you who have been to one of my seminars but want to learn about TA, how to use it for unemotional entries and exits. That's with top trader Susan and myself. Mail me at robbiethetrader@aol.com with "TA or follow up seminar interested" in the subject line for full info.

I get quite a few mails asking what magazines or news services I subscribe to etc. Well, hardly any! I get the Investors Chronicle delivered.
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

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.telecomplus.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 MAY 13TH 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 May 13th

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/

Well, I hope you all enjoy the Royal Wedding.
I am sure Mrs NT will be glued to it.. Not sure me and Christopher fancy sitting through it all, indeed I have zero interest.
I mean, honestly, nice though they are, would you sit through a video of a whole day of someone's wedding you didn't know?
Often UK weddings are deadly boring at the best of times, and this one isn't going to be any different.
I find English wedding services so incredibly dull too.
The two best weddings I've been to, (apart from mine!) was one Indian and one Jewish. Boy - they know how to go for it and have a good time!

Mine was held at Kempton Racecourse on a raceday. With a race every 30 minutes no-one got the chance to get bored! Especially with John McCririck who was my MC. (Absolutely lovely guy, his TV persona is a total act).
Yes it's Ipad 2 fever!
Yes, roll up, dump the first one you got and get the exciting new one that's, erm, well a little thinner..
Then get set for 3, 4, 5 ....
Personally I think it's terribly sad that this disposable society just gets worse and worse, we can't hang onto one new gadget before another one comes out days later.
All those who have to have the latest thing while the old product ends up in landfill.
No-one really needs an I anything. Seems to me it's more the "I'm cooler than you" thing going on here.
My view is the really cool people don't bother with any of it!
My ancient mobile (makes phone calls) - and my laptop (does anything else I could possibly need) is more than enough. I intend to hold onto both till they give up the ghost.
I'm expecting a knock on my door from the Government any minute.
Not because I didn't fill out my census form..
Because I'm not on Twitter or Facebook. Must be illegal now, surely?
Been watching the Lily Allen thing on Ch4. Lily decides to retire from the limelight by .. er .. letting a TV crew film her every movement while setting up a retail shop.
She doesn't seem to have a clue although as usual with these TV things I am sure it is building up for a happy ending. Though putting in half a million for a clothes rental business seems a bit foolhardy...
Only set Sky Plus to record Boardwalk Boulevard while we are away. There seems little else of interest...
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

Just a reminder to those of you who just read this bit and aren't the slightest bit interested in my life up above (I don't blame you) I'm taking a break from updates and the next will be friday May 6th. Meanwhile I am just packing for a holiday to the States.
So it's pretty pointless me saying anything much about the main market! Except for now it seems settled but 6100 remains pretty strong resistance.
When I go on hols I do take my laptop, however I try hard not too trade much, after all it is a holiday!
I bought one or two from my seminar shortlist.
I bought Avon Rubber (AVON) - (Try not to get too excited. I gather those into rubber are rather excitable).
It's got two divisions, a dairy one which is solid but unexciting - but it's the defence division which could take off.
It looks mighty cheap after its last excellent set of results. Profits are flying. Indeed if analysts forecasts are correct it is going to look extremely cheap soon. Downside? Well, the US government might delay its spending, so it is possible a trading statement due soon could be downbeat on that score so it could bounce down (gettit?) to support at 200. However I will take the risk and consider this a long-term buy for a potential double over 1-2 years. Target 450 stop 170. I got 2,500 at 229.
I also bought 1,000 IPEL at 310. I tried to get them live at the seminar at 285 but couldn't get any so bought them on Monday instead. A bit higher, darn it. A real turnaround story. Would not have touched it with a bargepole before last results because of the high debt but the debt has whacked down to a reasonable level while profit has stormed up. Nice.
And I made a spreadbet in Mondi (MNDI) - this came up on a scan at the seminar, looks a great business and a lovely uptrend so bagged a £10 spreadbet at 582.
As I said in the last update I was looking to top up on weakness in Capital Drill (CAPD) well there wasn't much but topped up anyway getting a further 4,000 at 96.7.
CAPD has already made me a quick 25% bouncing from my buy at 80. Its recent strong statement could see it go even further, especially if it comes up with more contract wins. I think this underlooked share could get to 120 and even 150 longer term. So unless a question mark appears both buys are in for the longer-term rewards.
I've sold IG at 376.9 to bank a profit of £931. Had a good run with it but it is struggling to go higher for now.
Also sold Innovation at 16.25 to bank a £852 profit - again this one seems happy to sit around the same price for now.
I took profits on the Ocado short at 218 on the basis it was rising very fast. I got caught out by this last time I shorted it so I just wanted to get the profit banked. Profit is £440. It still looks like a short but again not going to fight the market on this one.
So a profit banked for the site of £2,223.
Some recent buys are shaping up well. Avation, Harvey, London Cap are all nicely ahead.
Another star is recent top up Alternative Networks which continues to move gently higher. A lovely share off the radar which shows little sign of stopping. And up again today! Smashing profits here now.
Volex has moved back strongly from its 240 support area. 300 might take time to reclaim, The recent Dignity short is now in profit.
I try not to buy companies that will lose me a chunk overnight. You know it could happen with a small oil company, that's the risk you take. However with Cpp, I never imagined it. Indeed I barely remembered I had it on a spreadbet as it hardly moves. But today it fell on what seems like some kind of dodgy sales dealings. Shareholders will be fuming. You don't mind taking a hit on high risk but not on what seemed a low risk business making money. I'm not fuming myself... It's fine: this is going to happen once in a while and it's a business expense. And only a small one really overall. Normally I would sell and take the hit. On this occasion though the sell off looks totally overdone so I bought again on the spreads at 129.5 instead. I know: something my book would suggest not to do. Just call me a hypocrite, I don't mind... But if the company is telling the truth now that it claims it's a small part of its business then it should head back to 200 at least and a broker reckons fair price now about 230.
Kofax is off its yellow after a strong move over 500. 525 looks the next area to conquer. An institution has picked up a big stake here.
Great news from Kentz which 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.
Micro Focus dipped and then rebounded. Dialight holds 700 well. . It said last week its pension scheme has been bought out at a better price than thought which has given the shares a new lift. 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. I'd expect to continue to be patient and would hope to see a tenner maybe by year end. Potential as a bid target too.
Filtrona still can't get over 3 quid. Star mover Xp Power has kept its value well and looks like it could take it to 2000! I bought this one at 164 a year and a half ago with a profit of £15,000 plus. It goes to show if you can hold the good ones for a bit and resist the take profits temptation it can pay off big time! Right now it seems to go up or down 100 points a day.
Character Group has recovered nicely after its strange move down, maybe spreadbetters being forced to close. Yule at last looks like it has bottomed and seems very undervalued. Needs to close above 200 a few times. Devro has moved smartly higher this week, it produced another fabulous report recently and it remains a brilliant long-term bedrock with great profits already and I think more to come. Can it push through 300?
African Auran is rising very well again after a dip. 300 seems the barrier It's confirmed it will split into two separate companies sometime soonish. Up more than £4,000 now and a lovely near trebler. I think I will stick with it. Continued excellent statements and possibly more to come. Indeed one broker is targetting 400 which would give me a four timer!
Entertainment One continues to be a star performer, it has got hit a little by the downturn but I suspect is is overleveraged spreadbet forced selling that has done it. Profits close to £5,000. It's raised some more money for acquisitions and it announced institutions have really backed the placing at 160. I would not be surprised to be still holding this one in a year's time.
Microgen has held its own throughout 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 hasn't budged during the turmoil.
Oil gamble Cadogan has risen quite nicely and sits a bit higher for now. Seems happy sitting in a 35-42 range for now. Waiting some news soon. Of course it is a gamble and could just as easily skid down as hike up. Talking oils a decent statement from Afren today. However for right now 170 seems a tough nut to crack.
888 has recovered well but 45p is now a hurdle. Exillon keeps producing good drilling reports and did that again yesterday. It's raised loads of cash at 400p which shows it is being widely supported. Should go a lot higher and might become a core holding.
AZ electronic is still a bit weak but holds around 250. Telecom Plus is always a lovely share to have in a savage sell off. It It has made it onto the FTSE 250 reserve list. . Website profits are up and over £25,000. This is also my big dividend earner which brings me cash of more than £15,000. Trading update is due this week.
The Vitec Group has held well. Petrofac came back on middle-east worries but 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 way in excess of £30,000.
Right I must away to Florida. I'll be gone for a while but back again May 6th. Enjoy your trading!

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!