HOW to invest, directly?

[extraT]

Chaps,

How would one go about buying stocks directly, without going through a broker or fund? I don't know much about the markets, so initially I want to play with a small amount of money, between £2-500. Is there a website you could link me to that is FSA regulated etc.... Where I can buy and sell stocks from the comfort of my own home? Is it as easy as downloading software entering my card details and away I go? I heard about "hard stop" so I do not go below what I have invested, this sounds good to me! I did post about another piece of software, but that got shot down! So any ideas or suggestions will be welcome!

Cheers

ET

ETA: this is more of a learning curve/ play about, rather then looking to become Gordon Gecko!

Edited by extraT on Monday 9th February 08:11

[megaphone]

When you say "buy and sell", do you actively want to trade, day trade, or are you looking at longer term investment? What type of stock are you looking at?

Edited by megaphone on Monday 9th February 08:29

[extraT]

I have no idea! At the most basic, if I fancy a stock, I want to buy it! That is to say P&Gs stock seem pretty steady, so if I want to buy some shares in that, I just want to click but with the number of shares (or min number allowed) and buy it. Does that make sense? I'm not going about this with any huge degree of science, more me likey, me buyey!

[XJSJohn]

sounds like you mean a trading account ....

be careful, and do your research first ....

can use something like :-

http://sg.saxomarkets.com/?wtkw=%2Bsaxo%20%2Bmarke...

I say again ... be careful, and do your research first ....

[extraT]

XJSJohn said:

sounds like you mean a trading account ....

be careful, and do your research first ....

can use something like :-

http://sg.saxomarkets.com/?wtkw=%2Bsaxo%20%2Bmarke...

I say again ... be careful, and do your research first ....

Trading account does sound about right! Thanks! But what do you mean by "be careful" I know that sounds neive! But I thought that by using a "hard stop" if I lose money will not go below my initial investment e.g load 100 into an account and if I lose the lot, the account would be at 0 and not negative? Make sense?

[Claudia Skies]

extraT said:

How would one go about buying stocks directly, without going through a broker or fund? I want to play with a small amount of money, between £2-500.

Seriously. Don't. Just not worth it at that very small level. If you want to gamble, do it on something else. The stock market is really for long term investment, despite some of the heroics you hear on PH from the financial equivalent of "powerfully built company directors"!

[anonymous-user]

With respect, If you want to "play"at it, then I would suggest you look at the various options for stock market related betting, rather than buying shares. Some of the online share dealing platforms also have "dummy" accounts where you can practice trading shares, you don't actually buy them, or pay any money, it's just pretend. The latter might be a good option while you learn how it all works.

Buying and selling shares at that level will just see your money eaten up with fees. Check out iWeb or Hargreaves Lansdown to see what they offer, but at that level, it won't be very fruitful.

[Hainey]

OP, there is an old saying about the wheels of the stock market being greased with the money of people, well, just like you.

At that level, either go long term, or not at all.

[limpsfield]

Just open a normal stockbroking account with Hragreaves Lansdown or Barclays or whoever. Saxo is for more active experienced traders. You can't buy shares on the stock market without a broker,you should only pay around a tenner or so in commission to trade, per trade

You will probably lose your few hundred quid if you buy some of the crazy small stuff that gets mentioned on the PH shares thread but I think you can't beat actually doing it to learn how it works.

[fid]

The problem with hard stops is, I believe, that they can be gapped. If you set your stop to 100p and there's a disaster overnight it could open at 20p in the morning and you wouldn't get your 100p.

[ringram]

Lots of good advice here.

Trading = gambling

Investing = saving

Make sure you know which one you are doing and why

[red_slr]

I use iWeb share dealing. £5 a trade.

To make any money on your £500 you are going to have to risk it IME.

[ReaderScars]

Does anyone use meetinvest?