The Financial Times Guide to Investing: The Definitive Companion to Investment and the Financial Markets

The Financial Times Guide to Investingis the definitive introduction to the art of successful stock market investing. Beginning with the very basics of why companies need investors and explaining what investors do, Glen Arnold takes you through the practicalities of buying and selling shares. He describes different types of investment vehicles and advises you how you can be successful at picking companies, understanding their accounts, managing a sophisticated portfolio, measuring performance and risk and setting up an investment club. The second edition of this bestselling introduction to investing explains how the financial markets operate, shows you what you need to know to be successful and encourages you to follow and act on your own judgements. Thoroughly updated to help you invest with skill and confidence, new sections include: * Online investing, website information and tools including screenshots and virtual portfolios as well as computerised counterparty trading * Detailed updating of tax rates and legislation, increases in ISA allowances and revisions to capital gains tax * A jargon-busting glossary to help you understand words, phrases and investing concepts * Recent Financial Times articles and tables which illustrate and expand on case studies and examples * Up-to-date statistics on the returns you can expect on shares and bonds Investing can be profitable and fun and The Financial Times Guide to Investing 2nd edition, explains step-by-step both the essentials of investing as well as describing how the financial markets really work. It details the practicalities of investing, such as how to go about buying shares and describes the variety of financial securities you can buy, from bonds and unit trusts through to exchange traded funds. Exploding the myths that only the wealthy can afford to buy and sell shares and showing you why you can be just as successful trading on your own as you would be by employing a fund manager, this authoritative guide book will help you build a profitable personal financial portfolio. * What is investment * The rewards of investment * Understanding stock markets * Using the financial media * Buying and selling shares * Pooled investments * Investing in bonds * Futures and options * Financial spreadbetting * Analysing companies and industries * Mastering company reports and accounts * Key investment ratios and measures * Ticks of the accounting trade * Managing your portfolio * Mergers and takeovers * Taxation and investors * Measuring performance * Investor protection * Investment clubs