This is more of a recap, since I didn’t post during this period.

Had a pretty disappointing start to this trading period;  which in part pretty much reflected my state of mind!  I was slaptick at monitoring my account and watching for potential trades. 

So got myself sorted and sold my initial parcel of shares in late August, when my account was nudging 48,000.

I then waited until mid-September and reinvested; only to find my account trading as low as 47,000 in October.  Ouch!

My final selection of shares; LNC, AWC, ILU and AGK then performed beautifully until game end in November, where my account finished at a touch over $55,000 – not a bad come-back if I might say so myself.  (Even now ILU would have been a keeper; purchased at $6.08 and now trading (Mar 11 at $10.66 and still rising).

Pays to get back on the horse, even though you think you’re screwed.  Mind-you – the second half of my trading was much more focused and stops were monitored.

My performance:

National ranking 2168 of 11595
State ranking 483 of 2366

 
over 84% of players finished the Game in profit  
 
the average player portfolio value was $52,678 
the All Ordinaries was up by 5.36%   (my balance up 11%)
the most popular sectors traded by the winners - Materials & Energy 

You can see that by not watching the dip/recovery in end Aug/beg Sept that I would’ve missed some good trades on the upturn.

Have been slightly remiss with updating the ole trading diary this year.  Sometimes life just gets in the way.

So here is a quick breakdown of my performance over this period:

My performance was ticking along and received a boost from the potential Lihir takeover bid.  I was in holding mode for most of the duration.  Then the market plummeted just as I had sold out of most of my positions (when they broke their stops).

Rather than sit it out, jumped back in and got stung by the continual fall.

Didn’t follow plan with LLC, as I should have exited earlier.  Very naughty.

During this period regulations changed regarding the resources taxes, and mining companies all dropped significantly.

However, my performance compared well to other players – at one stage was sitting in the top 4%.  So obviously a lot of people were going for the buy and hold approach.

I ended the game with a portfolio up 3.5%; my highest point was up 12.9%.  Whereas the ASX ended -6.1%.

The ASX200 continues it stellar run, now up around 13% since the beginning of this game. Had a small pull back at the start of October, but seems now to be resuming upwards. 

I sold out on the 6^th Oct of AMC which finally broke through my initial stop on the 7^th.  So having great discipline, I exited out.  Upon checking it now, it has since generated another buy and looks like it is now heading in the right direction. [Read more...]

I missed posting a diary last week as I was busy trying to source a NZX data feed that would integrate with Bullcharts.I ended up using Findata, but took several emails back and forwards before I could get it to work. Nick at Findata surely has the patience of a saint.

Now I’m wondering, with the small snapshot of data that I do have, if it will even accept the BullCharts indicators that I use. NZ stocks are so thinly traded it’s hard to tell.I guess I just have to sign up and get the historical data to find out. [Read more...]

I sold out of SLX on 2^nd September, as it had broken through its stop (for the second time).   Which was the price on open.  Thinking about it, should probably wait for the 1^st hour madness to subside before entering a sell order at market.  So overall made a loss of $71, which was mainly fees.

Currently hold, CUS which is doing well.  Stop at $2.70 equating to unrealised profit of about $1900. [Read more...]

Another so-so week.  SLX broke through its stop loss on two consecutive occasions, so have placed a sell order for today.
The others are languishing without much headway at all.
The ASX200 forges ahead, reporting season is all but over.  I keep reading that the market is due to retrace as it has increased too fast and the Sept/Oct months are usually time to pull profits out.  We’ll see.  It’s fast approaching a Fibonacci retracement line, so will be interesting to see if we break through that. [Read more...]

Been a quiet week, with hardly any buy signals. Today have brought into three shares that all showed buy signals.  The market doesn’t seem to want to let off a great deal of steam and looks to now be in an uptrend, rather than a bear market rally.

Who am I to argue?  So jumped in.

I’m still holding my original two, CUS and SLX.  However, SLX did close twice consecutively under the stop – so I should have closed out of the position. But I kept an eye on it, and the market came back again the following day, so make the executive decision to stay in.  Am watching closely though.  This one will probably come back to haunt me.

Today purchased ABC (Adelaide Brighton); BLd (Boral) and PDN (Paladin Energy).  LGL (Lihir Gold) also showed up as a buy, but besides not having enough capital, this share is still trending below its 34 day MA.

My goal for this game would be to finish in the top 15 percent of players (national).  So need to be above 1815 in rankings.

The leaders have pulled away already.  I wonder how they do it?  Arh well – I guess I’ve been too cautious (again).

The story so far:
Profit/Loss to date:         +6%

ASX 200:                               +6%
Cash on hand                    $4,761.93

Share holding value        $48,436.12

Total portfolio worth      $53,198.05

National performance (at close 25/08)

National leader $60,429.42

National average $51,326.04

Your ranking (at close 25/08) 

National ranking 2159 of 12106

State ranking           471 of 2448
This week:
Closed trades:         none
Open positions:     ABC, BLD, PDN

THE ASX200 continues along its merry trend upwards.  Only in the past couple of days has it let off some steam. However, since the start of the game it is still up 6%; having reaching a high of +8%.

My portfolio of two, is steady and up 5%.  SLX has breached its stop yesterday, so if it closes below the stop loss today, I will be exiting.

CUS is doing well and hanging in their despite the market pull back.

I have identified another possible trade; SKI has triggered an entry two days ago.  Will wait to see what today’s price action does.

I’m still playing rather cautiously until the market takes a breather and resumes one way or another.

The story so far as we move into 3rd week:
Profit/Loss to date:         + 2,545  (5%)

ASX 200:                               + 6%
Cash on hand                    $29,255.19

Share holding value        $23,290.49

Total portfolio worth      $52,545.68
This week:
Closed trades:         none

Opened:                   none
Open positions:     CUS, SLX
Your current portfolio (live)

Portfolio total $53,137.38

National performance (at close 18/08)

National leader     $59,225.38

National average  $50,935.85

My ranking (at close 18/08) 

National ranking 1739 of 11647

State ranking 368 of 2339

The current ASX game started on 30^th July 2009.  The ASX200 has had 21 days of positiveness, without a significant pullback trending from 3700 to 4300 since 14^th July.

The game started with the index at 4142 on the 30^th.

I’ve been reluctant to jump in boots and all until the market lets off some steam.  I’ve entered just two positions on 3^rd August with some trepidation.

CUS and SLX, as I received an entry signal.  I also got an entry signal for AAC but decided not to act on it as the 34MA was in a down trend. However, that has also risen over the past days.

The story so far:
Profit/Loss to date:         + 1,100  (2%)

ASX 200:                               + 4%
Cash on hand                    $29,255.19

Share holding value        $21,845.10

Total portfolio worth      $51,100.29
This week:
Closed trades:         none
Open positions:     CUS, SLX