At last a book that champions the small investor, the growing bank of potential shareholders who have cash to spare but fear entering the jungle that is the City of London.
Shares Made Simple, written by highly respected financial journalist Rodney Hobson, tears away the mystique and jargon that surrounds the stock market. It takes you step by step through the most basic concepts of stock market investing, carefully explaining issues such as:
- What shares are and how they are bought and sold
- Why share prices go up and down
- Why some companies' shares look cheap while others appear to be expensive
- The hidden traps for the unwary
This book sets out to create a level playing field between the stock market professionals and the small investor. As rising living standards and inherited cash provide assets for investment, no-one needs to suffer pitiful bank interest rates when there is real money to be made in sharing the nation's wealth.
"a good introduction to the subject for the absolute beginner...also provides some useful tips for those who know a bit about the markets and want to know more or use it as a reference tool."
- Adam Shaw, BBC Working Lunch
I was a reader of Shares magazine when Rodney Hobson was at the helm before Hemscott got him. I tried not to miss a copy. Hobson's book Shares Made Simple is our perfect guide to the stock market. It does what it says on the tin. The author explains such things as what shares are, how they are created, whose company it is, company accounts, and the London Stock Exchange. He takes his case studies from the market. The overview of takeovers is the best. Hobson has that rare knack of explaining complex financial matters in words anybody can understand. Here is the beginners' guide that was always waiting to get written. Hugh Thomas
Contents of Shares Made Simple
SECTION A – SHARES
1. What are shares?
2. How shares are created
3. Whose company is it?
4. What's in it for me?
5. Is my investment safe?
SECTION B – THE STOCK MARKET
6. The market place
7. London Stock Exchange
8. Full listings and AIM
9. How shares are traded
10. Stock market indices
SECTION C – COMPANIES
11. Company focus
12. Profit and loss
13. Balance sheet
14. Potential nasties
SECTION D – INVESTING
15. Starting out
16. Stockbrokers
17. Fundamental data
18. Charting
19. Tips
20. Jargon busting
SECTION E – TAKEOVERS
21. Mergers and acquisitions
22. Before a bid
23. A bid is launched
24. Bid timetable
25. Bid battles
26. Management buyouts
Appendix
Useful websites
Index
About Rodney Hobson
Rodney Hobson is an experienced financial journalist who has held senior editorial positions with publications in the UK and Asia.
Among posts he has held are News Editor for the Business section of The Times, Business Editor of the Singapore Monitor, Deputy Business Editor of the Far Eastern Economic Review, Head of News at Citywire and Editor of Shares magazine.
He has also contributed to the Daily Mail, the Independent and Business Franchise Magazine.
He is registered as a Representative with the Financial Services Authority.
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