I don't think Thomas Cook is an exapmle of a long-term investment.

I don't see where anyone has suggested it is.

Did you buy the shares?

Thomas Cook shares up about 17% today.

Should be able to calculate how many Standee bought then!

Not the sort of share I'd hang onto for more than a week or two. I would guess the most likely scenarios will be eitherIMO, look bad for anyone who does get in and out quickly.

Indeed, half way to their target gain before I bail and move on to something else.

I don't trust spotty faced investment brokers. Have you ever thought of investing in wine? Buying and leaving in bond. I invested in en primeur Burgundies four years ago (8K) and have seen a 35% increase in value. Of course somebody has to buy it to realise the money. A similar level of investment in three 1st and second growth bordeaux has produced around 60% increase in value over the last 7 years.

If nobody buys it I can always sup it.

IMO the markets have lost their excitement at the moment. From late '08 to late '09 there were many opportunities to make big returns with relatively low exposure, a great time for short-termers. I bank with RBS and use their trading platform for ease of money transfer, it's realiable and charges the almost standard £15 a trade. Plus, they have recently released an iPhone App to allow trading 'on-the-go', it looks slick although I've yet to use it.

My prefered stocks are small medical research companies. The ones with tiny market caps, ready to be swalloped up for £Xbn by a big pharma when the breakthrough comes

I use iii.

Of course there's still money to be had in trading. I used a demo account this time last year with £10,000 free money (you can take big gambles and try things when it's not your own money) I have made £1,650 pretend profit. In and out is the best way imo, but as mentioned, you need big bucks to make that worthwhile it would seem.

As for the penny shares, I followed a company called Monitise and if you stuck with them all the way through from 12p to 38p, you would be laughing now. I believe it will go higher, and will follow even more closely when it breaks through the 40p. But for one of those companies, there is always one where some get there fingers burnt.

Sainsbury's looks a brilliant long term share, with the generous dividend. In my opinion of course.

Best thing you can do with surplus money at present is spend it.

One thing to think about If you are purely in it for the short term and are purely speculating, then you could benefit from leveraging your position through one of the many providers out there. This will allow you to increase your exposure to the underlying asset without having to stump up the cash upfront. Leaving you free to spread your portfolio around a bit. As long as you remember that it can go both ways and any one investment could lose you more than you initially invested then it's a good way of making money if things go your way.

rlThese guysrl are reputable and offer CFD products on the equities products.

I'm not recommending this is any way (I'm not CFA registered so wouldn't dream of it!) just thought I would throw the idea out there!

An alternative option. Granted it's something you would ideally have an interest in to begin with. video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000058391 video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000058390

An alternative option. Granted it's something you would ideally have an interest in to begin with. video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000058391 video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000058390

in Dally world maybe

I hope you went on your own feeling Standee and didn't spend all the money like Dally suggested.

Thomas cook up again 25% today. Don't know how long you intend on holding for, but hope you enjoy the profit.