Book Review > Shopping for Shares

Shopping for Shares is sub-titled ‘The everyday woman's guide to profiting from the Australian stock market’. The author has a degree in arts/journalism from the University of Queensland and started investing five years ago with $1,000. We are told, her strategy has enabled her to give up her day job and purchase her first home with her partner in Sydney's northern suburbs - a distant dream when she made her first investment. She attributes her success to following a consistent plan.

Tracey Edwards has written the book to let women in on her plan that involves selecting, buying and selling shares to profit in the Australian stock market. The book is intended as a 'starter' for those who find the stock market daunting but would like to become involved in investing. Her reasons for limiting her target readers to women are explained in some detail.

The 173 pages of text in eleven chapters cover:

* how much money you need to start investing (she started with $1,000 but recommends $3,000);
* tips on finding the right broker;
* making that first investment;
* whether you are best suited to long-term or short-term investing, or both;
* how to research a company;
* when to buy and when to sell, in markets going both up and down;
* strategies to avoid losing all your money, and
* how to become a savvy investor.

There is then a chapter containing basic information on borrowing to invest, and another that gives a brief overview of options, warrants and futures. It is acknowledged that these are not for everyone but as you become more confident and comfortable with the market, they are areas that can be considered.

The concluding chapter nominates other helpful books and avenues for further study.

The book is written in an easy to read style with useful boxed notes explaining "the gist of the jargon", plus various charts, tables and case studies. It could make interesting reading for any woman (or man?) who has thought about investing in the stock market but is not sure how to start.

Anne Matthews is a member of the AIA.