Spread Betting for Beginners

Now Fully Revised Edition with Brilliant New Software - If you're like me, you're sick and tired of watching your savings, pension and endowments being eaten away as stock markets fall. In fact the only people who seem to be making any money these days are the financial institutions themselves. And much of that is from the fees and commission you pay.

Discover how to trade in the World Currency Markets, even when markets are going down. It's completely free of UK tax. There is no stamp duty or capital gains tax to pay. There is equal trading facility in the Forex, even when currencies are going down. What’s more it’s straightforward and inexpensive and can be traded 24 hours a day.

The potential to increase your income is outstanding, by spending a short time each day on your PC. However, Forex trading also involves a substantial risk of loss. I became involved in financial spread betting a number of years ago and have been banking regular amounts ever since. Obviously I started when stock markets were more buoyant. But the beauty of spread betting is that you are not dependent on the markets doing well.

Because you're betting on the position of the share and not buying or selling the share itself, you can bet on the price going down as well as up. So if the share behaves as you predict, you gain. If it doesn't you lose. The trick is to analyse trends and patterns, and if these remain consistent with your predictions then you may be on to a winner. It's so easy to get started, even a financial beginner can learn to trade.

Taking up spread betting is easy. All you need is an Internet-connected PC, a short time each day plus a willingness to learn. It's like a new hobby. And like any hobby, the more you put into it, the more you could get out, as long as you keep your risk of loss in mind.

Contrary to what you might think, spread betting is not rocket science. You don't need to know the 'ins and outs' of the stock market (although a basic interest in shares is of course an advantage).

Nor do you have to spend hours scouring the financial pages. You don't even need to be familiar with the companies involved (which is pretty nearly impossible considering there are over 40,000 shares to chose from in the US alone).

Put simply, if you’ve got the sort of mind that enjoys analysing patterns, studying trends and making them work in your favour, then in my opinion, you’ve got just as much chance as the so-called ‘experts’ out there.

What sort of gains you can expect to achieve

As anyone who knows me will tell you, I have very strong opinions about over-hyped claims. You will find none here.

The simple fact is that even the most experienced spread better won't make millions overnight. But if you apply yourself and follow my instructions, you could very realistically improve your trade decision-making.

To succeed at financial spread betting, you need discipline, dedication and a certain amount of control.


Why I focus on the US stock market rather than UK

Like me you'll probably find it easiest to focus on the American stock market. This is for the simple reason that its opening times of 2.30pm to 9pm (UK time) fit nicely into the average UK working day.

When I get home from work I have a bite to eat, then have a dabble on my PC for 30 minutes or so.

I can promise you it's far more absorbing and rewarding than watching the early evening soaps on TV!

So, how much does my CD course "A Beginner's Guide to Spread Betting" cost? It was £275 and is now reduced to £125 and this power-packed blueprint comes at a tiny fraction of the price you might expect to pay elsewhere.

John Bartlett - Learn Trading Owner and Trading Instructor

But I must warn you...You need to accept at times you will lose

I will show you how to control your potential losses and play the markets intelligently. How to stay ahead of the game, preserve your capital and turn it into consistent gains. And most important of all, how to know instinctively when to take your profits and bank them, so you don't run the risk of losing them again.

John Bartlett - Learn Trading Owner and Trading Instructor