THOUGHT FOR TUESDAY 29TH JANUARY 2008
From top share author MALCOLM STACEY
Hello Crazy Gang,
There are some stocks which give you a virtuous feeling after buying them. You could, for example, buy into drugs research companies, hoping to find a cure for Aids or cancer.
You could buy green shares, where the chosen company is recycling bottles and plastic. Or invest in a frim which makes substitutes for petrol. Or why not buy shares in a wind farm venture?
You can purchases shares in struggling companies, thus safeguarding jobs and at the same time copping a lot of money by way of a recovering share price (hopefully).
You can buy shares in a builder who specialises in cheaper first time homes, or in food firms, which don't use too many additives. There are many different shares which we can hope to do humanity and the planet a lot of good.
And some people avoid other kinds of shares because they do not get a warm glow after buying them. But these shares are a matter of opinion - and I hate to wish my opinions on anybody. I only tell you what I do - and admit I may have got it wrong.
Some investors refuse to punt into nuclear fuel. I have British Energy (BGY) shares because I see nuclear power as something that will not pollute the air (as long as it's safely kept).
I do not invest in companies which test on animals. Some people see no harm in that. I shy away from tobacco companies. I don't mind smokers, but I fear my money could be spent on advertising - and I don't want to encourage people to risk their health.
But what I'm getting at, gang, is that the chance of a firm making money or not should not be the only choice we make when buying a share. We should also consider whether it fits in with our personal credo. Rocking on!
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