Name: Mark Watson-Mitchell
Occupation / Profession? Investment Journalist
Biggest pleasures outside work?
Wines, food, films and jazz.
Best investment advice?
I put out a note to buy ASOS shares @ 5.75p in January 2004. The shares touched 98p that year and went on to peak at around £87 each.
Always handle your own investments, don’t give anyone discretion over your funds.
Best investment action?
Always look at the Balance Sheet and in a negotiation always let the other side tell you what they want before stating your requirement.
Always question why someone is telling you to buy a stock. The market has an expression – “Where there is a tip, there is a tap.”
And never try to catch a falling knife.
Is there anything you’d do differently?
I have made so many mistakes in my life, you show me someone who never makes mistakes and I will show you a liar.
But when asked what would I do if I had my time again – my answer would be to become an accountant and a lawyer, to learn how to plaster walls and to become a London Taxi Driver. That way I would certainly always have an income.
Biggest influences?
In my early stockbroking days, I followed the dealings of Jim Slater as he built up his group.
However, I will always be grateful to the Hon Angus Ogilvy, for whom I worked in the investment group through which he funded Tiny Rowland’s Lonrho Group.
Angus taught me about the technical analysis of investment charting.