The window for entering new or editing existing portfolio data, contains these fields and buttons:
Buttons.
You can use the <tabulator> key or the mouse to move between the different fields.
These buttons apply:
Printer icon
A small printer speed button on the button left side, makes it possible for you to print out the content of the window.
Help
- This help page.
Cancel
- Disregard any changes made. Do not add or edit any data.
OK
- Accept the input and save the data from the fields you have changed.
Keys.
Along with the usual keys to navigate within the window, you can also use the Up and Down arrow keys when you are in the "date bought" field.
Fields.
These fields makes it possible to enter different kinds of information about the security in your portfolio:
Name:
The security name. Please note, that the list comes from the list of securities that has been created in the securities window. So first you create a security in the security window, then you'll be able to add it to your portfolio.
Live deal:
This can be used to check weather this is a live deal or just a test deal. If you have the nerves, you can enter test deals, and follow their progress.
Date bought:
The exact date you bought the shares.
Number bought:
The number of shares you bought. It is possible to enter a positive number or a negative number (in case of "short selling").
Price each:
The price you paid per share. (In local currency)*.
Costs:
The price you paid for the transaction (buy/sell), eg. broker/bank fee, commissions, etc. Put in the total figure in this field. - It will be deducted from the security value, since it is an expense that has to be calculated into your winnings/loses. (In base currency)*. Before a final sale of the securities, you can add the selling costs to this field, so that these costs are calculated into the summation of sold securities.
Exchange rate:
If you have bought securities from another country, you can enter the currency exchange rate in this field. The exchange rate is quoted for 100 of the countries currency. Example: You live in the us, and buy shares in an European company - the exhcange rate for 100 EUR (Euro) is 125 USD. So you enter 125. Or you buy shares in a Canadian company - the exchange rate for 100 CAD (Canadian dollar) is 80 USD, so you write 80. Look in the "Bank" menu and start the "Currency" window to see exchange rates from different countries.
Earnings:
This is where you put everything you earn on the security, eg. dividend. Put in the total figure in this field, and update it each time you get a positive result from your investment. - It will be added to the security value, since it is income, that has to be calculated into your winnings/loses. (In base currency)*. Before a final sale of the securities, you can set this field to 0, so that the earnings isn't calculated into the summation of sold securities.
Account:
If you specify an account, then a transaction with the amount, will be created.
Stop loss:
Here you enter the price, at which you will like to stop your loss. Eg. you have bought some shares at 200, and decide that you do not want to loose more than 50. So you enter 150 in this field. In the stop loss/profit window, you'll get an alarm if the price drops to 150 - and at that point you should review your investment - do you still want to keep the shares or should you sell them to minimize your loses.
Stop profit:
Here you enter the price, at which you will like to stop your profit. This is the reverse of stop loss. Eg. here you set a price of 250 (because you wish to earn at least 50). Again in the stop loss/profit window, you'll get an alarm if the price goes up to 250 - and you should review your investment - do you think the price will continue to go up, or has it reached it's peak.
Investment type:
Is this for pension savings or is it an ordinary speculative investment.
Alternate type:
Here you can select alternate investment types. This is so that you can calculate if the investment was better or worse than an alternate investment. Eg. you could have placed the money in the bank to 2% interest rate, so you enter "rate" in this field.
Alternate amount:
This relates to the alternate type above. In the example given there, you would enter 2 in this field, for 2%.
Owner:
Who owns the security.
Investment ID:
Here you can enter your own identification of a trade. This make it possible to follow trades that are linked to eachother and to have a link to your paper trading bill.
Calculation price and Calculation date:
This is the last date and price that has been imported / updated. They are exposed here, in case you wish to adjust the price that is used when calculating the value of your portfolio. - Say if you wish to store the value of the portfolio at a certain point in time. The fields are updated automatically the next time prices are udtated - SO YOU DO NOT need to update them manually unless you wish to override the last prices, eg. for tax purposes.
Sell info:
If the portfolio item has been sold, you'll also be able to see that information.
Note:
Please notice, that you are not allowed to enter a stop loss setting, that is higher than the stop profit setting. That wouldn't make any sense.
The same is true for a stop loss setting that is higher or equal to the price you paid, and/or a stop profit setting that is lower or equal to the price you paid.
Always set a stop loss price that is lower than what you have paid, and a stop profit price that is higher than what you have paid.
*Currency remarks:
Amateur Invest can calculate profit/loss in a "base currency" even if you have bought securities in foreign companies. In order for this to work, you must enter the price at which you have bought securities, in the local currency. On the other hand, all expenses and transaction costs, you must enter in your own base currency.
Ex.: I live in the US and buy stocks in a British company. The prices is 10 GBP pr. share. I therefore write 10 in the price field. The transaction cost is 20 USD, so I write that (20) in the field for transactions costs. Finally, after some time, a dividend for 150 USD is paid, so the 150 is entered into the transaction amount field. Amateur Invest will calculate profit/loss by looking at the original price times the original currency rate and from that deduct the original price times the latest currency rate.
