see, now this is a bit more like what I had in mind. Monday, bought Adacel at .44. Thursday, sold at .49: profit, $620, or 10 per cent in three days. March 15, bought BGF at .395, March 30, sold at .445: profit, $610 in two weeks.

and Biota has finally gone past my January stupid purchase price of $1.82 (after diving to around $1.40, when only the chart showing support at that level saved me from bailing out.) They announced today that they'd got US government approval to compete on the flu market for prevention - only the second compound to do so - and shares duly went up to $2. I could try to jump now and make $800 or so; but as I've said before, I waited so long, I'm inclined to keep an eye on it and see what it does, at least until tomorrow when people have had a chance to read the news in the business section.

something is going on with Adacel, I'm sure. no announcements, just a jump in the price. I have a small parcel on my "hold" list, but with no certainty and a volatile stock, I decided to get out - don't forget that all this money comes off my mortgage at 7 % p.a.

now hoping the ASX shares will move again - I stupidly took them off the market to see where it went, but they simply peaked just above my sale price and then dropped again. this time I'm leaving them there; a $400 profit on $7000 investment will do fine if it comes within six weeks of the purchase.

still not sure what to do about OLY. if BTA goes high enough, I might be able to afford to take the thousand-dollar lesson it represents about not buying "at market". ever.

apart from dumb luck and favourable gold prices/currency movements, I'm learning: the closer I watch the market the better I do and: sticking to a few stocks and learning what's cheap for that stock is a good strategy. as for my sell points, they need work.