...but if you liked the recent post called How much is enough - what's your number and you are early into the process of investing or trying to build up a nest egg - then the following books may be of interest. The first one if rather long and a bit US focussed, but nevertheless has some useful advice in it. While the second on, by a less famous author is more UK focussed and an easier read so may be more appropriate for a domestic audience and maybe even holiday reading?

Finally, if they are not to your taste, then don't forget that you can get lots of other suggestions for not so light books to read and other useful resources for investors at the Resources page - happy holidays.

Further to the update on the Scores Portfolio, we have had a few contacts recently with people looking to sign up. We have replied to all those queries individually but are aware that there may be problems with spam filters and our replies may have gone to the recipients junk mail folders. So if you have been in touch and are still awaiting a reply from us then please could we ask you to check your junk mail folder.

Just to reiterate if you want to gain access to the Scores it should be relatively simple to do via this link or those given on the Scores page here or via the menu at the top of the site. But please note that this product is currently delivered via Google Drive so if you wish to subscribe you will need an e-mail address and access to a Google drive associated with that e-mail address. As it it quite a large sheet it is probably best viewed on a PC or larger tablet rather than a phone, but if you want to be able to access them on your phone then check out details of these Google Apps for - Android and I Pad or I Phone,  in the Play and I-Tunes stores. If you are unfamiliar with Google Drive and want to learn more and set one up then see this link for more information.

Here's a brief belated update to the start of August rather than the end of July as I was away on a short break at the end of the month. It was another good month for the CIS Portfolio which was up by 4.9% versus the 1.8% for the FTSE All Share Total Return index. This leaves it up 24.2% YTD & 50.3% since inception or 19.2% per annum on an annualised basis. These figures are all ahead of the various UK indices as per the graph above, but then everyone is probably having a wonderful time swimming in the warm waters of this on going bull market aren't they?  Mind you  as dear old Warren Buffet says - we'll find out who has been swimming without trunks when the tide goes out. At least the CIS Portfolio still looks good value after this months trades as it sports a forecast PE of 13.7x with a 3.5% forecast yield based on expected dividend growth of 14% for the current year.

Talking of the total return indices above the latest Monthly timing indicators based on these remain about 5% above their averages in the case of the headline indices such as FTSE 100, while the Mid Cap and Smaller indices are further above their averages by about 7%. So these and the on going strength in US employment data and robust PMI indices suggest that the tide is still with investors so it should be safe to continue to go with the flow for now without protection and as the old saying goes the trend is your friend, so carry on enjoying it while it lasts.