A bull market or a bull run refers to a stock market that is characterised by a sustained rise in share prices with most counters trending upwards. Bull runs normally occur when investors believe the positive trend will continue for the long term. Bull runs present an opportunity for investors to take advantage of rising prices by buying early in the trend and then selling when stocks have reached their peak.

At times, a company may simply be doing well and investors want a piece of the pie and they buy stocks and hang on tight to watch the money come in. The supply of shares, then, is low no one wants to give up their piece of the pie. The competition to acquire those much-coveted shares becomes fierce, which drives the prices up even higher. In such circumstances, the best strategy is to recognise the trend early and make smart buys. This means that timing is of utmost importance. However, knowing exactly when stocks are at the bottom or the peak is impossible but investors need to closely follow market reports, results releases and trading updates in order to  get it right in terms of timing. The trick is in buying low and selling high.

As you start to add shares to your portfolio, first analyse your situation to make sure that you have diversification. Some shares are more aggressive choices than others. This choice reflects your risk tolerance as well. Figure out whether you want to invest in a small-cap stock with phenomenal growth prospects (and commensurate risk) or a large-cap stock that’s a tried-and-true market leader. Look at industries that are poised to rebound as the economy picks up and individuals and organisations begin to spend again.

One of the most basic strategies in investing is the process of buying a particular security and holding onto it, potentially to sell it at a later date. This strategy necessarily involves confidence on the part of the investor: why hold onto a security unless you expect its price to rise? For this reason, the optimism that comes along with bull markets helps to fuel the buy and hold approach.

Evaluate your personal goals. No matter how good the market and the foreseeable prospects for growth are, stock investing is a personal matter that should serve your unique needs. For example, how old are you, and how many years away is your retirement? All things being equal, a 35-year-old should have predominately growth stocks, while a 65-year-old requires a more proven, stable performance with large-cap market leaders. For any investor, safety is as important as growth. Prudent risk management therefore requires that one addresses the possibility that a “Bull” market could turn “Bearish” at any time.

One’s portfolio needs to be prepared should unfriendly market conditions occur.

Should you wish to invest in a bull market, the C-TRADE platform makes it easy and convenient. You do not need to physically visit a stockbroker or any capital market participant, you only have a virtual interaction through the online and mobile trading platforms. C- TRADE has introduced investor interface tools such as a Web Portal the mobile App and a USSD based solution for investors

BY TAWANDA TAFIRENYIKA

HARARE football giants Caps United are planning to tour neighbouring countries as part of their pre-season preparations with a trip either to South Africa, Zambia or Mozambique a possibility.

The Caps technical team has designed a programme for their pre-season preparations which has been submitted to the team management for consideration.

Head coach Darlington Dodo said they would at some point need to tour one of the neighbouring countries as part of their pre-season preparations. The Caps coach, however, stressed it would be subject to approval – depending on the availability of resources.

‘Definitely, we would need at some point to tour one of the neighbouring countries for purposes of bonding and other aspects of the game including tactics. We have a programme that we have already submitted to management, but it’s subject to approval. Our choice of the country we would want to tour will depend on the availability of resources,” Dodo said.

The Caps coach said they would prefer any of the neighbouring countries with the exception of Malawi which he said had substandard stadia.

“We would prefer any of our neighbouring countries besides Malawi because we think their stadia are not up to standard. We can only talk of the tour when we know the actual dates we will be starting the season,” he added.

Traditionally, Caps have, however, been touring Malawi over the years as part of their pre-season preparations.

Caps are set to kick off the season with a virtually new-look squad after several players left the club. Some of the players who left include reigning Soccer Star of the Year Joel Ngodzo, midfielder Dominic Mukandi, skipper Hardlife Zvirekwi, goalkeepers Prosper Chigumba and Chris Mverechena, Carlos Rusere, Dominic Chungwa and Valentine Ndaba.

The Harare giants have, meanwhile, brought in more new faces such as the former Harare City trio of Ishmael Wadi, Tatenda Tumba and Munyaradzi Diro Nyenye.

They have also been joined by Carlos Mavhurume, Brendon Mpofu and Munyaradzi Kunyarimwe and Leeroy Mavhunga.

Goalkeeper Wallace Magalane joined from FC Platinum while Tatenda Munditi left Ngezi Platinum Stars for a new challenge at Caps.

The Green Machine are also waiting to sign more new faces with at least three Nigerian players expected to come to Harare for a two-week assessment period.

The Caps leadership is expected to unveil the new players once they have completed the signings of all their targets for the new campaign.

Caps were close to winning the championship last term having spent the better part of the season leading the standings, but a 3-2 capitulation away to Ngezi Platinum saw them handing the initiative to FC Platinum, who eventually lifted the coveted silverware when they edged them 1-0 on the final day of the season.

BY HENRY MHARA

BOXING superstar Charles Manyuchi returns to the ring in April to fight Muhamad Sebyala in a World Africa Boxing Association (Waba) lightweight championship bout at the Harare City Sports Centre.

The fight against the Ugandan would be Manyuchi’s first this year, and he will be returning to action since he beat Argentine fighter Diego Diaz Gallardo via a third-round technical knockout at the Harare International Conference Centre in September last year to land the World Boxing Federation (WBF) world middleweight title.

Since then, he has been inactive with a proposed fight against former national lightweight and middleweight champion Mordecai Donga which had been scheduled for late December last year, cancelled at the last minute.

Manyuchi’s contest against Seybala set for April 3 was announced by Waba president Onesmo McBride.

“Waba has given tentative sanction approval for the vacant Waba lightweight championship fight between Charles Manyuchi vs Mohamad Sebyala,” McBride said.

Dubbed the Duel of the Doom, the lightweight championship fight will headline a bout card which contains tantalising fights including a duel between local rising star Hassan “Starboy” Milanzi against Obert Makaika.

Celebrated Zambian women boxer Lorita Muzeya will face off with Lukia Ali of Malawi.

The Waba lightweight All-Africa lightweight belt will also be on the line with Evans Husavihwevhu, under Charles Manyuchi Boxing Academy, fighting with a yet to be identified opponent, for the title.

“We expect Evans to fight an opponent with a good record who is going to be approved by Waba,” McBride said.

The organisers are still putting up names for the undercard, but it is the main bout between Manyuchi and Seybala which will obviously attract more attention.

Host Manyuchi will start the fight as the firm favourite due to his impressive home form.

In the only four defeats of his largely imposing career, the former WBC welterweight silver champion has been defeated in Zimbabwe just once. That was way back in 2009 when he lost to Donga, in his only third career fight.

Since then, he has been on a roll, winning all the fights in Zimbabwe and Zambia, a country he has adopted as his second home.

The 24 wins (15 knockouts) that he has recorded, have also been achieved in fights fought around the world, including in Italy, Russia, Burkina Faso and the normally volatile Namibia. Manyuchi has drawn just once.

In contrast, Seybala’s record outside Uganda is awful. His record stands at 19 wins, 13 defeats and one draw. What is striking is that all the 13 defeats were fights outside Kampala. He is going into the match on the back of two defeats in Dubai and India which he fought last year.

BY FORTUNE MBELE

HIGHLANDERS coach Mark Harrison is looking to add five new players to his squad as he targets the 2020 Castle Lager Premier Soccer League title.

Harrison agreed to a two-year contract with the Bulawayo giants, taking over from Dutchman Hendrikus Pieter de Jongh who crossed the floor to champions FC Platinum. The Briton started work yesterday after acquiring his work permit.

Emerging from his first training session at the Old Mutual Heath Streak Cricket Academy in Bulawayo yesterday, Harrison confirmed he is looking at about five players with a view to beefing up the squad.

“We are looking at five or six players and hopefully we will start the season with a few new faces. We want to make an impact in the league and we will make sure the squad has enough players to compete. The players have been training for two weeks under the physical trainer and the assistant coaches (Mandla Mpofu and Bekithemba Ndlovu),” Harrison said.

Highlanders have already signed winger Michelle Katsvairo, who was at Ngezi Platinum Stars last term, former Caps United goalkeeper Chris Mverechena, Humphrey “Muchichwa” Ncube formerly with Bulawayo City and ex-Harare City’s Collin Mujuru.

Striker Mkhokheli Dube makes a return to the club where he ignited his career two decades ago before he went on football scholarship in the United States where he played in college leagues and the Major League Soccer.

He returned and played for AmaZulu in South Africa, Chicken Inn and Bulawayo City before joining FC Platinum where he was released at the end of last year.

The Bulawayo giants are close to capturing another veteran striker, Obadiah Tarumbwa, who joined Division One side Talen Vision last year from Chicken Inn.

Also training with the first team are Cadwell Gawaza, Darlington Mukuli, Darlington Dlodlo, Dominic Jaricha and Muziwethu Dlamini coming in from the club’s developmental side — Bosso 90.

Harrison said Highlanders will fight for the championship, but admits they face a tough challenge from other teams that are also looking good.

“I cannot guarantee the title. We have FC Platinum who have won the league three times in a row; we also have Chicken Inn and Caps who also gave a challenge last year. What I can say is that we also have to be up there. I have just come in as new coach at Highlanders to analyse what I have got and find out where we have weaknesses and where we can beef up. The new guys are shaping up nicely. We will be good. Everyone is good and buoyant,” Harrison said.

All the players from last year save for MacClive Phiri who is in South Africa have been training.

Striker Prince Dube, who returned from a trial stint in China, is also part of the cast preparing for the new season.