There are loads of folk who follow the progress of the Footsie (news) and the Dow every day. They do it with some energy and dedication.

Yet it might surprise you to know that they do not trade shares at all. They never have done and they probably never will. They just find the whole up-and-down thing quite fascinating. Though they do not have the nerve to have a go at risking money themselves.

Actually, I withdraw that. Its not a question of nerve but aptitude. They do not have it in them to risk money, and who can blame them? I tend to pinch the motto Who Dares Wins. But that doesnt make me wiser than the non-investor.

Actually, the New Testament of the Bible tends to support the actions of share shifters. There is the parable about three servants, who were given a talent by the boss. One made it grow a lot, one made it grow a bit and one didnt do anything with the loot. He just kept it safe. The boss was upset with the cautious bloke who just sat on it though he didnt lose anything.

Any road up, there are still millions of people who cannot bring themselves to trade shares. Some of these are shareholders. But you find out that they got the stocks by accident, so to speak. An insurance company went private and doled out shares by way of compensation. A building society did the same, handing out shares.

Now these lucky recipients still have the shares, because they couldnt bring themselves to trade them in or buy even more. These folk tend to study the form of their share in particular and the Footsie in general. And they get quite excited by it.

One of my good friends who does not do shares, yet still follows the fortunes of the Footsie, got quite upset last week when he saw the thing plunge for a day. He was mightily relieved when it picked up the next day. And yet he was risking nothing. Those of us whose fortunes are affected by the Footsie dont seem to be so worried by the dips. Its a funny old world. As we all rock on.