Final week noticed the flagship index of main UK shares, the FTSE 100, hit a document excessive. However does an all-time excessive make it an excellent or dangerous time for a inventory market newbie to start out investing?

To reply that query, it is very important perceive the broader context.

What an index is – and isn’t

An index accommodates some shares – within the case of the FTSE 100, it’s the 100 London-listed shares with the most important market capitalisation (and that additionally meet sure different necessities).

Which means it represents a slice of the market (albeit a big one within the case of the FTSE 100) not the entire thing.

This may be seen by evaluating the contrasting performances of the FTSE 100 (up 13% over the previous 5 years) with that of the FTSE 250 index for smaller capitalisation corporations (down 5% in the identical interval).

On high of that, as corporations with rising capitalisations transfer into the highest index and members that shrink sufficient get relegated to the FTSE 250, there’s an inbuilt bias.

That may imply the FTSE 100 hitting a document excessive doesn’t essentially imply that the 100 corporations that have been in it 5 years in the past have carried out as nicely on common because the at the moment composed index.

Why I purchase particular person shares

It might appear a bit complicated. However earning money within the inventory market is critical stuff!

You’ll have noticed one other potential concern for individuals who spend money on the FTSE 100. Whereas the index can do nicely, some particular person shares may very well be full canines after which – deservedly – get booted down to the FTSE 250.

But when an investor merely purchased the higher shares, not the canines, he might possible outperform the FTSE 100 — by a big margin.

I like shopping for particular person shares not the index as I believe it provides me an opportunity of outperforming mentioned index. That’s not a simple purpose although.

That brings me again to the unique query, whether or not now is an effective time for a inventory market novice to start out shopping for shares.

The reply is – it relies upon. However on what?

For somebody to start out investing now (or at any time), what determines their possible success or failure shouldn’t be what the FTSE 100 does. It’s what shares they select to purchase and the way a lot they pay for them.

Attempting to find bargains even whereas the FTSE rides excessive

So although the FTSE 100 has been on high type, I believe a few of the shares in it may very well be potential bargains for an investor to think about shopping for.

An instance price additional research is M&G (LSE: MNG). The FTSE 100 asset supervisor is a well known title with hundreds of thousands of consumers. I see that as a power, because it helps to set it aside from rivals.

The agency operates in a market that has excessive demand. I believe it’s more likely to keep that manner over the long term.

One danger I understand, as an M&G shareholder myself, is that the corporate noticed shoppers pull extra funds out than they put in within the first half of final yr. If that development continues, earnings may very well be harm.

For now although, M&G stays round 15% beneath its 12-month excessive – and yields 9.7%.