Education
First steps in investing
Investing begins with understanding your financial goals. Start by evaluating your risk tolerance and timeline.
- Set clear financial goals: Define short-term and long-term objectives.
- Educate yourself: Learn basic financial terms, how the stock market operates, and the different asset classes (shares, bonds, ETFs, ETNs, etc.).
- Choose a broker from the AIX List: Select a broker from the official list of those authorized to act as transaction intermediaries on the Astana International Exchange (AIX). Compare their services, commission rates, partner banks, and banking transaction fees. After selecting your broker, sign an agreement and open a brokerage account. You can also open multiple accounts with different brokers to diversify your options.
- Open and fund an account: Deposit funds in your broker account that you plan to invest.
How to trade on AIX
Once you're ready to start trading, it’s essential to understand how to make informed decisions.
- Learn the basics of stock trading: Understand the types of orders (market, limit, stop-loss) and when to use them.
- Analyze the market: Familiarize yourself with fundamental and technical analysis. While fundamental analysis focuses on a company’s financial health, technical analysis uses charts and patterns to predict market movements.
- Decide on an investment strategy: Self-investing requires experience and an understanding of how to analyze instruments. Beginners may benefit from passive investing to reduce risks and gain market experience. Brokers can help submit orders correctly and limit losses during market downturns.
- Submit orders: After consulting with your broker, place orders for the securities you wish to buy. You can submit orders via phone, or online trading, depending on your agreement with the broker.
- Track share prices: Real-time prices are available on the AIX Market Data page free of charge. Consult regularly with your broker, and continue learning about market trends.
- Follow the news: We strongly recommend that retail investors regularly monitor the Market Notices section on AIX website. This section contains crucial information, including updates on book-building processes, listings, significant corporate decisions by issuers, changes in fees, and other important announcements. Keeping track of these notices is essential for staying informed and making well-timed investment decisions. Always review this section to stay up-to-date with the latest developments in the market.
How to build an investment portfolio
Creating a diversified portfolio can help you minimize risk and maximize returns over time. Here’s how to structure one:
- Create a portfolio of securities: Select a range of assets, including stocks, bonds, or ETFs, that align with your risk tolerance and financial goals. Determine your investment timeframe and set buy or sell price limits for yourself.
- Diversify across asset classes: Spread your investments across different assets to reduce risk.
- Consider your risk tolerance: Higher-risk assets, like shares, offer greater growth potential but also higher volatility. Lower-risk investments, such as bonds, provide stability.
- Rebalance regularly: Over time, some assets may grow or shrink in value. Rebalancing ensures your portfolio stays aligned with your original goals.
- Long-term focus: Instead of focusing on short-term market fluctuations, maintain a long-term perspective to ride out volatility and take advantage of compound growth.
How to avoid scammers and protect your investments
Unfortunately, the investment world can attract deceptive schemes. Here’s how to protect yourself:
- Be skeptical: Be cautious of promises of guaranteed returns or high profits with little risk. Legitimate investments always carry some level of risk.
- Verify before you invest: Research the legitimacy of investment opportunities and always check the registration status of financial advisors or companies with regulatory authorities.
- Beware of phishing and fraud links: Scammers often impersonate brokers or investment platforms. Always verify the companies on whose behalf they are acting and avoid clicking on suspicious links or providing personal information.
- Stay informed: Keep up with the latest investment scams and fraud trends so you can identify red flags early.