Right, with the cash now waiting in the new trading account I have set up specifically for contrarian miner (as you can see in the image) I am ready to make my first trades.

So now for some big questions and a few tentative answers….

1. Should I pile in right away or wait?
   With the screens showing red almost on a daily basis in the sector, it is tempting to think stocks may be cheaper next week or next month. But contrarianminer is not a momentum investor (the clue’s in the name) and so I have decided to fully invest over the next 10 trading days.
2. How many stocks should I be looking to buy
   Balancing trading costs with portfolio diversification I think I should be looking to buy 20-30 stocks (or related instruments – options? CFDs? Not sure yet)
3. Mining only or resources more generally
   It is after all called contrarianminer so that will be the main focus but I will include the odd mining-related or oil and gas stock from time to time.
4. Positioning for slow or rapid recovery?
   With balance sheet concerns hitting many of the stocks in the sector, the question is whether one goes for relatively more defensive stocks with decent margins even at current prices and stronger balance sheets or takes a view on a more rapid recovery and goes for some of the most bombed out stocks – Glencore, Anglo American, Lonmin come to mind amongst the debris. Given that my aim is to double my money within two years, I can’t afford to be too risk averse so I’m going to go for a combination. I’ll also be looking for some yield stocks to put in the mix.

The big question is which stocks am I going to start with? You’ll have to wait and see as I’m not planning to let you all front run my trades!