$5000 is great at 14, but you are correct that it is a modest amount in the long run.
If you are saving for university, that defines your investment horizon as relatively short. I see no reason for you to take on the currency risk of anything international.
A diversified low-cost index fund is a great choice. There are some global leaders in Australia like mining firms BHP and Rio Tinto.
If you are interested in researching a smaller company, consider agricultural firm Incitec Pivot.
Disclosure: i have owned BHP stock for many years.
Go for a middle of the road mutual fund. I've made 75% profit on some of them in the last year (excepting the big drop on Friday, but that always happens on Fridays because investors are, by and large, stupid - it will rise again Monday). Good mutual funds with good managers almost always make money because of their diverse investments.
(However, I made a 165% profit in the last year on ARRS. The internet will continue to grow.)
http://finance.yahoo.com/echarts?s=ARRS+...
I suggest an ETF tied to an index fund. such as:
SPY tied to the S&P 500
DIA tied to the Dow jones industrial average
If you are tied to 500 companies such as SPY, you take on less risk than investing in a single company. One company can go bankrupt, 500 companies won't.
SDY is tied to the dividend paying companies in the s &P 5oo and will periodically pay a dividend.
Buy 400 shares of Berkshire Hathaway stock on the New York Stock exchange. You'll be investing alongside Warren Buffett, one of the richest men in the world (he has invested more than 90% of his wealth in the company).
I know it's a tiny amount but I'm 14 and am a boundary umpire for half the year 2 days a week about 6 hours a week. $134 a week. I already have 500 shares in Telstra. I am going to invest my life savings into anything I don't care what it is. I guess it doesn't really matter if I lose it but nothing too risky.
