  In the last decade many kinematic groups of young stars (<100 Myr) were
discovered in the solar neighbourhood. Since the most interesting period of
planet formation overlaps with the age of these groups, their well dated
members are attractive targets for exoplanet searches by direct imaging. We
combined astrometric, photometric and X-ray data, and applied strict selection
criteria to explore the stellar content of five nearby moving groups. We
identified more than 100 potential new candidate members in the {\ss} Pic
moving group, and in the Tucana-Horologium, Columba, Carina, and Argus
associations. In order to further assess and confirm their membership status,
we analysed radial velocity data and lithium equivalent widths extracted from
high-resolution spectra of 54 candidate stars. We identified 35 new
probable/possible young moving group members: 4 in the {\ss} Pic moving group,
11 in the Columba association, 16 in the Carina association, and 4 in the Argus
association. We found serendipitiously a new AB Dor moving group member as
well. For four Columba systems Hipparcos based parallaxes have already been
available and as they are consistent with the predicted kinematic parallaxes,
they can be considered as secure new members.
