Member Info for alex1621

Goldman Sachs never owned shares, they owned contracts ... put and call options, and contracts for difference, as well as administering Liberty Global’s holding, which I’m guessing they still have.

So did they sell shares to anyone? Or did they simply unwind contracts such that the original counterparty now holds the shares?

I don’t believe the share register has changed. If someone was building a stake we’d see it in an RNS. The only movements I’ve seen is Goldman Sachs.

The more interesting question, in my view, is why have they unwound those positions?

Small trader ... you must now be well above your entry price? Patience is a virtue. I still believe we are at the early stages of the move, so I’m holding on as 2021 looks good.

I wonder if a Brexit deal announcement will get it over the line?

I made a formal complaint this morning on the basis that he was not engaging like a legitimate poster, and simply trolling for the sake of it. His post this morning has disappeared, so I hope he is either banned or put in the sin bin for a few weeks.

A board can be beneficial with a broad range of views, as long as they are genuine, but his posts were clearly not.

Yes Toonman, and it’s his first post? TomTit strikes again. I’m struggling to understand why a person would do this. It’s not within the boundaries of normal sane behaviour.

As I said before, you really have to take a look at yourself and ask would a sane and normal person do what you are doing? The truth is that if you had to post your full name, fully validated, no one would ever hear from you again.

The reason no one wants to see your posts, and believe you have destroyed an otherwise decent bulletin board is the belief that you don’t even believe what you are posting, and it appears that your only interest on here is to wind people up by posting what you know to be rubbish. For whatever twisted reasons, and I’m not a psychiatrist that I could diagnose your malady. You don’t own a share and you don’t have a short interest, yet you spend an inordinate amount of time spewing nonsense on here. There’s something wrong with a person like you, go and get some help.

Back to the 80’s? A few weeks ago you were telling us all it would take 4 years to get back to the 70’s.

I wonder if bulletin boards weren’t anonymous would people like Tom appear? A board with real names, properly verified, would improve the quality of discussions, and scare off the loons.

Only positive:
- Brexit deal
- Vaccine rollout
- Advertising increase
- 100% studios production
- dividend re-instated
- 2021 sporting events
- end of lockdowns and sheltering

Other than that, not much to look forward to in 2021.

I would hope that Brexit finally comes to a conclusion this week. A deal would be very positive for ITV and domestic stocks.

Motecristo. I won’t go into it in detail but Goldman Sachs took control of Liberty Global’s 10% shareholding as well as their own ownership stake of 10%. This all happened a few years back. At the time the share price surged because investors thought this was the start of a takeover. But it didn’t play out like that. Instead the share price steadily ground downwards ... which you’ll see if you look at the 5 year chart. The suspicion is that the Liberty and Goldman arrangement was designed to suppress the share price, making a takeover cheaper. They’ve been helped greatly by the Brexit vote and pandemic, both of which have been toxic for UK domestic stocks like ITV. So the suspicion is that Goldman has been using the shares they control to short the shares. And when you see references to Goldman’s that is what people are referring to. Hope that helps.

It suggests to me that a City figure and finance guy is who you need if you are subject to a hostile takeover. My suspicion is that the years of speculation might finally be coming to a head. And he is a useful person to have on the Board.

Correction ... Jupiter Fund Management. Anyway, he’s an insider with an investing background.

Non-executive Edward Bonham Carter buys 50,000 shares around 93p. A small vote of confidence. He was the CEO of one of the big fund management groups ... Schroder’s I believe?

Good luck EVS88, that was a good result for a relatively short holding period. I wouldn’t concern myself with what happens next, you managed a good return. I’m holding tight because I believe this move is at the beginning ... but I still expect the odd bump in the road along the way.

It’s normal, you see these sell offs a lot when a share has jumped higher. Some investors are wary of the previous rise to 90, then subsequent fall. So you get bouts of profit taking. I understand that in the March run up, as the virus was still a major issue, and a dividend withdrawal is toxic for a SP. But looking ahead the virus is in retreat, advertisers are returning, and the dividend will be back in play. Also expect a Brexit deal next week. So I will not be joining them, I think 2021 will make up for a dismal 2020.

That’s always puzzled me, but it’s not just true of McColl. Why didn’t Simon Wolfson buy next when it hit £35 in March? And many more examples. I suspect most of them are too busy to manage their investments and probably leave it to investment professionals. Most people I’ve worked with have no interest in markets and investing, and tend to channel funds into managed pension funds and forget it.

I don’t read too much into this, I’ve never been that influenced by director buys or sells. Some are worth following but most make the same errors as private investors. The funny thing about shares is that the lower they get the more reluctant people are to buy? Possibly because they are scared it will go lower?

ITV has been one of several UK shares hit by the pandemic, but should go into the recovery phase in better shape, unlike companies like IAG, Easyjet, Restaurant Group, etc. This hasn’t been much commented on. ITV has not had to sell assets, increase borrowing or raise funds via a rights issue. The last update showed clearly that net debt was 33% lower than last year and that cost cutting measures have reduced the cost base. So when the Covid-19 clouds lift with the roll out of the vaccine it should enter a growth phase in very good financial shape.

The 1918-19 pandemic came and went without a vaccine, I'd expect the current one to largely disappear in the Summer. But at least we know that big pharma companies have the tools to reduce it's potency should it reappear. I’d also expect the companies that have survived 2020 to have a strong 2021.

AstraZeneca are selling their vaccine at cost, unlike the US companies. It might take the market time to absorb the 70% result, despite one application of the dose showing 90% ... but even 70% is an excellent result. This virus will be over by the Summer.

*** Brandes ***