Member Info for AllAtSea

South America? Courtesy of the FT: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ba52a472-d6f4-11e1-8c7d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz21kfpIXLZ

Nevertheless, "Emilio Botín, the bank’s executive chairman, said the provisions that the bank had made would allow it to complete its Spanish real estate write offs by the end of the year... ..the share price drop [of 34% in 12 months] has come despite Santander remaining relatively insulated compared with rivals as a result of its extensive operations in Latin America, which comprised 50 per cent of its profits." Courtesy of the FT: http://www.ft.com/intl/cms/s/0/ba52a472-d6f4-11e1-8c7d-00144feabdc0.html#axzz21kfpIXLZ

"12 July Record Date (the final date upon which you are eligible to receive rights in connection with the scrip dividend scheme); rights are issued. " Timetable for the August 2012 Scrip Dividend Scheme: http://www.santander.com/csgs/StaticBS?ssbinary=true&blobtable=MungoBlobs&blobkey=id&SSURIsscontext=Satellite+Server&blobcol=urldata&SSURIcontainer=Default&SSURIsession=false&blobwhere=1278684469800&blobheader=application%2Fpdf&SSURIapptype=BlobServer#satellitefragment

Santander price now at 426

Santander price now at 411

e.. of message posting. Shome Mishtake Shurely: Paxted, posted 0907 11/6/12, sp 418, Sell. Actual sp c. 392 Me posted 1031 11/6/12 sp 412.75. Actual sp c.390 Current sp 402 eod 14/6/12 Just for the record, like..

Think I'll just hang in there for the ride. Up or down! Someone has to be a contrarian and Santander has the look.

Quote from Mr Robert Peston 2 hours or so ago: "By the way, it is worth noting that the IMF concludes that Spain's two biggest banks, Santander and BBVA, do not need to raise any additional capital." Let us hope the IMF is right.

Santander is a long term prospect for me. It may be a Spanish bank but it has diversified, particularly into areas of the world where there is much potential for retail bank expansion, e.g. Poland and South America. They also have a new presence in the USA where retail banking expertise has taken a knock since 2008 (in the same way it moved into the UK high street). No doubt with the news coming out of Spain my purchases look decidedly contrarian, so yes it is a gamble. Unfortunately there is no reliable recent data I can find about banks these days. Unsurprisingly.

..please don't take any offence, I am certainly grateful to you for expressing your opinion on Santander and giving your view of what the future holds for Greece and the Eurozone. What's more I can well believe that your expertise is greater than mine. However, I am only investing (gambling?) a very tiny proportion of my money in Santander. I would say for entertainment in other circumstances but there is little entertainment in what is happening in Greece or the effect it could have on us.

Yes Greece remains a problem, but IF is the big word these days. Where banks are concerned it's all guesswork. Look at JP MOrgan - the bosses don't know what their own boys and gals are up to in London so how the heck should outsiders like me have a clue? The big USP for Santander is that it didn't get up to the games that JP Morgan's did. A run on the banks you say? Then are we not all doomed?

Last week I spoke to an adviser generally (no strings) and mentioned Santander. His take was that it gets a bad press for 2 reasons: obviously because of the Spanish economy and other Spanish banks; also because it had the nerve to jump in and take over UK banks at an opportune moment. His opinion was to hang on in as Santander's business was well spread outside Spain and Europe and the UK press only report what their proprietors want to put about. I'll go on buying a few more of this stock now and then; it's either a bargain or I'll just lose some money I'd spend on some other frivolity!

THISISMONEY belongs to the Daily Mail. Pinch of salt territory even if you are looking at something as simple as interest rates.

Am trickling funds into BNC to build up a small holding. It's a long term prospect and the current low price suits me. Surprised if it didn't come good but my investment is at a level I can afford to lose.

Seems to me that a bank of this size with a good presence in places like Brazil has got to be a good long term prospect (call me old fashioned if you like). What do others make of this view?