Member Info for Barlew

Have you tried small trades on HL? Not the most widely traded of shares but probably easier to trade in small chunks. Looking positibve again after recent sharp fall - fingers crossed for better things. Anybody know or understand why all house - builders have dropped sharply regardless of results such a those of Persimmon which were excellent

I am wondering about the divi too. They talk about the reduced return on equity being below 10% - not sure what that means but could be that even if not a drop in divi there will not be an increase either. Also I don't like the bit about re-evaluating their Irish business suggesting that it is under-reserved in relation to claims and that could be serious. Those 2 problems apart the company has done well increasing premium income and they were unlucky with the weather. Nevertheless insurance is all about risk and I am somehat sceptical at the fact that it was not better managed. I have been in RSA for a long time and am slowly becoming disenchanted despite the TO possibilities. Trouble is if you sell today somebody will offer TO the next. Such is life. GLA

Anybody know why??

It seems that regulatory approval for the Monaco sale has not been forthcoming from the Principality of Monaco. When the deal was struck Batelco acquired a 25% shareholding in Compagnie Monegasque de Communication SAM(“CMC”)owned by CWC, which holds a 55% interest in Monaco Telecom. If approval is not forthcoming Batelco has I believe an option to sell back to CWC that 25% holding at an agreed price. Not sure if CWC can force such a sale back under those circs ie is it a 2 way or one way option (if I am right that it exists!)? The comment in the last interim management statement from CWC was terse and included the Seychelles operation - "We are continuing to progress the Seychelles and Monaco disposalsbut at this time there is no further update" I have not seen anything since then. There is also a fuss in I believ the Bahamas where the Government feels it has been hard done by and should not have sold a majority stake in its Telecoms business to CWC. Mr Bentley therefore has one or two matters of importance to iron out. If he can do so and I am optimistic that he can then we should be looking at a higher sp and a more valuable company to be taken over. I was also a shareholder in CWW and disappointed at the low TO price. I hope that Mr Bentley will do considerably better if it does come to a TO which like Comsman I think is very much on the cards . GLA; DYOR etc... ..

Deutsche Bank have today reiterated buy with target of 57p. Perhaps they have high hopes of Phil Bentley or of interim management statement on Nov 7 or both. I am optimistic and not being able to sell Monaco because of local objections is probably a blessing in disguise as it is such a good earner. Will be interesting to see what happens when HO moves to Florida. My guess is a TO from somebody in the States such as Columbus.

A lot of sells in the last few days and no buys despite all the good vibes. Let's hope things improve with the market although the likes of Barratt, TW etc are already on their way up! What is keeping TRAF back? After all it was nearly 6p only about a week ago. Keep the faih I guess although it would be nice to know a few reasons for the current doldrums.

Your considered comments again much appreciated. I agree that percentage upside greater in Traf than the larger companies but so I guess is the risk. All these things are cyclical and the trick is to spot when the cycle is going down and then jump off. Meanwhile I am for holding Traf as house building at the moment seems to be good news. Tried to see what the buying and selling quotes were just now and in small quantities one can buy for 5p and sell for 4.75p.

Thanks for helpful comments. The only point I would make is that at one stage yesterday morning one could sell for 5.75p approx and now (just checked) one can buy for 5.09p although I am not sure what quantities were available either way. I agree that this is a hold and that playing about day trading is risky whilst over the long term this company and therefore the sp is going the right way. Taylor Wimpey, Persimmon and Barratts areall up today and whilst TRAF is down it is more volatile because of the thin market in its shares of which I believe 80% are held by Mr Johnson. I am happy to follow his fortunes at least until the next good rise. I have been intersted to note the events in the pipeline which are all good news.

Now can sell at 5p but only a small quantity. Am waiting for even better days.

Now you can buy shares at 5.33p but cannot sell at any price. Not a very big market!

408000 sold and 248000 bought so far today. Not surprised that a few people have taken profit and that the sp has settled around 5/5.25p Taylor Wimpey which has recently been on a decline has today moved upwards and Traf is in as good if not better position than TW plus it's a small niche company operating in SE England near London and with a driving boss. Should do well so like Silvana am hanging in there. GLA

Thanks for that. Had thought of taking some profit at 5.75 but too late and anyway encouraged by the news in general, the various posts and the excess of buys over sells. Holding on now for double figures! At least that's today's plan.

Had a quick look on iii. site - TRAF 17, Persimmon 19.3, Barratt Dev 40.4 and TW 21.3. Barratts a bit out on a limb.

Thanks for comments re PE - much appreciated. I entirely agree as I mentioned in my post with your praise of Mr Johnson. I see that year's high was almost 10p so that must be the first target! Buys well exceed sales today.

Perhaps on a larger scale Taylor Wimpey still offer value for money below 100p. GLA and DYOR. On the other hand TRAF has a lot to offer particularly with a boss who has a good record in building up and selling on. Main thing is to have confidence as the spread can be wide and as the warnings say shares go down as well as up. I like TRAF!

I agree entirely with what you say. Perhaps once the market settles down so will Man but if it hits 90 + I am out!!

At the moment 4.45 to buy and 4.12 to sell so all looks relatively normal!

Per LSE there have been approx 1.8m shares sold today and 40,000 shares bought despite which the price has gone up marginally. Can somebody please explain the logic of this. I recently bought in as the company looked as if it is going the right way with a go-ahead CEO.

Talking of selling in volume buying in volume not easy either! Surprised that market not more bullish on AGM result and residential property market in general. Perhaps it proves that one should sell on rumour and buy on fact. Looks hopeful for the future and CEO has good track record..

The market sadly only rewards super results. These are good but no div as yet and a few reductions in income even if planned. Thorntons Direct down 10%. As in all results the good bits are at the beginning! Good that debt reduced but not hugely. Could be a good bet for the future but preferred short term gain.