Member Info for buffa

Perhaps a supermarket could afford GGP but the word should be supermajor!

Northern Star's management faces too many problems getting the most from their present assets to even consider taking on more with a buyout. I concur that GGP's takeout price would be closer to 10bn and once Havieron produces only a supermarket would be able to afford the future valuation. NS's investors imo would welcome a change of management and, again imo SD ticks the boxes but I belive he will not move prior to first pour from Havieron. Which leaves, as I have said, a merger between NS and GGP as a possible solution to NS's present problems - with SD and his team restructuring NS. Personally I look forward, hopefully, to a long assiciation of SD with GGP but remain alert for any future developments.

As a LTH of GGP my concern originally was that the Company would be taken over before developing its enormous potential. More recently I was concerned that SD would be tempted to rejoin Northern Star to replicate his role there during 2014-19. Latterly in view of the increasing M&A in this industry, if anything, I favoured a merger of the two Companies so that SD and his successful team could oversee both Companies now that GGP/GR is clearing the decks for Havieron completion. I think that a merger would transform the future of both Companies and SD himself who must relish the thought of a new and greater challenge for his talents. My last buy was Friday at 16.29 another 744 shares at £6.719988 for £5004.67 which is reported as a 'sell'. To paraphrase Rick Rule I will continue buying whilst prices are so low. As I keep saying 'Interesting times'.

Can only speculate why an institutional order went through at such a large premium late (OTC) on Friday but I find it a curious transaction in many ways. Overall market sentiment at present is very bearish so why would an institutional buyer be in such a hurry to buy volume at high price? It is not unknown for market sensitive knowledge to be leaked and affect trading - as is unfortunately typical in the States regularly prior to Trumps announcements on cease-fires etc. But this is GGP-specific, OTC, after hours on a Friday and at a remarkable premium. Interesting times.

All AI is fundamentally over-valued and has made institutional investors very wealthy in a US market that is otherwise down. Data centres are the big thing but consume enormous amounts of electricity. SpaceX has many projects one of which is a space datacentre using solar energy at an ongoing potentially enormous source of cheap energy. Another, Starlink, will be boosted and targeted at the world wide Internet market - Musk is an innovator first and foremost. I received the email from my broker re applying for shares in the IPO which will almost certainly be a success with the aforementioned institutions using some of their AI profits to take part - they are already in discussion. The amount left for Retail will be minute in comparison and probably most of them will receive little or none so not for me. However it will be intetesting to see how much this IPO and Anthropic's distort wider market valuations.

GGP rising as Brent Crude is dropping, gold price rising (inverse relationship) with a soupçon of US interest.

Large banks and Financial Advisers 'historically' advocated a portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% bonds. The US banks and others now advise 60% stocks 20% bonds and 20% gold. If investors take that advice then inflow into gold will push physical prices very much higher. Rick Rule, a banker now as well, has some choice advice regarding investing in bonds period.

Hi Speedy, 3% may be OK if you neglect the inessentials or 'non-core" elements such as Food, Energy, Rent and other non-descript items as Council Tax etc etc. Was in the fishing port of Brixham today where a roadside cafe was offering cod + chip at £24.95 (I took a photo to send to relatives). Cognoscenti advise that inflation will take off later this year - guess fish and chips will be off-menu at that stage.

Just for information since so many discussing gold/silver coins etc - one of the largest bullion dealers, Chards, recently received a consignment of 1oz 'Silver' Brits amongst which were a large number of base metal fakes - the supplier was the Royal Mint. This youtube video explains https://youtu.be/8yh0LXwdnrA?si=bAhPmghLTUKQSxVm

Charlie, the following might help - Greatland Gold is only required to name shareholders who own more than 3% of the company. Even if AJ Bell's total "nominee" pool exceeds 3%, they are often listed under generic nominee names (e.g., "Hargreaves Lansdown (Nominees) Limited") or subdivided into different internal nominee codes, which prevents them from appearing as one massive block.

After latest Trump posts gold price rising steadily.

Yesterday I posted 'The Ides of March' which included info that, since March 1, Gold had fallen 20% whereas the S&P had 'only' fallen by 6%. Gareth Soloway stated that this was because Gold was now being traded as an 'equity'. My point was that Gold was NOT being treated as he suggested given the disparity between 20% vs 6%. Others were confused that War in Iran should have raised the Gold price as a safe haven asset. Today a youtube video was published that I believe answers the original question - worth watching https://youtu.be/e2L8jIj4awY?si=gxvpQCMTZtJrNs07

A colleague of mine with closer and more detailed knowledge of Australian mining has just suggested Northern Star having a close look at GGP - I should have thought of that given SD's former association with NS and the problems the latter currently experiencing. Awaiting SD's Telfer RNS.

I am speaking from experience - just suppose eg Wyloo made an offer at these prices and guaranteed the jobs for current management (a scenario I have encountered many times before). Any offer of +25% would be considered 'normal' in the market and would be snatched by recent new investors in these uncertain times.

After listening to a broadcast discussing the potential further drop in gold prices in the likely event of a 'stock market crash' I looked at a few figures and the result put me on 'takeover watch' as I will explain... Since March 1 GGP has fallen 39%, Gold has fallen 20% and the S&P has fallen 6%. Over 50 years of investing I have experienced some of my holdings being 'snatched away' when about to rocket - usually bought by US Companies and often Private Equity. As an early investor in GGP I was hoping to see the Company progress to extracting Havieron at least. My fear now is that the next RNS may well indicate tremendous further potential for Telfer itself - at which time I believe GGP will be a no-brainer for a bargain basement opportunity for takeover by any number of predators. At £7+ I was looking forward to a Telfer upgrade. At £4 (or even lower) I have mixed feelings. The current Market Cap is 'peanuts' to many potential buyers at a time when the value of fiat currency is in decline.

Although the US produces a lot of oil nevertheless pump prices reflect world prices so, for example, in January national average price was $2.81/gallon this week it was, on average, $3.94/gallon - but at least they won't be rationed if the war continues unlike the UK. Also of interest travelling through the straits of Hormuz is Sulphur Helium and vast tonnage of fertilisers. Shortage of each and every one of these adds to serious inflation worldwide. Not sure Trump was aware of these ramifications when taking on Iran.

Hi Drover. It would be great if everything worked out for your scenario in Iran and 'normal' service could be resumed - to coin a phrase. The facts as far as we know them is that the Iranians have in the region of 1 million combat ready troops , including perhaps 190,000 IRGC who control the missiles/drones etc. Public demonstrations have been curtailed by what UN investigators have termed an 'Execution Spree' with thousands killed on the streets together with regular public executions - barbaric but effective. Trump was depending on a popular uprising to solve the situation. He knows that boots on the ground is not popular with his supporters and the prospect of US bodybags returning to the States would decimate the hopes of Republicans being elected in November. As for sticking it to the Chinese - that would certainly start WW111. I wish I could paint a rosier picture for everybody's sake but I think Taco Trump will walk away saying he's beaten Iran but leaving Iranians and the Western World in chaos.

Lotus attempts to 'defeat' Iran has been thwarted by the Hormuz strait and its chokehold on World oil supplies. Iran appears content ti allow oil through the straits if purchased in yuan. How do you get yuan? With Gold - China doesn't want bits of paper in exchange. I could talk about the Western World economies on the 'brink' because of their united belief that printing banknotes, unsupported by anything tangible and fungible is a great idea. Might as well play with Monopoly money. So, to abbreviate an extremely complex economic situation he/she/'them' (whoever) controls the oil, rare earths, metals controls the World. Currently that is primarily the Middle East, Russia and China. The latter holds sway over those Countries and is only willing to trade in yuan or Gold. Enough said.

Hi TT. My info is that the closing auction on asx tonight where most of the trading occurred (ETF buying etc) registered a price of 10.90 AUS$ -- having, in theory, exhausted all the sellers. Also predicted that the opening price on ASX Sunday night will be ~ 11.10 AUS$. We'll see what really happens as always.

Kent Man markets spooked in US as Feb PPI data came in at 0.7% which is HUGE and expected to get worse as oil shock gets added in March figures. US market selling everything - including metals to raise dollars. In due course, as inflation jumps, there will be an increase in safe haven gold which is par for the course.