Member Info for CHEQUEMATE

General market sell off WS, plus Chinese competetion it would seem from what I have read on the SMDS board earlier today. At such times ALL shares get hit, including the healthy.

Good luck

Regards

CM

A great deal of the present fall is down to the general state of the markets and not PLUS specifice. Sentiment is negative and there will more downward pressure yet, especially with the DOW down over 3%, over 800 points today. The market is looking for reasons for a correction and many of the pieces are in place: rising bond yields, rising interest rates sin the U.S, Italian government proposals to raise their debt and borrowing way above what the ECB and EU are prepared to accept, trade disputes/sanctions/war with China, etc. Not a good outlook right now.

My link posted on my previous post on Friday is still relevant.

Good luck all

CM

ps. Is there a bottom to this madness?..........well, yes. But we won't know where that is until it is reached and there is positive momentum again.

Good evening folks.

Well , I've always known you BT have more **lls than me and of course the very best of luck to you my friend. I have been watching the general market pretty closely very recently and have been getting more concerned (as I usually do!). A vast majority of shares, particularly smaller mkt caps, have been hit not just lately but over the course of the last number of months. I think this has largely gone un-noticed by folk because of concentration on our own shares rather than looking outside of their own holdings. Looking back at my share transactions I can see most of the shares sold are now lower than what I sold out at, even up to a year later (without going into detail), even those that were trading above the price at what I sold out at. Nothing to boast about, timing wasn't great on most but right now timing could have been worse.

Timing? - well, I sold my holdings in GBG yesterday at 518p having seen it suddenly fall from the high 520s. I was very reluctantand it felt like a kick in the pants. BT knows I have done this before and before too long the share price has risen back to over what I sold at. I take that chance.

My circumstances have changed and I may well need as much capital as possible to help finance a possible move of house; I just can't afford to see my capital drip (and more) away. Each to their own of course.

It is important to realise that there is a general sell off across the market right now and the fall in GBG share price is not a reflection on its' quality and potential as a company. There is a great deal going for it. However, with the DOW down over 800 points, over 3% today, there is every chance there is more volatility to come, at least in the short term.

Those of us who have been invested in GBG over the years will have seen these fall backs/sell offs before. Painful at the time. We must all do what we need to do under our own circumstances.

Maka - don't feel you have to log off from this board because you no longer hold. Your views will still be welcome. Your stop loss kicked in pretty quickly, it must have been quite a tight stop loss. I for one respect your decision. Better to take a small loss than see it mount up. You can always re-invest of course when you feel the time is right. As for charts, the ones I tend to use is for general share price movement up to a year to determine any trend and Bollinger Bands; although in times of market volatility and sell offs they seem to be of limited use (just imo).

I no longer have any share holdings here or elsewhere (at present at any rate).

Good luck all

CM

MGR is reported on in todays Stockopedia, plus more general information which is interesting reading. Graham Neary makes some very relevant points.

https://www.stockopedia.com/content/small-cap-value-report-wed-10-oct-2018-market-volatility-cake-sos-wgb-mgr-vtu-bowl-406124/

This could be, not necessarily is, the start of a market correction, looking across the whole market and at the DOW Jones today (currently down over 800 points, 3%+). It may just be a very short term market shake.

I no longer have any share holdings, having sold out of my last holding yesterday. My circumstances have changed and I don't want to be in a position of seeing my capital reduce further than it has over the last month and more. Previously I have never been able to stay out of the market completely for any time more than a month; this time I will be more cautious and await developments.

Very good luck to all here and all of your holdings.

Regards

CM

Probably a good idea SK, taking a loss before it gets potentially bigger. A tough but disciplined decision. I sold out back in February at 4.72 and watched the share rise but subsequently fall. Took a loss my7self, but nowhere near as large as had I stayed invested.

Cspinos post is very relevant re Chinese. McFarlane shares down as heavily as SMDS today.

Good luck

CM

"Should be" may be right, "is" is what it is. The market isn't interested in what we think should be the proper price. I understand your reasoning but in the past that reasoning has led me to hold a share for too long and see a profit disappear and lead to a loss. Not recommending nor advising any action, that has to be down to each individual according to their circumstances.

I contemplated re-investing this morning on the back of the rns re AuM but held off. I don't like the present market so have taken a position in SUK2 which is an ETF. I haven't the time to go into what SUK2 is right now, bar say it is a little risky, it tends to go up when the market is going down (and vice versa). It isn't a share but acts like one and there are no market makers to get involved. Again NOT advice nor recommendation.

Good luck

CM

You are very welcome.

Thanks for your comments, appreciated.

Some years ago I looked into charting in some detail. It never really worked for me. Well, the word "really" doesn't come into it on reflection. And I spent SO much time over it; where did all the time come from?, and what was I missing out on by giving it so much time?.

GBG has had previous times when the share price has dropped dramatically, over 30% I seem to remember over a very short time frame for no apparent reason. Often a fall comes immeidately after results are published. So frustrating and head banging. I've made mistakes in the past selling GBG, only later to buy back in at a higher price. Each time I have sold reluctantly.

One thing you will find on this board that controversial issues such as stop losses can be discussed openly without fear of being put down or ridiculed. I have used them in the past and believe it is a good idea in principle because it takes out our emotion when it comes to selling. How many times have we paused over the sell button because we have got emotionally attached?, or find any reason to hold, "if I sell now it is bound to go up" or "this has got to be the bottom", "market makers are playing games", only to see the share price continue to fall. If we get the sell wrong, we can always buy back in even at a higher price.

Good luck and regards

CM

Good evening BT,

good to hear from you. I agree with what you have posted. You must be very laid back to be relaxed at this time; always thought we can learn from you!. These are troubled times at present; the market seems to be looking for demons in doorknobs and/or manufacturing something to drive the market. That is not to say concerns are not genuine. Brexit is still playing on minds but the real cloud is regarding Italy as I have stated below. That is still to come to the surface fully. The Italian government is taking a strong stance against the ECB and the EU, basically sticking 2 fingers up to them, "putting Italy first" and waiting to see their response. Hmm!.

Thanks for your thoughts over Red Rum. I will check the nose bag is full and that her coat is being properly groomed.

Regarding pension. No, I have no intention of deferring my pension, it's time to enjoy the little I will get having saved towards it for 20 years or so, although deferring it is/was an option. Besides my circumstances may be about to change where I will need the 25% of the pension fund I can take tax free. The property I had been looking at 18 months ago has come back onto the market, the old lady having found somewhere else to live after so long, but her buyer fell through. She is desperate to move. Being by myself now I am far from sure I can afford the property but I am putting wheels in motion to check the possibility.

So, I may well be out of the market totally very shortly; if only short term.

Best go just now. Stay well

Regards

CM

Maka, should I still be invested in GBG and the share chat board goes bonkers regarding numbers contributing (if that is the right word) then I will be up and away tout suite. The companies with the busiest share chat boards are usually the most speculative and generally the worst performing ones. Although performance here has been poor over the last month or two it is more a reflection on the general market. GBG goes through these unsettling periods but to date has always recovered.

One of the pleasures of this quiet board is that we can have some off topic chat between us. Bigtosh, Doze and I have been on this board for a long time; years. We have never met yet regard each other us friends, and have as much concern for each others' welfare as the share itself. Infact, priorities are not with the share.

Welcome aboard.

Regards

CM

IWTO - the article I posted if it comes to pass is likely to affect the whole market, not XLM specifically. Many shares are down over the last week/month for no obvious reason (as such).

XLM - GCI article:

We spoke to CEO Ory Weihs after the interim results statement
which expressed confidence in the company meeting
forecasts for the full year. Those expectations were significantly
downgraded in June, which caused the shares to lose around
half their value. The problem has been an accumulation of factors
which together added up to a material slowdown in revenue.
Tighter rules on gambling advertising in the UK and regulatory
uncertainty in Germany have caused the gambling companies,
for whom XL acts as a marketing partner, to rein-in their spending
on customer acquisition. Weihs says these markets are now
stabilising, hence the board’s confidence in meeting expectations.
Management is busy integrating $45m of recent acquisitions,
some of which have been concentrated in the North American
personal finance sector which will provide XL with some
diversification. The company has also cut back unprofitable media
buying activity, particularly in North America, which explains the
drop in revenue in that segment. There is $51m of cash in the
balance sheet, following January’s placing at 198p – the timing of
which will cast a further shadow over the stock’s rehabilitation. XL
had worked hard to get a good rating on its shares but has now
been knocked back to a p/e of 10 and yield of 5%. That makes it
a buy, but we cannot afford another slip up.

Frisby - re: noise. Yes, you are largely right. We have seen it all before. But, remember the Greek crisis?, well, this is potentially far more serious. It won't matter if XLM has zero exposure to Italy if the market takes fright. No need to panic........

Regards and good luck

CM

Having seen so many of my shares fall from a good profit into a loss recently, I have reluctantly sold my holding late today watching the share price fall back. I decided to take a good profit of over 40%. If it proves to be a mistake, then I can always re-invest which I would rather do than realise the mistake was not selling and then selling at a lower price, seeing a loss getting steadily bigger. Selling is always the difficult part to investing.

The general market is not good at present and should there be a fall then it is likely to affect most if not all shares.

I will keep a close eye on MGR. Didn't like selling.

Regards and good luck

CM

The general market is not good just now; this isn't PLUS specific. Unfortunately PLUS has been affected by the negative movement in other companies in this sector and as yet hasn't indicated clearly how ESMA is going to affect it. When it does report on this then the share price may fall further...........or not of course.

Although there may be some light at the end of the tunnel regarding Brexit if rumours are to be believed, that may only be the lights of an oncoming train if things go wrong so that could affect the share price further.

Additonally there is a lot of nervousness, or about to be a lot of nervousness over the situation in Italy where the popularist government has just announced its' budget for the coming year which is contrary to ECB (European Central Bank) and EU rules. They intend to push up spenidng massively and increase their debt to carry out their policies. This is potentially far more serious than the Greek crisis of a number of years ago.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/05/italy-government-announces-brave-and-responsible-budget-2019plan.html

I have seen a number of my investments recently fall from a good profit into a loss. Like most folk I find selling the hardest discipline in investing; always seemingly to find some reason for holding believing on occasions that the share price has probably bottomed and if I sell now that will be the sign for the share price to rise. More often than not, infact nearly every time that has NOT been the case and on reflection I should have sold out much earlier.

Good luck to all holding here

CM

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/05/italy-government-announces-brave-and-responsible-budget-2019plan.html

This could have a major effect on the market. SUK2 gives some protection if there is a negative reaction. Basically if the market goes down then SUK2 goes up. Worth considering since this is not spread betting and the spread is low.

CM

This could have a serious affect on markets.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/05/italy-government-announces-brave-and-responsible-budget-2019plan.html

Reducing my porfolio, but at present, as at 10.00 I still hold here and in just one other share.

Regards

CM

XLM got a buy mention in the latest edition of Growth Company Investor, with reservations. However, keep an eye on the following which could seriously affect the market:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/05/italy-government-announces-brave-and-responsible-budget-2019plan.html

Have cut my losses here. Time to move on and invest elsewhere, if anywhere. I can always re-invest here if I got it wrong. Got it wrong not sellling my whole holding at 162 or on 11 June.

Regards and good luck

CM

Keep an eye on how the below may affect the market. It is what I was mentioning in previous post.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/05/italy-government-announces-brave-and-responsible-budget-2019plan.html

Regards

CM

I think the hardest thing in investing is undoubtably selling. Buying is easy by comparison because we can always find some reason, however far fetched to buy. When it comes to selling it seems we can always find some reason for holding, however far fetched. Guess that is our emotions kicking in. I have tried to keep a distance from my investments more this last 6 months or so rather than constantly viewing them which is so tiring. I thought RBGP would be low risk and kept holding when I really should have kept to a stop loss realising I could always buy back in if I felt I had made a mistake. The mistake was to keep holding. Today the share price has risen, of course, a couple of days after I sold out. That of course is one of the reasons why we continue to hold, fearing that if we sell that will be the time the share price will rise!.

I am hoping the general market will hold up until at least the end of the year. I have a relatively small private pension kicking in at the begining of next year. What I will receive is very much dependent on how the maket is performing. There are wider worries about not only Brexit but also what the popularist Italian government is proposing, ie increasing its' debt to way above what the EU permits, with-holding its' financial contributions etc. The Italian govvernment wants the EU to bail it out of current financial difficulties but the EU is against that because for one thing it would possibly lead to other countries trying the same trick.

Regarding OPM and its' great results and consequent share price reversal - nothing new there. I have experienced that many a time with my holdings. Perhaps the market was expecting more and/or there has been profit taking. Such is the stock market.

Regards

CM

Still here too. I too have tried to take a break from the boards and try to keep more of a distance from my investments. Sometimes/many a time it can cause too much anxiety following every move. Ideally I would be out of share investment completely, but for the time being I remain invested here and in a couple of other shares. Despite the length of time I have been investing, I STILL make some basic mistakes; like balancing one shares' positive movement against one shares' negative movement rather than just closing my losing position!. Then the positive one starts dropping too!. Twit.

Hoping the market will hold up at least until the end of the year. I have a private pension kicking in at the start of the new year and the value of it very much depends on how the market is performing. The small pension will make a huge difference to me and may well mean I can come out of the market completely.

The market is not good at present. October is known to be one of the worst months of the year for shares, if not the worst for whatever reason. Weighing on the markets' mind is the problem in Italy at present where the popularist government is proposing to raise its' debt to way what is allowed by the EU and basically stating it will do what it wants to do rather than be told what to do. It wants the EU to bail it out of its' current financial problems but the EU hands are tied, feeling if it gives in to Italy then other countries will follow. That along with Brexit concerns still. After more than 2 years you would think we would be nearer a deal of some sort but I am not sure the EU want any deal which will seem beneficial to Britain. What an utter mess.

Back to seeing GBG drift lower again. We've seen it all before of course but each time it is unnerving. 600p seems quite some way away just now. Can't guarantee it will return of course. So many A trades again which always seems to drive the share price down, guess these are algorithm trades of some kind.

BT - good to hear your news regarding the house, and the puppies(or not so puppies!). The move into the new house will be very exciting and well worth it although all the hassle you have had one way or the other may have made you have your doubts I expect.

Re. Red Rum. Well, she is confined to stables these days. Unfortunately she still finds some fence or object to fall at occasionally which is very disturbing. I will be visiting again in a weeks' time for a few days. Although some would see the 320 miles each way as a long way, it is only as long as one makes it or want to make it. Sure it woud be more convenient at half the distance, but I have my priorities and want no regrets when I look back.

Back to dog training in the dark....ugh!. At least last night it was dry and mild.

Better go, matron is coming to put me to bed!.

Regards

CM

Wise move it seems. I have been making my usual mistake of balancing one stocks negative movement against anothers positive movement to justify holding, believing that there is little reason for the degree of the fall and there should be a bottom at any moment, only to see the fall continue. By now I really should have learnt not to do that; it rarely works out.

I should have sold out and looked to re-invest if things turn, not hold. Now all I can get is a trifle of 86p. My fault. Cut my losses I guess.

No response to my email; if they received it.

Re Naked Trader, I expected him to exit near his stop loss. He must have read something into the rns I/we haven't/didn't.

GLA

CM

Thanks for that threeput.

I emailed the company on Friday about the divident mentioned in the admission doc but haven't had a reply yet.

Perhaps grasping at straws, but I see no institutional selling at present. However it isn't their money invested more their reputation and the ask price is back to what it was at the placing/admission. Additionally the market is not good generally at present with many shares down and across sectors despite what the FTSE100 is showing.

Significant Shareholders:

So far as the Company is aware, apart from directors, the following persons are interested in 3% or more of the Company’s issued share capital.
Name No. of Ordinary Shares held Percentage of issued share capital
Ian Rosenblatt 16,911,214 21.1%
Miton Asset Management Ltd 12,630,000 19.8%
Fidelity Investments Inc. 5,260,000 6.2%
Blackrock Inc. 4,800,000 6.0%
Schroders plc 4,210,000 5.3%
Marlborough FundManagement Ltd 3,000,000 3.75%

Last updated:
17 Sept 2018

I continue to hold......at present. With the shares being illiquid selling can be difficult.

Regards and good luck

CM