Member Info for Copout

Today is mainly a steady stream of 100 and 200 sells. Punctuated by bigger trades. What's all that about? It looks like some kind of programme selling - but for Earthport!?

Looks like steady as she goes for the first quarter. The lower output would have been down to the warmer winter but nothing to worry about there. I like the expectation of better than £55 per unit for 2016 and the fact that not much is pre-sold yet. 2015-16 is when ALK really comes into its own and there's no point in rushing to sell this stuff too soon. All in all ALK continues to be a sound, well-managed company on the right track. 40p per share should be the absolute minimum going forward.

Nice steady climb back up to 50, then some consolidation, then onwards and upwards. This is one of the best performers in my portfolio and no way am I selling yet!

What on earth is it with bellway that makes it so volatile? Why is if off 60 pips today and well of its recent highs. Where's the bad news?

Looks like Henderson are gradually divesting stock here. Down to 17 per cent. If they keep doing this it will cap the SP at around 40p. Ideally what we want is for Henderson to decide what they want to hold, what they want to sell and then for the broker to find a buyer for the block. It's a bit surprising, given ALK's prospects, they haven't done that. Wonder why not?

I can't see this ever getting back to the 600s but if all goes well on the fundamentals and there is a lift in nickel prices to the mid $20k's - which is feasible with a decent recovery - and TALV's bioleaching works then I can certainly see 100-200p here. You have to remember the mining business is very cyclical. No-one will have been investing in new nickel mining capacity for the last five years. But there is an oversupply overhang which a demand recovery will gradually erode. Eventually you get a supply squeeze and the stuff shoots through the roof. That could be 5-6 years away but meanwhile TALV should be repositioning as a profitable producer. If you're watching TALV for the longer term check three things - global nickel production/consumption stats, LME prices and how well its bio leaching process works throughout the year. All three moving in the right direction and we're away.

Yep, some positive signs for TALV at last. Medium term financing is in place, better weather means more output, nickel prices improving. If Pera can ramp leaching and refining rates up and there are no more nasty surprises this could just be the start of the recovery. But there's a long way to go. Trade sanctions against Russia, if they happen, takes out 12 per cent of world nickel output, around a quarter of a million tonnes, but there's more than that sitting in LME stocks, so we're a long way off any shortage of metal just yet. More pick up in global industrial activity in general and Chinese imports in particular will, as Goldman says, push prices towards $20k but that's still not break-even for TALV. So, some immediate optimism but the longer term recovery to big numbers could be 3-4 years away. One for the bottom drawer ISA?

EPO trades steadily 1p up most of the day and closes just .25 up!. Still - up is better than most of my other stuff did today!

happening now? Down 175p from the highs of a month ago. That's nearly 12 per cent down in a month. And have we gone ex-div yet?

Has anyone else noticed EPO been doing this a lot recently - trading reasonably well during the day then finishing close to the bottom of the day's range with a few tiddly sells. Most irritating.

Sorry Modsa, I think I misunderstood your post! Long day with not much joy.

Modsa, have you really sold ALK at 39.64 just to buy into that over-hyped and very speculative QPP?! Alkane has real assets and is building a solid, well-run company in a long term growth area with a future. QPP is a very risky play. I'm in both but I know which one I'll be selling first! QPP! But good luck to you - make a quick turn on QPP and get back in here while you still can around 40p!.

No idea why this has dropped off so sharply. I looked at the RNS this morning and though I could not work out whether it was good, bad or price neutral I couldn't quickly see any reason why it should be seriously negative. Perhaps someone who knows more about pharma can enlighten us. Fundamentals aren't too bad - my reading is that VEC is through the blackest part of the tunnel and rapidly approaching the light end. Good time to buy. Otherwise it's generally a rotten day/week all round. Though where all this cash from the selloff is going is a mystery!

Agree- stunning numbers. This has got to move well into the 400s when serious investors wake up!

What a pity! I've always worked on the principle that once a stock is tipped in the papers then it's already too late! After all, when did you last meet a journalist who had got rich via successful investment?

Always happens! Fast Up - fast down. Slow and steady is much better. It might be some weeks, or even months, before we're permanently established over 50p, but worth the wait.

Good post Baysill, most welcome. I too am a long term investor in and supporter of Alkane. But, and I've said it before, the big problem with shale gas is that the UK industry is not winning the PR hearts and minds battles. The various objector groups are well organised, well meaning and effective. We may disagree with them but their anti-fracking campaigns are hitting home with local residents, local authorities and press largely sympathetic to their cause. This is going to add considerably to the cost of developing those licences with legal appeals, delays and security. ALK needs to focus its PR on its highly successful CBM/CMM activities and its flexible response facilities and leave the frack scrap to the private equity boys.

EMG's buying back around a million shares a day on average. That plus the continuing dividend is bound to keep the SP firm for a month or two. Agree some news on how they plan to sort out AHL shortcomings would be useful. Otherwise Man is a simple story - net cash inflows plus performance fees equal rising SP.

Well withdrawn Jazz! Strong, steady buying seems to be taking back north. Not big volume though. Obviously not many keen sellers left to damp the price. Would be good to see EPO back up towards 50p.

Several big sell orders at 36.50-38. Let's hope it's punters wanting to book profits in this tax year before coming back in. Otherwise I'm not sure I would be a big seller of EPO right now with all the positive news. Perhaps it's the psychological barrier of 40p. This is the second time it's retraced from these levels. Third time lucky?