Member Info for courtier

I do hope you are right...

Published today. http://www.lse.co.uk/share-regulatory-news.asp?shareprice=HSD&ArticleCode=rx484se3&ArticleHeadline=Interim_Management_Statement

A very upbeat report from the boss: http://www.unite-group.co.uk/#prettyPhoto/0/

I have held these shares for 2 years, mainly for the excellent dividend. I will admit to the same anxieties as yourself over dividend coverage. The price makes HSD a good buy and Panmure Gordon rate them a BUY with a possible price of 105p So far they have definitely added to my ISA with small losses in share price last year being more than made up by the dividend. I do worry about their litigation problems, that continue to appear in their annual reports. I keep returning anxiously to the company figures but so far have no regrets. My figures for Apr 1st 2013 to Apr 1st 2014 show the share price loss and the dividend combined returning 4% in the one year. From Apr 1st 2015 to now my share price gain gives me 5.5% with the dividend still to come so I hope for a double figure yield. Remember to do your own research.

The rate was up to January, sorry my careless reading...

From stockmarketwire.com: shold have pointed to the source at... http://www.stockmarketwire.com/company-news/WKP/Workspace-Group

WKP's total rent roll up 5.1% from Oct. 1 to date

Will be released 4th June.

Unite commisioned a survey showing 85% of students intend to vote. http://www.unite-group.co.uk/cs/Satellite?c=Article_C&name=Poll+says+85+per+cent+of+students+plan+to+vote&pagename=Corporate/Article_C/Corporate_Detail_Article&cid=1426983957594

A very interesting run down on BNC. I am not a great fan of The Fools but this is a good summary of BNC at the moment. https://www.fool.co.uk/investing/2015/04/30/you-cant-afford-to-miss-out-on-banco-santander-sas-growth/

From The I: "Spain's economy expanded at its fastest pace for seven years at the start of 2015, setting it firmly on course to meet a new 2015 growth target of 2.9% in the first quarter, spurred by a pick-up in household spending."

POSSIBLY: The large share issue leaving many more shares soaking up the company value. Grexit threat is growing again. Exdiv: paid 4th May, but with 4 divs per year the effect is not usually this severe. The fundamentals seem to me to be sound, so I think this quite severe fall is a 'buying opportunity'. Anyone else got any ideas?

Hope he finally orts out the few legacy legal wrangles...

I'm never convinced by the Motley Folk, but I do fully agree with this: "Since the turn of the year, shares in Santander have fallen by 8% while the FTSE 100 is up 1%. A key reason for this is the share placing that was announced by the bank, as it seeks to shore up its financial position. A result of the share price fall is an even more appealing valuation with, for example, Santander now trading at a sizeable discount to the FTSE 100. In fact, its price to earnings (P/E) ratio is just 12.5, versus over 16 for the wider index. In addition, Santander’s yield has improved due to its share price fall, with the globally diversified bank now yielding a relatively appealing 3.3%. However, with healthy growth in the bank’s bottom line forecast, Santander’s dividends per share are all set to rise by 11.8% next year. As such, it could prove to be a top income play over the medium to long term, and appears to be worth adding to your ISA." I have great faith in this company pulling back over the next few years so perhaps we will eventually see the £6 I foolishly predicted last year. I regard the current price as a strong buying opportunity. Of course the dividend now isn't what we are used to, but remains good, especially in prospect and when compared to the sector.

I'm not Kernalpop but thanks for the link, it was new to me and very useful.

Saw a Santander bike on the tow path of Regent Park Canal today...

Date: Thursday 05 Feb 2015 LONDON (ShareCast) - Santander UK could soon replace Barclays as the backer of London's cycle-sharing scheme. According to Sky News, the lender is close to seal a £50m deal to replace its sector peer as sponsor of the British capital's cycle scheme. Santander and Coca Cola have been locked in a race to replace Barclays, which has been involved in the scheme since it was set up in 2010, as the main sponsor on the so-called "Boris Bikes". Santander is expected to pay £7.5m per year for seven years to replace Barclays' branding with its characteristic red and white logo over more than 10,000 bikes across the capital.

Date: Tuesday 06 May 2014(Partly answering my own question, above.) LONDON (ShareCast) - Savings and investments group Hansard Global warned profits would be hit by an issue in its charging procedures and that new business wins had fallen badly as flagged. Hansard brought forward its quarterly statement after it identified weaknesses in its procedures in relation to Chargeable Events certificates required by tax authorities, which it expects will cost the company around £5m. The AIM-listed company said the weakness came as a result of the transfer of its Europe business's administration to the Isle of Man.

LONDON (ShareCast) - The Non-Executive Chairman and founder of Hansard Global, Dr Leonard Polonsky, has increased his stake in the specialist long-term savings provider with the purchase of two million shares. Taking his stake in the group to 41.34%, Polonsky spent 90p a share at a total trade value of £1.8m. The deal was made three weeks after the group reported profitable trading for the nine months ended March 31st, although said new business volumes were around 45% below the level of new business for the comparative period in the prior financial year.

I held Unite Group for years but had to sell them two years ago. Managed to buy in again in December. Since then they have gained over 20%. They are very much London centred so it is obviously still not too late to invest in London property. Another interesting development is a growingly mature dividend yield. Hopefully I will be able to hold these long term now.