Member Info for courtier

Never expect to be able to trade equally with the big boys, who always know before you do, its just a fact of life I'm afraid. I am not a trader, buying for dividends and long term gain. Santander is a very good investment paying excellent dividends, and if I had any spare cash I would be adding right now. Last year, from April 5th 2012 to April 5th 2013 Santander gave a disappointing return of 5%, that is dividends banked added to price increase, into my share Isa. In other words the share price drop over the year took out more than half the dividend. This year so far the share price has again dropped about 10%, but I bought for sound reasons and honestly expect £5 to be broken again by Christmas. Look on drops like this morning as an opportunity and do not despair.

I strongly believe these to be a good buy at these prices. Remember the dividend is about 6%. The six percent rise today goes some way to correct the disastrous 27% drop after the figures released in May, but still a long climb. Centaur seems to be trying very hard to modernise to an on line world

I do hope you are right! I sometimes feel very lonely supporting this share, but I continue to buy when I can because everything I look at suggests better to come. I will join you in predicting £1 by Christmas, but I bet it is a bouncy ride...

I firmly expect to see Resolution above £3 by Christmas, and hang what the analysts think.

After the hoped for rise at the end of May the share price has gradually dropped in June. I am hoping it is the general market weakness this month. I am gradually rebuilding my holding as opportunities arise.

Back up to 123p today after yesterday's drop. E2v does give a rough ride sometimes.

I bought fiberweb because one of their main production plants is just down the road from me, and I like to keep three local companies in my share Isa. Between April 5th 2012 and April 5th 2013 they returned 36% including both dividends and share price rises. Right now I am £350 down and expect to receive about £150 dividends. I am not a trader and just keep my shares for the dividends and long term growth. Now the US housing market is turning I would expect the company to go some way towards the broker target prices this year, and wouldn't panic. It is well worth downloading the annual reports from the website to gain further background especially their market. The share price can be very volatile, and I've never quite managed to understand why, though it is a small market and a low priced share. However I too find the analysts a little short of useful. looking at the 5 year graph on this page shows how good this share would be for a trader who knows how it works.

More gut feeling than research, but the first signs of a Spanish recovery lighting up the horizon... I hope so.

Rose 2.2% today against a falling market. I'm not sure, but the rise may be the news of a big takeover in the media industry, but haven't found the details yet. This rise has brought me almost level at last.

You will certainly do better than 2%... How do the banks get away with it?

I bought about a year ago, before the dividend cut, and am now back in the black. Between April 5th 2012 and April 5th 2013 RSA returned 11% into my Share Isa when profits are added to the excellent 6% dividend. I am more than content to hold and reinvest the dividend.

I have decided to hold on to the shares I have and to add when I can if the price stays low. Hope it all goes well for your investment but I don't think you will have many regrets.

I have held Hansard for three years but gave up on them as they never fulfilled the promises of the analysts. Although I made a heavy loss on the sale this was covered by the dividends I had banked. Re-invested again in early May on hearing of very good figures in their latest report. I am now in the black and still looking forward to receiving excellent dividends. Not a traders' share but a good one to tuck away for income. I wish I had bought more in May.

Holding steady against a poor market since the disastrous drop last week. 6.5% dividend at this price makes for a good buying opportunity.

This time a partnership with Dutch insurance group Aegon http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130604-700516.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Santander seems able to generate extra cash almost at will. I know this deal took some time but it has gone through, and at a profit. I still remain rather anxious about their ability to maintain so high a dividend in this difficult banking environment but if any bank can it is Santander.

Suddenly I am in the black on E2V. Against a fairly bleak market too.

Thanks again Chunk1989. For two years I have held DS Smith and they have performed brilliantly.April 1st 2012 to April 1st 2013 they returned 21% into my ISA after adding dividends to share price rise. They have done even better since. Reading your very genuine sounding worries I have just sold my holding making a profit of £1050 on my original investment of £1000. I have also enjoyed two years of good dividends. I shall continue to watch the share and how sick will I be when they do even better next year. Good luck and I hope they find the cash to update your own machines in time.

Well I've done it. Just purchased another batch at 129p, basically doubling my holding. Don't let me down E2V... What swayed me was their order book and the comments of a few people in the financial media in whom I trust. E2V are in my ISA as one of my three local companies. E2V is the worst performer of the three to date returning -3.15% between April 2012 and April 2013 after adding dividends and loss. I am really hoping for progress this year.

...Very interesting to hear from someone working in the company. As an outsider it is hard to square your comments with the following from the Company's third quarter report... 'We continue to see profit in line with expectations, driven by a solid performance in our Packaging businesses, together with the strong delivery of the previously announced synergies from the acquisition of SCA Packaging. Our Packaging business has continued to perform as we expected, despite the difficult European macroeconomic conditions particularly in certain geographic markets. Volume growth is in line with our GDP +1% medium term financial target, with the legacy DS Smith business outperforming whilst the ex-SCA Packaging business has been held back by our previously announced strategic decision to exit business that does not deliver attractive returns to shareholders.' ...I wonder if the management might be struggling with balancing rapid expansion against maintaining existing plant/business. I have always rgarded the management at DS Smith to be solid but it would not be the first case of over-rapid expansion.