Member Info for cynic

CFN - I think of its genre, you have probably picked the best. The public aren't stupid, and for sure Nero is highly rated in that respect, as is Costa and Pret a Manger (part owned by MacD). On the other hand, Starbuck's may be large in outlet terms, but it's product is rubbish - or at least to UK/European tastses.

GTL - with some misgivings I have joined the lemmings and bought a few of these ..... though rather less (money) than I did of BFC this morning, which have done me proud so far.

YHGG - I am not risk averse, but have never even heard of Pink Sheet, though I guess this is somenting like OFEX over here ...... Meanwhile, I am delighted to see that "real time" BFC are now up 15p today

YHGG.PK????? - jaak - index does not recognise this company ..... but guess the PK suffix means that it is traded in Karachi only!

VOG - Jules - if you meant VOG then you have posted to wrong site. Reason for VOG rise is self-explanatory if you look back at Friday/Saturday postings.

GTL - nicksig - but are these quoted on any US board? If not, then would not expect that much action from that quarter, despite the press

GTL - for my sins, I bought a few BFC instead

MPH - don't care for the little rush of sellers, but hope it is just a few peeps getting bored with no news. MPH actually got a nice little mention on the bottom of the fashion page in telegraph this morning. Fingers crossed that there is some decent trading news or similar ..... Shares sure need it!

DGM - As you are not nursing the losses that some holders are, I can see no good reason at all for putting any money into these shares. There are many many more companies with much better prospects of decent return.

EKA - I don't share your misgivings re CER though I have halved my holding there ..... Please also see my comment re EKA of 22/1

EKA - CER holds 22% of this company and is a much more substantial company. Despite CER's recent set-back, that is the route I would take as in the long(er) term, I think CER will come right .... By the way, CER also hold 7% of VOG.

EKA - will respond to self* on that site

CHP - I no longer have it with me either, but the gist of it was that Colombia has pretty significant oil deposits (+/-10x better returns per well than Texas) which are currently being investigated/explored/exploited by +/-50 small oil ex companies + just BP I think. Perhaps just as importantly, Colombia is a far safer location that Venezuala with a significant drop in kidnappings and associated crime and is known in international circles as a country that honours its debts on time ...... Thus despite its former flakey repututation, Colombia looks a far safer area in all ways than perhaps/probably even the likes of FSU etc.

CHP - anyone interested in oil stocks might find it worth their while to readt the very positive article on Colombian oil on the back page of today's Telegraph biz section ..... No companies individually selected.

CDL - jameel - perhaps you would like to consider further what I wrote in my post of Thursday 12:11. "Strong Buy" is pretty heavy stuff, but it depends on many things including the reasoning behind DB's purchases.

GTL or DOO or BFC - GedW and others - For reasons that GedW outlines, it will take an awful lot of buying to shift this sp. Does anyone think that (say) either DOO or BFC would offer a better return, or do you think that the sp of the above 2 has already discounted too much?

DGM - Had not seen that news, but assuming it is recent, then I would agree it is a pretty upbeat statement if you are going to tell the shareholders that biz stinks! In fact, if it does stink, then the chairman had better run for cover pdq (pretty damn quick!)

DGM - GedW - I fully understand the anxieties of trading, especially when nursing a substantial loss. Psychologically it is often very difficult to cut and run when that is indeed the wisest course. That said, the fall was so precipitous that it might well have been difficult to salvage even 50% of one's investment. On that basis, I suppose hang on and grit your teeth is about all one can do.

DGM - I have watched from the sidelines somewhat bemused. DGM issued a profit warning in September and then in November alluded to other issues that would also impact profitability. DGM's figures should be out in late March by the looks of it, and I cannot imagine that they will make cheerful reading ...... unless you are short of the stock, which I am not.

DGM - thought I rattled on when I got an idea in my head, but boy AM can teach me a lesson or two .... lol!