Member Info for cynic

METALS - in response to *hobo - I posted on this subject earlier this month, along the following lines, while admitting that it is culled from a number of sources ..... World economies are roaring, especially in the F/E and specifically China. This is sucking in massive volumes of (stainless) steel, and thus its constituent components (e.g. chromium and molybdenum), copper for wiring etc, silver and platinum for the electronics industry, uranium, and finally gold, though I am not sure if it has real industrial application. The producers of the above are having a field-day, as are oil and gas explorers and producers, though for slightly different reasons. Dealing in hard commodities, especially gold, silver and copper, is comparatively easy either through the usual Futures Market, or via CFDs which is my preferred route. The secondary and more usual route is via mining shares and similar ...... For these, you pays your money and takes your choice, either with out and out gambles with "blue sky" companies who actually have no assets as of yet, or with solid companies like KAZ, Antofagasta, Billiton, or those somewhere in the middle like VOG, CER, VML.

METALS - noted your post ..... will revert on it later when i have actually done some of my "proper" work!

your elaboration obviously did not get posted!

CER - a fave of mine I know ..... but check this company out. It has a very interesting portfolio of all sorts of good mining and other projects - including a 7% stake in VOG (qv)! So far, it has not budged today.

ELP - It's always unsettling for a company and its shares when a senior director suddenly departs. "Personal reasons" is the standard format for anything from the truth (rare!) to very serious boardroom revolution etc. Hoever, the guy will assuredly be replaceable. That said, and to repeat yesterday's post, I think the momentum has left these shares at least for the next few weeks. That being so, and given the high number of frothy holders, I would expect the price to drift until say +/-10th February, being a couple of weeks before drilling news is expected.

DUN - Many thanks your input ..... I'll look closer in the morning, though I have been holding SGC in my main portfolio for some time ...... Ah! Just noticed that it only has a cap of just over £2.5 million, which is too small for CFD ..... But many thanks anyway.

ETL - You're right that share volatility and personal nimbleness is a classic way of making good money provided you call it right to start with ..... I play with GOOG in that way; I think that overall I am ahead of the game there, but I have dropped some horrible clangers along the way too!

Try SGC aka Stagecoach!

But presumably the debt/share swap crucified the price at the time it was done, even if it subsequently recovered. If that is so, does it not make ETL a pretty dodgy buy, but perhaps a better short?

JRVS - only problem with Jarvis, for making money from the shares that is, is that it seems to have little volatility. In fact, from what i can see, it has hardly moved for quite a while.

DUN vs SGS - GedW - As usual you will have done your research. On that basis would you prefer DUN to SGS, even if it is not quite apples for apples?

ELP - As I am in the fortunate position of being able to monitor prices throughout the day (as a rule), I am prepared to take a modest short position for the reasons I outlined. Not sure that I will take a position on the possible outcome of this drilling. As I have already bored everyone as to what I do not like about this company, I shall not elaborate further.

SFR - didn't know anyone followed this stock .... It's on my list of possible or even probable buys for 2006, but would like to see it have a few so I can buy at around £9.00. Meanwhile, have had a good run with CSR and also Burren, though I am currently but probably temporarily out of the latter.

Totally agree ..... Very annoying..... Have you tried telling the "powers that be", not that they would pay any attention?

ETL - On that basis I would rather wait until the price hits 26 and go short! ...... As for being a poker player, I have purposely never even learnt the rules ..... I'ld be the dream opponent!

ETL - I read you but in this instance hold up my hand as an ignoramus, not being able to work out how to play it ..... other than probably not at all!

ELP - Quite a brave call, but the heat and momentum has certainly gone out of this stock. For sure there is a lot of frothy money invested and I rather suspect that it will be found other homes, with subsequent downward pressure on the sp, at lest until it gets nearer to hearing any drilling result ..... At that point, it's anyone's game.

ETL - IMO unless you are already holding stock, not one to throw money at. Although what GedW has a certain logic, ETL is clearly in very very deep financial trouble. Though the governements may not let the company fold, they may well devise a cunning scheme which will allow the company to continue but completely emasculate (not sure if that is really the right verb) the shareholders.

MRP - don't know the stock at all, but must be a good call unless there is some spectacular news abroad.

ZOO - actually nicksig, it is the directors who deserve a good kicking, for when they put out their announcement on 14th December, they should already have had some idea of their Christmas trends ...... At the very least, they should have warned that their profitability for the year was very much dependent on a good Christmas. Shareguru ..... Doesn't say much for the directors does it? I cannot imagine why you would want to leave any money here. Surely you could do better with the remaining crumbs.