Member Info for cynic

ZOO - I have just picked up on the fact that Man Group hold 5.07% .... That's something of a comfort having noted that all Friday's trades were sales!

PXC - Very late Thursday afternoon saw some massive sales, though the impact on the pirce, even on Friday, was minimal ....... For full details, go to www.londonstockexchange.com, but in brief: The placing of 19th January left several institutions unasatisfied. Accordingly, one of PXC's non-execs sold 69 million shares to meet this demand. Also, and it may have a bearing, FMR Corp and Fidelity International Limited are now shown to hold 12% of the company having acquired a further 62.5 million shares on 19th. Doesn't at answer all the questions, and indeed perhaps raises more .... but at least it's some info.

I fully accept that the temperature between GedW and myself became somewhat unnecessarily overheated. I happily apologise to all whom I may or even clearly have offended. As for GedW himself, I certainly bear no ill will and indeed, I too often value his research and comment .....even if I will not always agree! BBs should be and usually are places for exchange of ideas and opinions, and even for occasional frivolity or diversionary comment. I too hope that normal service will speedily resume.

PXC - Stop the rambling. I also did not trade on what I overheard, whether it was deemed price sensitive or not. I already held stock.

GedW - I rarely have any idea what I am on about either! Anyway, let's hope that PXC comes up with the goodies in the foreseeable future - I take it that you are actually a holder of same.

ELP - I would rather it started to droop as of Monday ..... A modest fall over the next couple of weeks or so to around 30p would be very nice!

All I will say on that issue is that it is amazing what one overhears in public places.

GedW .... You are being unkind and unfair again ... lol! ..... From memory, the Crusades were mentioned in one "history lesson", and Cassandra and her prophetic prowess in another, and in a rather different context ..... Your horse, which you are now mixing with the Trojan Horse, was seemingly of the anthropomorphic rather than the arboreal variety.

PCX - GedW - the horse to which I referred was the one to which you referred yourself - i.e. heard from the horse's mouth, or words to that effect

PXC - Nope .... Have found nothing. Has your "horse" got anything to say on the matter? ...... I guess change is stake-holder is a good(?) possibility, and if so, that will presumably be reported in the next day or so ...... It would be nice for the sp if it is a predator building stake.

PXC - well it will be interesting to see what happens next here, for assuredly there have been some spectacular dealings over the last few days, and not in just the dribs and drabs of the usual day traders.

MPH - Actually, I am very surprised to the sellers out in force. I don't actually know who Moda are or what difference it might make if Moda owe Ungaro money ..... The only link would seem to be that MPH already make/sell Ungaro under licence. In the meantime, I suspect the MPH managemnt has scurried around to replace both Boateng and YSL, quite possibly or even probably with some success. My guess is that any such deal will be announced well before the figures are published so that they can say any losses sustained are now well catered for by these new contracts ....... Something along those lines anyway .... and all guess work on my part. Thus, short term, I think there is a profit to be made on the upside .... as I said in an earlier post. Knowing the cost of going to law even when you win, I am petty certain that the cost of the Boateng case to MPH was very significant, though this will no doubt be hidden somewhere in the annual figures. These are not due to be published until May.

ELP - is it my imagination or have the sellers started to emerge?

PXC - Glad you did not hang yourself

ELP - At last people are talking about taking profits. Quite right too ...... Whether or not I am brave enough to short the stock is another matter!

PXC - Massive sales - There is certainly no official news out, so the only explanation "my man" can come up with is a possible change of stake-holder. If that is so, it is likely to be announced within the next day or two. Meanwhile, the price remains unaffected, and is in fact upwards for choice.

PXC - With reference to the late massive sales yesterday, I have no response from Pipex diect and nor is there anything on Bloomberg or vis the Stock Exchange .... "My man" will also try to find out what, if anything, is going on ..... Will post as and when I manage to find out anything. Meanwhile, in first trades this morning, the price hasn't moved from it's 13/14p range.

PXC - GedW's contact seems to be a company e-mail address, presumably their press office or similar ..... I have therefore mailed as follows ....... It is very disconcerting to see a huge line of stock being sold very very late in the day. Do you have any inkling as to its provenance or similar and/or can you confirm that it was NOT linked to the same 109 million shares that were placed only yesterday? ...... After all, it would have given the recipient of the placing a tidy turn. Let's see if I get a response. Will also check out Bloomberg

PXC - Have just checked via the stock exchange and another source, and no mention at all ...... Will see if GedW's suggested site has anything to say, but as it seemingly knew nothing about the palcing, I have my doubts. Will report if anything comes up.

PXC - Jameel - just because my info on the placing was correct - didn't surprise me but clearly upset another! - does not mean I have an inside line to the boardroom! ..... My opinion on a potential t/o is merely my own reading of events. That said, I am rather concerned to see a massive line of stock suddenly come up at close of biz ...... I'll speak to "my man" in the morning to see if he has any insight.