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Totally agree - this should be all over the news, potentially amazing breakthrough. Hope there's a PR company doing its job somewhere.
The reports you mention are based on the opinions of airlines themselves rather than anything from the US government which is understandably not going to leak anything unlike the "leaders" we have in charge in the UK.
The CEO of JetBlue suggested November, Virgin Atlantic has suggested September. Both companies have their own reasons for suggesting these dates - JetBlue with its target market in the US and limited slots would obviously like to corner a piece of the market for themselves, whilst travellers lose confidence in the heritage carriers and particularly BA and Virgin given their core market still can't enter the US. Virgin with an IPO in mind and a mostly British customer base is suggesting sooner. It's all games - as it often is in industries offering similar products for similar prices.
Interesting news breaking on Bloomberg - Singapore is opening up a travel corridor to Frankfurt for vaccinated Germans to visit for any reason. It doesn't influence IAG in any way for now but a country that has been as strict as Singapore testing the waters is positive news.
Malpasso - have to disagree with you there. Easyjet was founded initially to provide an alternative to business travellers being ripped off by BA et al and its initial routes - Luton to Edinburgh and Glasgow reflected this, before greater focus on the tourism sector (I'd recommend reading "easyJet Rising" by ex-marketing director Tony Anderson, an easy read if you'll excuse the pun).
We're long past the pre 2008 days where a business will happily pay for a premium service for employees, and given easyJet's discount prices it has always been attractive to businesses looking to lower their bottom lines.
Update from HL - apparently PFD hasn't paid them the dividend yet hence it hasn't been passed on to investors yet. Make of that what you will!
Has everyone had it come through? No sign of it for me...I'm with HL. Perhaps it's been so long PF has forgotten how to pay it!
No, that's objectively incorrect. What makes you say that?
The UK potentially removing restrictions for US travellers is good news, but completely different from Biden "opening US/UK travel corridor this week." Unless you are party to information which directly contradicts that of the White House statement from yesterday?
Marab - that news was broken by BBC journalist Jon Sopel at 3.27pm UK time, and made no difference to the share price - in fact, it actually rose a little into the close. Everyone knows the opening up of the USA will be a longer process than Europe, and it's far more of a political than a health decision - if thousands of Europeans bring delta into the USA (even though it's already there in numbers) it gives the Republicans ample firepower with midterms no too far into the distance.
My guess would be for Biden to avoid the summer and then open up the Atlantic corridor for September/October, stressing the economic necessity (hard to make that argument over the normally business quiet summer anyway). It's the market in Europe and hopefully Canada and a few select other global destinations that will drive revenues over August, and then hopefully we ramp up into Normality 2.0 from September.
Rbrand, it's perfectly fine to disagree with others views on here without being rude. I also made it pretty clear I didn't sell my shares. If you can't be civil, don't post.
I don't think there's any further need to comment on your views about Putin.
Jonfon - Russia has now pulled its troops back from the border with Ukraine. Regardless, North Macedonia is a long way from Russia (if Russia ever incurred that far into Europe then the stock market would be the least of everyone's concerns) and Kazakhstan has reasonably cordial relations with Russia, including favourable perceptions amongst its population and a wish for closer relations.
Ha, very strange that LSE considers the country bordering to the west of India an obscenity!
Hey TBTT - I probably fit into the more blasé side of the debate but certainly understand why it may keep you and others out of the stock. My question is - is this an issue you think will likely ever be resolved during Putin's reign (and beyond)? Even if Russian troops were to back down the threat would still be there, albeit less visible, as it has been since 2014 - I find it hard to hypothesise a situation where Putin would happily leave Ukraine as is, particularly as any sign of weakness from him would encourage the Ukrainians to take Crimea and the Donbass back.
I am of the opinion that the situation will settle into something akin Armenia and Azerbaijan or India and ****stan territorial disputes. A cycle of flare ups and easings, threats and propaganda that destabilises the region but the costs of full scale invasion to both countries involved and wider global stability would prevent such a thing to happen.
P.s. Also invested in THS and enjoy your posts over there.
Not entirely sure why rbrand has decided to use my username to make his point - just to clarify I don't agree with his views on Russia at all. I don't think people are ignorant on Russia at all - I was stating a fact re the FXPO share price since the hubris over Russian troops stepped up. Spasibo!
It's moved up 50p a share since reports of Russian troops on the border began a couple of weeks ago. Clearly this isn't worrying investors much. What exactly are you waiting for?
Fully with you OracleofOldham - am watching events very closely but like you it's not a major part of the portfolio and I've taken some good profit out on the way up over the past few months. More sabre rattling and possible incursions to come, but I think the direct threat to Ferrexpo is low.
Therefore as this is a (very) long term investment for me I'm flexible with the potential turbulence to come in the share price, whilst picking up the dividends along the way which will likely remain strong if the iron price is anything to go by (and as mentioned before, might be boosted by such a conflict).
I think in the scenario where Russia invades and claims half/all of Ukraine, it'd be far more than FXPO to worry about - it would be a serious threat to global stability.
Interesting - what's your source for that, CCC?
In amongst the background noise, and perhaps because of it, the iron ore price continues to push higher. Tension between two of the world's top ten iron ore producing countries could act as a tailwind for the price. Flashpoints like these are fascinating for investors.
Worth noting also that by engaging in a very public and well documented military build up, Putin has given ample time for Ukraine, the US, Nato etc. to formulate a response and generate press coverage. It's not as if he has quietly sent over a few aircraft overnight to strategically soften up Ukrainian defences. Russia and the Soviets before them are masters at propaganda; masters at misinformation campaigns, cyber attacks and interference in foreign politics. Putin has achieved far more in his time in charge via intimidation and fear than actual boots on the ground.
Fair enough chaps - certainly worth trimming overexposure given the fantastic returns over the past year. I'm sure the picture will be clearer soon.
It's a threat that won't go away in the short term, and the border between Russia and its western neighbours will likely remain tense at least until the end of Putin's time in charge and probably beyond. It will always drag on the share price - and that's the risk investors take in what is otherwise a fantastic, cash generative company.
What surprises me is the reaction on here to the physical manifestation of a known threat. If there was genuine worry that an invasion was imminent the SP would have tanked far more and the bigger investors would be leaving in droves.
Very surprised at the reaction on this board from some, particularly those who have been praising the company to the stars over the previous weeks.
The geopolitical risk is little different to what it always has been for this share - a state of war with Russia since 2014 (which, alongside the political risk of the majority shareholder, is probably the main reason the share price falls short of its potential). Posturing on the border is a well worn tactic for Russia, North Korea, China, India etc. in any conflict. Would Putin risk sanctions by pushing further into Europe at this stage when the Russian economy is fragile and EU countries are seemingly keen on the Sputnik vaccine?
Seems to be more to do with raising his popularity at home (against the backdrop of widely reported protests against him of late - e.g. Alexei Navalny issues) and a marker to the west that Russia is still a threat than anything material.