Member Info for Gerry557

beat expectations and the divi has risen. Comparing with Vod this is still ahead although down overall and currency issues to boot. Add in the divis and things look a bit better even with divi WHT. So it was worth hanging onto these post the sale from Voda afterall. Thought that they would reduce the debt but happy with more divis ...... so far. I hope the bean counters are keeping an eye on the debt but as income is increasing maybe I am worrying to much.

Just had a look at how his trust is performing ..... up approx 2.5 percent but on a 10 percent premium. I wish I could sell £notes for £1.10p. The trust had been up 15% or so. The other fund is up 18% in just over a year so maybe he is doing something right even if it not RR, Drax, CNA etc

I have followed Woody in the past and owned some of his funds/IT until he moved. I assumed he would do more of the same ish but starting out from scratch at the top of a market I decided not to follow him ..... just yet. People will give him their money and he has to buy stuff with it no matter what the price. I suspect over time he will be able to get back to what he is good at. Hes not done too well with CNA Drax lets hope he does better here. Although I cant talk as I still hold the former hoping that the divi cut and director buying signals a turn in fortunes or at least the low being hit. I suspect RR need a couple of years more yet so hopefully will allow us to add more ourselves and maybe at a better price than Woody but he has the advantage of having someone elses capital to keep topping up and currently there is only one person adding to Gerry's pot. (although I am open to offers and I will beat Woodys terms)

... ahead of expectations and SP has risen accordingly. Is the divi down a tad on last year? Maybe its the exchange rates, I haven't looked to closely. I wanted to add to these and was hoping to buy on the dips. Unfortunately the dips didnt get below 2500 was I being too greedy. I thought that was still expensive but maybe you need to allow some premium to get good companies with quarterly dividends. With a P/E over 20's what is a decent price?

Well crude down 4 percent what that means for tomorrow is any ones guess. I suppose it should be down but its a funny old market.

is a saying often mused when talking about blue chips. Is that right, this rose 15% last week alone. Thats not off the recent lows either. A better context might be that the elephant fell down a well but managed to get out again. It could be just an indication of how volatile things have been

taking a hit today and its nothing to do with Cathy Pacific. RR. hit after reports that European regulators are investigating aircraft maintenance contracts, looking into whether airlines are being forced to enter anticompetitive contracts to keep their planes flying. There might be something to it but I thought it was about choice and up front cost saving. No doubt in the states there will be lawsuits (even if its unfounded) cos its great to knock the Brits, it will help Pratt & Whitney & GE etc. I suppose they could fix their own engines!

Not heard anything but there can several reasons to split. Could you expand?

.... and in some senior positions. Cost cuts coming in.

doing the rounds at Marine office in the papers. Another 400 on top of the recently announced 600.

driftking27, In the direct PF I tend to buy n hold for the divi with a balance target around 10% max in any one share. I was keeping these three around the same sort of levels as each other but GSK is now the lower of the 3 hence "more likely" to be topped up if the opportunity arises. I also have the same stocks indirectly in funds as well so its difficult to calculate the "real percentage" holding but I would aim for a target of around 5% in the direct PF and buy other additional shares to reduce this level back to 5% if it goes over to try and re balance to target rather than sell. I have stated my intention to reduce % TSCO and have not added. Im not sure what my biggest holding is right now. It was Hutchison Whampoa last time I checked but I have not bought any in the direct PF. Maybe it is a mistake holding TSCO and it should be recycled into a divi paying stock. Me selling would act as a catalyst for the SP no doubt and an anchor if I continue to hold. Whats that law again .... Sods!

Well you got your 735, was that luck or skill? What I do have is time. Hopefully in 30 years time the SP will be doing ok and all those divis will either reduce my overall costs or increase my holdings depending on the dips. Looks like the next couple of years might offer opportunities to build up a holding

When the price is low and yield so high its a pity they are not borrowing as much as they can to buy their own shares. Even a 4 percent bond looks good buying an 8 percent yield. Maybe they will buy some when its 2400 again

Probably neither!

Like a broken clock, its right twice a day! The thing with opinions is that some people can be right but for the wrong reasons and others wrong for the right reasons. I would be ok with being a lucky investor as opposed a skillful one ...... or are they the same?

driftking27, I had penciled in a top up at 1230p area but missed it last week as I was away. Thats life as they say. I did consider setting a few limit orders and see which one got hit first but with all the volatility took a more conservative approach instead. I have topped up RDSB, HSBA and RR. during the slump only to see them go even lower although looking better now. Even so 1300 GSK might not be a bad area to buy so it depends on personal preferences and PF percentages and limits etc. Cant comment on ciggies as I dont invest there directly although they seem to do well investment wise. Maybe tomorrows GSK customers but might die before paying the bills! Hopefully the divis keep coming in and the pot can keep growing waiting for the next slump. So no is the real answer right now but hoping there will be more opportunities ahead. The Special divi might underpin this a bit now too.

better than selling too late! Profit is profit. I was hoping for more dips but they have become inverted so the cash will have to go back in the pot. I will be selling some, approx 2 percent in Nov and a slightly bigger lot in June next year. Well thats my take on divis. The SP seems to flit between 960 to low 800's and those divis will only go back in at the lower end of that range. When will that happen though?

still not picking up then and now cutting jobs. Cuts normally seen by the market as a positive after a down turn although the market is on the up anyway. Did the insiders know this? didnt see it on the bb. Busateetee's target surpassed but I dont know what than now means. Well should get an update soon

Linas, Bob6 has covered your divi question but why are you buying now thinking that you might come out within a month? The market has been very volatile and these have been on a downward trend recently. Of course you might think that this is "the low" and have reason to believe that things will rise from here for some reason and I would love for you to share that info. Some say never sell Shell and a Mr Buffett would say his ideal holding time is forever. Others a day traders in and out for a quick buck on the SP rising or falling. You dont seem to be in either camp. As overtrading can substantially reduce your returns due to tax, costs stamp duty etc I hope you have thought this through. Good Luck in whatever you decide and I hope it all works out

In theory you only need to hold for 1 day to get the divi but take a look at your broker to see how they do it. As long as you in by the exdivi date you get the divi. You can sell the next day and still keep the divi but again in theory the SP should fall by the same amount so after dealing costs its not worth doing this (and it could drop even more) Its worth checking direct from the horses mouth :- http://www.gsk.com/en-gb/investors/shareholder-information/dividend-calendar/ Just to confuse things a tad, which is why I said check with your broker there is a record date as some brokers can take up to 3 days to update their records but you should still get the divi even if the broker is a bit slow. I have some funds and shares with iii and they tend to be quite slow compared to others and funds can be weeks late. Another broker that I use is normally done that day or first thing next morning but still takes a couple of days if you want to withdraw it as cash although it can be traded instantly it shows in the account.