Member Info for JDF7

Panofscouse, methinks the sp has a long way to run-up yet without the need for talk of bids to lift it. Offer me £4 per share today and I might open my mind to offloading. Otherwise content to see the rise and dividends continue over a few more years.

GS, the EMG road is a long one, methinks. Bought in at 2012, saw its sp plunge, sat and collected significant dividends, noted the targeted acquisitions and cost-cutting, saw it rise substantially last year, think it may have a lot of steam left in it yet, will continue to hold. So glad I decided not to take a punt on AFR as part of my goal of not adding more risk to my portfolio this year.

Haven't really thought of putting anything into the DFS ipo or anything new, apart from Woodford's forthcoming Patient Capital Trust, even though it's name is a bit of a jinx! :-)

I'm still lurking. Sure there are others!

FT suggesting Man is working on a deal to buy Mayfair hedge fund NewSmiths to add to its GLG stable.

I've got a bit of cash also . But nothing compelling hammering on my door at the mo. Looked at SKG earlier this week, and will look at how things are at POWR over the weekend - both slower-burners in some sense.

This share will favour the patient. Lots of private investors got spooked out in 2012 and 2013 instead of holding and reinvesting dividends. Its s solid company, proactive management, good dividend, strategic acquisitions and funds performing relatively well. No need to watch its daily sp movements.

Exceeded that Investec target and making Questor's sell advice in December look misguided. Let us see what the next trading update says and whether the changes in strategy are gaining any legs.

Tested 300p today!

Good advice, GS. Think I will give my little 1% to MFM Slater instead. Need to reduce my risk profile not increase it this year.

Good morning GS. I'm just remembering your little and not too heart-rending day trade on AFR a couple of weeks around 31p/32p mark? How things have changed since and how many people have got burned and even badly within a single day of its oscillating share price like yesterday. I think I have more that enough risk in my portfolio to be getting on with than to jump in to AFR for a punt now at the 5p level but who knows.....?

GS, there is a lot of heat and emotion around QPP among private investors and city-types, both negative and positive. Very right to limit exposure, especially if you just want to be in for the near-term. I'm a holder. The PWC report expected before end of February could be significant in addressing market concerns and informing the new management's next step. I never comment on bulletin boards for QPP - they are the most troubling ones I have seen.

Hot, I think the VED dive may be related to the sharp drop in copper prices on top of those of iron-ore which would feed pretty strongly through to the earnings per share of VED. Maybe the news of the downward revision of global growth forecasts by the World Bank also spooked folk as that would hit copper sales also and the general momentum downwards on commodities. I guess it could run further down but I'll think about it. Was thinking of cashing-in a holding in AIE to fund buying some (more) VED but I'll sleep on it!

Hot, any technical views on VED. I'm surprised to see it sub-400p. Worth a punt. I recall one day many many months ago when I was lurking somewhere else ( was it in TSCO) that a certain QueenElvis was trying to flog you, so being called reckless is nothing compared to some of what you had to deal with from her/him?

There is a question of whether top-rated prove to be top-performers? Thoughts of Carroll, Torres and Soldado....but maybe it is more reasonable to see them as coaches and I'd be happy if they deliver a Wenger-like top 4 finish, even if we don't win any silverware.

Despite the rise today for QPP, I was concerned about both the cash-position and the extremely generous share options to the new Board members presented in the RNS today. I am long and trying to be patient.

GS, thanks for sharing your portfolio update. I have Slater, Fidelity and Marlborough on my mind for when I cash-out of a few shares ahead of the close of financial year. Will be taking a peek at Evenlode and Liontrust also.

Bazzaman, good find. In the scheme of things financing-wise £1billion is not a big market, so it will be interesting to see if the growth of alternative finance does meet some of the predictions. I'm more interested to see from any future reporting how well the different GLIF platforms are performing, or at least what earnings GLIF are generating from each.

Optimus, yes, I'm much more respectful about diversification now also although I haven't got my portfolio has balanced as I want it to be yet I've also learned to be more patient this year with certain shares that have some degree of in-built quality (with EMG and VOD being two that I'm glad I waited to improve). I think I have also learned to read RNSs in a more nuanced way for myself and how to filter-out the noise of posters' views on how good, bad or ugly a specific RNS is. But more broadly, I've learned that it is myself or rather my emotions and approach, not the market, that is the biggest factor determining the performance of my portfolio. I need to do better with myself!

Hot, GS, Armani and Optimus - wishing you all a Merry Christmas and the best for the year ahead. Has felt like a bit of crazy year with some pleasant and some very unwelcome surprises investment-wise but I think I've learned a lot, not least from this BB.