Member Info for JohnLewis79

Asian mrkts are mostly lower in thin holiday trade even as Japanese stocks soared to record highs after Sanae Takaichi was elected to lead the ruling party. However investors continue to ponder over Trump policies and attacks on the independence of the Fed Reserve as a constant reminder of his unpredictability.

A measure of US services sector activities stalled in Sept amid a sharp slowdown of new orders and weak hiring, bolstering investor confidence the Fed will continue cutting rates in the months ahead.

China & S.Korean mrkts remain shut for holidays as other regional mrkts were lower to mixed. In Tokyo the 225 jumped nearly 5% (2120) to a new record intra-day high of 47,883 as the LDP chose an ultra-conservative as its new leader and likely first woman prime minister. SanaeTakaichi once a TV Host, a drummer in a heavy metal band and avid scuba diver has achieved her ambition to become Japan's first "iron lady".

In Hong Kong the Hang Seng was off 184 at lunch to 26,963 on media reports suggesting Trump is considering a $10bn bailout for soybean farmers hit by China's boycott. In Sydney the ASX200 is marginally lower after hitting a 6 week high of 9054 points. Soon after the bell the indexes turned down and are off 7 near the close. Shares in Taiwan climbed 383 to new 52wk closing highs mirroring the Nikkei 225's surge.

Oils gained nearly 2%, Brent trading at $65•50 well down on its 52wk best of $82•60 after OPEC+ announced a modest boost of 130,000 bopd in November. Gold continues its climb for the 7th consecutive week and $4000 does not seem that far away. After pausing in July, central banks resumed big buying in August adding a net 15 tons to global gold reserves. As London and NY await opening moves Gold is trading at $3967 an ounce some 50% up ytd.

Latest :- Vix 17. Brent 65.

Gold $3928. Copper $5•101.

Palm $1042. Silver $48•400.

$1•345. €1•147. 10ytb 4•15%

FF +5 DF +97.

Morning all.

MSi started Oct on a bright note on news of more US Naval contract wins worth c.£42•1m which sent the shares up 110p. As we near the H/Y nos come early Dec the shares are up a very solid 57% this year.

MSi

---

Sp 1430

1/25 910

% Up 57

H 1433

L 770

7/88 113

--------

100 +16%

250 +8%

All +15%

Aim +11%

---

DJ +10%

SP +14%

NS +18%

R2 +4%

------

TK +15%

HK +35%

SH +16%

AUS +10%

--

Vix 17

Gold +48%

Oil -14%

Palm -6%

----

It was a record busting day on the Street yesterday as an Ai fuelled rally lifted the DJI, S&P, R2, MSCI & Gold Bugs to new highs. Helping the bright mood among investors the 'Mag 7' roared back after lagging the S&P for most of 2025.

Tesla, Google & Apple have been the bigest contributors to the groups gains in recent weeks boosted by the rally in September the 'Mags' are up 20% ytd ahead of the S&Ps 14% gain. US tech companies lead the indexes up 18% this year.

Yet veteran investors have said stocks are in the late innings of a bull market when 'bubbles' form something WB has warned about. Selwood Asset Management boss Sofiane Gharred said there are enormous risks on the horizon for Ai which could rapidly unravel. The Ai trade is beginning to resemble on of the great speculative manias of mrkt history.

Disappointing Buffet watchers his BH 'A' stock ($750,583) has lagged the S&P by 26% this year. On the Dow 8 stocks lost ground led by Nike, Amazon & Nvidia. Going up Cat, UH & J&J. However most investors remain fully invested partly because of not wanting to miss out on any future gains.

Nyse data

Issues 2846

Advances 1678

Declines 1087

U/c 81

NH 162

NL 13

T/vol(tn) 1•3

-------------

DJ +239 (46,758) R

SP u/c (6716) R

NS -107 (24,786)

R2 +7 (1465) R

WTI $61

10ytb 4•121%

----------

MSCI(W) +10 (4337) R

Gold Bugs +3 (620) R

----------------

Latest :- Vix 17. Brent $64.

Gold $3885. Copper $5•085.

Palm $1045. Silver $47•970.

Yen 149. Yuan 7•12.

$1•348. €1•148.

FF -2. DF +7.

Morning all.

On Wall St stocks fluctuated throughout the session before closing higher for the 5th straight day reaching new record closing highs. Bulls of the mrkt are not yet overly worried about the shutdown impacting the wider economy as it enters its 2nd day today. Investors still expect the Fed to make 2 more rate cuts this year despite delayed payroll data.

West Texas crude was down $1•23 at $60•55 per barrel slipping for the 4th straight day on fears OPEC could announce price increases at their meeting on Sunday. Reports from news agencies cite delegates talking about production increases of c.500,000 bopd for November.

On the Dow trading was light with 14/30 gaining led by Cat, 3MCo & UH, while Coca Cola, JPMC & Verizon propped up the laggards. Top stock Nvidia ($189) closed better for the 5th straight day cementing its position as the most valuable global company worth some $4•598tn followed by Msoft & Apple.

As Warren Buffet nears retirement in 3 months time he has made his largest investment in three years by purchasing Occidentals Oky Chemicals business in an all cash transaction worth $9•7bn.

The Sage of Omaha long a hoarder of cash has some $344bn in Berkshire Hathaway's bank account and has been unable to find a major acquisition at an attractive price. His cash pile alone places BH as the 31st most valuable global company ahead of GE, Chevron & Coca Cola. Such is the size of Berkshire, he could buy HSBC and still have $100bn leftover in his kitty!

Nyse data

Issues 2848

Advances 1337

Declines 1417

U/c 94

NH 129

NL 41

T/vol(tn) 1•40

-------------

DJ +79 (46,520) R

SP +4 (6715) R

NS +92 (24,893) R

R2 +5 (1458)

WTI $61

10ytb 4•099%

-----------

MSCI(W) +5 (4327) R

Gold Bugs -3 (618)

---------------

Latest :- Vix 17. Brent $64.

Gold $3854. Copper $4•963.

Palm $1046. Silver $46•625.

$1•344. €1•146.

FF +15. DF +109.

Morning all.

A quick reminder of last years H/Y nos were facing.

PTP £8•77m

Rev £54•72m

Eps 39•8p

Cash £32m

Sp 1000p

I have read through Anpario's last AR not that i understand much about foodstuff technology etc...Think this company falls into "who cares what the company does just buy the stock."

And there's not much about with only 16m in issue so building a decent holding would take too long for my liking. But no arguing the nos look good despite trading at near 52wk highs. It's one I have missed out on and will remain another of the many that 'got away'

Given my timing on the last MSi news was slightly off i'm pretty sure we will soon be hearing of the sale of non defence parts of the company. Lets say at the halfway stage in early Dec only 2 months away.

Your mention of Bill reminded me I held a year or more ago, i sold out at 337 (can't remember why) but was thinking of going back in, a strategy that doesn't usually work for me. Once i'm out a stock i rarely go back. Think I'll go and liedown on my desert island until the feeling wears off!

Democrats and Republicans blame each other as key services are hit and the US Govt has closed down for the first time in 7 years after a last ditch Senate vote on funding plans fell short by 5 votes. The last shutdown occurred during Trump's first term and was the longest on record.

The 'Reds' have a slim majority of 219 to 213 in the house and also control the Senate. Speaker of the house Mike Johnson was quick to blame the Democrats for the current situation and accused them of encouraging the shutdown to satisfy their far left base.

Early polling suggest that 38% of the public blame the Republicans for the shutdown while 27% blame the Democrats. One federal worker said "the last shutdown of 35 days in 2018 was brutal forcing me to withdraw money from my retirement plan to cover my bills."

As the blame game continues stocks have bounced off early lows to trade 90 better heading to lunch. The so called 'Fed Put' (refers to the Fed Reserve stepping in should mrkts tank), have helped stocks avoid the traditional Sept slump as the DJI gained 772 points in Sept and the 500 closed above 6700 for the first time ever.

In the background investors fear the month of October as the 3 worst crashes in history happened in this month (Oct'29, Black Monday '87 & the great recession 2008).

On the Dow stocks are evenly split 50/50 as risers and losers cancel each other out. Leading the gainers Amgen, Merck and Nike heading the losers GS, JPMC & Home Depot which fell $8 to $397. In stocks Nike ($74) was a surprise gainer on 4% revenue growth in Q1 thanx to growth in N.America and running shoes up 20%.

Others of note included Black Rock Global Infrastructure Partners ($15) who jumped 13% on rumours it was nearing to buy AES in a $38bn deal to acquire the utility group in one of the largest infrastructure take overs of all time. AES owns and operates utilities across the country and in 13 other nations including stakes in Gatwick Airport and large pipeline networks in the Middle East.

Finally Tesla boss Elon Musk has become the first man ever to have a net value of over $500bn as shares in his (12•4%) owned company rose $26 to $461 a ytd high. Other investments have also gained in worth namely AI firm xAI and space exploration company SpaceX. There are 3•223 bn shares of Tesla outstanding.

Nyse data

Issues 2848

Advances 1623

Declines 1149

U/c 77

NH 160

NL 39

T/vol(tn) 1•3

------------

DJ +43 (46,441) R

SP +23 (6711) R

NS +121 (24,801) R

R2 +4 (1453)

WTI $62

10ytb 4•108%

----------

MSCI(W) +16 (4323) R

Gold Bugs +9 (621) R

---------------

Latest :- Vix 16. Brent $66.

Gold $3865. Copper $4•913.

Palm $1035. Silver $47•320.

$1•348. €1•149.

FF +36. DF +7.

Morning all.

He heh heh!! Yup my timing spot off as usual!

Great news!!

Wall St ignored the likelihood of the Govt nearing a shut down after a short term spending bill failed to be passed by Congress. Shutdowns in the past have been avoided through a last minute deal.

Wall's major averages fluctuated over the course of the day after moving higher over the previous 2 sessions enabling stocks to close in positive territory for quaterly and monthly gains. On the big board, 20 closed better led by Merck, Amgen & Nvidia while leading the decliners Salesforce, Amex & Amazon. As one wag said " as long as the music is playing you've got to get up and dance"

Many investors are finding the risks of being out of the market are outweighed by the fear of missing out on further gains. With a few notable exceptions Wall St strategists expect stocks to continue upwards for the foreseeable future and it's not just stocks, the price of gold has never been higher boosting optimism by traders.

Of the eleven major industrial sectors Hlealthcare was the leader adding 2•45%, its bigest gainer Pfizer was up 7%. Also helping the sector Trump said the price of prescription drugs in the Medicaid program would be cut for low income Americans. Airlines led the losers due to the shutdown threat. The US Transport Dept said 13,000 air traffic controllers would be required to work unpaid until the shutdown ended.

Bigest gainer on the All Share was Wolfspeed up 29% after exiting bankruptcy and top loser Firefly Aero sinking 21% following a testing mishap that destroyed the core booster for its Alpha rocket.

Nyse data

Issues 2852

Advances 1464

Declines 1306

U/c 82

NH 123

NL 45

T/vol(tn) 1•40

--------------

DJ +82 (46,398) R

SP +27 (6688)

NS +69 (24,680)

R2 +2 (1449)

WTI $62

10ytb 4•153%

----------

MSCI(W) +18 (4307)

Gold Bugs +3 (611)

---------------

Latest :- Vix 16. Brent $66.

Gold $3863. Copper $4•847.

Palm $1023. Silver $47•355.

$1•344. €1•149.

FF -1. DF -198.

Morning all.

Lack of trading vols are holding the shares in a tight spread around 1300-1380.

Given co news-flow is non existant i can't see what's going to breakout the shares in the short-term. A bid would help. I once harboured thoughts MSi was a candidate for another defence co to buy / merge, i think its unlikely now as surely any suitor would have shown their hand? In the meantime it's a strong hold and I cont to add when funds are available.

I have remembered NBPO had estates in Papua New Guinea and was acquired by Sime Darby another plantations business. I sold my shares for c.710p on the takeover of the company.

I had REA for years and sold when they became majority owned by an Indonedian outfit. I've been in and out of MP Evans quite a few times over the years. A good company that paid decent dividends back in the day.

New British Palm Oil was a UK registered palm oil company with plantations in Indonesia & Malaya. They were traded on the London Stock Market and from memory they were taken over, i can't remember by whom. There are several palm oil companies trading on the LSE. REA holdings, Anglo Eastern, MP Evans & Dekel Oil.

Nyse data

Issues 2851

Advances 1351

Declines 1420

U/c 80

NH 119

NL 41

T/vol(tn) 1•2

-------------

DJ +69 (46,317)

SP +18 (6661)

NS +107 (24,611)

R2 +1 (1448)

WTI $63

10 y/tb 4•146%

-----------

MSCI(W) +12 (4288)

Gold Bugs +4 (608)

---------------

Latest :- Vix 16. Brent $67.

Gold $3867. Copper $4•907.

Palm $1024. Silver $47•265.

$1•343. €1•148.

FF -10. DF -13.

Morning all.

I kinda agree on your 'no go' areas among stocks though i have dabbled in retail from time to time. I was urged to buy Marks at sub 200 a few years back but I stuck with MSi which had performed well. Marks has gone from the low 200s to 360ish. While MSi has gone from c.680 to current 1320, outpacing Marks by c.30%+ i see no compelling reason to sell MSi.

On balance i was wise to ignore my friends recommendation. Having missed that boat I've decided to pare back on my scatter gun approach to stock purchases and concentrate on MSi and Diageo for the meantime. If we are to have a sudden pullback i want to be able to sell quickly and not get crushed in the stampede for the exits.

I remember the '87 crash only too well when brokers wouldn't answer their phones leaving clients facing huge trading losses as they were unable to buy or sell or close positions. I had to close about 20 trades 'in the account' on the worst of terms as jobbers crushed stock prices.

That was an expensive lesson learned. However when the mrkt returned to normal and it happened pretty quickly, I audited all my trades going back through 1987 and found i had made around 2k which was cold comfort i can tell you having settled Oct 'crash' losses!

Of course by then my nerves were shattered and my cash reserves at near zero. Never one to throw in the towel, I borrowed £5k from a golfing buddy and started again. I determined henceforth to buy and hold and leave the day trading to the speculators and stock mrkt chancers. Mostly it has turned out well with terrific gains in Sportech & New British Palm Oil which set me on the road to recovery enabling me to repay debt.

7m shares in issue!! Thanks but no thanx!!!

Asian mrkts are trading higher after broadly positive cues from Wall St on Friday where the 4 major indices ended the day in positive territory amid increased confidence the Fed will lower rates this month. Data showed US consumer price inflation rose in line with August forecasts. The S&P will start next week up 13% and the Dow up 9%.

However the Nikkei 225 is trading significantly lower at the mid session break extending losses of 400 points on Friday to end the lunch break 330 points down at 45,050. Traders are locking in gains after the 225 jumped over 700 points in the last few sessions. Index heavyweights, autos & exporters are all lower on brokers sell advices while financials and techs are ahead. Ytd the 225 is up 13%.

It's a different picture in Sydney where the ASX200 is notably higher trading above the 8800 level for the 3rd straight days of gains. In afternoon trading the mrkt is up 56 points as gold and financials off'set weakness in iron ores and techs. The Reserve Bank of Australia meets on Tuesday where its expected to hold rates after a 'hot' inflation report. The ASX200 is up 9% this year.

In Shanghai and Hong-Kong both mrkts are better on bargain hunting due to forecasts that stocks have been oversold and are attractive at these levels. The Hang Seng leads the way up 366 at lunch while the SHCOMP has bounced off the day's low of 3810 to trade slightly better. In HK the Hang Seng is up 32% this year the 2nd best performer after S. Korea (+43%). Shanghai's main index has put on 14% ytd and the junior Shenzen is up 28%.

Latest :- Vix 15. Brent $69.

Gold $3802. Copper $4•806.

Palm $1026. Silver $47•085.

$1•344. €1•146. 10/y 4•16%

FF +37. DF +125.

Morning all.

Morning Roger. Not Rutherford Heath, dont know that stock. It was Sphere Medical which had a unique blood analyser that speeded up tests and cut down on the workload of Nurses. Despite the obvious advantages the 'medics' never took it up.

Nyse data

Issues 2828

Advances 1914

Declines 834

U/c 80

NH 81

NL 25

T/vol(tn) 1•10

------------

DJ +300 (46,247)

SP +39 (6644)

NS +107 (24,504)

R2 +15 (1447)

WTI $65

10ytb 4•176%

----------

MSCI(W) +24 (4276)

Gold Bugs +15 (604) R

----------------

Close :- Vix 15. Brent $69.

Gold $3759. Copper $4•764.

Palm $1023. Silver $46•365.

$1•340. €1•145.

Yen 150. Yuan 7•13

FF +22. DF +8.

Morning all.