Member Info for JohnLewis79

Its not only Nigel Farage who is having problems with his banking facilities the industry trade body ADS said it was aware of lenders withdrawing

banking services or refusing loans to businesses involved in the Defence industry.

Those bastions of support to the UK defence industry the so 'called' Fund Managers have been dumping their holdings in UK defence stocks by an average of 9pc since Russia invaded Ukraine whilst EU investors increased their ownership by a similar amount.

It is thought that ESG guidelines are blocking firms from investing in the sector on ethical grounds such as the Church of England and Legal & General. The fact that the sector has seen demand boom has puzzled military observers.

It's disappointing Britain is de-investing in major companies as we must ensure our defence industrial base is strong. Perhaps MSi investors might like to bring this up at the AGM tomorrow and is the company aware of the problem?

AGM meetings are normally very sterile and don't usually announce any earth shattering news in my experience. However Private conversations between investors is another matter as the board will most certainly not engage in any price sensitive information.

We can fantasise, pass on rumours of the variety "i heard from an insider" as much as we want because AGM meetings are a great place for investors to gauge the 'mood' swap stories etc...of others. Which if the sp is anything to write home about won't be all good.

The past rarely tells us anything about the future particularly when it comes to sp forecasts. So, I'm looking to the year end in better spirits even if the board continue in their 'No Comment' vein.

Wall closed much better after 3 days of losses as investors looked ahead to more earnings updates and consumer/producer price inflation nos due later this week. The winning day marked a turnaround from a poor start to August which will also see the Aug job nos report.

Investors are also digesting 2Q earnings which have beaten forecasts as 85% of S&P companies already reported results 81% higher than Wall's profit forecasts.

Highlights inc Warren Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway reporting earnings up 3% and cash balances exceeding $150bn. If you want to buy 1 'A' share it will set you back a record high of $551,000. Since the IPO in May 1965 BH has gained 57,094%. Buffet owns c.37% of BH but plans to divest most of it to the Bill Gates foundation.

Tesla ($252) reported CFO Kirkham has stepped down as of Aug 4 having been with the Co for 13 years. He will be replaced by Vaibhav Taneja. Luxury EV maker Lucid ($6) missed forecasts but said liquidity to fund the company through 2025 was not an issue having raised $3bn in May.

Rivian ($24) the Truck Automaker fell 4% in sympathy but will report 2Q nos after the bell today. Cantor Fitzgerald down graded Rivian to neutral in a note to investors.

DJ +408 (35,473)

SP +40 (4518)

NS +133 (15,408)

R2 + 7 (1267)

WYI $82

10ytb 4•059%

MSCI(W) +17 (3004)

Gold Bugs -2 (227)

Latest:- Vix 16. Brent $85.

Gold $1934. Copper $3•827.

Palm $950. Silver $23•225.

$1•276. €1•161.

FF-8. DF-56.

Morning all.

Last wk the US Aero & Defence sector was up 5•4%, MSi up 12•5% and the overall mrkt off 1•6%. In early deals the ftse is down 22 though the Dow is called up 110.

(wk 32)

Latest.

-----

Vix 17. WT1 $83. Brent $86.

Gold $1937. Copper $3•837.

Palm $960. Silver $23•580.

$1•273. €1•158. 10yr 4•059%

FF -31. DF +68.

Most of Asia is trading flat to lower on Wall St advices. A strong US Labour market where wages are rising and core inflation (everything except food & fuel) remaining above the Fed's (2%-3%) target, dealers expect another 25bp rate hike probably in November.

Morning all.

A better week in trading terms and for the share price than last week but no significant news outside of unconfirmed rumours of possible Navy contracts which caused a spike in volumes on Wed.

Total weeks volume was c.50,00 with buys outpacing sells by c.32,000 to c.18,000 (1•8:1) and buy trades 48 to sells 37. Shares gained 80 to 660-700 ahead of contract rumours and the AGM on Wednesday.

On Jan 4 MSi closed at 660 and pretty much fell in a straight line to 440 ish before investors came to their senses. A swift about turn has taken the stock to 660-700 and into the black column up 1•3% on the year against 8% down on Aim.

The All lost 80 after the •25% bp rate rise to 5•25% leaving the index c.1•33% up on the year so far. Looking ahead I'd be very surprised if MSi didn't outperform the UK indexes by some margin come 2023 year end.

DJ -150 (35,066)

SP -24 (4478)

NS -79 (15,275)

R2 -1 (1260)

WTI $83

10ytb 4•046%

MSCI(W) -4 (2987)

Gold Bugs +3 (229)

Close:- Vix 17. Brent $86.

Gold $1944. Copper $3•847.

Palm $960. Silver $23•725.

$1•275. €1•158.

Yen 142. Yuan 7•17.

FF -45. DF -20.

Morning all.

Wall ended flat (-66) as T/bill yields surged to 4•198%. On the economic front the nos of Americans filing new claims for benefits increased while Layoffs dropped to an 11 month low in July.

On the S&P 8/11 sectors declined. After the closing bell Amazon surged $11 to $140 on profit and revenue beats as cost cutting is starting to show benefits. While Apple dipped $4 to $187 as sales of its iPhone fell for the 4th quarter in a row its seen growth in China, its services and Apple TV.

Volumes on the NYSE were above average at 12•08bn where decliners outnumbered risers by 1•84:1.

DJ -66 (35,216)

SP -11 (4502)

NS -17 (15,354)

R2 -5 (1260)

WTI $85

10ytb 4•171%

MSCI(W) -10 (2990)

Gold Bugs -1 (226)

Latest:- Vix 16. Brent $85.

Gold $1934. Copper $3•890.

Palm $945. Silver $23•625.

$1•273. €1•162. FF +21. DF+90.

Morning all.

Evening WOE regrettably I will have to pass as its too costly in that I could buy 30 shares for the return journey cost + refreshments which I think is a better way to spend my money.

I take it you will be attending so I look forward to a full report. Pity its not on Skype!

A record £66bn in orders flooded into BAE Systems to supply military equipment for countries rearming due to the Ukraine war.

BAE who announced a share buyback worth £1•5bn upgraded its profit forecast as eps will grow 12% this year, shares up 59 on the news but Woodburn the company CEO cautioned investors that Ukraine itself was a small part of the overall growth in demand.

Nevertheless defence & security is moving up the national agendas and the company is tapping into re-armements among Nato countries.

Whether any of this will be good for MSi I don't know as its obviously a state secret and we should be looking to the Americas for our defence businesses in future.

US private sector employment increased by 324,000 jobs in July well above consensus forecasts of 190,000. Annual pay was up 6•2% y-o-y adding to pressure on the Fed to maintain its restrictive policy on rates. While the Fed is expected to pause in Sept the BOE is lining up a •25%bp rise today taking UK rates to 5•25% & inflation 7•950%.

Wall finished lower with the main indexes suffering a bout of profit taking following the recent Fitch downgrades. Unease over the countries debt position continues to trouble investors though several brokers said the downgrades were unlikely to result in a sustained drag on mrkts.

Mega cap tech stocks fell as the yield on 10yr/tb rose to their highest level in 9 months just as Apple and Amazon report Q nos today. Seasonally August is a slow month which prompted investors to take a well earned breather and book profits on 5 months of gains.

The S&P posted 12 new 52wk highs (5 new lows) and the Nsdq posted 49 new highs and (111) new lows. Vols on the NYSE were above average 11•88bn traded.

DJ -348 (35,283)

SP -63 (4513)

NS -347 (15,371)

R2 -11 (1265)

WTI $80

10ytb 4•105%

MSCI(W) -48 (3001)

Gold Bugs -7 (228)

Latest:- Vix 16. Brent $83.

Gold $1935. Copper $3•850.

Palm $970. Silver $23•760.

$1•271. €1•163.

FF+12. DF+52.

Morning all.

Todays action certainly perked up the share price as 43 trades were dealt on the session. In volume terms buys outpaced sells by c.1•52:1.

Be nice if we get clarification from the company as it's becoming tiresome second guessing what these might relate to...

Perhaps they don't warrant an RNS announcement? Whatever we're overdue some blowing of our own trumpets for a change!

Specified to fit MSi 30mm cannons and optical sensors on the Flight 111 destroyers.

Could be the award of a contract for 9 Arleigh Burke class destroyers the most powerful of the US Navy fleet?

Chemring (284m) shares outstanding, the Defence and space manufacturer announced a share buyback programme worth up to £50m. Shares rose c.8% or 21p yesterday to 305p.

If MP Evans play their cards right they will be able to pick up REA for cents on the USD.

DJ +71 (35,631)

SP -12 (4577)

NS -39 (15,718)

R2 -6 (1276)

WTI $82

10ytb 4•039%

MSCI(W) -16 (3049)

Gold Bugs -8 (234)

Latest:- Vix 14. Brent $86.

Gold $1949. Copper $3•891.

Palm $960. Silver $24•455.

$1•277. €1•163. FF-34. DF -87.

A sea of red nos across Asia sent Dow futures tumbling over 100 points to start August. Data showing global manufacturing activity in Japan, S.Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam are raising concerns about Asia's fragile economic recovery in the face of subdued spending.

In a surprise move Fitch the ratings agency downgraded the US to AA+ from AAA citing fiscal deterioration over the next 3 years causing the USD and Dow futures to fall across a range of currencies.

This week is the start of the busiest wk of 2Q earnings season where 1/3 of the 500 are scheduled to report. Apple will be on all watch lists where out of 24 analysts polled only 5 had out'perform with a 12 month median target of $192.50.

The main US indexes closed mixed the Dow the sole riser on a below average nos of shares traded on the NYSE.

Morning all.

All 3 major stock indexes ended the month with solid gains. The Dow added 1152, the S&P 139 & Nsdq 578 part of the on-going post pandemic recovery (see below).

This was helped by news from China's main planning agency who outlined details to stimulate consumer spend after manufacturing activity fell for the 4th straight month in July due to weak demand. Global gains in stock prices need China to fire on all six cylinders.

Equities face a busy week of earnings reports from Apple and Amazon on Thursday. Other well known companies Caterpillar, AMD & Starbucks are scheduled to post results. However 2Q nos are estimated to fall 6•4% y-o-y which is better than the 8% drop forecast last week.

In commodities Gold rose on track for their best month in 4 as the USD weakened and oils rallied to a new 3 month high on inventory drops and OPEC+ cuts. Summer demand is strong as people drive and fly more causing supply price tightness. Brent ($85) and WTI ($82) are on track to end July with their largest monthly gains since Jan 2022.

Ai and chip stocks continue to lead the Nsdq higher boosting volumes on the NYSE. An above average 11•01bn shares changed hands yesterday with advances outpacing decliners by 2•7:1. The tech heavy NSDQ 100 nears its all-time closing high of 16,057 and 8900 points higher than the virus low of 3/2020.

DJ +100 (35,560)

SP +7 (4589)

NS +6 (15,757)

R2 +11 (1282)

WTI $82

10ytb 3•967%

MSCI(W) u/c (3058)

Gold Bugs +5 (242)

Latest:- Vix 14. Brent $85.

Gold $1960. Copper $4•001.

Palm $980. Silver $24•775.

$1•282. €1•167.

FF-2. DF-17.

Morning all.

The Nikkei 225 is strongly ahead this morning and leads Asia & Pacifica higher following US mrkts on Friday where data indicated the economy grew faster than expected.

The Dow put on 231 points on the week and trades 7% up this year, while techs were in demand the Nsdq 100 climbed 325 points and is 47% higher so far this year.

In Japan this morning the 225 is strongly ahead but off its best (+644) helped by exporters and mrkt heavyweights taking the index over the 33,400 level. Retail was slightly lower in June but on a yearly basis is up over 6% helped by a good month for Autos (+3%). Industrial output gained 2% in June but overall is down 0•4%.

Other mrkts followed Japan's lead, Hong Kong and Shanghai

are both upbeat heading into Q3. However the Hang Seng lags Shanghai by 9% so far this year. Others across Pacifica were modestly higher on local factors. Sydney is off 24 points awaiting the RBA int rate decision on Tuesday expected to pause at 4•1% for fear of tipping the country into recession.

Latest:- Vix 13. Brent $84.

Gold $1954. Copper $3•929.

Palm $980. Silver $24•365.

$1•285. €1•167.

FF -26. DF-36.

Morning all.

A very quiet wk in MSi stock only 28 trades on 12,700 shares traded. Buys outpaced sells by 11,100 to 1,600 on 23 buy trades v 5 sell trades. Ytd MSi is down 10% (Aim 9%). Enough said.