Member Info for LWHL

Indeed MrWolf. We also now have 100% debt to GDP. First time since 1961, I believe.

onelongrunner: While I agree that energy prices are the cause of a lot of the problems that we have today (and not just in the UK)...why is that? Hint: net zero/green agenda wheeze. You could also include the war that we have chosen to involve ourselves in, but I appreciate that is a topic that can generate strong opinions in both directions, so will say no more about that matter - without brushing under the carpet the simple fact that all wars are inflationary and this one is naturally no different.

The solutions are fairly simple actually, but no politician of any party here, or probably elsewhere in the highly indebted West, are going to even give them head space. So getting much poorer for longer is the only scenario that I can see playing out. But as I always say...I could be wrong and certainly hope to be when it comes to such sentiments.

As for BARC...getting tempted to retake a position here yet MrWolf, or holding out for a few days longer first? I am in the latter camp right now, FWIW :)

I have continued to follow this company with a degree of interest, although no more tempted to join shareholders than I was before.

The lack of inside buying all this time (and there will have been windows of opportunity here and there) makes this an automatic red line for me these days.

Anyway, I just noticed that (for the first time I think) this name is being shorted to a level sufficient to be disclosed (shorttracker). I cannot remember ever seeing WBI on that list before, to the best of my knowledge.

Not that it necessarily signifies anything one way or the other of course, but thought I would share it here, as perhaps nobody here is/was aware of that (registered as 20th June). GLA.

I am, yes. In my time here, he has delivered that notable FSS win, some smaller contracts and bought a solid amount of shares from his own pocket too. That already puts him leagues ahead of a high percentage of AIM CEOs.

This is not my first AIM stock and I have currently lost more than I have 'won' in terms of my historic AIM p/f section (was actually well up until about 12 months ago in this category). So I am not seduced.

I have on several occasions here suggested caution about not getting too excited before the funding for FSS is confirmed. And I have said that IM has a net value of zero until proven otherwise.

Anyone who reads my typical posts will probably conclude that I am a pessimist or a de-ramper - even though I am neither!

I appreciate bear cases more than bull cases, when it comes to stocks I already hold. So I take on board what you are saying BP.

I have met a number of CEOs and other senior BODs, from FTSE to AIM, pre-IPO and simple private entities that have no intention of ever going public.

The personalities are often of a type. But when we invest in any company, we either win or we lose. Everything else is noise.

Bit like wars really. There is not a 'good' side and a 'bad' side. It is almost never that simple.

JW will be judged by me on FSS funding and how he handles a negative IM result - or more hopefully a positive IM result. That is the extent of my focus here right now.

Thanks FG, although we need to see how the next few weeks go. We both may have got 12's with greater patience!

If they are not going to update the market in the next few days, an RNS to clarify when they will would be welcome in this climate.

I am fairly relaxed about that personally. John has done nothing in my time as a shareholder to give me cause for concern (fingers crossed naturally).

If a few people have indeed contacted the company about this today, as seems likely, then that might be the prompt to settle any nerves that some may have right now. GLA.

Hopefully my 5K top up this afternoon will prove to have been a wise move. So close to results, which we know are not going to be easy on the eyes, makes it a gamble. At least in the short term. 13's were just too tempting to ignore, on a market sell off day, rather than company specific (IMO of course).

Come on John! Make me look smart (for a change!) and give us the kind of forward guidance that will set us up for the next 9-12 months, regardless of what the wider stock markets may do in that time.....

Lots of great bargains today, IMO. I decided to retake a position in DS Smith this morning, rather than adding further here at the current price. Even though I think this is an attractive price (my opinion has not changed since my last comment).

Bit more diversity for the p/f and a repurchase at almost exactly the same price as my first buy there last year. Sold it a bit early in truth, but hopefully it will prove to be a good decision to have gone back in. Good luck me :)

As for this one, looks like I may well get 90's here for another top up. If so, nice to have 'skipped' one of the average down purchases that I had planned! GLA.

Tories have not been worth voting for since Maggie. Shame I was too young to at least get some of the benefits from her low tax, low regulation, pro small and large business focus, before I got saddled with the politicians since! Not that she was perfect, but compared to the crooks and clowns since...

Anyway, I never understood people accepting the two party concept. Better a wasted or spoiled vote, than voting for a party that is only slightly less useless than the other one, IMO. And validating the false choice as well as the dubious voting system itself in the process. Obviously it is a tactic that has worked wonders for the political class and I am in a tiny minority with my stance on this, I am aware.

Ultimately, at least for the next 15-20 years anyway, the party that best serves the interests of the final salary/defined benefit pensioners/soon to be pensioners, will be the winners. It sucks, Moonman, I am in agreement with you generally, but I am not wrong I suspect.

And I am not going to be in receipt of either of those golden tickets, having never worked in the civil service or the real economy in time to catch those schemes before they closed. So no smugness here!

On the same theme of taking a chainsaw to public spending...just catching up with J Powell speaking in front of the House Financial Services Committee.

I am no fan of the US Fed and think JP has got it wrong from the get go, just like our own version Bailey...but listening to Maxine Waters rambling on...I take some comfort in that we are not the only country that has people giving the impression of being absolute cretins bleeding our public purse! Have a listen if you think I am being unfair. Youtube or one of the US channels has it recorded from earlier today.

'How to tell me you are unfit for public office, especially in relation to finance matters, without telling me' was a phrase that came to mind.

Although I could be doing her an entire disservice. Perhaps she has a track record of building businesses, employing thousands of people and paying millions in taxes, before taking up public office. In which case, perhaps the rambling only started after she joined the public payroll :)

Easy to understand a live for the moment mentality, especially if you have a fairly good grasp of some of the macro economic stuff.

I admit to paying well over the odds for a holiday in 2021, because it was either that or go another year without a holiday. Similarly paid well over the odds for some home improvements last year. Might have got the latter a bit cheaper if I was willing to wait until the trades were short of work...but how long could that have been?!

Especially when I anticipated high inflation as a result of the QE folly (even when the 'experts' said none, then said transitory) and thus expected higher for longer commodity prices. Simply because the fiat currencies are worth less, thus a purchasing power factor, nothing else.

Expand this anecdote across the country and it is easy to see how things are as they are. But tightening liquidity now means that this will change for a bit. Probably quite dramatically. We shall see - but regardless, public spending is IMO out of control and needs someone like Elon Musk to apply the red pen....which sadly, will never happen.

Joseywales: Outside of the better parts of central London and the wealthy commuter enclaves, the majority of restaurants are crammed with pensioners, not ordinary young people and families IMO.

While I am not sympathetic to those who sit within the category of the 'feckless', I do think we have some serious inter-generational problems, which are not the fault of the under 45's. Wrong end of the ponzi scheme...actually multiple ponzi schemes - pensions, housing, higher education costs, to name the biggest of them.

Agree with much of what you say Pokerchips. The central bank is IMO independent on paper only. It was probably more independent prior to the Brown decision to decouple the institution from government.

Certainly, every BoE policy decision since at least 2008 suggests significant alignment with the desires of the government of the day, one could conclude. Which have been the opposite of what the majority of people and our economy actually needed. By accident or by design? The result for most people is the same. We have a debt-based system, after all.

FWIW, I am not bashing boomers here. Many of the problems highlighted above and by other posters on this topic, are not ones that I am impacted by particularly. But I take no comfort from that, as the problems that many are facing are only starting, IMO.

But I could be wrong and certainly hope so. GLA.

Yes, completely agree. And IMO, the next update should indeed show a healthier position.

In the meantime, nice to see a Director buy.

Took another couple of thousand myself, for the kids.

Will add to my own holding if we see a lower price, as I alluded to on the pre-name change board.

GLA.

I am still in, although naturally pleased that I cashed in my side pot here. Shame it was only a baby tranche :)

Unless I have missed something, nothing company-specific has taken place in the past couple of weeks to justify a change of sentiment.

IMO, if you were bullish then, no reason for a change of opinion. Likewise if you were/are bearish. Anyway, time will tell. Maybe a double bottom coming up. Still looking at 102p for a top up, although may go lower, if 103p breaks, of course. Provisionally, a final top up high 90's perhaps?

Anyway, enough crystal ball gazing for now. Need to save its energy to help get England over the line here :)

I thought that as well. Good also to see that NED purchase. Good weekend all.

Just noticed I wrote my last post in the wrong tense - but the concept still stands :)

Anyway, another purchase by Iain. He continues to retain my full backing and faith. Good weekend all.

In fairness Dallo, it could be one or more holders who are exiting due to having lost total faith in the management. Maybe they are trying to exit in a fairly orderly manner, to try and eek out whatever they can at this stage, at the best price that they can. IMO, remaining invested in a company where you feel this way about the management, would be irrational.

That said, I still have a small rump holding which I have kept for tax loss selling, hopefully in the next financial year. But might need to be this one of course.

Would be delighted (and frankly astonished) if that rump holding ended up in profit, or even a far smaller loss than at the time of print, but never say never I guess.

And good luck to those of you who feel differently.

Anyway, the weather is lovely and now England have reverted to the mean (baz ball, same as the old getting out cheaply in perfect batting conditions, ball) I can make the most of it, rather than being cooped up indoors watching :) Clouds and silver linings...

Hopefully it is for reasons of integrity. Although, he could still buy another 20K (or more) and in that RNS Director Purchase, it could be noted that he does not intend to claim the bonus, until X share price is reached, or at least one deal signed and delivered etc.

Anyway, just a watching game here for me at this point. Not adding, but not selling either. GLA.

I was out most of yesterday, so was unable to buy that lovely dip that I see took place late morning! Loving the ongoing battle with the 50 DMA. It feels like it is going to make a decisive move (one way or the other) soon, IMO.

Still long and cautiously optimistic with the core holding, but that looked like an easy trading opportunity missed. Bah! :)

I have plans today, so while I would have preferred to wait for the initial spike to subside before buying a few more, I just jumped in at what will probably be the days high :)

Have a good day all.

Well, I thought it was good. Work to do still, for those of you with a longer term horizon than I have here, because the company got itself into quite a mess it seems, but fingers crossed, on the turn. Still in auction. GLA.

OK, so a FED pause, (I was wrong). But, is it just me, or does JP sound really hawkish in spite of this? Feels like a buy the dip opportunity if we get a sell off tomorrow and over the next few days, perhaps.

Short term, mind...still seeing a lot of issues ahead :)