Member Info for MattTheBrave

I am a holder of IG and been posting here for a few years - go back a few pages and you'll see.

I also use the IG framework to take positions in dices, both long and short. No, of course I don't get every call right, but I'm pleased to say that so far, I am healthily ahead, and hence just made a humorous comment to that effect. No-one can guarantee this will continue of course.

Your comment about me: 'he seems to know an awful lot about their business model for a "punter"..'
Yes, strangely enough, I research all the Companies I invest in, and only do so when I believe I understand the business model and industry dynamics - perhaps this is why I'm one of the 21%. What approach do you use pray tell? Close your eyes and throw a dart........? :-)

Point of order : It was not my intention to imply that all of the 79% who lose money are idiots, just the ones who then try to blame others for their own mistakes instead of taking responsibility for their own actions. Hope that clears that up!

Should do Quoth, providing Loosemore and co can show continued progress on clearing up the mess from the acquisition.

Sis8 - you need to get together with GumT- you're of a like mind (or no mind?). My thoughts:
- Another idiot punter who bet money and lost, and now tries to shift the blame. He should take some responsibility for his own actions
- we should not be surprised that most punters lose. When you account for the spread and the implicit financing costs behind the derivatives, even punters breaking even at 'gross' level will lose after all costs.
- Just demonstrates why IG have such a great model. They have very little net position themselves, cream off the spread and above market financing costs, and have very little capital intensity so high free cash flow.
- I am pleased to say that I am one of the 21% as well! :-)

HITs - don't worry about it. Everyone knows GCC is a fruit-loop. His own posts demonstrate this better than we ever can.

Ironic last comment GCC because that's exactly what you've done.
Your family need to move you to a more secure institution. I understand they don't want to save money on a lost cause, but the inmates really shouldn't get this level of unfettered access to the internet.....

WO - Now you're agreeing with people and then insulting them for it? I suppose I shouldn't really be surprised....

Remember, this comes from a man who thinks 'you know who' is paying us all to post. Having given this some thought regarding villains whose name must not be uttered, I have concluded that GCCRa believes that this Board is under a sustained attacked from none other than the dark wizard Voldemort. If only there was a spell to cure chronic stupidity....:-)

Expelliarmus!!

Oh GCC, you don't change do you. Employed by 'you know who'. Well I certainly don't, so please spell it out?

So Dan, are you aligning yourself with conspiracy junkie (we're all out to get him and other shareholders (for some reason)) GCCRa who is clearly posting from a mental hospital at the nurses station when she pops out for a ciggy, or perhaps those of us of a more stable disposition...;-)

...and a nice 7% increase at the close...!

HITs - TBF, it looks like the BB customer service is the main issue rather than the technology?

Hi Opt and others - 60% of my short is on FTSE 100, 40% on FTSE 250, which broadly reflects my own exposures in terms of large cap vs small/midcap. Broadly speaking I'm now market neutral on half my UK equity portfolio, but still exposed to the relative performance of the stocks I hold.

Task - apologies to you from July. I managed to miss your question to me a month ago, and hence didn't respond. Certainly wasn't a deliberate snub mate.

Agreed - figures were fine, CF up, pension deficit down , and a single digit PE with 5% yield - what's not to like?

AL 17 is clearly not a bot - cracking jokes with smiley faces - but if believing that helps you to continue in your state of ignorance then fine. Any look at my posting history will tell you that I post on a large number of stocks, the vast majority of which I hold and am positive on.

Dan - you say you want to hear different views in your Friday post, but then go on to point out why these are not quite the different views you were looking for. Sorry, but this just makes you the sound like the other blinkered optimists here, which would be a shame. And what is this 'past' that posters are 'harping on' about? If you are referring to is the significant level of debt, I can assure you that this is still very much with us.

Well firstly, I think the term 'bloggers' when referring to posters on this site is somewhat embellishing the point....
Anyway, a few points to make about who posts and why:
Firstly, the majority of posters who are not uniformly positive on this Board are previous holders who have sold out at higher levels, abut having been holders, still have a view and keep an interest. Secondly, across all of my holdings, I never assume my thesis is 100% correct and am constantly retesting my view to make sure the holding is till sensible. As such, I welcome opposing thoughts which are logical and built through critical thinking as they help me to have a full picture, and sometimes lead me to change my view. Behaviorally difficult, but this will save you money (as it has for me) over time, believe me. Finally, those of us who have no holding, have no axe to grind either way (most PIs won't be able to short stocks), as compared to those who have a holding and hence are desperately hoping that the price will rise and reverse their losses. Given this, who do you think is actually allowing irrational bias to enter their comments, and who is likely to be providing a genuinely unbiased view? Of course our own outcomes are the most important thing, but if you can help other posters without harming your own position, why not?

JTIS - you haven't missed anything. Clearly AVN's future is not secure, but a couple of minutes looking through this thread would confirm that some posters' are still managing to evade the villagers who are searching for their missing idiot, and hoping that he hasn't hurt himself, or got into trouble.......

I continue to very nervous about equity markets at current levels. Whilst I continue to hold my individual stock positions, I've shorted half my portfolio's notional value using index spread betting on IG.

Simply responding to abuse from others Dan. If you're happy to leave this type of stuff unchallenged then fine, but I take a different view.