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morning T. Yes the bumpy ride set to continue. Although positive signs from China still emerging. We really were ill prepared for this here and US, despite what the governments say. But the guys at the coal are truly heroic.

apps like Houseparty and FaceTime – boosting alcohol sales by 22%, an additional GBP199 million in the past month. Purchasing of food and drink items for store cupboards rose by 28% during the past four weeks and by the same again for frozen goods."

German discounters Lidl and Aldi continued to claw market share from the traditional "Big Four". None of the four largest UK grocers posted growth in market share.

Some interesting supermarche number crunchingAll supermarkets achieved sales growth, however.
Lidl's 18% year-on-year rise was the largest of the lot. Lidl sales came in at GBP1.76 billion, nudging its market share up to 6.1% from 5.6% in the year prior.
Compatriot Aldi haf an 11% sales rise to GBP2.38 billion and its market share climbed to 8.2% from 8.0% in the year prior.
Among the "Big Four", J Sainsbury PLC booked the largest sales growth, rising 7.4% to GBP4.42 billion but its market share was stagnant at 15.3%.
Tesco PLC's market share fell to 26.8% from 27.3% despite sales rising 5.5% to GBP7.76 billion.
Walmart Inc's Asda had a 4.9% annual sales rise to GBP4.36 billion, but its market share slipped to 15.0% from 15.4%.
At Wm Morrison Supermarkets PLC, sales rose 4.6% year-on-year to GBP2.89, with market share down at 10.0% from 10.3%.
Of the London listed firms, online-only grocer Ocado PLC had the largest sales rise, up 13% to GBP432 million, and its market share edged up to 1.5% from 1.4%.

Had a look at Ted and then read news about Gap. I guess these companies have to bounce back if they can survive. Obviously TED have put some restructure in place to survive. Looks enormously scary to me. They at least have an online business. Ftse just turned negative, but dow looking to build another strong day, even though unemployment figures pass 4.5 million. Don't France run on that even in the good times? Anyway oil selling at $10 a barrel in parts of the world which is obviously where China has tuned its attention. Shell have announced $800 million write down for first quarter and new $12 billion loan facility on top of the 25 billion they already are in debt to keep the dividend payment, and they don't deny a possible further 6 billion write down this year ; I 'm not sure if I'm loosing touch with reality here. All my trust trade above nav now, so not going back there for now. I just keep buying more Kape!

Knew I wouldn't be able to resist Kape once it fell back a bit. Just got them all in the ISA now. Still looking at AFX T. Think you were right to say leave it to settle a few days. Awful lot of big money still exiting. Does look a bargain if no more calamities, but thats the big question if their best customer is in trouble what about the ones that aren't trading as well?

Morning all. Only had 3 stocks, quite largish positions. Kape hit £1.86. SO I thought I better take my own advice and bank profits. It doesn't totally feel like the right thing to do, after the announcement that trading has significantly improved! but be grateful of what you can get I reckon. Spreads are still ridiculous and price moves on such low volumes make me very suspicious. Unsurprisingly not so much news on Dow futures, the virus gets worse and Trump gets funnier by the minute if it wasn't for his position as world leader. If they can't impeach him they should try sectioning him, no doubt about that!

strong finish on the Dow which is a relief having bought back mnks trust for the 4th time in 2 weeks or is it 3 now. Messed up with CNC, The big money pulls out (33000 dumped at 63p, and 24000 dumped at 70p) and the small money takes it up to 77p on absolutely zero news. Kape moving back up without much action. Still feels a bit false the market and spreads still pretty wide which I suppose is a sign of greedy mms or uncertainty.

Its an extraordinary paradox. The company in their debt is a major global food supplier to supermarkets. Because of the increased demand it has left them a bit cash strapped combined with 16% fall in Krone against the dollar presumably due to oil price drop they can't meet their margin at the moment. AFX itself is fairly robustly financed but this customer is 15% of their business, normally trading millions without trouble. You've got to be some kind of genius to work out the pitfalls here. Normally money for old rope. I cant see why there would not be more trouble ahead frankly

Well done S on nyct. Always worth covering yourself on a stock this volatile. taking some profits and losses in this market is essential . T I am very tempted to by AFX . 12 days ago they reported revenue up 50% and profits up 40% and they expect to maintain their current forecast for this year despite their biggest customer owing 30 million which has been agreed to be repaid by 2022. They facilitate currency exchange. Would have thought that would have been ok, but it seems lock down has crippled that too. Probably way oversold but their is a big hole there and not sure having avoided it I'm prepared to jump in to it just now. I think there will be safer less profitable moves in a few weeks. Mine field out there!

Morning all. Not the happiest start to the week with German state finance minister taking his own life. On better news well done Mercedes/London College hospital with breathing apparatus invention. see there is a purpose to formula 1! Helping to save blustering Boris's bacon again. 'We are well prepared to face the corona virus' . O really, sounds like everything is off the cuff to me as usual. Maybe this dad's army approach' is in fact the only way. Lucky escape selling AFX last week. Having watched it going up on Friday thought I'd made a bad mistake selling. Another one of these virus proof stock according to Motley Fool, except it halved this morning. Think there will be plenty more like that.

Thanks T. To think I sold asos at around £3.60! around 2012 I think. Launched at 3p. Just like OCDO everyone said OVERPRICED lol

Most Aim shares, if held in a portfolio for two years, are exempt from inheritance tax.
The exceptions are the shares of companies that are themselves investment businesses, or companies whose sole function is to invest in property and collect the rent.
Now is quite a good time to consider this if planning for IHT. The problem may occur if they move to the main index. There some stock that have been in Aim for a considerable time. CNC is one such company that has grown very slowly from around 18p to 67p today and now with progressive dividend growth. One of the directors recently transferred a million shares into a trust for his family. If anyone has similar suggestions to share please do.

AIM has produced some very interesting companies. Many of the good ones ultimately fail, one or two make the big time and then it goes wrong. Tullow being the obvious one, I think there are around 4000 juniors and 3900 I wouldnt give the time of day. NYCT is like a spectator sport for bucking broncos. Who's going to get on. who's going to get thrown off. I just look and marvel. Wouldn't do my blood pressure any good. Reminds me of the dot bomb days. How do you begin to value a company like that. I had a go on Nanaco. The one that ran out of business but are trying to sue Samsung for millions for intellectual property theft and have a 'legendary investor' who has sunk millions in (probably of clients money} only to see it treble one week and then loose 75% the next. Try and avoid, but have weak moments!

On Kape still. There are actually 150 million shares not 75 million. LSE takes months to update! Also One of the main investors holds 67% of equity. Must be different rules for AIM. I thought if one company owned more than 30% it was a takeover. Anyway there are actually only about 29% left for other investors which can make them a little illiquid although I had no problem off loading 15000 shares the other day. It does though tend to make the moves that much bigger I think, which is great on the up escalator! The other great thing is I think they are IHT free at the moment which I must check out. CNC is still on my radar. I eventually sold them as well last week but they too have fallen back again to 67p. Any further weakness and I will be buying. Infuriating spread at times. GL

Hi S. Article on Kape: https://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/comment/2020/03/18/profiting-from-coronavirus/ BOL
I invested quite a bit in cyber security Avst beginning of last year. Huge industry.Ended up with it making up half my portfolio when it went up about 40% in 6 months. I sold out when directors start selling and an original investor sold its 12% of the company. Then they got in deep trouble buying a company that sold on browsing traffic it collected. They are still being investigated, Kape claims to 100% private. It first came to my notice through Naked Trader who I believe bought almost £100,000 of stock. Think he's since sold cos it hit £2 from about 80p. in very short time on a takeover of another company. The refinance of debt the article mentions has now happened, A director purchased 50,000 shares at £1.11 recently. I bought quite a chunk at 99p about three weeks ago and sold at £1.55 last week when I sold everything. Like most of the market they have been quite volatile, mainly because of the general sell off. I thought it was a ridiculous rise in such a short space of time. They fell back a little last Friday. about £1.44. If they fall more I will buy more, in fact I will probably buy up to £1.60. Only about 75 million shares market cap about 150 million. There is a good interview with the CO on fantastic results and future somewhere. One I have been following and thought I missed the boat. One of the few companies that is not in need of handout, well financed set to double revenue again at least in 2020. They say you should have a balanced portfolio, but I prefer to spend a bit of time tracking down a company like this right for the time and right for the future. So I am prepared to take a bigger risk. Cant recommend you do the same but definitely worthy of a place in a balanced portfolio. DYOR etc.

I think we must be opposite sides of the country S, otherwise I'd give you a hand. Blowing a hooley on the Kent cost, so glad I'v finished on the scaffolding. Think you right T, the powers that be if not under control know where we're heading. I have read quite a lot on the American journals about whether its Armageddon or not. I think they are 'real buyers' taking positions now moving the Dow up 20% in 3 days not just day traders. 22000 from 29000 doesn't look so bad considering whats been happening. Just about everyday dividends are being suspended regardless of the financial state of the company. Shell still insistant they will continue with theirs. I wonder if April 1st, the end of Opec agreement and Iran going full on with oil that costs them $2 a barrel to pump out will change their mind! Still won't touch oil or banks. Metals on the other could be an interesting play. Definitely narrowed my field right down now. Only hold Kape and Scottish Mortgage trust at the moment. Probably buy a couple more trusts back and maybe even OCDO. They've been force fed so many extra customers recently, were they talking in the region of 10 fold? If they kept half that as regular customers its still massive. Is the retail the lesser side of their business?

Ah. I see Sir Richard has offered to 'inject 250 million' into Virgin Atlantic. Nice to have that sort of cash laying around. Wonder how he managed that!

typo or montho. Meant early march for IAG director purchases

Morning all. Yes T in-between dancing about on the scaffolding , taking advantage of it being likely to be there indefinitely to do some more maintenance, I have 'filled my boots' in Kape. I am aware that there are probably better opportunities to make cash quicker in recovery ideas, but hoping Kape, although a small cap has some defensive qualities too in this environment.
Interesting timing for OCDO to launch into Paris. IAG is virtually the only airline to have had some serious director purchasing in early feb. I see Branson's outfit as quick as ever to demand a government handout. Sorry Sir Richard get your hand in your own pocket and pay your taxes like the rest of us. With any luck IAG could buy it for 50p.
Like you optimism guys. Feels a bit like we are in the eye of the storm at the moment, but hope we are a few steps closer control. Trouble is there are other countries that clearly are not either for financial reasons or run by complete idiots.

That's right T 'volatility provides opportunity,' although that does cut both ways. I got in a day too soon! only an initial play, so trickling back in now. Dow futures down 500, so on previous form it should go up! Suspect they might have called it right this time.

Yes S, clearly there is doubt. Been reading some comments on todays trading :“Even though equities were squeezed higher into the close, credit markets continue to diverge substantially,” said Ken Berman, strategist at Gorilla Trades. “You could almost smell the burning shorts on Wall Street [Thursday], but as credit spreads remain wide, one has to wonder how much ‘real’ buying is behind this week moves, besides the bailout-induced short-covering.” However I don't think this is just about closing shorts or believe suggestions that moves of this kind are not real buying, really ? A recovery of 3000 points would usually take about 18 months to 2 years according to another analyst. I agree there are a number of factors 0% interest rates being one, and there is obviously as you say a huge amount of cash desperate to get back in. I guess the Dow is fairly tech laden, especially compared to some of the plodders in the ftse 100, and that is where the new world beckons. The futures has already unsurprisingly flattened off, but as yet not retraced. Another fascinating day is prospect.