Member Info for ParanoiaBlue

http://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/Tips/Sell/TipsOfTheWeek/article/20090130/86cd28be-eba4-11dd-bc23-00144f2af8e8/Travis-Perkins-faces-tough-times.jsp

Absolutely.

Not right now – it’s one on my watch-lists However my position would be “short”!! as with all building supplies etc. TPK, MSLH which I’ve been in and out of profitably. ATB

"US bank Goldman Sachs reckons builder’s merchant Wolseley needs to raise between £0.75bn and £1bn to stay on the safe side of banking covenants."

"Advertising group WPP has raised its profile in Africa with the acquisition of a 49% stake in the South African advertising agency The Jupiter Drawing Room."

"GKN’s net debt should also continue to rise, heading towards an expected £900 million by the end of the year. The more pressing issue for shareholders is that the final dividend, 9.2p a share last year, is likely to be slashed, if not passed altogether. That outcome is already priced into the shares, but at 86¾p, up 9¾p, or 11 times 2009 earnings, it is still too soon to buy, says the Times."

Man, we just need some poistive news to make this one fly.

“Shares in shopping centre owner British Land fell 14p to 431p after Goldman Sachs added the real estate investment trust (REIT) to its conviction sell list, saying British Land's exposure to more cyclical asset classes, such as offices in the City of London, makes it more vulnerable than most of its peers. "We believe that British Land would have to make close to the largest amount of disposals (by value) of the UK REITs to return to its long-term average leverage ratio," said the US bank. "While large individual asset sizes may be a disadvantage in achieving disposals, long-leased assets at good initial yields may be among the more attractive in the investment market. Nonetheless, we believe that the process would be significantly dilutive to earnings," Goldman added.”

These dropped far too far. Good potential for a turnaround.

"Life and pensions group Friends Provident's sales fell by 4% in the last three months of 2008 with the UK again the weak spot. Total full year life and pensions new business is down by 11% to £1bn (2007: £1.14bn). International life and pensions full year new business rose by 19% to £456m APE (2007: £385m), comprising Friends Provident International up by 13% and Lombard up by 24%."

Kesa, Europe’s third largest electricals retailer, has told suppliers they must pay up to £15,400 just to have one of their products displayed on the shop floor in its Comet stores as the company struggles with the downturn. Bob Darke, Comet’s commercial director, wrote to suppliers in early December to tell them he would be imposing the new charges from January 1, according to two suppliers who received the letter, reports the FT.

I’ve had quite a few shorts – financial rather than alcoholic – here recently.

“Yesterday's gloomy trading update from Wolsleley prompted broker Numis to comment that trading is "much worse than we expected and a higher level of net debt now seems to make a covenant breach inevitable at year end July 2009". Collins Stewart reckon that a rights issue is equally inevitable. Both would be bad news for existing shareholders. Sell says the Independent. Wolseley's operating results, balance sheet and outlook have all deteriorated since its last update so, until the company gets a handle on its debt and reassures the market on its covenants beyond the end of January, avoid adds the Telegraph.”

....are those actual pubs you are speaking about buying?

"Legendary Bear Raider Evil Knievil has gone aggressively short of DSG International at 21p. Evil reckons (but cannot verify) that there are severe balance sheet issues which will emerge shortly and his target price is "buttons". News of Evil's action saw DSG shares which had been 0.5p ahead close the session down 1p at 20p."

Yes I’ve been following this one for a while. Sold out in 2006 for a good profit. Bought back in, a year or so, ago. This one has held up really well – with a background of generally mayhem! In fact I’m in profit, but holding on for now. It may well be a “goer” once the potential of their pipeline is realise [also cash balance is O.K] If “drugs is your scene” BTG is also waiting to take off at some stage. ATB. PS If you are really interested in ASM - check out the postings on this board. ATB

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/industrials/article5587442.ece

Electronic goods costs 'may rise' http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/7848591.stm

“The Company is proposing a Capital Reorganisation on the following basis: Each Existing Ordinary GBP0.20 share in issue will be subdivided into 1 New Ordinary GBP0.01 share and 1 Deferred GBP0.19 share. The Capital Reorganisation is subject to shareholder approval at a General Meeting to be held on 16th February 2009, following which the New Ordinary shares are expected to be admitted to trading on the Alternative Investment Market from 8.00am on 17th February 2009. The Company's shares have been trading at a price below their current nominal value and current company law restricts companies from issuing new shares at a price below the nominal value of a company's shares. The Directors therefore believe that a Capital Reorganisation is required to enable the Company to issue new shares in the future. No application is being made for the Deferred shares to be listed on the Official List or admitted to trading on any stock market or securities exchange. These shares have extremely limited rights and benefits attached to them rendering them in effect, economically worthless. These shares will therefore not be updated on your account.”

Wall Street has picked up, for now. However, I believe - generally in the retail sector, and specifically here, with a few other contenders – that the enthusiasm, has been way over done. Let’s wait and see!