Member Info for selftoblame

CER yes Cynic, tongue in cheek, and recognition of CER, rising well today whilst so many fallers. Decided to stay cash today as it just looked like a good stay in doors day.

CER Cynic, in the battle of ideas between CER and EKA would you call today an ass-kicking day?

ZOO my natural aversion to techies prevented me from it. phew!

ZOO Shareguru, I like ZOO but why "now"? Your post conveys particular timing knowledge.

EKA Well worth the research. Has this one been overlooked?

CER correction, previous post should have read costs recovered in first six months. Please feel free to post on EKA site

CER Cynic, I like your CER, but I am more impressed with Eureka (EKA) in which CER have 22 percent. Very impressed, very very impressed. Talk of production of Mo this quarter, and costs on the project being recovered in this quarter. They seem to have all the bases covered. Resources, government, finance, production facilities, equipment and of course demand which keeps Mo prices high. I would welcome anybody elses comments. As it stands I intend to be in first thing Monday.

ZOO I think it is you who brought ELP to light in the first place, so thanks for bringing it to my attention. Obviously, if it failed miserably, I would only have had myself to blame, but thanks for the pointer in the first place. ZOO might be worth a go, even though I have a natural aversion to tech companies.

ZOO And is it still the case that Herald Investment Trust hang on to their 7 percent. Having took my profit (25% in less than a week) from ELP I am now keen to put the proceeds somewhere. I like ZOO, CER, PCX, and a few others including staying in cash. Decisions decisions.

You give an awfully good telling off. And you are probably the one to do it! It's a difficult situation when two tough guys have punch ups, especially on a Friday night. Intervene and it could become even worse. I just hope that things get back to normal, because when people work together on their thoughts and analysis, its far more exciting than a punch up. Stick around Debbie, for the sake of your expert opinions as well as the quality of your tellings off. Cynic, Debbie makes some good points here, be much less confrontational, or I really will kick ya ass. (contradiction). The Hold opinion is not for PXC but for Debbie.

ELP I got into ELP on Friday, thanks to all the info. Have previously noticed people posting from the piste, and from internet cafes in warm climes. Just thought I would say that I am currently logged in from my yacht just off the bahamas.!!!

COST Iran effect London evening standard Costain Last summer, construction group Costain was awarded a $1.6 billion contract for the Bid Boland 2 gas treatment facility in southwest Iran. The project, being undertaken with Spain's Dragados and local partners Sazeh and Jahanpars, was expected to take four years to implement, but could be derailed by sanctions. Derailed is to big a word, delayed maybe. I would imagine Costain will have been taking measures very quickly to protect against delays. Oil. "If Iran stopped exporting it would be a major shock for world markets," said Manouchehr Takin, an analyst at the London-based Centre for Global Energy Studies, suggesting that even oil at $100 a barrel might be possible. Lets hope Iran settles down, glad I diversified into oil yesterday as an insurance policy.

COST I did sell a few , just to diversify a little. But this is a safe stock (Good for my sipp) with potential, stick with it.

COST UEM, a very large concern, through their 93% ownership of Daedalus own 35% of Costain shares. A major Kuwaiti company own another 23%. This has been the case for many years, so it could be argued why should that change? Both are represented on the board, UEM are effectively Malaysian government owned, and historically not very successful IMO. Whilst Costain has been very successful over recent years. I continue to ask myself what UEM and the Kuwaitis get from their shareholdings (beyond the obvious capital growth!). Out of the two I regard UEM as more aggresive and now the recent statement confirms their intent, not just in construction, but across the board. It is my belief that UEM need to look far beyond the limitations of Malaysia. This they now say and have confirmed their Global aspirations. Costain is such a small bite to swallow, but it has an important brand presence for its market cap. It is just so obvious, are we the only ones to see that?? What I don't understand are the rules regarding share ownership and what legalities would obstruct UEM from making a bid. I also do not know how advantageous it is for small shareholders when when nearly 60% are held by only 2. Similarly, I don't know how these two large shareholders would prevent any other company from coming in, especially with double digit growth and the olympics as bait. But its the pure value of the company I like, and that I do understand. So why did I sell a small portion toda

COST. The recent words of UEM chief executive "2006 is a year of growth and expansion for UEM Group.... We will continue to invest in our ongoing infrastructure projects, and aggressively explore expansion opportunities in other areas". With their existing substantial shareholding, there would be logic in UEM (Daedalus) seeking to take full ownership. It seems a much better way to realise a return from the investment, whilst continuing to gain from the existing project partnerships. My estimate March.

DGM agreed fully, also wonder about the trades. A turnaround takes time and a period of keeping one's head down, working hard and quietly on the quality of those relationships. I think we may be in the midst of that new broom process. Whilst the comment is true about time taken to add up bad figures being longer than that to add up good ones, this quiet period has just as much potential as a sign of progress. Time will tell.

DGM BWP1 have you noticed that the complaints about DGM on the forum site have reduced (disappeared?) completely? Or am I looking in the wrong places? Have you any news on the introduction of the new software? It must be imminent. I can't seem to find much mention of it.

COST yes, fairly bland rns. No trumpet blowing here. I liked the bold words "These actions will ensure that Costain achieves its new objective for the next three years of double-digit growth in both volumes and profitability". It's that word ensure I like. I still intend to hold these, I have built up a sizeable sum (for me!) and am happy with this. Dividend would be nice, and I see potential for these to become a target, perhaps from one of their large shareholders. If they do have 3 years of double-digit growth and sp does not rise substantially, then they become even more of a target. On the negative, I always get jittery when a finance director leaves and am concerned about Iran and what effect any sanctions would have. Because I regard them as safe and dependable, they are by far the largest share in my sipp. Stay with it Jixon.

COST For the last couple of years they have released a trading statement mid January on a Thursday, maybe 12th/19th this year. It is possible that this rise is in anticipation of positive news. I am holding.

CER. Cynic, having seen your postyings on VOG I decided to have a look at this other recommendation of yours. Hope you don't mind. There are many similarities between CER and my favourite CEY that I have followed for a long time. Just thought you might welcome these thoughts. CEY operate in Egypt and was constrained by legal argument, and the share price suffered immensely. Even repeatedly winning court cases did not immediately solve the problems. However, the board (in which I have great respect) continued to pursue their rightful claim and did not seek for short term fudges (which they could have done). Things impressed me about CEY. Great resolutness, patience, professionalism, and very importantly good contacts at government level. I note that CER has good alliance with IG Alrosa (Russian Government) and also local governent of Yakutia. These alliances should win the day. Note of caution, at the top, I do not think Putin is at all safe, so don't know if any change there would have an impact. Mind you, during CEY's time, there has been an election in Egypt which would have had an impact. My advice, it's worth the wait for legal stuff to get out the way, and then the announcements about agreements which follow. Keep with it cynic.