Thanks Gibbo,
Yes, I can see what you mean. I later realised that jumping in and airing my (somewhat under researched) doubts could be untactful given that others will have been around here a lot longer and have much more money that me invested.
I'm not in any way offended at being questioned about my motives & methods. Having aired my views on a public bulletin board, what else can one expect. Just wasn't prepared for how much I disliked being quizzed.
I shall continue to lurk and learn but not say much unless I am more confident of my facts and knowledge.
PS: Thanks to all for taking the time to share your experience, knowledge & opinions with a newbie.
Gibbo:
"What I don't get Wulbert is that you say you first bought in Dec 17 and that so far, you're not really impressed with the quality of communication from the BoD, and that there is an element of smoke and mirrors about this company that makes you feel slightly queasy. But for another 6 months until June 18 (just a mere few weeks ago) you continued to increase your holding despite "the ever increasing red dot on your dashboard that regularly reminded you of your foolhardiness" if you don't mind me saying so that seems a strange thing to do if you were so unimpressed and ever so slightly queasy whilst being regularly reminded of your foolhardiness.
So out of curiosity, can I ask in what way you feel the communication has been unimpressive during that time? and what you feel that they could have communicated better to impress you? Also given that you were clearly happy to buy without any due diligence (your words) why communication and information have suddenly taken on such a level of importance for you?
To try to answer your questions:
1) "...[ Why..you continued to increase your holding despite..." ] I though I could make some money, it's a gamble, more risk, more potential profit. I'm a greedy fallible human being.
2) "...what way you feel the communication has been unimpressive.." There was a long period when I wasn't actually sure whether the ME contract was actually agreed/finalised or not. It seemed that others on here had some doubts too. The recent deal with the "business development" entity being paid in share options feels vague. Little clarity about when milestones will be reached "imminent" etc. Happy to accept it could just be me not knowing enough about the argot of share dealing and not able to read between the lines.
3) ".Also given that you were clearly happy to buy without any due diligence.." Greedy, lazy, fallible human being, in a hurry, too much else to do, not much money involved. Mea culpa
4) Why keep buying shares in spite of doubts? To average down and gave some credence to other, seemingly credible, holders who though the SP would bounce back up (could be a mistake, I'll grant you)
I don't know about you but my life is full of decisions where I'm jumping in knowing theres a risk of getting hurt but taking the plunge anyway (marriage, having kids, mountain climbing, mountain biking, motorcycling, using a chainsaw......etc)
I'm new to this. I'm learning. I'll probably not post again though, because I dislike the feeling of being cross-examined.
Should have kept my marf shut.
Slipperz:
"Now, what exactly would be the reason to sell when we are on the brink of rewards without any apparent new threats of sanctions?"
I'd kind of promised myself I would sell as soon as I could get my stake back during the long silence after "The contract's in Iran? Oh no!" period. I'd bought shares in a company that the more I researched, the less I respected the people in charge. It doesn't sit well.
I bought these without doing due diligence if I'm honest, and the ever deepening red blot on my share dealing dashboard reminded me regularly of my foolhardiness. (I even though about ditching them at any price just to make the red go away, which would have been even more stupid.)
Things look more positive now and I'll probably hold to see where it leads. No point in crystallising a loss by selling. That way it would be final. The amount of cash I gambled is not hurting me so there's no real pressure. When/if it reaches 23p I will be very thoughtful but by then there should be more solid information on which to make a decision. I guess I'll stay in and see if WSG can make some hay.
Bought these at 22.8p average between December '17 & June '18.
So far I'm not really impressed with the quality of communication from the BoD and there seem to be a lot of long term holders on here who have been patient in the extreme. I'm thinking of bailing at 23p if it ever comes, just so I can relax.
Do others with more experience than me think that, if the Iran contract gets signed off, that real, actual, profitable, sustainable business will get underway on the ground? There's an element of smoke and mirrors with this co. that makes me slightly queasy. (Maybe I've just answered my own question)
Thanks C1. I didn't know about that Google facility. Will come in handy for other forums too.
Thank you Wex,
good tip, that sounds like the way to do it.
Is there a (quick) way to go back and search posts on this board from say, March '17?
This was when I (very impulsively) first bought into this stock, sitting in a lay by on my 'phone after hearing a news announcement about a big find by HUR in West Shetland. Turns out buying shares just after a big announcement is not the best plan. Who knew? I think I paid high 50's for it. Since managed to average down to mid 40's.
Anyway, I'd like to go back and search posts from around that time as part of my own learning about shares and share discussion boards. (What were people saying? Was anyone accurately predicting/second guessing the future? Who seems to have a clue? etc.)
So far I've tried clicking back the page numbers but it's going to take an age to go back 18 months. Is there a quicker way?
Tell me off if this post is inappropriate. I can't see a board about board use.
Thanks for the information folks.
Thinking back, I was offered a firm price at the time of the deals, which I (obviously) accepted. It must be the exchange rate plus fees which, effectively, increases the buy price and reduced the sell price.
Reassured that others on here use Halifax. At the time I set up the account, I only chose them because I was familiar with the brand. It does seem to work reliably and they keep you up to date. I always pay the full £12:50 fee because I trade so rarely.
Any time I've tried to be clever and second guess the market I've lost out. ( Still smarting from my dabble with Westminster Group, WSG) For a plodder like me, I think it's best to choose as wisely as possible and then hold for a long time. I only bought shares because the credit union and building society interest is a joke. .
First post here so go easy and off topic too, so please forgive me.
I do have shares in HUR and they are by far my largest holding. (If all goes well HUR could change my retirement from sketchy at best to "getting by ok") I've been visiting here and following useful links for many months.
My query relates to dealing and how it actually works in real time. Last week, on my mobile phone, I was watching the price of a share (Dutch chip maker NXPI) fall due to impending bad news. I felt the price would rebound since its a sound company. I sold ( I thought) my shares at 93 ish dollars and next day re-purchased at 90. When I now look at my statements (Halifax share dealing) I see that I actually sold at £61 and bought at £71, not very clever.
I'm guessing this is a function of me getting a poor deal from an international agent and Halifax ( due to small volume of shares?) and also a poor exchange rate. Also the fee to Halifax comes off the deal.
So lessons learned for me; no point in trading small volumes and small price differences ( I'm not a trader and have no desire to be, just panicked a bit seeing the price fall so quickly and reading click-bait articles) and that I am not going to get a good deal from a remote broker in a different country. In future I'll stick to long term holds. Frankly I can't be *rsed following the market daily in any case, I have enough stress in my life as it is.
In short my question is; what is an efficient way to deal shares and are there better platforms out there that Halifax?
If there is a more appropriate B/B to ask this question please point me to it and I'll go there.
Thanks in advance for any advice.