Investment & Investing

The restriction of investments to £750 means no small investors were able to benefit.

the criminally low initial asking price.

I don't understand the first part of this. The restriction to £750 was designed so that individuals could get a subscription, rather than the whole issue being taken up by large orders from pension funds / asset managers who like defensive stocks.

On the second point, it is almost impossible to guess exactly what the market will settle upon as a fair price beforehand. Lazard (gov't's financial adviser) was under instruction to get the whole issue sold - no-one likes a hung rights issue (e.g. Manpower / County Natwest / Blue Arrow) - at the best price. They stuffed it up, but then could you predict what Royal Mail shares were worth before they were ever traded publicly?

It is extremely tiresome when people criticise an industry from the outside with no specific understanding of the processes involved.

There are problems with the financial services sector, but I'm afraid that your scattergun 'i hate bankers' approach isn't identifying them particularly successfully.

http://l2.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/Rl8o0R1XmBlaaSq1KhuOlw--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTQ1MA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/251/2013/08/16/meet-the-parents-gif_175852.gif

This for me is inpart why I think Bitcoin might **might just have a chance
Somthing has to change because the banks aren't going to

Sadly some of bitcoin's biggest investors are now US hedge funds.
To my mind, the thing has no intrinsic value and is a Ponzi scheme - at some point the music will stop and some people will be left holding worthless bits of computer code.

Currencies derive value from the belief that they will be accepted as having that value - I am far more able to trust that the US dollar will continue to be accepted in exchange for goods and services than Bitcoin.

Blue Arrow
... loves Anacott Steel.

I'll agree Lazard were given conflicting requirements by the government..
On the one hand make sure it sells..

On the other put limits on buyers and if they go over an set amount don't sell them any.

but... im also fairly sure they were told to get the best price they could for the british tax payer.

A tough job to be sure
But its one in which they failed miserably.. when I fail in my job I get fired.
Speaking of which is anyone looking to hire an unqualified self taught economist?

Tommy, why do you need to work? A man who speaks with such confidence on a range of economics topics must surely have made a mint from personal investments? Aren't you already retired on a tropical island?

Employment gives a man a sense of purpose... so im told.

Its hard to stay motivated when already so incredibly wealthy but it would keep my parents happy.

Bung 'em a few million. That'll keep them happy and is far easier.

Donate to LFGSS so poor posters can afford a few more animated avatars.

#bringbacktynan

End of the year.. good time to review where you at.
Clear out the losers from your portfolio and try to replace them with something better.

My investments in FTSE 100 companies are up 15.79%
Which sounds Okay but probably not a good return on the level risk.
Would have made a similar return on buying a house in london and saved on tax and rent.

Plus it was almost impossible not to make money on the FTSE this year, which means it will probably all unwind soon enough.

My biggest gains where in RBS, BAE & Betfair
(had a feeling a 100% government owned bank wouldn't fail)
(that war with china has got to start sooner or later)
(inflation proof businesses are hard to find)

What were your biggest wins / loses investment wise 2013?

Arian Silver: AIM listed Mexican silver company. Great resource, but awful management. Out now, but lost ~50%

Thomas Cook: Punt at the start of the year after results were turning a corner. Up >300%

forgot to put my losses...

Tescos .. saw everything was going to shit and tried to sell before the terrible results at the start of the year but my broker fuckedup the order.. - 25%

Premier foods but might be taken over soon - %50
(wrongly thought that anyone selling peanut butter couldn't fail)

My punt for next year is Jive software on the NASAQ
Currently trading for around $10 a share which is over half their IPO price from last year.. a likely takeover target but also now a money making business.

my brokers fucked up the order

ah a true trader !!

he probably did though, having been out for a two bottle lunch
and a 4am night the night before

brokers pish

I bought a silver £20 coin. It's currently valued at £20. #amidoingitright

don't forget the commission you paid to your broker
needs to go up minimally to break even

brokers pish

It came with free postage. No broker. Does this mean I am Better than Buffet.

#inbeforefatjoke

you'll have paid somebody something hippy

#downwithcapitalism#

Yeah £20 to Royal Mint for a £20 coin. What could possible go wrong?

it is unlikely that the bullion value of a £20 coin is greater than a 2p coin

how much does this coin weigh?

i'll give you 0.002 bitcoin for it

how much does this coin weigh?
i'll give you 0.002 bitcoin for it

15.71g

Sure, when BTC are worth eleventy billion each.

it is unlikely that the bullion value of a £20 coin is greater than a 2p coin

It contains about £6 worth of silver according to an online calculator of unknown quality.

I've been saving £2 coins for about 10/12 weeks

I'm currently on £62

Thanks

Due to inflation, your coin collection is now worth £24