Analysts suggest that todays results confirm that 'Lloyd's is becoming increasingly dependent on cost-cutting to meet profit expectations'.

If this is the case, then doesn't that just strengthen the case for LLoyds to merge/be taken over by a European/US partner looking for a blue chip UK consumer finance bank ?

Whilst the Divi yield is good and provides downside protection - there aren't too many pundits who believe that the current divi is in danger, though they're disappointed its not rising, Lloyds will struggle along without another deal.

IMHO they're too poor relation to takeover the likes of Alliance/Leicester, Bradford/Bingley or Northern Rock, and that concentration on the UK finance market would likely scare the market witless.

Surely not too long before (or at least the rumours of) a tie up with Santander, Bank of America, Citibank, et al. ?

What are the thoughts of others?

I agree to a point. I'm not sure how well the Santander purchase of Abbey has gone yet and I think other potential banking predators will be watching that one with interest before making any moves. I actually thought the results were okay and although the dividend hasn't risen it's still comparatively huge!

Sold mine today, divi underpins them so looking to get in lower later in year , great trading share.

When is the record date for this years interim divi in May, or has it already passed.

March 7th or 9th I think.

Chose today to get in on these, already hold HBOS and rather than top them up decided to buy new. Nice yield, looks to be safe, if they were going to cut it the time to do it was 2-3 years back.
2517

Agree with you 2517GEORGE. Interesting that Chairman Victor Blank purchased shares recently at higher level. Company recovering from overpaying for Scot Widows. Infact some believe that Board may begin to look at increasing dividend. Hopefully not too involved with bad debts from property market or Hedge Funds. Company's push to concentrate more on wealthier individuals looks to be paying off. May well participate in sector consolidation at some stage.

Guscavalier-----------consolidation would be the icing on the cake, this is a good co to have in a value portfolio, they have the highest % yield in the sector and, provided the bad debt situation can be controlled they appear to be a safe investment.
2517

Bought mine back today too.

i like them, really surprised they havent been taken over yet. the retail side of their business is very slack though, thats maybe the reason?

We timed that quite well (so far) Dil, takeover talk today sites Soc. Gen as a possible bidder, I won't hold my breath, but even without a bid I feel they will be a rewarding share to have.
2517

Been out and then back in before results.

Divi increased for first time since 2002 I think and results ahead of expectations. These could motor when the general market settls down.

Less exposure to sub-prime lending as well, unlike Barclay's

Banking online with Lloyds has a confident feel. Probably more secure as it has a dual security levels to overcome. Very easy to use and I am sure the internet enables the bank to cross sell its products very successfully. I can understand why it is doing well in the domestic market. Given current market conditions, I hope to add to my holding on weaker days.

Core holding for me.Don't like the exponential rate of growth in Barclays balance sheet of the figures for Derivates and Securities Lent/borrowed in both assets and liabilities - no doubt responsible for rapid growth in profits of Barclays Capital, but imo looks an accident waiting to happen and the bigger the numbers get, the bigger that accident will be if it happens. Just hope those at the top understand it, because I don't.

partridge are you still persevering with LLOY if so what do you think of the upside potential at 85p?

zero

who asked you stay on the kids blog.

Could go back to a quid imo.

aha it was you halifax predicting 2 quid not that long ago........i knew it was another idiot........have you been punted from halifax yet? are u the goon on the ads with the specs

marni are you capable of anything more than a childish rant?

Hi Halifax - yes still hold LLOY (thankfully only a fairly modest 3000 shares, at about 60% notional loss at present). Rightly or wrongly I believe that the underlying LLOY business is basically very sound and the Halifax bit of HBOS should be OK - but the scale of the BOS debacle is almost beyond comprehension. I have no idea where it will go short term, but I am not a day trader. My poorest performer, but I hope to see it recover fairly strongly in next two/three years.

its actually halifax with its property thats screwed up everything......and buying these stoopid property companies at peak of boom even in 2008! i imagine brown etc told hbos to buy for his own political Agenda. brown and mandelson know many of lloy, hbos, rbs at top for many years...........check out that buffoon james crosby who was in fsa at same time head of hbos. everything crosby touches turns to shit......and he's an ugly baldy old git

halifax - time you realised that marni is incapable of being other than boorishly abusive especially when her bottle is nearly empty