The first ASOS Challenge was successful in the sense that it taught us a few lessons on investment timing. Only three of 11 shares ended in profit and that included ASOS itself: congratulations to legend for BNH and bosley for SEO. Back to the drawing board for the rest of us (over the year the portfolio would have thrashed any opposition!).

Participants welcome for the second challenge. Primary objective is to find shares that will double in value by 1st July, beating ASC in the process; secondary to be most successful stock-picker in terms of the value of your 20K portfolio. Rules are:

1.Each participant has 20K which can go into 1,2,3 or 4 shares in units of 5K.
2.ASC has 20K and is team yardstick, not in individual portfolios.
3.Duplication between entrants OK with no upper limit for total for one share.
4.Start weekend of 21st Jan. Buy price half way between closing offer and mid.
5.Latest time of entry to be 8 pm on Sunday, 23rd Jan.
6.Challenge to close Friday, 1st July.
7.Entrants can switch up to a total of 10K; av. of Friday close bid and mid.
8.Progress reports to rank shares by performance but also participants (initial only to protect from the ridicule of outsiders!).

Participants welcome. Just post selection here or on ASC thread.

Eric

How does this work, Eric? Is there a prize or just a bit of fun?

kes

Instructive fun! Learnt a lot from the BBs of the shares nominated but also lost some money which wasn't so good; they should come with a government health warning!

Eric

hello eric. put me down for 10k seo (stanelco), 5k dgm (deal group media), and 5k agl(angle)
SEO is my baby
DGM reminds me of asc a year ago
AGL has many fingers in many pies , some of which come to fruition this year, worth a look.

bosley

Interesting choice - expected you to go for SEO again and not surprised at the double-bagger! If DGM is 1/10th as good as ASC it would still be the winner probably. I've posted AZM, CFP, MLS and SEO on the ASC site.

Eric

Eric , would like to parrticipate, and the shares I would like to distribute the money between are (10k)BGT,(5k) AEN and(5k) MDW

BGT is a company started by the guys who owned Eidos and started Lara Croft.
AEN..the potential is threefold, just hope it doubles by July:-)
MDW is my baby in the medical sector. Have a money saving, proven PSA test for prostate cancer that can save the NHS millions

Jules

Good to have you on board. Went into MDW recently but felt from results that it may take longer to come to fruition, whereas MLS is a one-way bet which has already been at 50p before recent problems - my real money is in MDW, not MLS, I have to admit!

Eric

EW.... know what you mean....but hope you are wrong:-))

Eric, I'll start using this thread.

AZM ? yes a tricky one, must say I was tempted but I can switch stocks on this challenge so I've decided to hang fire on Alizyme until just prior to that important announcement is made :-)

capa

Just found the new thread!

Eric,

Here we go....

5k a piece: SPS (mob phone games) DES (oil) PKL (healthcare and foodservice industries) IDS (retail)

Think sps might drift a little until we have any news, but the potential is massive. Des is waiting to poss announce farm in partners for projects in the Falklands. Pkl seems to have captured a niche market and ids is currently pausing for breath until the next push up!!!

Sure i'll be proved wrong on all accounts and my portfolio will plummet... ha ha

Oh yeah mph was in the back of my mind but thought i'd leave it out for now.

Oh yeah, big well done to legend, eric and bosley for their picks last time round!

I'm very new to this but will enjoy watching from the sidelines and hopefully
learn some more along the way
Best of luck to all
HM

dawsinho - I notice its the modest ones who tend to win - look at Hoggard!

hampi_man - welcome to give it a go: no qualifications needed; in fact, they get in the way!

Eric

Eric, agreed! think he has to do something about his hair though... lol

Even split please between :

BPG
NLR
AUG
CASH

I'll have an even split as well please on:
BNH
DFD
PDX
SPS

Eric,
would you put me down for an even split on the following please:
CFP (Yes,I still have the faith !! )
TAD
FTO
PMD
ta a lot and bestest of luck to all

mdw 10k
xen 5k
idox 5k

for me thanks.

Hello everyone, can i have:-
5 on TRT
5 on BGC
10 on SPS

MANY THANKS, should be interesting.

First time I've done this! But here we go.....

10k on KYS (Kryso Resources)
5k on SEO (Stanelco)
5k on NVR (Namibian Resources)

Cheers,

Kus.

Spelling mistake, sorry: NBR (not nVr!).

Welcome Sandrew, Dil, snakey, petralva, Kivver. Up to 13 and counting!
Dil: that's really impressive; an investor who actually holds cash (cash would have come in 4th out of 11 the first time round!
Snakey: relieved to see someone else still holds the faith with CFP
petralva: see now why the MDW price has come back: to give you a decent buy price!
Kivver: a run on SPS which may end up as bookie's favourite!
good luck one and all!
Eric

CASH is a company :-)

Dil: lol:-)

First time for me also

Even split please

sps
epd
cey
bnh

many thanks

martin

I'll try CRDA BAG RSG and BBR with even split please. Eric - you should write a book on time organisation with all that you do!

Eric,

Is this ALL you do? Seriously, can you recommend any firms doing CFD's, Covered-Call-Options, etc.?

Thanks, partridge, markus. The main thing is to retire. Then do the 'work' you want to do and call it fun! If you make money as well, its great and funds your overseas trips, etc. - not too far from the internet, of course!

kus - I'll respond by e-mail not to distract this thread at the moment.

Eric

Eric:

BPRG: 10K
PCI: 5K
PDX: 5K

Rgds John

john: I thought I could at least rely on you for consistency. But that's the trouble with charts - they are always changing their minds!

Good luck, Eric

Eric, You restricted my options too much...having to make a selection right now was tricky and with so many stocks on the watch list, it was a question of which ones to go with for this particular challenge! I even thought of setting aside a small capital sum to earn overnight LIBOR interest but thought you would rule that out!! Looking at our overall performance for the last challenge we might find it useful to also add how much our money would gain if left in the local Building Society...and without the hassle! Still no pain no gain and I appreciate, in case someone raises the point...we did choose arbitary timings to open and close the challenge! Interestingly, I note the stellar performance of my Equity Income Funds this last year...and the top funds are ahead by 20%+.. Makes you think?

Have a great weekend.

John

John

The stellar performance of your equity income funds? Tell us more! Are these your funds in the sense that you run them or that you selected them and enjoy the fruits of others labours? I wouldn't have any problems with LIBOR (you wouldn't necessarily invest 20K overnight if you were given it) but the 'game' is, I suspect, meant to be more adventurous than real life. Some of us are too adventurous in real life!

Eric

Eric: As to your question I enjoy the fruits of other peoples labours. In fact I have stakes in the companies I have selected, and it's all real life for me. Some game huh!

Still just had a great day on the US Mkt so off to enjoy my cellar!


John

Acknowledge entried from the following:

bosley, capa, dawsinho, Dil, eric, Jules, johngtudor, Kivver, legend, markusantonius, martinj100, norman wilton, partridge, petralva, Sandrew, snakey

16 takers so far which makes for a good contest. Shown interest but no entry yet: Seadog, AdieH. Entered last, but not this time: willfagg, ptholden.

Close off is 8p.m. Sunday. Will then summarise entries and portfolio. Suggest award for winner from Shares - hopefully they are following with eager interest!

Eric

KCOM 10K
THUS 5K
HCEG 5K
for me please Eric

Welcome, optomistic. A fearsome competitor, I expect! Eric

May join in?
My choices are

GWP: 10k
AUG: 5k
DMG: 5k

Leslie

Hi Eric- didn't enter last time but I would like to try this one and join in the fun.
NLR 10k
PAY 4k
DGM 3k
YOO 3k
hope you're all having a good weekend cheers Moneyplus.

Welcome on board, leslie. Good luck!

Thank you--but I.m female...Lesley!

Hi Eric,

Can I have the following.

BNH 10k
TND 5k
PET 5k

Thanks.

Ramu

eric:
seo-10k
mdw-5k
dgm-3k
cfp-2k

regards
seb

Welcome to ramu and seb. Good to see PET is in the new portfolio - I have a sneaking feeling about that and tempted to buy back in, at least temporarily. seb: the rules say %K multiples. Unless I hear to the contrary, I will assume dgm, not cfp.

Sorry moneyplus, I think I knew that! Should have given you a personal welcome. The Leslie was leslielipert who had better be male! We might have a debate on the value of feminine intuition in stock picking! I see that you have also not followed the 5K rule. Assuming PAY and DGM at 5K and nil for YOO (pretty safe 50% I reckon) unless I hear to the contrary.

Eric

21 entrants for the challenge plus ASC. The list below gives the buy price and number of shares. The initial will be used in any summary to conceal the identities of those of us who do less well! The name will appear where credit is due! Have allocated leslielipert shares in DGM as DMG doesn't exist. My only other query was whether DIL meant BPG or was it BPRG? Shares allocated have been rounded.

______________ epic price__ shares
A sandrew_____ BNH_ 125.25_ 3990
A sandrew_____ DFD_ 136____ 3675
A sandrew_____ PDX_ 231____ 2165
A sandrew_____ SPS_ 50.5___ 9900
B Bosley______ AGL_ 128.25_ 3900
B Bosley______ DGM_ 18.19__ 27500
B Bosley______ SEO_ 7.19___ 139100
C Capa________ CASH 142.25_ 3515
C Capa________ MOB_ 230.75_ 2165
C Capa________ NLR_ 394.5__ 1270
C Capa________ NRG_ 220.25_ 2270
D DIL_________ AUG_ 256.25_ 1950
D DIL_________ BPG_ 667.625 750
D DIL_________ CASH 142.25_ 3515
D DIL_________ NLR_ 394.5__ 1270
E leslielipert AUG_ 256.25_ 1950
E leslielipert DGM_ 18.19__ 27500
E leslielipert GWP_ 120.25_ 8315
G seadog______ ACE_ 258.25_ 1935
G seadog______ CIU_ 162.25_ 3080
G seadog______ GHH_ 191.5__ 2610
G seadog______ IDS_ 212.5__ 2350
H Dawsino_____ DES_ 62.25__ 8030
H Dawsino_____ IDS_ 212.5__ 2350
H Dawsino_____ PKL_ 192.25_ 2600
H Dawsino_____ SPS_ 50.5___ 9900
I martinj100__ BNH_ 125.25_ 3990
I martinj100__ CEY_ 12.625_ 39600
I martinj100__ EPD_ 51_____ 9805
I martinj100__ SPS_ 50.5___ 9900
J Jules_______ BGT_ 130.5__ 7660
J Jules_______ PCI_ 10.625_ 47000
J Jules_______ PDX_ 231____ 2165
K Kivver______ BGC_ 84.8___ 5900
K Kivver______ SPS_ 50.5___ 19800
K Kivver______ TRT_ 87_____ 5750
L legend______ TND_ 22.5___ 88800
m moneyplus___ DGM_ 18.19__ 27500
m moneyplus___ NLR_ 394.5__ 2540
m moneyplus___ PAY_ 255.75_ 1955
O optimistic__ HCEG 63_____ 7935
O optimistic__ KCOM 62_____ 16100
O optimistic__ THUS 15.19__ 32900
P partridge___ BAG_ 811____ 615
P partridge___ BPRG 67.25__ 7435
P partridge___ CRDA 327.375 1525
P partridge___ RSG_ 466.25_ 1070
R ramu________ BNH_ 125.25_ 7990
R ramu________ PET_ 10.625_ 47000
R ramu________ TND_ 22.5___ 22200
S seb190774___ DGM_ 18.19__ 27500
S seb190774___ MDW_ 9.09___ 55000
S seb190774___ SEO_ 7.19___ 139100
T johngtudor__ BPRG 67.25__ 14870
T johngtudor__ PCI_ 10.625_ 47000
T johngtudor__ PDX_ 231____ 2165
U markusant.__ KYS_ 15.875_ 63000
U markusant.__ NBR_ 50.5___ 9900
U markusant.__ SEO_ 7.19___ 69550
v patrelva____ IDOX 11.75__ 42500
v patrelva____ MDW_ 9.09___ 110000
v patrelva____ XEN_ 7.44___ 67200
W EWRobson____ AZM_ 137.5__ 3635
W EWRobson____ CFP_ 0.28___ 1785000
W EWRobson____ MLS_ 7.19___ 69500
W EWRobson____ SEO_ 7.19___ 69550
Y snakey______ CFP_ 0.28___ 1785000
Y snakey______ FTO_ 8.69___ 57500
Y snakey______ PMD_ 0.875__ 571400
Y snakey______ TAD_ 1.31___ 381700
Z team________ ASC_ 78.5___ 25480

I will aim to give the first analysis of the portfolio on Friday evening (need to find easiest way of transferring from Excel). There are 48 shares in the portfolio. The most popular are: SEO 30K; SPS 25K and TND 25K, BNH, DGM, NLR plus ASC on 20K. So 7 shares account for 36% of the portfolio.

Several contributors have given the reasons for their selections. It would probably be helpful if others also gave their reasoning.

Here's to a successful portfolio! I deserve a stiff drink after setting it up!

Eric

Thanks Eric, your going to be kept very busy with this portfolio!

Eric... well done but I thought I had chosen AEN, BGT, and MDW (not PCI and PDX) ta muchly for sorting it out

Eric,

What is "Z Team"? And sorry to sound completely dumb but what is ASOS? What does it stand for? Can't be a stock since it's 4 figure!

Cheers,

"U".

Eric,

I am already 400% up on PET! You must have been thinking about PCI. Anyway, thanks for the handicap.

Ramu

Well done and thanks Eric

capa

Any chance of putting bets on today or is it too late?

If not when is the next challenge?

Eric thanks for all the hard work, great to see the numbers taking part has risen so well. This should go to shares mag. for interest!

Mark, ASOS, As Seen on Screen, epic ASC.

MOB is storming ahead today!

Eric,
you`re doin` a great job already and it will be fun to follow. One point though as my selection of TAD was mid price 9.375 this morning whereas you have put it at 1.31 ??? This would have helped me no end but best to get it right from the start. no criticism.

Many thanks for feedback and corrections.
Jules: deleted PCI and PDX; added AEN at 697.5p and MDW at 9.09.
ramu: corrected PET to 53.75p, unfortunately.
snakey: corrected TAD to 9.94p, again unfortunately.
chad: sorry, but only fair to stick to the deadline. Comp. runs to 1st July;
if enthusiasm persists, no doubt we will repeat.
moneyplus: will drop a line to Shares re interest; re publicity; re prize(s).
kus: ASC are benchmark share; thus allocation to team; allocation Z because sandrew would not be happy if not A!

Any other corrections?

Amazing start with CFP (last time's booby) +23%, SEO (close runner up) +14%, AGL +9.5%. bosley and another (modesty forbids the real name!) up 9% and seb up 7%.

Eric

Oi!!
If I have to cook the dinner, at least I can be A!
Offers to do the washing up please!

EW , I definatley meant BPG (Business Post Group) and not BPRG. I will give reasons for my choices later.

Cheers and thanks for the work your putting in.

Damn - any chance of a late entry - just spotted the thread

My choice would have been SEO,NLR,FGO and RTD

Barry

Eric - Following Dil, whose comments I find more rational than most, I also went for BPG and not BPRG. Please adjust accordingly. You will see that my suggestions are (hopefully!)stronger companies likely to be less volatile than many suggested, so I do not expect to win, but hope to demonstrate that decent quality will usually outperform the majority. Don't want to complicate the issue, but dividends are very valuable in the long term (particularly when rolling up in Peps/Isas), so when I give the reasons end of July why my lot are not better, this will get a mention!

partridge: thanks; correction made; good philosophy - slightly more conservative against risk than some, but probably sleep more peacefully!
Dil: ditto; look forward to seeing logic.
Barry: sorry! Only fair to have fixed deadline. If generally appreciated, we should run again from 1st July.
sandrew - Cornwall seems fine for celebrations in early July. Do you want to be A1 rather than just 'A'?

Eric

I think I'd better leave that to you Eric. Thanks anyway!

We'll leave the A1 until you've won the contest, sandrew. lol! Eric

seo and agl doing me proud.

Can't do any worse than last time....I hope!!

Eric - Thanks for your response - I will keep an eye out for the next comp.

Regards Barry

Eric
Sorry slightly o/t.
Have you seen todays rns on MLS, can you give me bullet points briefly on why you think its a buy.
Looking to go in tomorrow with small stake, it seems a bit like a lottery but the rewards could be very attractive.
Thanks in anticipation.
Steve

Eric,
I trawled the AIM market for the four best trends (upwards!!!) on metastock and put them in. SD.

steevieweebie

Sorry not to come back sooner re your MLS question (been up to town for 24 hours). I hope participants will free to ask this type of question of the promoters of the various shares. A brief answer here; I ll give a more considered post to the MLS site (inactive I see) in the next couple of days.

I had a stake in MLS a year or so and got out with a smallish loss before the price collapsed on profit warnings. A takeover bid at the current price has been rejected and a significant placing of shares by Charles Stanley underwritten by Nomura is in process - Fidelity and Aberforth have announced stakes in the last couple of days. This underpins the current price of 7.12p. I saw their attraction as being their involvement in the sharp end of cancer research and treatment with the renowned Prof. Sakora as Scientific Director. Charles Stanley (investment advisory arm - chinese walls exist) are happy with the strength of the replacement directors and finance raised includes funds for new acquisitions. They could climb back up as fast as they came down but it must be deemed a speculative buy. But it is a one-way bet which is the sort I like!

Eric

2nd ASOS CHALLENGE

Table below shows performance of the selected shares in the first week. The holders are on the left with a double entry implying 10K of shares held. Overall portfolio has hardly moved and pretty well even number of winners and losers. I will aim to add cap. next week.

epic cost___ shares_ price value gain%
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 162.5 12448 24.5 JJ
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 473.5 24054 20.0 CDMM
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 15___ 5940_ 18.8 I
MLS_ 7.19___ 69500__ 8.25_ 5734_ 14.7 W
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 143.5 5597_ 11.9 B
SEO_ 7.19___ 417300_ 8____ 33384 11.3 BBSSUW
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 92___ 5428_ 8.5_ K
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 68___ 5396_ 7.9_ O
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 502.5 5377_ 7.8_ P
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.3__ 10710 7.1_ WY
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 11.38 5349_ 7.1_ T
NRG_ 220.25_ 2270___ 231__ 5244_ 4.9_ C
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 19___ 20900 4.5_ BEMS
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 240.5 5207_ 4.2_ C
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 844__ 5191_ 4.1_ P
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 266__ 5147_ 3.0_ G
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 52.5_ 5148_ 2.9_ I
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 15.5_ 5100_ 2.0_ O
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 333.25 5082 1.8_ P
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 216__ 10152 1.6_ GH
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 62.5_ 10063 0.8_ O
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 163.5 5036_ 0.8_ G
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 664__ 9960_ -0.5 DP
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 188.5 4920_ -1.6 G
AZM_ 137.5__ 3635___ 135__ 4907_ -1.8 W
GWP_ 20.25_ 8315___ 117__ 9729_ -2.7 E
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 11.38 4837_ -3.1 v
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 247.5 4839_ -3.2 m
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 131.5 4833_ -3.3 A
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 65___ 9666_ -3.3 T
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 8.38_ 4819_ -3.6 Y
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 7.15_ 4805_ -3.9 v
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 245__ 9555_ -4.4 DE
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 59.5_ 4778_ -4.4 H
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 21.5_ 23865 -4.4 LLLLR
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 83___ 4773_ -4.6 K
SPS_ 50.5___ 49500__ 48___ 23760 -5.0 AHIKK
PET_ 53.75__ 18600__ 50.75 9440_ -5.6 JR
CASH 142.25_ 7030___ 133.5 9385_ -6.2 CD
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.8__ 4571_ -8.6 Y
NBR_ 50.5___ 9900___ 46___ 4554_ -8.9 U
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 114__ 18206 -9.0 AIRR
MDW_ 9.09___ 165000_ 8.25_ 13613 -9.2 SV
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 70___ 17836 -10.8 ZZZZ
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 14___ 8820_ -11.8 U
PDX_ 231____ 6495___ 202.5 13152 -12.3 AJT
PKL_ 192.25_ 2600___ 162__ 4212_ -15.7 H
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 7.38_ 3934_ -21.3 Y

________________________ 439447_ -0.1

BGT (Bright Things) on a rapid climb after agreeing for Bonsai to distribute their 'Bubble' preschool software in the UK and Eire: 100K consoles and 200K software licenses in the first year. Unfortunately, can't find out what this means financially. Jules? Have opened a thread to try and find out.

NLR (Neteller) climbing almost vertically, including new Durlacher forecast of 12 per share. Cap looks pretty huge at 570M but they may just have a licence to print money! Good thread.

CEY (Centamin Egypt). Looking for renewal of gold exploration/mining licences in Egypt. No announcement but clearly the rumours are there. 3 proposers here and decent thread.

MLS (Medical Solutions). Price collapsed from around 50p to 7p on back of profit warnings. Clearly successful placing; sacked director offenders and decent replacements; operating in key cancer market including liquid based cytology systems (first three NHS licences should bring in 1m p.a.). May be quite a climb back but put forward on basis of good recovery prospects and no downside. I have promised to open thread.

AGL (Angle). Venture funding and consultancy re commercialisation of intellectual property, including recent venture for York University re IVF. Positive interim statment has helped sp. No post on thread since last April - I think bosley has wanted to keep it to himself!

SEO (Stanelco). Most popular on the challenge. Positive comment to Fund managers on trials with ASDA for which results awaited. Cap. still far too low at 60M (compared, e.g., to PDX). Active, enthusiastic thread.

moneyplus, Jules and bosley are off to a praticularly good start. Top 8 are (allow names for good performance!):

gain %
m moneyplus 10.33
B Bosley 9.72
W EWRobson 7.83
J Jules 7.78
C Capa 5.75
S seb190774 4.44
P partridge 3.27
O optimistic 2.9

Barclays are sponsoring an investment challenge with the Stock Exchange. Similar: 5K each in 10 shares; starts 1 March but you can register now and change before it starts. 40K prize with 5K for winning the regional heat. Info. via Investaquest website or Stock Exchange.

Obviously there are threads covering many of these stocks. However, do say something about any of your recommendations if you feel it would be helpful or ask the proposer any pertinent (or impertinent!) questions.

Eric

Eric, well done on your updating... I am sure I don't deserve to be fourth after the dismal performances of MDW and AEN this week, but congratulations to the rest of you with such good stock picking... may it long continue:-)

well done to the current leaders! had a bit of a bad week... sps and des are still awaiting news, feel they both still have high potential and could take off (fingers crossed) pkl had a good set of interims out today and i feel are a good long term buy, think they were missing "that little bit extra" which would make the outlook for 2005 very nice! ids seem to have buy written all over them.

hope this current challenge doesn't come down to timing again!!! above four shares have performed very well over the last year, will have to wait and see if they continue.

Anybody with any spare time on thier hands should check out itr and ibg, ibg has set of like a rocket this year! long may it continue :-)

Good look to all holders and a big thanks to Eric for setting this portfolio up!

dawsinho

Its inevitably about timing but then jgt has taught me just that for any investment. The www.investatec.com competition has just the same problems. No cost to enter: I like that sort of one-sided trade. You have to have one of your 10 companies in your home region: pleased to find SEO under south-east.

Have updated the portfolio evaluation post with comments on top 6 - some tempting morsels there!

Eric

Eric,

How many partcipants are there in this ASOS challege? Must've taken you ages to set all this up!

Jules has just alerted me to this - am I too late to join in?

SM

kus - 21 plus team entry from ASC. Not that long; the sort of thing I've alwys done for fun since playing HOWZAT as a boy and keeping all the averages!

supermum - sorry, but we had to be firm on the deadlines. Already have a lady in the lead, you'll be pleased to hear. Probably start again 1st July. Expect you are into Bright Thing, are you? - needing info!

Eric

lol- i wish! see you guys in july!
SM

Eric,

Please will you elaborate on "Switching....." see Rule 7 (above)? Thanks. Also never discovered what the origins of "ASOS" were - any chance of a brief resume?

Jules: your 10K in BGT far outweighs two small losses! Well spotted. Have opened a thread on BTG to try to dig out more info so hope you will comment there. Hemscott aren't showing any forecasts, but someone, somewhere should know what one of these 'Bubbles' is going to cost. Could still be good time to get in despite last week's rise.

Kus: ASOS used to trade as As Seen on Screen, epic ASC: 'as seen on' refers to the actress, typically, who originally wore the clothes item being sold; hugely successful with young ladies. Good thread to sift through to build up a picture. A 10-bagger last year but currently suffering from profit-taking. However a lot of life left in the share.

Eric

Thanks for all the hard work Eric!

Sharon

It actually is a pleasure - not really hard work at all, although it may be hard fun! What do you think of NLR, BGT and AGL?

Eric

Thanks for the update Eric, interesting comment regarding OWZTHAT, I still play it !

NRG results out tomorrow, can hardly wait.

capa

Capa, is that the cricket game with the funny dice. If it is. We have my husband's original one and my kids still play it at18/16/11( their ages)...Always take it on our flights home to OZ

Thanks Eric had a look at NLR a little while ago but obviously didn't take them seriouly enough, but did buy some TMN on Friday have you had a look at those?

capa, jules: yes, that's the game. Proves we're all just grown up kids really. Good luck on NRG.

Sharon: TMN look interesting although perhaps there will be a better time to buy from the charts (hope jgt is watching!). Getting into overload with all thee attractive situations. Definitely seduced by BGT and NLR and there looks as though there could be a lot of action left. The problem I find is that you note the recommendations but its only when they shoot ahead that you take the opportunity on board.

Eric

Interesting day for the portfolio! BGT up 9.23% to 36%; NLR up 8.24% to 30%; MLS up 13.64% to 31%. Like the Vendee Globe, stretching clear of the field. Not sure where Ellen McArthur is; running her own race I suspect! Took stakes in the first two this morning and into nice positive ground already. Almost embarrassed with MLS as I put them forward as a recovery stock, thinking there was time before they would recover. Steevieweebie prompted me into action and I took a stake at the strating price. So thanks Stevie! Have others taken action? Charts for BTG and NLR are very positive and there appears likely to be a lot more headway. Now, where are you Ellen?

Eric

Easiest 3 bagger ever , back Wales to stuff England Saturday ... don't say I didn't tell you

:-)

Dil:
Wales to stuff England Youmust be joking!!!!!

Eric ,
Did you get the post???

SEADOG: thanks; looks very interesting - will respond when I've had a chance for a decent perusal. Agree jgt could be interested.

Dil - now, I know what dil stands for: DILusion! ROFL! Wales team ROFT (T=thrashed!)

Eric

Thanks Eric I can go to bed on a good laugh now! Dil has taken lots of stick about his homeground but that has got to be the funniest. cheers MP

Look and learn guys , easy money going begging , fill yer boots :-)

Take a close look at GMC--I think it's about to reward it's holders with good results in a couple of months. Heavy director buying I have ditched my Cyh to pick up this one-got fed up and took my losses on the chin. GMC already moving up and Evil K is a big fan.

Not convinced Evil K being a fan is that great an endorsement. I remember him shorting NLR not so long back. Hope he didn't lose too many millions :-)

capa

Evil K is a top daug in Kryso Resources (KYS) - on The Board of Directors. Sp - up 14% today and still hardly any media coverage - not even on BBC1 Teletext pages, in fact! KYS are in my ASOS Challenge Portfolio (50%). Basically Co. is exploring already-explored land with genuine potential. Not a hype-up job c.t. others in its Sector. Worth taking a look, at least.....

capa: nice to have some millions to lose!

kus: hardly a recommendation; reading about him leaves a nasty tast in the mouth.

all: remember the rule allowing a switch of shares. Unless it soars tomorrow will sell AZM and buy NML at Friday close, according to the rules. Have ditched AZM, my longest running share, from my portfolio. Had banked on a licence deal for their obesity drug. However, an RNS this week on US approvals says, to me at elast, that they are playing it too lon for this protfolio and therefore for me - back to the watchlist. NML starting production for diamons in Angola, vastly underrated at cap. of 6m.

Eric

Eric,

Can I do likewise, please, i.e. I want to dispose of 5k Namibian Resources (NBR) and replace with 5k of Stanelco (SEO)? Thus making my new Portfolio to read: -
10k SEO and
10k KYS

Many thanks,

Kus.

PS. Comments noted re Simon Caukhill ("E-K"). Agree that he's probably no angel (don't want to pass a personal judgement on him) but he obviously has an eye for an opportunity or two.....!

I'll stick with mine Eric, NRG produced creditable results on Monday but have suffered at the hands of the sell on results brigade. 60% increase in profits and progressive dividend policy, with the stronger half of the year to come should ensure return of the uptrend. MOB and NLR are stars and the market just hasn't woken up to CASH, yet !!

regards

capa

Eric - my "tortoise" portfolio bought with the intention of keeping for the full period, just to see how it compares with the "hares" of the frequent traders. Don't want to complicate the issue unduly, but would it be possible to note the number of changes in each portfolio during the running? In the real world dealing costs (and dividends, which in my holdings always cover the costs by good margin) are cash items and can add up.

kus - consider it done!
capa - you look in good shape, though not as shapely as the girls!
partridge - take your point. However, setting the dealing point at half way between mid-point and bid/offer is intended to allow for dealing costs. Take SEO as an example, surprising number of deals at the mid-point: one finds quite often, as others have also observed, that a buy is shown as a sell and vice versa. Cost of buying 5K SEO about 0.008p a share; of selling 0.003p. Rule seems reasonable and adjustments could have been proposed before we started. OK? Mind, I suspect, whilst you may not win, I bet you are in the second quartile!

Eric

hello eric
could you do an update to tell me where i am up to.
regards
sebastien

Can I put 5k on Wales to stuff England EW ?

Dil
What a wag you are SD

Dil: not only DILuded but now DILirious! EW

I have already laid off part of my bet on betfair and am now on Wales for free.

Bring it on :-)

We will!

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

Poor old ASOS is reclining next to bottom in this week's chart! Mind, I wouldn't write them off yet. may just be a good buying opportunity. The overall portfolio is up 6.6% [I'll try to put an update for comparison with small cap index].

epic cost__ shares_ price value gain gain-wk

SEO_ 7.19__ 417300_ 10.75 44860 49.5 34.4___ BBSSUW
CFP_ 0.28__ 3570000 0.39_ 13923 39.3 30.0___ WY
NLR_ 394.5_ 5080___ 540.5 27457 37.0 14.1___ CDMM
MLS_ 7.19__ 69500__ 9.5__ 6603 32.1 15.2___ W
BGT_ 130.5_ 7660___ 170.0 13022 30.3 4.6____ JJ
MOB_ 230.75 2165___ 295.0 6387 27.8 22.7___ C
DGM_ 18.19_ 110000_ 22.75 25025 25.1 19.7___ BEMS
CEY_ 12.625 39600__ 14.5_ 5742 14.9 -3.3___ I
IDS_ 212.5_ 4700___ 243.5 11445 14.6 12.7___ GH
AGL_ 128.25 3900___ 142.5 5558 11.1 -0.7___ B
RSG_ 466.25 1070___ 512.5 5484 9.9 2.0____ P
BPRG 67.25_ 14870__ 72.75 10818 8.2 11.9___ TT
BAG_ 811___ 615____ 874.5 5378 7.8 3.6____ P
DFD_ 136___ 3675___ 145.5 5347 7.0 10.6___ A
CRDA 327.37 1525___ 350.0 5338 6.9 5.0____ P
HCEG 63____ 7935___ 66.0_ 5237 4.8 -2.9___ O
BGC_ 84.8__ 5900___ 88.25 5207 4.1 -4.1___ K
KCOM 62____ 16100__ 64.5_ 10385 4.0 3.2____ OO
THUS 15.19_ 32900__ 15.75 5182 3.7 1.6____ O
EPD_ 51____ 9805___ 52.5_ 5148 2.9 0.0____ I
PCI_ 10.625 47000__ 10.88 5114 2.4 -4.4___ T
KYS_ 15.875 63000__ 16.25 10238 2.4 16.1___ UU
BPG_ 667.62 1500___ 680.0 10200 1.9 2.4____ DP
CIU_ 162.25 3080___ 165.0 5082 1.7 0.9____ G
ACE_ 258.25 1935___ 262.5 5079 1.6 -1.3___ G
SPS_ 50.5__ 49500__ 50.5_ 24998 0.0 5.2____ AHIKK
GHH_ 191.5_ 2610___ 190.5 4972 -0.5 1.1____ G
FTO_ 8.69__ 57500__ 8.625 4959 -0.7 2.9____ Y
NRG_ 220.25 2270___ 218.5 4960 -0.8 -5.4___ C
GWP_ 120.25 8315___ 117.5 9770 -2.3 0.4____ EE
MDW_ 9.09__ 165000_ 8.875 14644 -2.4 7.6____ SV
BNH_ 125.25 15970__ 121.5 19404 -3.0 6.6____ AIRR
IDOX 11.75_ 42500__ 11.38 4837 -3.1 0.0____ v
XEN_ 7.44__ 67200__ 7.15_ 4805 -3.9 0.0____ v
AUG_ 256.25 3900___ 246.0 9594 -4.0 0.4____ DE
CASH 142.25 7030___ 135.0 9491 -5.1 1.1____ CD
TND_ 22.5__ 111000_ 21.25 23588 -5.6 -1.2___ LLLLR
PMD_ 0.875_ 571400_ 0.825 4714 -5.7 3.1____ Y
PET_ 53.75_ 18600__ 50.25 9347 -6.5 -1.0___ JR
PAY_ 255.75 1955___ 237.5 4643 -7.1 -4.0___ m
TRT_ 87____ 5750___ 80.0_ 4600 -8.0 -3.6___ K
AZM_ 137.5_ 3635___ 125.25 4553 -8.9 -7.2___ W
NBR_ 50.5__ 9900___ 43.5_ 4307 -13.9 -5.4__ U PDX_ 231___ 6495___ 192.0 12470 -16.9 -5.2__ AJT
DES_ 62.25_ 8030___ 51.5_ 4135 -17.3 -13.4_ H
TAD_ 9.375_ 53300__ 7.75_ 4131 -17.3 5.0___ Y
ASC_ 78.5__ 25480__ 63.25 16116 -19.4 -9.6__ ZZZZ
PKL_ 192.25 2600___ 154.0 4004 -19.9 -4.9__ H

total___________________ 468294 6.4 6.6
bought
NML_ 5.31__ 85750__________________________ W
SEO_ 10.875 39600__________________________ U
sold
AZM
NBR

Five of the top 6 remain in place with MOB moving up to 6th to replace AGL. [I will give comments on to 6 weekly movers over the weekend].

The battle for pre-eminence is hotting up amongst the tipsters. Top six are:

B Bosley 33.8%
S Seb___ 30.5%
W EWR___ 28%
M moneyp 23.1%
C capa__ 14.8%
U markus 10.1%

Is there any additional analysis that would be helpful. I thought I would give a full league table at the end of the month - without full names! I will also try to add capitalisation which is key in my share selection.

I also think it would be helpful if sponsors drew attention to any key dates or announcements as I can only really pick out the top performers.

Eric

Just got in from the pub, gutted that I'm only 5th.

What it is with you lot and SEO, I just don't get it ! All I see is a risky punt on a company with potential but no cash and a lost court case, enlighten me please as I have lost thousands watching this going up whilst scratching my head.

PS. Not a holder of BPRG :-)

capa

Its a marathon not a sprint capa , anyone beating the FTSE All Share Index is doing a lot better than the majority of fund managers.

ASOS , go look at my comments from a month or two ago EW , still feel the same but the difference being the chart now agrees with me.

wow! top of the league! capa, think nike , and just do it! there may be a buying opportunity next week. top of the league ........made my weekend.

Bos. Well done: not only top of the league but made a lot of friends with your backing for SEO.

capa. Always tended to go off too fast in the 10000m and the cross country - only done two laps of the former so far! Re SEO, suggest you have a good look at the thread. A good summary by TheFrenchConnection. Prelims are on 23rd Feb. so it should become clearer then; better still, take a stake before that date! ASDA contract could well be announced as it is known that trails have gone well and are in their last stage - proving the shelf like claims.

Dil. Don't need to look at the charts. Sold the lot though I am building up a strong CFD positio. Read John Marshall in Shares this week for reasons to buy at the current sp.

Eric

Bet Dil's happy tonight-good game Wales!

OK thats 5k on Wales at 2-1 .... I'm winning :-)

Dil : congratulations. The fans were described as DILirious so we will replace DILirium with that! EW

Eric, just noticed my post of last Friday asking to switch from MOB to SEO
didn't register I must have pressed the wrong button.

No doubt being the decent sort of chap that you are you will see me all
right.

capa

yes and me i changed all mine to seo, lol.

Eric

I am really surprised you did not get my post asking you to log my entire 20k plus the additional 20k gearing I borrowed from my Mum against SEO. Disappointed to be left out as I am sure I would have won.

LOL :)

SD

And don't forget I backed Wales at 2-1 last Friday with my dosh :-)

What a load of try-on merchants. The only one that is at all credible is DIL and he has had his day in the sun! The others have to write out each day: "I will not take profits on SEO but will hold them until they get to 50p". Have just had to give a sermon on the SEO thread - some were talking about taking profits. One even went so far as to say that they were only real profits when they were in the bank. I told him he was better holding a real growing asset like SEO than a reducing asset in the bank. Did he sell his house to make his asset real and then buy it back again next week? What a load of codswallop!

Sorry folk, out all day and its taken me an age to tend my rapidly growing assets at SEO, NLR and YOO. Will do the portfolio update tomorrow. Now I do have a message for all those looking longingly at SEO and thinking that the contest is over. The answer is: invest real money in SEO; use CFDs if possible to increase the gearing - the journey has only just started! More tomorrow.

Eric

Thanks EW , I did tell you :-)

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE

The portfolio is up 15% in its first three weeks. OK, SEO accounts for some 10%but it is still pretty good going.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% week
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 17.0__ 77673 136.4 58.1 BBSSUUW
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 602.5_ 30607 52.7_ 11.5 CDMM
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 177.5_ 13597 36.0_ 4.4_ JJ
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.38__ 13566 35.7_ -2.6 WY
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 23.0__ 25300 26.4_ 1.1_ BEMS
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 84.0__ 12491 24.9_ 15.5 TT
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 156.5_ 6104_ 22.0_ 9.8_ B
MLS_ 7.19___ 69500__ 8.5___ 5908_ 18.2_ -10.5 W
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 98.25_ 5797_ 15.9_ 11.3 K
MDW_ 9.09___ 165000_ 10.5__ 17325 15.5_ 18.3 SV
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 14.5__ 5742_ 14.9_ 0.0_ I
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 135.5_ 11267 12.7_ 15.3 EE
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 259.5_ 5618_ 12.5_ -12.0 C
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 214.5_ 5598_ 12.0_ 12.6 G
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 11.88_ 5584_ 11.8_ 9.2_ T
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 515.0_ 5511_ 10.5_ 0.5_ P
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 148.0_ 5439_ 8.8__ 1.7_ A
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 68.5__ 5435_ 8.7__ 3.8_ O
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 16.5__ 5429_ 8.6__ 4.8_ O
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 229.5_ 10787 8.0__ -5.7 GH
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 870.5_ 5354_ 7.3__ -0.5 P
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 348.25 5311_ 6.4__ -0.5 P
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 65.8__ 10586 6.0__ 1.9_ OO
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 91.8__ 5276_ 5.5__ 14.7 K
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 699.5_ 10493 4.8__ 2.9_ DP
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 264.0_ 5108_ 2.2__ 0.6_ G
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 12.0__ 5100_ 2.1__ 5.4_ v
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 261.5_ 10199 2.0__ 6.3_ DE
SPS_ 50.5___ 49500__ 51.5__ 25493 2.0__ 2.0_ AHIKK
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 164.0_ 5051_ 1.1__ -0.6 G
NRG_ 220.25_ 2270___ 221.5_ 5028_ 0.6__ 1.4_ C
CASH 142.25_ 7030___ 143.0_ 10053 0.5__ 5.9_ CD
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 7.3___ 4906_ -1.9_ 2.1_ v
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 8.4___ 4819_ -3.6_ -2.8 Y
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 5.12__ 4390_ -3.6_ -3.6 W
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 21.5__ 23865 -4.4_ 1.2_ LLLLR
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 244.0_ 4770_ -4.6_ 2.7_ m
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 116.5_ 18605 -7.0_ -4.1 AIRR
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.8___ 4571_ -8.6_ -3.0 Y
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 14.3__ 8978_ -10.2 -12.3 UU
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 45.5__ 4461_ -10.8 -13.3 I
PET_ 53.75__ 18600__ 47.0__ 8742_ -12.6 -6.5 JR
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 52.8__ 4236_ -15.3 2.4_ H
PDX_ 231____ 6495___ 191.5_ 12438 -17.1 -0.3 AJT
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 65.0__ 16562 -17.2 2.8_ ZZZZ
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 7.75__ 4131_ -17.3 0.0_ Y
PKL_ 192.25_ 2600___ 154.5_ 4017_ -19.6 0.3_ H

totals___________________ 507315_ 15.3_ 8.3
small-cap index_____ 2972.6 (anyone with access to the starting figure?)
Major movers of the week:
SEO up another 58%! Its a natural conclusion to draw that the market has been missed. This is probably far from being the case. The sales projection for 2 years ahead is 1000 machine sales and my estimate is that the pe will then be down to 10 at the present price whereas before long those projections will be left behind. ASDA are negotiating a contract and this will be on SEO's terms given that exclusivity for a period must be extremely valuable for ASDA. BUY!

There are 7 other shares which have moved more than 10% this week: MDW, BPRG, GWP, TRT, GHH, NLR, BGC. All the charts look positive to the layman (analysis appreciated, johngtudor).

BPRG are worth picking out because they have won a court case with SEO - whatever the actual sum received, which may include the InGel division of SEO, this is very much intended to demonstrate their toughness in protecting their rights. They are playing their position long-term, replacing technology unchanged in 60 years, so unlikely to move as fast as SEO but a very good medium term play.

NLR are worth picking out also as a share perhaps none of us can leave out of their portfolio. The share just rises nearly every day - the reason is that there are more and more gambnling on the internet every day and nearly all the money is moved about by NLR.

INVESTORS
BOS and Seb are almost out of site with double holdings in SEO; hats off to them! Yours Truly and Markus are also indebted to SEO but are probably fighting for the places. Moneyplus performing particularly well without any SEOs! Team has gone to sleep, ladies excepted, probably dreaming of all those sylph-like young girls in ASOS dresses (or without them!).

B 80.4_ T 11.1_ I -0.2
S 78.7_ J 10.6_ A -3.3
W 44.5_ V 7.8__ L -4.5
U 37.7_ O 7.2__ H -6.3
M 32.0_ P 7.1__ R -7.7
C 16.6_ K 6.3__ Z -17.2
D 15.1_ G 5.8__
E 13.5_ Y 1.5__

A reminder of the Stock Exchange challenge which starts at the end of March in which there is money to be won for the winner in each region based on 10 stocks at 5000 each, one of which must be in your own region (great that SEO is in South-East!). It adds work for administrator of thsi challenge to change shares so I propose we leave this offer open for two more weeks only. I will assume this is accepted unless anyone objects.

Good investing! Eric

Thanks Eric-pleased with Nlr rise but still waiting for Pay to start rising. Congratulations to the leading hands!

EW...well done on updating and seeing who is where in the comp...Are you sure that you that my BGT , MDW ande AEN haven't put me up there somewhere?..( I always dream:-)
LOL Jules

top of the league...again!!!! cheers

eric , what's the stock exchange challenge?

bos

Just go to www.imvestaquest.com for details. Entries close by 4th March although I think the competition runs from the end of March to end of June. By the way, you haven't got a chance because you can only count SEO once only! lol! 5K for the reional winner who goes into the inter-regional final. Blast! Sponsored by Barclays but it will be good to take their money off them. If there are 10 regions we can win 10 prizes between us, can't we!

Eric

congratulation bosley
but just wait mdw takes off

regards
seb

Thanks again, Eric, for posting.

But remember that I actually updated my SEO holding from 5k to 10k a while ago (just wish I'd have done so IN REAL LIFE!) so I think we are still in with a shout here? From being in 4th.from last pos. ..... up to mid-table..... then up to 6th. pos. ..... and now up to 4th. pos., remember my prediction: Markusantonius will win this Challenge at his first attempt - "It's a Marathon, not a sprint!". Sorry, but I've had a few beers this evening!!!!!

Regards,

Kus.

Markus

Good to learn that you are in relaxed mode after a few beers. SEO transfer already into your performance - mind, I intend to keep you behind me in 4th; not sure that I can catch seb or bos with only one portion of SEO. I accept it is a marathon which is why I suspect someone will come through: loof at moneyplus for instance without the benefit of any SEOs.

Eric

I would like to encourage comment on your selections in the portfolio, with cross-reference to the appropriate bb. In addition to my comments in the weekly report, worth mentioning:

ASC: driven down by shorting and are now an excellent buy with good potential to doube over the next few months.
AZM: I came out of these when I realised their timescale was probably too long for the challenge. However, there has been an excellent article in the IC (see bb) and I would be confident on the share doubling at least by the end of the year, if you have more patience than me. I would hate to be left in the cold (the NW wind is bad enough this morning) so I've taken out a CFD to tuck away; negligable downside risk.

Eric

Eric lots of enquiries on the NLR thread as to who you do your CFDs with--the interest is rising but it takes nerve!!

General Q re: MM's - Does anyone if they are allowed to (and actively do) make agreements amongst themselves to manipulate the sp's/spreads, eg. by acquring stock at a relatively low sp in the sure knowledge that they can all hike them up at a later date? Say if institutions want them in huge volume but supply is short at the moment? Hope this Q makes sense!

Hi to all you wealthy experts. I too am a newcomer, but feel I know many of you already. I purchased ASOS at 10p and SEO at 6p, I still hold both - rightly or wrongly !!!! I also will watch with interest, and learn ! Dave

Welcome, Dave, and well done! Some of us tend to trade in and out too much. Looking back over 2004, I would have been far better to have just stayed in ASC and reviewed it at the end of the year. I am now out of theshares, but have built up a decent CFD position around present prices. Have decided to run SEO through the inevitable downs and ups.

moneyplus: operate CFDs with blue index; will pop over to the NLR bb and put a fuller answer there. I don't think its a different order of 'nerve'. If you invest 10K is SEO, say; then , with a CFD at 4:1, you are effectively investing 40K. So, if the price doubles, you are plus 40K instead of 10K. If the price halves, you are minus 20K instead of minus 5K. Its really just a matter of gearing. The key thing is to select a share with limited downside compared to upside, but that a good principle anyway! The really difficult thing, I am finding, is the decision whether to close a position once you have a significant margin as, by that time, the downside has becoming a relatively larger risk.

Eric

Thank you Eric-will check out Blue Index and maybe have a go!

Eric asked me to cast an eye over the technicals of the second ASOS table which I am happy to do, albiet briefly. Now my comments are necessarily brief, and you are of course all welcome to have completely different views and opinions. One proviso up front it is somewhat difficult to reach meaningful conclusions on small cap shares that do not have much liquidity...but there may be some guidance from recent SP movements.
Here goes using MoneyAM's own charting package where I can:

Thursday 17th - using the last published Table:

SEO: SP falling back from overbought levels. Recent placing price provides support at 12.75p. However there is a further chart support at 11.8p, if it falls back through these levels and down below 10p we will have to wait and see where it bounces before reaching any new conclusions. Remeber after sucha sharp breakout we need to see a downward movement to establish the stocks chart position, and as such the uptrend is still very much in place. Only nervous holders would sell and in fact if it haolds at current levels for a few days I will BUY some more myself!

NLR: A very Bullish Chart! Clearly the SP has risen significantly of late and what we are seeing now is some consolidation from overbought levels. The uptrend since mid Jan has been dramatic and not once has the SP fallen back to test the 10 day ma. I would place the top of the current narrow resistance trend line around 6.80.

BGT: Very small Mkt Cap, massive rise since mid Jan. Consolidation for a while with MACD falling away at present. May be a better buying opportunity, maybe not! Would have to study company and take a view, perhaps the 'bright people' that bought in early can tell us as there is little data to work on!!

CFP: Another small Mkt Cap so not much to say, except that the SP has found support at 0.3p and resistance at 0.45p. Currently indicators suggest further falls.

DGM: Strong chart, with upper resistance trend line at 25.4p and lower at 20.3p Suggest holders watch for these levels and if they break out either way on a 2 day close basis you can take a view.

BPRG: As current holders of this stock will know this is a traders dream share. With large momentum driven swings. Currently the SP is looking for support at 75p after spending some time testing the downside around 62 - 65p if it dinds it then the upper target is perhaps 100p and beyond.

AGL: Strong uptrend Upper resistance 164p lower 148p.

MLS: The big drop from 20p in early November overhangs the Stock. All indicators failry neutral with the SP becalmed in the 8p area. Some further weakness on my indicators for what it's worth. The SP will have to move up through the 20p zone again for it to regain the Bulls confidence.

BGC: Support at 90p and with early hints of a recovery underway. Possible 110p target.

MDW: A lovely golden cross in mid Jan where the 50 day ma went throught the 200. We have a slow uptrend with a resistance level at 11.3p and lower support at 6.2p, but I favour the mid point bounce at 8.6p for a further attempt at the upper resistance level.

CEY: Well the SP looks like it's heading for around the 50 day ma support level at 12p, with an upper resistance target at 15.5p if that helps. Resource stocks look good for the longer term so I plan to investigate further.


Thats all for now as I have to turn my attention to the US markets. As I said before please comment as you see fit and hopefully in a positive vein before I continue trawling through the rest of these excellent selections.

John

John

That's brilliant: not only helps with the individual stocks we are interested in but also helps in understanding the priniples of technical analysis you are following. Many thanks for the efforts.

Eric

Got caught up with some interesting threads and had to have my 2 penn'orth. So not got onto the analysis - Sunday pm probably. Apologies, folk. far too many SEO-brations these days, as well!

Eric

ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO - 19th feb.

A less dramatic week with the portfolio , which is good for the ticker! Some good profits so worth listening to the master, Jim Slater, in this week's Sunday Times:

"What is the most important lesson you have learnt about money?"
"To run profits and cut losses. That way you get big profits and small losses. Ninety percent of investors get it wrong because its human nature to snatch a profit and not recognise or admit to a loss. As a result they invariably get small profits and large losses".

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% week
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 15.5__ 70820 115.6 -8.8 BBSSUUW(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 598.5_ 30404 51.7_ -0.7 CDMM(137)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 192.5_ 14746 47.5_ 8.5_ JJ(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.380_ 13566 35.7_ 0.0_ WY(137)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 24.375 26813 34.0_ 6.0_ BEMS(137)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 163.5_ 6377_ 27.5_ 4.5_ B(137)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 13.25_ 6228_ 24.7_ 11.5 T
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 83.5__ 12416 24.2_ -0.6 TT(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 76.5__ 6070_ 21.4_ 11.7 O
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 228.5_ 5964_ 19.3_ 6.5_ G
MLS_ 7.19___ 69500__ 8.375_ 5821_ 16.5_ -1.5 W(137)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 14.375 5693_ 13.9_ -0.9 I(137)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 260.5_ 5640_ 12.9_ 0.4_ C
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 522.5_ 5591_ 12.1_ 1.5_ P
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 94.0__ 5546_ 10.8_ -4.3 K
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 16.625 5470_ 9.4__ 0.8_ O
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 881.0_ 5418_ 8.6__ 1.2_ P
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 67.25_ 10827 8.5__ 2.3_ OO
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 130.0_ 10810 8.1__ -4.1 EE
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 24.25_ 26918 7.8__ 12.8 LLLLR
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 229.0_ 10763 7.8__ -0.2 GH
SPS_ 50.5___ 49500__ 54.0__ 26730 6.9__ 4.9_ AHIKK
MDW_ 9.09___ 165000_ 9.6___ 15881 5.9__ -8.3 SV(137)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 143.5_ 5274_ 5.5__ -3.0 A
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 700.0_ 10500 4.8__ 0.1_ DP
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 167.5_ 5159_ 3.2__ 2.1_ G
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 266.0_ 5147_ 3.0__ 0.8_ G
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 87.8__ 5046_ 0.9__ -4.4 K
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 257.5_ 10043 0.5__ -1.5 DE
NRG_ 220.25_ 2270___ 220.25 5000_ 0.0__ -0.6 C
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 50.5__ 4952_ -1.0_ 11.0 I
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 7.4___ 4939_ -1.2_ 0.7_ v
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 251.5_ 4917_ -1.7_ 3.1_ m
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 11.25_ 4781_ -4.3_ -6.3 v
CASH 142.25_ 7030___ 135.0_ 9491_ -5.1_ -5.6 CD
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 5.0___ 4288_ -5.8_ -2.3 W
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 8.125_ 4672_ -6.5_ -3.0 Y
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 305.12 4653_ -6.8_ -12.4 P
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 14.25_ 8978_ -10.2 0.0_ UU
PDX_ 231____ 6495___ 202.5_ 13152 -12.3 5.7_ AJT
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.75__ 4286_ -14.3 -6.3 Y
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 53.0__ 4256_ -14.9 0.5_ H
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 105.5_ 16848 -15.8 -9.4 AIRR
PET_ 53.75__ 18600__ 44.8__ 8324_ -16.7 -4.8 JR
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 62.0__ 15798 -21.0 -4.6 ZZZZ
PKL_ 192.25_ 2600___ 149.5_ 3887_ -22.2 -3.2 H
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 6.75__ 3598_ -28.0 -12.9 Y

totals___________________ 502492.7 14.2 -1.0
small-cap_ 2891.87 2959.5 450290.0 2.3_ -0.4

The number opposite some shares is the reference to a post made by johngtudor, our in-house charting guru, on that particular share. He aims to cover more over a period of time - I believe this will increase the value of the portfolio as a source of leads for each of us.

SEO still leads the way although down on the week. In fact it has tested and established, probably, a support level at 12.825p, the price of the recent placing. It seems likely that there was a shorting on Monday which had to be covered on Friday this bringing the sp back up. Interesting which way the sp moves on Monday with the prelims coming up Monday week.

NLR. Interesting comments by John. However, since written the sp has come back to test the 10 day MA. I have topped up but there could be profit-takers around after a long bull run.

BGT. One that beats the charters because of the lack of history. The "Bubble" console for pre-school children sounds terrific. Any comment, Jules?

CFP. Again, nothing much to get hold of from the charting point-of-view. Those of us backing it base outr faith on the professional management team taking it forward. Broking and flotation services for AIM companies, which is certainly a growth market.

You forget Legend at your peril! He has the main mover of the week in TND. The charts look as though they are testing a long-term resistance level. Interesting to hear, legend, why you put all your eggs in this particular basket and your view of the potential.

Legend had the winner in the last challenge, BNH. Looking down the list there are a number of companies which have fallen back aftere good runs, including are very own ASOS. BNH is looking very interesting at this level - again legend is a better person to explain and comment how he sees it from here.

bos and seb still lead the way on the back of SEO. moneyplus rises to 4th and is the best-paced of those who don't hold SEO. Team is still ZZZZZZZZing but watch out for ASC shooting up the table before long!

B 73.2_ D 13.1_ I -0.2
S 67.8_ E 12.7_ A -3.3
W 38.4_ O 11.8_ Y -3.3
M 34.1_ G 8.3__ H -5.6
U 29.5_ L 7.7__ R -10.1
J 16.5_ K 6.4__ Z -21.0
C 15.1_ P 4.6
T 15.1_ V 1.5

Have a good week's trading.

Eric

EW sorry, have had a hectic week.. will try and answer questions re Bright things more fully this week, but yes, The bubble concept is a good un and nursery teachers are very excited about it too.... If all goes to plan in the next few months then this share should double fairly quickly...It is speculative...but hey, fortune favours the brave:-)
EW, Does my AEN not rate on the table above?

Jules: thanks. Re holdings: you have always been down for 10K BGT. 5K PET and 5K PCI so don't know where AEN comes in? Eric

ohhhhhh! didnt think i would still be top of the league after last week. but here i am . sebs close, and then a gap is appearing. bit like the premiership.(bagsy being united)

Eric - not sure where you got the CRDA price from, but it would help my cause if you corrected it! Still confident the "tortoise" portfolio will do OK.

EW, you not been taking your memory tablets:-))

- 20 Jan'05 - 21:25 - 5 of 144 edit



Eric , would like to parrticipate, and the shares I would like to distribute the money between are (10k)BGT,(5k) AEN and(5k) MDW

BGT is a company started by the guys who owned Eidos and started Lara Croft.
AEN..the potential is threefold, just hope it doubles by July:-)
MDW is my baby in the medical sector. Have a money saving, proven PSA test for prostate cancer that can save the NHS millions

23 Jan'05 - 22:33 - 46 of 145 edit



Eric... well done but I thought I had chosen AEN, BGT, and MDW (not PCI and PDX) ta muchly for sorting it out

and here is your reply......Whoops:-))
24 Jan'05 - 20:21 - 56 of 145


Many thanks for feedback and corrections.
Jules: deleted PCI and PDX; added AEN at 697.5p and MDW at 9.09.
ramu: corrected PET to 53.75p, unfortunately.
snakey: corrected TAD to 9.94p, again unfortunately.
chad: sorry, but only fair to stick to the deadline. Comp. runs to 1st July;
if enthusiasm persists, no doubt we will repeat.
moneyplus: will drop a line to Shares re interest; re publicity; re prize(s).
kus: ASC are benchmark share; thus allocation to team; allocation Z because sandrew would not be happy if not A!

Any other corrections?


Big kiss anyway for organising the fun:-)

blimey - its all fun and games on this thread!!!

SM

Many thanks for the update eric, good to see Seymour Pierce's buy note for the daddy share! could be a very good buying opp for asc..

Jules

Sorry for that. Not perfect after all! Would be awful to be perfect in an imperfect world! Will start taking gingko - if I remember! Jules has spoken and it will come to pass forthwith, which means next weekend. Moves you into closer order with those vieing for 3rd. Thanks for info - really excited about BTG's Bubble (may be second childhood!) I wonder if shareholders will get special terms?

partridge. Whoops, another one. 345.125p Up into the top half. Will correct next week.

Eric

Eric

EW... wouldn't be the same if you were too perfect. You'll do as you are:-)
The bubble is exciting and as soon as I get the info , I will post..
have a good one!!

Tuesday 22nd - Continuing my thoughts on the technicals of the Challenge stocks, feedback on any aspect welcome as per my earlier post 137. I am using Eric's post 122 as a reference although I note some changes are planned in holdings next week.

GWP: There was a bullish crossover of both the 10/20 day m.a. through the 50 day earlier this month. However we have the indicators currently suggesting a retest of the 130p resistance/support zone currently. If the stock can build a base here and go on to conquer the 200 day m.a. (137p) and then go up through the 140p level we can start looking to the heavens again. However the 200 day ma does look to be providing stern resistance and you will note it recently failed to break through.

MOB: The chart of this stock represents a classical up trend. Currently pausing for some breath although the Stochastic is starting to rise from oversold levels. I have transferred this stock into another charting package (ie I am not using the Money AM charting facility) and note it sits right on the middle of a rising uptrend at 263p with upper resistance at 302p and support at 225p.

GHH: I must confess to having a great interest in this stock having held it myself on and off for several years. It is clearly in breakout mode and attacking the glories of the 2000 - 01 era. Where next, well I think as the indicators all look a little overbought, (although this does not necessarily mean that the SP cannot continue to rise) some retracement will be helpful to build the chart. We are clearly looking to target 250p and beyond over the next month or so.

PCI: Well I thought this stock was doomed as I tipped it for the challenge, but it's next level of resistance is 14p - 16p so all is not lost... but we might have some retracement before then. As an out and out gamble it could still fly.

RSG: Strong resistance now at 520 - 540p zone. SP seems to be consolidating at these levels after a strong bounce from the lows of early January. There is an interesting Fibonacci level at 570p so worth watching. If you are Long it's a strong hold.

DFD: Still in a strong uptrend. The Stochastic is showing signs of bouncing back from oversold levels so although most indicators are neutral at the moment we could well see another push to 160p and beyond...clearly though market sentiment will drive this SP. The 50 day ma seems to be a good SL though for profit takers.

HCEG: There is a musical that springs to mind when looking at this stock...up up and away...a lovely chart with strong bounces from the 50 day ma. There is a suggestion that we are currently at overbought levels, but the chart suggests continued upward momentum. I will need to discuss with Eric target dates for this challenge because looking closely at this particular SP (there is of course nothing certian in this world) one might be so bold as to make some predictions!

THUS: I think it is fair to say we all now about the trials and tribulations of the teleco stocks. THUS needs to break through the 200 day ma (19.3p but still falling) before anyone can get excited. A slow and long recovery seems to be underway, but first it has to get through 17p.

IDS: The chart reflects a strong uptrend with 300p in sight. Currently bounced off resistance at 244p and the indicators are still pointing down so better BUY opportunities will present themselves.

BAG: A strong uptrend with 950p in sight. I used the 20 day (simple) ma as a good reflection of the SP.

CRDA: Currently retracing but 380p target looks on the cards. I see support currently at 306p, but would if it was me use the 50 day ma at 334p as a good SL area.

KCOM: You can see that the 50 - 80p zone has been in play for the last year or so. I would like to see it go through 70p and beyond before feeling that we were really climbing having said that though we have bounced well since November last with a glorious golden cross last month. Indicators suggest its currently overbought (although this does seem to be the case with most of the small caps at the moment).

TRT: Although we are currently retracing if the SP can break through recent peaks of 95p we are looking at 120p+.

BPG: In my opinion this SP is heading for 750p and beyond with or without the collapse of the Post Office as we know it today! A textbook chart bouncing off the lows around 528p last November.

ACE: I think we are in for some consolidation at this SP bounded by the 50 day ma. Presumably upcoming news flow will move the SP one way or another. All indicators are neutral but the SP still in the strong uptrend from last summer. Assuming the uptrend does not break down we are looking at 400p+.

Must move on now and plan to finish review by end of week. I do hope some of these comments are useful to holders. From my own selfish perspective it has brought a number of buying opportunities onto my radar so thanks to the nominees for that! I note Evil has read the recent Seymour P note on ASOS and is not impressed, he thinks anyone who is not short is an ASOS...so methinks it is time to buy some more. My only other observation is that many of these wonderful stocks do seem to be slightly overbought at these levels so we probably will need to see some tracement before another upwards surge...so keep your powder dry!

John

John

Thanks a million! Excellent post but I know there is a lot of effort behind it. Realls adds a whole new dimension to the value of this column. Will work through the situations myself. The ones that bounce out and which have been on my watch-list for some time are DFD, who have raised funds for expansion without these being reflected in sp, and HCEG who are on a real winner with Ebiox wich seems as effective as anything in fighting MRSA.

Team: it would be helpful to have anything on the fundamentals of shares you hold to read with the technical analysis.

Eric

Eric,

I support the request for some fundamentals on these stocks there are some real crackers in there! As it takes ages to trawl through the respective BB's, if promoters could add some notes about where they see events going over the next 6 months with their selections we will build an excellent investment BB between us. Incidentally, I forgot to mention that I thought Shares magazine came out with an interesting copy the other week...after we started this BB...talking about the next ASOS! Someone somewhere must be reading this!

John

Hi Eric,

great job by the way and thanks for taking time out to do this, i actually find shares quite boring (but hopefully profitable one day) and things like this really do add interest.

Im qiute new to all this and have quite lazy approach (mainly due to time) but would like to share how i do things. Sorry about my ignorance but could you give us a quick explanation of what you mean, 'fundamentals' and 'technical analysis' ive looked in my Alvin Hall book and cant find it.

Most of my shares a quite speculative, where i read as much evidence/background as i can and then make a judgement on whether there is a future for that product. Im not one for studying charts, who is buying or selling etc, moving averages and all that jargon though im sure it works for many.

Transense Technologies TRT for instance make Tyre Pressure Monitoring Systems and Surface Acoustic Wave sensor systems for the automotive industry (see more at www.transense.co.uk). It is one i noticed about 5 years ago and a lot of these systems are a legal requirement in every vehicle in the US if that happens in this country it could fly. The SP just keeps going up on very little news and trading, so hopefully being bought by those in the know. LIcense agreement not longed been signed with Honeywell and the promise of more. To me its a matter of when not if.

Will post more thoughts at a later date when i know more about TA and F cheeres bye for now.

John thank you for your excellent work it's a great help. have you looked at GMC it's really breaking out. cheers MP

Kivver: I'll leave that to our guru, johngtudor. Alternatively, drop me a message with some specific questions. Some readers would be bored here to have to look trough what they already know.

moneyplus: here you go again, keep finding you promoting GMC! Have had a look. Seems to say that they do the portal - does that mean they don't actually provide the poker game but make their money on these wretched advertising clicks which keep getting under your fingers! Seems they do tsome gaming themselves although not profitable for year to September. But they do seem to be pressing the right buttons and still quite low cap. althoug up 4 times in a month. Tempted to have a flutter!

Another request for players to give some fundamentals on their shares. Brief summary of what they do. Why hold? What is the potential? Key dates.

Eric

For myself ("U"), I have 50% Stanelco (SEO) which you, especially, Eric, already know about - and a lot more than myself!!!!!

My other 50% is Kryso (KYS) which is basically an exploration co based in Tajikistan "with assets in mining properties and management know-how which is rapidly reaching the stage of reporting feasibility details, beginning April/May 05 [unquote].....". Prior to recent listing it was approximately 3 times oversubscribed by the institutions having taken over where other companies left off due to lack of finance and technical capabilities in bygone years. Previous feasibilities studies and popular respected opinion suggests that the region is hugely rich in gold and precious ores. Kryso plans to explore gold, silver and these other ores and to continue exploring all year round without stoppage for weather conditions. So there you have it - my first ever "ramp" but I fully expect to win this ASOS Challenge in the Summer!

Cheers, Kus.

Hi Eric-I have gone through the GMC website and they have their fingers in so many pies it's difficult to put it all down! The website is well worth a good look through but basically they promote gambling on other websites for other companies such as betfair and william hill collecting fees per click. they also own and operate play casino.co.uk the no 1 site for punters each week according to hitwise the click monitors, they also own and operate instant casino and find poker.com. poker is set to be worth in excess of 1.2 billion dollars so they hope to capture a good slice of the market there are various other sites on their web page all to do with some form of gambling. They also own the recently acquired eyeconomy ltd. an online leading advertising and media company.
So I feel they don't have all their eggs in one basket rather like YOO. the sp has done well so may now take a breather until the results come out end of April I think. This is a very young company and could take off like ASC but maybe not for a while. I am excited about it but don't want to appear a ramper as I intend to hold for at least two years.
Golly this is hard work---time for bed I think and hope for a good day on the markets tomorrow. CFP and PXC are letting me down so far this year.
Stock Dog seems to find some interesting shares I am watching them, not bad for a woofer! cheers MP

Hi MP - Thanks for that. Mustn't do this compulsive internet stuff into the early hours - I suspect thats how you pick up all these hot leads though. Had a nibble at GMC this morning. Not everyone may pick up what a portal is - basically a site which has as its primary purpose to advertise for other sites and allow you to access them by a click on an icon. What I like about MP's summary is that they get paid for every click. I expect they cunningly direct attention to their own sites so they get the gamblers money as well. Sort of share that could become another NETeller. The odds on that are probably much better than a gamble and unlikely to lose your money.

As for stockdog, like many woofers he is always finding new ports of call! Suggest he comes to heel more and follows his mistress, could be you (!), to focus on the juciest opportunities. Hope you survive today's carnage.

Eric

Hi Eric--not happy today at all but it had to happen!! My night time ways are about to be seriously disrupted as I have to go in for a knee replacement tomorrow morning--I'm expecting serious withdrawal symptoms!! I have decided to leave my portfolio in the lap of the gods rather than sell out may be wrong but who knows! I can't leave my husband to look after it he loses his nerve and sells at the first dip! As he is a very early morning person 0530 up I've tried to persuade him into spreadbetting but he's much too cautious. I think he's expecting me to change my nocturnal ways after a hospital regime as we don't communicate for a fair bit of the day--he works for a living as well! Much more fun to play the markets I think. cheers MP

Hi mp. That's a lovely insight - hubs in bed early and up by 5.30 a.m.; wifey in bed late at 1.30 a.m. and up by I don't know when; unless you have kids to get to school? Hope the op. goes well; I hope it isn't arthritis. But they are so skilled these days and the technology is so good. From what I have seen of your portfolio, I wouldn't worry too much. Mind you could take a laptop in but that mightn't be good for the nurses pulses! But I would close the spreadbets; I wouldn't be too comfortable with my CFDs and suspect I would close half of them and put the money in the building account.

All the best, Eric

Thanks Eric- children all flown the nest and granddaughter due in June that's why I decided to get the knees fixed! Yes it is arthritis probably from sitting in front of the computer too much!

mp Sympathise but feel that the op will help the agility and give improved quality of life. Snap! grandchild due July although parents don't want to know sex - due on my birthday, 11th July which would be great! KJeep us posted on progress. Eric

As requested EW

The BGT bubble will be on show at the toy fair this week. It is retailing for around 59 as far as I understand. Has had a retracement today due to announcement of a placing... Pretty sure that this will be lapped up and that the price will not be much lower than the bid price of 166.. So will show good support for a share that will have risen over 100% in the last few weeks. I am looking to add alot more as this concept should have a great deal of appeal and is beginning to get the city very excited as the guys who run it are very well respected annd tend to deliver what they promise (so I have been told)
This bubble has no wires and is geared for preschool children. It is an interactive game which only needs the use of a dvd player or playstation or xbox. Children can watch their favorite programmes which range from teletubbies, to thomas the tank. (You name it BGT have the rights to use it) When their favorite character asks them to do something , they can , so the kids feel part of the action. It is also aimed to be educational , teaching the kids through their favorite programmes basic concepts that children need to learn. Think the potential is huge. Know of some kids who trialled it and it was a HUGE success with both them and the parents

Good luck money plus... I know about knees. Have had six operations on them and now need a knee replacement. They won't give me one yet as they said I am too young. My knees are shot from sport and associated accidents:-(
Hard when I have 3 sporty kids and they want to run, play tennis etc with me and i can't! You will feel much better after it but you will have to work HARD at your quad exercises given by the phsio

Will do-we can compare notes. Does your wife get cross at the amount of time you spend on here--my husband does I'm sure his nose is put out as he calls me Geek etc! while waiting for his meal LOL! Anyway I must go out now as my last bid for freedom and I'm supposed to have a hair salon to run...occasionally.

moneyplus.... I am a girl too:-)

Well! What do you know! I thought you were very perceptive, Jules, when it came to pre-educational children's toys! We really are being taken over, fellows. What on earth remains sacrosanct - heaven, you say, oh thank goodness for that! lol! Typical man, laughs at his own jokes!

Eric

EW... I'm very good at multi tasking:-)

Jules, here's wishing you well with the upcoming Op. We expect to hear from you on progress. John

john.. not me yet but moneyplus who is having the replacement.

Don't worry, Jules, John is mere man and all legs are the same to him! Eric

Oops, apologies Jules and good luck MoneyPlus...not sure though that all legs are the same to me, perhaps to Eric, but then again!! John

Continuing the Technicals, all previous provisos remain:

IDOX: Current SP around 11p and seems to have a entered a slight uptrend over the last 6 months bounded by 12.75 to 9.42p. Always difficult to say what will happen next to the SP of such a small cap share that seems to be range bound. Current trend is down and I would place my SL at the lower bound of the channel.

AUG: Remains in a strong uptrend, with an upper target of 290p and beyond. Currently looking to push higher.

SPS: Brushing aside the glories of Year 2000 where the SP hit a peak approaching 6 we are now looking for support at the 200 day ma around 45p, which is where I would place my SL if you are mindful to do so. All indicators suggest further falls from here.

CIU: Taking a long term view we have a slow fall from a SP high of 280p in June '94 to a low of 5p in Nov 02, since then we have a wonderful, almost linear uptrend currently sitting at 168p. I see an upper resistance level at 200p+ Indicators currently recovering from overbought levels and I would use the 50 day MA as a SL, currently at 155p.

NRG: This stock really took off in Aug 2003. Using that trend line there is uptrend support at 190p which is where I would place my SL. Although current trend is down it is unlikely to fall back that far and has a target at present of 260p+ but needs to get through 231p on a 2 day basis first.

CASH: In Jan/Feb the SP made a lower high when failing to break through the 144p level. All indicators are for further SP falls so I think a safe SL would be the 50 day ma currently at 129p.

XEN: Well another fallen angel from the high's of Y2000 where the SP hit 450p and currently sits at 7.3p. With the 50 day ma at 7.1p (SL?) I would be watching developments very closely over the next few days.

FTO: Here we have an Oil company that for some reason has not yet really taken off. The SP is currently becalmed around 8 -8.5p. I see support at 7p and it needs to get back up through 10p to start flying again.

NMC: Unable to find data...

TND: Currently hitting the resistance line of a slow uptrend bounded by 24.7 and 18.1p. Needs to break through 25p on a 2 day basis and gather steam. Slightly overbought on the indicators but with small caps anything is possible.

PAY: A strong uptrend remains in place. I note a failure to get through the 268p peak recently, but on balance I would say the stock will try again in due course. SL at the recent low of 238p seems reasonable as it went through the 50 day ma decisively recently and found this level, presumably to bounce out some Bulls!

BNH: 140p resistance level and support kicking in at 105p. All indicators currently nuetral to negative. We still have the uptrend in place but the SP action over the last month is not encouraging.

PMD: Profile Media Group I think...almost impossible to call. There are some signs of encouragement though for the Bulls and the patient.

KYS: Not enough data to form a view that really means anthting except to say that the SP has been in a downtrend ever since it came to market.

EPD: The 50 day ma presents a perfect SL (well perhaps a couple of pts below). The SP has demonstrated some positive upsigns this year but overall it remains in the long term downtrend of the past few years. There is clearly some resistance to break through in the 55p zone before we could really say that EPD is chaging direction.

As promised earlier this wekk I will finish the analysis of all the choices by close of play tomorrow. If I missed anything please advise. Meanwhile I note that when I last posted the FTSE Small Cap was riding close to an all time high, since which we have seen some retracement...this is a good sign IMO, as I still see the 2005 growth being in small caps, although perhaps not in the hope and glory stocks!

John

Eric

Looks like I am going to have to go on the offensive. Can you please transfer my holding in NRG to WNN at close of business today.

Thanks and keep up the good work

capa

OK capa. Note to all: this is your last opportunity to switch - see my post 122; there were no objectors. Preferably by 8 p.m. today but that could be stretched to 8 p.m. Sunday as per the original time limit!

A thousand thanks to johngtudor. Not wanting to embarrass him, but I have not come across a better chartist in my life (which is really two years investment wise) as he always has the fundamentals in the back of his mind and is not slavish to the charts.

Eric

Last opportunity to switch, folk. You are going to be amazed at this. Yours truly is selling MLS: quite a nice little profit and could well move ahead further, bu what else would I sell, with SEO, a potential financial explosion in CFP and a hidden diamond in NML. The buy has gone up 40% today (I would have bought it last night, honest!), i.e. GMC - will explain later but don't want everyone going and buying it!

Switches accepted up until 8 p.m. Sunday; I won't post till later on Sunday evening. Lots of clues in jgt's chart analysis! Jules, capa and I are in the chasing pack and need a shot in the arm (or a booster up the backside, ladies excepted of course!). Chink appearing in the armour of bos and seb - may be weighed down by the expectation of leadership! What about Chelsea - mind Newcastle and Barcelona are formidable foes, in that order!

Eric

Eric, your flattery will of course get you everywhere but seriously there are lots of very good chartists around, most of them are making fortunes somewhere or other whereas I...

Anyway to continue with the last tranche of the Technicals...

PET: This of course is what I would call a true 'hope and glory' stock, and what harm is there having one or two of these stocks in your portfolio if for no other reason than to spice it up! If you need spicing that is...the SP is becalmed awaiting news on the award of Major Oil Contracts in Iraq. Almost all indicators are becalmed around the current SP of 43p. The 50 day ma has crossed the 200 in a downwards direction, and until there is some news I do not expect to see much action...but when it comes (either way) look out!

DES: The SP remains in a slow uptrend and there has been an encouraging bounce in the 50p zone over the last few days, which we could now assume offers support. I expect it to attack the higher levels of the trading range in the 70p and beyond in due course.

PDX: Every time I think this particular stock is going to have another crack at the 230p+ zone Evil and his friends short it again. It is currently ideally placed in the middle of an uptrend at 192p and until it releases some really good news, it is unlikely to break free of the current range (140p - 230p). On balance I think there are simply too many other good shares around to keep any investment in this one at present (see earlier notes on this BB to see why I made that statement).

ASC: If there are any holders of this stock left may I suggest you see my notes on the ASC BB this evening.

TAD: On the surface this stock looks very weak. I am not sure how much further it can fall but something nasty seems to have happened at the end of January and the SP needs to recover to around 10p before any real opportunity presents itself. For now the shorters have this stock by the horns.

PKL: The selling may be over for now as it found a support level in the 140p zone, but it has to get back to the 159p level to recover its poise and frankly looks unlikely to do so in the short term...at least for this competition. The SP drop on the 28th Jan which has continued albiet more slowly suggests not all is well. If it was me I would be looking to move on given all the wonderful opportunities elsewhere.

Eric, I think that's it. Please identify the new additions and I will have a look at them next week. I am still alive after my previous notes, but perhaps that is more by luck than anything else because not many people have reviewed them yet!!

As to my suggestions, please sell my holding in PDX (where Evil is Short)and place it in GMC, where Evil is long! I hear that GMC may be merging with 'Sporting Bet' so who knows!!

Have a good w/end everyone.


John

"AUG: Remains in a strong uptrend, with an upper target of 290p and beyond. Currently looking to push higher."

Cheers John :-)

I'm out of CASH EW so flog them at todays close , I agree with the above analysis by John.

Please invest proceeds in SLV , man in the pub said they were gonna fly ;-)

PS I have no investment in slv at this point in time but I do in SLP which own tons of slv , dyor , etc , etc

Dil, just me left in CASH then, have you sold ?

John, I have switched one of my holdings to WNN, highly illiquid and I would be amazed if you could make any sense from their chart, but I would be grateful for any input.

capa

Yes capa , didn't see enough follow through for my liking after the positive trading statement.

Still on the watch list and I'm always willing to get back in if my perception changes.

Good luck capa.

Eric,

Would like to change my portfolio please. Want to dump sps and pkl (both have value of 5k) Would like to replace wthem with itr.
Think pkl's fall has been over done and it should respond well to any new contracts etc. sps still has bags of potential, but its still a bit of a risky play. Have gone for itr as they look to expose the technology market's continuing improvement. Have set up a bb if anybody wants to take a look.

Cheers

ASOS 2nd CHALLENGE portfolio

Phew! Lot of work to make the trades - hope all OK. No more corrections to shares owned, quantities, price after next weekend; can't cope with any more! You'll have seen the invaluable chart analyses above, undertaken by johngtudor. The last number in each column is the post reference (easiest way to trawl through is via "all messages"). Sorry, john, some more to do please - mind you are one of the culprits!

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% week
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 14.5__ 66251 101.7 -6.5 BBSSUUW(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 603.5_ 30658 53.0_ 0.8_ CDMM(137)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 24.75_ 27225 36.1_ 1.5_ BEMS(137)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 169.5_ 12984 29.9_ -11.9 JJ(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.4___ 12852 28.6_ -5.3_ WY(137)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 161.5_ 6299_ 25.9_ -1.2_ B(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 79.25_ 6288_ 25.8_ 3.6__ O(151)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 13.1__ 6169_ 23.5_ -0.9_ T(151)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 233.5_ 6094_ 21.9_ 2.2__ G(151)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 271.5_ 5878_ 17.7_ 4.2__ C(151)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 77.5__ 11524 15.2_ -7.2_ TT(137)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 14.5__ 5742_ 14.9_ 0.9__ I(137)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 535.0_ 5725_ 14.7_ 2.4__ P(151)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 96.75_ 5708_ 14.1_ 2.9__ K(137)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 365.25 5570_ 11.6_ 19.7_ P(151)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 902.5_ 5550_ 11.3_ 2.4__ P(151)
TRT_ 87 5750 96.5___ 5549__ 10.9_ 10.0_______ K(151)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 1.0___ 5543_ 10.9_ 29.3_ Y(173)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 68.0__ 10948 9.7__ 1.1__ OO(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 226.0_ 10622 6.4__ -1.3_ GH(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 142.5_ 5237_ 4.8__ -0.7_ A(151)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 15.75_ 5182_ 3.7__ -5.3_ O(151)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 23.25_ 25808 3.3__ -4.1_ LLLLR(173)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 167.5_ 5159_ 3.2__ 0.0__ G(173)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 686.0_ 10290 2.8__ -2.0_ DP(151)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 122.5_ 10186 1.9__ -5.8_ EE(151)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 262.5_ 5079_ 1.6__ -1.3_ G(151)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 257.5_ 10043 0.5__ 0.0__ DE(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 19.0__ 10013 -0.7_______ TW
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 253.5_ 4956_ -0.9_ 0.8__ M(173)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 9.0___ 22275 -1.0_ -6.5_ JSVV(137)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 265___ 4744_ -1.3_______ C
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 7.3___ 4906_ -1.9_ -0.7_ V(173)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 50.0__ 4903_ -2.0_ -1.0_ I(173)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 49.5__ 19602 -2.0_ -8.3_ AIKK(173)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 7.6___ 8388_ -2.4_______ HH
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 11.25_ 4551_ -3.2_______ D
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 5.125_ 4395_ -3.5_ 2.5__ W
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 11.25_ 4781_ -4.3_ 0.0__ V(173)
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 8.25__ 4744_ -5.1_ 1.5__ Y(173)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 661.0_ 4739_ -5.2_______ J
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 134.5_ 4728_ -5.4_ -0.4_ C(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 115.5_ 18445 -7.8_ 9.5__ AIRR(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 52.25_ 4196_ -16.1 -1.4_ H(177)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 13.25_ 8348_ -16.5 -7.0_ UU(173)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 191.5_ 4146_ -17.1 -5.4_ A(177)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 43.0__ 3999_ -20.0 -3.9_ R(177)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 7.375_ 3931_ -21.3 9.3__ Y(177)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 58.5_ 14906_ -25.5 -5.6_ ZZZZ(177)

totals_____________ 495853.3_____ 12.7
small-cap 2891.87_________ 2936.9 1.6__ -0.8

bought (25/2)
GMC_ 19.125_ 31100__ 19_____ 5909 W
GMC_ 19.125_ 21600__ 19_____ 4104 T
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 7.625__ 8388 HH
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 11.25__ 4551 D
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 265____ 4744 C
sold (25/2)
CASH________ 3515___ 133.75_ 4701 D
MLS_________ 69500__ 8.56___ 5949 W
NRG_________ 2270___ 211.75_ 4807 C
PDX_________ 2165___ 190.75_ 4130 T
PKL_________ 2600___ 144.75_ 3764 H
SPS_________ 9900___ 48.75__ 4826 H

PMD and CRDA are movers of the week. I won't attempt any commentary as too late (or early!). Please look through John's analysis for your shares and post any explanatory comments, particularly where you have reason to differ. We all need to take note of the warning signs - you only need to scan through the analysis to get a strong feeling of a 'balanced' viewpoint.

Individual status as follows. bos and seb have come back to the pack a bit although not sure that will alst for long. moneyplus has climbed into third place, although she is climbing nowhere at the moment as in hospital having a knee done - good luck from all of us and many thanks personally for introducing me to GMC. You'll notice that John and I have switched a holding to GMC - what do they say about great minds (and/or fools)? 15 out of 20 positive which is good going.

B 66.4 E 10.1 I 0.8
S 59.6 P 9.9 V -2.1
M 35.5 T 8.9 A -5.5
W 34.1 G 8.2 R -8.1
U 20.9 J 5.6 H -10.7
C 15.1 K 5.3 Z -25.5
O 12.1 Y 4.1
D 11.9 L 3.2

Good trading!

Eric

woo hoo! still top of the league!

Eric has asked for reasons for our investment choices. I am the only one to have chosen GW Pharmaceuticals and have put half my money in it. Here they are:

This is from their Web Site www.gwpharm.com

****************************************************************************

GW Pharmaceuticals is licensed by the UK Home Office to work with a range of controlled drugs for medical research purposes. The Group's lead programme is the development of a product portfolio of non-smoked prescription medicines derived from cannabis, including Sativex, to meet patient needs in a wide range of therapeutic indications. The Group has also expanded its research to include the use of other controlled drugs in conjunction with its proprietary secure drug dispensing technology.

GW has submitted regulatory applications for Sativex in both the UK and Canada. Upon approval, Sativex, will be exclusively marketed in both these countries by Bayer HealthCare.

GW maintains control over all aspects of the product development process - botanical research, cultivation, extraction, formulation into drug delivery technologies, clinical trials and regulatory affairs. Cannabis cultivation and production capability have recently been scaled up in preparation for the launch of Sativex.

With a view to encouraging exploratory research and identifying future product opportunities, GW established in March 2002 a separate division called the Cannabinoid Research Institute or CRI. The CRI aims to link industry and academia in conducting exploratory research which it is hoped will lead to the identification of new indications for cannabis-based medicines and greater understanding of the mechanism of action of cannabinoids.

GW has also developed a novel, secure and tamper-proof means of dispensing drugs. The technology is called the Advanced Dispensing System (ADS) and provides high levels of security for dispensing drugs, whilst also enabling clinicians to remotely monitor and, if required, remotely control drug usage in real time. In October 2003, ADS won the AiM Stock Exchange Best Technology Award.


19 Jan 2005 - GW Announces Positive Preliminary Results with its Cannabis-based Medicine (Sativex) in Phase III Cancer Pain Trial

21 Dec 2004 - GW receives Qualifying Notice for approval in Canada for Sativex

****************************************************************************

Savitex is mainly for MS sufferers however it can be used to control pain in other conditions.

Currently around 1.23 it has been up to 2.50 previously before delays in the drugs acceptance started hitting the share price.

It seems to me that it is just a matter of time before Savitex is accepted in the UK and when it is the share price should zoom hopefully to over 3.00.

If and when it gets acceptance in the US it will go even higher.

The extra kicker is the ADS which also can be a huge success on its own and does not require the same approval routine as a drug. The applications for drug control and delivery are of interest to governments.

There is lots more to this share both pro and con, but this gives a brief introduction to those who do not know of the company.

transense technologies (trt) on a roll with little or no news.

Hi, folk. Away until Sunday so will update the situations when I get back. Hope all doing well and sparing a tear or two for ASOS - still being shorted by EK; so it could go lower or it may be that it will hold at the 54p support level. My view is buy now for medium term (a year) or hold the hosses to see what happens to the shorting game.

Eric

ASOS 2nd CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

Another good week overall with the portfolio up 2.9% on the week and 15.9% overall against 1.1% and 2.6% for the small-cap index (anyone got the exact small-cap at start date please?). The number at the end of most columns is the post reference for johngtudor's helpful chart analysis.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% week
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 15.375 70248 113.8 6.0__ BBSSUUW(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 130___ 10316 106.3 64.0_ O(151)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 690.5_ 35077 75.0_ 14.4_ CDMM(137)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 209.5_ 16048 60.5_ 23.6_ JJ(137)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 119___ 6843_ 36.8_ 23.3_ K(151)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 167.5_ 6533_ 30.6_ 3.7__ B(137)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 13.875 6521_ 30.6_ 5.7__ T(151)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 289___ 6257_ 25.2_ 6.4__ C(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 165___ 6064_ 21.3_ 15.8_ A(151)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 230___ 6003_ 20.1_ -1.5_ G(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 21.75_ 23925 19.6_ -12.1 BEMS(137)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 388___ 5917_ 18.5_ 6.2__ P(151)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.33__ 11781 17.9_ -8.3_ WY(137)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 14.75_ 5841_ 16.8_ 1.7__ I(137)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 78.5__ 11673 16.7_ 1.3__ TT(137)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 812.5_ 5826_ 16.5_ 22.9_ J
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 937.5_ 5766_ 15.6_ 3.9__ P(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 535.0_ 5725_ 14.7_ 0.0__ P(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 71.0__ 11431 14.5_ 4.4__ OO(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 241.5_ 11351 13.6_ 6.9__ GH(151)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 94.5__ 5576_ 11.4_ -2.3_ K(137)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.975_ 5571_ 11.4_ 0.5__ Y(173)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 132___ 10976 9.8__ 7.8__ EE(151)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 5.625_ 4823_ 5.9__ 9.8__ W
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 270___ 10530 5.4__ 4.9__ DE(173)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 169.5_ 5221_ 4.5__ 1.2__ G(173)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 687.5_ 10313 3.0__ 0.2__ DP(151)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 15.5__ 5100_ 2.0__ -1.6_ O(151)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 51.0__ 5001_ 0.0__ 2.0__ I(173)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 258___ 4992_ -0.1_ -1.7_ G(151)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 253.5_ 4956_ -0.9_ 0.0__ M(173)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 22.25_ 24698 -1.1_ -4.3_ LLLLR(173)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 11.5__ 4888_ -2.1_ 2.2__ V(173)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 49____ 19404 -3.0_ -1.0_ AIKK(173)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 7.5___ 8250_ -4.0_ -1.6_ HH
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 257.5_ 4609_ -4.1_ -2.8_ C
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 51____ 4743_ -5.1_ 18.6_ R(177)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 8.5___ 21038 -6.5_ -5.6_ JSVV(137)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 132___ 4640_ -7.2_ -1.9_ C(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 114.5_ 18286 -8.6_ -0.9_ AIRR(173)
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 7.75__ 4456_ -10.8 -6.1_ Y(173)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 14____ 8820_ -11.8 5.7__ UU(173)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 10____ 4045_ -14.0 -11.1 D
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 53.5__ 4296_ -14.1 2.4__ H(177)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 6.375_ 4284_ -14.3 -12.7 V(173)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 196.5_ 4254_ -14.9 2.6__ A(177)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 16.125 8498_ -15.7 -15.1 TW
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 59____ 15033 -24.8 0.9__ ZZZZ(177)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 7.375_ 3664_ -26.7 -6.8_ Y(177)

total___________________ 510105.5 15.9_ 2.9
small-cap 2891.87___ 2936.9______ 2.6__ 1.1

No doubt about the share of the week: HCEG. Jumped quickly on board of the bird flu bandwagon, which added to the topicality of MRSA, means that it is flying (unlike the flu-stricken bird!) and no knowing where it will stop did you go through jgt's chart analyses - if so, you may have been into HCEG!

Three other significant movers in the week: TRT is another share which stood out in jgt's analysis: he pointed out that if it broke through the resistance level it should go to 120p. Jules has bagged two of them with AEN and BGT. Worth looking at the Bright Things thread for an explanation. Perhaps Jules can explain the movement in Asian Energy.

SEO has retained its lead over HCEG, although only just. Positive progress reported by ASDA with implementation of R/F tray lidding technology. May be nearing the last chance to get into the share at these levels!

NLR ios gathering momentum again - again you might well have been in if you had followed jgt's analysis.

bos beginning to stretch his lead over seb. moneyplus's shares have done well for her while in hospital (moneyplus that is, for a knee op., not the shares!). optimistic is living up to his name as the only investor in HCEG (i.e. on this thread; there are a few hundred thousand others). Jules is biggest mover with advances in BGT and AEN. Yours truly is slipping down the pecking order having not timed the GMC switch that well (but watch out you folk ahead!).

B 87.1_ D 18.7_ A -1.3
S 60.2_ P 12.8_ Y -2.2
M 42.4_ E 11.1_ R -5.8
O 34.2_ K 10.6_ V -7.4
J 32.7_ G 9.5__ H -8.9
W 32.1_ T 8.4__ Z -24.8
U 28.0_ I 1.3__
C 21.4_ L -1.2_

Please draw attention to significant news for any of your holdings, particularly any that implies a BUY opportunity.

Eric

blimey charlie. still top of the league!!!!

Thanks again Eric for your hard work.

MOB results out 16th March, can see these really motoring from now on.

capa

Nice to be a mover.... only MDW letting me down:-(

Quite happy with the "tortoise" portfolio. Quality wins in the long term - pity this is just 6 months! Only BPG (just) in the lower half of all selections. Good results from CRDA last week - BAG has year end 31st Jan, so they should have some news soon and unlikely to disappoint, should make around 15M pretax.In the meantime, decent yield and 30M cash in the bank on market cap 180M., so easy to sleep at night - if only Coca Cola fancied buying growth in Scotland......

partridge

Really good to have you as a benchmark! 12% per month is not a bad performance. bos is certainly a bit of a hare; suspect he's ready for a long nap; the trouble is that SEO is doing all the work for him! Read tortoise and hare to 3-y-o grandson recently; important for him to learn the lesson - I think he identified with the tortoise!

Eric

eric , you are not the first person to liken me to a rabbit....:) anyway i beg to differ that seo are doing all the work. i am not the only one with seo. my two other picks are also doing very well. also , this is a sprint not a slow walk. watch out for agl in the spring.

bos: Pleased to get my own back after being likened to an insufferable egotist! Yeah! your other picks may not be stars but they are sound enough! If you're caught, it seems to me the possibles are: (1) seb who only differs in having MDW against AGL (may be a tight call!); (2)moneyplus with a double holding in NLR and also in DGM;(3) jules with double BGT which could take off around June; (4) optimistic, although HCEG is only a single bet; (5) not to mention yours truly who could come with an amazing sprint finish with NML, CFP and GMC on top of SEO. Not all over yet, you cocky b***ard!

Eric

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

The portfolio continues to make steady progress: up 1.9% on the week and 18.1% overall. 20 of 49 shares are up over 10% overall which I would say was a good ratio, and 15 out of 21 players are in credit; 10 over 10% up out of 21. Well done all! The fact that no more switching is allowed might help those of us who are too active on the trading button!

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% week
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 17.0__ 77673 136.4 10.6 BBSSUUW(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 755.5_ 38379 91.5_ 9.4_ CDMM(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 120.5_ 9562_ 91.3_ -7.3 O(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 207.5_ 15895 59.0_ -1.0 JJ(137)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 123.5_ 7101_ 42.0_ 3.8_ K(151)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.39__ 13923 39.3_ 18.2 WY(137)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 313.5_ 6787_ 35.9_ 8.5_ C(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 177.0_ 6505_ 30.1_ 7.3_ A(151)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 13.750 6463_ 29.4_ -0.9 T(151)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 900.0_ 6453_ 29.0_ 10.8 J
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 161.5_ 6299_ 25.9_ -3.6 B(137)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 15.00_ 5940_ 18.8_ 1.7_ I(137)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 382.25 5829_ 16.8_ -1.5 P(151)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 942.5_ 5796_ 16.2_ 0.5_ P(151)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 222.5_ 5807_ 16.2_ -3.3 G(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 540.0_ 5778_ 15.8_ 0.9_ P(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 20.75_ 22825 14.1_ -4.6 BEMS(137)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 242.0_ 11374 13.9_ 0.2_ GH(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 70.5__ 11351 13.7_ -0.7 OO(151)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 133.5_ 11101 11.0_ 1.1_ EE(151)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 93.0__ 5487_ 9.7__ -1.6 K(137)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 72.0__ 10706 7.1__ -8.3 TT(137)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 23.75_ 26363 5.6__ 6.7_ LLLLR(173)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 169.5_ 5221_ 4.5__ 0.0_ G(173)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 267.5_ 10433 4.4__ -0.9 DE(173)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 696.5_ 10448 4.3__ 1.3_ DP(151)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 5.500_ 4716_ 3.6__ -2.2 W
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 55.0__ 5115_ 2.3__ 7.8_ R(177)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 260.5_ 5093_ 1.9__ 2.8_ M(173)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 9.125_ 22584 0.4__ 7.4_ JSVV(137)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 15.0__ 4935_ -1.3_ -3.2 O(151)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 11.375 4834_ -3.2_ -1.1 V(173)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 49.0__ 4804_ -3.9_ -3.9 I(173)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 255.5_ 4573_ -4.8_ -0.8 C
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 243.5_ 4712_ -5.7_ -5.6 G(151)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.825_ 4714_ -5.7_ -15.4 Y(173)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 47.0__ 18612 -6.9_ -4.1 AIKK(173)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 14.5__ 9135_ -8.7_ 3.6_ UU(173)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 7.1___ 7838_ -8.8_ -5.0 HH
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 7.88__ 4528_ -9.4_ 1.6_ Y(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 111.5_ 17807 -11.0 -2.6 AIRR(173)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 126.0_ 4429_ -11.4 -4.5 C(173)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 10.0__ 4045_ -14.0 0.0_ D
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 51.25_ 4115_ -17.7 -4.2 H(177)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 187.5_ 4059_ -18.8 -4.6 A(177)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 14.5__ 7642_ -24.2 -10.1 TW
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 5.625_ 3780_ -24.4 -11.8 V(173)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 57.5__ 14651 -26.8 -2.5 ZZZZ(177)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 6.625_ 3531_ -29.3 -3.6 Y(177)

totals__________________ 519749.2 18.1_ 1.9
small-cap__ 2891.87_ 2979.7______ 3.0__ 0.4

Only three shares up over 10% in the week, led by CFP with AEN and SEO; all repeat achievers! CFP is worth looking at, particular overgrowth's posts on the bb, as it would take relatively little in the April trading statment for the sp to at least double. SEO is testing the resistance level of 17p: the potential ASDA contract statement, a safe bet in my book, is due early April. Anything on AEN, Jules? Next best mover is NLR, which is not unusual; even Evil stated that he wasn't prepared to try to short it as it would be like standing in front of a runaway train!

Talking of Evil, he is still encouraging the shorting of ASC, but expect a revival on the April trading news. jgt and I, who switched to GMC, got our timing wrong, but I expect a surge before the end of the contest; I realise that, as a gambling share, the punters are very fickle, but they will be back! Strange to see shares like PDX, DES and BNH down amongst the dead men, but that's probably primarily a question of timing.

B 78.3_ D 20.4_ Y -1.3
S 71.9_ P 10.1_ A -1.7
M 49.9_ E 10.1_ R -3.5
W 40.1_ K 9.5__ V -6.7
U 38.5_ G 7.1__ H -11.9
J 36.8_ L 5.5__ Z -26.7
O 29.2_ T 1.5
C 26.9_ I -0.8

bos (figure overstated last week) still leading seb be a head. That sleek filly, moneyplus, keeps up a game gallop without the benefit of SEO but is on board that NLR express!. Yours truly and Markus have recovered the next places with optomistic suffering a natural reaction from the heady rise of HCEG last week. Jules is second of the non-SEO players with BGT and AEN both doing well.

I am enjoying doing this fun competition and feel that I have been learning a lot. If we keep this going it should be worth a piece in Shares; mind I have had to remonstrate with them this week for some poor reporting, in my view, re ASC; my letter to them, which asks for John Marshall's viewpoint, is posted on the ASC bb.

Happy trading! Eric

do i need to say it? yeah!!!! top of the league. still. anybody in blackpool on sunday (winter gardens?).

Hi, bos, not surprised to see you here! Blackpool is a bit far - how about Eastbourne? Now, I know that SEO will be up, up and away-ay-ay.... , but I have this sneaking feeling that you may be in for a surprise; no sneak previews, though! Nor have I given up myself - clue! clue! Eric

hi guys
bosley, wait until mdw gets some big orders confirmed and u will see a TGV (FRENCH FAST TRAIN) overtaking you at a high speed!!!!!!!!!!!!!
regards all

seb

Hi All, Glad to see I'm still hanging in there-thought PAY was about to shoot up but it was only a flicker! DGM will recover on results day I hope-some profit taking going on there and YOO is still in the starting blocks but I'm confident--good old NLR what can I say about that one it's a star! Eric thanks for the sleek filly comment it's made my day--even if it was the Rioja talking! At the moment I feel more like a broken down nag but maybe a few months down the line I'll be jumping around!
With ref to your daughters house purchase Eric---do you take your profits and pay the Cap gains tax?? Thanks to NLR I could be in that happy position this year but am reluctant to hand over a chunk of my gains to Blair & co. so far I'm sitting wondering whether to wait out 2 years to only have to pay 10% CGT
but could lose the lot!! decisions ! decisions! have a good weekend all.

Good to hear from you, moneyplus. Glad you are resisiting the impulse to jump around - all in due time. The operation is debilitating enough in itself; it is 8 days since Mary's gallstone operation and she is taking things sensibly a step at a time; hubs covering himself with glory!

Re CGT, I have tax losses to bring forward from a business venture although at the rpesent rate I will use those up in the next year or two. If not available, better to wait the 2 years unless you are doubtful about the investment. Certainly worth holding shares like ASC, NLR and SEO. Probably a good discipline to stop you selling too many. A disadvantage of CFDs is that you are not buying a stake in the company so the 2 year protection won't apply (I assume). Its probably even worth borrowing the money rather than forking out 30% of profits if you want to use the funds. Well done, though, on the Challenge performance - impressive and could get better!

Eric

i feel a delia moment coming on.........
where are you???????? com'on. lets be 'aving you!!!!!!!

Hi all...
another good week for many.Well done
EW... here's a bit on AEN taken from the cazenove broker note

AEN has been one of the commodity boom success stories. At the centre of its performance lies the potentially world class Phulbari coal asset.
The deposit apppears to have a combination of three factors thatmakeitunique. First,a c. 40m seamwhich should result in bottomquartilecash costs.Second, high quality bituminous coal marketable to both the thermaland metallurgicalmarkets.Finally the deposit is less than 50km away fromIndia, with itsw high growth steel and power generation industries. It is obviously capable in assisting with the development of Bangladesh's power capacity.
The company's share price performance since listing on AIM in April 2004 has been very strong. Yet according to our estimates, the stock is still trading at a significant discount to our base case NPV.
Using conservative coal price estimates some 40% below spot prices, we arrive at a pre- diluted NPV of 13.81.Making some basic assumptions on equity issuance, we arrive at a post diluted NPV of 11.30, c.71% above the current share price...(At the time was 6.53)We calculate that by the time the mine comes on stream in H2 2007, the pre diluted NPV should have nearly doubled to 26.60 per share or 21.80 post dilution. All this will not be lost on predatory companies either in the steel or mining sector which are both seeing rapid asset price inflation.
Management's approach to the development of this mine has been rigorous. The company is using top flight consultants at all levels of the project including independent assessment of the coal quality. With coal prices also seemingly set firm, we intiate cover with an outperform (released 3 march 2005)

Good job Eric as ever.

Up 27% and still lying eighth !!!! If it wasn't for that pesky SEO

MOB results out this week, they should be great.

WNN results out later in the month, which should illustrate how seriously undervalued this company is.

capa

Thanks for the hard work Eric. Anyone got a spare min check out ITR have posted on the thread.

Apologies! No portfolio evaluation this weekend. Down in Cornwall on holiday from Friday with grandchildren enough to keep me busy, plus some golf, of course, plus eating and wine, of course. Next evaluation over Easter Weekend which seems a good time for the resurrection of some portfolios and hopefully not the death of others! Take a look at CFP, which seemed to defeat jgt on his chart analysis, being just too small for meaningful charts. Will be a penny share before too long, but still only 0.43p - a good thread. I see Evil is taking on NLR, with some success so far.

Decent moves from CASH, EPD, PDX, TAD and WNN; two good winners for capa, shame about NLR! I'm sure it would be helpful for posts to be made here on some of main movers; but don't forget CFP!

Eric

I can't believe that ASOS is still getting all this "thread time". I bought ASOS when they were 29p (ie I was way too late), having watched them (embarrasingly) from about 12p, and I sold around 54 to 57p. With respect, most of you guys were far too late on the story, and I find it amazing that you are all so keen.

It is now just an ordinary share that went well past it's peak. Instead of trying to squeeze some extra mileage out of something that clearly peaked some time ago, and is therefore likely to lose you money if you invest in it, surely you should be looking for the new ASOS and accept that you missed the boat first time around. I realise that this is tough talk - but let's get real!!

rgrds
gk

Eric, enjoy your holiday.

Yes CASH and WNN doing very nicely over the last couple of days. WNN motoring again first thing today in preparation for the results on Monday which incidentally is the day of MOBs results also.

CASH are very lowly rated and only a matter of time before they breach 1.50 imo, recent announcements of major holdings has given them a push in that direction.

WNN are growing fast and at a discount to the sector, serious re-rating to come here I reckon.

Evil shorting NLR has certainly not helped their share price but does provide a good buying opportunity if it falls much further.

good luck everyone

capa

Second ASOS Challenge Portfolio

A drop of 3% in the portfolio voer the two weeks which generally follows the small-cap market with profit taking before the tax year end. SEO has stretched its lead following announcement of the ASDA contract and the major pursuers, HCEG, NLR and BGT all falling away. ASC fell to last place and there were significant fallers down the list.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% week
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 18.125 82813 152.1 6.6__ BBSSUUW(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 102.75 8153_ 63.1_ -14.7 O(151)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 600___ 30480 52.1_ -20.6 CDMM(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.41__ 14637 46.4_ 5.1__ WY(137)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 177.5_ 13597 36.0_ -14.5 JJ(137)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 171.5_ 6689_ 33.7_ 6.2__ B(137)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 112.5_ 6469_ 29.3_ -8.9_ K(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 172.5_ 6339_ 26.8_ -2.5_ A(151)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 13.375 6286_ 25.9_ -2.7_ T(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 21.875 24063 20.3_ 5.4__ BEMS(137)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 271.5_ 5878_ 17.7_ -13.4 C(151)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 942.5_ 5796_ 16.2_ 0.0__ P(151)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 807.5_ 5790_ 15.8_ -10.3 J
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 71.625 11532 15.5_ 1.6__ OO(151)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 97.5__ 5753_ 15.0_ 4.8__ K(137)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 532.5_ 5698_ 14.2_ -1.4_ P(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 242.0_ 11374 13.9_ 0.0__ GH(151)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 365.5_ 5574_ 11.6_ -4.4_ P(151)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 287.5_ 5146_ 7.1__ 12.5_ C
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 270___ 5225_ 4.5__ 10.9_ G(151)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 23.5__ 26085 4.4__ -1.1_ LLLLR(173)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 167.5_ 5159_ 3.2__ -1.2_ G(173)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 13____ 5148_ 3.0__ -13.3 I(137)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 52.5__ 5148_ 2.9__ 7.1__ I(173)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 122.5_ 10186 1.9__ -8.2_ EE(151)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 255___ 9945_ -0.5_ -4.7_ DE(173)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 190.5_ 4972_ -0.5_ -14.4 G(151)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 653.5_ 9803_ -2.1_ -6.2_ DP(151)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 52____ 4836_ -3.3_ -5.5_ R(177)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 14.375 4729_ -5.4_ -4.2_ O(151)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 47____ 18612 -6.9_ 0.0__ AIKK(173)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 62.5__ 9294_ -7.1_ -13.2 TT(137)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 234.5_ 4584_ -8.3_ -10.0 M(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 114.5_ 18286 -8.6_ 2.7__ AIRR(173)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 8.25__ 20419 -9.2_ -9.6_ JSVV(137)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 208.5_ 4514_ -9.7_ 11.2_ A(177)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 127.5_ 4482_ -10.4 1.2__ C(173)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 7.0___ 7700_ -10.4 -1.8_ HH
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 7.5___ 4313_ -13.7 -4.8_ Y(173)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 10____ 4045_ -14.0 0.0__ D
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 9.75__ 4144_ -17.0 -14.3 V(173)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.725_ 4143_ -17.1 -12.1 Y(173)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 13____ 8190_ -18.1 -10.3 UU(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 4.150_ 3559_ -21.8 -24.5 W
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 48____ 3854_ -22.9 -6.3_ H(177)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 5.5___ 3696_ -26.1 -2.2_ V(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 14.1__ 7444_ -26.1 -2.6_ TW
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 6.75__ 3598_ -28.0 1.9__ Y(177)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 53.5__ 13632 -31.8 -7.0_ ZZZZ(177)
totals__________________ 501806.9 14.0_ -3.5
small-cap___ 2891.87______ 2925.3 1.2__ -1.8

With no major risers during the period, pride of place goes to SEO. The ASDA deal promises more to come: I have attemtped a projection on the bb which suggests that 1 is attainable within the year.

HCEG and BGT have come back, probably just profit-taking. Evil Knievel is shorting NLR; his logic appears to be that it is really a commodity share and will invite competition. If that's the case, presumably that is what banks like HSBC are - there's nothing like establishing market leadership in any market. At the top of the table, CFP and AGL are edging ahead and appear to have significant potential.

In some cases the spread has widened significantly ahead of the holidays; if over 20% I have taken the last trade quoted spread. The spread in PMD has widened to 68.75% with an apology of a bid which I have ignored. Looking more closely, the company is under threat from Barclays Bank so caution is needed.

ASC continues to be shorted by Evil and his gremlins; they could be put to flight by better trading news in April. However, the new warehouse won't be on line until May so it may be another quarter before it gets motoring again. However, ASC would be third favourite in my book for an investment made now, maturing at the end of the year, after SEO and CFP.

B 89.6 P 9.8 Y -3.1
S 78.8 D 7.7 R -4.0
U 39.9 K 7.6 T -6.8
W 39.4 E 5.9 H -13.8
M 29.2 G 5.2 V -15.4
O 22.1 L 4.3 Z -31.8
J 19.6 A 0.4
C 15.6 I -2.4

The double holders in SEO fill the first three places: bosley, seb and markus with the single holder, yours truly, in fourth. The other leading contenders have all fallen back with NLR, HCEG and BGT. Is it all over? Not until the final putt is holed!

Eric

need i say it?????

Next time Bos we'll all follow you---champion!

moneyplus: flattery gets you a long way, so they say. He may be a champion guy but he is not yet champion in this epic battle. Your a dark filly yourself (I recall you rather liked that description!) - I hope you are surmounting life's hurdles with alacrity!

Eric

I wonder if anyone else entered the investaquest competition that I drew attention to in an early post. Just caught up with it and surprised at my portfolio which would have been quite different if I was starting now! You can change holdings at any time but I have caught one or two colds. Slightly positive overall but lagging behind the 'bos of investaquest' - still SEO and CFP are doing me proud!

Eric

Could I sell my 5K of HCEG and buy 5K of CTT please.

Sorry optomistic but we had the last chance for switching on 25th Feb - to save me work to be honest.

Interested to see you taking profits in HCEG which has been one of the best performers; do you see the recent growth as primarily market hype in Ebiox? You clearly see scope for recovery in CTT although the charts look a bit dire. I see there is a bb without posts!

Eric

That's OK then Eric stick with what I've got then.
Yes Eric not much interest on here for CTT, the charts could rapidly change from here I think. My belief is that the fall out from the new accounting standards has been over done. As for HCEG it could take a longer than we all thought for Ebiox to be taken up with the health authorities, they seem reluctant to change from the alcohol based product they use at present.
Not unlikely I think that they have large stocks bought in at discount price and cannot see their way clear to dumping them in favour of buying another product however efficient it is in killing the MRSA bug.

opto: There appear to be a number of stocks progressing more slowly than hoped because of the difficulty in selling to the NHS, including MDW and MLS as well as HCEG. In hospital recently, my wife had to give the doctor a wee chat about washing of hands! As I recall, much of HCEG revenue is in US and they may get the major growth there in the short-term. Will have a look at CTT.

Eric, I listened to the webcast of the results on the CTT website, very interesting, informative and well presented and I liked the sound of what was in it.

ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

The theme of the week has been a general drift. No upward mover by as much as 10%. Overall portfolio down 3.1% against the small cap index of 0.4%. Quite likely implies that more profit-taking at the year end amongst these holdings.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% week
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 16.5__ 75389 129.5 -9.0 BBSSUUW(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 106.5_ 8451_ 69.0_ 3.6 O(151)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 636.5_ 32334 61.3_ 6.1 CDMM(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.4___ 14280 42.9_ -2.4 WY(137)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 164.0_ 6396_ 27.9_ -4.4 B(137)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 108.5_ 6239_ 24.7_ -3.6 K(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 157.5_ 12065 20.7_ -11.3 JJ(137)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 21.5__ 23650 18.2_ -1.7 BEMS(137)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 160.0_ 5880_ 17.6_ -7.2 A(151)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 377.75 5761_ 15.4_ 3.4 P(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 71.5__ 11512 15.3_ -0.2 OO(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 537.5_ 5751_ 15.3_ 0.9 P(151)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 97.5__ 5753_ 15.0_ 0.0 K(137)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 923.5_ 5680_ 13.9_ -2.0 P(151)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 12.0__ 5640_ 12.9_ -10.3 T(151)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 14.25_ 5643_ 12.9_ 9.6 I(137)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 260.0_ 5629_ 12.7_ -4.2 C(151)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 785.0_ 5628_ 12.5_ -2.8 J
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 301.5_ 5397_ 12.3_ 4.9 C
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 237.5_ 11163 11.8_ -1.9 GH(151)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 197.5_ 5155_ 3.1__ 3.7 G(151)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 166.5_ 5128_ 2.6__ -0.6 G(173)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 22.75_ 25253 1.1__ -3.2 LLLLR(173)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 256.5_ 4963_ -0.7_ -5.0 G(151)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 660.0_ 9900_ -1.1_ 1.0 DP(151)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 252.5_ 4936_ -1.3_ 7.7 M(173)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 116.5_ 9687_ -3.1_ -4.9 EE(151)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 48.5__ 4755_ -4.9_ -7.6 I(173)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 242.5_ 9458_ -5.4_ -4.9 DE(173)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 14.25_ 4688_ -6.2_ -0.9 O(151)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 113.5_ 18126 -9.4_ -0.9 AIRR(173)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 128.5_ 4517_ -9.7_ 0.8 C(173)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 10.5__ 4463_ -10.6 7.7 V(173)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 45.0__ 17820 -10.9 -4.3 AIKK(173)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 203.5_ 4406_ -11.9 -2.4 A(177)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 8.0___ 19800 -12.0 -3.0 JSVV(137)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 6.75__ 7425_ -13.6 -3.6 HH
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 10.0__ 4045_ -14.0 0.0 D
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 57.5__ 8550_ -14.5 -8.0 TT(137)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 45.5__ 4232_ -15.3 -12.5 R(177)
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 7.0___ 4025_ -19.4 -6.7 Y(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 15.25_ 8037_ -20.3 8.0 TW
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 12.5__ 7875_ -21.3 -3.8 UU(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 46.5__ 3734_ -25.3 -3.1 H(177)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 7.0___ 3731_ -25.3 3.7 Y(177)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.65__ 3714_ -25.7 -10.3 Y(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 3.625_ 3108_ -31.7 -12.7 W
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 52.5__ 13377 -33.1 -1.9 ZZZZ(177)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.875_ 3276_ -34.5 -11.4 V(173)

totals__________________ 486421.2 10.6_ 82.0
small-cap_ 2891.87_ 2913.5_______ 0.7__ -0.4

SEO has eased with a somewhat surprising effort by Evil Knievil to short it today; has given a buy opportunity. I stuck my neck out and predicted a break-out north during April with a rise to 28p. Worth having a look at the posts and making up your own mind - Uncle Eric says so! NLR and HCEG have recovered some poise, perhaps also momentum.

CEY, GMC, PAY and IDOX have moved up between 7.7 and 9%. Probably worth checking out; any such move in this sluggish market probably means something. GMC could be ready for a significant move as the gaming market seems to switch attention between shares and a lot is afoot within the company.

XEN has rescued ASC from last space which is pretty awful! Other fallers over 10% are BGT, NML, PET and PMD. BGT has been one of the stars so it is likely to be profit-taking (Jules?). NML has got bogged down in the Angolan rainy season and appears surprised; probably having to raise funds; however should be into production June with profit forecasts. EPD likely to beat NML to the draw; those attracted to diamonds could buy EPD, make money, switch to NML, make money and buy their favourite lady diamond(s) with the proceeds. Not sure that either company offer deals to shareholders!

B 80.4 J 10.5 Y -6.9
S 66.3 D 9.0_ R -8.2
M 35.1 K 4.5_ T -12.6
W 32.3 G 4.1_ H -16.3
U 29.4 E 1.6_ V -17.3
O 23.3 L 1.0_ Z -33.1
C 18.1 I -3.1
P 10.7 A -3.7

That cock o' the north, bos, has increased his lead over seb; basically AGL is beating DGM, the only difference in their holdings. Well done, moneyplus, back into third with NLR and PAY being amongst the performers of the week. Yours truly nips ahead of markus, fuelled by his gambling instincts with GMC. capa rivals mp for performer of the week helped by NLR and WNN.

I suspect there are some dramatic moves coming up with a lot of quarterly trading statements coming up. Many of these companies are emerging into the daylight and the rewards for achieving positive cashflow can be great. Anything to rival SEO? My own hunch remains with CFP - have a look at the bb. You can buy a million shares for 4K; 100K in a couple of years? Stop the ramping, Eric: mind, nothing to stop others doing the same! Anyone like to do a book on the winner of this exercise? I would have a few quid on W with an eachway bet on that attractive filly, mp, with all but one knee fully restored to action!

Eric

Tally HO Eric! All to play for next week--PAY shows encouraging signs of life.
Same with me--down to one crutch and more nimble every day. Can't say I'm eager to go for the other knee now I know what is involved. Hope the puppy is settling in well. Very encouraging on CFP I'm now up to 350000 shares and intend adding with spare bits of cash. have a good weekend all-MP

still there, eh!!!!!!

Moneyplus, being now bereft of all cash on CFP plus me shirt and pants, I would advise you to buy, but me socks are in TAD, which I see doublin` in the next 6 weeks. If both these fail, I`m becoming a nudist and will have to move to Germany or Sweden !

I will check out TAD-thanks Snakey. What a picture! Should bring some merry comments from Eric!

Sorry about that, mp, been spending too much time on the golf course! Not taking up snakey's suggestion? re CFP, that is, not the nudism bit! Now Uncle Eric said 1 million shares in CFP: only 4K or so or another 2.6K to go. At 10p they will be worth 100K - promise! I think, though, that THE share this week will be NML - worth having an odd K or two on it with the promise of diamonds to come!

What are we going to do about bos! Every week he comes on with the same sort of insufferable comments. I know, we'll give him a handicap: not a blow on the knees although he is Sicilian, but we will charge him 1000 per week for the 20K we lent him. Is that approved by everyone but bos? Going, going ........

Eric

hey! steady on !!!!

Sorry folk! Did the update Friday evening but seem to have lost it! Think I'll blame the Masters. I was even nice to bos so I don't think he squelched it, particularly as he's nearly 100% up, leading seb by some 10% with yours truly just over 50% up in third place, benefitting from NML the share of the week and worth a look. I you are not in SEO, look at the thread as it could be pushing ahead to 30p over the next few weeks, i.e. another 50% with more to come. Can't stand the thought of redoing it so will combine two weeks next Friday.

Eric MC (mea culpa!)

just got a statement from my endowment company. i think i might go for compensation , as i would have had more if i had put my money into a building society account paying 0% interest. obviously, i could have done better myself........being top of the league and all that..........

bos. Its good that you don't really need the endowment money. The main thing is to hold on to SEO and then you can probably buy the company out! lol! ER

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

The portfolio analysis below shows last weeks's and this week's movement. The number in brackets shows johngtudor's chart analysis post reference, easily referred to be clicking on all messages. The portfolio is up 10% against the FTSE small cap index of 0.6%. But this is explained completely by the performance of SEO. It demonstrates the value of running profits whereas so many recommend taking profits perhaps to reduce nominal cost to zero. No doubt about it, 'run profits and cut losses' is a much better maxim.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% wk-1 wk-2
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 20.25_ 92522 181.6 18.2 3.8_ BBSSUUW(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 104___ 8252_ 65.1_ -1.4 -1.0 O(151)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 600___ 30480 52.1_ 2.6_ -8.1 CDMM(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.40__ 14280 42.9_ 5.0_ -4.8 WY(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 117___ 6903_ 38.0_ 18.5 1.3_ K(137)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 166.5_ 6494_ 29.8_ 0.0_ 1.5_ B(137)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 163___ 12486 24.9_ 1.9_ 1.6_ JJ(137)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 982.5_ 6042_ 21.1_ 3.1_ 3.1_ P(151)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 387.3_ 5906_ 18.3_ 4.2_ -1.6 P(151)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 101.25 5822_ 16.4_ -3.9 -2.9 K(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 157___ 5770_ 15.4_ 0.0_ -1.9 A(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 532.5_ 5698_ 14.2_ -0.9 0.0_ P(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 20.5__ 22550 12.7_ 1.2_ -5.7 BEMS(137)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 236___ 11092 11.1_ -0.8 0.2_ GH(151)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 14____ 5544_ 10.9_ 5.3_ -6.7 I(137)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 254.5_ 5510_ 10.3_ 3.3_ -5.2 C(151)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 11.5__ 5405_ 8.2__ 4.2_ -8.0 T(151)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 737.5_ 5288_ 5.7__ 0.3_ -6.3 J
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 169.5_ 5221_ 4.5__ -0.3 2.1_ G(173)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 64____ 10304 3.2__ 0.0_ -10.5 OO(151)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 121___ 10061 0.6__ -2.1 6.1_ EE(151)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 191.5_ 4998_ 0.0__ 2.5_ -5.4 G(151)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 255.5_ 4944_ -1.1_ 0.4_ -0.8 G(151)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 249.5_ 4878_ -2.4_ 0.0_ -1.2 M(173)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 631___ 9465_ -5.5_ -6.5 2.3_ DP(151)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 14.25_ 4688_ -6.2_ 5.3_ -5.0 O(151)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 133___ 4675_ -6.5_ -1.9 5.6_ C(173)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 21____ 23310 -6.7_ -3.3 -4.5 LLLLR(173)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 237.5_ 9263_ -7.3_ -3.7 1.7_ DE(173)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 247.5_ 4430_ -7.8_ -8.0 -10.8 C
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 6.875_ 7563_ -12.0 0.0_ 1.9_ HH
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 10____ 4250_ -14.9 -2.4 -2.4 V(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 4.5___ 3859_ -15.3 41.4 -12.2 W
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944_ -16.1 -2.5 0.0_ D
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 193.5_ 4189_ -16.2 1.7_ -6.5 A(177)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 7.5___ 18563 -17.5 -3.1 -3.2 JSVV(137)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 42.0__ 4118_ -17.6 -3.1 -10.6 I(173)
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 7.125_ 4097_ -18.0 7.1_ -5.0_ Y(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 102.5_ 16369 -18.2 -2.2 -7.7_ AIRR(173)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 40____ 15840 -20.8 -5.0 -6.4_ AIKK(173)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 39.5__ 3674_ -26.5 -7.7 -6.0_ R(177)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.625_ 3571_ -28.6 -3.8 0.0__ Y(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 13.5__ 7115_ -29.4 -1.6 -10.0 TW
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 6.575_ 3504_ -29.9 -1.8 -4.4_ Y(177)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 11____ 6773_ -32.3 -10.0 -4.4 UU(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 41.5__ 3332_ -33.3 -2.2_ -8.8 H(177)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 50.5__ 12867 -35.7 -5.7_ 2.0_ ZZZZ(177)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.6___ 3091_ -38.2 -15.4 11.5 V(173)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 34.25_ 5093_ -49.1 -7.8_ -35.4 TT(137)
totals__________________ 484090.9 10.0_ 2.3__ -2.7
small-cap__ 2891.87_______ 2910.4 0.6__ 0.6__ -0.7

SEO has moved ahead each of the last two weeks on the announcement of alliances with Premier Technology and Advanced Energy Industries. Premier will install units in North America whilst Advanced will supply and install the R?F component in North America and other parts of the world. Engineers are being trained from both companies over the next three months. One plus is that it means that SEO's infrastructure will be kept relatively small. But what are the implciations for sales? It is extremely likely that Wal-Mart will be following ASDA in making sure that their suppliers fit the technology. An announcement to that effect is likely before the end of the month, implying a further jump in SEO's sp, possibly to 30p. Still a buying opportunity!

Other positive movers in the last two weeks have been BGC and NML. NML has commenced diamond production in Angola and, despite positive geological analysis, the projected return is not reflected in the price; figures likely to be confirmed in June. Any comments on BGC, Kivver.

The main faller is BPRG on a profit warning. The fall may be overdone as the film product is not the main potential earner; however, management have egg on their faces and appear to have lost credibility. However, may be a good opportunity at this price (views, John?).

CFP prelims are within the next two weeks and will include an account of current earnings. Their work in bringing companies to the AIM market is pretty visible and the shares could move ahead quite sharply from their current sp of 0.4p. Worth staching an odd million away! bb views believe that this could move to 10p in 2 or 3 years for a value of 100K; worth having a bit of that! (watch out, bos).

B 101.5 J 9.5__ I -11.4
S_ 89.7 D 4.6__ R -17.4
W_ 46.4 G 3.5__ H -17.8
U_ 44.4 K 3.2__ V -22.0
M_ 28.8 E 1.3__ T -32.9
O_ 16.2 L -6.8_ Z -35.7
P_ 11.9 Y -9.0
C_ 11.2 A -10.0

bos is up over 100% still pursued by seb. The other SEO holders are detached from the field with yours truly slightly ahead of markus. That game filly, moneyplus, is cantering on, leading the non-SEO pursuers, whilst partridge has broken cover with his safety first policy in a tricky marketplace.

Any other news items coming along which might suggest investment in any of your holdings?

Good trading in a blue environment! Eric

hey! what do you know? ................. do i really need to say it?

agl should come on strong soon. a few of their fingers were expected to come out of their pies in spring, so anytime soon .

Bos ... I wanted to flog all mine and shove it on Wales at 2-1 to beat England but Eric wouldn't let me ... otherwise I would be winning :-)

Anyway , congrats bos but in real life I went 100% cash 3 weeks ago but had a punt on rgu last week based on chart.

Good luck all.

dil, i'm assuming you were talking about rugby!!! just had a look at the rgu chart and (my knowledge of charting being very amateur) i agree , it looks good. i can see one of sd's golden croses. (i know he likes them)
in real life i wish i had had enough cash to have bought my choices for real. can't complain too much though.i have made back all my previous losses and am now well infront thanks to seo and asos.

Dil: do you mean that you didn't put your shirt on Wales after all! Where's your faith man; you would be singing in the valleys, even now. Not a bad idea to squelch your holdings - means that you can start afresh; could do worse than SEO! Join the bos-support club. lol!

Eric

Second ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

The portfolio has recovered some lost ground and is up 13.3% overall against an approximate breakeven on the small-cap index. I have shown the last 3 weeks movements as it goves a better idea of trends. It is still worth referring to johngtudor's chart anallysis on the post given at the end of the column.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value_ gain% wk_1 wk_2 wk_3
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 22.50_ 102803 212.9 18.2 3.8_ 11.1 BBSSUUW(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 138.25 8157__ 63.0_ 18.5 1.3_ 18.2 K(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 99.5__ 7895__ 57.9_ -1.4 -1.0 -4.3 O(151)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 580___ 29464_ 47.0_ 2.6_ -8.1 -3.3 CDMM(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.41__ 14637_ 46.4_ 5.0_ -4.8 2.5_ WY(137)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 24____ 26400_ 31.9_ 1.2_ -5.7 17.1 BEMS(137)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 166.5_ 6494__ 29.8_ 0.0_ 1.5_ 0.0_ B(137)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 15.75_ 6237__ 24.8_ 5.3_ -6.7 12.5 I(137)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 1002.5 6165__ 23.6_ 3.1_ 3.1_ 2.0_ P(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 153.5_ 11758_ 17.6_ 1.9_ 1.6_ -5.8 JJ(137)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 382.25 5829__ 16.8_ 4.2_ -1.6 -1.3 P(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 532.5_ 5698__ 14.2_ -0.9 0.0_ 0.0_ P(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 240___ 11280_ 12.9_ -0.8 0.2_ 1.7_ GH(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 150___ 5513__ 10.3_ 0.0_ -1.9 -4.5 A(151)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 93.75_ 5391__ 7.8__ -3.9 -2.9 -7.4 K(151)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 129.5_ 10768_ 7.7__ -2.1 6.1_ 7.0_ EE(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 66.5__ 10707_ 7.3__ 0.0_ -10.5 3.9_ OO(151)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 247___ 5348__ 7.0__ 3.3_ -5.2 -2.9 C(151)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 23.5__ 26085_ 4.4__ -3.3 -4.5 11.9 LLLLR(173)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 715.0_ 5127__ 2.5__ 0.3_ -6.3 -3.1 J
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 162.5_ 5005__ 0.2__ -0.3 2.1_ -4.1 G(173)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 190.5_ 4972__ -0.5_ 2.5_ -5.4 -0.5 G(151)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 139___ 4886__ -2.3_ -1.9 5.6_ 4.5_ C(173)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 248.5_ 4858__ -2.8_ 0.0_ -1.2 -0.4 M(173)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 250.0_ 4838__ -3.2_ 0.4_ -0.8 -2.2 G(151)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 10.25_ 4818__ -3.5_ 4.2_ -8.0 -10.9 T(151)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 623___ 9345__ -6.7_ -6.5 2.3_ -1.3 DP(151)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 237.5_ 9263__ -7.3_ -3.7 1.7_ 0.0_ DE(173)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 247.5_ 4430__ -7.8_ -8.0 -10.8 0.0_ C
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 7.0___ 7700__ -10.4 0.0_ 1.9_ 1.8_ HH
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 10.5__ 4463__ -10.6 -2.4 -2.4 5.0_ V(173)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 13.25_ 4359__ -12.8 5.3_ -5.0 -7.0 O(151)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 44____ 4314__ -13.7 -3.1 -10.6 4.8_ I(173)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944__ -16.1 -2.5 0.0_ 0.0_ D
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 7.0___ 4025__ -19.4 7.1_ -5.0 -1.8 Y(173)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 186___ 4027__ -19.5 1.7_ -6.5 -3.9 A(177)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 7.25__ 17944_ -20.2 -3.1 -3.2 -3.3 JSVV(137)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 39.5__ 15642_ -21.8 -5.0 -6.4 -1.3 AIKK(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 4.125_ 3537__ -22.3 41.4 -12.2 -8.3 W
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 14.75_ 7773__ -22.9 -1.6 -10.0 9.3_ TW
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 91.5__ 14613_ -26.9 -2.2 -7.7 -10.7 AIRR(173)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 6.625_ 3531__ -29.3 -1.8 -4.4 0.8_ Y(177)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 37.5__ 3488__ -30.2 -7.7 -6.0 -5.1 R(177)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 10.5__ 6615__ -33.9 -10.0 -4.4 -2.3 UU(173)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.575_ 3286__ -34.3 -3.8_ 0.0_ -8.0 Y(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 40____ 3212__ -35.7 -2.2_ -8.8 -3.6 H(177)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 50.0__ 12740_ -36.3 -5.7_ 2.0_ -1.0 ZZZZ(177)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 41.5__ 6171__ -38.3 -7.8_ -35.4 21.2 TT(137)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.325_ 2906__ -41.9 -15.4 11.5_ -6.0 V(173)
totals___________________ 498456.2 13.3_ 2.3__ -2.7_ 3.0
small-cap___ 2891.87______ 2888.5_ -0.1_ 0.6__ -0.7_ -0.8

SEO continues to set the pace and has effectively lapped the "pursuers". AGM today gave a clearer picture of the company strategy. Trials with an ASDA supplier have been going well with other products than meat already in the shops wrapped with Greenseal. The company is making a major push in the USA with Walmart the obvious target. A big attraction is that the cost base is being kept down by contracts with engineers outside the UK to handle supply and retrofitting. There seems to be little reason why SEO should not continue the 4p per month sp progression.

Comments on other major movers of the week:

BPRG - recovering from battering the previous week caused by a profit warning. The major capsule product should hit the market early next year and the fall has probably been overdone, even at the current level (johngtudor?)

BGC - Positive reports on the Varisolve drug. Cap. now some 200m which, to an outsider, looks amazingly high for a company with key product not yet into Phase II clinical trials (cf. value of Alizyme which is far further fown the road) (kivver?)

DGM - Cap. of 85m on 14m turnover looks demanding (bos, leslie, moneyplus, seb comments?)

CEY - At last, an agreement to restart drilling for gold in Egypt. Does cap. of 60m already have much of prospects provided for? (martin?)

TND - not surprised to see legend in the frame at last with good results from Tandem on lower turnover. p/e under 5, so if trading continues to improve could be positive action to come (legend?).

No bad fallers in the week so a good performance against the market. GMC has moved ahead just under 10% and is worth a mention as it has the LONG backing of Evil - what a partnership for johngtudor and myself; seriously, the strong internet trading position apparently gives the share excellent prospects and cap. is not demanding at 25m. Evolution have moved from ADD to BUY NLR with a price target of 725p: probably one of the safest plays in the market despite Evil continuing to short. I am back into ASC on the basis of excellent traffic volumes and anticipation that they will shortly report trading to correspond.(Other news, anyone?)

B 122.0 E 9.6 A -14.5
S 109.4 K 6.8 H -17.2
U 55.9_ J 4.4 R -19.9
W 55.5_ L 4.3 V -23.3
M 31.0_ D 3.1 T -29.1
O 14.8_ G 2.3 Z -36.3
P 12.6_ Y -9.2
C 10.1_ I -9.4

bos and seb have stretched their lead - same share holding except that bos holds AGL against seb's MDW; wouldn't like to forecast the winner between those two. bos is very positive aboput the prospects for AGL and I can see why; however, MDW is probably only held back by the inertia of the NHS ( a big only I confess!).

Frustrated that markus has got a fraction of a nose ahead of yours truly. However, my nose is sensing good things from each of CFP (promising results), NML (diamond production started) and GMC (see above). moneyplus continues to defy the anti-SEO gravity. A move from a dark horse making up ground - the aforesaid legend with a winning record!

Have you seen the new MoneyAM competition: you tend to get frustrated with disappearing trades. I find that I bought 300,000 CFP instead of 3,000,000 - blast it! No doubt, bos will buy 100% SEO - no limit!

Eric

oohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i wish this was the moneyam comp. i would be quids in by now!!!! still top of the league!!! got a feeling seb will come up on the rails and take the lead on the final bend. yes i have gone in big for seo in the moneyam comp ( who wouldn't!!!)but i have also gone for agl, dgm , dil's rgu, and sharesures gfm. and i've gone short on barclays cos i can't stand them!!

Well done bos: have only gone 30% in SEO on the MoneyAM comp. Others are NLR, BGT, GMC, ASC, CFD, NML; all in our ASOS challenge game. I think I would proably back AGL against MDW. MDW have the same problems as toher medical service companies like MLS and BQE, the turgidness of NHS acceptance of new initiatives and placing orders. Interesting that SEO have defined themselves as an intellectual copyright company: that could be the name of the game for the future. Looks like we are the only guys left on this board! Funnily enough, its worth doing the weekly analyis for its own sake as I learn so much through doing it. Even legend's Tandem, for instance, which just could be worth watching, though perhaps this comp. is too early for it.

Eric

Eric-I am still backing DGM. agree the mkt cap is high but like NLR it's the future growth prospects driving the sp of course any bad news will give it a knock down but as reported in todays Times - WPP reports tremendous growth in online advertising up something like 30% so I would expect DGM to get it's fair share. WPP quote the enormous revenues at Google as their proof of high prospects. DGM has bounced back because of this but will probably dip again and like YOO I hope to accumulate over the next few months then look for a good move up in the autumn. all IMHO of course!

Thanks, moneyplus; great to hear from you and know that there are at elast two readers of this bb other than me! Will add DGM to the watchlist - suspect that, if its not expensive, then it is cheap! (if you see what I mean!) Do you se DGM increasing their share of the on-line advertising market?

Eric

Just discovered that CFP closed at 0.415p, not 0.41p, so it is now a dead-heat for third place between Markus and yours truly. Crumbs of comfort from under the rich man's (bos and seb) table!

Eric,
I have had problems with the computer as my windows 98 became corrupt and when I tried to update to win XP would not do it. Gave the box to an "expert" and she has wiped the hard discs clean with a reformat to put a sound win 98 on then update to XP, so I do not have your address anymore for another Trader mag which came last week so can you resend address please. Have been without the box for ten days now and am suffering withdrawal symtoms, will have to catch up today. SD

Eric -goldfinger did a good report on DGM thread and if the growth continues they should win some rewarding contracts, but GF will be able to give much more info. than me. I check in here every week but don't say much as I'm losing!! keep up the good work.

Thanks for the encouragement, money plus - you're not doing at all badly, gal!
Mag. appreciated, seadog - will send address. You mentioned johngtudor - haven't heard sight or sound of him for a while, so will drop him an e-mail too.
Frustrating things these computers: don't like win 98 as my compter is always crashing at inopportune moments - it can cost you in this trading game so I should probably splash out from the next profit (if and when it comes!).

Eric

Eric, All the pundits say Win 2000 is the best O S but I understand XP is 2000 with a few enhancements so for 90 quid I went for the home upgrade. Address not yet recieved, and hope you make a substantial profit soon !!!! SD

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

A tough week on the market. The portfolio is down 5.6% against the small-cap index down 3%, but still up overall by 7% against a loss on the small-cap of 3.1%.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% wk12 wk13 wk14
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 20.75_ 94807 188.6 3.8_ 11.1 -7.8 BBSSUUW(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 140.0_ 8260_ 65.1_ 1.3_ 18.2 1.3_ K(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.415_ 14816 48.2_ -4.8 2.5_ 1.2_ WY(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 87.0__ 6903_ 38.1_ -1.0 -4.3 -12.6 O(151)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 164.5_ 6416_ 28.3_ 1.5_ 0.0_ -1.2 B(137)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 23.25_ 25575 27.8_ -5.7 17.1 -3.1 BEMS(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 491.5_ 24968 24.6_ -8.1 -3.3 -15.3 CDMM(137)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 960.0_ 5904_ 18.4_ 3.1_ 2.0_ -4.2_ P(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 248.5_ 11680 16.9_ 0.2_ 1.7_ 3.5_ GH(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 148.0_ 11337 13.4_ 1.6_ -5.8 -3.6 JJ(137)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 370.0_ 5643_ 13.0_ -1.6 -1.3 -3.2 P(151)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 8.5___ 9350_ 8.8__ 1.9_ 1.8_ 21.4 HH
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 146___ 5366_ 7.4__ -1.9 -4.5 -2.7 A(151)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 13.5__ 5346_ 6.9__ -6.7 12.5 -14.3 I(137)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 65.5__ 10546 5.6__ -10.5 3.9 -1.5 OO(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 490.0_ 5243_ 5.1__ 0.0__ 0.0 -8.0 P(151)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 91.0__ 5233_ 4.6__ -2.9_ -7.4 -2.9 K(151)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 229___ 4958_ -0.8_ -5.2_ -2.9 -7.3 C(151)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 160.5_ 4943_ -1.1_ 2.1__ -4.1 -1.2 G(173)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 249.0_ 4818_ -3.6_ -0.8_ -2.2 -0.4 G(151)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 115.5_ 9604_ -4.0_ 6.1__ 7.0_ -10.8 EE(151)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 21.5__ 23865 -4.4_ -4.5_ 11.9 -8.5 LLLLR(173)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 242.5_ 4741_ -5.2_ -1.2_ -0.4 -2.4 M(173)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 10.0__ 4700_ -5.9_ -8.0_ -10.9 -2.4 T(151)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 179.5_ 4685_ -6.3_ -5.4_ -0.5_ -5.8 G(151)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 11.0__ 4675_ -6.4_ -2.4_ 5.0__ 4.8 V(173)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 244.0_ 4368_ -9.1_ -10.8 0.0__ -1.4 C
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 603___ 9045_ -9.7_ 2.3__ -1.3_ -3.2 DP(151)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 620.0_ 4445_ -11.1 -6.3_ -3.1_ -13.3 J
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 13.25_ 4359_ -12.8 -5.0_ -7.0_ 0.0_ O(151)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 222.5_ 8678_ -13.2 1.7__ 0.0__ -6.3 DE(173)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 121.5_ 4271_ -14.6 5.6__ 4.5__ -12.6 C(173)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944_ -16.1 0.0__ 0.0__ 0.0_ D
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 41.5__ 4069_ -18.6 -10.6 4.8__ -5.7 I(173)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 7.25__ 17944 -20.2 -3.2_ -3.3_ 0.0_ JSVV(137)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 4.125_ 3537_ -22.3 -12.2 -8.3_ 0.0_ W
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 6.75__ 3881_ -22.3 -5.0_ -1.8_ -3.6 Y(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 92.5__ 14772 -26.1 -7.7_ -10.7 1.1_ AIRR(173)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 169.5_ 3670_ -26.6 -6.5_ -3.9_ -8.9 A(177)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 14.0__ 7378_ -26.8 -10.0 9.3__ -5.1 TW
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 33.5__ 13266 -33.7 -6.4_ -1.3_ -15.2 AIKK(173)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 10.25_ 6458_ -35.4 -4.4_ -2.3_ -2.4 UU(173)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.55__ 3143_ -37.1 0.0__ -8.0_ -4.3 Y(173)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 5.875_ 3131_ -37.3 -4.4_ 0.8__ -11.3 Y(177)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 48.5__ 12358 -38.2 2.0__ -1.0_ -3.0 ZZZZ(177)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.3___ 2890_ -42.2 11.5_ -6.0_ -0.6 V(173)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 36.5__ 5428_ -45.7 -35.4 21.2_ -12.0 TT(137)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 33____ 2650_ -47.0 -8.8_ -3.6_ -17.5 H(177)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 27.5__ 2558_ -48.8 -6.0_ -5.1_ -26.7 R(177)
totals__________________ 470619.2 7.0__ -2.7_ 3.0__ -5.6 small-cap___ 2891.87______ 2802.8 -3.1_ -0.7_ -0.8_ -3.0

SEO has lost 7.8% on the week but HCEG and NLR, early challengers, are down further. BGC and CFP (both discussed in recent posts) are second and third on the list having hel steady on the week. There are 11 double digit fallers, %-wise, the chief of which being PET, presumably suffering from the lack of clear-cut government in Iraq.

The one major gainer in the week has been Interregnum (ITR). Dawsinho has been plying a lone furrow with the ITR bb but it is worth a visit. Appears to be a financial services company with a future and is spinning off part of teh company in a separate AIM flotation which could be profitable for investors. (it would be good to have a brief introductory pst here, dawsinho).

B 108.4 E 1.7__ I -15.9
S_ 96.2 G 1.4__ A -17.6
W_ 48.7 C -0.8_ V -22.3
U_ 45.5 J -1.2_ R -26.4
M_ 18.1 L -4.5_ T -34.2
O_ 9.0 D -4.8_ Z -38.2
P_ 6.6 H -10.8
K_ 4.6 Y -12.2

Dawsinho is the only % gainer in the list. The four SEO holders are stretching further clear of the field, which is still led gamely by moneyplus. Yours truly has edged in front of Markus again in third place but bos and seb are no closer.

If you haven't entered the MoneyAM Champion Investor, visit the bb and have a go. Not too late to enter and could be an advantage as there are only some 9 investors in positive country. Think it is our own Dil in second place. He had a super trade today in NLR, whilst I showed my desperation by switching half my holdings into NLR gaining 5K on the day (but still not in the top 300!). One particularly interesting fact is that bears are easily leading the bulls. Looking at our own portfolio, the last four, PET, DES, BPRG and XEN would have been 2nd to 5th in the list as Shorts!

Enjoy the weekend and heres to a much better trading week next week.

cheers Eric.

hI, sorry not posted much on bgc, but it was all a speculative punt on their main prospect 'Varisolve' getting american approval for trials. It has been rejected once but chances are it will get a second opportunity once the concerns are ironed out.

I prefer the long term opportunities on my other punt trt (transense technologies). Areoplanes have been completely electronic for a long time now and road going vehicles are going the same way. Cars, lorries, coaches and buses driven and controlled (including the steering) by electronics, scary but true.

yep. still there! (i so wish this was the moneyam challenge!!)

Eric, Thanks for the all the effort on keeping the asos challenge going, very informative. So my asos challenge portfolio has got a kick up the backside hey. Watch out Bosley, well maybe... lol

ITR - Loads of info on the bb, in a nutshell Interregnum are a Technology merchant bank who advise/invest in technology companies, they also have a number of subsidiary companys as well. All sounds very boring, but if you dig a little deeper you'll see Interregnum is ideally positioned to take advantage of the slight upturn in the technology market.

Business seems to be going very well since the turn of the year and their has already been a positive impact from seven advisers who we're employed just before the turn of the year. Interregnums ace card is its agreement with Destiny USA which is expected to generate significant undisclosed advisory revenues, whilst working with some of the largest and most innovative technology companies in the world

This week Interregnum agreed to merge its subsidiary companies, Wireless Holdings and Cellular Design Services, with Red-M (Communications), with the intention of floating the combined business on AIM in the first half of 2005.

Hope this helps.

ITR is, in my view, worth a closer look. The share was at 1 in the dot-com boom but has reinvented itself as merchant bank. The Destiny arrangement does look very significant and there could be a substantial one-off profit from the AIM floatation. Wirth a visit to dawsinho's bb - thanks for the psot here, d.

Eric

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

Actually, not a bad week with 0.1% drop in portfolio value given the continued weakness of the AIM market.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% wk13 wk14 wk15

SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 20.75_ 94807 188.6 11.1 -7.8 0.0_ BBSSUUW(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 136.5_ 8054_ 61.0_ 18.2 1.3_ -2.5 K(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 93.0__ 7380_ 47.6_ -4.3 -12.6 6.9 O(151)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 531.5_ 27000 34.7_ -3.3 -15.3 8.1 CDMM(137)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 164.5_ 6416_ 28.3_ 0.0_ -1.2 0.0_ B(137)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 22.75_ 25025 25.1_ 17.1 -3.1 -2.2 BEMS(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.35__ 12495 25.0_ 2.5_ 1.2_ -15.7 WY(137)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 941.5_ 5790_ 16.1_ 2.0_ -4.2 -1.9 P(151)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 380.0_ 5795_ 16.1_ -1.3 -3.2 2.7_ P(151)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 9.0___ 9900_ 15.2_ 1.8_ 21.4 5.9_ HH
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 242.5_ 11398 14.1_ 1.7_ 3.5_ -2.4 GH(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 146.5_ 11222 12.3_ -5.8 -3.6 -1.0 JJ(137)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 152.5_ 5604_ 12.1_ -4.5 -2.7 4.5_ A(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 65.0__ 10465 4.8__ 3.9_ -1.5 -0.8 OO(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 485.0_ 5190_ 4.0__ 0.0_ -8.0 -1.0 P(151)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 12.75_ 5049_ 1.0__ 12.5 -14.3 -5.6 I(137)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 120.0_ 9978_ -0.2_ 7.0_ -10.8 3.9 EE(151)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 86.0__ 4945_ -1.1_ -7.4 -2.9 -5.5 K(151)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 254.0_ 4915_ -1.6_ -2.2 -0.4 2.0_ G(151)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 223.5_ 4839_ -3.1_ -2.9 -7.3 -2.4 C(151)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 21.75_ 24143 -3.3_ 11.9 -8.5 1.2_ LLLLR(173)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 10.25_ 4818_ -3.5_ -10.9 -2.4 2.5 T(151)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 180.5_ 4711_ -5.7_ -0.5 -5.8 0.6_ G(151)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 151.0_ 4651_ -6.9_ -4.1 -1.2 -5.9 G(173)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 10.75_ 4569_ -8.5_ 5.0_ 4.8_ -2.3 V(173)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 230.5_ 4506_ -9.9_ -0.4 -2.4 -4.9 M(173)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 241.5_ 4323_ -10.1 0.0_ -1.4 -1.0 C
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 625.0_ 4481_ -10.4 -3.1 -13.3 0.8 J
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 592___ 8880_ -11.3 -1.3 -3.2 -1.8 DP(151)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 222.5_ 8678_ -13.2 0.0_ -6.3 0.0_ DE(173)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 122.5_ 4306_ -13.9 4.5_ -12.6 0.8 C(173)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 13.0__ 4277_ -14.4 -7.0 0.0_ -1.9 O(151)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 45.5__ 4232_ -15.3 -5.1 -26.7 65.5 R(177)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944_ -16.1 0.0_ 0.0_ 0.0_ D
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 97.5__ 15571 -22.2 -10.7 1.1 5.4_ AIRR(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 4.125_ 3537_ -22.3 -8.3 0.0_ 0.0_ W
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 175.5_ 3800_ -24.0 -3.9 -8.9 3.5_ A(177)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 38.0__ 15048 -24.8 -1.3 -15.2 13.4 AIKK(173)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 38.0__ 3726_ -25.5 4.8_ -5.7 -8.4 I(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 13.75_ 7246_ -28.1 9.3_ -5.1 -1.8 TW
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 6.5___ 16088 -28.5 -3.3 0.0_ -10.3 JSVV(137)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.625_ 3571_ -28.6 -8.0 -4.3 13.6 Y(173)
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 6.125_ 3522_ -29.5 -1.8 -3.6 -9.3 Y(173)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 6.175_ 3291_ -34.1 0.8_ -11.3 5.1 Y(177)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 10.25_ 6458_ -35.4 -2.3 -2.4 0.0_ UU(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 37.0__ 2971_ -40.6 -3.6 -17.5 12.1 H(177)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.3___ 2890_ -42.2 -6.0 -0.6 0.0_ V(173)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 43.0__ 10956 -45.2 -1.0 -3.0 -11.3 ZZZZ(177)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 31.25_ 4647_ -53.5 21.2 -12.0 -14.4 TT(137)

Totals__________________ 470102.4 6.8__ 3.0_ -5.6_ -0.1
small-cap__ 2891.87_______ 2802.8 -3.1_ -0.8 -3.0_ 0.0

SEO is unchanged during the week but an announcement formalising the ASDA deal is likely in the forthcoming week and could lead to a breakthrough the current resistance level. As recoimmended this week in Shares one that should be in each of our portfolios.

HCEG and NLR have recovered somewhat. However, the main mover of the week is PET. An RNS denied any knowledge for the reason for a move following a rumour in the FT that PET had won a contract in southern Iraq. Certainly, the settling down of the Iraq situation is a prerequisite of progress. Not for the faint-hearted or those who have suffered in the past!

ITR has strengthened further. I wrote of its merits last week. Its worth adding that it is now clear that the flotation value of its holding in Cellular Design Services (CDS) is likely to be more than the current cap., implying a likely doubling in the price by end June.

ASC has reached a new nadir in its fortunes. Yours truly has bought back in, reckoning the current prospective pe to be derisory. Two strong broker buy signals. When will it turn round. I have a sneaking feeling that it will be this week - based on the end of the "mid-season sale on Monday" and the likelihood that that marks the completion of the new warehouse operation. Anyone joining me? I'll put out the light if I find no-one else there.

B 107.7 K 2.6_ R -15.7
S_ 93.5 C 1.1_ Y -16.8
U_ 45.5 G -0.1 I -17.9
W_ 42.5 D -2.6 V -27.0
M_ 21.3 L -3.4 T -37.8
O_ 10.6 J -3.6 Z -45.2
P_ 6.1 H -7.2
E_ 2.9 A -14.7

The investor table is thoroughly boring, for all except bos, seb and markus, who has climbed back to third. Now, I believe I will be challenging before the end of the competition (CFP and NML, plus possibly GMC) and am also backing dawsinho with his ITR holding. Anyone else who reckons that their portfolio will bring them into contention?

Eric

Not me but my time will come!! At the moment I'm afraid to look.
Have a good weekend all and here's to a better market next week. MP

I would definately fancy my chances, Eric, if the deadline was end of 2005. But sadly may run out of time as the Competition nears its Summer-end. Still confident of consolidating the bronze medal position though!

still there, totl, but i'm very surprised that agl hasn't moved at all. two good pieces of news and nothing happened. confusing!!

Now its a shame that we don't have a prize for the winner. My suggestion is that bos donates the prize. He is extremely confident at winning so it wouldn't cost him anything. It would do his reputation (and popularity) a great deal of good. So, how about it, bos?

Eric

I agree with Eric, here..... prizes down to 3rd position - OK, 4th as Eric is there at the moment and we are contesting the bronze medal!

How about everybody gets a prize, Bos should be loaded after investing in seo, so he can buy........ hmmm don't think he'll agree to that :-)
Anyone who looking to spice up their holdings should take a look vml (vane minerals) Got lots on the go and released great news regarding Uranium deals this week, lots more to come this week me feels.

no problem. i will donate the prize for the winner!!!! :)

Note that - post 256. bos is a man of his word. Did you say 1000, bos: you wouldn't want to be outdone by Shares, would you?

i will quite happily be outdone by shares, eric.

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

Another difficult week for the small-cap and AIM markets which dominate our portfolio. The small-cap index is down 1.3% on the week and 3% overall. Only 16 of the 49 shares in the portfolio have posted gains on the week. Nevertheless the portfolio is up 8% overall and 1.1% on the week. Afurther gain in Stanelco (SEO) of 8.4% accounts for the weekly gain and the share is now 21.5% of the portfolio. An object lesson in running profits.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value_ gain% wk14 wk15 wk16
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 22.50_ 102803 212.9 -7.8 0.0_ 8.4_ BBSSUUW(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 124.0_ 7316__ 46.2_ 1.3_ -2.5 -9.2 K(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.405_ 14459_ 44.6_ 1.2_ -15.7 15.7 WY(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 90.0__ 7142__ 42.9_ -12.6 6.9 -3.2 O(151)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 164.5_ 6416__ 28.3_ -1.2 0.0_ 0.0_ B(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 503.0_ 25552_ 27.5_ -15.3 8.1 -5.4 CDMM(137)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 21.75_ 23925_ 19.6_ -3.1 -2.2 -4.4 BEMS(137)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 9.125_ 10038_ 16.8_ 21.4 5.9_ 1.4_ HH
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 939.5_ 5778__ 15.8_ -4.2 -1.9 -0.2 P(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 157.0_ 5770__ 15.4_ -2.7 4.5_ 3.0_ A(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 241.0_ 11327_ 13.4_ 3.5_ -2.4 -0.6 GH(151)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 369.0_ 5627__ 12.7_ -3.2 2.7_ -2.9 P(151)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 92.0__ 5290__ 5.7__ -2.9 -5.5 7.0_ K(151)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 124.5_ 10352_ 3.5__ -10.8 3.9 3.8_ EE(151)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 11.0__ 5170__ 3.5__ -2.4 2.5_ 7.3_ T(151)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 13.0__ 5148__ 3.0__ -14.3 -5.6 2.0 I(137)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 236.5_ 5120__ 2.5__ -7.3 -2.4 5.8_ C(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 475.0_ 5083__ 1.9__ -8.0 -1.0 -2.1 P(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 63.0__ 10143_ 1.6__ -1.5 -0.8 -3.1 OO(151)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 251.5_ 4867__ -2.6_ -0.4 2.0_ -1.0 G(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 125.5_ 9613__ -3.8_ -3.6 -1.0 -14.3 JJ(137)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 14.25_ 4688__ -6.2_ 0.0_ -1.9 9.6_ O(151)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 20.75_ 23033_ -7.8_ -8.5 1.2_ -4.6 LLLLR(173)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 146.5_ 4512__ -9.7_ -1.2 -5.9 -3.0 G(173)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 230.5_ 4506__ -9.9_ -2.4 -4.9 0.0_ M(173)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 126.0_ 4429__ -11.4 -12.6 0.8 2.9_ C(173)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 167.5_ 4372__ -12.5 -5.8 0.6_ -7.2 G(151)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 231.5_ 4144__ -13.8 -1.4 -1.0 -4.1 C
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 220.0_ 8580__ -14.1 -6.3 0.0_ -1.1 DE(173)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 570___ 8550__ -14.6 -3.2 -1.8 -3.7 DP(151)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 10.0__ 4250__ -14.9 4.8_ -2.3 -7.0 V(173)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 592.5_ 4248__ -15.1 -13.3 0.8 -5.2 J
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944__ -16.1 0.0_ 0.0_ 0.0_ D
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 100.0_ 15970_ -20.2 1.1_ 5.4_ 2.6_ AIRR(173)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 183.5_ 3973__ -20.6 -8.9 3.5_ 4.6_ A(177)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 39.75_ 3697__ -26.0 -26.7 65.5 -12.6 R(177)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 37.25_ 14751_ -26.2 -15.2 13.4 -2.0 AIKK(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 3.875_ 3323__ -27.0 0.0_ 0.0_ -6.1 W
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 6.625_ 16397_ -27.1 0.0_ -10.3 1.9 JSVV(137)
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 6.25__ 3594__ -28.1 -3.6 -9.3 2.0_ Y(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 13.75_ 7246__ -28.1 -5.1 -1.8 0.0_ TW
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 36.5__ 3579__ -28.4 -5.7 -8.4 -3.9 I(173)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.6___ 3428__ -31.4 -4.3 13.6 -4.0 Y(173)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 52.5__ 13377_ -33.1 -3.0 -11.3 22.1 ZZZZ(177)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 6.25__ 3331__ -33.3 -11.3 5.1 1.2_ Y(177)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.625_ 3108__ -37.8 -0.6 0.0_ 7.6_ V(173)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 9.25__ 5828__ -41.7 -2.4 0.0_ -9.8 UU(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 35.0__ 2811__ -43.8 -17.5 12.1 -5.4 H(177)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 30.75_ 4573__ -54.3 -12.0 -14.4 -1.6 TT(137)

Totals_____________________ 475177 +8.0_ -5.6 -0.1 +1.1
small-cap___ 2891.87_______ 2765.7 -4.4_ -3.0 0.0_ -1.3

The main gainer in the week is, wait for it, ASOS. Initially triggered by a piece in the Independent making reference to a forthcoming positive trading report. The warehousing problems and consequent extended sales are now history and the share should continue to progress. Your author has been rebuilding the stake and was delighted to call the bottom at 42.5p, putting his money where his mouth was! Its worth taking a look as all the lost ground could be regained in the next few weeks.

Other positive movers include CFP, recovering the previous week's loss with optimism about trading figures and THUS with some speculation on the column about a possible bid. Optomistic: could you give a brief intro. re THUS as the scenario looks interesting. Then comes SEO with bullish tip forecasting sp of 50p and advising buying up to 25p. I don't think any of the fan club are selling and some are still gorging themselves on more.

One reason given for the continued weakness of small shares is that investors have been selling small cap funds which leads them in turn to sell off part of their portfolios. Main loser this week is Bright Things (BGT) an early success story of this portfolio - there seems no obvious reason, particularly in light of the forthcoming launch of their Bubble product for pre-school children. Any thoughts, Jules?

B 118.5 K -0.1 A -12.9
S 104.6 C -0.7 I -18.0
W_ 52.4 G -2.9 R -18.5
U_ 51.9 D -5.5 V -26.8
M_ 16.3 H -7.4 Z -33.1
O__ 9.9 L -7.9 T -36.4
P__ 3.8 Y -12.1
E__ 3.1 J -12.5

It goes without saying that the bos, seb duo stretch their lead still further at the front of the field. Yours truly sneaks into third place ahead of markus. moneyplus is in glorious isolation in 5th with only three others in positive territory.

What can one say--the leaders again share pickers extraordinaire!! I must do better for next week. have a good weekend all.

yep!!

bos: is that 'yep' or 'yap'? I reckon moneyplus is the shares picker - bos and seb have only ever picked one successful share! lol!

Eric

i protest,eric. look at the amount of people who picked seo. it's the other two picks that seperate myself and seb from the pack. and it's "yep", still top of the league .

OK, just a bit of a wind up, plus encouragement for a lady who could well have been top without SEO! By the way, what league are Doncaster in? lol!

Eric

2ND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

Portfolio up 5.8% on the week against the small-cap rise of 0.7%; overall by 14.3% against a loss of 3.7%. Great performance but accounted for almost wholly by Stenalco which is now over 25% of the portfolio. As I keep saying, shows the value of running your profits!

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value_ gain% wk15 wk16 wk17
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 28.5__ 130217 296.4 0.0_ 8.4_ 26.7 BBSSUUW(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 131.0_ 7729__ 54.5_ -2.5 -9.2 5.6_ K(137)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.4___ 14280_ 42.9_ -15.7 15.7 -1.2 WY(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 82.5__ 6546__ 31.0_ 6.9_ -3.2 -8.3 O(151)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 164.5_ 6416__ 28.3_ 0.0_ 0.0_ 0.0_ B(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 505.5_ 25679_ 28.1_ 8.1_ -5.4 0.5_ CDMM(137)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 9.125_ 10038_ 16.8_ 5.9_ 1.4_ 0.0_ HH
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 158.5_ 5825__ 16.5_ 4.5_ 3.0_ 1.0_ A(151)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 939.5_ 5778__ 15.8_ -1.9 -0.2 0.0_ P(151)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 374.0_ 5704__ 14.2_ 2.7_ -2.9 1.4_ P(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 20.70_ 22770_ 13.8_ -2.2 -4.4 -4.8 BEMS(137)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 98.25_ 5649__ 12.9_ -5.5 7.0_ 6.8_ K(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 236.5_ 11116_ 11.3_ -2.4 -0.6 -1.9 GH(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 68.25_ 10988_ 10.1_ -0.8 -3.1 8.3_ OO(151)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 124.0_ 10311_ 3.1__ 3.9_ 3.8_ -0.4 EE(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 475.0_ 5083__ 1.9__ -1.0 -2.1 0.0_ P(151)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 12.8__ 5049__ 1.0__ -5.6 2.0_ -1.9 I(137)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 224.5_ 4860__ -2.7_ -2.4 5.8_ -5.1 C(151)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 14.5__ 4771__ -4.5_ -1.9 9.6_ 1.8_ O(151)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 246.0_ 4760__ -4.7_ 2.0_ -1.0 -2.2 G(151)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 242.5_ 9458__ -5.4_ 0.0_ -1.1 10.2 DE(173)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 10.0__ 4700__ -5.9_ 2.5_ 7.3_ -9.1 T(151)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 8.5___ 21038_ -6.5_ -10.3 1.9 28.3 JSVV(137)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 228.5_ 4467__ -10.7 -4.9 0.0_ -0.9 M(173)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 20.0__ 22200_ -11.1 1.2_ -4.6 -3.6 LLLLR(173)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 237.5_ 4251__ -11.5 -1.0 -4.1 2.6_ C
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 167.5_ 4372__ -12.5 0.6_ -7.2 0.0_ G(151)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 578.5_ 8678__ -13.3 -1.8 -3.7 1.5_ DP(151)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 140.5_ 4327__ -13.4 -5.9 -3.0 -4.1 G(173)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 111.5_ 8541__ -14.6 -1.0 -14.3 -11.2 JJ(137)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944__ -16.1 0.0_ 0.0_ 0.0_ D
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 191.0_ 4135__ -17.3 3.5_ 4.6_ 4.1_ A(177)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 115.5_ 4060__ -18.8 0.8_ 2.9_ -8.3 C(173)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 9.5___ 4038__ -19.1 -2.3 -7.0 -5.0 V(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 97.5__ 15571_ -22.2 5.4_ 2.6_ -2.5 AIRR(173)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 540.0_ 3872__ -22.6 0.8_ -5.2 -8.9 J
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 41.50_ 3860__ -22.8 65.5 -12.6 4.4 R(177)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 36.50_ 14454_ -27.7 13.4 -2.0 -2.0 AIKK(173)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 36.5__ 3579__ -28.4 -8.4 -3.9 0.0_ I(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 3.75__ 3216__ -29.4 0.0_ -6.1 -3.2 W
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 13.25_ 6983__ -30.7 -1.8 0.0_ -3.6 TW
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 5.625_ 3234__ -35.3 -9.3 2.0_ -10.0 Y(173)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 50.5__ 12867_ -35.7 -11.3 22.1 -3.8 ZZZZ(177)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.750_ 3192__ -36.2 0.0_ 7.6_ 2.7_ V(173)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 5.75__ 3065__ -38.7 5.1_ 1.2_ -8.0 Y(177)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.525_ 3000__ -40.0 13.6 -4.0 -12.5 Y(173)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 38.25_ 5688__ -43.1 -14.4 -1.6 24.4 TT(137)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 9.0___ 5670__ -43.3 0.0_ -9.8 -2.7 UU(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 34.0__ 2730__ -45.4 12.1 -5.4 -2.9 H(177)

totals___________________ 502753.8 14.3_ -0.1 1.1_ 5.8
small-cap__ 2891.87________ 2783.8 -3.7_ 0.0_ -1.3 0.7

Three holdings over 20% up on the week:

MDW is the star turn at 28.3%. Excellent new bb prepared by overgrowth which is worth reading. Expectation of US distributor deal which has been held up, presumably by protectionism. The cap is less than 10m and the share is well worth looking at.

SEO, needless to say, is up again but only 26.7%! Boring old share! Rumour-driven with expectations building of a Wal-Mart deal to be announced next week. Personally believe such a deal is almost inevitable to follow that with ASDA but think that timescale is unlikely. My own prediction for this year is 1 which is argued on the thread (if you can find it as there are so many posts). Not too late to make a killing.

The third riser is BPRG. This could just be reaction from the recent fall but there seems expectation of some good news shortly. The CEO has been fired which is probably good news in itself as he was caught with his pants down over the film debacle. One to watch but not for the faint-hearted. Any comments, John Tudor?

Looking down the list there are several shares worth exploring:

ASC is on the move. Evil Knievil has closed his short so there should be others buying back on Monday. It is clear that the warehouse and systems problems are in the past and a strong trading statement is expected before long. My own view is that ASOS will retrace the rise seen last summer. Hitwise figures show volumes doubled from last year.

CFP has AGM on Wednesday. Another good overgrowth board with analysis by stockdog. Both see the company now in positive cashflow based on published floats on the AIM market and the cap. is ridiculously low.

PDX is recovering steadily although I haven't studied it recently. Eventually it has the technology to take off. Any thoughts, sandrew?

Puzzled by the drop in BGT. No news might explain it. But they can't be far off from the launch of their exciting Bubble product for pre-school children. Any enlightenment, Jules?

Helpful to have any post on any holdings which you see as likely to make a move in short-term.

B 158.8 E 0.8__ V -17.1
S 150.1 C -2.0_ Y -17.8
U 83.9_ D -2.8_ I -19.3
W 71.5_ G -4.9_ R -21.5
M 15.1_ H -8.4_ T -33.8
O 11.5_ L -11.2 Z -35.7
P 4.5__ A -12.7
K 3.0__ J -14.6

bos and seb have, of course, pulled away further. The intriguing thing is that the gap has closed with seb into MDW. My money would now be on seb as I can see MDW doubling once the US distributor deal is announced which should be whilst the competition is still on. AGL is a good holding but appears to be stuck.

markus has taken third place back from yours truly but I am crying fowl as he has a double helping of SEO! optimistic has closed the gap on moneyplus, based on KCOM, for leading player without SEO; poor things! kivver has made a good move into positive territor on the back of BGC and TRT.

Its a very interesting portfolio and I am enjoying the weekly analysis. 14 shares that are over 10% up is a good performance in the current market, although 15 have dropped by more than 20%.

Happy trading, all. Eric

:.( :.( cheers MP hope for better next week. as I'm in SEO & MDW I'm happy to see them pull ahead as well!

Eric, thanks for the update. Have emailed bgt regarding the launch date etc, will post any reply that i receive. If the drop in sp is due to no news this would be a great buying op me thinks.

still there, but i did predict a few weeks ago that seb would come up on the blindside and take it. i don't know why agl is stuck. i thought a few fingers would have come out of their pies by now.

Thanks dawsinho. Well done, bos. Where's seb?

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

5 weeks to go! Portfolio slightly down this week. Without SEO it would have been a good week and beaten the small-cap rise of 0.7%.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value_ gain% wk18
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 26.25_ 119936 265.1 -7.9 BBSSUUW(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 134.0_ 7906__ 58.0_ 2.3_ K(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 92.5__ 7340__ 46.8_ 12.1 O(151)
CFP_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.4___ 14280_ 42.9_ 0.0_ WY(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 560.5_ 28473_ 42.1_ 10.9 CDMM(137)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 166.5_ 6494__ 29.8_ 1.2_ B(137)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 287.5_ 6224__ 24.6_ 28.1 C(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 168.5_ 6192__ 23.9_ 6.3_ A(151)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 9.125_ 10038_ 16.8_ 0.0_ HH
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 378.0_ 5765__ 15.5_ 1.1_ P(151)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 933.5_ 5741__ 15.1_ -0.6 P(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 20.75_ 22825_ 14.1_ 0.2_ BEMS(137)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 236.0_ 11092_ 11.1_ -0.2 GH(151)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 94.75_ 5448__ 8.9__ -3.6 K(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 67.0__ 10787_ 8.1__ -1.8 OO(151)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 273.5_ 4896__ 1.9__ 15.2 C
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 472.5_ 5056__ 1.3__ -0.5 P(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 130.0_ 9958__ -0.4_ 16.6 JJ(137)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 119.5_ 9936__ -0.6_ -3.6 EE(151)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 12.25_ 4851__ -3.0_ -3.9 I(137)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 10.0__ 4700__ -5.9_ 0.0_ T(151)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 14.125 4647__ -7.0_ -2.6 O(151)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 608.5_ 9128__ -8.9_ 5.2_ DP(151)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 8.25__ 20419_ -9.2_ -2.9 JSVV(137)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 233.5_ 4518__ -9.6_ -5.1 G(151)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 208.0_ 4503__ -10.0 8.9_ A(177)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 19.75_ 21923_ -12.2 -1.3 LLLLR(173)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 219.5_ 4291__ -14.2 -3.9 M(173)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 164.0_ 4280__ -14.4 -2.1 G(151)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 121.5_ 4271__ -14.6 5.2_ C(173)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 585.0_ 4194__ -16.1 8.3_ J
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944__ -16.1 0.0_ D
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 213.5_ 8327__ -16.7 -12.0 DE(173)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 9.75__ 4144__ -17.0 2.6_ V(173)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 131.0_ 4035__ -19.3 -6.8 G(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 95.5__ 15251_ -23.8 -2.1 AIRR(173)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 59.0__ 15033_ -24.8 16.8 ZZZZ(177)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 38.0__ 3726__ -25.5 4.1_ I(173)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 39.0__ 3627__ -27.4 -6.0 R(177)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 3.75__ 3216__ -29.4 0.0_ W
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 35.5__ 14058_ -29.7 -2.7 AIKK(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 13.0__ 6851__ -32.0 -1.9 TW
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 5.75__ 3306__ -33.8 2.2_ Y(173)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 44.0__ 6543__ -34.6 15.0 TT(137)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.375_ 2940__ -41.2 -7.9 V(173)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 5.125_ 2732__ -45.3 -10.9 Y(177)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 8.5___ 5355__ -46.5 -5.6 UU(173)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.45__ 2571__ -48.6 -14.3 Y(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 30.5__ 2449__ -51.0 -10.3 H(177)
TOTALS___________________ 498219.0 13.2_ -0.9
small-cap 2891.87_ 2820.2________ -2.5_ 1.3

7 shares up over 10% on the week:

MOB (monstermob) - the mob is short for mobiles and they provide a wide range of services, seemingly now around the world, for mobile service providers. Reason for rise, capa, and is there more to go?

ASOS - hooray! appear to be voer their troubles and indications of good trading figures. Natural timing of trading results for quarter would be July but could get indication with announcement of completion of warehouse move in near future. Hotwise figures show double volumes over a year ago. Likely to recover to starting price by 1 July; showing good profit on a healthy stake.

BGT (Bright Things) - had fallen back on no news. Play of the Week this week in Shares. Worth reading but 150p forecast is very low, IMO, as there will be tremendous interest in the launch of Bubble their interactive computer for pre-school children. Will definitely buy for my grandchildren (50 + 17 per game), and have bought back in this week.

WNN: another one for capa. BPRG: pulling back lost ground (your reading jgtudor?). HCEG and NLR are previous success stories recovering lost ground.

B 143.6 K 1.9_ V -19.2
S 133.8 E -1.0 I -20.5
U_ 70.0 D -1.1 R -21.8
W_ 63.3 J -5.8 Y -21.3
M_ 21.2 G -8.1 Z -24.8
O_ 13.9 H -9.8 T -29.7
C_ 12.5 A -9.9
P_ 7.0 L -12.3

bos has pulled away a little from seb as MDW has given back some of its gain. The contest probably rests on AGL v. MDW and, perhaps particularly, on whether the MDW US distributor is announced by 1st July. Is seb a Liverpool supporter by any chance?

markus still holding off yours truly for 3rd place. moneyplus has had a good week.. But the mover of the week is capa with all four holdings making ground. The momentum is with you capa: now 5 more weeks times 14.5% per week would get you to plus 85%...

Another week of blue skies and blus indices, please.

Eric

getting better--but not good enough!

not quite biting my nails , yet , but it's getting close......

MOB is up because they have appointed Hans Snook as Chairman---former Chief and bigwig of Orange. Great possibilities with this share--I only wish I had some funds to buy!

Sorry haven't been around for the last few weeks but work got in the way.

Moneyplus already highlighted reason for recent rise in MOB and I agree that this should be just the beginning of a good move North.

WNN is in my opinion even better value, AGM statement was just about as bullish as you can get and trading on a significant discount to the sector. Merryl Lynch have been mopping up the shares over the last month or two.

Happy with being 12.5% in profit but can only genuflect to the top 4, outstanding performances.

Keep up the good work Eric

capa

capa

Without SEO bos would be up 11% and the other three of us in top 4 would be in negative territory. So plus 12.5% is a good performance and moneyplus and optomistic have performed well. Proves the point that you only need to pick one share and run it if its the right one. Missed you around the palce.

Eric

Apologies! Did the update last Sunday but presumably didn't complete post correctly. Another of those senior moments! Will cover 2 weeks this weekend.

Eric

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

Three weeks to go. Anyone who has invested in the whole portfolio (!!) is up 12%; down 1.1% on the week but that would have been up but for SEO. The individual contest is hotting up to a really tight finish.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% wk19 wk20
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 24.25 110798 237.3 -1.0 -6.7 BBSSUUW(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 166.75 9838_ 96.6_ 13.4 9.7_ K(137)
DGT_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.45__ 16065 60.7_ 0.0_ 12.5 WY(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 92.0__ 7300_ 46.0_ -5.4 5.1_ O(151)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 544.5_ 27661 38.0_ -3.3 0.5_ CDMM(137)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 182.5_ 6707_ 34.2_ 0.0_ 8.3_ A(151)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 306.0_ 6625_ 32.6_ 9.0_ -2.4 C(151)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 1015.0 6242_ 25.2_ 8.0_ 0.6_ P(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 21.75_ 23925 19.6_ 2.4_ 2.4_ BEMS(137)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 385.0_ 5871_ 17.6_ 0.2_ 1.7_ P(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 148.5_ 11375 13.8_ -0.4 14.7 JJ(137)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 209.5_ 5468_ 9.4__ 8.2_ 18.0 G(151)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 292.5_ 5236_ 8.9__ 2.6_ 4.3_ C
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 139.5_ 5441_ 8.8__ -6.0 -10.9 B(137)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 67.0__ 10787 8.1__ 0.7_ -0.7_ OO(151)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 9.75__ 24131 7.3__ 3.0_ 14.7_ JSVV(137)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 8.25__ 9075_ 5.6__ -9.6 0.0__ HH
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 487.5_ 5216_ 4.6__ 0.0_ 3.2__ P(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 222.0_ 10434 4.5__ -0.8 -5.1_ GH(151)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 15.5__ 5100_ 2.0__ 11.5 -1.6_ O(151)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 86.5__ 4974_ -0.6_ -3.2 -5.7_ K(151)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 249.5_ 4878_ -2.4_ 8.2_ 5.1__ M(173)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 648.0_ 9720_ -2.9_ 3.1_ 3.3__ DP(151)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 248.0_ 4799_ -4.0_ -2.1 8.5__ G(151)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 20.75_ 23033 -7.8_ -2.5 7.8__ LLLLR(173)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 212.5_ 4601_ -8.0_ 5.3_ -3.0_ A(177)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 11.5__ 4554_ -8.9_ 0.0_ -6.1_ I(137)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 9.5___ 4465_ -10.6 0.0_ -5.0_ T(151)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 121.5_ 4271_ -14.6 -0.8 0.8__ C(173)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944_ -16.1 0.0_ 0.0__ D
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 213.5_ 8327_ -16.7 1.2_ -1.2_ DE(173)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 131.5_ 4050_ -19.0 0.4_ 0.0__ G(173)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 9.5___ 4038_ -19.1 2.6_ -5.0_ V(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 4.0___ 3430_ -24.7 13.3 -5.9_ W
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 93.5__ 14932 -25.3 0.0_ -2.1_ AIRR(173)
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 6.25__ 3594_ -28.1 4.3_ 4.2__ Y(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 13.75_ 7246_ -28.1 -7.7 14.6_ TW
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 500.0_ 3585_ -28.3 -6.0 -9.1_ J
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 36.0__ 3530_ -29.4 0.0_ -5.3_ I(173)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 55.0__ 14014 -29.9 0.0_ -6.8_ ZZZZ(177)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 34.5__ 13662 -31.7 1.4_ -4.2_ AIKK(173)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 36.0__ 3348_ -33.0 -6.4 -1.4_ R(177)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 36.5__ 2931_ -41.4 18.9 0.7__ H(177)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 70.5__ 5862_ -41.4 1.3_ -41.7 EE(151)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 9.25__ 5828_ -41.7 2.9_ 5.7__ UU(173)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.125_ 2772_ -44.6 -2.9 -2.9_ V(173)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 35.5__ 5279_ -47.2 -14.2 -6.0 TT(137)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 4.875_ 2598_ -48.0 2.4_ -7.1_ Y(177)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.2___ 1143_ -77.1 -16.7 -46.7 Y(173)

Totals__________________ 492699.4 12.0_ 0.0__ -1.1
small-cap__ 2891.87_ 2884.1______ -0.3_ 1.4__ 0.8

Six really good performers this week:

GHH up 18% following 8.2% last week. Excellent results for this optical instrument manufacturer with profits up 56%. Like the look of their forward strategy which involves a movement into higher value systems products. (seadog?)

MDW up 14.7% coming back from a bigger rise. Expectation building of appointment of US distrirbutor. (jules, seb or petralva?)

BGT also up 14.7%. sp seems to have come back too far; share play recently in Shares; approaching launch of their exciting Bubble product for pre-school children. I was unfortunately shaken out to cover a fall in SEO. (jules again?)

GMC up 14.6% on closure of a large sales order. Difficult to determine the proper value following a substantial recent acquisition - hope they haven't done a Yoomedia). (jgt and I included this)

DGT (formerly CFP) up 12.5%. No real explanation except that CEO has been building up his holding. The prospective results are well known on the thread because the contracts are very visible for this NOMAD and broker for the AIM market. My expectation, with others, is for a price in the 0.7p to 0.8p range on the first half trading results, probably late July.

BGC up 9.7% following 13.4% last week. (kivver?)

On the downside there have been horrible falls in GWP (41.7%) and PMD (46.7%). GWP have been forced to complete another clinical trial before approval is given by the US authorities; I suspect the price fall is overdue because they are well through an additional clinical trial anyway and there are no significant concerns re their drug.

PMD is a different matter. They ahve been foced into a sale of their US subsiduary to repay a bank loan from Barclays - they have a one month extension to end-June from Barclays. Price fall yesterday suggests the worst.

Any significant moves expected in your shares in the next few weeks? I am very confident indeed in a major boost to ASOS in their July trading statement. sp has actually fallen on a positve report, presumably because the warehouse move has been set for August, rather than May. Big increase in registered users and major increase in hits on website. An excellent time to buy in for as sure a winner as you will find and that includes, you will be surprised to hear me say, SEO. By that I mean that the risks are far lower. The potential return on SEO is still massive but there are definable risks and the share is not for the faint-hearted. ASOS is a one-way street with a terrific formula and a substantial existing market from the high-street retailers to be acquired.

B 125.8 K 8.2_ E -20.0
S 125.4 J 1.6_ R -22.9
W_ 63.0 D -0.6 Y -23.2
U_ 61.5 G -2.3 I -23.9
M_ 23.4 A -7.7 Z -29.9
O_ 15.9 L -7.9 T -36.4
C_ 15.2 V -12.3
P_ 10.9 H -13.9

Well, bos remains ahead by the smallest of margins. Where is seb? - anyone met him on a thread anywhere? Does he know that bos has offered a prize for the winner, assuming it to be himself? lol! Its basically MDW against AGL: a riser against a faller, though without known cause other than no news. My money is on MDW with a US deal likely soon.

Yours truly edged into third with only one SEO portion on the back of GMC and DGT with KYS not helping markus at all. The next 6 in the list are all making progress so there is much honour to be played for. Doubt whether we will make it to Shares but I suspect we played a part in stimulating their Champion Investor competition.

Eric

ooooooooooooo it's neck and neck!!!! i have no idea about why agl has fallen especialy when there has been some good news flow recently and ,i think, more to come. i suspect it's a bit of a fake fall and that agl will climb again soon. wether it will happen in time to keep seb behind me , i don't know. anway, if seb does win , i will buy him a drink in donny! great work , eric, and i am pretty sure mam "borrowed" your idea. what a pity the prizes arn't the same. i would have been well up by now!!!!

bgc - varisolve expected to be allowed to be trialed in the US very soon. Announcement could come this week. If it fails, big fall to come!

Eric, I hear what you say about PMD, but I really do believe they are going to crawl out of this hole. Their Programme Master company is the best money earner of all and (god forbid, it`s part of their sell off !! ) then I`m sure they have enough credibility etc to remain in the market. I know it seems iffy, but I am going in for another million this week and if this comes good I`ll take you, PTH, OG and Stockdog to Ireland for a long weekend`s golf. We`ll have to have a 3 and a 2 ball though, but we can mix it up over 4 games !!!!

Thanks snakey, I don't even know who PMD are, but I'll gladly accept the trip. Now where is that research button?

pth

Eric, PMD are Profile Media and they were the first subject of your `downsiders` on 11th June. I`m not bein` smart, just to let you review their problems.

Eric,
As I said my three were picked solely on their 12 month trend line. Have read a little about GHH and they are leadrers in a small niche market, and are doing well but I don't hold any !!! SD

snakey: Great golfing offer! Hope it comes good. By the way, it was pth who queried who PMD are. I did research them before making the content so was aware of the Barclays Bank threat and the proposed sell-off action, which I hope is not the crown jewels. Monday's recovery suggests positive developments - if the odds are better thane ven on recovery then the upside is certainly larger than the downside (even though that ends in zilch!).

Eric

pth,
PMD have got rid of the millstone today and am expecting reasonable increase up to, and beyond, results at end of this month. would expect a positive statement from them as their finances should look a little healthier now.
hope you got some and hope my confidence proves correct !!

NLR and WNN on a roll, lots more to come with WNN imo.

Any chance of extending the closing date Eric?

capa

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

Pretty good week for the portfolio - up 3.9% for 16.3% overall, compared with 1.1% and 0.8% respectively for the small cap index. Some really strong moveers during the week. capa so delighted with WNN and NLR he has aked for extension of teh close-off date in a fortnight's time. He has moved up to 6th and has a certain attractive filly looking over her shoulder! Change at the top with bos knocked off his perch for the first time, I think, since week 1.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value_ gain% wk20
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 23.75_ 108514 230.3 -2.1 BBSSUUW(137)
DGT_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.64__ 22848_ 128.6 42.2 WY(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 167.0_ 9853__ 96.9_ 0.1_ K(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 676.5_ 34366_ 71.5_ 24.2 CDMM(137)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 93.5__ 7419__ 48.4_ 1.6_ O(151)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 189.0_ 6946__ 39.0_ 3.6_ A(151)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 1025.0 6304__ 26.4_ 1.0_ P(151)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 291.5_ 6311__ 26.3_ -4.7 C(151)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 334.5_ 5988__ 24.6_ 14.4 C
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 11.25_ 27844_ 23.8_ 15.4 JSVV(137)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 386.0_ 5887__ 17.9_ 0.3_ P(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 21.0__ 23100_ 15.4_ -3.4 BEMS(137)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 69.5__ 11190_ 12.1_ 3.7_ OO(151)
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 139.5_ 5441__ 8.8__ 0.0_ B(137)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 231.0_ 10857_ 8.7__ 4.1_ GH(151)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 497.5_ 5323__ 6.7__ 2.1_ P(151)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 8.25__ 9075__ 5.6__ 0.0_ HH
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 202.0_ 5272__ 5.5__ -3.6 G(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 137.5_ 10533_ 5.4__ -7.4 JJ(137)
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 15.75_ 5182__ 3.7__ 1.6_ O(151)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 252.5_ 4936__ -1.3_ 1.2_ M(173)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 12.25_ 4851__ -3.0_ 6.5_ I(137)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 84.0__ 4830__ -3.4_ -2.9 K(151)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 642.5_ 9638__ -3.8_ -0.8 DP(151)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 20.75_ 23033_ -7.8_ 0.0_ LLLLR(173)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 237.5_ 4596__ -8.0_ -4.2 G(151)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 210.5_ 4557__ -8.9_ -0.9 A(177)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 127.5_ 4482__ -10.4 4.9_ C(173)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 225.0_ 8775__ -12.2 5.4_ DE(173)
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 16.5__ 8696__ -13.7 20.0 TW
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 9.0___ 4230__ -15.3 -5.3 T(151)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944__ -16.1 0.0_ D
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 9.5___ 4038__ -19.1 0.0_ V(173)
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 6.625_ 3809__ -23.8 6.0_ Y(173)
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 122.5_ 3773__ -24.5 -6.8 G(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 93.5__ 14932_ -25.3 0.0_ AIRR(173)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 512.5_ 3675__ -26.5 2.5_ J
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 57.5__ 14651_ -26.8 4.5_ ZZZZ(177)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 3.75__ 3216__ -29.4 -6.3 W
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 36.0__ 3530__ -29.4 0.0_ I(173)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 34.0__ 13464_ -32.7 -1.4 AIKK(173)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 36.0__ 3348__ -33.0 0.0_ R(177)
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 10.5__ 6615__ -33.9 13.5 UU(173)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 41.0__ 3292__ -34.1 12.3 H(177)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.52__ 2971__ -40.6 160.0 Y(173)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.125_ 2772__ -44.6 0.0_ V(173)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 63.5__ 5280__ -47.2 -9.9 EE(151)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 4.75__ 2532__ -49.3 -2.6 Y(177)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 34.0__ 5056__ -49.4 -4.2 TT(137)
totals___________________ 511769.5 16.3_ 3.9
small-cap__ 2891.87 2915.8________ 0.8__ 1.1

Last week's disaster area, PMD, is this week's star with the sale of tehir loss making subsiduary, staving off their bankers. snakey called this one and is positive for the future (post 287).

snakey and I have also benefitted from a significant jump in DGT (42.4%)(formerly CFP). Letter from pth in Shares with a defensive response from John Marshall may have helped to trigger move, though volumes have not been large. stockdog has done a very good analysis of the potential results as their business as AIM NOMADs is pretty transparent. Much further to go.

Other significant movers are NLR (24.2%) and GMC (20%), presumably in the light of attention on the gaming sector, MDW (15.4%), WNN (14.4%) (see CAPA's note above) and, rising from the doldrums, KYS (13.5%) and DES (12.3%).

S 125.0 D 8.7_ H -11.0
B 121.3 K 7.1_ I -22.6
W 81.4_ Y 3.7_ E -22.8
U 62.7_ J 2.0_ R -22.9
M 39.5_ V -4.1 Z -26.7
C 26.9_ G -4.7 T -35.8
O 19.0_ A -7.0
P 11.7_ L -7.9

seb's move to the top is on the basis of cotinued strength in MDW; AGL needs news if bos is to repsond I reckon. My own move into a clear third place is gratifying, based on really good progress with both DGT and GMC. Come to think of it, an extension to end-July could give me the chance to catch seb and bos! lol!

Good headway by moneyplus, based on NLR. Just as well with capa overtaking optimistic and into 5th place. The other major move is by snakey - into positive territory based on PMD and DGT.

Its good to see some half the shares in the blue to match the weather. More optimism afoot.

Eric

p.s. ASOS prelims on 11th July. They are getting them out pretty quickly and I think their trading report will make very positive reading. BUY!

All in all a good week for the challenge. Have a good weekend all-I'm off to see my brand new first grand daughter born this morning in London, hope the weathers good up there it's been pretty poor in Devon so far. MP

moneyplus: getting jolly hot in the south east so bring the bikini. Congratulations on first grand daughter: name and weight? Second grandson due in a couple of weeks! EWR

By the way Eric, if i had been around to participate in this challenge, I would have put the whole lot on DGT!!

Haven't got a clue what all the letters and numbers mean!

pth

Hoy, pth - that's being wise after the event! I accept you might have had a double portion but you would probably have been bested by the SEO guys.

The letters are the codes for the players in the game so you know who bought what. The number is the post reference where johngtudor gave a helpful TA on each share - couldn't manage DGT.

Eric

Good job as ever Eric, personally a great day today with both NLR and WNN.

I know nobody else is in WNN but must stress the potential with this share, undervalued within the sector by a country mile and now in unchartered territory.

Off topic, may I suggest that you have a look at AVG which I believe is a potential Zulu (Slater fans will know what I mean) an overlooked gem imo.

capa

Thanks Eric--name is Madeleine Josephine Mary--that's a mouthful--weight 7lb6oz and good as gold I'm told. Little do they know she'll be firmly in control from now on! I'm in a similar situation as you re. pets as we recently lost 2 cats due to old age with a 3rd going downhill rapidly--we foolishly decided to replace them with 3 more! first to arrive was a fluffy white birman male--butter wouldn't melt in his mouth or so we thought. lovely temperament but into everything! we've had him for 5 weeks and then collected 2 burmese kittens which had been bred and kept in a garden shed!! all hell broke loose when they arrived spitting bundles of fury--we needed gardening gloves to get them out from under the settee!! one week later normality is beginning to return, they've decided the dogs aren't going to eat them, we're a good source of food and just maybe they'll occasionally play with the poor birman so they gallop around like greyhounds while he tries to keep up! A grand daughter will be a piece of cake after all that!

hi guys
told you that when mdw starts to rise............ Anyway nothing is done yet and the next couple of weeks will be very eciting. The best will win!!!!!!!!

regards to everybody

sebastien

NLR is out of the starting blocks for a late spurt!!

seb: great to see you again! Obviously been keeping quiet waiting for the spurt for the tape. Suspect you'll stay in front.

moneyplus: Big kiss for madeleine josephine mary from all of us. Thanks for description of scenes of marital bliss. Expect you relate to the cat jokes - was it the DGT thread or maybe NML - espeially the one ablout the girl, the fire engine and the screeching cat!

Eric

!! definitely the one where you are instructed on how to give a cat a pill!

SECOND ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO (week 20)

The penultimate week. All seems pretty well sorted out with bos well and truly overtaken by seb. Announcement that AGL prelims on July 5th just miss the final date, although an AIM launch announcement actually moved the sp up 1p; too little too late, I'm afraid, bos!

A small loss on the week, although fully accounted for by SEO. Small gain on the small-cap index although our portfolio is overall up 15.4% against 1.3%.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% wk21
SEO_ 7.19___ 456900_ 23.0__ 105087 219.9 -3.2 BBSSUUW(137)
DGT_ 0.28___ 3570000 0.59__ 21063_ 110.7 -7.8 WY(137)
BGC_ 84.8___ 5900___ 161.0_ 9499__ 89.9 -3.6 K(137)
NLR_ 394.5__ 5080___ 699.0_ 35509_ 77.2 3.3_ CDMM(137)
MDW_ 9.09___ 247500_ 12.875 31866_ 41.6 14.4 JSVV(137)
DFD_ 136____ 3675___ 189.0_ 6946__ 39.0 0.0_ A(151)
HCEG 63_____ 7935___ 86.0__ 6824__ 36.5 -8.0 O(151)
MOB_ 230.75_ 2165___ 309.5_ 6701__ 34.1 6.2 C(151)
BAG_ 811____ 615____ 1025.0 6304__ 26.4 0.0_ P(151)
IDS_ 212.5__ 4700___ 259.5_ 12197_ 22.1 12.3 GH(151)
CRDA 327.375 1525___ 385.0_ 5871__ 17.6 -0.3 P(151)
DGM_ 18.19__ 110000_ 21.3__ 23375_ 16.8 1.2_ BEMS(137)
WNN_ 268.5__ 1790___ 309.0_ 5531__ 15.1 -7.6 C
AGL_ 128.25_ 3900___ 140.5_ 5480__ 9.6_ 0.7_ B(137)
RSG_ 466.25_ 1070___ 510.0_ 5457__ 9.4_ 2.5_ P(151)
GHH_ 191.5__ 2610___ 204.0_ 5324__ 6.5_ 1.0_ G(151)
BGT_ 130.5__ 7660___ 136.5_ 10456_ 4.6_ -0.7 JJ(137)
PCI_ 10.625_ 47000__ 11.0__ 5170__ 3.5_ 22.2 T(151)
ITR_ 7.81___ 110000_ 8.0___ 8800__ 2.4_ -3.0 HH
THUS 15.19__ 32900__ 15.5__ 5100__ 2.0_ -1.6 O(151)
KCOM 62_____ 16100__ 63.3__ 10183_ 2.0_ -9.0 OO(151)
CEY_ 12.625_ 39600__ 12.25_ 4851__ -3.0 0.0_ I(137)
BPG_ 667.625 1500___ 642.5_ 9638__ -3.8 0.0_ DP(151)
PAY_ 255.75_ 1955___ 245.0_ 4790__ -4.2 -3.0 M(173)
CASH 142.25_ 3515___ 135.0_ 4745__ -5.1 5.9_ C(173)
TRT_ 87_____ 5750___ 82.5__ 4744__ -5.2 -1.8 K(151)
ACE_ 258.25_ 1935___ 240.0_ 4644__ -7.1 1.1_ G(151)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500__ 10.75_ 4569__ -8.5 13.2 V(173)
TND_ 22.5___ 111000_ 20.25_ 22478_ -10.0 -2.4 LLLLR(173)
PDX_ 231____ 2165___ 204.5_ 4427__ -11.5 -2.9 A(177)
AUG_ 256.25_ 3900___ 216.5_ 8444__ -15.5 -3.8 DE(173)
SLV_ 11.625_ 40450__ 9.75__ 3944__ -16.1 0.0_ D
GMC_ 19.125_ 52700__ 14.8__ 7773__ -22.9 -10.6 TW
FTO_ 8.69___ 57500__ 6.625_ 3809__ -23.8 0.0_ Y(173)
BNH_ 125.25_ 15970__ 94.5__ 15092_ -24.6 1.1_ AIRR(173)
EPD_ 51_____ 9805___ 38.0__ 3726__ -25.5 5.6_ I(173)
ASC_ 78.5___ 25480__ 58.0__ 14778_ -26.1 0.9_ ZZZZ(177)
AEN_ 697.5__ 717____ 507.5_ 3639__ -27.2 -1.0 J
CIU_ 162.25_ 3080___ 115.0_ 3542__ -29.1 -6.1 G(173)
NML_ 5.31___ 85750__ 3.625_ 3108__ -31.7 -3.3 W
KYS_ 15.875_ 63000__ 10.375 6536__ -34.6 -1.2 UU(173)
PET_ 53.75__ 9300___ 35.0__ 3255__ -34.9 -2.8 R(177)
DES_ 62.25__ 8030___ 40.0__ 3212__ -35.7 -2.4 H(177)
SPS_ 50.5___ 39600__ 31.5__ 12474_ -37.6 -7.4 AIKK(173)
PMD_ 0.875__ 571400_ 0.525_ 3000__ -40.0 1.0_ Y(173)
GWP_ 120.25_ 8315___ 69.0__ 5737__ -42.6 8.7_ EE(151)
XEN_ 7.44___ 67200__ 4.25__ 2856__ -42.9 3.0_ V(173)
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 35.25_ 5242__ -47.6 3.7_ TT(137)
TAD_ 9.375__ 53300__ 4.25__ 2265__ -54.7 -10.5 Y(177)
totals___________________ 510059.0 +15.9 -0.3
small-cap__ 2891.87 2929.3________ +1.3_ +0.5

Major mover on the week is PCI (up 22.2% with positive drilling data in Algeria (johngtudor?). MDW is up a further 14.4% in anticipation of distribution arrangements in the US (jules, seb, moneyplus?). IDOX is up 13.2% on movement into profit - looks an interesting play in the information management and knowledge sharing field for government sector (patrelva?). IDS is up 12.3% on postive interim results almost matching the last full year, based largely on Freeview services (seadog, dawsinho?).

S 124.6 D 9.3_ L -10.1
B 116.6 V 7.9_ E -21.0
W 71.1_ J 5.9_ I -22.7
U 58.2_ K 2.4_ R -23.5
M 41.9_ Y -2.0 Z -26.1
C 29.3_ G -2.0 T -32.0
P 12.3_ A -8.7
O 10.5_ H -9.4

Appears to be a clear-cut top six. partridge has made progress or perhaps it is a case of capa and optimistic regressing. Major mover is patrelva on the back of MDW and IDOX.

Competition ends July 1st. I will try to draw lessons learnt which is, in my view, the major advantage in a competition like this. Hopefully, others will respond in kind. I don't see a successor portfolio given that we now have the Shares Champion Investor, I suspect partly inspired by our own efforts.

MOB down 28.1% ?? If it was I'd be sticking my house on it !!

I think you'll find the price to be 1 north of 209.5p Eric and still good value in my book.

Won't make any difference to my overall position but I am quite pleased with the performance of my picks, 1 loser out of 4 but I still think CASH will come good in time.

All the best

capa

Can I sell everything and put it into MSY please EW ?

Cheers

morning eric. great job again. i fear my prediction that seb would come through late on has become true!! well done seb. i agree eric, agl, too little too late. but still, you've got to be a bit happy with 116 % profit!!!

capa: apologies! Took a 1 off by mistake! Have edited the analysis, including the clear-cut 'top 5' to 'top 6'. Also second in the non-SEO plate cometition to moneyplus!

dil: Puzzled by MSY! What do you know that the 11 brokers on Hemscott don't know? Isn't it one of those sluggish large cap things?

bos: Yeah! Most of us would settle for 116% or even my rather pathetic 71.1%. At least, SEO and DGT are my two largest holdings - I know you have put your money where your mouth is too!

Eric

hello everybody

WAS IT THE LAST DAY OF THE COMPETITION ? IF YES, I think I ve just lost.... but not sure. Eric could you give us the final results, please ?
many thanks Eric.
It has been a very exciting challenge. Hope there will be some more...

regards to all

Second ASOS Challenge Portfolio

The Challenge is over! The winner is seb by a short head from bos. Fame and glory! (he doesn't win anything tangible unfortunately). Those who were positive at the end of the challenge were:

(1) seb190774 (+104.9%); (2) Bosley (+102.9%); (3) EWRobson (+61.1%);
(4) markusantonius (+48.3%); (5) moneyplus (+34.4%); (6) Capa (+26.6%);
(7) partridge (+12.5%); (8) optimistic (+6.7%); (9) seadog (+2.4%); (10) DIL (+1.2%).

The full result, not detailing the losers for identity protection, was:

S 104.9 G 2.4 L -10.1
B 102.9 D 1.2 R -16.1
W 61.1 J -1.3 I -20.6
U 48.3 K_ -2.1 Z -26.4
M 34.4 V -4.9 E -26.5
C 26.6 H -5.8 T -34.7
P 12.5 A -6.8
O 6.7_ Y -8.4

The portfolio was down 3.9% in the last week but up 11.4% overall compared with a rise of 1.2% is the small.cap index, used as a benchmark. The late fall was primarily accounted for by drops in the leading shares, particularly SEO, NLR, HCEG and MDW. Could well be accounted for by profit taking, perhaps on a 'sell in June' variant of the May principle.

epic cost___ shares_ price_ value gain% wk22
SEO 7.19___ 456900_ 21.25 97091 195.5 -7.6 BBSSUUW(137)
DGT 0.28___ 3570000 0.58_ 20706 107.1 -1.7 WY(137)
BGC 84.8___ 5900___ 174.5 10296 105.8 8.4 K(137)
NLR 394.5___5080___ 643.5 32690 63.1_ -7.9 CDMM(137)
DFD 136____ 3675___ 200.0 7350_ 47.1_ 5.8 A(151)
IDS 212.5___ 4700__ 291.0_ 13677 36.9 12.1 GH(151)
MOB 230.75_ 2165__ 312.0_ 6755_ 35.2_ 0.8 C(151)
BAG 811____ 615___ 1027.5 6319_ 26.7_ 0.2 P(151)
HCEG 63____ 7935__ 78.5_ 6229_ 24.6_ -8.7 O(151)
CRDA 327.375 1525__ 385.0 5871_ 17.6_ 0.0 P(151)
WNN 268.5__ 1790__ 312.5_ 5594_ 16.4 1.1_ C
MDW 9.09___ 247500 10.375 25678 14.1 -19.4 JSVV(137)
DGM 18.19__ 110000_ 20.75 22825 14.1 -2.4_ BEMS(137)
RSG 466.25__ 1070__ 510.0_ 5457_ 9.4_ 0.0_ P(151)
GHH 191.5___ 2610__ 205.5_ 5364_ 7.3_ 0.7_ G(151)
AGL 128.25__ 3900__ 136.5_ 5324_ 6.4_ -2.8 B(137)
BGT 130.5___ 7660__ 137.5_ 10533 5.4_ 0.7_ JJ(137)
KCOM 62____ 16100_ 63.75 10264_ 2.8_ 0.8_ OO(151)
ITR 7.81____ 110000_ 8.0__ 8800__ 2.4_ 0.0_ HH
PCI 10.625__ 47000__ 10.5_ 4935_ -1.2_ -4.5 T(151)
THUS 15.19__ 32900_ 14.75_ 4853 -2.9_ -4.8 O(151)
CEY 12.625__ 39600_ 12.25_ 4851 -3.0_ 0.0_ I(137)
BPG 667.625_ 1500__ 647.0_ 9705 -3.1_ 0.7_ DP(151)
PAY 255.75__ 1955__ 246.5_ 4819 -3.6_ 0.6_ M(173)
CASH 142.25_ 3515__ 136.5_ 4798 -4.0_ 1.1_ C(173)
IDOX 11.75__ 42500_ 11.0__ 4675 -6.4_ 2.3_ V(173)
ACE 258.25__ 1935__ 239.0_ 4625 -7.5_ -0.4 G(151)
TRT 87______ 5750__ 79.0__ 4543 -9.2_ -4.2 K(151)
BNH 125.25__ 15970_ 113.5_ 18126 -9.4 20.1 AIRR(173)
TND 22.5____ 111000 20.25_ 22478 -10.0 0.0 LLLLR(173)
PDX 231_____ 2165__ 202.5_ 4384 -12.3 -1.0 A(177)
SLV 11.625__ 40450__ 9.75_ 3944 -16.1_ 0.0 D
EPD 51______ 9805___ 42.0_ 4118 -17.6 10.5 I(173)
FTO 8.69____ 57500__ 6.625 3809 -23.8 0.0_ Y(173)
GMC 19.125__ 52700__ 14.25 7510 -25.5 -3.4 TW
ASC 78.5____ 25480__ 57.75 14715 -26.4 -0.4 ZZZZ(177)
CIU 162.25__ 3080___ 118.5_ 3650 -27.0 3.0_ G(173)
AEN 697.5___ 717____ 487.5 3495 -30.1 -3.9_ J
AUG 256.25__ 3900___ 167.5 6533 -34.6 -22.6 DE(173)
KYS 15.875__ 63000__ 10.25 6458 -35.4 -1.2_ UU(173)
PET 53.75___ 9300___ 34.5_ 3209 -35.8 -1.4_ R(177)
DES 62.25___ 8030___ 39.75 3192 -36.1 -0.6_ H(177)
XEN 7.44____ 67200__ 4.375 2940 -41.2 2.9__ V(173)
GWP 120.25__ 8315___ 69.0 _ 5737 -42.6 0.0_ EE(151)
NML 5.31____ 85750__ 3.0__ 2573 -43.5 -17.2 W
BPRG 67.25__ 14870__ 34.0_ 5056 -49.4 -3.5_ TT(137)
SPS 50.5____ 39600__ 24.0_ 9504 -52.5 -23.8 AIKK(173)
TAD 9.375___ 53300__ 4.25_ 2265 -54.7 0.0__ Y(177)
PMD 0.875___ 571400_ 0.33_ 1886 -62.3 -37.1 Y(173)
totals_________________ 490203.3 11.4 -3.9
small-cap___ 2891.87______ 2926.9 1.2_ -0.1

I will give my own comments on lessons learnt from the portfolio below, copying it to Shares in the hope that it may be of interest for the Shares magazine.

seb, not surprisingly, would like a further competition! Not so sure myself as we now have the Champion Investor competition in Shares. I am happy enough to manage the portfolio - the only pain is the editing of the spreadsheet, though I will check with Ian Taylor whether there is an easier way to do this with the changes made this week. Anyone else keen? If so, what changes in the 'game' would you suggest?

Eric

Well done, Sebastian! Unlucky, Bosley. Stanelco's recent slide has resulted in moi having to settle for 4th. position which means runner/up to Eric for the second time in < 4 days after his Golf Challenge Victory..... gggggrrhh!!!!

Am sending the following to Shares with a covering memo. hoping for some coverage.

"Second ASOS Challenge Portfolio

The First ASOS Challenge Portfolio ran for some three months to January this year and was a straight challenge to find a share that would double faster than ASOS. None actually doubled in the period but there were good attempts from Broker Network Holdings (BNH), Stanelco (SEO) and ASOS (ASC) itself. The other eight shares were in negative territory.

There were 21 participants in the second challenge each having 20,000 to invest in up to four shares in multiples of 5000. The portfolio contained 49 shares with seven 5000 lots in SEO, five in Tandem (TND) and four each in Netellar (NLR), Mediwatch (MDW), Deal Group Media (DGM), BNH, Superscape (SPS) and ASC itself which was taken as a team investment benchmark.

The portfolio gained 11.4% over the 22 week life of the challenge. However, this was effectively accounted for by the gain of the overweight investment in SEO that gained 195%. Other holdings with gains in excess of 100% were Dowgate (DGT), formerly City Finance Associates (CFP), and BTG (BGC).

What lessons can be learnt from the exercise? The author has probably gained most from the weekly process of evaluating the portfolio and suggests the following:

1. Switches were allowed in the portfolio for the first few weeks. The lesson that is clear from the following period is the reinforcement of the maxim to run your profits. This certainly applies to most of the 13 shares with gains over 10% which each appear to have positive on-going prospects.
2. What could not be applied was the maxim to cut your losses. There were major falls in the last week in Augean (AUG), New Millenium Resources (NML), Superscape (SPS) and Profile Media (PMD). 12 shares were down over 30% and there would appear to be warning bells even now with several, not the least PMD with banking threats still applying and the accounts not signed off.
3. Just above this last group in the portfolio are a number of stocks that have made losses over the period but which appear very sound investments. ASC is in this category following a short-term trading blip but with a positive trading statement expected on 11th July. Gaming Corporation (GMC), Pursuit Dynamics (PDX) and BNH would also appear to have very positive prospects: the problem here being with the period selected for the portfolio.
4. Returning to the lead performers there appears to be a number of shares still ripe for investment. SEO, NLR and Healthcare Enterprise Group (HCEG), in particular, receive positive broker recommendations at current levels and are all significantly back from their Highs. BGC, Debt Free Direct (DFD), Ideal Direct (IDS), Monstermob (MOB) and Barr (AG) (BAG) appear steady performers that could well continue to out-perform. DGT is a minnow but, as an AIM NOMAD, its trading performance is transparent (see the MoneyAM bb) and there is very considerable North potential.

The overall conclusion that we had a portfolio with a wide range of shares from stars to dogs is not surprising. The individual challenge is quite clear: firstly, in picking the right share(s); secondly, in timing the trades better than the artificial context of an investment game allows."

Any other conclusions to be drawn?

Sorry about that markus (otherwise known as The Shark - but really he is quite a soft touch!).

Well done Seb, Bos, Eric et al.

Good game, good game as Brucie once said rather monotonously.

Thanks Eric for your sterling work over the last few months

the best of luck to all competitors in the future.

capa

congratulations leaders and thanks to Eric for the hard work from me as well. Enjoyed the game and hope we all try again!!

well done , eric. enjoyed the ride!! congrats to seb, ( you jammy git!)( only joking). watch agl fly now it's too late!!!! i agree with your observation , eric, about running your winners.

Many thanks Eric. The benchmark "tortoise" portfolio did me proud and reflects the sort of gains I have had from good quality second line stocks for many years. No substitute for doing your own research in what I believe is still a good value segment of the market (and getting to a few AGMs if you can).

Eric, thanks very much, much appreciated.

Congratulations to seb, and many thanks to eric for all his hard work in puting the portfolio together.

Cheers,

Daws