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

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