Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

G/M and E/L, Might be worth one of you starting a thread on it's own for the subject perhaps?

Exec,

Agree with the majority of what you have written.
I think any group, or organisation, should have the right to its own creed.
I think those who wish to change the rules can use persuasion of the others to make the changes.
Alternately, they can set up their own sects, religious or other to perform their wishes, but not abuse the rights of those of different views.

It seems reasonable for a couple formed from either sex, or sexes should be able to form a civil partnership, the contract having the same legal rights and RESPONSIBILITIES of a “civil marriage”.

================

I wonder if we could have a ceremony of some sort for those who would like to try out Polygamy?

Perhaps, they should have a psychiatric assessment first.

And then there's this Southampton pub, which is currently called 'The Hobbit'.

Will it stay that way............?

Facebook - SaveTheHobbit

Hi Stan,

Yes, I live in Yorkshire.
And yes, before you say it, I do love sheep!

Cameroons and Ossie's Success Story!


In the Press

A second credit rating agency has given Britain a formal warning that it could lose its triple-A rating because of the government’s high levels of debt. Fitch said it was putting Britain on “negative outlook” until at least 2014 as it argued a renewed crisis in the eurozone or lower than predicted growth could undermine the AAA rating. The decision is embarrassing for the government, coming the week before the Budget and the day after George Osborne suggested Britain’s finances were so stable that the government could issue 100 year bonds, The Times says.

"as it argued a renewed crisis in the eurozone "

Hardly down to our government what is going on in Europe and the current domestic problems are a hang over from the previous Labour government.

agreed, but there is a lot of cash floating around. Probably ten times more 'cash' than two years ago.

I thought everything was the control and the responsibility of HMG.

Many seemed to think that with the previous government "rule".

Mind with the U-turns and broken pledges I don't suppose one could say the present mob is in control of themselves or the country.

They don't even know which direction they are trying to go.

Spending their time learning and repeating Mantras by wrote.

The previous government said no tax increases and then upped taxes more than previous governments.

USD Core CPI m/m 0.1% v consensus 0.2% previous 0.2%

http://www.moneyobserver.com/issue/features/black-gold-mine

March 16, 2012 - 10:39am | Mike McCudden

Investors are looking to profit from likely mergers and acquisitions in the oil industry, says Mike McCudden.

Oil stocks have been the flavour of the past few months as M&A fever has taken a progressively tight grip on the sector.

Burgeoning tensions in oil-producing countries, with Iran at its core, is piling pressure on the oil companies to find as much black gold as possible, as fast as possible.

This has led some speculators to predict the price of oil could reach the heady heights of $150 (£95) per barrel in the months ahead.

Rising oil prices have caused the value of the so-called super-majors – BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, Royal Dutch Shell, Total and Conoco Phillips – to go up anything between 5 per cent and 12 per cent in the past year. Investors increasingly believe the quickest route to more oil is through acquisition of minnows.

This is largely because the top oil companies only control a not-so-super 6 per cent of the world’s oil and gas resources. The rest is by-and-large under the control of the rather more spicy parts of the political world such as Iran, Iraq, Venezuela, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.

So, as Iran controls an estimated 17 per cent of the world’s oil reserves, and there is talk of air strikes on their shiny new nuclear facilities, trade embargos (including a European embargo from July 1st) and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, the oil price is naturally only going to do one thing....go up.

Couple that with the growth of emerging markets and the current absence of Libyan oil and you have the perfect storm for sharp price spikes, even though the spikes themselves will ultimately slow growth.

Regardless of all the clever new ways to extract the black stuff, a spike will arguably bring about an abrupt end to the US led global rally in equities, which recently saw a return to 2008 levels. The US relies on 60 per cent of its oil from foreign markets and consumes 20 per cent of everything that is produced. US will become a net exporter of liquified natural gas by 2015.

Furthermore, as 70 per cent of the futures market for oil is controlled by speculators, no matter what political pandering, the US’s thirst for oil is well-documented and the market price will be dictated to it, not by it.

Also, if more and more countries turn their back on Iran we do not know if the West’s allies in Saudi Arabia will have the capacity to meet demand.

So where should investors look for potential companies that have found oil and may attract a bid in the current climate?

Let’s first be clear, it doesn’t come without risk. Bowleven (BLVN) investors found out in late February that all bids do not necessarily lead to a takeover. Dragon Oil came sniffing around but didn’t bite leaving investors staring at the smoke of a 30 per cent share price fall in five minutes.

On the other hand, if the temptation to get involved is just too overwhelming, do your homework, so you’re not left wearing the blindfold and pinning the tail on the donkey.

Remember, mergers and acquisitions activity attracts all the spivs so be careful what you read and take bulletin board comments with a pinch of salt – as if you were hearing it from a man in a pub.

Pick shares that are fundamentally sound and preferably have some of the black stuff already. Alternatively, for the gamblers out there, you can have a riskier punt.

Here are some of my ideas.

Potential targets

Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) 265p – Solid well, updates and rumours Exxon that may be interested in an acquisition in the area. Investors appear to be bullish on more imminent drilling updates.

Circle Oil (COP) 24p – Performing well. Recently upgraded recoverable reserves where it has licences by 30 per cent.

Xcite Energy (XEL) 130p – Recently upgraded estimates for the potential of its Bentley Oil field in the North Sea. Analysts say extraction will be complicated although they do expect further output upgrades to come.

Victoria Oil & Gas (VOG) 4.4p – Production in Cameroon bearing fruit and looking to other ventures.

Fancy a punt?

Bowleven (BLVN) 95p – Recently got hammered on the back of a failed bid approach by Dragon Oil. There have been concerns over the company’s ability to raise funds to continue operations in the past but there are other firms in the area who could replace Dragon as a potential suitor.

Gold Oil (GOO) 3.9p – Market awaits positive news from its next Columbian drilling update.

Night Hawk Energy (HAWK) 4.25p – Announced a work-over programme on existing wells in Colorado and planning five new wells this year.

Aurelian Oil & Gas (AUL) 19p – Company is actively looking for a buyer and announcing a licence extension in Poland could well help them find one.

Leni Oil & Gas (LGO) 1.35p – The market appears to be optimistic over operations in the Gulf of Mexico.

Max Petrolium (MXP) 13p – Hampered by all sorts of weather problems affecting drilling operations in Kazakhstan but investors remain optimistic.

For the record I do not own any shares in the aforementioned companies and do not plan to in the coming month. Good luck out there.

Mike McCudden is head of retail derivatives at our sister website, Interactive Investor

Investment themes

Don't worry about Iran. They are so much under pressure internally.

War is the best option for them. I hope none of the countries move towards war. Obama is doing great job.

No mention of Afren , Cyril ?

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Hi Mnamreh,

Re Neutrinos clocked at light-speed in new Icarus test.

It appears that the same team attempted to measure how fast the UK debt was gathering pace. They failed, as the equipment was not accurate enough.

On a lighter note.

The Glasgow Rangers' manager flies to Kabul to watch a young Afghani play football, is suitably impressed and arranges for him to come over.

Two weeks later Rangers are 4-0 down to Celtic with only 20 minutes left, the manager gives the young Afghani striker the nod and on he goes.

The lad is a sensation, scores 5 goals in 20 minutes and wins the game for Rangers.

The fans are delighted, the players and coaches are delighted and the media love the new star.

When the player comes off the pitch he phones his mum to tell her about his first day in Scottish football.

'Hello mum, guess what?' he says 'I played for 20 minutes today, we were 4-0 down but I scored 5 and we won. Everybody loves me, the fans, the media, they all love me.'

'Wonderful,' says his mum, 'Let me tell you about my day.

Your father got shot in the street, your sister and I were ambushed and assaulted, your brother has joined a gang of looters and all the while you tell me that you were having a great time.'

The young lad is very upset. 'What can I say mum, but I'm really sorry.'
'Sorry?!!! Sorry?!!!' says his mum, 'It's your bloody fault we came to Glasgow in the first place!'

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Try this link

http://www.moneya.com/

It is a misspelling of www.moneyam.com

It takes you to an advert for ADVFN.

Cor, how slimey of ADVFN. Not to mention a bit pathetic.

Smacks of desperation.

The web address was registered by ADVFN 13 Oct 2010

Maybe there is some scope for registering www.advFU.com

LOL nice one haystack.