I am a novice for stock market. May I ask a question:

Will I eligible for dividend if I have bought a stock before its record date? for example, BP ex-dividend date is Wednesday 9th May. I bought 1000 BP on Friday 10th May. Its record date is Saturday 12th May. Am I still eligible for dividend of BP?

Many thanks.

http://www.bp.com/subsection.do?categoryId=772&contentId=2001706

http://www.investis.com/bp_acc_ia/quarterly2007Q1/htdocs/reports/report_12.html

No.

thank you guys.

I believe I am right in saying that, for stocks on the London Stock Exchange, you must hold that stock up to midnight on the day before the 'Ex-dividend date'. At 00.01 hours on the day it goes ex-divi you can sell and still get the dividend (assuming the market was open).
But, as the share price of most stocks falls by the percentage of the divi, you hopefully bought at a lower price that you would have done before the divi date.