Anyone notice the exratordinary volumes yesterday? (10/5/2004)

48 million!!!

Many more buys than sells.

That and the price held out only losing a fraction of a penny.

No Easter Eggs in sight in my local store.

May be one reason but............

Any ideas people?

i was wondering who`s buying all the confectionery..

27 May 2004

Trading Statement for First Quarter 13 weeks to 1 May 2004

At the Woolworths Group plc Annual General Meeting to be held at 11.00am this morning, the Group Chairman, Gerald Corbett will provide an update on key strategic initiatives and trading in the first quarter of the current financial year.

In the 13 weeks to 1 May 2004, total Group sales increased 6.5 per cent to 576.6 million. Underlying retail sales (Mainchain, Woolworths big W and MVC) for the 13 week period grew 1.6 per cent versus the same period last year after adjusting for the agency treatment of electronic top-up sales for mobile phones and the outsourcing of the in-store cafoperation. Entertainment third party sales (Entertainment UK and VCI) grew 45.0 per cent.

Group retail like-for-like sales increased by 1.0 per cent. Within this, the Mainchain was up 1.0 per cent, Woolworths big W increased by 0.9 per cent and MVC was up 1.2 per cent. The gross margin has continued to show solid year on year improvement. The overall sales and margin performance reflects the successful execution of the Easter trading strategy.

The store refit programme is on schedule, with a further twelve stores having been converted already this year. These stores are showing similar sales and margin improvements to the first ten.

Good progress is being made in working through the future of the Woolworths big W properties. There has been a high level of interest in the sites and the smaller out-of-town proposition continues to be refined. A further update will be given with the pre-close statement on 21 July 2004.

Commenting on the first quarter's trading performance Gerald Corbett said, "The Group's recovery programme continues to progress and the current financial year has begun as planned."

For further information contact:

Christopher Rogers, Finance Director 020 7706 5883
Nicole Lander, Head of Corporate Affairs 020 7706 5653
Kate Inverarity, Tulchan Communications 020 7353 4200

All progressing nicely, but it is increasingly looking like a
long haul on the share price, very disappointing tiny rise today.

Have another look, it hit 47p for a moment.

Bid rumours?

Looks like they went up in sympathy with Marks & Spencers. This story surfaced at 16.45, but I am sure the rumours were rife before the close which explains the rapid rise late in the session.

Here it is:-

Philip Green confirms considering Marks & Spencer bid
MoneyAM
Revival Acquisitions Ltd, a company owned by Philip Green and members of his family, confirmed that it is considering a possible offer for Marks & Spencer PLC.

Revival said it intends to approach the board of Marks & Spencer in the next few days with its proposal and to seek a recommendation.

Any proposal would involve a mixture of cash and shares in a new company which would seek a listing.

Now that is confirmed, I daresay the price for WLW.L will drop back to it's previous levels.

Could be a selling followed by a buying opportunity, that is if it does not drop back too quickly.

Phillip and his friends have deep pockets.MKS is not the done deal as yet.Sure it will be.
WLW offers a fast track intro to the retail biz.With lots of branches.A matter of time.Have we got that lomg?

There's a fair few ? marked trades going on this AM - in reasonable quantities
just for your information..

any recent buyers made a killing,,,bar me?

Well done Dave.

I am sure many did and will continue to do so, if the price is right.

A clever strategy by Mr Green in any event, from which some of of may have reaped some benefit whether we are MKS, WLW or MAT share holders.

Or mad enough to hold all three! (lol)

i `am on to a winner with matalan ,,this is a winner can`t really say to much about this one yet.i no a man ,who no`s a man sort of thing ,,{insider}. every one no`s the rummor,, a bit of a smoke screen .bought heavy in feb myself and three others,,this is my largest buy out of all my holding ever, but i am not worried at all.

Funny, I have the same info from the same man probably, with B&B, but that was last year and still nothing has happened except the price has fallen through the floor.

MAT is most likely a target of GUS who have shown interest of late of aquisitions.

Rumours always abound that WLW is secretly being stalked by Wal-Mart, or is it Tesco or is it Mr Green........the lists are endless.

Stockbunny you must be filthy rich if you have all 3!

seawalker i payed 1.59 in feb this year,,plus i no jamie wants to offload and take is money and play.

Dave. Have a drink on me!

seawallwalker,,how long have you held matalan,,,and what price did you pay.
cheers i`ll have a bitter.what was the key issue that made you choose matalan.

Seawallwalker - Sorry to disappoint but rich I certainly am not.
It's all a question of the size of your holding of shares - a small
holding in 3 companies can be the same cost as a large holding in
just one company. OK so small holdings wont make you rich, but it
spreads risk a little more and can bring results, just more of them
in smaller parcels....lol

i should of hung around o.5o on the horizon,,,still well under valued at this price still.

Shares go up, shares go down!

Dave, never look back!

You made a profit, and you were happy with that!

Over the past 12 months I have made 3 profits from these shares, and always sold before they hit the peak!

I did the same as you this time and on every other occassion, but over 12 months I made just under 5k, from 20k invested in wlw. 25% return is outstanding in my book! (And that without the divi!) Maybe not in other peoples eyes, but the market has been hard over the past 6 months so I am happy.

The divi is good from wlw, so if there is another opportunity to buy in at 40 to 42p or so, I will do the same again.

If there is not, then I will wait for things to settle at it's new level and buy in at what I believe will be the lowest point for the price according to the time of the year.

As usual I say this as is, i.e. in my opinion, and do your own research, and remember that like endowment policies, the returns from shares, may not be as much as you put in.

In respect of Matalan, I think the recent surge in price answers that question.

seawallwalker,,to right.trevor bish jones no`s his stuff but like your self,i`dd buy again a great yo,,yo share to have,,,.levels of 38/41 great entry price,,be lucky.dave.

matalan i bought these at 1.59 feb/current 1.99 = 25% up to now,i wont sell for under 2.40,,,just luck at ,,eps,says it all,,no wonder there snaping to buy.