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

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?