The board owners give us it free, but just look at the number of posts that go unanswered by the posters on here. It's high time we all put a little more effort in and helped our fellow posters and the Shares team and management who bankroll us.

I admit Im as bad as every one else, we need to post more and not take this freebie for granted, one that will go away if we do not give bigger contributions for sure , please help.

cheers GF.

Perhaps part of the problem is that there's little coverage of the most widely held UK shares on here - The vast majority of 'investors' don't often touch the high risk stocks which tend to be 'featured'.

UK's most popular shares by number of shareholders

1 - HBOS - 2,588,000
2 - BT GROUP - 1,604,000
3 - MM02 - 1,578,000
4 - NATIONAL GRID TRANSCO - 1,435,000
5 - BRADFORD & BINGLEY - 1,181,000
6 - CENTRICA - 1,160,000
7 - BG GROUP - 998,000
8 - LLOYDS TSB GROUP - 974,000
9 - FRIENDS PROVIDENT - 890,000
10 - BARCLAYS - 876,000
11 - AVIVA - 875,000
12 - ALLIANCE & LEICESTER - 699,000
13 - VODAFONE GROUP - 619,000
14 - INTERNATIONAL POWER - 560,000
15 - SCOTTISH POWER - 450,000
16 - SCOTTISH & SOUTHERN ENERGY - 447,000
17 - BAA - 382,000
18 - BP - 356,000
19 - ROLLS ROYCE GROUP - 319,000
20 - MARKS & SPENCER GROUP - 317,000
21 - TESCO - 285,000
22 - BRITISH AIRWAYS - 245,000
23 - SHELL TRANSPORT & TRADING COMPANY
24 - GLAXOSMITHKLINE - 235,000
25 - NORTHERN ROCK - 207,000
26 - ROYAL BANK OF SCOTLAND GROUP - 197,000
27 - ASTRAZENECA - 170,000
28 - BAE SYSTEMS - 170,000
29 - IMPERIAL CHEMICAL INDUSTRIES - 167,000
30 - IMPERIAL TOBACCO GROUP - 164,000
31 - CORUS GROUP - 158,000
32 - UNITED UTILITIES - 154,000
33 - CABLE & WIRELESS - 147,000
34 - DIAGEO - 119,000
35 - BOOTS GROUP - 107,000

Pity there's not more interest because there is money to be made from them.

Many thanks for that list Brian sifted by number of shareholders holding a stock, something of a rareity today to cover. Very interesting indeed. One for my word storage files .

cheers GF.

Freinds Provident at number 9, amazing.

gf.

I think this BB is lurked in far more than posted on - is that making sense? ;-))

The difference between here and ADVFN, to me, is that many here have come to it directly via the Mag and there is therefore a different cross-section. Given the state of much of the FBB (and some of the PBB) on ADVFN, I like this place. At least much of what is posted has good info rather than constant slagging matches.

Al
;-)

...............and Season's Greetings to both posters and lurkers.

BTW, lurkers, don't be afraid to start a thread if you have a question. Nobody is a genius first off! ;-)

Agreed on the policing matter, Ian and the team really have turned this around. No more messing with posters who were just here to spoil, they are now kicked off if that is their agenda. Well done.

cheers GF.

Hi Goldfinger

Are you Slater? I have been told by a poster called Katie Price (not sure if you know her) that you are known from time to time to have some great tips up your sleave.

She rates you highly and seeing as I have made a few pence from her trading abilities, I would be greatful if you would be so kind to pass a few my way.

Thanks in advance Goldfinger

JE

I can believe FP at #9 - I'm a shareholder only because I was a policy holder when they went public and got a bunch of 'windfall' shares. I should imagine most of the policy holders, like myself, haven't bothered to sell.

Doug

jonny e - I've done quite well out of a few of goldfinger's tips. Also, whenever I buy into a share and he subsequently turns up on the related message thread saying positive things I immediatly feel much less nervous about that one :-)

Doug

JE - would never believe much that Katie Price posts. She/He/it seems to wade in all over the place posting tripe for much of the time.

goldfinger - no offence meant by that! ;-)

Thought somebody was trying to start a local riot here.... be politics and religion next no doubt... :-)

Quality is far superior to quantity, and "chatting" via a BB is a strange thing. Even puts the teenager texters to shame. :)

One of the major differences between Invest and Traders sections is the level of BB self-confidence that exists. The Traders are a rowdy argumentative lot but with an incredibly "must-help-all" heart. The Investors are a more polite bunch who say "Hello" and then wait for somebody else to take up the running.

It's the old thing of a crowd attracts a crowd. I would say just keep posting, eventually a bus or 2 will turn up.

Lastly, if you hadn't noticed - whenever the market flattens ALL of the BB's go really quite. That's why I'm here atm.. :-)))

Ho, Ho, Ho, Happy Christmas.

Happy xmas Brian.

cheers Gf.

Hi boys and girls- I to like bhunt1910 am a novice, small time investor with a leaning towards the "penny share" market. I can get totally lost in some of the posts from the more learned traders and investors, but I'm learning( losing money tends to make me learn quicker), Love to read the banter and squabbles between you.
I think being a learner, makes you a lurker until you have enough confidence to post and not to worry about the replies you may recieve.
Wishing you all a merry christmas and a prosperous new year, and many thanks for all I've learnt through your posts

happy Christmas one and all!!! I too am a 'lurker' on this bb. I'm also following the PET bb with avid interest and sympathy. Usually it's one of my shares that nosedives and my husband believes that if I were to take a financial position in any country in the world they would suffer immediate economic collapse, such is my adverse influence! I too am learning and am finding, after one year's investing, that it is a steep learning curve. I will be reading this bb every day and if I have anything of interest to share I will add my two pen'orth.

May you all have a prosperous New Year.

Happy Christmas everyone and a very prosperous New Year.

Challenge for lurkers - start your own thread about anything for 2005 and I vote GF to judge best new lurker thread and maybe a prize might be on offer :-(
Header should have GF IN IT.


LURKER

Like I said e-mail, header too strong and perhaphs if I win the lottery a prize is on offer.

Happy christmas.

cheers GF.

Socs.

You hit the nail on the head. All the different things I tried, I probably didn't enter the epic in upper case!! You learn something new every day.

Happy Christmas everyone, especially the "lurkers"!!

morning all I'm with you, mainly as a lurker :o)

Douggie

you're a smiler not a lurker lol!

For all lurkers who feel nervous of posting your questions or opinions.....

Drop in to 'GD's Tea Rooms' and make yourself known....even if you just say 'Hello!' Lots of virtual booze, chat and a bit of share talk. You might just gain the confidence to post to other threads once you have made a few friends. To give you an idea.....

The landlord is a dog, meals are prepared by a bunny and Socrates is in charge of Planestation and supplies of sherry trifle!