Hate to disagree, but the reality is that adding one great business to one failed business gives two failed businesses. LLOY may soon consider itself the No-1 in Retail banking, but it has too many Branches - and can't close that many, since they don't have enough teller-capacity to accommodate two-branch customer-levels, er IMHO.

The answer is on-line Banking and this means they are competing with themselves - cue a new Bank with good interest-rates and pushing the cashless society ( so no cash-machines). That is the future of Banking and already it is here ( although rather quiet, I'll agree).

If LLOY-gp was operating in isolation about 20-years ago then this takeover IS a great deal, but I think this World Order will change everything and folk will adapt to the next-generation of Banking . . . so LLOY-gp has no customer loyalty to play with (so to speak), since interest-rate is everything
---(The same goes for Mortgages, naturally)

Now the bad news - the liability of HBOS will haunt LLOY-gp for many years and this can't be shunted into "Off-B-S" accounts for ever . . . . . (can I say that?).

Old-LLOY- Directors have created a child of satan - and a nightmare for original shareholders. I am one and sold at 60p believing this Deal was the worst any Director has made in 50-years. I didn't participate in the 38p jamboree of dilutiuon.

LLOY was a respected friend, not any more, IMHO.

The rise today - oh great, "markets say OK" - well the 10% rise was less than Carpetright's +15% and I'm not sure they are about to sell shed-loads of carpets....
Good luck.

"Retail banking is the most profitable banking activity"
Sorry, but I also disagree. Investment banking has, I believe, always outstripped retail in profitability, even though the retail side might be more stable & established.

i agree with your comments, hangon.

i think halifax is deluded by fact sp is going up for brief period and he thinks the coujntry is fine......in fact, uk is in a horrendous position economically whether its long term unemployment, companies not being able to invest for future (partly due to taxation), huge huge debts etc etc.

it will take a decade to sort the mess out at least and thats with good people at the top (unlike at present).

The chart seems to say other wise - we have a positive MA - IMO

The trend is up -

say that to people that bought at 9 quid a decade ago!!

Sounds like sour grapes to me hangon, sold early, missed bonus at 38p....... so those who invested at 9 were reckless anyway or greedy, those of us in at 5 won't have so long to wait, nearly 150% up on the share issue. If barclays investments made 8 Billion profit, and lloyds follow suit, they've done ok with a 4 billion loss, could have been a lot worst. On ward and upward and wait for the next trading statement.

5........lol.....u will have a longgggg wait

the people that invested then at 9 quid didnt realise stalin brown would bring uk to its knees with bigest financial disaster ever in this country with hugeeeeeeee debt

Just got to break this 100 resistance !!

Not long marni.... on it's way :)))

Usual surge of people realising they may be missing out and jumping on board, this could easily jump too high too soon now and get sold back-down, watch for the day traders buying and selling volume. Will have a life of its own now, be traded on the swings, long-term what do we think though seriously?

I tnink it will get chased up over the next 6 months.

I think we heading over a 1 and trade within a new range

feel sorry for chen and his shorters!

I think those guys hedge their bets. Would be too risky to leave themselves open to huge swings.

no matter they got it wrong! LLOY will be a multi bagger within the next 3 years.those who had the guts to take up the new shares at 38p are laughing all the way to the bank!

Halifax thats a fact!! hankies out for Hangon...:((( not having a go, lol

10 new shares at 38p for u then halifax, lol........dont put it in halifax in case its nationalised

sour grapes marni missed the boat again.

>>> laughing all the way to the bank!

I am BIG way, and yes I took the 38p offer