ASOS have dropped quite significantly in the past week for no particular reason and I view this as the perfect opportunity to invest as I can see them bouncing right back up to the 5.50p mark in the next 2-3 weeks. STRONG BUY!!

Willfagg, I am sure all the readers on this board will second that! Good idea that one. Disappointed as I am, your comment still made me smile. Don't know why so many people have reacted so quickly to just one person's view. Don't they do their own research?

This is what Yahoo Finance has to say -

Shares in celebrity-focused internet retailer Asos (LSE: ASC.L - news) have risen 15 fold this year, but as a result the shares are now just too expensive says the Telegraph.

Asos may be lower-cost and more cash generative than most retailers but it can still misjudge the consumer mood like any clothing chain.

It remains an interesting play for those who like high-risk stocks but most should avoid until the shares have calmed down.

Any comments?

Yes, rohitjairaj, I unfortunately agree with them i am sorry to say. I am happy that everyone has done well, but the fundamentals don't stack up...

They probably will go higher but I can't justify taking the risk. I watch this everyday and curse the 40p i left it after buying at 7.75 and 8p!!

I seem to recall Telegraph telling people to sell at 38p earlier in the year too. Perhaps they want to buy some on the cheap.

capa

nice one capa

Happy Christmas Everyone!!

Many thanks for all the kind thoughts re Mary and her hospital visit. It makes you realise that you really do build friendships with those you chat with on the bb. She was impressed too when I relayed the good wishes. Now out of hospital and recovering up here in Whistler. We are taking it easy and leaving the skiing until after Xmas. All is doom and gloom from the locals re the skiing conditions but the family report that it still beats the Alps into a cocked hat. The hospital was outstanding too and the staff could not have been better. Well done vancouver and the canadians. More friends!

May have been better off away from the internet action - markets open midnight to 8.30 a.m.; might have been motivated to over-react and to sell the lot, except ASC that is. I suddenly have quite a nice set of recovery stocks! I like the idea of candels - currently into the esoteric with my other holiday book being about the Enneagram and rediscovery of the soul! Will get johngtudor's little book on my return. See ASC is testing the MA50 line again but happy with the fundamentals. It must be a takeover bet, as John says, next year after the hammering the high st chains are taking. Hope management stick it out because there is so much further to go with own brands, additional lines, Amazon and wanadoo portals and then the north american market. Still a fundamentalist at heart and I thing the cap of #52M (sorry no pound here!) is still very low even taking next year's potential into account. Mind, its a reasonable reaction to assume that a 1400% rise one year will lead to tears the next. But you have to rate it on current analysis - that MA50 line is lovely and the trading situation/business plan are a one-off! I notice that there was little reaction to the challenge to find the ASOS of next year. Funny if the answer were: wait for it, ASOS!

A very happy Christmas to all readers!

Eric

You as well eric, I hope your wife has a speedy recovery pal. Wish her well from the LEGEND!!!

Merry Xmas to everyone else too.

Just like to wish everybody i big merry christmas! great thread with plenty of good posts... Happy christmas and here's to a profitable new year! ho ho ho

ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

The portfolio remains unhappy and not really in the festive spirit - legend excepted. It is looking back time before forward looking as we approach the New Year. The main thing that strikes me about a set of shares which on the whole has performed pretty well over the year is that the problem with the portfolio has been timing (surprise! surprise!). Good money could have been made with pretty well all the shares - several being sold and bought back later. Only BNH and ASC have been consistent holds and ASC is off the best prices, probably temporarily.

company_________ EPC pp(p) issue-m shares price value cap-m gain % gain-wk

Broker Network H BNH 77.50 15.065_ 6450__ 136.5 8804_ 20.56 76.13_ 7.91
ASOS____________ ASC 56.00 67.97__ 8900__ 78___ 6942_ 53.02 39.29_ -7.69
Stanelco________ SEO 4.50_ 782.225 111000 5.375 5966_ 42.04 19.44_ -10.42
Civilian Content CCN 16.25 41.883_ 30700_ 15___ 4605_ 6.28_ -7.69_ -6.25
Sterling Energy_ SEY 17.25 822.712 29000_ 15.75 4568_ 129.58 -8.70 0.00
Marchpole Hold._ MPH 33.75 120.445 14800_ 27.75 4107_ 33.42 -17.78 -0.89
Cybit Holdings__ CYH 91.00 19.779_ 5500__ 72.5_ 3988_ 14.34 -20.33 3.57
Yoomedia________ YOO 22.00 499.9__ 22700_ 17___ 3859_ 84.98 -22.73 -13.92
Petroceltic Intl PCI 15.00 484.975 33300_ 8.5__ 2831_ 41.22 -43.33 -2.86
Petrel Resources PET 124.50 58.625 4000__ 61___ 2440_ 35.76 -51.00 43.53
CFA Capital Gp._ CFP 0.70_ 619____ 714000 0.3__ 2142_ 1.86_ -57.14 -33.33

totals_________________________________________ 50251______ -8.63

Lets start at the wrong end. Profit warning from CFP with resignation of Chairman and another director who have sold their shares. CFP is effectively a start-up with a market of start-ups in the AIM market. Not perhaps surprising if a number of contracts have not been fulfilled. A real buy opportunity but that's for next week (or see my recent contribution to bb).

PET is performer of the week after last week's disaster. The bullish holders who had sold are back in! PET are back in on a short-list of three for one of the Iraqi contracts. Quite difficult to read but, again, I am positive for the share - again see my contribution at end of PET bb.

PCI is looking much less happy with nothing appearing to be happening - from the investors standpoint! A positive statement re drilling programmes doesn't seem to have affected the SEY price, perhaps because so close to Christmas.

The problem with YOO is that the market suddenly has far more shares because of the placing, etc., connected with the takeovers. Expect an Evolution statement in the New Year to get the share moving again.

CYH price appears to have rocketed but, I'm afraid, it is a one for 50 exchange! Amusing to see the reaction that the price is less likely to double at the higher price! I see the move as positive because evidently driven by the institutions who do not like penny shares.

MPH and CCN have been quiet with not even a contribution on the respective boards. SEO has been more active with recent negative news on the legal case, offset by bullish noises on the ASDA trials and promise of more good news.

BNH is the hero of the portfolio and threatening to walk away with the prize! Very well placed in its market on the back of threatening legislation for the independent accountantantcy firm.

Appropriate to close on good old (or young) ASC. Not a particularly good week, partly caused by a negative comment in the Telegraph - but evidently he posted a SELL recommendation at 37p so what does he know? Probably also closing of bull positions for the festive season. More important is the continuous flow of positive comment in the media, contrasting the fortunes of the internet traders with the high st fashion shop.

2 hrs 25 mins to Christmas, although 10+ hours over here, so no doubt everyone is partying away. Snow forecast for tomorrow! Happy Christmas to everyone!

Eric

Does anyone know if there is going to be a trading update after Christmas and new year???

seadog dont know date,last year was 16 jan

WOODIE, Thank you

SEADOG

ASC has been pretty consistent at updating re trading news. Expectations are quite high re results so I am looking for some bullish comments re 1st quarter. Good at dripping out news. Have comments to make re chart but will make them in the weekly ASC Challenge portfolio report which I will probably produce in the withching hour (your time) of the night! Spookie insights!

Eric

ASOS CHALLENGE PORTFOLIO

The portfolio has ended the year in negative territory with a near 10% loss. If the portfolio had been bought on 1st January, however, it would have been some 190% up! The greater part would have been ASC but MPH and PCI would also have doubled with CCN, PET and SEY not far behind. What a lesson re the timing of investments! I have been doing a bit of study on Technical Analysis whilst away and can't resist the temptation to air a bit of knowledge (a dangerous thing) if only to draw some real insights from our chartists. The cahrts for the last eyar make interesting viewing.

company_________ EPC pp(p) issue-m shares price value cap-m gain % gain-yr

Broker Network H BNH 77.50 15.065_ 6450__ 138.5 8933_ 20.87 78.71_ 77.6
ASOS____________ ASC 56.00 67.97__ 8900__ 78.5_ 6987_ 53.36 40.18_ 1470.0
Stanelco________ SEO 4.50_ 782.225 111000 5.375 5966_ 42.04 19.44_ -4.0
Civilian Content CCN 16.25 41.883_ 30700_ 14.5_ 4452_ 6.07_ -10.77 95.9
Sterling Energy_ SEY 17.25 822.712 29000_ 15.25 4423_ 125.5 -11.59 46.6
Marchpole Hold._ MPH 33.75 120.445 14800_ 29.25 4329_ 35.23 -13.33 192.5
Cybit Holdings__ CYH 91.00 19.779_ 5500__ 73___ 4015_ 14.44 -19.78 -18.9
Yoomedia________ YOO 22.00 499.9__ 22700_ 17___ 3859_ 84.98 -22.73 -68.4
Petroceltic Intl PCI 15.00 484.975 33300_ 8____ 2664_ 38.8_ -46.67 100.0
CFA Capital Gp._ CFP 0.70_ 619____ 714000 0.33_ 2356_ 2.04_ -52.86 17.9
Petrel Resources PET 124.5 58.625_ 4000__ 48___ 1920_ 28.14 -61.45 71.4

totals_________________________________________ 49903______ -9.27_ 180

There are only two holdings ending the year on a positive trend line:

(1) ASC. Seems a fascinating chart as it appears to be repeating the pattern of July to October a quarter later. Then there was a converging triangle which was broken by the sp going N in mid-Oct, ahead of the results.. The triangle is being replicated and we are again approaching 2-3rds point. However, I'm not sure the indicators are as positive this time. My view is that it depends on the Jan. trading news. My expecctation is that the price will break higher in advance of the news, achieve a new high; if the news is better than expected, the sp could move decisively into new territory. Views?

(2) BNH. Much lower volumes so not really disposed to technical analysis to same degree. Is there a danger of a double top which could be reversal sign? On balance not because indicators seem to be all positve.

Each of the other charts have quite surprising similarities in pattern with a particularly strong period of trading establishing a potential resistance level and then the sp then receding to a support level or to a trend line.

(3) SEO has baulked at a resistance level four times over the year at around 6.5p and tested a support level at 4p. As with ASC there is a pattern repetition with a quarters delay. If the current reaction does not test the support level, I suspect this could be a buying point and the resistance level could be broken on positive progress with trials, particularly ASDA.

(4) MPH appears to have a clear upward trend line although the reaction to Oct. peak seemed to break the supporting trendline. The legal worries would explain that and the indicators look positve, suggesting that a new high will be attained in the first quarter.

(5) CCN broke out of a horizontal trading box in Sept. Again, the resulting reaction has not tested old support levels, suggesting potential for new highs when news is restored.

(6) SEY. Chart shows a positive long-term trend which is unbroken by recent fall. Likely that a new support level is established at 15p and that the upper trend line could be breached during 2005. Plenty of positive drilling news likely during 2005.

(7) PET. Even a volatile share like PET appears to have a support level at around 30p and there is a slight long-term trend line - this time the boun ce was off 35p. No doubt, plenty of excitement and hype again in 2005.

(8) PCI. Least convinciong of the oils, possibly, but the price did double in 2004. A support level at 8p but is there the drilling activity to encourage another surge off that level?

(9) YOO. The falling share price hides a significant increase in cap. following the recent share placing much to the chagring of holders. Clear support at 17p. Presumably the increase in volume is a pointer to a rising trend on continued progress.

(10) CFP. Returned to the support level of 0.3p. Looks like a head and shoulders so that recent fall might have been predicted. Rise in 2004 on rumour so needs solid good news to repeat the pattern in 2005. My money is on it!

(11) CYH. Black mark for MoneyAM who have messed up the charts by not taking account of the 1 for 50 issue. Little action in 2004 and I suspect a lot to play for in 2005.

Over to you johngtudor and others who might add a bit more substance to my first analytical attempts. Have a happy and profitable trading New Year, friends.

Eric

Eric,
Have had the box switched off over New Year, thanks for the info.

ASOS reading accurate, but second triangle much shorter than first so I think price will move imminently in the new year dependant on news.

BNH I don't think a double top as my moving averages and indicators say the S T trend will continue.

All IMHO.

Hope the skiing is going well and your wife fully recovered. SD

Any ideas as to why the 2p drop today?

Thanks

I take it that I am the only one concerned about the above average drop today. Poor Trading results perhaps.

not much interest-waiting for a trading update perhaps to fire people up again! I'm keeping mine definitely not poor trading. INMHO.!

Thanks moneyplus.