Two upgrades today and gap filled (for now).

Just sold half for +53

Are you still trading this one skinny? Looks to have growth potential (approaching 52 wk low) plus divi.
Coming up to divi date on the 13th July '11.

Harry - yes for my sins. RBS came out with a buy and target price of 430p - probably the kiss of death. Yield still @6.72%

On edit - yes ex divi 13th July @15p 52 week low was/is 308.70

Am very tempted to have a flutter for the growth and the divi (Awesome yield).
Not really a sector I like very much though, but can't see anything bad lurking in the wings.

Last of the big spenders.

The FirstGroup plc Share Incentive Plan (the "Plan")

In common with all eligible employees, each of the executive directors of
FirstGroup plc ("the Company") and members of the Executive Management Board of
the Company (who the company regards as persons discharging managerial
responsibility (PDMRs) under the Listing rules), have been invited to apply for
Partnership Shares under the Plan on a monthly basis.

On 1 July 2011, in accordance with standing instructions for the Plan the
following share dealings took place:

Clive Burrows, a member of the Executive Management Board, chose to contribute
to purchase 29 Partnership Shares. The Company matched these shares with shares
on a two for three basis to the value of GBP20. Accordingly, Clive Burrow's
received 5 Matching Shares. Following these transactions, Clive Burrows'
beneficial holding is 82,495 shares.

The shares were purchased at a price of 343.69 pence per share.

4 July 2011

IN FOR DIV

I wish I was. Had to make a choice as not enough cash for all, so left out FGP. I think the sp may temporarily take a dive post divi, so opted to put my cash elsewhere. Good divi though.

These have been a little gem for me since April - not sure whether to move on now - hmmmmm.

Would expect sp to remain high up until divi date (13th). After that..........? Depends on whether you want the divi or not I suppose.

I did originally buy it based on its yield which, based on the shares I have left is still worth a couple of hundred quid.

Peaking above May's high.

I was tempted to add here in advance of the ex dividend (15p) tomorrow. A well timed trade today would have almost covered it! Hey Ho.

Same with CHG.

Friday 15 July 2011

FIRSTGROUP PLC
AGM STATEMENT AND INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT


FirstGroup plc ("the Group") will provide the following update on trading
during the first quarter period ("the period" or "Q1") from 1 April to 30 June
2011 at the Group's Annual General Meeting in Aberdeen today.

The Group provided an update on trading as part of its preliminary results
announcement on 11 May 2011. Since then overall trading for the Group, during
the first quarter of the new financial year, has developed in line with
management's expectations.

Tim O'Toole, Chief Executive commented:

"I am pleased to report trading during Q1 of the new financial year is in line
with our expectations. We are encouraged by improving trends in UK Rail and
Greyhound and the continued steady performance in UK Bus and First Transit. In
First Student we are implementing our detailed plan to recover performance and
strengthen the operating model to enable the business to harness its potential.

"We will continue to build on our record of strong cash generation and are
targeting a net cash inflow of GBP150m in 2011/12. The Board is committed to its
key priorities of increased cash generation to support capital investment, debt
reduction and dividend growth of at least 7% per annum."

UK Bus

Like-for-like passenger revenue growth of 0.7% reflects a continued steady
progress against a tough regional economic backdrop. With new leadership in our
UK Bus division we have renewed our focus on delivering improved service
quality and growth through network development, simplified fares and marketing.
While retaining our cost discipline we believe we can transition to increased
growth by developing the significant opportunities that exist within our
established and well positioned networks.

UK Rail

We continue to see strong growth across our rail businesses with like-for-like
passenger revenue growth of 8.5% during the period. The increased demand for
rail services has continued during Q1 leading to good volume growth across all
of our rail franchises. We remain focused on retaining our leadership position
in rail and continue to take an active role in shaping the future of the UK's
railways including through the newly established Rail Delivery Group. We
continue to progress discussions with the DfT on the proposal to extend our
First TransPennine Express franchise and look forward to developing further
opportunities as we move through the tendering process for the next generation
of rail franchises.

First Student

During the period we made good progress in implementing the recovery plan to
address the performance of First Student, which is impacted by the pressure on
state and municipal finances in the US, and to strengthen the operating model
to enable the business to harness its full market leader potential. As
previously indicated, we anticipate pressure on margins to continue into the
first half of our financial year reflecting last year's disappointing trading
performance. A focused retention strategy and an improved performance during
the current bidding season has resulted in retention of our contracts that came
up for renewal returning to more normal levels of prior years for the school
year 2011/12. As the bidding season draws to a close we are pleased to have
secured new contracts including 8 conversions. We anticipate that the total
operating fleet for the new school year will be broadly in line with 2010/11.

First Transit

Our Transit division continues to perform well with trading developing in line
with our expectations. We have a solid pipeline of opportunities in the key
business segments in which we operate and continue to utilise our excellent
reputation and track record to retain contracts and win new business. During
the period we continued to develop our shuttle bus portfolio with new contracts
to operate bus services at the universities of Yale and Kennesaw in the US as
well as further new business in Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada.

Greyhound

Encouraging revenue trends have continued during the period with like-for-like
revenue growth of 3.7%, up from 1.6% during Q4 2010/11. Against the backdrop of
slow economic recovery this performance reflects the good progress made in
transforming Greyhound. We continue to develop sales channels and reduce the
cost of sale through a range of means including self service kiosks and website
enhancements which has led to online sales increasing to 30%. Greyhound
Express, our new point to point service launched in December 2010, has been
very successful and is delivering strong volume and sales growth. During the
period we expanded the service to additional locations in the midwest and
northeast of the US.

Excellent turnaround since April - looking for 370 sooner rather than later.

Blimey - didn't expect it quite so quickly :-)

A close above 380 would see it through a "noisy" chart area - one can but hope :-)

FIRSTGROUP PLC

STATEMENT RE: FIRST TRANSPENNINE EXPRESS AND FIRST CAPITAL CONNECT RAIL
FRANCHISES

FirstGroup plc, the leading transport operator in the UK and North America,
welcomed today's announcement on rail refranchising by the Department for
Transport (DfT).

The First TransPennine Express franchise will be extended for over three years
to 1 April 2015, which will allow greater flexibility in the refranchising of
the future TransPennine Express and Northern franchises.

The Thameslink/Great Northern franchise, operated by First Capital Connect,
will be refranchised in 2012/13 with a replacement franchise to commence from
15 September 2013. This will help to facilitate the continued project delivery
of the Thameslink Programme, in particular the introduction of new rolling
stock, which will be completed after the expiry date of the existing franchise.

Commenting, Tim O'Toole, Group Chief Executive, said:

"We are delighted that the DfT has taken the decision to extend the First
TransPennine Express franchise to 1 April 2015. Since we started operating the
franchise in 2004 we have delivered a number of improvements including the
introduction of a GBP260m new train fleet and passenger numbers have grown from
13m to 24m per annum. We will continue to work closely with the DfT and our
stakeholders in the region to develop plans for the future of rail in the north
of England and to further develop the Anglo-Scottish services.

"At First Capital Connect we have worked closely with the DfT and Network Rail
to deliver the initial phase of the Thameslink Programme successfully. This is
a major investment that is already bringing benefits to passengers and will
transform a key part of London's transport network. Our unrivalled knowledge
and experience of managing this key project gives us a strong foundation to
continue to help deliver this programme in the future franchise."

Back on the list @310 - yield 6.92%