FirstGroup plc half-yearly results to 30 September 2011

Ex-divi 4th Jan 2012 (7.62p)

Interim Management Statement.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

FirstGroup plc ("the Group") reports the following update on trading during the
third quarter from 1 October to 31 December 2011 ("the period"). The Group
provided an update on trading as part of its half-yearly financial results
announcement on 9 November 2011. Since then overall trading for the Group
during the third quarter of the current financial year has been in line with
management's expectations.

FGP chart looks terrible, look as if the company is trading badly which it is not. Yield is approaching 8%. If it can stay above 300p for the next 5 or 6 days especially during down FTSE days then I intend to buy some. Certainly following the principle of buying low (hope to sell high!).

Yes it looks like £3 gone today.

Yes, looks like 300p has gone. From the longer term chart 250 -260p appears like the next stop. Hope its a stage from where this can rebound. Will look again if this drops any more, tempting divi and reasonable financial performance. H

290 now looking at risk.

New 12 month low hit today @281.30p

have picked some up at 284 for the divi

No one likes a bottom picker :-)

I'm keen to buy these again, but can't quite press the button atm.

Just had a small spread bet @283.21.

Am I missing something here? Within a whisper of the 12 month low again today - yield 7.83%

Transport company FirstGroup announced the £14 million sale of a London bus depot and operations yesterday to rival Go-Ahead Group.

The sale of the Northumberland Park depot in north-east London, with 130 vehicles on 13 routes and 400 employees, is part of the Aberdeen-based group’s announced strategy to sell assets it no longer regards as core.

300p proving resistance now. Looks like a double top, possibly targetting around 260p. I will wait a little longer before getting in here, although I think it's long overdue a big bounce. H

Trading Statement.

Just taken a small SB @239.

Will they cut the divi now.

Baylis - from the trading statement.

The Group has market leading positions and, while addressing the impact of the
current weak economic environment and trading conditions in certain markets in
which we operate, we are taking action that will strengthen our businesses for
the future. Therefore, the Board is committed to dividend growth of 7% in line
with our current commitment and is confident that the Group has good prospects
to deliver long-term value for shareholders in a sector which is a key enabler
of economic growth.

But who knows!

HL's lunchtime take on FirstGroup.

Despite the up market today, this has dropped, probably much too much. Nevertheless, it looks like testing old support at around 200p, from a chart point of view imho. I still think a big bounce is likely, but I will hold off 'getting on the bus' for a while yet. H

I'm out at break even (having been +10) - I'm not prepared to hold over the weekend until things become clearer.