anyone got any ideas about the block trades that went through today?

website: http://www.sterlingenergyplc.com/



weather: www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at4+shtml/084938.shtml?50wind120

Posted by emptyend on TMF

Starts:- Interesting to read the FT comment today on oil prices!.....

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/a00ddb1a-76a9-11db-8284-0000779e2340.html

"US crude prices dropped below $55 a barrel yesterday, their lowest level for 17 months, as anxiety and weakness spread across the commodities complex this week."

....ie across the very liquid contacts which the hedge funds and others had mainly been speculating on.....

"False rumours that crude storage facilities at Cushing in Louisiana, the delivery point for the West Texas Intermediate contract, were full, triggered selling on Thursday. The rumours underlined market concerns about excessive levels of US crude stocks and selling was also encouraged by concerns about mild winter weather in the northern hemisphere."

You know what I think?.....plain, straightforward market manipulation games between investment banks and hedge funds, ahead of a contract expiry! Obviously someone somewhere was a forced seller of the Dec contract in some size - and IMO someone somewhere else worked out that they could short the market profitably by manipulating it [via a combination of large shorts and false rumours] over a couple of days. Standard investment banking tricks - when they think they can get away with such things [which they usually can, of course, because the wholesale markets are "consenting adults" markets - assuming one ignores collateral damage elsewhere] ends

HTH to understand what's happening to oil prices this week gone.

America certainly seems far more lax in its control of false stories than would be allowed over here ..... For all that, I never buy into all the conspiracy theories that seem to abound on this BB ...... No price, whether share or commodity, can rise inexorably and without correction ...... Ultimately, market forces prevail - i.e. supply and demand ...... surely there is no need to expand on that?

No.

Just posted it for a balance.

Applies to Tullow of course which I also hold.

Cynic & SWW - As I said, all IMO. And I'm not buying at present but I am holding. In fact I bought in at 7p and have held ever since. Long term I still see a bright future for SEY. Day-to-day volatility will always be there to unnerve holders. I agree that it's not a raging buy at present although I see no reason whatsoever to sell. Hold I shall then :-)

or you may think it worthwhile to sell into any rally and buying better quality

You may, or you may be happy with your current portfolio mix :-)

lol queen1.

I like that.

I'm never happy myself, always something I bought and can't work out why?

I makes for some excitement some times though, especially when one of them was Langbar!!!!

I almost but not quite believed the story there and actually bought some, then some poor kind soul posted a link to show the deposit from Brazil to ABN Amro, and would not answer my question as to what was I looking at?

That was when I realised it was most likely a scam.

The there was PRE and the Danbury Dome. That was another good one, lots of blarney there, nearly cost me a lot of money.

Then there was......... I could go on, but that's why I have trimmed my portfolio of most of the one's I bought when I was bored. Not a good discplined way to trade but there you go.

nor is just hanging on to a stock in the vague hope it may go up ...... frankly, i see nothing very enticing about SEY, especially in the current climate of falling crude prices

Exactly why I had a clear out.

SWW, Cynic, Queen - Talking of charting - rather than H&S of the last few months, actually I see Three Bumps and a Craggy Mountain of the last two years - we've just come back down to the level of the bumps before the mountain, according to classic theory, which is actually a new quite strong base of support.

We'll see.

Main article of MoneyWeek this weeek is a number of commentators expressing doubts about the continued commodity bull, incl. oil.

We'll see.

Post image did not work.

SWW - I've had more dogs in my portfolio over the years than Battersea have in their home so I know where you're coming from :-)

Cynic - Apt nickname. IMO there's more than a vague hope that SEY will go up but as ever only time will tell.

Stockdog - Nice image!

if this were a head and shoulders then sey would be heading to 0p - more likely at present in previous congestion and could go anywhere

maddoctor - who are you to talk, you're mad!

Seriously, ta is fine but e & p oilers are news driven so lets await some news then that's good.

Meantime it may be stuck in a very narrow channel, of course if oil drops more then the H & S may well apply.

(As usual dyor and don't depend on others for advice what to do).

For information only posted over the road on advfn

Starts:- This news is 2 days old.

"An army general in Madagascar has declared military rule in the country."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/6161398.stm

Before anyone panics here is what JLP say this morning.

"Media Report 18 November 2006 on Madagascar

Jubilee announces that it is aware of a media report alleging a possible coup
could have occurred in Madagascar.

The Company has made stringent enquiries of its advisers, employees and
consultants resident and operating in Madagascar, both in the regions and the
capital Antananarivo. The Company has received unanimous assurances from the
aforementioned that the capital and surrounding areas are peaceful and that
business is as normal."

And it looks like its all over..........

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/low/world/africa/2781291.stm

I wonder why JLP commneted at all?

All the same these African Nations, always someone wanting to be the Boss. -Ends

love it ..... "a media report alleging a possible coup could have occurred" .... doesn't get much more unsubstantiated than that!

Incredibly vague......

The arrest of the leader is a bit of the same.

Funny old game news reporting.

BBC as well!

Slipping standards.

Still, there's a 4% drop in JLP, and that's the only news reported, so it has had an effect.

Sterling looking weak, but it may have nothing to do with Madagascar.

And out.........at last I am free.

Bye all and good luck.

Signed an ex-Sterling Bull.

sensible chap ...... now have a look at some "proper" stocks - BUR, TLW, PFC, SHP, SSL, Dow, FTSE and so on and so forth

SWw,

Good luck in your choice of stocks.

I actually think Kurdistan may come in before Madagascar drilling, and we have onshore Texas and Louissiana, plus a few W. African drills to come in the next few months.

I see SEY as "proper" as any other oiler, it takes time, and in the meantime the cash is mounting up.