any one got a feelling in their water how far LLoyds will go looking to to buy but just dont know when they are low enough

Why don't you buy them at 255p on the way up rather than on the way down ?

A very good question, I guess it could be difficult to know when we are going back up, rather than just a bear market rally. And I may find it hard psychlogically to put into practice, but you make a good point.

I haven't brought in just yet, but have left a cheeky buy order for the day at 148p, you never know in these markets.

Spitfire43 I have always thought a high yeild, anything in the teens for instance, was a market pointer saying this divi or the next one, is not a certainty, and there seem to be plenty of shorters are they willing to pay the div?, i think so. My family wdnt sell when lloy was at its peaks, I get no brownie points for being right but I hope lloy keep on paying!! cheers

Not long to wait for LLOY interim results will be announced on 30th July, shortly followed by BARC. The others excluding HSBA dont matter as they are unlikely to pay a cash interim dividend.

At the bottom of the bear market in 1975 the average P/E was under 4 and dividend yield was over 13%. With ICI yielding 13.4%, Tarmac 17.7% and Lex Service 43.6%. Worth bearing in mind when trying to work out how low we could go.

A big turnaround in lloy sp from over 6% down to over 5% up, looks like some bargain hunting.

Yeah but inflation was in double figures in the seventies too wasn't it spitfire ?

Hi ya whats the divi date for barclays Thanks magggiebt4

It was Dil, but the real figure now would be nearer 8%.

I was a bit greedy yesterday with 248p which the sp didn't reach, never mind. Allways next time.

Market doesn't seem too inspired by results with sp down 13p tp 307p at the moment. I was surprised that the divi was increased by 2%, a statement of confidence perhaps.

You never know I may still get my 248p purchase price on a bad day in the markets, especially when other banks may report much worse than lloy.

With writedowns of 585m the profits came in at 599m, about 200m under predictions, but I would hope this is lloy just being very prudent.

I've got my Lloyds shares in their dividend re-investment scheme, if everyone has them in that scheme, Lloyds aren't rearly paying anything out.

spitfiore43 - check, but I think it's the interim div that's increased, and that is often smaller anyway. However, I agree it looks OK.
+yr purchase price looks v.attractive.......remind me when [LLOY] gets there(!).

SP recovered somewhat now, about 325 so anyone buying at their Low has done well enough.

Reinvestment plans (DRIP) are convenient, but watch that the sp always rises when the Divi-shares are created - the MM's know X-Millions will be needed, so the price rises - hence you don't get all of yr dividend...the MM get some too!
For this reason, I like Cash.

The higher estimates were from early-day projections.....it's good they have managed to maintain their Dividend - the cash is needed by Pension Funds etc,

Lloyds merging with hbos is a bit like Prince William marrying Britney Spears

And just as undeserable, I had just placed a buy order for lloy at 260, I may remove this for now.

Can't see why lloy would wan't to increase there exposure to the UK economy at this time. There must be some juicy incentives from The Bank of England/ Government.

Its a buyers market spitfire43 and depends whether the price is right. Subject to price the deal may also turn out to be all share. Government will not want egg on their face again. However, this is mere speculation and things may not be as bad as painted in some of the press. I hold lloy which have one of the better managements.

Arse sold out at 304 and they have shot up to 318 1 minute later!

I am not surprised the market likes it. Lloyds could do a good deal here. The Northern Rock experience obviously put a squib up the Governments backside. Hope they can stop Brown from poking his nose in.

I'm sure that if lloy drive a hard deal, it will be a good profitable fit for the future, with plenty of cost savings where they overlap.

I would expect a dividend cut though at some time, as this would provide a very good excuse to cut. And it has been the dividend that had enticed me to buy, maybe I would just have to be content with long term growth.

I can't imagine this deal not being done now, can you imagine what would happen if lloy walked away. I wouldn't like to guess at the fallout.

Agree with you spitfire43 as deal would give good excuse to rebase the dividend but, that could prove worthwhile over the longer term. lloy are in a strong bargaining position and Brown would have kittens if they walked away. Lloy know the government are on the back foot. Amazing how times have changed when one considers that the Abbey/ LLoyds tie up was turned down by the same government in 2001.

looks to be 232p all share deal. Official announcement tomorrow.