I love this little beast but the trading patterns leave me confused. Where next 6p or 10p?

all sellers today yet price up ???

Exactly, the market makers seem to be doing odd things here. If the results come suddenly and are good the price will rocket.

agree great stock profits fcs of 1.2m mkt cap 4.8m no brainer for me will top up if fall any more as 18p is about the right price for this one if continue the same way

Gordon Geko - is the forecast still for 800,000 profit for y/e Aug 2004? Have seen so little news about ACT recently, and they have not given a trading update since Christmas. Disappointing interims could send this one backwards. Any recent broker's notes.

Agree on the face of it 7.25p looks blooming cheap.

They don't give a trading statement, but the Director I spoke to last month sounded confident

my mate another holder wrote to shares mag this week this is what they said

Pro-Actif

Shares tipped Actif (ACT) in November and mentioned a post-Christmas trading statement. I havent been able to get hold of this statement on the companys website or on RNS/AFX.

Could you give an update, as the shares are now slipping back from their tipped level?

From the accounts, I see Ted Baker has a 14% holding. Is this a recent development? Do you think it might increase its holding?

Ahmad Naseer
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James Quinn replies: Having spoken to Actifs broker, Seymour Pierce, it seems that Actif, unlike other retailers, does not normally issue a post-Christmas trading statement. That said, the fact that nothing untoward has been issued should mean the company is running fairly in line with forecasts and that no hiccups are in store.

The reason for the slippage relates to a lack of newsflow. Results are expected in April or May. Ted Baker has been an investor in the company since 1996 four years before it floated and does not appear to have raised its stake during that time, so dont get your hopes up.

Brilliant GG - many thanks for that. I guess if Xmas trading had been poor they would have had to issue a profits warning...

The IC also seemed positive this week, low market capital and profit of over 800 000. Makes them look good.

There is real growth here, with so many new stores in areas such as the Bull Ring and here on the IOM there isn't a girl without an ELLE item.

It reminds me of French Connection in 1990. I wish I'd held onto those. I can remember buying those at under 10p. It was quite a journey to 20 over the following decade!

50% buys and sells yet the price falls ?? when are results actually due ?

The results were in April last year and they say they'll be earlier this year and that's encouraging.

How can it possibly fall when there has only been a buy?

In my opinion they are simply trying to scare off the small shareholders who bought following two tips by Shares late last year.

I agree, I bought some yesterday, this company looks cheap. Have visited some of their stores, I was very impressed. I look forward to the results.

Why the sudden big rise today?

I said the market makers would panic!
Who are they?

must be reason for the rise is some news about to get out tempted to get some more ???

It's just the gap, mind u the market makers must be pleased to get their hands on more

Next week I hope!

Up nearly 10% today - does anyone know why? there was an RNS saying that an ex-employee had exercised some options. Does that indicate he/she is bullish about the stock?

results out today fair set but thinks falls short of mkt expectations

They're not bad though