Thought Id start this one going because its rather dead on this board at the moment and I suppose all my usual muckers are either at the Stella tennis event watching Dim Tim (lose again) or at Henly Regatta eating cucumber sandwiches (they wish,...NOT).

Anyway please feel free to just talk to yourself blast away and let it go on any company or subject you wish. Just wish Id thought of this one before.

cheers GF.

In an economy that is hitting retailers very hardhas the government given any thought to the cost of reprising goods particularly clothing that is mass produced and ticketed well in advanced how is the vat going to come off?.could ask the wife I supposeany thoughts anyone?
RFI dont think the conservatives are going to get a chance to turn things around unfortunately.and I say that with much regretDavid Cameron is not the man for the jobI have seen him put under very minor pressure and he is cluelessthere is a Tory capable and I hope they change their leader but I think not!

Also there have been several reports this morning stating that goods production won't increase for several months even if sales increase by several percent immediately. This is due to there being huge stockpiles of these good. You only have to see the huge stockpiles of vehicles spread round the country, as just one example. The big problem is any economy boosting move takes time to trickle through. Lets just hope the good ship GB does not sink before the lifeboat reaches it.

2.5% for 13 months is a complete waste of time. It should in a change be made permanent, small retailers will have to change a lot of labels.....or more probably won't bother. Are you really going to go and buy that big electrical item now because vat has been reduced by a minimum ?, I know that for vat that this is as low as the EEC will permit, but the 12 billion pounds that the state will lose should have been put to better use !, we need to see the back of this government as soon as possible : they are a disaster !.

This government are always going for the quick fixes !, what on earth is the point of cutting personal allowances and a one off extra money for pensioners ?, pensioners want a steady increase ! god knows they deserve it !, (the 2nd world war generation in particuliar), what they give with one hand they take away with another !.....the 12 billion pounds would have been better put to use by helping to do away with tax or some tax on pensions !, why give a pension with tax ? absurd !.

Exactly right. Also taking vehicles again for example, who in their right mind if considering a purchase would buy now prior to the VAT reduction on Monday, OK its less than a week away, so not too important. No doubt this weekend will be the quietest for retailers ever.
But fast forward a year and those planning to buy say in 2010, and many people do plan that far ahead, will bring their purchases forward to save quite a bit of cash, (375 on a 15,000 vehicle), and many mid range vehicles cost more than 15,000. No doubt 2010 will have manufacturers and retailers either laying off staff or stock piling again. Sound like boom for 2009 and bust for 2010.
Also as the pundits have pointed out, this is a very labour left wing budget. There is now even less incentive due to increased tax credits for those out of work through choice to get of their back sides to find work.
As to the proposed increases for those earning 140,000 plus etc, I am old enough to remember when the highest rate on income tax was increased to 50%. This resulted in so many high earners either leaving the country physically, transferring so many businesses abroad, or/and so many cash assets that the government eventually realised they were killing the goose that lay the golden egg.
These so called rich are needed even more when recessions bite than they are in the good times.
Yes the more you earn the more you should pay, and they do. You can only squeeze so much.
Without those huge reductions in government waste, Boom and bust will still rule.
If ever there was a budget planned soley for an election, this is it.
At least if/when the Conservatives are elected, Labour will have great difficulty blaming them for not cutting taxes, as they will have little choice but to work from Labours mandate for several years.
This mess started as we know with those toxic debts that were bought and re sold without anyone really understanding what was in the package.
Looks like this government have changed the game somewhat to pass the parcel of budget debt.
The games the same but the toxic contents have changed.
Going to lie down now. The Valium (is there VAT on it) is starting to kick in.

So what percentage of the great British public believe that if you have a serious problem caused be cheap credit and over spending by the government in relatively good times you can solve the problem by making credit even easier and by the government spending vast amounts of money that the country doesn't have?

You can fool some of the people......... How many are fooled at present?

Once a 1 has been printed and taken by various institutions lent on to other many other smaller businesses through various channelsthat 1 has generated an ownership of 2..when everyone altogether wants their pound back half aint going to get it..get it!.the problem is simple the money dont exist.
The money go-round on the electronic casinos is one big default.

Hi This is me,

How many people are fooled this time!. Probably about as many people who believed Tony Blair when he said, 'I'm really just a straight sort of guy', and when we were told that there would be no tax rises under Labour.
If you look at the latest risk rating of this country defaulting it has significantly increased of late. Credit-default swaps on gilts rose 4 basis points to 87.5, according to CMA Datavision prices.
I was wondering when the so called Gilts market would start to price more risk into the system. How long will the term, 'Gilt Edged' mean what it is meant to.
Read this sweat.

Gilt Avalanche Looms on U.K. Recession, Revenue Slump (Update3)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a0iSNUrIdLno&refer=home

I have always believed a man who says he is telling me the truth!

In that case Fred.Im a lying bas*ard!

QED

Required, Have a look at this site:
http://www.icc-ccs.org/index.php?option=com_fabrik&view=visualization&controller=visualization.googlemap&Itemid=89

Good Morning Gausie.QED is why I post my infotake a look at my only buy this morning for a long term investment
tabasco - 26 Nov 2008 08:15 - 4525 of 4527
Morning all.for those of you that use my buys as a short.just purchased 9000 @ 2-12 in BVIC.let us see how lucky I am Trig?
---------------------------
I am so lucky Gausie.lucky I have a very good friend that is one of their 2,700 employees!

Tabby - You freely admit to trading on UPSI both on britvic and mks. Be careful - you wont even get big macs in HMP Brixton.

GuasieI have friends everywhere.I have never once said they have told me anything.it is not legal!you are making accusations that are simply not true I have friends at mdx as wellthats a good case against memy largest holding.had it off there big time I know nothingas you regularly tell me

Yeah, right, Tell it to the judge

Ok Gausiehes a good mate of mine.27 degrees here in KentIm sweating my bandana off.

Re friends at work/inside trading. Taken from an investment glossary.
Apologise to those who are already aware.


Insider Trading is gaining knowledge/info that is not in the public domain IE Information which, if made public, is likely to have a significant effect on the price of a company's securities. Such information must, in connection with a listed company, be reported to RNS, so that it can be released to the market in a fashion which is fair to all investors.

Any person who uses price sensitive information to make a profit either for themselves or a third party in the shares of a company are in breach of insider trading laws or the Market Abuse Regime.

My take on it therefor is as follows.

If you have a friend in a business or know any of their employees, you can pump them for general info such as Business booming/reducing, staff being taken on/laid off. Enlargement to premises etc. I have always understood it that if the LSE would not deem any info to be worthy/requirement of an RNS or other regulatory notice this info could be traded on and not be insider trading.

I have shares in a Telecoms Company that has a very large junction connection box near to my house. About 6 months ago this company changed their broadband package. A few days later on passing the time of day with an engineer working at this box, I found out that the company were recruiting engineers at a high rate, due to this cheaper faster package. Within 2/3 weeks the shares were moving nicely up.
Speaking to other engineers 3 weeks ago at the same box, they told me that the company was laying off staff as customers were cutting back (obviously the credit crunch effect).
It's surprising how such digging can pay dividends.
I read a book years ago (yes honestly), in it, I think it was Warren Buffet who was quoted as saying that if you are looking at buying shares in a high street chain. Just visit a few of their stores and make general conversation, such as how busy, are they. Are they recruiting and so on. It's surprising what you can learn.

Note... Exclusive.

Visited Woolworths today. No customers, just staff all crying, each taking turns to stand outside selling 'The Big Issue'. I think Woolworths are in trouble. Please keep this to yourselves as I don't want a run on the companies shares, before I unload.

Greekmanthank you very muchof course I was told that Tango tasted very niceand so put 2 and 2 together and worked out Britvic must be a buy.that was a bit of luck Gausieever tasted Tango?

Tabasco,

It is said (if your old enough to remember) it takes 2 to tango.
Now tabasco and britvic, bloody hell. Could be a new drink.
Just watch someone try it.
I await with baited breath, and it no doubt would be if you tried it.