Re: How is business?
 

I set an auto buy for when markets opened. I got at 336. Naive because knew they'd jump then drop immediately but didn't want to have to sit waiting and trying to get live price feeds (although Google's is good).

Happy, it's brought the average down to 375 which is what I wanted. That's the peak in the last month so hoping we're in a dip with the oil fear, bad results and pay off that has been given.

We'll see.

If it drops further and I can get the average down more I might be tempted but having just stuck money in I want to sit and wait. :fingerscrossed:

Re: How is business?
 

I had a little google afterwards out of curiosity and from what I can gather the oil spill thing is pretty much settled now, so they don't have that exodus of cash.

There's a mixed bag of opinions on whether to buy hold or sell though.

https://finance.yahoo.com/q/ao?s=BP

Questor share tip: Sell BP shares as oil price heads lower - Telegraph

BP plc, AFC Energy plc And BowLeven PLC: Buy, Sell Or Hold? | The Motley Fool UK

I find some of the articles on the motely fool interesting, but can't help but think there is a bit of an agenda they way they promote certain stocks and the click bait pish on the bottom/sides.

Which platform are you using to buy the shares?

Re: How is business?
 

That has the potential to turn into "good money chasing bad".

My feeling is that the big oil cos will be ok with oil at $60...

I've got Shell shares, and I'm just sitting tight: I'd bought them for dividends, so no particularly concerned about the underlying price (except to the extent that it deflates the value of any divi). Although the price still hurts - I bought in April last year.

One article yesterday doubted Shell's plan to pay 8.6% divi (based on its current price of 1,500) in 2016, and Motley Fool said just before Xmas that it thought it was 50:50 whether it would actually happen. They had similar sentiments for BP.

Caveat: I know nothing.

Re: How is business?
 

Coming in late to this party.

Current employer is shedding staff. Just heard this morning another shed load to go, and a lot of them are locals. Main client is one of the Ministries, so all "hold/freeze/prolong" on a lot of the projects. Budget cuts, recruitment freeze, no training budget, and reduction in manpower.

My contract is up in September. Just putting finishing touches to my updated CV as we speak.

Re: How is business?
 

wait 'till they cut the dividend. Only a matter of time.

Why buy stocks when you can short them? Anyway, it's all a function of hold periods - they will do OK over the long-term but BP at 400 will take some time to recover.

Re: How is business?
 

I look at Motley Fool too but seems to 'salesy' for me. Always asking you to pay for tips.

Lots of the broker ratings say buy, hold or overweighted. Not many say sell.

Always got to consider personal position, I bought when the oil spill decimated the price and until end of 2015 were profitable, even with the tumbling oil price. It's the only share in my portfolio that's losing money. The rest are banks that I bought with my Dad in 2008/9 and are currently, on average at 92% profit.

I use Lloyds, set up years ago and doesn't cost too much.

Agreed, my main aim is to have these shares for another 18 or 30ish months. Then I'll be looking to cash them out because at that point I'll want the money towards house deposit stuff I think.

That being said, I'm not playing with colossal sums as others will be. I've got about 9,000 quids worth of shares. When things progress and get profitable, I'm tempted to sell.

Problem is, x,000 in a savings account earning, well, negative interest because of inflation vs interest rate or in shares in 'safe' bets like Vodafone or Lloyds or another 'institution' seems more sensible to me.



I don't know how to do that or even if Lloyds trading platform will let me.

BP will get back to a strong position. If the next two sets of results are stronger with cost cutting dealt effectively and no more oil spill payments I think they'll be seen as an attractive buy.


We'll see. Appreciate the input.

Re: How is business?
 

You are right to be bullish long term on oil. The great thing about low oil prices is that all research into renewables and alternatives gets canned thus paving the way for increased long term dependence on the black stuff - and once you build a fossil fuel power station to have to run it for the next 30 years.

Re: How is business?
 

Where can I find the best idiot's guide to doing this? Or can I pay you to write one?

Re: How is business?
 

I agree. The bank shares have been great too though. I used to have a fair few in construction but that was because it was a sector I was involved in, knew about and would understand where projects might go to boost a plc's bottom line. If that makes sense. ;)

I understand the theory of it, but wouldn't know how to execute it or execute it successfully. :blink::unsure:

Re: How is business?
 

Just use a CFD broker. Gamble carefully :)

Re: How is business?
 

I have a feeling oil is in for a long slump. We've gotten used to wild swings over a short period but there have been times when oil was very cheap for a decade or longer. The 1990s into the early 2000s is a perfect example.

Boom days may be over for the Gulf. An utterly remarkable period of growth and sheer affluence (tax free and subsidized) can't be sustained forever. They may have to adjust to a new reality. They won't be poor but the days of a typical Emirati family with four luxury vehicles may be coming to an end.

Re: How is business?
 

Atkins laying off 100 people.

Exclusive: Project consultancy Atkins lays-off 100 people in Middle East | Gulf Business

I remember back in '09 when Atkins started the year by laying off 200 people.

Re: How is business?
 

Anyone any thoughts on HSBC? Seems cheap at the moment, lots of broker ratings putting at hold or buy.

Lots of reading suggests something in the mid 500's is about right for them.

Problem is if oil slump continues and demand for commodities stays low then it longer term hurts the banks?

Re: How is business?
 

Usually the canary in the mine when design consultancies start the layoffs.

Re: How is business?
 

maybe start a thread on investing during a downturn.