Share Price

Jockanory

Hi Everybody,
I have some Standard Life shares but I am thinking of selling them,but obviously in the current financial climate,they are not going to attract much of a price,so how long should I expect to hang onto them for the markets to recover to a reasonable level(the maximum they reached was £3-50,they are currently worth £2-27).
I have no immediate need for the money but could do with freeing up some cash to travel abroad next summer,is it likely that the markets will have recovered by then?
Thanks for any advice,I have no experience in these sort of things.

Scrapper

Nobody knows.

If people knew they would be £3 in a year's time they would not be £2.27 now. If you knew they would be £3 in a year's time what you buy some at now? £2.80 and make a reasonable profit in a years time?

Equally, if people knew they would be £1 in a year they would not be £2.27 now.

Anybody who tells you what they will be worth at any future date is probably guessing.

Next year the market might have recovered, it might have collapsed, it might be about the as now. Nobody knows.

So, your guess is as good as anyone's!

Nagiw

I agree with scrapper - nobody knows. What I would say is that they appear to be outperforming the market as a whole. Wouldn't be a disaster to sell them now as they've held up quite well but it really is up to you.
:think:

Scrapper

If you sell now and they are well up next year you will be kicking yourself!

If you don't sell now and they are well down next year you will be kicking yourself! Specially if you have to sell them next year.

jon3001

Jockanory wrote: »

Hi Everybody,
I have some Standard Life shares but I am thinking of selling them,but obviously in the current financial climate,they are not going to attract much of a price,so how long should I expect to hang onto them for the markets to recover to a reasonable level(the maximum they reached was £3-50,they are currently worth £2-27).
I have no immediate need for the money but could do with freeing up some cash to travel abroad next summer,is it likely that the markets will have recovered by then?
Thanks for any advice,I have no experience in these sort of things.

How did you come to have these shares?

If some of the cash is needed within 5 years (e.g. for your travel plans next summer) then definitely sell that portion. It doesn't belong in volatile investments.

For the rest - is there some reason why it's invested in just one stock (Standard Life) rather than a diversified portfolio?

sabretoothtigger

sl were a mutual and some shares were given as part of that hence a large population of long term small holdings

Theres a thread on sl, they have done better then most shares but everything is vulnerable right now.

Sell high buy low, right now they are in the middle of recent price range and I would not think they would reach either extreme again soon.
Results are in march, you should get some dividend payment soon

180-260

Jockanory

Thanks,
Everyone for the replies,think I will sit tight for the time being,as I don't need the money right now,as my travel plans are not until the end of next summer and as these were freebies,I look upon them as a bonus.

gozomark

if you didn't own them, would you buy some now - if the answer is no, sell them

sabretoothtigger

Sometimes its good to just hold especially when dealing costs form a large percentage deduction to any profits but I think I get what your saying, now is a bad time to be holding shares in general

Its typical of SL to defy gravity, they have 3bn cash and a hedging strategy against market falls apparently. Also their sales internationally have helped to counteract uk weakness





In my opinion friday was a good day to buy, they fell to 210. Im not sure about holding so much in this market but friday was definitly a tradeable day as they saw range of 10%.
A rise on monday? Best to sell on the way up as the market trend is ever downward


The graph is life insurance sector vs ftse100 vs sl

Scrapper

sabretoothtigger wrote: »

Best to sell on the way up as the market trend is ever downward

Where is the market heading?

gozomark

Scrapper wrote: »

Where is the market heading?

how long is the piece of string I'm holding ?