Lloyds shares offer to the public

markwilkinson

It's not bothering me.

I think it depends on how confident you are in the long term prospects of the company. To my mind, speculating on the rise and fall of the share price is a mugs game. My portfolio is based around dividends and my punt at Lloyds was always with a view to future dividends. Whilst this Govt sale will average up the price I have paid, I am still happy to participate, as I am confident, in the long term. Miss p,aced confidence, maybe, but we have to go with our own decisions and take the rough with the smooth.

If the share price drops too much, the Govt will scratch the sell off no doubt.

Thrugelmir

Could be a few more years of bad news yet. Lloyds at least has a strong balance sheet. Barclays results yesterday were a reality check. Profitability is unlikely to return to pre GFC days. Even then as we know now this profitability was a mirage anyway

veryintrigued

markwilkinson wrote: »

It's not bothering me.

I think it depends on how confident you are in the long term prospects of the company. To my mind, speculating on the rise and fall of the share price is a mugs game. My portfolio is based around dividends and my punt at Lloyds was always with a view to future dividends. Whilst this Govt sale will average up the price I have paid, I am still happy to participate, as I am confident, in the long term. Miss p,aced confidence, maybe, but we have to go with our own decisions and take the rough with the smooth.

If the share price drops too much, the Govt will scratch the sell off no doubt.

Isnt share price intrinsically linked to the perceived strength of the company and the level of dividends they offer?

freelunchtoday

I think you're all missing the point.
This offer was solely timed to attract votes.
A certain number of people voted conservative to make £200 on the share offer, which, in a close election predicted, could have proved critical.

Glen_Clark

freelunchtoday wrote: »

I think you're all missing the point.
This offer was solely timed to attract votes.
A certain number of people voted conservative to make £200 on the share offer, which, in a close election predicted, could have proved critical.

I don't think we are missing the point - we know its a bung, just like selling council houses cheap is a bung to council house tenants to vote tory, and pensioner bonds are another bung to the grey vote.
Politics has a big effect on investments, but most people seem to feel this isn't the forum to discuss politics.

freelunchtoday

Concur.
But, as you say, all closely linked.

Thrugelmir

Glen_Clark wrote: »

I don't think we are missing the point - we know its a bung, just like selling council houses cheap is a bung to council house tenants to vote tory, and pensioner bonds are another bung to the grey vote.
Politics has a big effect on investments, but most people seem to feel this isn't the forum to discuss politics.

Would you prefer the majority of the shares were sold off to non UK investors?

le_loup

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Would you prefer the majority of the shares were sold off to non UK investors?

erm ... I think they have been, like most of the privatised issues. Water, gas, electricity, nuclear, telecoms, etc.

Thrugelmir

le_loup wrote: »

erm ... I think they have been, like most of the privatised issues. Water, gas, electricity, nuclear, telecoms, etc.

My point is in relation specifically to the retail offer for Lloyds.

chucknorris

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Could be a few more years of bad news yet. Lloyds at least has a strong balance sheet. Barclays results yesterday were a reality check. Profitability is unlikely to return to pre GFC days. Even then as we know now this profitability was a mirage anyway

Are you investing Thrug? I am asking you because I know you will give me the downside, to me it looks like a no brainer to invest £2k (the max for the 10% bonus shares). Of course I know that the share price could fall, but it could also go up, so all things being equal, the 5% discount and 10% bonus shares give me a 15% upside. Admittedly £2k isn't much, but that also means that the downside isn't much either.

Sorry, I must admit that I haven't read the whole thread, so if anyone wants to point something out to me, please do so.