Want a Slice of Pizza.com ?

Shares City : How Much is Pizza.com worth?

If you were in the pizza business, rather than in the stockmarket business, how much would you be prepared to pay for the domain name pizza.com ? An interesting question at the moment, as pizza.com is up for sale by auction - the price at the moment is $602,000 (Friday morning) and the reserve hasn't been met yet - you can follow the auction as it unfolds online here Pizza.com Domain Name Auction .

For an investor, investing in domain names is potentially very lucrative, the only problem is that all the 'good' .com names were sold long ago, so now in order to get one you have to be prepared to dig deep, as for pizza.com. You can sometimes find others which have not yet risen by so much, but then you have to find one that the owner is prepared to sell. Or you can buy cheaper extensions such as .net or relatively new extensions such as .in which may rise dramatically in the future as India extends its Internet footprint.

A complicated but fascinating business. To learn more about buying and selling domain names and the sums involved have a look here -Trading Domain Names

SharesCity|Investors Chronicle Tips

Shares City : Investor's Chronicle Stocks Tips

INVESTORS CHRONICLE

Shares to beat the slowdown: - Spice, Mouchel, Pennon, Shanks, Begbies Traynor, Debts.co.uk, and Eaga

Tips
Sell – Ncipher, Standard Chartered
Buy –Prostrakan, Spice, Cineworld, Amur Minerals

Updates
Buy – Accsys Technologies, Aricor
Sell - Imagination Technologies

Results
Buy - OPD, Ted Baker, H&T Group, Vindon Healthcare, Hardy Underwriting Bermuda, Asian Citrus Holdings, European Goldfields, Alpha Pyrenees, KBC Advanced Technologies, Nautical Petroleum, AFC Energy, Ridge Mining, Black Star Investors, Tepnel Life Sciences, Sovgem, EnergyBuild Group, Chieftain, Bateman Litwin, Bellway, Cenkos Securities,

Sell –Qualceram Shires, Next

Good Value – Cambrian Mining

THE TIMES

Tempus
Man Group - Hold
Northern Foods - Buy
Enodis - Hold

Tiddler
Cyril Sweett

Further news
Indians set to buy London's oldest broker, Hichens Harrison
Bid speculation lifts Renesola

DAILY TELEGRAPH
Questor
Buy - Laura Ashley
Hold - Songbird Estates

INDEPENDENT
Investment
Skyepharma - A cautious hold
Clinton Cards - Hold
ShieldTech – Buy

OTHER NEWS
Polo Resources lifts stake in GCM Resources to 29.72%

Shares City : Newspaper Tips and Rumours

Interested in learning about Forex Trading? Check out my earlier post - Forex Trading for Beginners

SHARES MAGAZINE

Oil stocks are featured, in particular, Volga Gas, Falkland Oil & Gas, Soco International, Nautical Petroleum, EnCore Oil and Faroe Petroleum.

Recommendations
Buy - Spirent Communications
Buy - Capita Group

Update:
Sell - Kesa Electricals

Charts
AstraZeneca – Buy (2400p target)
British Energy – Buy (800p target)
Standard Life – Buy (295p target)

Trading
Sell - Legal & General
Sell – Next
Buy - BP.

AIM
NetPlay – Hold
Phosphagenics – Hold
Eruma – Buy
DCD Media – Buy
Zeehan Zinc - Hold

THE TIMES
Tempus
Bellway - Avoided
Booker - hold
Tribal Group – Buy on weakness

Tiddler
Cap-XX

FINANCIAL TIMES
SIG - rumours of French interest
Rumours of Manitowoc bid lift Enodis

Rumours of bid for International Greetings
Diageo up following Anheuser talk

DAILY MAIL
Birch Partners share to keeo an eye on on Plus Markets

DAILY TELEGRAPH
Questor
Buy – Xstrata
Hold - Scottish & Southern Energy

DAILY EXPRESS
Whisper
Tadpole Technology rumoured to have aroused interest of several parties for its Jukebox software

THE INDEPENDENT
Investment
ScS Upholstery – Hold
Bellway - Cautious hold
FW Thorpe – Hold

OTHER NEWS
Tadpole Technology issues loan notes witha value of £230,000 to provide further working capital
Bank of England has indicated it will cut interest rates again and do more to solve banks’ liquidity problems

forex trading
stock tips

Shares City | What is DMA ?

Shares City : What is Direct Market Access (DMA) ?

Direct Market Access (DMA) is a method which allows private investors to buy and sell stocks and shares directly from or to other private investors. About time too I might add.

Normally, private investors buy and sell stocks from brokers who act as an intermediary with market makers. DMA gives private investors greater control of their trades by dealing directly with other market participants, although this does not quite cut out the middle man, as you will still need to use a broker but one that offers DMA.

The great advantage of DMA is that it allows you to trade inside the spread. Normally a broker will quote you a price such as 220 – 224 which means you can buy at 224 but you can only sell at 220 the 4 point difference being referred to as the ‘spread’. Trading inside the spread is obviously an advantage as it means the stock price does not have to move as much before you are in profit.

The advantages of DMA to the private investor are:-

It creates a more level playing field
All orders on the order book have the same status, they are only prioritized with regard to price and time.

Increased visibility
Orders are visible to the whole market. This allowing all market participants “full contribution to central market liquidity”.

The depth of order book is visible
This ensures that you are aware of the number of buyers and the number of sellers and also the price at which they are willing to trade.

You can set your own price
Limit orders can be set at a price of your choosing and they are made available to the whole market.

Spreads are tighter
Limit orders are on public rather than private display, this ensures tighter spreads, which benefits the participant who placed the order, as he/she has a greater chance of obtaining the price specified. It also benefits the market as a whole as the public reference price is tighter.

Participation in the auction
Private investors can participate in auctions pre-market and post-market which is where the highest and lowest prices are often seen.

It would appear that in the UK we are late to the table in so far as concerns DMA, but given the obvious advantages I suspect it will become more available. So where do we sign up ?

Art Cashin says Interim Bottom

Market Bottom In Place says Art Cashin

A number of people are saying that we have now seen a bottom (short term at least) in the markets and we could get a few weeks or months of rises. Jim Cramer for one, yesterday on CNBC.

Today on CNBC Art Cashin, who talks a lot of sense, has just said there is a good possibility that we are at an interim bottom. His reasoning is that yesterday was the third trading day after events on Tuesday and as yesterday was a positive day this indicates that bulls have regained control.

Art says that this looks like an interim bottom caused by the financial crisis although he still thinks that further out in the year there may be a lower low caused by the recession. These are the weakest shorts he has seen in 45 years – if commodities and the dollar stabilize shorts are cleaned up. We need a period of calm to the disadvantage of the shorts and an end to the rumour mongers.

All in all he was positive on the markets for the next few weeks/months.

Scarlett Likes Empresaria - Buy

Buy Empresaria

Full article here : http://www.sharecrazy.com/tipsheet/moore080323.html

Investors don’t like recruitment companies right now, fearing a downturn in the economy. But if you are lloking for a good long-term investment then Scarlett Moore from Sharecrazy Supermarket says that Empresaria (EMR), is one recruitment company that deserves a closer look. My thinking is ‘How can you disagree with a woman called Scarlett ?’ Probably not the best way to pick your stocks but hey nothing else works !

The company has operations in 17 countries, and the major part of its revenues come from outside the United Kingdom, which will offset the downturn if it does inded materialize.

EMR’s most recent trading statement was positive, for the year ended 31.12.2007 it declared revenues of £146 million, almost double revenues in 2006, and £40 million in net fee income. Growth was reported in all operating regions but there was also strong organic growth in the UK.

Shares were at an 187p in June 2007, the all-time high, before falling below 80p, although they have recently recovered to 88p. Scarlett thinks they are ‘worth a punt’. Earnings are expected to be around 9p for 2007. Boosted by earnings from Asian businesses they should rise to to 12p for the current year. This gives a valuation of 7 times earnings, which would seem to require a really horrendous downturn. EMR are therefore recommended as a long-term investment.

5 Year Candlestick Chart



3 Month Candlestick Chart



Personally I would like to see the red line get back above the black line before I jumped in but I am known for being excessively cautious.

Police in China Fire on Monks and Nuns

Chinese Police Fire on Tibetan Monks and Nuns

Police in Western China opened fire on monks, nuns and other Tibetans trying to march on government offices yesterday. They were demanding the return of the Dalai Lama.

People in Luhuo said that a monk and a farmer appeared to have been killed and a dozen or so people wounded in the latest demonstrations in Tibetan areas of China.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/03/24/chinese-police-fire-into-_n_93190.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3612661.ece

Bear Stearns Price Increased

Bear Stearns Sees Offer Increased

http://www.cbs8.com/stories/story.122012.html

After offering a derisory $2 per share for Bear Sterans, JPMorgan has now increased its offer for to $10, hoping to win over Bear Stearns employees and shareholders.

The Bear Stearns share price has more than doubled as a result.

The reaction last week among Bear Stearns employees and shareholders was extremely negagtive as they felt the deal on offer significantly undervalued the firm, which afer all had ben trading at $30 on Friday afternoon.

JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon has been trying to sweet-talk Bear Stearns employees all week. Together they own about 33% of the company.

"We believe the amended terms are fair to all sides and reflect the value and risks of the Bear Stearns franchise," Dimon said in a statement, "and bring more certainty for our respective shareholders, clients, and the marketplace."

The new deal includes a provision for JPMorgan to buy 95 million new Bear Stearns shares immediately, giving it a 39.5 % stake in the company.

The amended offer is JPMorgan's attempt to see off competition, and ensure the acquisition is done and dusted as quickly as possible. The deal for the JPMorgan is widely seen as being the deal of the century, although admittedly the century is young !

Share Tips

Share Tips from Sundays Newspapers

Bellway, IQE, Addax Petroleum, Pinewood Shepperton, Dignity and Begbies Traynor.
http://www.citywire.co.uk/Adviser/-/news/newspaper-summaries/content.aspx?ID=299293

FSA to Investigate Shorters !

Financial Mites - Share Manipulation Investigation

The Financial Services Authority in the UK has warned stock market traders, shorters and investors that it is investigating trades in UK financial shares after a number of rumours caused extreme reaction in share prices -at one point HBOS was down 18% on rumours it had approached the Bank of England for cash, rumours which HBOS have described as absolute nonsense.

The FSA issued a warning that traders should not take short positions then spread rumours to bring about a fall in the share price, after which they can buy back their shorted shares and make a substantial profit. Well I bet that's got them quaking in their boots ! Shorters have been spreading rumours for years, that's what they do ! The FSA might just as well issue a warning that people should stop shorting ! What planet have the FSA been living on for the past 200 years ?

My prediction ? The FSA, which is generally regarded as toothless here in the UK, will discover after their lengthy investigation that there was 'no evidence' to suggest that any malpractice took place !

For the full story have a look at our competitor's site : http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4e7e64e8-f5b7-11dc-8d3d-000077b07658.html

FED Cuts Rates .75 Point

FED Cuts Rates by 3/4 Point

The FED has just cut interest rates by 0.75 point, not the 1 whole point that was expected by many. Rates are now at 2.25. It also cut the discount rate by .75 to 2.50

The DOW is falling as a result although it may rebound later of course. In fact it's already starting to re-bound (5 minutes later)

What the FED Should Do

Mohamed El-Erian's Remedy for the Credit Crisis

Mohamed El-Erian has just been on CNBC explaining his views on what the FED should do, as described in his article in our competitor publication The Financial Times.

According to Mr El-Erian the FED should first supplement monetary policy by filling the "void left by slowing moving fiscal agencies – through outright purchases of high-quality mortgage securities or by extending financing terms to one year." And, secondly, central banks should co-ordinate their intervention to try and counteract the effect of "disorderly exchange rates that exacerbate the credit turmoil."

For the full explanation of Mr El-Erian's thinking check out : http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/194ed856-f441-11dc-aaad-0000779fd2ac.html

Lehman Says Bottom Reached

Lehman Calls Bottom of the Market

Lehman Brothers' says we are at the bottom of the market, ahead of today's FED meeting, where they are expected to announce a 100 basis-point cut in the wake of Bear Stearns' collapse. The FTSE 100 has bounced off its lowest level since 2005, in tandem with other world markets.

Ian Scott, Global Strategist for Lehman, has stated : "Events in the past couple of days indicate that global equity markets have moved on from discounting the recessionary impact of lower earnings to considering the implications of a systemic reduction in the availability of credit to otherwise profitable businesses and creditworthy households.

"We think this likely represents the culmination of the current crisis in capital markets."

To be honest it sounds like a bit of wishful thinking to me, especially for Lehman which itself may be open to aggressive shorting, but for the full article have a look here : http://www.hemscott.com/news/comment-archive/item.do?id=45999

Share Tips from the Experts

Share Tips and News

If you are stil in the mood for share tips after yesterday's mauling here are a few from the wise men and women

FINANCIAL TIMES

The Lex Column
Those still baying for blood on Wall Street as payback for the sins of recent years should be sated by the implosion of Bear Stearns.
European banks - markets are shrieking over who might be next. European bank shares slumped on Monday, after Bear Stearns' collapse
Lehman Brothers can point to stronger liquidity, nearly $200-billion of cash and unencumbered assets, and fewer pressure points than Bear Stearns

British Energy may be taken over - shares rose 11%

Other News
Flometrics up on Mentor stake
Autonomy down after sale by chief

THE TIMES
Tempus
Imperial Energy – Don’t buy until further details
Headlam - hold

A Tiddler to Watch
IQE

Further news
Lehman Brothers slumps as Wall Street wonders: who’s next?
Powerflute close to an acquisition

DAILY TELEGRAPH

Front Page
Financial crisis ‘is worst for decades’

Comment
How deep are Bernanke’s pockets
Wolseley gives worrying warning

Questor
Umbrellas for the storm: -
Reckitt Benckiser, William Morrison, BAE Systems, United Utilities

Further news
Wall Street rallies to aid Lehman
HBOS plunges on fears US crisis is spreading
Number of large blocks of shares change hands in Restaurant Group

THE INDEPENDENT

Outlook
Bear fire sale marks start of capitulation

Investment Column
Buy - IQE
Wolseley - A cautious hold
Shore Capital – Hold

DAILY MAIL
Further news
Shire shines on a day of gloom
Panmure close to breaching FSA regulatory capital requirement
Rumours of bullish drilling report from Patgonia Gold.
Wimpey's plans for new bonus scheme
Sweet China returns to AIM market this week after reverse takeover

DAILY EXPRESS
· Europeans may bid for British Energy


COMMENT AND BID NEWS

Joe Lewis trying to block JP Morgan Chase's takeover of Bear Stearns
Lone Star will ask lender HSBC to increase its offer for Korea Exchange Bank above £3.2-billion
Concern about prospect of a takeover of British Energy
BAE signs $715-million contract to supply vehicles to US marines
Terra Firma enters battle for Novera Energy
Rentokil Initial set for break-up with private equity seen as a possible buyer
Guinness Peat lifts stake in Newbury Racecourse to 29.01%

· Bank of England pumps extra £5 billion into money markets
pound has worst day since 1992


ABI turns up pressure on Marks and Spencer over chairman's £450,000 payoff
Oil tumbles from record highs as economic nerves grow
MF Global says that it has sufficient funding to combat business normally, saying it has no exposure to sub-prime mortgage-backed sector
US Federal Reserve calls on banks to aid Lehman Bros

Bear Stearns Employees Lose Millions

With JPMorgan offering virtually nothing to buy out Bear Stearns the firm’s employees, who own about 33% of Bear’s outstanding stock, find themselves having lost millions overnight and there is every possibility that they will initiate litigation to try and get back some of their losses, according to employee benefits attorneys.

Bear Stearns stock was worth $170 share last year, it was worth $30 a share on Friday today it is worth $2. People who thought they had $15 million worth of shares on Friday now find themselves with only $500,000 - the strange thing is this is seen to be a good result by the FED, which shows how deep the crisis must be that they are willing to flush so many people's savings down the pan - fill story here - http://www.workforce.com/section/00/article/25/42/68.html

McCartney Mills $48M Divorce Settlement

McCartney Mills Divorce Settlement

Heather Mills os to get $46.8 million dollars from Paul McCartney for their four-year marriage, nice work if you can get it, but then so is singing silly love songs ! The award was determined by High Court judge Mr Justice Bennett who has been described as 'very, very, very clever' which means I guess that there are some judges who are not so clever.

Heather Mills was trying to get $250 million, Paul McCartney offered her $30 million, so I guess he is slightly more pleased with the outcome than she is, but the word is that she is going to appeal. The clever judge has also issued a 'gagging order' so that they can't talk about the trial or their life, or make a film of it, which apparently she was intending to do. For the full story check here : http://www.thelawyer.com/cgi-bin/item.cgi?id=131778&d=415&h=417&f=416

China's War Against Tibet

China Wages Peoples War Against Tibet

In a new twist China has declared a so-called people's war against Tibet, by which they mean war pure and simple. The people have no control over what happens in China.

See the full story here :
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080316/wl_nm/china_tibet_dc

Weekend Share Tips and Rumours

Our competitor the Financial Times is planning a weekend edition !

SUNDAY TELEGRAPH

Questor:
Buy Pearson at 689.5p

Hold Davenham at 166.5p

Buy IPF at 230.5p

Buy AT Communications at 33.25p

MAIL ON SUNDAY
Midas Column:
Buy Xchanging at 271p

Update:
Sit tight on Davenham

FINANCIAL TIMES

Share Watch
Omega International - Kitchen builder expands for growth
Renovo - Cheap, but only for the high risk investor
Coal of Africa - For the more speculative investor

Takeover rumours underpin Equator Exploration

THE TIMES
Tempus Column
Candover - Sit on the sidelines for now
Thomas Cook - Best avoided
ITIS Holdings - Buy

A Tiddler to Watch
Albemarle and Bond

Further news
Coach of US, bid rumours lift Burberry

DAILY TELEGRAPH

The Comment Column
British Airways may be flying into a takeover bid

THE GUARDIAN
D1 Oils shares lost a third of their value as group warns subsidised biofuels from America are threatening to destroy Europe's domestic refining market

DAILY MAIL
The Investment Extra Column
Time to get technical, says Nick Batsford - Sell the FTSE-100 on any market close below 5,700 with a stop loss of 5,900

At a Glance
Prostrakan pain

DAILY EXPRESS
Smoking ban bites at Wetherspoon
Brokers find Burberry so fashionable
Talk of a big overseas contract for Earthport.

Share Rumours and Tips

FINANCIAL TIMES
Possible rights issue weighs on Bradford & Bingley
Thus boosted by merger talk (KCOM)
Cobham and GKN in demand

THE TIMES
Tempus
Avoid - Taylor Nelson Sofres
Hold - Keller Group
Worth a flutter - Paddy Power

A Tiddler to Watch
Phoqus Pharmaceuticals

Further news
Dana Petroleum might bid for Faroe Petroleum

DAILY TELEGRAPH
Questor
Avoid - HSBC
Buy - WSP

THE INDEPENDENT
Avoid - Close Bros
Buy – Senior
Buy - Keller

OTHER NEWS
Rolls-Royce wins $2.6-billion Virgin Atlantic engine order
Global Radio poised to raise bid terms for GCap Media
Southampton Leisure still in takeover talks with third parties
Oriel Resources receives non-binding indicative proposal from Mechel