Best Investments for 2010 - 5 Selections

if your going to do this at least put the current price in.

alphameric 29p

ladbrokes 140p

avanti communications 467p

Allied Irish Bank 146p(risky)

Nighthawk Energy 36p(risky)

Kevin, what makes Nighthawk a risky play? I thought they were just waiting for flow rates from one of the wells on Jolly Ranch, and then it was a question of how much a predator would be willing to pay.

In my view this was probably the most hyped up small oil potential producer of all 2009.If you think about it,there was expectation following upon expectation that everyone who invested was going to double-treble-quadruple their money in next to no time.And what happened? disappointment followed disappointment.The oil price now of circa $80 a barrel is possibly $40 a barrel greater than this time last year when David Bramhill (CEO) declared this "world class" company (potentially) could make things work at $25 a barrel and whats happened to the share price over all that time.Not a Lot as Paul Daniels might say.To my mind you either believe in Miracles and buy into the expectation or take the cynical view and sell on rumours and wait.A friend of mine has untold of these at about 90p or so and will go broke if they dont realise some of the expectation.I added them to my list more in hope for him than anything else,its not a share i could remotely recommend (except in a competion) as their are just too many doubts for my liking,but it MAY come right.

competition

I like Ladbrokes at 143p and Hills at190p.
Microsoft 1915p and Intel 1280p too.
Can't think of another.

Kevin, I agree aout the hype and they did have trouble with funding for about 6 months which put their schedule back, but that I think has all been sorted out now.
If they don't start getting oil out of the ground in reasonable levels in the next 4 months then I'd agree it could go down the pan, so I think it's worth a punt for about 3 or4 months, and then make a decision wether to hold or fold, depending on how things are at that time.

tesco

why ladbrokes and hills

would that be the same david bramhill who was at the also hyped cmr?

allied irish shares are worthless.....a good example of people prepared to pay something for nothing......if youre in,be prepared to get out quick.

bf trader 09 Jan 22:27


would that be the same david bramhill who was at the also hyped cmr?

Yes, I think it is.

kkkatt

I agree that Allied Irish Bank is a risky play but still think there is merit in investing in it.The Irish economy is in a woeful state,but of the two main banks in Ireland it is much my preferred choice.Obviously more bad news will undoubtedly emerge over the year but i think so much of this is discounted that unless it actually goes busto its probably going to rise in price over the year as the economy recovers.
I am invested in it and appreciate the advice but will stay invested for now.

dont expect an irish recovery in 2010.commercial and private property is still in freefall,labour costs need to fall by a third,unemployment has exploded and a weak sterling is crucifying irish exports into its biggest market.the irish govt plans to pay 54 billion for the banks damaged assets currently valued at 47 billion....a 7 billion gift to the banks for nothing in return.the european commission has yet to approve this deal and if their recent policy on similar situations in britain and the netherlands is a guide,they will object on competition grounds and force the govt to take equity in aib and boi.both of these banks will be getting over half of the 7 billion.their current combined market valuation is 3.2 billion.its clear what has to happen here, i think both will be nationalised this year.set a stop loss for your aib shares.while you could still make a killing due to ongoing volatility,the endgame will be swift and bloody.

Thanks for the detailed and thought provoking insight.Looks like you may be spot on after todays 10% drop and will carefully consider my actions.
Today was not a good day losing well over 5 figures in notional value,but to be fair I have had a decent run.

I've just lost hundreds of pounds on Alphameric!

Kevin, why did you tip them?

kevin7654 08 Jan 07:39
if your going to do this at least put the current price in.

Fair point Kevin but was intending putting YTD on it it late Dec,know I missed the first few days in Jan but it will give fair indication.

Think the Telecoms are ready to shoot off again, watch that space.

Poor enough reply to the post, expected strong opinions\selections!! few heads on here afraid of putting their heads on the block!!

Irish banks to say the least have had their woes but with a encouraging global recovery well under way they should benifit sumwhat.
Irish banks can get back to what it does best now an thats lending! its out of its hole but still theirs a hill/mountain to climb

Alphameric are for my money a no brainer.
These are some of my compelling reasons,
1)it has a sound product that 10000 betting shops (roughly) need to buy in order to compete in the wider market.This will generate profits of around £8-10 million a year,which will inturn give a dividend of around 7% at current market price.
2)They are not a one trick pony and have other facets of the business that are generating revenue and hopefully as the economy improves this side will contribute more towards the bottom line.
3)They have cash in the bank of around £20 million (partly from the sale of the Costa Coffee hospitality business)and at some stage this MAY get distributed to shareholders.(they indicated this many times over the past two years,but the court appeal held this up)
4) Joe Lewis has 29% of this and eventually may go for a takeover.He has a very large share in M@B and may feel Alphameric could have decent synergies with M@B.

There are other possibilities but feel the above is more than enough,especially when you consider it has no debt.

Biodiesel,my reply may have been a bit hard on you and if it came over like that I apologise,its just that I am a stickler for accuracy and wishy washy tips with no reference starting point make little sense to me.

Thanks very much fro that Kevin.
I'll hold them for them at least until the results are released, which should be in the next few weeks.
General consensus seems to be that they are undervalued at present.

Alphameric down to 25.75 today.

Thought it only fair to post about this as when times are good I post so when on a downward spiral however unpalatable i will post.
The share price frankly bemuses me.
The reasoning I put forward as a tip holds in my mind as true today as it did on Jan 2 and yet we have had a near 20% decrease in value over the month.The groups yearly figs are out around Feb 25th and maybe they are not as good as I would like.Volumes are pathetically thin and small share sells cause daily ripples in the share price that really should have no impact.Either the marketmakers are manipulating the price or the company is not doing as well as I thought.I would like to buy more but frankly have enough as it is.I apologise to anyone who has followed me in,but cannot see any reason to sell unless you really have to,(at until the results are out).

At least until the results are out.

suntech has a good price at the moment, just bought some shares.....

Would anyone mind providing their reasons for a positive outlook on Ladbrokes. Thanks in advance.