In the News

[Mike]

RBS is in trouble again with massive losses. The UK now owns about 70% stake in RBS. I hope that they will be able to make some money from their investment once the market has improved. That is the risk they take though I guess.

[stimpsonslostson]

As banks go (at the moment) RBS is relatively secure, these losses were predicted several months ago. I'd expect all the news coming out of there to be bad at the moment- the new boss Mr Hester is VERY good at what he does (Dad knows him), but he's organizing a clear out at the moment and is getting rid of any nasty surprises the old regime left behind (especially as he can blame them while he's still new to the job). He said in about september that he expected to lose several billion this time around and that they had planned for it.
the review process doesn't help Bex get a transfer tho'- no-one can be sure if there's going to be a restructure anyway so they seem reluctant to move her till its done. BOO!!!

p

edit: they WERE pretty secure until the investors got spooked and the share price dropped by 70%! Now they're considerably LESS secure! Apparently the share price has dropped byover 98% since their high in June 07.

[Mike]

Once the public own the bank you will be able to put in a shareholder request to ease her transfer up North.

'Always look on the bright side of debt. De Doo, De Doo, De Doo, De Doo; take it away boys!'.

[John Knight]

RBS shares closed at just 11p yesterday. Now I'm no expert but thats got to be worth a £50 punt on them. Surely they can't get any lower?

[BarcelonAl]

OK, one more, I know you're not generally a football crowd, but Man Citys pursuit of Kaka can't have escaped your attention. its ridiculous that someone could be offered £500000 per WEEK to play football. It appears that a BBC correspondant agrees.

...and with a massive air of expectancy, city fail to sign Kaka as he'd rather have the love of the city of Milan (and play for a side which is actually challenging for trophies) than the cash of the Sheikh! No real surprise to be honest, I suspect Milan were just stringing city along as they knew full-well where the player's aspirations lay.

[stimpsonslostson]

at long last, evidence that not all footballers are money grabbing b@st@rds! Who'd a thought it?! I love the fact that they failed to get Kaka and got Craig Bellamy instead.

ps if you bought £50 of RBS shares and held them till they climb to their previous high, assuming they ever get there again. By my mental arithmetic you'd stand to make £2500+ for your 50!

[Mike]

Now is a good time to buy shares. AS LONG as you have money to loose and the company survives for the next 12 months of so. I am tempted to buy RBS shares - literally only £20-£50 and take a gamble on the bank staying in private ownership.

[Mike]

Inflation Falls but mainly due to a drop in VAT which is weird. VAT drops 2.5% and the CPI only drops 1%. Trains, planes and coaches have all pushed the price index up. What a surprise.

Kelly Brooke gets the shove less than 7 days after being announced as a new judge on Britains Got Talent. Cowell apparently does not support a fourth judge . . .

[BarcelonAl]

Chester zoo is to be re-developed. A £225 millions transformation will give it a glass dome containing a rainforest ecosystem!

I guess in 2018 I'll be getting a visit from a certain Mr Wilson!

[Mike]

I hope that it does not take 10 years to get a visit!

[BarcelonAl]

You know how these Scottish types can be, once he's got Beckie ensconced North of the Border he won't have a good word to say about us 'Southern pansies'!

[mr_e]

Those Chester Zoo plans are freakin' epic. Indoor rainforest!? Sweet.

I've not been yet (for some insane reason) so this just might be the encouragement I need to go.

[Mike]

It will take another 10 years for you to want to visit Chester Zoo?! I have been there a few times now but am not a big fan. Everyone else likes it though.

[stimpsonslostson]

I'm sensing a daytrip coming up if people want to go... I really like the zoo as it is, so who's in? Should only take 2 cars to fit us all in, its not for to drive.

p

[BarcelonAl]

I'm in, as long as I'm not busy that weekend. February seems to be booked up at the mo...