Artful Investing

For the first time I can think of, each share in my portfolio ended the month lower than it began. These falls hurt badly and have wiped 5% off my returns for the year to date.

Portfolio values as at 2/10/2005:
Chaucer Holdings, 06/10/03 at 42.88p (53.5p)
Chaucer Holdings, 06/04/2004 at 54.75p (53.5p)
Dana Petroleum, 20/11/03 at 223.75p (880p)
SVB, 12/04/05 at 24.12p (30p)
SVB, 13/09/2005 at 26.75p (30p)
Fayrewood, 15/04/05 at 112.5p (117p)
Fayrewood, 19/04/05 at 111.5p (117p)
+ cash holdings

versus today's closing prices:

Chaucer Holdings, 06/10/2003 at 42.88p (52.75p)
Chaucer Holdings, 06/04/2004 at 54.75p (52.75p)
Dana Petroleum, 20/11/2003 at 223.75p (823p)
SVB, 12/04/2005 at 24.12p (28.5p)
SVB, 13/09/2005 at 26.75p (28.5p)
Fayrewood, 15/04/2005 at 112.5p (114p)
Fayrewood, 19/04/2005 at 111.5p (114p)
+ cash holdings

News from my stocks has been very positive but the share price movements have been truly lamentable. BRIT and Goldman Sachs have both been selling large lines of stock in Chaucer and Dana Petroleum has suffered recently under a stumbling oil price. Fayrewood has fallen slightly despite reporting in-line trading and SVB has weakened following hurricanes Rita and Wilma.

November should see syndicate forecasts from SVB (expected near the end of the month, not the start as I said in the previous blog) and news on Dana's drilling plans in West Africa. All four portfolio constituents will enter November at bargain prices and I expect them to leave much higher.

The Artful Dodger