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Alpesh Patel
Alpesh Patel's columns :
04/16/2004Growth Spurt or Splutter
04/13/2004The interest in Interest rates : beware and prepare.
04/07/2004Pick a Direction Already
03/26/2004After Gordon's Words
03/24/2004Hidden Opportunities
03/10/2004Hidden Opportunities and Big Momentum
02/26/2004So Much Uncertainty
01/13/2004The Resolutions
01/02/2004The Year's High
12/22/2003Slow down or Ramp up?
12/16/2003Xmas Rally or Not?
12/09/2003That good news is bad for the markets
11/27/2003It's not Christmas Yet >>
11/13/2003Now they have risen
11/07/2003From here until rate rises
10/30/2003The Best Advice from now until end Dec
09/29/2003Lessons in shorting
08/29/2003One Last Throw of the Dice
08/26/2003To hot in the kitchen. and everywhere else

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Alpesh Patel – A weekly look at market opportunities and pitfalls
Alpesh B. Patel is one of the UK's best-known traders and financial journalists. He writes a regular column for the Financial Times, has written seven bestselling books on trading, and makes regular television appearances for Bloomberg, Sky Television, Channel 4, The Money Channel, and the BBC.

It's not Christmas Yet

11/27/2003

Last week I examined momentum and value-growth stocks. I wanted to say a few words on yield this week following a reader question. As we found out this week the MPC voted 8-1 for the interest rate rise.

Nevertheless what about income from stocks to beat banks? My criteria is not only yield (ie the amount through dividends you get for £100 of stock you own, eg a yield of 5%, means £5 per £100 of stock) but also ensuring the stock is not about to drop in price, otherwise you gain income and lose capital.

So what looks interesting?

Yielding Results

Well, let me kick off with Small Caps. With 8-9% per annum and with a gentle uptrend this year includes James Beattie, but beware any fall below support levels to say 125p.

UK Coal too is looking good on yield and price strength, although some falls recently after an incredible rally this year. The price-earnings is high at 41, but price earnings growth only 0.25.

British Polythene Industries gives you yield plus price stability as does another name you may not have come across – Metalrax.

Other names worth examining – The Malcolm Group, and Blick.

As for FTSE 350, for those wanting more blue chip companies, those yielding over 6%, not an excessive valuation and price growth or stability:

  • Novar – watch to ensure the uptrend continues
  • DFS – has fallen back but does not mean will continue falling given the yield
  • Viridian – again strong uptrend
  • Kelda – a sideways move so one would look to make a return from the dividend
  • Investec – another strong return
  • Pilkington – once again, strong returns

So there you have some sound players. Okay, what about value-growth superimposed on top of them – do we have any on both lists?

No, Holiday Break comes up on the FTSE 350, but only has a yield of 4 – not a problem if we expect the stock to rise.

Recent moves on FTSE 100

Despite pressure on the FTSE 100 (I guess fund money is waiting a bit longer before getting in before next year) British Land shows strength and a 2 month 600p target is a serious possibility.

Land Securities is another play moving higher, this time a lot closer to resistance and we must be careful it ensure it does break through the level.

For the FTSE 100, I am still placing odds in favour of a close between 4450-4550.


Alpesh B Patel, author of “Alpesh Patel on Stock Futures” available from the ADVFN bookstore.