East Star Resources Share Discussion Threads

[hgiderek] 28/4/2005 16:44

Well, the eastern european market seems to be affected by the general misery of the US / UK. But there must be a buying opportunity soon. I would have thought this market was as contrarian as anything. I'm positive about Putin, and about this markets' future over the next few years.
Fingers crossed.

[greenpastures] 21/4/2005 10:17

Thanks for posting that hgiderek. Tends to fill in the picture that the Russian economy is moving towards take off point, developing beyond just natural resources.

I can't make any claims to being an expert on Russia but regards Putin I tend to see two different viewpoints:

1. Putin is trying to centralise power as the Tsars did and because that is the mindset of the KGB.

2. Putin recognises that out in the regions the local elites are corrupt and if they are not reigned in tightly they wield their power to the disavantage of the ordinary people.

At the moment I tend towards the latter view. But I welcome any considered opinions.

[hgiderek] 21/4/2005 07:30

Newsletter from the Lorentz files....

"The Russian consumer boom is finally kicking off!

For the past few months I've been telling you how
Russia's bankers, businessmen and investors have
been drawing up plans to revolutionise the
country's retail industry...

Well, now it has all come to fruition.

The Swedish furniture giant, IKEA, has announced
that it will inject $1.5bn into the Russian
economy this year... and offer its 143 million
population access to store cards for the first time!

Can you imagine that many people getting access
to credit, virtually at once?

This is going to trigger a major retail boom -
and has the potential to make early-bird
investors a great deal of money."

With the Putin reassurances recently, and much of the bad news centering on the US economy, is now the time to tentatively invest more in eastern europe ?
I am watching the scene attentively !

[greenpastures] 30/3/2005 09:51

The report in the Hermitage piece is more detailed than the one I read but covered the general points. Thanks.

[hgiderek] 30/3/2005 07:55

Greenpastures - I didn't see the FT item, but it may be related to one on the Hermitage site (another brilliant fund, but beyond my wealth) ...



Putin is a politician, and can sense the way the wind of change is going - and is probably, above all, a nationalist wanting to see his country great again. He recognises that means economic growth. IMHO.

[hgiderek] 27/3/2005 17:59

Gladdened & amazed to see that someone out there recognises the excellent of this trust / investment. By far the best gamble (or not, depending on Putin) in the eastern european marketplace.
Fingers crossed for another year.
My first post - apologies for lack of amazing news or insight.

[rambutan2] 21/3/2005 13:21

finals out today. and not bad for a boring investment trust!

Chairman's Statement

For the year ended 31st January 2005 the net asset value per share of your
company rose by 45.2 per cent in US Dollars compared with a rise of 34.1 per
cent in the company's benchmark, the FTSE Eastern Europe Index (net income
re-invested). The discount to net assets narrowed during the year and the share
price rose by 55.5 per cent. In sterling terms the comparative returns were 40.2
per cent in net asset value per share, 29.4 per cent for the benchmark index and
50.0 per cent in the share price. The company invests to achieve capital growth
and not income and the directors do not recommend the payment of a dividend.

[greenpastures] 10/12/2004 19:04

Rabain- I was too busy today to get a call through easily. When I saw the price decline had slowed to almost nothing today I figured the sell off may be just about complete. I have often considered selling when they have hit a high but so far they have always recovered and gone up higher within a few weeks, at least since I first started buying which was in June 1998. I topped up in August 2001 less than a month before 9/11 and then sat through a 25% drop.

I have come round to the view that I will let the managers do the selling for me. They do seem pretty astute and take profits on the investees when they consider it appropriate. I tendered 25% of my holding though and put the cash into skyepharma at 58p net and a small amount into Provalis at 7.1p..

[rabain] 10/12/2004 08:42

Greenpatures write out 100 times....I must take my profits! ;-)

If you get round to ringing could you let us know what gives?
Many thanks

[greenpastures] 09/12/2004 18:15

Well the latest issued asset value for the 7th December is not showing a drop. I had some concerns that the tension between Russia and the West over the Ukraine might cause a sell-off. I consider selling last week because of that and buying later if I could. I thought about it but didn't follow through on it because I thought knowing my luck the price would go up just after I sold.

Maybe the asset value for 9th when it is issued will show a drop. If I have time tomorrow I will see if I can phone the Company. This is one of my biggest holdings.

[rabain] 09/12/2004 16:09

Any idea what's happening today. BEE down by similar ammount

[gateside] 25/11/2004 22:21

rambutan2... thanks for the link.. looks interesting and have added it to the header.

[rambutan2] 23/11/2004 16:18

gateside, below is a link to the rather good site of the premier russia fund, the hermitage fund, which really is a mover and shaker. the site is good for articles/news on investing in russia and might be one to stick in the header?

[gateside] 05/11/2004 10:20

Regional weightings - 30-Sep-04
Region (%) Prev
Russia 43.0 (1)
Turkey 18.0 (3)
Hungary 16.0 (4)
Poland 9.0 (5)
Czech Republic 8.0 (6)
Fixed int/Cash/Loan & overdrafts -7.0 (2)
Central Asia 4.0 (7)
Croatia 3.0 (8)
Ukraine 3.0 (9)
Estonia 1.0 (10)


Sector (%) Prev
Energy 26.7 -
Telecommunications Services 25.9 -
Financials 20.8 (4)
Cash 7.0 -
Materials 6.6 -
Utilities 4.8 (5)
Consumer Discretionary 2.6 -
Health Care 2.3 -
Others 1.7 -
Industrials 1.6 -


Holding (%) Rank Prev Holding (%) Rank Prev
Lukoil Holding 10.0 1 (1)
MATAV RT 4.3 6 (2)
Surgutneftegaz 4.5 4 (3)
Cesky Telecom 4.4 5 (4)
Rostelecom 3.5 9 (5)
MOL 4.6 3 (6)
Polish Telecom 3.9 7 (7)
Norilsk Nickel 3.4 10 (8)
Novy Neft 3.8 8 (9)
Koc Holdings 5.4 2 (10)

[greenpastures] 19/10/2004 19:55

Depends upon their performance. I think we have to expect that the expertise to analyse and deal in these markets will come at a price.

[ydderf] 19/10/2004 16:00

does anyone care how much they are being charged by the managers?

[rambutan2] 01/6/2004 09:53

including a nice stake in burren.

also, see boards sweeteners for upcoming agm vote.

[350gtr] 31/5/2004 20:55

At the last report 31 Jab 04 33% of th fund was invested in Oil & Gas. With the strong Oil price this should flow through to the results

[ben gunn] 19/4/2004 10:02

This trust has legs, 9 or so years, and bottom, relevant directors. It is a pity that so many of the directors are changing at once.
(Wife has small ISA holding aimed at a bubble of interest this summer)

[350gtr] 08/4/2004 21:42

Ah - so I am not the only one making money on this one!

Good suggestion Rambutan

[rambutan2] 06/4/2004 18:30

yes, i am a long-time fan.
350gtr, perhaps you could put this link in the header?

[mgrimm] 06/4/2004 13:06

Yes I am...been buying since 760pence. It is a great company base its stragey on value and long-term capital appreciation. I work for an organisation that solely invests in Eastern Europe. Majority of the companies it holds as investments are also on our books. Our organisation is doing extremely well at the moment and hence this is reflected in the share price. Pictet are the fund managers (a swiss company that has been arounf for about 120 yrs) They have a very good reputation. If you want access to the eastern european market this is the way to go better than buying unit trusts.

[350gtr] 02/4/2004 21:25

Anybody following this investment trust?

Steady rise of 30% over the last 3 months with no sign of stopping

Any thoughts?

If you want more info check out



It's the web site for the fund