Independent Research Share Discussion Threads

[rob67] 19/3/2009 07:54

Is it just me or have they always intended to provide research on mid caps outside Aim? Or is this a new development? If so, the no of firms potentially joining the scheme must have increased some what. Can only be good news 4 us.

[martincoops] 19/3/2009 05:53

Now on the iir website

[scrapheap] 18/3/2009 18:44

Today has not been a good day business-wise but ok, 3 cheers for IIR and still being trading.

[scrapheap] 18/3/2009 16:49

Hoorar - ish

[mjcrockett] 18/3/2009 14:40

The PSQ website is up and running (their password requirement to include a special character is a bit un-necessary). Otherwise the example research reports look pretty comprehensive and DO include forecasts which someone once told they would not. IIR has one 'trial' research note - on Abbey Protection.

Let's hope PSQ proves to be popular.

MJ

[james 2] 18/3/2009 08:56

The PSQ link above should be live by lunchtime, not sure if it will have any example reports but nonetheless will be interesting to see what is said.

[james 2] 17/3/2009 10:35

Should be launched tomorrow if t'internet searches are correct :)

[fatso] 17/3/2009 08:40

I reconciled myself from very early on with the idea that leaving
the AIM market has a merit to it. The fact of other Co's leaving in drove
does bear it out. Besides, the old Smithy can concentrate on his work now,
instead of answering the myriad of questions from hysterical shareholders.
Now for some positive news flow and we shall surface for much needed air.

[martincoops] 17/3/2009 04:58

Yes thanks to all that keep posting on here.

[scrapheap] 15/3/2009 23:29

Encouraging news indeed!

Be nice to get some newsflow from IIR as its been v quiet.

[just_do_it] 15/3/2009 21:39

From The Times March 2, 2009

LSE attempts to stop decline of its junior market after funding for start-ups dries up

[just_do_it] 15/3/2009 21:36

4g here is the full article .........



From The Sunday TimesMarch 15, 2009

Stop the rot sinking the junior market
Inside the CityJenny Davey
THE Alternative Investment Market has taken a hammering in this recession. During the past year its shares have lost more than 60% of their value and 180 companies have left the market since 2007, pushing numbers down to 1,514 in February.

Worryingly for many private investors who ploughed into AIM stocks as they chased growth in the boom, liquidity has also fallen, with the average number of shares traded each day down from 608m in 2007 to 484.4m in February.

Shareholders fear they will be marooned in stocks they can't sell - or forced to bail out at knockdown prices.

Last month alone 19 companies deserted AIM - 11 of those at their own request. Several that left the market, such as Neptune Minerals and Multipower, blamed their departure on cost and regulatory requirements at a time of limited liquidity.

As secondary-market liquidity has fallen, the cost of trading has increased - further reducing investors' appetite to take part in the market and increasing the cost of capital to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), which are the lifeblood of our economy.

The London Stock Exchange is taking some steps to tackle the problem - but it may require more radical government intervention to stop the rot and protect jobs.

The stock exchange plans to hold six private-client broker days - in Birmingham, Edinburgh, Leeds, Manchester and two in London – bringing together the senior management of quoted companies with private-client investment managers and regional pension funds. The first event will be held in Birmingham this week.

Separately, the stock exchange is supporting the launch this week of PSQ Analytics, a service where small firms can pay for their own impartial research.

In its budget submission, the stock exchange is also lobbying the Treasury for changes to tax legislation that would make it easier for venture capital trusts (VCTs) to invest in AIM stocks.

Under the present rules VCTs are able to invest only in new shares issued by companies and unable to buy secondhand shares. The stock exchange estimates that AIM-listed VCTs have about £50m of uninvested funds that could be ploughed into AIM stocks - boosting share prices, easing liquidity and providing urgently needed capital for the recipients.

Last year 22 small British companies employing 2,500 people cancelled their admission to AIM due to uncertainties about their financial position, which was exacerbated by their failure to obtain further financing.

Meanwhile, government changes made in the 2006 Finance Act reduced the size of businesses VCTs could invest in from companies with gross assets of less than £15m to £7m. The 2007 Finance Act then limited investment to companies with 50 employees.

The stock exchange wants the Treasury to increase the gross asset limit to £25m and raise the employee limit to 200. It estimates this could enable 170 UK AIM firms to receive new VCT investment.

At its zenith in 2007, AIM become ever more exotic, attracting commodities companies from China to African bioethanol producers seeking to tap the deep pockets of the London market.

Quite rightly the City and overseas rivals attacked the stock exchange for allowing explosive growth in the junior market at the expense of quality control. The indigestion from those heady days will no doubt be long and painful in this downturn.

Those worries, however, should not be allowed to overshadow the fact that AIM became the best place in the world to raise new growth capital. AIM-listed UK stocks employ more than 260,000 people. More than 155,000 of these jobs are provided by about 1,000 quoted SMEs. If the government is serious about backing entrepreneurship in these precarious times it must take bold action fast.

[4graham] 15/3/2009 18:58

On the back page of today`s Sunday Times Business Supplement there is an article regarding AIM.

It states ` separately, the stock exchange is supporting the launch this week of PSQ Analytics, a service where small firms can pay for their own impartial research`.

[james 2] 15/3/2009 12:00

Sorry mate not sure what happened there - that 'eh ?' was for another BB LOL

I partly agree on the resource as they have put alot into this & carried a certain amount of overhead for some time to support the PSQ initiative. Although they do have a number of other initiatives as we know so not total reliance on PSQ.

[rob67] 12/3/2009 10:40

Not sure what u didnt get J.
I was just suggesting that if PSQ doesnt take off as hoped then i hope we havent risked all available resources on it replacin lost GRAS earnings n not havin anything else to replace it with.

[rob67] 11/3/2009 19:16

That being the case i hope they havent put all their eggs in the PSQ basket hoping that would make up the shortfall when GRAS finishes! Ever hopefull that it all comes good

[james 2] 11/3/2009 09:29

There was a times article with a very small mention at the bottom, the article also discussed the point Mr Gnome makes above.