There are two really busy weeks at this time of year: the last week of October and the first week of November. However, I have noted something else about recent times, a Monday is often a relatively quiet day. So, unlike the Boomtown Rats, I do like a Monday, mainly because I spent almost all of the last weekend playing catch up with the global corporate earnings season. Guess what is going to happen next weekend too… Until I get a bit older and more knackered, anyway. I wrote about International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) aka the previous British Airways last Friday, but I see The Times reports today that the “British Airways owner looks to snap up rivals as easyJet (EZJ) falters”.

International Consolidated Airlines Group SA (IAG) aka the stock you and I used to call British Airways, saved my backside a few months ago.  To be precise, I am sure the Gibraltar tourist board and/or a Spanish train company would have preferred me to be stuck thankis to Easyjet (EZJ) - with my eldest daughter - in the British Overseas Territory and a city located at the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula, but IAG / BA stepped up in a timely (although slightly expensive) manner.  So, I have become a bit more of a fan (albeit that I do not currently own any shares in the company), which brings me to its third quarter numbers published earlier today…

I haven't posted much these last few days - I've been abroad for the first time since January 2020. What excitement!  I'm sure a bunch of you have been to Gibraltar, though I had not.  I have two key tips.  If, unlike me, you are visiting to explore lower taxation and other matters, do not discuss it in front of others having their breakfast.  Second, you must ask yourself whether to fly with British Airways i.e. IAG (IAG) or EasyJet (EZJ). And - if you should prefer the former - whether or not you should hold EasyJet shares.

Over the last five years, £50 has been a regular share price for InterContinental Hotels Group plc (IHG).  Given the current challenges, I am surprised that the owner of Crowne Plaza, Holiday Inn, and Regent Hotels & Resorts, has seen its shares recover to their pre-Covid peak.  So, whilst they have “seen very positive trading conditions in the first quarter, with travel demand continuing to increase in almost all of our [their] key markets around the world”, they must also hope for “a return of business and group travel". 

It is an interesting Friday at many levels, but less about some of the early results in the various elections around the UK (where folks appear to have taken my advice on how to vote!)…and more about the markets.  

Lockdown in our part of Wales starts in just under two hours. The Mrs has already escaped to England with Joshua. I am staying here but need some supplies so must rush to get them from a store where they don’t make you wear a face nappy before the North Wales fuzz sets up roadblocks on the bridges over the River Dee. Before my Dukes of Hazard style contraband run, I discuss various conspiracy theories over Rolls Royce (RR.) and IAG (IAG). I look at the massive issues now hanging over Verditek (VDTK) as I expose its latest desperate ramping and another past lie. Finally, Dev Clever (DEV), what is going on with Asimilar (ASLR) and Mark Horrocks as its share price slides again.

My wife’s young cousin – L – and her young man will arrive shortly to our house to cat sit and the Mrs, Joshua, and I can head to the Greek Hovel. I wonder what Covid restrictions there are in Greece and how they will be applied? Here in the UK, BoJo has new rules and I ponder if they will mean the death of Cineworld (CINE).  On the subject of death, I discuss Versarien (VRS) and also its moronic shareholders and why ADVFN (AFN) scores an own goal in not banning them. I look at Coro Energy (DOG) and also International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), British Airways as was.

I wonder how Nigel Somerville is celebrating. I wonder how long the gold rally will continue and discuss why Red Rock Resources (RRR) could utterly roof it if it can IPO its Oz gold arm in time. I just need another 25% and I am back at break-even. On an Andrew Bell stock, how many folks can say that? Only kidding Andrew – maybe we are in the right place at the right time? In the podcast, I also look at EasyJet (EZJ), Intercontinental Airlines (IAG) and how the woes of vodka fiend Olaf may be a sign of worse to come for all. I cover Supply@ME Capital (SYME) and look at results and the rum ‘n’ coke valuation of Dev Clever (DEV).

I start with the rather stupid, uber-woke dismal Tory MP for Wrexham, Sarah Atherton, and her latest photo tweet. I move via International Consolidated Airlines (AIG), as I discuss just how awful the real economy is, how no-one, especially Intercontinental, has any earnings visibility and the steps companies are taking to maximise cash but to mislead about their cash position. I mentioned Primary Bid. Make sure you are registered HERE.

Another week starts, another day of losses in the market. You may recall my musing of a week or so ago concerning where we were in the different stages of market psychology. Clearly the early throes of panic/capitulation apparent then have upped their ante very considerably. We can all try to be experts on virus profiles and related but the reality of the situation is obviously short-term earnings uncertainty. You can see this in today's large cap regulatory news updates…

I was due to fly back to Greece on Saturday with British Airways but I did not. It is not for the reason you think, there being no British Airways flights at all out of Heathrow and Gatwick due to an IT bollocks up, but for other reasons equally damning of the airline, now part of International Airlines Group (IAG).

Hello Share Casters. I have occasionally expressed my hopes for a British company which commissions satellites for sending into outer space to aid communications down here.

Andrew Monk does understand travel. Most brokers only understand it in that they collect air miles flying 1st class on expenses on Corporate jollies. Monk did actually run an airline as well as being a top City travel guru in days gone by. Thus his comment today on results from International Consolidated Airlines (IAG), the son of British Airways, are worth heeding.

Hello Share Hammerers. I cashed in my British Airways shares before the price of aviation fuel crashed. This timing error cost me a lot of money. And you probably agree with me that selling just before a share price leap is probably the nastiest feeling a share shifter can experience.

Sometimes the best investment calls are made not by looking at spreadsheets but from actually kicking the tyres. Hence I bring you a note in this morning from a broker on International Consolidated (IAG). Over to the broker:

Hello Share Scrapers. Shares dropped in value by 10% this year. Which means if you had a portfolio of £1m, then you are down £100,000. Ouchipoo! I expect your holding is a lot less than that. And any road up, we should always remember that a 10% loss is nothing in the great scheme of things. One year, I recall shares rose by 137%. (Or was it even more?)

Hello Share Muddlers: In an earlier piece this week, I opined that we should not be fearful of investing in airlines, just because murderous terrorists are at large. The argument was that there are so few airline incidents that the chances of being embroiled in one are more or less nil. And yet airline shares have suffered in the last few weeks. Ever since that crash of the flight from Egypt to Russia, to be exact. 

When the Paris massacre happened, I’m ashamed to tell you what one of my first thoughts was. Am I safe attending the Gold Bears and Traders Show at Westminster, London, this Saturday?

It must be a wonderful experience for Willy Walsh who came from Aer Lingus to be putting in a bid for his old company as CEO of his new company. It will also be a situation into which he has insight. Aer Lingus has declined the offer of marriage but could it change its mind. 

The share price of Intercontinental Airlines (IAG) looks to be about as high as it has been since last April and perhaps heading further back up towards the February peak of 457p?  If that were to prove to be the case then there is another 7% upside to come. But is it? 

It would appear that inside the callousness and murderous propensities of the latest Islamic terrorist group ISIS, there seems to be some kind of business like brain. We were first alerted to that by the FT, when it published its last annual report for its financial donors and backers evidently in the Gulf and Saudi Arabia. But could a surprise beneficiary of the militants’ entrepreneurialism be International Airline Group (IAG)?