OxCamb:
Agreed - AFAIK the B class Shell shares are specifically designed for and best appropriate to UK investors.
kiffberet:
Big oil is a hazardous business. They all slip up from time to time. It's just been BP's turn in the stocks recently.
I suspect no reference to AV because some are seriously beginning to doubt whether the value will ever out. There's even mild speculation that it's in takeover territory. As far as I can see its PIIGS exposure isn't so bad, but the share price is still bound to act as a sort of Eurobarometer all the same. Also many would regard a forecast yield of 10% as into "red zone and klaxons" territory.
AV is my worst performer by far. I'm holding (through increasingly gritted teeth) but I wouldn't be brave enough to buy.
Since we're down the euro-brick road here, I wonder whether a Greek exit would actually strengthen the EZ. It is possible that a victory by the "you cannot be Syriza" party could lead to the Greek economy becoming a ghastly example "pour encourager les autres", as it were. If we can get past the "euros in binbags under the bed" panic, this may come to pass.
Sorry for going OT.
