Royal Dutch Shell eyed a move for BP after oil spill

Shell’s keen interest suggests that if BP were to be put into play there could be an auction with the prospect of a handsome premium. Read more here.

Citi future brightens out of U.S. shadow

(Reuters) – Citigroup Inc (C) having finally shed its status as a U.S. government ward, is no longer handicapped when competing for business — or for the people who can attract it. Read more here.

Citigroup Targets 100 China Branches

Dec. 7 (Bloomberg) — Citigroup Inc. aims to triple the size of its branch network in China to about 100 outlets within three years as the U.S. bank vies with HSBC Holdings Plc for a bigger slice of the nation’s banking market. Read more here.

Xinyuan Real Estate – Probably the Most Undervalued Stock on the NYSE

Xinyuan Real Estate (XIN) is probably the most undervalued stock on the NYSE. The company develops middle income residential properties in tier II and tier III cities in China. The stock currently trades at 2.61 X 2011 estimates and less than .4X book value. The company has beat estimates in each of the past 5 quarters, counts the likes of Sam Zell and John Griffin as stakeholders, and is audited by PricewaterhouseCoopers. Read more here.

Value Investing Books Top List

Please check out the new top list for value investing litterature. It is up-to-date and you can vote or suggest additions to the list. Go to the list by clicking here.

BP to restart dividend within months -Dudley

Bob Dudley who today takes over from Tony Hayward, said the business was performing well and is on track to restore the dividend in the first quarter of 2011. “It’s obviously for the board to decide but from what I see happening in the performance of the business, I believe we will get there,” Mr Dudley said. Read the article here.

Lloyds in focus on hopes of strong capital buffers

Lloyds Banking Group was in focus as traders studied forecasts of strong capital buffers last night. Deutsche Bank said that, on the basis of the Basel II banking capital rules, Lloyds’ buffer against unexpected losses – the so-called core tier one capital ratio – was on course to stand at 14.3 per cent in 2013. Crucially, even if the recently agreed Basel III norms are fully implemented, the bank is likely to boast about £10bn of surplus capital by that time. “We expect the bank to produce more capital than it can deploy, having to grow loans by 17 per cent more than we forecast in order to hold capital ratios flat after forecast dividends,”. Read more.

Lloyds Banking Group is a Buy says Goldman

Lloyds Banking Group is undervalued says the equity research team at Goldman Sachs.

Goldman have said that 106 would be a fair value price for Lloyds shares, that is 36.93% higher than at yesterday’s close at 77.41.

Investors In Lloyds Banking Group “Will Do Very Well” -CEO

Lloyds Banking Group PLC (LYG) Chief Executive Officer Eric Daniels said to Dow Jones in an interview today that he is “very pleased with the strong trajectory that we have and I think we will demonstrate this is something that has completely repositioned the bank.” “I think shareholders and the taxpayer will do very well with their investment in Lloyds,”.

Why You Should NOT Invest Like Warren Buffet

It may sound like heresy to tell people they should not follow what Warren Buffett is doing, yet I am going to do exactly that.  Note that I am not saying that long-term investing cannot work — I believe it can — but copying Warren Buffet can only be done one way.. Read more.