Sublimely Ridiculous!

FTSE100 @ 6686.06, +54.3 (+0.82%)

Vodafone @ 193.5p, nc.
BAE @ 398p, +8.5p (+2.18%)
R-R @ 1218p, +34p (+2.87%)

OK so things are starting to look sublimely ridiculous now with a near 21% gain in my portfolio for the year to date.
But, it might not be as pleasing should markets fall back in line with fundamentals and perceived risks.

However, there have been splashes of good news today with the announcement of a further dividend of £2.1bn (Vodafone to get $3.15bn dividend from Verizon Wireless), forthcoming from Vodafone's joint venture Verizon Wireless.
That brings the total payout to its parent companies, since resuming payments in 2011, to $18.5bn.
Not a bad return by any measure!

This particular payment seems to have caught many by surprise given the ongoing speculation over whether or not the two owners can agree a deal on the venture's future ownership.
As it stands Vodafone has yet to declare its intentions for the dividend which wont be known until the company reports its full year results on May 21.

Again, it does put a question mark (in the short term at least), over Neil Woodford's decision to remove Vodafone from his funds.
But, his retention of another investment, BAE seems to be prospering, and the company's recent interim statement seems to be supporting the shares recent run.

Elsewhere, Rolls-Royce is now starting to look ahead of itself as it touches new highs, yet still seems to be rising despite announcing in a trading statement, that a high flying executive, Mark King, has resigned amid ongoing speculation about potential findings in the intermediary scandal.

Related post links:
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk: Vodafone to get $3.15bn dividend from Verizon Wireless
- http://www.telegraph.co.uk: Bribery concerns mount as Rolls-Royce high-flyer quits