Bitcoin.

Bitcoin seems to be the flavour of the moment, with any number of analysts' speculations, media articles, explanations, sales pitches and advertising going around.
Given the language being used and the widespread pulling in of previously risk averse friends and neighbours, it just sounds like a hugely ramped up pyramid scheme to me, and I will be steering a wide birth. 
However, I will be attempting to gain some understanding of the so called "block chain" technology behind it which appears to have every opportunity to be a game changer in global finance.

Up to date at last

As I come back to terms with the extended spreadsheet, I keep finding little measures and checks that I had in place for some reason or other, sometimes long term, sometimes just a momentary question I had at the time. As it is, in this case it is the Forecast Div. Yield which I have updated this month. Not set in stone, the measure uses the consensus estimates from the next, and as yet unreported, financial year. 

Following all the changes and a little culling, its Interesting to see the forecast yield jump to 5.16% for my portfolio overall.

Along those lines of measures, I am also considering a rolling 5 year measure, which may replace the 85 month gain, which came about following a rebase of my charts to the point when I started a monthly measure. But, I am thinking I might revert to the all time measure and I think the 5 year rolling might be quite useful too.

Finally, for this update at least, it could be said that I am now back up to date with my postings! At least until tomorrow anyway, when February's becomes due.
Now I wonder if I can remember how to change my "live" spreadsheet.

Update to the update, I have managed to modify the live spreadsheet too, making the changes to the list of shares held. 
I have retained R-R for now though (personal interest), and also added the FTSE100 to the top of the list.

January 2018: Portfolio Update.

2018 has begun like a severely deflating whoopee cushion, with the FTSE following the DJIA and other global markets pulling back from record highs.
A -2.24% fall for my portfolio closely behind the FTSE's -2.01% fall, and this despite a healthy dividend from National Grid this month.

The financials in my portfolio have held onto some gains though, with Aviva at 1.32% and Lloyds at 2.13%.

As mentioned in last months update, I have also made another small purchase of Imperial Brands.

Looking at the table I have also re-ordered by descending scale on the % holding which now shows Lloyds potential influence on my portfolio. 
Following all the changes and a little culling, its Interesting to see the forecast yield jump to 5.16% for my portfolio overall.

Merchant Adventurer's Index
			Forecast	1 month	YTD	85 mth
	Price	% holding	Div. yield	% gain	% gain	% gain
Lloyds	69.51p	28.58%	6.24%	2.13%	2.13%	12.58%
Aviva	513.20p	13.46%	5.17%	1.32%	1.32%	41.85%
National Grid	804.70p	11.74%	5.66%	-8.04%	-8.04%	57.41%
Berkeley Group	3966.00p	11.69%	4.53%	-5.50%	-5.50%	69.07%
BP	501.10p	11.29%	5.76%	-4.13%	-4.13%	18.42%
Apple **	$167.43	8.93%	1.37%	-5.77%	-5.77%	224.35%
BAT	4819.00p	3.31%	4.20%	-3.97%	-3.97%	43.67%
Imperial Brands	2898.50p	3.04%	6.49%	-8.40%	-8.40%	26.68%
Royal Dutch Shell	2496.00p	2.79%	5.39%	-0.50%	-0.50%	-8.78%
Vodafone	224.40p	2.22%	5.88%	-4.51%	-4.51%	-11.06%
SSE	1304.50p	1.30%	7.24%	-1.17%	-1.17%	6.49%
Cash		1.64%	0.00%
		100.00%	5.16%
				1 month	YTD	85 mth
Virtual Portfolio gain (incl. Dividends)
- 1 month gain   2583.68	2526.26			-2.24%
- YTD gain         2583.68	2526.26				-2.24%
- 85 month gain 1264.20	2526.26					99.83%
- 97 month gain 1000.00	2526.26					152.63%
Unit Price - £	2.52626	(Starting price - £1)
FTSE gain (excl. Dividends)
- 1 month gain   7687.80	7533.60			-2.01%
- YTD gain         7687.80	7533.60				-2.01%
- 85 month gain 5971.01	7533.60					26.17%
- 97 month gain 5412.88	7533.60					39.18%
Transactions:
10/01/2017	Div	National Grid @ 15.49p per share
22/01/2017	Buy	Imp.Brands @ 30.7033p per share

December 2017: Portfolio Update.

A 3.14% gain in the final month of the year, beaten by the FTSE 100's 4.93% as it again tests new highs, but my portfolio's 12.9% for the year, comfortably beats the FTSE's 7.63%.

A further 9.98% gain in Berkeley making 49.47% in the year and 78.92% since purchase.
Apple has also been a support in 2017 with a 33.43% gain for the year as sterling recovers to more reasonable levels of $1.35: £1.

Regulatory concerns and the threat of a possible Labour government are also continuing to impact the energy sector in which I hold National Grid and SSE.

Tobacco continues to perform after recent consolidations with BAT purchasing Reynolds and a spin-off finding its way into Imperial Brands. Regulatory threats will always be on the horizon.

Lloyds is now my big recovery call and will be the big influence on my portfolio in 2018.

A reasonable level of incomings from dividend names this month: RDS; BP; and Imperial Brand.
There is also a small purchase of Imperial Brands, and the reasoning? Well, firstly the shares have started to fallback following recent regulatory changes, and more so than BAT. Secondly, given the long term story of potentially closing the discount gap to its peers, accelerating dividends, and perennial takeover target, it seems prudent to recycle some of my portfolio's cash.
Only a small purchase though, and likely to be followed by more in a pound cost averaging strategy.
And finally, as an active trade, it means that I can avoid the hated inactivity fee for this quarter, although, I should stress that this should never be the objective in itself, without a good investment reason.

Merchant Adventurer's Index
			Forecast	1 month	YTD	84 mth
	Price	% holding	Div. yield	% gain	% gain	% gain
Aviva	506.50p	12.98%	4.17%	-0.88%	-1.84%	40.00%
National Grid	875.10p	12.48%	5.12%	-1.12%	-15.71%	71.18%
BP	522.70p	11.52%	5.00%	6.87%	2.57%	23.52%
Apple **	$169.23	9.26%	1.01%	-1.46%	33.43%	244.20%
Lloyds	68.06p	27.36%	0.00%	3.12%	6.00%	10.23%
Berkeley Group	4197.00p	12.10%	0.00%	9.98%	49.47%	78.92%
Imperial Brands	3166.00p	3.20%	4.44%	3.23%	-10.48%	39.17%
BAT	5018.00p	3.37%	3.11%	7.02%	8.58%	49.60%
Vodafone	235.00p	2.27%	5.01%	4.77%	17.59%	-6.86%
SSE	1320.00p	1.29%	6.94%	-3.58%	-15.00%	7.76%
Royal Dutch Shell	2508.50p	2.75%	0.89%	5.02%	7.09%	-8.33%
Cash		1.43%	0.00%
		100.00%	2.32%
				1 month	YTD	84 mth
Virtual Portfolio gain (incl. Dividends)
- 1 month gain   2559.12	2584.22			3.14%
- YTD gain         2248.97	2584.22				12.90%
- 84 month gain 1264.20	2584.22					104.41%
- 96 month gain 1000.00	2584.22					158.42%
Unit Price - £	2.58422	(Starting price - £1)
FTSE gain (excl. Dividends)
- 1 month gain   7326.70	7687.80			4.93%
- YTD gain         7142.80	7687.80				7.63%
- 84 month gain 5971.01	7687.80					28.75%
- 96 month gain 5412.88	7687.80					42.03%
Transactions:
20/12/2017	Div	RDS 'B' @ 35.02p per share
21/12/2017	Div	BP @ 7.44p
22/12/2017	Buy	Imp.Brands @ 32.0333p per share
29/12/2017	Div	Imp.Brands @ 59.51p per share

Click to enlarge, X to close

November 2017: Portfolio Update.

A fall of -1.19% in the month v. the FTSE'S -2.22% as the market takes a breath.

Dividends from Aviva and Apple.

Merchant Adventurer's Index
			Forecast	1 month	YTD	83 mth
	Price	% holding	Div. yield	% gain	% gain	% gain
Aviva	511.00p	13.51%	4.13%	1.19%	-0.97%	41.24%
National Grid	885.00p	13.02%	5.06%	-2.32%	-14.75%	73.12%
BP	489.10p	11.11%	5.34%	-4.14%	-4.02%	15.58%
Apple **	$171.85	9.69%	0.99%	-0.05%	35.41%	249.31%
Lloyds	66.00p	27.36%	0.00%	-3.35%	2.79%	6.89%
Berkeley Group	3816.00p	11.34%	0.00%	2.00%	35.90%	62.68%
Imperial Brands	3064.50p	3.14%	4.58%	-0.20%	-13.49%	35.65%
BAT	4689.00p	3.25%	3.33%	-3.74%	1.46%	39.79%
Vodafone	224.30p	2.24%	5.25%	4.04%	12.23%	-11.10%
SSE	1369.00p	1.38%	6.69%	-0.94%	-11.85%	11.76%
Royal Dutch Shell	2388.50p	2.70%	0.94%	-1.36%	1.96%	-12.71%
Cash		1.26%	0.00%
		100.00%	2.39%
				1 month	YTD	83 mth
Virtual Portfolio gain (incl. Dividends)
- 1 month gain   2595.23	2505.61			-1.19%
- YTD gain         2248.97	2505.61				9.47%
- 83 month gain 1264.20	2505.61					98.20%
- 95 month gain 1000.00	2505.61					150.56%
Unit Price - £	2.50561	(Starting price - £1)
FTSE gain (excl. Dividends)
- 1 month gain   7493.10	7326.70			-2.22%
- YTD gain         7142.80	7326.70				2.57%
- 83 month gain 5971.01	7326.70					22.70%
- 95 month gain 5412.88	7326.70					35.36%
Transactions:
17/11/2017	Div	Aviva @ 8.4p per share
20/11/2017	Div	Apple @ 38.57p per share

October 2017: Portfolio Update

Very closely matched this month with my 1.68% v. the FTSE's 1.63%. I've also broken double figures and stand at 10.79% for the year. A year in which the FTSE is hitting new highs.

Again, October is a month with no transactions/dividends for me, which is becoming strangely familiar. 
But more significantly, no Lloyds purchases!

Merchant Adventurer's Index
			Forecast	1 month	YTD	82 mth
	Price	% holding	Div. yield	% gain	% gain	% gain
Aviva	505.00p	13.19%	4.18%	-1.85%	-2.13%	39.58%
National Grid	906.00p	13.17%	4.94%	-2.01%	-12.73%	77.23%
BP	510.20p	11.46%	5.12%	6.89%	0.12%	20.57%
Apple **	$169.04	9.58%	1.01%	10.60%	35.48%	249.48%
Lloyds	68.29p	27.97%	0.00%	0.83%	6.35%	10.60%
Berkeley Group	3741.00p	10.99%	0.00%	0.65%	33.23%	59.48%
Imperial Brands	3070.50p	3.11%	4.57%	-3.56%	-13.32%	35.92%
BAT	4871.00p	3.33%	3.21%	4.26%	5.40%	45.22%
Vodafone	215.60p	2.13%	5.46%	3.26%	7.88%	-14.55%
SSE	1382.00p	1.37%	6.63%	-1.07%	-11.01%	12.82%
Royal Dutch Shell	2421.50p	2.70%	0.92%	5.53%	3.37%	-11.51%
Cash		1.00%	0.00%
		100.00%	2.37%
				1 month	YTD	82 mth
Virtual Portfolio gain (incl. Dividends)
- 1 month gain   2547.94	2535.77			1.68%
- YTD gain         2248.97	2535.77				10.79%
- 82 month gain 1264.20	2535.77					100.58%
- 94 month gain 1000.00	2535.77					153.58%
Unit Price - £	2.53577	(Starting price - £1)
FTSE gain (excl. Dividends)
- 1 month gain   7372.80	7493.10			1.63%
- YTD gain         7142.80	7493.10				4.90%
- 82 month gain 5971.01	7493.10					25.49%
- 94 month gain 5412.88	7493.10					38.43%