How the heck does this work?

[Simpo Two]

I have some shares in Company X (reputable blue chip). Last year I had 129 shares with an 'indicative value' of about £3,000.

This year I still have 129 shares, but the girl on the phone tells me the indicative price per share is 2.207p. So I do the maths and get to 129 x 2.207p = 284.703p.

I ask the girl 'Was that pounds or pence?' She says pence. I say 'So you mean my shares which were worth £3,000 last year are now only worth £2.84? She replies that's incorrect and the value is only indicative. I run through the maths again and still get only £2.84. She keeps telling me that's wrong, but can't say anything else.

Can some shares expert explain what the fk is going on please?

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

You've turned £3k into £3...

...happens all the time

If they're blue chip have you checked the stock market to check the valuation?

[vescaegg]

We've all been there OP

Tell us who it is and it should be fairly easy to work out what has gone on.

[Simpo Two]

Thanks - Royal Dutch Shell: A shares 2.202p, B shares 2.277p apparently.

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Real-time price for ROYAL DUTCH SHELL 'A'SHS EUR0.07(GBP) (RDSA)

The market is closed. Refresh
Stock information Value
Close price 2,203.50p
Change +10.00p
Volume of shares 891,597
Average trade size 1,084

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

That's over 2000p Happy Days!

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

Never mistake a , for a .

[2 sMoKiN bArReLs]

And for completeness

Real-time price for ROYAL DUTCH SHELL 'B'ORD EUR0.07 (RDSB)

The market is closed. Refresh
Stock information Value
Close price 2,281.00p
Change +15.00p
Volume of shares 992,936
Average trade size 12,568


Also more than 2000p

[Simpo Two]

2 sMoKiN bArReLs said:

Real-time price for ROYAL DUTCH SHELL 'A'SHS EUR0.07(GBP) (RDSA)

The market is closed. Refresh
Stock information Value
Close price 2,203.50p
Change +10.00p
Volume of shares 891,597
Average trade size 1,084

Ah good

So when I said to the girl 'Is that 2.2 PENCE?' and she said 'Yes', what she should have said was 'Actually I can't do decimal points, I'm just the cleaner'.

But seriously, why didn't she say 22 POUNDS a share

And interestingly I didn't get realtime values; I see they've gone up a bit!

[Simpo Two]

While I'm on, are they worth keeping for the rather small dividend or would I be better off selling and investing the money elsewhere? For a tiny shareholding they generate a fantastic amount of incomprehensible mail.

[davepoth]

Simpo Two said:

While I'm on, are they worth keeping for the rather small dividend or would I be better off selling and investing the money elsewhere? For a tiny shareholding they generate a fantastic amount of incomprehensible mail.

How much (roughly) are you getting in dividend?

[Simpo Two]

Offhand I'm not sure; I think it's only a few tens of pounds twice a year.

Aha - last lot was £39.92.

Edited by Simpo Two on Friday 26th December 10:17

[nyt]

Just enter the number of shares into: https://www.google.co.uk/finance/portfolio

And you'll get valuations whenever you load the page.