When buying shares, ask yourself, would you buy the whole company?
Sentiment: NEGATIVE
From the business point of view, always encouraging the people in our company to own stock in the company, and if we're going to build something great, to have a lot of people share in the benefits of that greatness.
Most shareholders have little if any control over the companies in which they own stock, even if they own a million shares.
Whenever you look at any potential merger or acquisition, you look at the potential to create value for your shareholders.
If I am a trader, and I know you have got ample stocks, why should I buy?
If I ever took a business public, I wouldn't want to take the shares off the table. I don't want people thinking I'm doing it just to make money and then going to run for the hills. I think that's a very important distinction.
I definitely have a shareholders' perspective. I'm not doing that altruistically. I'm doing that because it's in my own self interest to do it. I think that's good for my other shareholders because they go along with me: If I do well for myself, then they do well for themselves.
Everyone has the idea of owning good companies. The problem is that they have high prices in relations to assets and earnings, and that takes all of the fun out of the game.
My wealth is reflected in the price of Severstal, and the number of shares I have in my possession doesn't have any impact on the company.
Never give anyone the advice to buy or sell shares, because the most benevolent price of advice can turn out badly.
No one owns you. One hundred per cent of the stock in your personal corporation belongs to you.