Anyone selling from Monday would still get the dividend.
Some selling this week, will probably have done so to get a benefit from the dividend and franking credit.
e.g. Buy VRL on Friday $4.08 Sell VRL on Monday $3.08 They will get $1.00 (0.80 div & 0.20 cap rtn) on the 19th July. So looks like a null sum game, but the div comes fully franked so if you have a marginal tax rate less the 30% you will get all or a potion of the 34 cent franking credit back from the tax office on your 2012 tax return. (So like getting $1.34 instead of just $1.00)
Some that sold last week may have felt that VRL SP would drop more than $1.00 after it went ex. (i.e. lower than $3.00), who knows why some people make these decisions. Maybe some are in a high tax bracket and didn't want the dividend as they would then have to be additional tax (even with the franking credit). Me I just try my best to understand the system and make decisions based on how I see the company and SP performing and not get caught up in someone else's tax game or other.
VRL Price at posting:
$3.18 Sentiment: Hold Disclosure: Held
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