Dividend query

[DSLiverpool]

Looking at the info below of a share I am interested in does it mean as long as I have them before 24/4 I get the divi a month after? surely I have to have them longer than that.

Ex-Div 24-Apr-13
Paid 21-May-13
Amount 1.60p

[Shirt587]

Yes, if you buy the day before the ex-div date you will receive the dividend.

However, on the ex-div date the share price will drop by (approximately) the amount of dividend you are due to receive and you'll end up with an unrealised loss.

[onedsla]

No - you are right, but may not be considering that the price of the stock will drop approximately by the amount of the dividend on the ex-dividend date.

(eg a 100p share which pays 2p per share dividend, would drop to 98p, all other things remaining the same)

ETA - beaten to it.