Athelney Tst. Share News (ATY)

Small companies investor Athelney Trust, which was one of the original companies on AIM but has since switched to the Main Market, has increased its NAV from 104.9p a share to 119.9p a share over the 12 months to June 2010. By the end of July the NAV had risen to 120.8p a share. Atheleny has already paid an interim dividend of 4.75p a share this year. During the first half of 2010, Athelney made initial investments in Randall & Quilter, Wincanton, Haynes Publishing Group, Local Shopping REIT, HMV and Paypoint. The investment company exited Havelock Europa, which recently moved to AIM, and Severfield Rowan. Athelney chairman Hugo Deschampsneufs believes that there could be "another great buying opportunity later this year" because governments' will want to avoid any 'double dip' recession. He is a seller of gold and believes that shares with income as well as growth prospects are attractive. The chairman predicts a 5-7% rise for the stockmarket in 2010.