Character Share News (CCT)

Company announcements have mostly been well-received today, helping to keep the leading share index in positive territory. All eyes will be on European Central Bank President (ECB) Jean-Claude Trichet at this afternoon's press conference following the interest rate decision for the eurozone, which will be released at 1245.The ECB's interest rate is almost certain to be left unchanged but the market is hoping that Trichet will announce new measures designed to contain sovereign debt contagion in the eurozone.TUI Travel moves ahead after it increased underlying pre-tax profit by 4% to £337m during the year to September, but the UK proved a drag and is only just coming back, with positive trends continuing into winter 2010/11 and next summer. Revenue fell 2% to £13.5bn. The increase in profit was driven by integration synergies, the recovery of scheduled flying losses in Germany and the strategic venture in Canada, partially offset by weaker trading. TUI's peer Thomas Cook is in demand after falling yesterday on the back of its numbers. The UK & Irish operations of Kingfisher were a drag on sales growth in the third quarter, as the DIY retailer reported an 8.2% year on year increase in retail profits. Sales in France were up 0.8%, or 3.1% at constant currency. Like for like (LFL) sales in constant currency terms rose 1.8%. Sales in UK & Ireland fell 3.8% and dropped 4.2% like for like. "We enter our fourth quarter in good shape," said boss Ian Cheshire.The initial mineral resource at African Barrick Gold's North Mara project in Tanzania indicates the potential to develop a "substantial underground" operation.Investors are raising a glass to pub group and brewer Marston's after it posted a rise in profits despite tough trading in the year to October 2, helped by its shift towards food-oriented pubs. The company, which operates centrally managed pubs such as the Pitcher and Piano chain as well as leasing premises to landlords, saw revenues climb by 0.9% from the previous year, with pre-tax profits climbing to £73.5m from £70.3m.Elsewhere in the drinks industry, soft drinks group Britvic has gone sour even though full-year profits were higher as sales continued fizzing in spite of subdued economic conditions. The company, which sells its own brand of juice and distributes Pepsi in Britain, posted a pre-tax profit of £109.1m in the 53 weeks to October 3, up from £104.6m the previous year. Revenues, excluding the impact of the acquisition of Britvic France in May, were up to £1,138.6m from £1,121.1m. Infrastructure specialist Balfour Beatty has reached financial close for the £55m Derby City Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. The Derby City BSF Partnership project involves the delivery of a capital investment programme for schools in Derby in partnership with Derby City Council.Telecoms firm Cable & Wireless Communications (CWC) is set to acquire a controlling interest in the Bahamas Telecommunications Company (BTC). CWC will buy a 51% interest in the government-owned BTC, subject to necessary consents and other regulatory clearances, for $210m. BTC is being acquired with $15m of net cash on the books.Desire Petroleum has gushed ahead after saying it has found oil in the treacherous waters off the Falkland Islands, according to preliminary data collected from Rachel North exploration well 14/15-2. The well in the North Falkland Basin reached a total depth of 3,052 metres, and drilling data and other tests indicate the well encountered a 349 metre gross interval of sands and shales with hydrocarbons, of which 57 metres is net pay in multiple zones. Meanwhile, JJB Sports slumps after saying it is likely to breach its banking covenants as sales continue to fall short of expectations at the sports shop chain. Trading conditions have been "extremely challenging" since it last updated the market early last month and the company thinks this has been exacerbated by the current bad weather.IT supplies and services company Datatec is to buy US network systems firm Network Infrastructure Corporation for an undisclosed sum. Postman Pat company Character Group delivered a pleasing set of full year results, returning to the black with a pre-tax profit of £7.55mcompared with a loss of £2.17m a year earlier.Gold miner Solomon Gold said that results from recent drilling at various Queensland prospects continue to support the targeted resource definition of one million ounces of gold equivalent.FTSE 100 - RisersTUI Travel (TT.) 228.00p +6.34%GKN (GKN) 204.20p +4.50%Cobham (COB) 199.80p +3.85%Burberry Group (BRBY) 1,068.00p +3.49%Kingfisher (KGF) 245.80p +3.36%Petrofac Ltd. (PFC) 1,491.00p +2.83%Man Group (EMG) 279.70p +2.60%Rio Tinto (RIO) 4,313.50p +2.53%Wolseley (WOS) 1,782.00p +2.41%British Airways (BAY) 269.50p +2.35%FTSE 100 - FallersResolution Ltd. (RSL) 210.90p -1.86%GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) 1,222.00p -0.73%Shire Plc (SHP) 1,488.00p -0.60%Capita Group (CPI) 642.00p -0.54%Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE) 1,106.00p -0.54%Inmarsat (ISAT) 646.50p -0.54%Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 271.40p -0.40%Vodafone Group (VOD) 163.95p -0.36%Barclays (BARC) 267.10p -0.34%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 1,875.00p -0.32%FTSE 250 - RisersTravis Perkins (TPK) 872.00p +6.47%Ashtead Group (AHT) 139.60p +6.16%Marston's (MARS) 106.50p +5.86%Babcock International Group (BAB) 547.00p +3.80%Ashmore Group (ASHM) 360.90p +3.74%BBA Aviation (BBA) 201.60p +3.70%Elementis (ELM) 119.50p +3.64%Premier Foods (PFD) 17.12p +3.51%Redrow (RDW) 109.60p +3.49%Bellway (BWY) 534.00p +3.39%FTSE 250 - FallersBritvic (BVIC) 463.00p -5.63%Melrose Resources (MRS) 229.40p -2.17%Micro Focus International Plc (MCRO) 352.30p -1.98%Premier Oil (PMO) 1,845.00p -1.86%Gartmore Group Ltd. (GRT) 96.30p -1.63%Supergroup (SGP) 1,614.00p -1.47%UK Commercial Property Trust (UKCM) 76.00p -1.30%AG Barr (BAG) 1,135.00p -1.30%Shaftesbury (SHB) 439.10p -1.19%Telecity Group (TCY) 468.50p -1.16%