IERE.L Share News (IERE)

Footsie came close to breaching the 5400 barrier, helped by a positive start on Wall Street, but profit taking set in at the end of the session and gains were pared.Much of the blue-chip index's advance was down to mining stocks, which were in demand as metal prices continue to head north. Lonmin was the best performing share despite reporting a full-year loss. The South African platinum miner fell into the red in the year to September 30 as prices for the precious metal slumped in line with the global economic downturn. The firm reported a pre-tax loss of $272m for the period, compared with a profit of $779m a year ago, as revenue fell to $1,062m from $2,231m. It will not pay a final dividend.Anglo American, another riser, has strengthened its management team again, with the appointment of former Barrick Gold vice chairman Jack Thompson as a non-executive director. The 59-year-old was vice chairman at Barrick, the world's largest pure gold mining company, from 2001 to 2005, and also worked for Newmont Mining. He joins RBS chairman Sir Philip Hampton, appointed as a non-exec at Anglo last week.With gold hitting another high, it was little surprise to see strong demand for gold miner Randgold Resources. US investment fund BlackRock forecast today that central banks will be net buyers of gold this year, which is expected to drive the price of the yellow stuff higher still.Rolls-Royce cruised higher after it won orders for its Trent engines from Air China and Ethiopian Airlines worth a combined $2bn (£1.2bn). Its Trent 700 engines will power 20 Air China Airbus A330 planes, bringing in $1.5bn to Rolls. Ethiopian Airlines has ordered Trent XWB engines worth $480m to power 12 Airbus A350s.United Utilities has agreed the disposal of its 15% investment in Northern Gas Networks Holdings for a cash consideration of £85.75m. Completion of the transaction is expected by the end of 2009.Leading housebuilder Persimmon has started to buy sizeable parcels of land again as sales have recovered to the point where it is fully sold this year, while orders for 2010 are up 50%. Since August 2009, trading activity levels have continued ahead of last year and the buiilder expects to legally complete 9,000 homes in 2009. It remains concerned about the potential impact of any significant increase in unemployment, but overall trading has improved.Persimmon's shares moved higher, dragging sector peer Barratt Developments with them.Domino's Pizza is to return £19m cash that is surplus to requirement back to shareholders though a tender offer for 6m shares at 317p. Four directors will take part in the tender in respect of their own shareholdings. They include chief executive Stephen Hemsley; Colin Halpern; Christopher Moore; and Nigel Wray. Brokers Numis and Altium are handling the tender offer.Aim-listed wine retailer Majestic Wine served up a 9% increase in half year pre-tax profit while like for like sales rose 5.4%. Pre-tax profit rose to £6.1m for the 26 weeks ended 28 September 2009 from £5.6m. Total sales were up £12.6m to £106.7m after including £6m from Lay & Wheeler, the fine wine specialist, which it bought in March 2009.Pork products supplier Cranswick posted a sharp rise in profits in the half year to September 30, helped by its acquisition of the pork processing activities of food group Bowes of Norfolk and organic growth. Pre-tax profits from continued operations before exceptional costs climbed to £21.3m from £17.5 m as revenues jumped to £355.6m from £298.7m. The Bowes acquisition accounted for 7% of the 19% rise in turnover.Interserve, the services, maintenance and building group, has traded in line with expectations since the end of June and just won a place on the £4bn Partnerships for Schools (PfS) national Contractors' Framework.Profits growth slowed sharply over the past six months at online fashion retailer ASOS, though sales continued to bound ahead. Pre-tax profits to September came in at £4.4m, up 9%, on sales 47% higher at £96.5m. ASOS blamed the reduction in margins to 44.6% (from 48.3% in H1 2008/09) on increased sourcing costs, an extra sale period during the first half and a change in the branded product/own-label mix.An absence of major catastrophe claims and rising premiums contributed to an 'outstanding' quarter for underwriter Amlin with the group on course for an 'excellent' year. Performance in the first ten months of the year has been excellent, Amlin said, with profitability enhanced by a 52% increase in premium to £1.37bn, low claims incidence, further run off profits from reserves and a strong investment performance.Small business landlord Workspace said it narrowed half year pre-tax losses as occupancy rates and lettings rose.Scottish dairy group Robert Wiseman reported an 81% surge in half year pre-tax profit, upped its dividend and said it looks forward to its full year results with confidence.Home entertainment products supplier MBL Group has signed a new deal with US company Best Buy for the exclusive supply of its DVDs, BluRays and CDs in the UK. Best Buy is set to open its first UK store in Spring 2010 with further store openings to follow later in the year.Titanium Resources has conditionally raised $25m (£15.1m) via a placing at 10p a share to help boost production and processing capacity at its Sierra Rutile mine. Real estate trust Invista European is to raise in the region of £58.27m by means of a firm placing and an open offer of shares. The company, which was close to breaching its banking facilities, has refinanced the terms of its banking arrangements with Bank of Scotland. FTSE 100 - RisersLonmin (LMI) 1,740.00p +9.30%Xstrata (XTA) 1,093.00p +7.79%Antofagasta (ANTO) 934.00p +7.60%Rio Tinto (RIO) 3,305.00p +5.49%Randgold Resources (RRS) 4,934.00p +4.82%3i Group (III) 284.20p +4.49%Anglo American (AAL) 2,653.00p +4.08%Johnson Matthey (JMAT) 1,615.00p +3.66%Home Retail Group (HOME) 323.10p +3.39%Rolls-Royce Group (RR.) 485.70p +3.36%FTSE 100 - FallersRSA Insurance Group (RSA) 120.70p -0.98%British Airways (BAY) 215.30p -0.78%Experian Group (EXPN) 590.00p -0.59%Rentokil Initial (RTO) 106.70p -0.56%Admiral Group (ADM) 1,030.00p -0.39%TUI Travel (TT.) 255.50p -0.35%Legal & General Group (LGEN) 87.30p -0.34%United Utilities Group (UU.) 471.50p -0.32%Imperial Tobacco Group (IMT) 1,892.00p -0.32%Severn Trent (SVT) 995.00p -0.20%