Management Resource Solutions Share News (MRS)

Retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S) moved to the top of the news agenda this morning after it announced it has poached Marc Bolland, chief executive of supermarket chain Morrisons, to be its new boss.While Marks & Spencer's shares responded positively to the appointment, shares in Morrisons fell back on news of the loss of the highly regarded Bolland, who helped put Morrisons back on its feet during his three year tenure as chief executive, after the Yorkshire based company stumbled following its acquisition of Safeway.The appointment of Bolland should bring to an end institutional unrest about life after Sir Stuart Rose, the executive chairman of Marks & Spencer, who confirmed today he will step down as chairman in the summer of 2011.Elsewhere in the food retailing sector Sainsbury has joined Morrisons in the red.The M&S news overshadowed the appointment of former Tory party MP and Asda boss Archie Norman as the new non-executive chairman of troubled broadcaster ITV. Norman will take up the role in January 2010, when current executive chairman Michael Grade, will stand down and John Cresswell will become interim chief executive.At least the response of the ITV share price to the appointment was positive, as was the reaction of the Ladbrokes' share price to news that Trinity Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey will be joining the gaming company's board.Away from the board room, news on the company results front from major players was mixed.Wolseley, the plumbers' merchant, is lower after it said underlying trading profit was down by more than a quarter in the three months to end-October from a year ago. Revenue during the period from continuing operations fell 13%, or 20% at constant exchange rates (CER), to £3,395m.Outsourcing specialist Capita Group is also in the doghouse after its trading statement, despite saying trading across the group remains strong. The company is on course to deliver underlying profit growth for 2009 in line to meet market expectations but investors expressed some unease at the possibility of fall-out from the suspension earlier this year of two open ended investment company (OEIC) investment funds for which Capita Financial Mangers is the authorised corporate director. Capita said 'any material costs incurred by Capita in resolving this matter will be disclosed separately from the group's underlying profit' in its 2009 accounts. All of the key numbers still pointed down in Land Securities' half-year figures, but the property giant is confident 'that from the low point in July 2009 property values will rise over the next five years'. Chief executvie Francis Selway added the ride may be bumpy with the profile of price rises characterised by ripples rather than pure straight-line growth and LandSecs will be careful in choosing its opportunities.Credit checking firm Experian boosted profits at its half-year point despite tough market conditions. Reported profit before tax in the six months to 30 September rose to $351m from $318m a year earlier. Benchmark pre-tax profit, which excludes exceptional items, rose 5% to $437m. Broker Charles Stanley had forecast underlying pre-tax profit of $425m.Housebuilder Bovis said it has seen further signs of stabilisation in the housing market and expects more pricing stability and modest growth in mortgage availability in 2010. In the year to 13 November, the group has achieved 1,488 private reservations, some 83% ahead of the comparative figure for the same period in 2008. Oil and gas firm Melrose Resources has raised its estimate of average daily production for the year after a productive third quarter. Production in the third quarter was around 25% higher than in the third quarter of 2008, reflecting high output from the company's existing Egyptian fields and also contributions from new field developments.Children's retailer Mothercare reported a 7.9% hike in interim sales boosted by new overseas stores, but swung to a pre-tax loss after it was hit by charges. Group sales increased to £387.3m for the 28 weeks ended 10 October 2009 from £359.0m the same time a year before. Mothercare posted a pre-tax loss of £7.1m after a charge of £17.1m, compared to a profit of £13.2m previously.Computer services group Dimension Data reported lower full-year figures but said it is encouraged by the recent stabilisation in its end markets. Pre-tax profit fell to $183.79m in the year ended 30 September compared with $189.01m last time, while revenue was down at $4bn from £4.51bn previously.Investors have lost their appetite for The Restaurant Group, the company behind the Frankie & Bennie's and Chiquito chains. The group said it is confident of meeting its expectations for the full year but warned that conditions will remain tough in 2010.Fears that revenue from some fourth quarter contracts might be delayed until next year have been realised at marketing firm Hasgrove. The board now expects headline profit before tax for the full year to be in the region of £2.1m, after taking into account the delayed revenues and one-off costs of around £0.7m.Human tissue sample supplier Asterand said some of its larger customers are delaying purchases, or breaking up larger orders into a series of smaller orders, and this may 'restrain Asterand's growth over the coming quarter.'FTSE 100 - RisersFresnillo (FRES) 927.00p +5.70%Marks & Spencer Group (MKS) 386.80p +5.02%Xstrata (XTA) 1,123.00p +4.47%Lonmin (LMI) 1,750.00p +3.98%FTSE 100 - FallersCapita Group (CPI) 726.50p -4.47%Morrison (Wm) Supermarkets (MRW) 284.70p -3.65%Wolseley (WOS) 1,323.00p -3.64%Resolution (RSL) 87.25p -3.00%