Taylor Wimpey Share News (TW.)

Ophir Energy is looking interesting as an investment proposition, according to The Telegraph's Questor column. The oil and gas explorer has made some significant discoveries in Africa with its partners. It is now the fifth-largest deepwater acreage holder in Africa and the largest net acreage holder in offshore East Africa, a highly prospective region where there has been little exploration. However, investors have raised concerns over how the company would finance its drilling programmes. Consequently, in March, Ophir unveiled plans for a £553m placing and rights issue to pay for its upcoming drilling programme. Following a recent share price plunge, Questor said it recommends a 'buy' rating "for those willing to take the risk of investing in a company with no cashflow". Taylor Wimpey's decision to look back at the write offs on land it made during the financial crisis of 2008 and 2009 show the housing market has turned a corner, The Times' Tempus column wrote. The company wrote some £1.0bn-plus off the value of its land bank, mostly in Britain but also in the US, now exited, and at its small Spanish operation. It also needed a £530m rights issue to stay afloat. The housebuilder has now decided that those write-offs went too far, by an unspecified but small amount, and is now writing some of that back, which Tempus believes "will result in an exceptional gain". The move signals that the company is confident of the sector's improvement. While the share prices has risen and seems expensive, Tempus reckons Taylor Wimpey looks like one of the most likely to outperform its peers. Low & Bonar's first-half profits were lower than last year but results were in line with expectations and are expected to grow over the next half, Questor points out. The company, which makes specialist fabrics and materials, from carpet tiles to roofing components and membranes for landfill sites, was hit by disruptions to civil engineering projects in Europe because of poor weather in the first six months. "The second half of the year is usually the stronger period, but it should be better than usual as there is some catch up from the business that was postponed because of the weather," Questor said. The European-focused firm is also expanding globally with a new site in Saudi Arabia and investments in the US. Questor recommended a 'buy' as the shares are trading on a 2013 earnings multiple of 9.5, falling to 8.7, and yielding a prospective 4.2%, rising to 4.7%.RDPlease note: Digital Look provides a round-up of news, tips and information that is impacting share prices and the market. Digital Look cannot take any responsibility for information provided by third parties. This is for your general information only as not intended to be relied upon by users in making an investment decision or any other decision. Please obtain a copy of the relevant publication and carry out your own research before considering acting on any of this information.