MARKET TALK: Merchant Securities Keeps InterQuest Buy Rating

0834 GMT [Dow Jones] Merchant Securities keeps a buy rating on IT staffing firm InterQuest Group (ITQ.LN) following strong trading in the first quarter of 2010. Says the public sector accounts for 21% of group net fee income against 29% last year. Reckons a stronger private sector is offsetting any shortfall. Keeps 80p price target. Will review forecasts in September but it may still be too early to assess public sector cuts and implications for 2010 and 2011. Shares flat at 58p. (rachael.gormley@dowjones.com) Contact us in London. +44-20-7842-9464 Markettalk.eu@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires July 14, 2010 04:34 ET (08:34 GMT)