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Enhancing its position as one of the UK's leading support service company, Carillion (CLLN) has agreed to acquire Eaga (EAGA), the provider of residential energy efficiency solutions in the UK, for 306.5 million pounds. The acquisition is valued at 120p per Eaga share, comprising 118.79p in cash and payment of the interim dividend of 1.21p. Commented on this, chairmen Philip Rogerson said: "The acquisition is expected to be immediately earnings enhancing and builds on Carillion's previously announced objectives for growth." Shares in Carillion and Eaga advanced 10.1p to 395.3p and 28.75p to 120.75p, respectively.

Babcock International (BAB), the engineering support service group, has been awarded a five year contract - valued at 200 million Euros (170 million pounds) - to provide facilities management services at British Forces based across Germany. Mobilisation of the contract will start immediately, with service delivery starting in August 2011. Babcock shares moved up 9.25p to 570.25p.

Property group Hammerson (HMSO) has acquired SQY Ouest - a 31,000m2 shopping centre in Saint Quentin-en-Yvelines, France - in a 50:50 joint venture with Codic France for 38 million Euros (32 million pounds). The company's initial commitment is 20 million Euros (17 million pounds), including transaction costs. Commenting on the deal, David Atkins, chief executive of Hammerson, said: "This is an exciting opportunity to generate strong returns for shareholders by repositioning and improving SQY Ouest." The shares slipped 0.4p to 429.8p.

Diamond producer De Beers returned to profit in year ended 31st December 2010 as production rose 34% amid a strong recovery in diamond prices. The world's largest diamond producer reported net earnings - after one-off items - of 598 million dollars (372 million pounds), compared with a net loss of 220 million dollars (137 million pounds) in 2009, after a better-than-anticipated output of 33 million carats. De Beers had targeted production of about 30-31 million carats for 2010. Shares in Anglo American (AAL), who owns a 45% stake in De Beers, gained 113p to 3,421.5p.

Arbuthnot issued a "buy" recommendation on Morgan Crucible (MGCR), the industrial components manufacturer, with a 309p target price ahead of results next week. The broker said it is updating its last-published estimates to account for better than expected margins and the subsequent acquisition of Changsha Hairong New Materials - a Chinese specialist in graphite anodes used in lithium ion batteries for electric vehicles and portable electronic devices. This purchase gives the group direct access to Hairong's technology, Arbuthnot added, in a sector that is growing rapidly. Shares in Morgan pushed ahead 5.7p to 269.7p.

Ahead of interims next week, Singer Capital Markets issued a "fair value" rating on home-wares retailer Dunelm (DNLM) with a 425p target price. With sales and margin performance already reported, the broker is forecasting pre-tax profits of 48 million pounds for the first half ended 1st January 2011, up 3.9% on the comparable period last year. Singer continues to hold the view that the group is an "extremely well managed business with significant expansion potential" and thinks the appointment of Nick Wharton as chief executive officer will strengthen an already "highly capable management team". Dunelm shares edged back 5.4p to 450p.

ServicePower Technologies (SVR), an outsourced services and field management group, has entered into an expanded trial relationship with a major UK supermarket retailer. The company, who has been working with the supermarket in recent months to test and trial a service proposition, said it will now be expanding the trial relationship into additional regions of the UK. Commenting on this, chief executive Mark Duffin said: "The extension of this relationship...is a strong endorsement of the value of our service proposition and a further example of the size of business with which we are now engaging." ServicePower shares surged 0.75p to 6.13p.

Following a slow start to the year due to a lack of orders for the deepwater rig market, Pressure Technologies (PRES) announced that first quarter trading was in line with its expectations, adding that it expects a stronger performance in the second half. The company, which acts as a holding company for Chesterfield Special Cylinders, said activity in the deep water oil rig market has begun to return since the start of the year with Chesterfield Special Cylinders securing orders on three oil rig projects. Looking ahead, the group added that it remained confident of a return to organic growth in the medium term. Pressure Technologies shares gained 8.5p to 218.5p.

Shares in @UK* (ATUK) soared 6.5p to 18.25p on news the provider of eProcurement and eCommerce software has been awarded a contract to provide an eCommerce Marketplace to a local authority and NHS Services partnership. Commenting on this, chairman Ronald Duncan said: "We...expect this segment of the market to grow significantly as part of the NHS restructuring and believe we are well positioned as the only company which is a market leader in both sectors to benefit from this growth."

In line with its strategy to grow its wealth management offering, financial services group Merchant Securities (MERC) has acquired GT Independent Financial Advisers, the wealth management firm, for an initial consideration of 2 million pounds, payable in a mix of cash and shares. A further consideration of up to 1 million pounds may become payable dependent on the attainment of certain revenue targets for management fee income. "The deal more than doubles Merchant Securities' assets under advisory and discretionary management, to 485 million pounds", commented chief executive Patrick Claridge. The shares pushed ahead 0.5p to 23.5p.

Despite an uncertain economic environment, software developer IS Solutions (ISL) announced that both revenue and profit grew in 2010 and its results for the year ended 31st December 2010 are expected to be "in line with market expectations". The company said project revenues continued to be weak in the second half of the year but were more than offset by the increased growth in managed services and higher recurring revenue from licence support sales.

Insurer Catlin Group (CGL) reported a smaller than expected drop in profit for the full-year ended 31st December 2010 after a strong underwriting performance helped it absorb 218 million dollars (135 million pounds) in natural disaster claims. The company said pre-tax profits for the 12-months fell by a third to 406 million dollars (252 million pounds), which compares with the company's calculation of consensus expectations of 373 million dollars (232 million pounds). Shares in Catlin moved up 7.2p to 392.7p.

Shares in Mondi (MNDI) rose 14p to 526p after the paper and packaging manufacturer announced that underlying operating profit for the year ended 31st December 2010 is expected to be "considerably" higher than that of the prior year. In addition, it added that special item charges, before tax and non-controlling interests, stood at 22 million Euros (19 million pounds), down from 133 million Euros (113 million pounds) in 2009. In light of this, the group expects earnings per share for the year to come in at between 42-47 Euros cents (36-40 pence), up from the 6.5 Euros cents (5.5 pence) loss recorded a year earlier. Shares in Mondi rose by 16.5p to 528.5p.

Despite continuing economic uncertainties, investment manager Hargreaves Lansdown (HL.) posted record revenue, profits and total assets under administration (AUA) for the first-half ended 31st December 2010, aided by buoyant global bourses. The Bristol-based company said pre-tax profits rose by 38% to 59.3 million pounds on revenue up 30% to 97 million pounds. AUA grew to 22.3 billion pounds, up from 15.6 billion pounds a year earlier. Looking ahead, the group added that it was well placed to build on the momentum generated so far. Hargreaves Lansdown shares increased by 24.5p to 571p.

Shares in Diageo (DGE) lost 62p to 1,191p after the world's biggest spirits group missed analysts' revenue and profit expectations for the first-half ended 31st December 2010. The maker of Johnnie Walker whisky and Smirnoff vodka said that a recovery in emerging markets had failed to offset continuing declines in Europe, where net sales fell 13% across Greece, the Iberian countries and Ireland. Total group organic sales, which exclude currency fluctuations and acquisitions, rose 4% to 5.32 million pounds, missing consensus estimates of 4.5%, while organic operating profit rose 2%, short of analysts' forecasts of 6.5%.

David Illingworth will retire as chief executive of Smith & Nephew (SN.) following the end of a three-year earnings improvement drive that has seen the UK medical device manufacturer boost margins and streamline its operations. Mr Illingworth's departure was announced alongside results that showed S&N's annual pre-tax profits for last year rose 33% to 890 million dollars (553 million pounds). Sales at the group rose to 4 billion dollars (2.5 billion pounds) in 2010 from 3.8 billion dollars (2.4 billion pounds) a year earlier, while basic earnings per share increased to 0.69 dollars (0.43 pounds) from 0.53 dollars (0.33 pounds) over the year.

Following fourth quarter results, Seymour Pierce issued a "sell" rating on Wolfson Microelectronics (WLF) with a 145p target price. The broker believes management has done an "excellent job" in reviving the audio business, and that the group is clearly a winner in the smartphone world. However, it has an issue with its valuation - believing it is "overvalued for an audio chip company" - and the fact that the business has not really gained the traction it had hoped for in MEMS microphones and Noise Cancellation.

Singer Capital Markets initiated coverage on Howden Joinery (HWDN), the furniture retailer, with a "buy" rating and 150p target price. A flexible, cash generative business model and strong management has got the group through the most challenging period in its history without resorting to a fund raise. With the legacy MFI and pension liabilities no longer dwarfing the core business - and set to reduce further - the broker thinks the risk profile of the business is changing and the investment case improving.

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Payment of dividend Fiske plc announces a first interim dividend of 2p will be paid on 18 March 2011. The shares will be marked ex-dividend on 23 February 2011 with a record date of 25 February 2011.