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Somero Enterprises (SOM), the North American manufacturer of patented laser guided equipment, confirmed trading for the year ended 31st December 2010 was in line with its expectations with the strength of its emerging markets business offsetting soft market conditions in North America and Europe. The company added that sales of refurbished machines ran ahead of its expectations and it continues to invest in emerging market opportunities and new product development.

Sopheon (SPE) shares jumped 1.75p to 9.75p on news the software and services provider for product development investments expects to exceed market expectations on both revenue and EBITDA in the year ended 31st December 2010. Market expectations for revenue and EBITDA were 10 million pounds and 0.9 million pounds, respectively. Commenting on this, chairman Barry Mence said: "It is not yet clear that the effects of the global crisis on our markets are fully behind us, but we are encouraged by early indications for the coming year."

Adventis (ATG) announced an uplift in three of its divisions in the second half of 2010 but a further down turn in trading from its healthcare business, Adventis Health, and an anticipated "significant goodwill impairment charge" sent its shares down 2.5p to 4.75p. "Our healthcare business has experienced a very considerable downturn and the hoped for year end improvement failed to happen leading to an operating loss of approximately 0.26 million pounds for the full year." In light of this, the group expects pre-tax profits - excluding exceptional items and goodwill impairment - for the full year to be approximately 0.45 million pounds.

Pubs and restaurants group Mitchells & Butlers (MAB) said it had seen strong trading over the Christmas period, boosted by food sales, but remained cautious on the outlook for consumer spending. The company, which has over 1,600 pubs and restaurants and whose chains include Harvester, All Bar One and Toby Carvery, said like-for-like sales in the 9 weeks to 22nd January 2011 were up 2.5%. Commenting on this, chief executive Adam Fowle said: "These trading results...show that we are on track to implement our growth strategy and indicate the future potential within the business

A robust first-half performance led to double-digit revenue and profit growth at British Sky Broadcasting (BSY), illustrating both the case for News Corporation's proposed acquisition of the 60.9% of BSkyB that it does not already own and the pressure on News Corp to increase its offer price. In the six months to 31st December 2011, BSkyB saw pre-tax profit jump 26% to 467 million pounds on revenue that rose 15% to 3.18 billion pounds. Commenting on this, investment banking group Jefferies said: "BSkyB's strong first-half results strengthen the board's position that it will not accept less than 800p from News Corp."

Canaccord Genuity reiterated its "buy" recommendation for Planet Payment (PPT), the multi-currency payment processor firm, with a 130p target price. The broker notes that last week the group announced it will roll out its multi-currency processing (MCP) technology in the US and Canada with the help of Global Payments. That said, Canaccord believes the exclusive agreement offers immense potential for the business over the next few years, allowing the group to sustain its high growth rates.

Singer Capital Markets reported on outdoor clothing and equipment retailer Blacks Leisure (BSLA). The broker notes that after a lengthy offer process the group announced that all talks for the whole business or parts of the business have now been terminated. This, Singer admitted, has been an unwelcome distraction for management as they seek to implement their turnaround plan, and they can now refocus on returning the business to profitability

Rejection of approach Renewable Energy Generation (AIM: WIND), the UK renewable energy developer and operator, today announces that the Company received an indicative approach in January to acquire the Group, which has been rejected by the Board of the Company. The indicative proposal from a UK listed entity comprised a mix of shares and cash consideration and valued the Company at approximately 67.7pence per REG share. Having consulted with certain large shareholders, the Board rejected the proposal on the basis that it very significantly undervalued the Company. The Board of REG confirms that discussions with the potential offeror have now ended and the potential offeror has confirmed that it is no longer contemplating making or participating in an offer for the Company. The Board remains confident that its strategy of investing £100m into new UK renewable energy projects over the next two years whilst continuing to realise the latent value in its 560MW development pipeline is the best way to enhance shareholder value. As the potential offeror has confirmed that it is no longer contemplating making or participating in an offer for the Company, for the purposes of the City Code on Takeovers and Mergers, the Company is not deemed to be in an offer period.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201101280700082283A

HIGHLIGHTS · Another record quarter for the Sylvania dump operations ("SDO") - 9,772 ounces PGM 3E and Au produced by the five SDO plants in the quarter; - 10,135 ounces attributable to Sylvania including CTRP, 11% improvement on last quarter; - SDO revenue up 30% and cash costs reduced by 19% compared to the previous quarter; · Proposed redomicile of Sylvania from Australia to Bermuda announced; · ************** agreement with Africa Asia Capital Limited ("AACL") approved by shareholders.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201101280700092499A

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201101280700092348A

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201101280700092349A

http://www.stockopedia.co.uk/content/blue-ocean-thinking-puts-nautilus-minerals-on-course-for-copper-and-gold-production-53100/

Zak Mir chartist Misys (MSY) While the fundamentals as far as the latest trading update from Misys appear healthy, on the daily chart it would appear that we have a triple top at 340p and hence a reversal on our hands. Indeed, an end of day close back below the 11th January intraday neckline of 323p should lead to at least a retest of the main August support line at 305p.

Shares in Hamworthy (HMY) soared 80.75p to 487p after the manufacturer of marine, onshore and offshore fluid handling systems announced that it expects to "significantly exceed previous earnings expectations" for the current financial year ending 31st March 2011, following a boost in demand. The group revealed that, since the announcement of its interim results on 23rd November 2020, it has experienced strong demand for its after sales products and services, an increase in order intake from the oil and gas market and a reduction in the instances of customers delaying delivery dates.

Tight cost control has enabled WH Smith (SMWH) to offset snow disruption at its high street stores in the run-up to Christmas. The retailer announced that underlying sales in its high street stores had fallen 7% in December and January, as the adverse weather exacerbated the effects of a continuing strategic refocusing. However, it added that its gross profit margin had been better than expected thanks to rigorous cost management

A surge in demand for its precision measurement systems has helped Renishaw (RSW) complete a remarkable turnaround, with the engineering company reporting a fivefold increase in interim pre-tax profits. The shares soared 263p to 1,598p. For the six months ended 31st December 2010, the company said pre-tax profits rose to 35.5 million pounds on revenue up 75% on the comparable period a year earlier to 129.3 million pounds. Sir David McMurtry, chairman and chief executive, said: "All geographic areas saw good progress, with growth of 60% in Europe, 66% in the Americas and 103% in the Far East, in particular China which has become the group’s largest market."

Canaccord Genuity issued a "sell" recommendation for Autonomy (AU.), the infrastructure software group, with a 1,150p target price. Looking into 2011, the broker expects organic growth to continue declining and sales & marketing expenses to continue growing in an effort to sustain growth. As a result, Canaccord's 2011 growth forecast is below consensus, in line with the declining trend in organic growth rates over the first three quarters of 2010. Similarly, the broker forecast only 5% IDOL Product and Cloud growth in 2011.

Seymour Pierce maintained its "add" rating for Psion (PON), a provider of solutions for mobile computing and wireless data collection, with a 100p target price. Following yesterday's disappointing trading update, the broker has cut its forecasts for the group. Despite this, the broker was encouraged by the news that the recently launched EP10 low cost PDA is seeing strong demand and interest, and the group is once again winning significant long term contract business.