Member Info for mulledwine

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201209120700100651M

Nick Buckles yesterday staked his future at G4S on the findings of an independent probe into the firm’s Olympic failures. The chief executive could draw his 28-year career with the group to a close if he is found to be accountable for the company’s failure to provide 10,000 guards for the Olympics. It came as Games organisers Locog laid out the firm’s catalogue of failings before MPs. On its worst day, G4S provided less than two thirds of the required staff numbers, Locog’s chief executive Paul Deighton told the Home Affairs Select Committee. During the Games more than 60% of venues were left with a 15% deficit in guard numbers – a level viewed by organisers as critical, he added. Appearing before the same group of MPs yesterday, Buckles admitted the buck stopped with him, The Daily Mail reports.

Looking good here at present

Professor Ruth Plummer, Clinical Professor of Experimental Cancer Medicine at the Northern Institute for Cancer Research and lead investigator for the phase I study at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle, said: “ETS2101 derives from an interesting new approach to drug discovery known as network pharmacology. We are pleased to be involved in the first phase of clinical trials evaluating this drug as a potential treatment for cancer.” e-Therapeutics’ CEO, Professor Malcolm Young, added: “The initiation of a second trial with ETS2101 reflects the growing momentum in our clinical development programme. We hope that the promising preclinical data supporting this drug will ultimately translate into benefits for patients and look forward to seeing the first findings from cancer trials later this year.”

e-Therapeutics starts second phase I cancer trial of ETS2101 e-Therapeutics plc e-Therapeutics plc (AIM: ETX) announces that it has started a second phase I clinical trial of its anti-cancer drug ETS2101. This trial will enrol up to 45 patients with a variety of solid tumours at two UK centres, St James’s University Hospital in Leeds and the Northern Centre for Cancer Care at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle. It complements an investigator-led phase I study of ETS2101 in brain cancer that began in San Diego, California during June. Like the brain cancer study, the UK trial has a dose-escalating design in which groups of patients receive successively higher doses of the drug. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety of ETS2101 and identify an appropriate dose for phase II development. Secondary objectives include initial assessment of the drug’s activity and evaluation of its distribution within the body (pharmacokinetics). Final results from the trial are expected during 2013.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20120912070000Z3167

Seymour Pierce reiterated is "sell" recommendation for Darty (DRTY) with a 45p target price, ahead of the group's first quarter trading update due on 13th September. The broker expects the consumer electronics retailer to have been impacted by austerity packages imposed in a number of Eurozone countries and forecasts continued like-for-like sales contraction in France. Seymour PIerce also noted that the firm's revenue visibility is declining, with the sales mix switching to lower margin multi-media products. Darty shares fell by 1p to 55.5p.

Panmure Gordon downgraded its stance on Huntsworth (HNT) from "buy" to "hold" with a reduced target price of 45p to 54p. The public relations firm's shares have recovered well in recent months, but the broker believes that this trend is now over, believing that the company has failed to make any meaningful improvements to the business. Panmure noted weak performances from the firm's Citigate division, which saw organic revenues fall by 4.6% in the first half, as well as a 1% decline at Grayling, which accounts for 50% of total revenues. The broker also advocated cutting the total dividend from 3.5p and using the extra cash to accelerate de-leveraging, with net debt standing at 69.6 million pounds as at 30th June. Huntsworth shares declined by 0.25p to 48.5p

First Columbus initiated coverage of Plastics Capital (PLA) with a "buy" recommendation and 90p target price. The broker believes that the plastic and rubber products manufacturer is set to benefit from a long period of investment, including acquisitions and management upgrades. First Columbus feels that the company is unique in the sector due to its strategy of focusing on niche, high margin markets rather than the more typical low-cost high volume model of most plastics companies. On the broker's forecasts, the shares trade on a prospective earnings multiple of 6.1 times for the 2013 financial year, falling to 5.6 times in 2014. The shares slipped by 0.5p to 65p

KCOM Group Sell 10-Sep-12 £538,625.46 Paul Simpson 661,308 @ 81.45p

(the "Company" or together with its subsidiaries the "Group") Trading Update The Group is continuing to generate interest in the Group's new range of air disinfection products. As well as internationally, there have been initial discussions with major distributors in the UK retail market from whom small initial orders have started to be received. In this context, the Group is disappointed to have been informed by its potential Chinese distributor that it now wishes to cancel the previously announced order of 3,200 devices, manufactured and delivered by a member of their group in May 2012. The Board has concluded that it will be difficult to recover payment for these devices in the medium term and is no longer expecting to receive further orders from this distributor. Discussions with other distributors, whilst positive, are at an early stage with volume orders yet to build. The Company is already in discussions with prospective funders regarding the provision of debt finance to the Group as well as exploring other options to raise additional capital. A further announcement will be made once these discussions have been completed. Net cash as at 30 June 2012 was £0.7million.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201209110700069428L

bilbo - the Market seems to have focussed rather unfairly on "Order intake from our research markets remains good although as expected there has been some softness in our industrial markets." - well that appears to be the only slight negative in the RNS

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201209110700049360L

buzle - 345 is good - if we all got that mark up each time we traded we would all be smiling big time..

Tom - its never easy to call - Im sure there will be other opportunities again soon.

Outlook The first quarter of any financial year is normally the lowest revenue quarter for IG, with the prior year an unusual exception to this. The group continues to face tough comparatives at the start of the second quarter, with September 2011 the second highest revenue month in the history of the company. The group anticipates that revenue this year will, as in most years, be weighted towards the second half. The investment in technology, combined with strong brand identity and the lead IG enjoys in the majority of the markets in which it operates leave it well positioned for further growth.

In the longer established UK and Australian markets, both the number of clients active in the period and the average revenue per client were down, leading to revenue falls of 21% and 17% respectively. Recent market share data* in Australia indicates that IG's market share increased over the prior year from 34% to 37%, in a market which grew by 7%; this is particularly pleasing against the backdrop of increased competition and higher competitor marketing. Revenue in Europe was down by 20%, reflecting the return to more normal seasonal trading patterns, with clients reducing their activity during the summer holiday period. Active client numbers increased in all of the European countries, with the strongest growth in the group's newest offices in Sweden and the Netherlands. However, weak sentiment, coupled with a more challenging competitive environment, impacted results in Germany against a particularly strong prior period. The Rest of the World was only slightly down against the prior year, with the drop in average revenue per client almost entirely offset by continued growth in active clients. Nadex continues to develop its direct retail offering and saw a steady improvement in the number of clients trading on the exchange, albeit from a low base. IG has a track record of applying higher standards than required by regulation in the protection of client money, including being the first major CFD provider in Australia to offer full protection and in the UK offering full protection to individuals who are classified as professionals. In keeping with this leadership position, the group has recently had an independent assurance assessment of its client money processes and controls completed to the ISAE 3000 standard, and believes it is the first firm in its industry to do so.

Interim Management Statement IG Group today issues the following Interim Management Statement for the period from 1 June 2012 to 10 September 2012. Unless otherwise stated, trends and figures highlighted below refer to the three months ended 31 August 2012 and the corresponding period last year. Revenue in the first quarter was in line with expectations at £81.5m, 18% lower than the prior year. As previously stated, the comparator period in 2011, which was 30% ahead of the year before, was marked by some extreme levels of volatility in financial markets and short term spikes in client activity. August 2011 remains, by some way, the record month for the group in terms of trading revenue. Performance across the group was reasonably consistent, with revenue down in all regions. The particularly quiet financial markets impacted all areas of client activity relative to the prior period, including active client numbers, average revenue per client and the number of clients signing up and trading for the first time. The impact of the fall in revenue on profit before tax was partly mitigated by a number of factors including the flow through into lower staff bonuses, low betting duty and subdued marketing activity; the last of these was both as a direct result of quieter markets and hence reduced demand, and in anticipation of new marketing due to commence early in the second quarter which will build on the strength of the IG brand.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201209110700049340L