Member Info for mulledwine

Beazley Buy 10-May-12 £70,500.00 Dennis Holt 50,000 @ 141.00p

RSA Insurance Group Sell 10-May-12 £2,059,133.39 George Culmer 1,994,318 @ 103.25p

Larry Tracey, the Chairman of power controller manufacturer XP Power, treated himself to 4,000 shares in the company, despite the company last month warning that the global economic environment remains weak for the equipment which they manufacture. Tracey, who joined XP's board 22 years ago, bought himself £47,000-worth of shares at 1,175p each, increasing his stake in the company to 7.97%, equal to more than 1.5m shares. In its April statement the company cautioned investors that it currently anticipates that 2012 will be a flat revenue year following the past two years of strong industry growth.

Investec Securities maintained its "sell" rating for Sage Group (SGE) and lowered its target price from 263p to 240p. Weak first half revenue growth from the business software developer led the broker to reduce its full year earnings forecasts by 4% to 19.5p per share, as Investec believes the company will struggle to offset detrimental foreign exchange movement. The broker approved of the firm's management change but said that it will take some time for the restructuring to have an impact.

Canaccord Genuity kept its "sell" recommendation on Reckitt Benckiser (RB.) with a 3,075p target price. The broker noted that JAB Holdings is planning to cut its stake in the consumer goods company from around 15.5% to 10.6%, at a potential discount of between 5% and 9% to Wednesday's closing price of 3,566p. Canaccord believes that this could lead to reduced demand for the shares, and added that JAB may later chose to reduce its holding even further.

Panmure Gordon retained its "buy" stance on Travis Perkins (TPK) with a target price of 1,050p. The builders' merchant is expected to report continued momentum in its first quarter, following strong full year results for 2011 which showed pre-tax profit growth of 37% to 296.7 million pounds. However, the broker noted difficult trading conditions, impacted by UK public sector spending cuts and lower residential spending. Panmure forecasts full year pre-tax profits of 320 million pounds for 2012, rising to 340 million pounds in 2013.

Legal Settlement As announced on 8 March 2012, during the period H. Clarkson & Co Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary, reached a full and final settlement of certain legal matters with Mr Nikitin and a number of corporate entities. Under the terms of the settlement, an amount of USD 7m was received which will be accounted for as an exceptional item in the Group's accounts for the current financial year, ended 31 December 2012. Board Changes As announced on 8 March 2012 Martin Stopford retired as an executive director of Clarkson PLC. Also as announced on 10 February 2012 Paul Wogan resigned as a non-executive director of Clarkson PLC in order to dedicate himself to his new executive role at GasLog. The Board is currently undergoing a search process to recruit a replacement for him. Balance Sheet The group remains cash generative. The strength of our balance sheet together with increased net funds provides us with the flexibility to take full advantage of any opportunities which may emerge. Outlook Continued economic uncertainty combined with the demand/supply imbalance across most markets creates a challenging backdrop to 2012. However, our business model has demonstrated itself to be robust in this environment and we continue to benefit from increased trading volumes. Our market leadership, with industry leading research at its core, proven strategy and strong balance sheet position us well for the future.

AGM and Interim Management Statement Clarksons, the world's leading shipping services group, today announces its Interim Management Statement published in accordance with the UK Listing Authority's Disclosure and Transparency Rules, for the period from 1 January 2012 to 10 May 2012 ("the period"). At the Annual General Meeting to be held in London today, Bob Benton, Chairman of Clarksons, will make the following statement: Trading The shipping markets remain very challenging. Freight rates in many sectors have been weak reflecting the continued demand/supply imbalance previously highlighted in our market updates. Low asset values and the lack of available debt are further impacting the market. However, Clarksons' performance during the period is in line with the Board's expectations. Our strategy to provide unrivalled levels of client service globally, across all shipping markets, has meant that we not only continue to optimise our position in each of these markets, but also benefit wherever there is improvement. Broking The Group has again increased market share, with higher transaction volumes going some way to help mitigate the fall in freight rates. The weakening of the US dollar against Sterling since the beginning of the year will, if sustained, impact reported revenues. Spot business remains prevalent as it has since the turmoil of late 2008. Financial Clarkson Capital Markets is currently working to complete a number of active mandates, and the team has been further strengthened by several key hires in the period. Support Our port and agency activities have started the year well. The successful integration of Clarkson Port Services and EnShips, acquired at the end of 2011, has given rise to an increase in both revenue and the number of clients which we service. Research Research is at the heart of all Clarksons' services and we continue to grow the breadth and depth of our offer. Revenue from research activities has increased in the period, as quality and in-depth information become ever more valuable to our clients in challenging markets.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201205111200071835D

Willie Walsh, IAG chief executive, said: "Total revenue in the quarter was up 7.8 per cent with passenger unit revenue up 8.5 per cent based on a capacity increase of 0.6 per cent. Despite this, we've made an operating loss of €249 million before exceptional items. This is mainly due to a €281 million, 24.9 per cent rise in fuel costs, driven by higher prices, the reduced impact of hedging and emissions charges. The Iberia pilots' strike cost €25 million this quarter. "Iberia's overall operating loss for the quarter was €170 million (2011: €100 million operating loss) and British Airways' operating loss was £62 million before exceptional items (2011: £5 million operating loss). Iberia's performance reflects the weakness of the Spanish domestic market and industrial action by pilots opposed to actions by Iberia's management to improve the airline's efficiencies. For British Airways, although the London market and demand for transatlantic travel remains strong, its performance has been affected by rising fuel costs. "The financial performance of our business continues to be undermined by government actions. In addition to the UK government increasing the world's highest aviation tax - Air Passenger Duty - by double the inflation rate, the Spanish government plans to increase departure taxes from Spain by up to 10 euros per passenger. "In late April, we completed our purchase of bmi. As a result, British Airways is able to manage its wider Heathrow slot portfolio more effectively and is launching a new route to Seoul later this year. Airports across the UK and beyond have contacted us about starting services and, subject to reaching satisfactory agreement with them, we plan to also launch flights from Heathrow to Leeds-Bradford, Rotterdam and Zagreb and increase frequencies to existing key destinations. Consultation continues with bmi mainlinestaff and their trade unions about plans to integrate the business into British Airways. "bmi regional has been sold to Sector Aviation Holdings Ltd. "bmibaby is not part of our plans and consultation has started with trade unions on proposals to review future options for the business".

THREE MONTHS RESULTS ANNOUNCEMENT International Consolidated Airlines Group (IAG) today (May 11, 2012) presented Group consolidated results for the three months ended March 31, 2012. In addition, IAG presented combined results for the three months ended March 31, 2012, including Iberia's first 21 days of January in the comparative period. IAG period highlights on combined results: · First quarter operating loss of €249 million, before exceptional items (2011: €102 million loss) · Loss before tax for the quarter of €263 million (2011: €47 million loss) · Revenue for the quarter up 7.8 per cent to €3,919 million (2011: €3,636 million), including €40 million or 1.1 per cent of favourable currency impact · Passenger unit revenue for the quarter up 8.5 per cent (7.3 per cent at constant currency), on top of capacity increases of 0.6 per cent · Fuel costs for the quarter up 24.9 per cent to €1,409 million (2011: €1,128 million), fuel unit costs were up 24.0 per cent · Non-fuel costs before exceptional items for the quarter up 5.7 per cent at €2,759 million, including €32 million or 1.2 per cent of adverse currency impact. Non-fuel unit costs up 5.1 per cent, or 3.7 per cent at constant currency · Cash of €3,574 million at quarter end was down €161 million · Group net debt down €19 million in the quarter to €1,129 million

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201205110700211318D

In the Times Tempus likes Wood Group, the engineering company which provides ongoing maintenance to existing oil and gas facilities as well as constructing new wells and refineries and gas turbines. Gas turbines have done exceptionally well, while the maintenance arm is beginning to punch its weight and the company has exited the more cyclical well support business. Trading at 14 times earnings Tempus says the stock is a strong hold.

langyy - cheers - 5'1 eh - a giant in the advertising world

In the Telegraph Questor is still keen on advertising goliath WPP. Yesterday it reported strong revenue growth in all regions, with emerging markets, in particular booming (+11.2 per cent over the prior year). This year has the “golden triple” of the European football championships, the London Olympics and the US presidential election - which should all boost income for advertising firms. Trading at just 10.8 forward earnings WPP is a buy.

10/5/12 Like-for-like (LFL) revenue growth has picked up in recent weeks at bingo, casino and online gaming company Rank Group. The group announced a 5% LFL revenue growth rate for the 18 weeks to May 6th, with total revenue up 4%, boosted by Grosvenor Casinos and Rank Interactive. That represents an acceleration in LFL growth for Rank; for the 45 week period LFL revenue was up by 3% and total revenue was up 4%. Chairman Ian Burke said: "I am pleased that the group continues to achieve solid revenue growth despite a challenging trading environment. In the period, the group's UK businesses have continued to invest in programmes that will broaden the appeal of our brands." Grosvenor Casinos saw total revenues rise by 8% in the 18 week period with a rise in spend per visit, up 6% and customer visits up 2%. LFL revenue rose 6% with spend per visit up 7% and customer visits in line with last year. LFL customer visit numbers were up in Grosvenor's UK casinos, but this was offset by a reduction in customer visits to its Belgian casinos, which continue to be affected by last summer's extension to the smoking ban.

Commenting on the results, Philip Beck, Chairman of Planet Payment, Inc., said: "Our revenue growth reflects the increase in transaction processing volumes primarily driven by increases in active merchant locations. Customers have continued to roll out our multi-currency processing solutions as reflected by the 27% increase in active multi-currency merchant locations over last year. The improvement in our financial results demonstrates the operating leverage inherent in our payment platform and business model." During the first three months of 2012, the Company continued to expand its acquiring customer base in both existing and new markets, in particular announcing agreements with China UnionPay to provide processing support for China UnionPay's credit and debit cards in both card present and card-not-present environments directly to banks and acquirers on a worldwide basis. The Company is enhancing the iPAY gateway to include support for China UnionPay' new UnionPay Online Payment ("UPOP") service, which is expected to launch in the second quarter of 2012. The Company also recently announced an agreement with MICROS to add support for China UnionPay to the MICROS Payment Gateway. In addition, the Company entered into agreements with Citibank, Hong Kong and Macau, Citi, Philippines and Mashreq, UAE for our Pay in Your Currency service in each of those countries. During the period the Company continued the process of becoming a reporting company under U.S. Securities laws and continues to work with its advisors on that process. In January 2012, the Company held a Special Meeting of Shareholders, in order to approve various matters in relation to the Company's capital and corporate structures, in connection with the process. Additional breakdown on the Company's performance can be found in the Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations appended to this release. In accordance with the rules of the OTCQX market, the Company's First Quarter Report, including its Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements (unaudited), as of December 31, 2011 and March 31, 2012 and for the three months ended March 31, 2011 and 2012 have been posted on the OTCQX website at www.otcqx.com and on the Company's website at www.planetpayment.com.

NET INCOME $0.8 MILLION; ADJUSTED EBITDA INCREASES 75%TO $1.7 MILLION Planet Payment, Inc. (UK: LSE: AIM: PPT and PPTR; USA: OTCQX: PLPM), a leading provider of international payment processing and multi-currency processing services, today announced its results for the three months ended March 31, 2012 ("Q1 '12"). During the first quarter of 2012, the Company again achieved strong operating results. First quarter of 2012 highlights include: · Net revenue for the period increased 22% to $11.7m (Q1 '11: $9.6m). · Consolidated Gross Billings increased 37% to $30.2m (Q1 '11:$22.0m). (See Table 2 for explanation of this metric) · Gross Foreign Currency Mark-up increased 40% to $26.1m (Q1 '11: $18.6m). (See Table 2 for explanation of this metric.) · Net income was unchanged at $0.8m (Q1 '11: $0.8). Net income in Q1 '11 included $0.7m in other income due to the Derecognition of a Note Payable. Prior to consideration of this item, Net income increased by $0.66m. · Adjusted EBITDA for the period increased 75% to $1.7m (Q1 '11 $1.0m). See Table 1 for reconciliation of net income to Adjusted EBITDA. · Settled multi-currency dollar volume processed increased 41% to $683m (Q1 '11: $485m). · Total active merchant locations increased by 55% to 30,977 as of March 31, 2012 (as of March 31, 2011: 19,927). (See Table 2 for explanation of this metric.) Net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 has been restated to reflect the presentation of net revenue adopted in previously published financial statements. The correction made to net revenue for the three months ended March 31, 2011 has already been reflected in the Company's audited financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2011, which was issued on March 30, 2012. Details of the adjustments to our previously issued unaudited statements of operations and statements of cash flows for the three months ended March 31, 2011 are set forth in Note 2 to the consolidated condensed financial statements included in this announcement and filed with OTCQX.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201205110700151503D

"The acquisition of PHW and its onboard PTC product line complements our established portfolio of trackside PTC products and will play an important role in helping us to achieve the ambitious growth plans we have in North America," said Kevin Riddett, CEO of Invensys Rail. PHW's onboard system is used on the North East Corridor by Amtrak and associated railroads as part of Amtrak's ACSES PTC system. ACSES is the first PTC system to be approved for operation by the Federal Railroad Administration under the requirements of the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008. PHW will operate as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Invensys Rail, a division of Invensys plc.