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Credit Suisse raises target from 850p to 890p, neutral rating unchanged;

News of a dispute with its insurance provider over the validity of a GBP2.5 million claim sent shares in Nature Group (NGR) 7.75p lower to 60.50p. The claim relates to the explosion at the waste treatment firm's Gibraltar plant last May, which caused significant damage to the facility and resulted in loss of business. The firm is now pursuing legal action against the insurance firm, which argues the claim is unmerited. Operationally, the firm reported its growth of its oil and gas waste division was offsetting a slowdown in port reception facilities business.

BTG's (BGC) varicose-vain treatment, Varisolve, achieved all its targets in the first of two Phase III studies in the US. The pharmaceutical company's treatment involves the injection of a foam that dissolves the affected vain, and presents a substitute to surgical removal. Varisolve suffered setbacks in 2003 as development was halted in 2003 due to concerns of side-effects caused by its key chemical Polidocanol entering the bloodstream. Shares in BTG gained 7.4p to 331.1p

Financial position Following the expected seasonal increase in working capital, the substantial uplift in sales and on-going capital expenditure, net debt increased from £48 million to £59 million during the quarter. The operating cash outflow in the period was in line with last year. The Group is in a strong financial position, with committed, unsecured facilities of £100 million which provide generous headroom going forward. Outlook The business has a well invested asset base, loyal and skilled teams, a great range of products and a strong financial position. Good progress has been made following the challenges of the first half and the Board looks forward positively to the rest of the year and the long term development of Cranswick.

Third quarter interim management statement Cranswick, the UK food producer, today provides an update on trading for the period from 1 October 2011 to 29 January 2012. Current trading The Company benefited from a strong sales performance in the three months to 31 December 2011. Sales for the quarter increased by 10 per cent on the same period last year, building on the momentum established in the first half. Sales growth in the quarter of bacon and fresh pork products was particularly strong and there were positive contributions from all other categories. Export sales remained buoyant and sales of pastry products continued to show pleasing progress. As previously reported, pig meat products continue to gain an increased share of the UK retail protein market. Recent market data highlighted a further acceleration in this gain over the Christmas trading period. Both the versatility and the low relative price of pork to other proteins are key to this positive trend. The growing popularity of pork products continues to be a contributory factor in the increase in sales at Cranswick. There was some recovery in operating margin in the third quarter from that reported in the first half, although for the year to date it remains below that achieved in the comparable period last year.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201201300700153506W

Catering group Compass (CPG) retained its "buy" rating from Panmure Gordon, ahead of Thursday's interim management statement, with an increased target price of 675p from 658p. The broker is attracted by the company's high exposure to North America and believes that food cost inflation has reached its peak. Panmure forecasts full adjusted pre-tax profit of 1.07 billion pounds, and says that shareholders will benefit from cash returns in the form of dividends and buybacks. Shares in Compass edged down by 2.5p to 589.5p.

WH Ireland reiterated its "buy" recommendation for Delcam (DLC) with an increased target price of 620p, from 590p. The 3D modeling software developer's continued positive trading momentum has led the broker to raise its full year revenue forecasts for 2011 by 1.4% to 41 million pounds and earnings forecasts by 11% to 40p. WH Ireland noted that the group has enjoyed international success, winning contracts with both niche manufacturers and multinational corporations. However, the broker added that the continued economic uncertainty could cause headwinds in 2012, despite the company's optimism. The shares declined by 7.5p to 555p

Where is the bottom - in 2008 CRE dropped to 25 - surely we are not looking at that again - I personally wouldnt think so but in this climate who knows.

Creston, the research and communications company, has issued a profits warning after seeing a slower than expected inflow of new business during the fourth quarter of its fiscal year to date. The firm experienced other problems as well, including staffing costs, client projects being delayed and operating losses associated with start-up ventures. Creston also says that revenue growth was over 22% in the last three months of 2011 versus the previous year. Like-for-like revenue growth (which strips out acquisitions) was 7%. In 2012, like-for-like revenue growth has been 5%. The warning on profits, however, has seen Creston drop 23% this morning. The stock is 37% down over the last 12 months.

Potential for this SP to go much further

Yes the directors have given their backing - this being the biggest Immunodiagnostic Systems Holdings Buy 26-Jan-12 £133,645.21 Burkhard Wittek 43,867 @ 304.66p

Chairman of the Audit Committee at DS Smith, Jonathan Nicholls, has bought £74,366-worth of shares in the recycled packaging firm. The purchase, which saw the non-executive buy 32,309 shares at 230.17p each, comes less than two weeks after the firm launched an agreed bid for the second largest packaging business in Europe.

mpala Platinum Hldg Further re work stoppage at Impala Rustenburg Impala Platinum Holdings Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration No. 1957/001979/06) ISIN: ZAE000083648 JSE Share Code : IMP LSE Share Code : IPLA ADR Code : IMPUY ("Implats" or "the Company") WORK STOPPAGE AT IMPALA RUSTENBURG Implats wishes to advise that the majority of the mining workforce at its Impala Rustenburg operation have failed to report for duty today, Monday 30 January 2012. This follows on a work stoppage by the operation's rock drill operators (RDO's), who participated in an illegal work stoppage last week. The failure of the workforce to report for work this morning is due to an alternative union, known as the Association of Mineworkers and Construction Union (AMCU), who have, despite no formal process in place, attempted to gain recognition at the Rustenburg operation. The Company has applied and been granted a further Court interdict today declaring the strike illegal. The mining workforce will be given a deadline of 1 February 2012 to return to work or face dismissal. Further announcements will be made in due course.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20120130140000P977F

Director/PDMR Shareholding Omega, the AIM listed medical diagnostics company, announces that Kieron Harbinson, Group Finance Director of the Company, today purchased 90,000 Ordinary Shares of 4p each at a price of 11p. Following this transaction, Mr Harbinson's total holding is 294,150 Ordinary Shares, representing 0.35% of the total issued share capital of the Company.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201201301157453889W

Credit Suisse has cut its rating for hotel, restaurant and coffee shop group Whitbread from outperform to neutral, saying that downside risks on increasing.

Nomura has raised its target price from 570p to 580p for chip designer ARM Holdings but maintained its neutral view of the stock, saying that while the fourth quarter is expected to be 'in-line', there is no real catalyst in the short-term. In regards to the fourth quarter statement, Nomura said that ARM's management is "likely to be upbeat on ARM’s prospects of share gains in broadening end markets, which are unfortunately unlikely to get the market too excited," the broker said. "We expect to see some volatility in the stock but with no underlying direction unless further solid data points on any of the above emerge." However, in the long-term, the broker says its remains encouraged by the opportunities arising from notebooks and servers. However, visibility is still too poor to justify share gains beyond what the stock is effectively pricing, Nomura added.

James Nieuwenhuys, COO of Polyus Gold, commented: "I am pleased to announce a solid 8% year-on-year growth in production, which was achieved thanks to the stabilization of operations at the Olimpiada mine, as well as improving production at the Blagodatnoye and Titimukhta mines, the Alluvial operations and Kazakhstan operations." "In December 2011 we commissioned the Verninskoye mine on time, it should make a meaningful contribution to the Group's production in 2012. This year we will continue the process upgrades of Olimpiada and construction of Natalka."