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Oil and gas explorer BG Group is a buy at £13.48½, says The Sunday Telegraph’s Questor team, with its strong fundamentals given a life by takeover talk. A stake sale is likely to happen at some point – just not yet, whether it be to Chinese outfit Sinopec, Royal Dutch Shell or Exxon. Nonetheless, the speculation highlights the value of the offshore operations in Brazil, which are of global importance. However, it is the fundamentals of the business that make it attractive, rather than potential M&A. The company forward-sold a lot of its liquefied natural gas (LNG) 18 months ago to lock in prices. However, these contracts are now coming to an end over the next year or so and there is the chance to lock in higher prices. Next year, LNG prices are likely to be supported by rising demand. Most of Japan’s nuclear capacity is expected to remain offline next year, and analysts at Sanford Bernstein forecast demand will reach 86m tonnes next year - a 16m tonne increase since the Fukushima disaster.

ovember Production Report 12 December 2011 12 December 2011 - Exillon Energy plc ("Exillon Energy", the "Company" or the "Group") (EXI.LN), a British listed independent oil producer with assets in two oil-rich regions of Russia, Timan-Pechora ("Exillon TP") and West Siberia ("Exillon WS"), is pleased to announce unaudited production data for the month of November 2011 ("the Period"). · Average daily production[1] for the Group reached 10,935 bbl/day during the period. · Average daily production for Exillon TP was 3,354 bbl/day, and for Exillon WS it was 7,580 bbl/day during the period. · Peak daily production[2] for the Group reached 11,473 bbl/day during the period. The Company expects to make the December production announcement by 16 January 2012.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201112120710017631T

Ian Garland, CEO of Vernalis commented "We are pleased to have earned this further milestone from Ipsen which brings our total 2011 milestone income to over US$3.0 million. These 2011 milestone receipts, all of which have been earned since the half year, mean our year end cash will now be well ahead of market expectations".

Vernalis Earns Final Milestone Payment from Ipsen Year End Cash will Exceed Market Expectations Vernalis plc today announces it has received a US$1.9 million milestone from Ipsen as a final agreed consideration from the sale of Apokyn and Vernalis' US Commercial Operations announced in June 2008. Under the terms of the sale, Vernalis has subsequently earned milestones totalling US$3.6 million, including that announced today.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201112120700117291T

CONT We have been looking at a number of acquisition opportunities. It is our intention to ensure that any business that joins the Group will strengthen our position within our core activities. Although the second half of the year has started well, there are concerns about the political and economic turmoil in Europe. This region provides many trading opportunities for us and so we must therefore remain cautious with our outlook for the rest of the year. In my last statement, I spoke of our determination to return to being a dividend growth stock. I am therefore pleased to announce that the Board has proposed an interim dividend of 0.275p per share. This is an increase of 57% against last year (2010: 0.175p). It is our desire to continue an upward dividend trend but we will react responsibly to the continuing difficult economic conditions. The interim dividend will be payable on 27 January 2012 to shareholders registered on 30 December 2011. As always, our strength lies with our staff who I would like to thank for all their efforts. I would also like to thank all our shareholders for their continued support. K A Harrison TD Chairman

Interim results for the period ended 30 September 2011 Chairman's Statement * Operating profit: up 31% * Earnings per share: up 27% * Interim dividend: up 57% Continued improvement across the Ensor Group has resulted in operating profits of £607,000 for the half year, a 31% increase on this time last year (2010: £ 463,000). These very pleasing results have been achieved despite the current prolonged recession within the construction sector and a slow start to the year due to Bank holidays and extended Easter and Royal Wedding breaks. I am therefore particularly encouraged for when national economic growth is achieved and when expected government spending on infrastructure is authorised. I was able to report six months ago that the Group was debt-free. This position continues and is improved with net cash of £911,000 being generated over the last twelve months. Financial expenses are unchanged despite reduced interest costs, but include slightly increased pension fund deficit charges. Earnings per share have increased by 27% to 1.4p (2010: 1.1p) Our operating companies have all made progress since I last reported. Margin improvements have been achieved at our door and security companies as a result of the introduction of new profitable products, price enhancements and advantageous currency movements. Volumes in the packaging division have increased and strong co-operation with our China office has helped to offset polythene price increases during the year. The building products division has improved due to better margins on targeted products in new markets. These advances have all been made in conjunction with the continued robust control of costs. We are continuing to capitalise on our property assets. Slow but positive progress towards residential planning permission is being made at our site in Brackley, and land optimisation ideas are being considered for our holdings in the Midlands.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20111212070000P36CE

John Brady, CEO of Plant Health Care states that: "This independent verification from DEI confirms what we've always known; the addition of Harpin to soybeans boosts yields. Whether used alone, or in combination with the best insecticide/fungicide combinations, Harpin seed treatment delivers value to soybean farmers. It also validates Monsanto's choice to continue making Harpin seed treatment available to American soybean growers via the downstream treatment market while we're working to develop a liquid Harpin formulation that satisfies Monsanto's requirement for upstream use. " DEI, based in Westfield, Indiana, is a key distributor of seed enhancements and application equipment in the USA. Please visit www.go2dei.com to see the complete data set that shows the results of all treatments at each location.

INDEPENDENT VERIFICATION THAT PLANT HEALTH CARE'S HARPIN SEED TREATMENT, WHEN USED IN COMBINATION WITH INDUSTRY STANDARD SEED TREATMENTS, INCREASES SOYBEAN YIELDS BEYOND STANDARDS ALONE Plant Health Care (AIM: PHC), a leading provider of naturally-derived products to the agriculture industry, announces that yield data from Direct Enterprises, Inc. ("DEI"), Monsanto's exclusive distributor of N-Hibit® HX-209 (Harpin αβ protein) dry formulated seed treatment, shows that Plant Health Care's Harpin seed treatment technology delivers added yield, over and above traditional insecticide/fungicide seed treatment combinations. According to Bill Haubner, President of DEI: "Our 2011 field trial once again demonstrates that N-Hibit HX-209 enhances the performance of every insecticide/fungicide combination we tested. All our tests are replicated using standard, Random Complete Block design, and they're conducted from planting through harvest by independent contract researchers, With data from 33 different testing locations across the Midwest, ranging from South Dakota to Ohio, and all states in-between, there's enough for us to say that not only does N-Hibit HX-209 increase soybean yields, when it's used in combination with industry standard insecticide/fungicide treatments, it adds substantially to the yield increases normally associated with those treatments." DEI reports that when N-Hibit HX-209 was added to the most widely used combination soybean insecticide/fungicide seed treatment, the addition of N-Hibit resulted in a yield increase of 2.8 bushels per acre versus the same treatment without harpin. When N-Hibit HX-209 was used with the second-most widely used insecticide/fungicide seed treatment in the USA soybean market, the yield difference jumped to 3.7 bushels per acre versus the same combination without N-Hibit HX-209.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201112120700167406T

Commenting on the results, Gordon Comben, Chairman of Solid State, said: "The niche markets that Solid State serves have been resilient given the pressures of the global financial disruption. "Solid State's focus on high value added products has enabled both revenue growth and margin protection, which, when aligned with our internal financial rigour, augur well for the future."

Financial Review Turnover increased 10% to £11.361m when compared to the corresponding period in 2010 (£10.295m). Profit before tax increased by 28% reflecting the operational gearing in the business and highlighting the margin protection afforded in our products. Pleasingly, this translates into a 17% increase in earnings per share, despite the exercising of 635,000 shares (10% increase in issued share capital) in the period under a share option programme. Gross margins have reduced to 26.5% in this period, from 27.5%, due to a change in the sales product mix. In the period Solid State supplied a higher proportion of lower margin items. However, an increase in the overall volume supplied has resulted in an increased operating margin at a Group level. Our working capital requirements have risen in line with our increase in sales but have also been affected by increased inventory levels due to the disruptions resulting from the natural disasters in Japan and some end of life component risks on certain Government contracts. We have taken a prudent view by increasing the inventory levels of critical components to ensure that we are not faced with future supply disruption.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201112120700117144T

Peter Lawrence, Chairman of ECO Animal Health Group plc, commented: “The second half has started well. Based on orders booked for delivery in the third quarter, total sales after nine months should be comfortably ahead of last year. The approval for Aivlosin® in Canada is another important step in the Company’s global marketing plans; sales will commence after the end of the current financial year. ECO’s recent additional investment in people and new offices, ahead of imminent further marketing approvals, reflects management’s confidence, despite continuing worldwide troubled economies, in the future of the business and its ability to drive growth.”

ECO Animal Health Group plc Interim Results for the six months ended 30 September 2011 Key features Profit for the period from continuing operations rose to £0.44 million (2010: £0.42 million) EBITDA and before share based payments was unchanged at £2.2 million (2010: £2.2 million) Basic earnings per share increased over 50 per cent to 0.53 pence (2010: 0.35 pence) Aivlosin® approval in Canada will have significant impact in next financial year Preparations for launch of Aivlosin® in USA continue Strong performances in major markets – Latin America, Asia and Middle East Net cash at period end of £8 million after spending £2 million on further drug registration work and the annual dividend

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20111212070000Z2747

Standard Chartered (STAN) What a pity, we have been told that Standard Chartered's income growth rate will now not quite make the double digit mark. The shares appear to be holding up under the strain with a bear trap rebound so far today within a bull flag. The message is that while there is no end of day close back below the intraday low of the day so far at 1,424p the upside here is seen as being at least a retest of the October 1,534p intraday high. So reckons Zak Mir

Prime Markets says that Bellway's shares are "high enough for now" after significantly outperformed the broader house-building sector since August. Head of dealing at Prime Markets, Richard Curr, said: "As Prime Markets pointed out in our previous notes on housebuilders Barratt and Taylor Wimpey, one could be forgiven for thinking that the recession has passed by the housebuilding industry altogether this year, such is the pace of growth as illustrated by current and future reservations, and the level of investment going into land purchases for new developments. Bellway is no exception."