Member Info for mulledwine

Interim Management Statement SThree plc ("SThree" or the "Group"), the international specialist staffing business, today issues an Interim Management Statement for the period from 30 May 2011 to date. The financial data relates to the three month period ending 28 August 2011, being the third quarter of the financial year ending 27 November 2011. Highlights: · Permanent gross profit up 23%* year on year · Contract gross profit up 12%* year on year · Group gross profit up 18%* year on year · Improvement in both permanent and contract fees · Sales headcount growth of 20% year on year and 11% vs half year 2011 · New offices opened in Zurich, Luxembourg and Mumbai · Strong financial position with net cash of circa £40m at period end

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201109090700079262N

Nautilus Closes C$70.5 million First Tranche of Private Placement VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Sept. 8, 2011) - Nautilus Minerals Inc. (TSX:NUS)(AIM:NUS) has received gross proceeds of C$70.5 million from the issue of the first tranche of shares forming part of the recently announced private placement. A total of 27,987,853 shares were issued today in the first tranche at an issue price of C$2.52 per share. The shares formed part of a total capital raising of C$98.1 million, before expenses, involving the issue of approximately 39 million shares. The remaining shares (approximately 11 million) are to be issued on October 6, 2011. Application has been made to the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange for the first tranche of 27,987,853 shares to be admitted to trading on September 9, 2011. The shares also will be listed for trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange.

http://www.halifaxmarketwatch.co.uk/rns.cgi?username=&ac=&action=news&rns=1&view=full&story_id=4499338

CONT In the Middle East, as anticipated, our workload has increased during the year to date as investment continues in the growing infrastructure market. Our Asia Pacific and Europe businesses are trading in line with our expectations, with continuing weak market conditions in both Ireland and Portugal. In our Energy business we are making good progress in the core growth markets of nuclear, oil and gas and power. Our two recent acquisitions in this business are trading well following their successful integration. Overall Group staff numbers have increased during the year to date to around 17,700, with growth in our Middle East and Energy businesses exceeding reductions in the UK, where we have continued to adjust our resource levels to meet expected demand. We announced in June that the Group had commenced a consultation process with those employees who are members of the UK defined benefit pension plan in relation to a proposal to remove the link between employees' accrued pension and future increases in salary. The consultation process, which concludes at the end of September, is progressing. Overall, the outlook for the Group for the current year remains unchanged."

Outlook for the year unchanged At the Annual General Meeting held today the Chairman of WS Atkins plc ("Atkins" or the "Group"), Allan Cook, made the following statement to shareholders in relation to current trading. This statement also acts as the Group's pre-close trading update in advance of its half-year results for the six months to 30 September 2011 which will be announced on 17 November 2011. "I am pleased to report to shareholders that, as confirmed in our Interim Management Statement of 3 August 2011, the Group has continued to navigate well through challenging market conditions in many of its markets. As a result, the earnings performance for the six months to 30 September 2011 is anticipated to be in line with our expectations. Although overall economic conditions in the UK remain difficult, our business here continues to benefit from both the resilience of its diversified portfolio in a number of well-funded markets and its support for the Group's Middle East operations. In North America our consultancy business continues to perform well. However, as previously noted, our Peter Brown construction management at risk business has had a poor start to the year and this is expected to impact revenues and limit overall margin growth for our North American business as a whole this year.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201109081630019124N

Deutsche Bank downgrades Ashmore Group from buy to hold, target price cut from 460p to 420p

Seymour Pierce initiates Laura Ashley as buy, target price 24p

TP - no one posts for ages and we post at exactly same time - spooky ! Looking good here just now - not before time I might add

Good SP progress. Could be a good week coming up

The charts show numerous 10% rises(and falls) - could we get another 10% riseon the run up to and on the day of the trading update next week?

One thing is clear – market volatility is going to be around for some time. Traders love this type of market – and spread-betting firm IG Group is going to be a major beneficiary. Indeed, it already has – and next Tuesday’s first-quarter trading update should be very impressive. Buy, says the Telegraph.

The best way to play market falls is to buy quality companies with high yields. Go-Ahead Group is one such business. The group is one of the UK’s largest bus operators, with a fleet of about 3,800 vehicles. that the shares are now yielding a prospective 5.7%, which is very attractive in the current low interest rate environment. Buy, says the Telegraph.

Apologies re last post - wrong board

Fortune Oil’s price has traded between pretty narrow parameters for years, most recently hitting a low point of around 5p, before peaking in May this year at 14.5p. The company, which is involved in oil and gas supply and infrastructure projects in China, is lightly researched and, as a result, is often overlooked. This might be a mistake. Fortune Oil is hoping to capitalise on the expansion in coalbed methane, the production of which China is aiming to increase by 2020.Fortune Oil looks interesting for those prepared to accept the risks. Buy, says the Scotsman.

Homeserve, which offers insurance against a range of household misfortunes and sorts out repairs when they happen, has already proved that it is one of those rare British businesses that has been able to replicate its success on the other side of the pond. Given the company’s growth profile it arguably deserves a premium rating. But it’s still starting to look stretched and we think the share price could easily pause for breath. So use yesterday’s gains as an opportunity to take profits, says the Independent.

Prezzo, the Italian restaurant chain, continues to defy the economic gloom. Yesterday, it posted a surge in profits as it pushes ahead with its expansion programme. While Prezzo is a safe bet for the long term, we think a forward earnings multiple of 10.6 makes its shares fairly valued. Hold, the Independent says.

Deutsche Bank downgrades Schroders from buy to sell, target price raised from 1477p to 1900p

Deutsche Bank downgrades Jupiter Fund Management from hold to buy, target price raised from 230p to 240p