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http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201108090930070065M

Americas blast International Power sales higher Date: Tuesday 09 Aug 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Electricity generator International Power pointed to its strong performance in the Americas as it unveiled a rise in revenues and profits in the half year to 30 June. Earnings before interest, taxation, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA) climbed to $2.17bn (£1.32bn) from $2bn, while revenue rose to $8.1bn from $7.7bn. The company also announced an interim dividend of 4.4 cents a share. “I am pleased to report that performance in the first half is up on last year, benefiting from a higher contribution from Latin America and North America, together with outperformance on committed synergies from the combination,” said chairman Dirk Beeuwsaert. He said several projects have started running so far in 2011, with the company on track to deliver 20 GW of new capacity in the full-year. The growth in the Americas was “partially offset by lower results between periods in UK-Europe,” International Power said. “We continue to expect growth in 2011 with performance in the second half anticipated to be similar to the first half, despite the current economic backdrop,” the company said. “Overall our construction programme is progressing well and is on plan to deliver the anticipated EBITDA growth in 2013, despite the delay at our Jirau hydro project in Brazil.”

Shareholder relations The Board and our investment Manager welcome contact with both the Company's existing shareholders and with potential new shareholders. The Investment Manager has met with many of the Company's larger shareholders during the last year. Outlook The last two years or so have seen defensive stocks such as utilities substantially underperform the main stock market indices. Despite this the assets of your Company have been relatively stable while dividend income has been strong. With shares in the global utility sector, and particularly Europe now trading at historically attractive earnings multiples (9-11x, compared with a 5 year average of 15x) with high and largely sustainable dividend yields of 6% or more, we believe that your Company is well positioned to deliver growth in both capital and income. Geoffrey Burns Chairman

Performance Your Company does not have any formal benchmarks but rather provides investors with a range of indices against which performance may be assessed. The performance of the FTSE Global Utilities Index has previously been provided as one of the indices against which the Company's performance may be assessed. This index however, has been withdrawn and following discussions with the investment manager the Board has decided it should be replaced with the Bloomberg World Utilities Index. This report deals primarily with the performance of the Company from 1 January to 30 June 2011. Over this period the total or gross asset return for your Company was -2.1% compared to a return for the Bloomberg World Utilities Index of +0.6%. Over the same period the FTSE 100 Index rose by 2.7% while the FTSE World Index rose by 2.3%. Since the Company's life was extended at the end of December 2009, there has been a marked divergence of the utilities index from the broader market indices: +2.4% for the Bloomberg World Utilities Index compared with +15.7% and +19.5% for the FTSE 100 Index and the FTSE World Index respectively. This is largely due to investors' emphasis on more cyclical stocks, which are deemed to benefit most from the post credit crunch recovery, (all the above figures are quoted on a total return basis). The Company's capital structure is comprised of Ordinary and Zero Dividend Preference shares ("ZDP"). The ZDP shares are entitled to a predetermined capital sum of 221.78p at the anticipated wind up date of the Company, 31 December 2015. As a consequence the rise or fall in assets attributable to the Ordinary shares is geared by this prior entitlement. Over the period net assets attributable to Ordinary shares fell, and as a result the net asset value per Ordinary share also fell from 189.5p to 170.8p. Once this has been adjusted for dividends paid, it amounts to a decline in percentage terms of 7.4%. The net asset value per ZDP share rose from 161.6p to 166.8p. Since the Company's inception on 4 November 2003 the FTSE 100 Index has produced a total return of 80.7% (source: Bloomberg). Over the same period the total assets of your Company have produced a total return of 109.8% whilst total return on your Company's Ordinary shares (measured by increase in net asset value together with dividends paid) is 133.2%.

Overview of the period World stock markets have been unusually volatile during the period reflecting continuing unease of investors over the pace of the global economic recovery. Of particular concern at present is the economic health of Europe and the US where governments continue to wrestle with over indebtedness. It is clear that if the Euro is to survive in the longer term some sort of closer political and legal harmonisation will need to take place. Certainly it would now seem difficult to abandon the Euro as the region is so financially interdependent on the currency. This may result in an extended period of low growth coupled to artificially low interest rates. In this environment there is likely to be an inflation risk and in this context energy and water shares, which have, through their various regulatory mechanisms, a degree of "inflation proofing", would seem to represent good value. The impact of the terrible Japanese earthquake and subsequent tsunami is still reverberating through power markets globally. We were fortunate not to have any significant exposure to the nuclear sector and to Japanese nuclear stocks in particular. However, many countries around the world have either abandoned their nuclear ambitions (for example Germany), or have put them on hold while further testing and public consultation takes place. A direct consequence of the abandonment of Germany's nuclear programme has been a significant rise in European power prices. In the long term this augurs well for non nuclear energy generators since it is difficult to see how the energy intensity of nuclear power plants can be replaced in time to prevent a significant rise in power prices over the next few years.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20110809101032PE9CF

http://sharecrazy.com/beta/Tips/5668/buy-omega-diagnostics

BHP Billiton President Iron Ore, Ian Ashby said: "While this move to an owner-operator model will remove a layer of complexity and costs from our business, the real focus of this proposed transaction is the work force. Transitioning to owner operator in this way, rather than by replacing contractors through direct recruitment, is a lower risk strategy as it would be challenging to replace the highly skilled and long serving HWE employees in the current environment."

BHP BILLITON TO ACQUIRE HWE MINING SUBSIDIARIES BHP Billiton has signed a Heads of Agreement with Leighton Holdings to acquire the HWE Mining subsidiaries that provide contract mining services to its Western Australia Iron Ore operations. The Heads of Agreement relates to the mining equipment, people and related assets that service the Area C, Yandi and Orebody 23/25 operations. These operations collectively account for almost 70 per cent of Western Australia Iron Ore's total material movement. The purchase price is US$735 million (A$705 million), subject to working capital adjustments.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201108090700099840L

Dirk Beeuwsaert, Chairman of International Power, said "I am pleased to report that performance in the first half is up on last year, benefiting from a higher contribution from Latin America and North America, together with outperformance on committed synergies from the combination. The Board is pleased to announce an interim dividend of 4.40 euro cents per share. Several projects under construction have successfully commenced operation in 2011 and we are on track to deliver over 2GW of new capacity in the full year. We have a strong pipeline of committed projects and continue to develop a range of new opportunities, positioning us to deliver sustained growth in shareholder value."

Outlook We continue to expect growth in 2011 with performance in the second half anticipated to be similar to the first half, despite the current economic backdrop. Overall our construction programme is progressing well and is on plan to deliver the anticipated EBITDA growth in 2013, despite the delay at our Jirau hydro project in Brazil. Greater integration in our merchant markets, in particular through LNG and retail activities, provides more resilience to our portfolio. We are confident of delivering sustained growth in shareholder value from our significant pipeline of development projects in emerging markets, coupled with our strong competitive position and future recovery in merchant markets.

Pro Forma1 Financial Highlights · Revenue €8,104 million (2010: €7,660 million) - up 6% · EBITDA2 €2,170 million (2010: €1,973 million) - up 10% · Adjusted Current Operating Income2 €1,471 million (2010: €1,350 million) - up 9% · Underlying Earnings Per Share2 § Before purchase price allocation adjustments 13.9 cents per share, 12.1 pence per share (2010: 13.4 cents per share, 11.7 pence per share) - up 4% (up 4% at constant currency) § After purchase price allocation adjustments 13.3 cents per share (2010: 12.9 cents per share) - up 3% (up 3% at constant currency) · Free cash flow3 of €1,048 million (2010: €1,336 million) § working capital outflow of €335 million in H1 2011 · Interim dividend 4.40 cents per share - 3.82 pence per share · Synergies of €46 million delivered in H1 2011 and full-year target increased by €13 million to €103 million

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201108090700139847L

Eckoh (ECK) has been awarded a renewed two year, 0.5 million pound contract to provide a major client, believed to be the Royal Mail, with automated tracking and delivery services. The speech recognition software company's customer information line which was launched in 2006, allowing customer to track and amend orders, has handled 14 million minutes of traffic. Chief executive Nik Philpot commented: "are delighted that our solution continues to deliver such positive results for their customers."

Peter Huntley, Corin's Chief Executive, said: "We are delighted to have agreed the continuation of our distribution relationship with LARS and look forward to investing further behind the LARS product in the coming years"

LARS distribution agreement extended Corin Group PLC (LSE: CRG, "Corin" or "the Group"), a leading manufacturer and supplier of orthopaedic devices, has renewed its agreement to distribute the LARS ligament augmentation systemfor a further two years through to 31 December 2013. Under the terms of the agreement, Corin will have the exclusive rights to distribute LARS ligaments in a number of countries including the UK and Australia, as well as non-exclusive rights in a number of other countries.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201108090700119783L

Commenting on today's announcement, Young's Chief Executive, Stephen Goodyear said: "This transaction is mutually beneficial for both Young's and Charles Wells. Young's is focused on investing in its premium pub estate whilst Wells & Young's is looking to invest in developing new and existing beer brands. We are pleased to retain good supply agreements and our customers will therefore continue to enjoy their customary array of quality cask ales and lagers throughout our estate."

Wells & Young's Brewing Company Limited Young & Co.'s Brewery, P.L.C. ("Young's" or the "Company") announces that it has today sold its 40% shareholding in Wells & Young's Brewing Company Limited ("Wells & Young's") to Charles Wells Ltd ("Charles Wells"). Wells & Young's was formed in 2006 following the merger of the Company's brewing operations with those of Charles Wells, with Charles Wells holding a majority 60% stake. The consideration payable for the Company's shareholding is £15.1 million in cash. £5.1 million is payable in February 2012, with the remaining £10 million being payable in two equal amounts in February 2013 and February 2014. As at 4 April 2011 the net book value of Young's investment in Wells & Young's was £15.3 million. The disposal allows Young's to increase its focus on its portfolio of managed and tenanted pubs in London and the South of England while at the same time allowing Wells & Young's to continue to develop new and existing brands. Young's will use the consideration from the transaction to invest in the further development of the Young's and Geronimo pub estates. The existing, exclusive three-year rolling supply agreement with Wells & Young's for the supply of drink to the Company's pub estate has been amended. There are now two agreements: one for beers and ciders, the other for wines and spirits. Both are two-year rolling agreements but Young's cannot give notice of termination within first two years. The Company's board of directors believes that the pricing of the supply agreements is in line with our existing and market rates and will not impact existing margins. The licences granted to Wells & Young's in 2006 in respect of the Young's beer brands remain in place and Wells & Young's is fully committed to developing these brands. In the 53 weeks to 4 April 2011, Wells & Young's contributed £2.6 million to the Company's total adjusted profit before tax. However, as previously announced, the ongoing profitability of the existing business will be impacted by the loss of the Corona licence.