Member Info for mulledwine

Enterprise Inns (ETI) posted narrowed interim pre-tax profits, impacted by a 9% reduction in the average number of pubs in its portfolio and higher leasehold costs, but said it expects to deliver results for the full year in line with its expectations. The pub operator reported a pre-tax profit of 61 million pounds for the half-year ended 31st March 2011, down from 86 million pounds on the comparable period a year earlier, as revenue fell 7% to 346 million pounds. Shares in Enterprise Inns dropped 3.2p to 85.3p

WPP Digital, the digital arm of WPP (WPP), has made a strategic investment of 5 million dollars (3.1 million pounds) for a minority stake in nPario, a provider of technology solutions and applications for monetization and marketing optimization. Following the investment, the companies will form a strategic partnership that will result in the development of new solutions to help marketers and publishers gain faster access to audience insights and increase the effectiveness of marketing investments. Shares in WPP moved back 12.5p to 754.5p

Arbuthnot retained its "buy" recommendation for Capital Shopping Centres (CSCG) with a 215p target price. The broker remains to be convinced about the ability of the property investor to deliver above market rental income growth in a weak consumer environment. Until there is clear visibility on income growth generally, and capital expenditure on the mature elements of the portfolio being "value enhancing" rather than "value maintaining", Arbuthnot said it sees stable rather than improving property valuation yields for shopping centres. The shares slipped 0.9p to 390.3p.

Now for a coffee and a read to see exactly what is going on here !

http://investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201105120700134426G

http://investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104210700103109F

Fox Davies initiated coverage on Rock Solid Images (RSI) with a buy rating and 12.5p target price. Having emerged from the disposal of its loss making and cash draining marine CSEM acquisition business, the broker said the group has a transformed outlook as a high end geophysical consultancy with a leadership position in the integration of data types. What's more, Fox-Davies added that with the resolution of the strategic uncertainties, the business is now poised to benefit from its stronger financial position and the opportunities to it in the de-risking of hydrocarbon exploration activity. Rock Solid Images shares were flat at 5p.

As news was released after market closed then there will be a rather 'dull' day here tomorrow

Chris Wightman, Executive Chairman, said: "The Company has not reached acceptable terms with the potential buyer for the sale of the Endoscopy Division. In light of this process, the Directors now believe that this division's profitability and future cash generation, combined with additional growth opportunities for the UK business that have been identified recently, offer greater financial value in the retention of the Endoscopy and UK operations. We believe that retaining this business in our global portfolio will offer greater certainty and range of returns for our shareholders."

PuriCore to Retain Endoscopy Division MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA, AND STAFFORD, UK, 17 May2011- PuriCore (LSE: PURI), the water-based clean technology company, announces an update on the potential sale of its UK Endoscopy Division. As announced in March, PuriCore had agreed heads of terms with a potential buyer for the sale of the Company's Endoscopy operations. PuriCore has not reached satisfactory agreement with the other party and therefore has ended further negotiations. In view of this outcome, the Board has determined that it is in the best financial interests of the Company to retain the Endoscopy business and UK operations.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201105171658127806G

and still it drops 2.25 - 2.5 as I type

T.C. - Yes I know what you mean - if only shares were affected by the info in an RNS this would be easy but sentiment, Politics, manipulation, currency, conflict blah blah all have an impact - although God knows why this hasnt reacted to the RNS - unless they reckon it was overpriced anyway which I personally dont think it was. However if you believe in the Company - sit tight and add if possible on the lows. AIM shares are unpredicatable at the best of times!

Record quarter at Capital Drilling By Michael Millar Date: Tuesday 17 May 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Capital Drilling, the emerging and developing markets drilling company, has recorded it strongest ever quarterly revenue. The firm pulled in $27.4m in the first quarter of 2011, just over double the amount it earned over the same period in 2010. Earnings for 2011 remain in line with expectations. The tendering market remained strong with continuing expansion demand from existing clients as well as increased activity from junior explorers, Capital said. However, the company said there were challenges ahead with continuing currency appreciation, an increasingly competitive labour market and increasing lead times on major capital items and key consumables. Capital said its rigs were in use 79% of the time in the first three months of 2011, up from 59% a year previously. It also said average revenue per operating rig (ARPOR) had risen to $148,000 per month, up from $119,000 in the first quarter of 2010 on a weighted average rig count of 75 rigs. The company added that utilisation rates had made further positive progress in the second quarter but warned ARPOR was slightly down. Capital currently has a fleet of 77 oil rigs, having added a further three in the first quarter of 2011. Executive chairman, Jamie Boyton, said the company had made a substantial investment in fleet and inventory in the second half of 2010, a trend which continued into 2011. “We remain confident the business will continue to grow strongly over the foreseeable future,” he added

Shares in pork products group Cranswick had been falling of late, with investors concerned about the market backdrop and inflation. However, the numbers showed that these fears were overdone. Pig prices are likely to continue to rise into 2012 as feed costs rise, but the company has invested a substantial amount in its facilities in recent years and continues to be well positioned to deliver growth longer term. The shares are trading on a March 2011 earnings multiple of 10.7 times, falling to 9.8 in 2012. Buy, says the Telegraph.

Martin May reckons he will be the only chief executive to have taken a quoted company off a full listing and on to the junior Alternative Investment Market and then to have restored it to the main market again — and, indeed, he may well be. Cape dropped on to AIM in 2002 with a mass of problems, including damaging asbestosis liabilities, the market worth at one stage falling to just GBP3m. The company is now focused on providing services to the oil and gas industries and other resources companies. The shares have had a good run but still sell on 11 times’ this year’s earnings. Longer term, they should have further to go, says the Times.

It’s been a rough ride for Xchanging ever since it floated in 2007, and this year has been particularly bad thanks to one day’s trading in February when the outsourcer saw its share price halved after an unexpected profit warning and the resignation of its founder, David Andrews. Management remind us that 2011 is a “year of transition”, and we are not much clearer on how Xchanging will look at the end of it. The initial signs do provide some optimism, but there are too many unknowns for our liking. Sell, the Independent says.

ITE posted what by most analyst accounts was a strong set of half yearly results yesterday. The exhibition and conference organiser said adjusted pre-tax profits had climbed by a healthy 42% as its core markets returned to growth. ITE’s shares trade on affordable multiples of around 15 times forward earnings. Buy, says the Independent.

RPC makes rigid plastic packaging in 11 countries in the European Union and the United States. There are issues with RPC not least rising polymer prices, its raw material. However the company is usually able to pass these costs quickly on to the customers. The pace of RPC’s acquisition programme might cause some concern but looks consistent with the group’s trading ambitions. RPC’s rating does not appear that demanding. RPC could merit further inspection. Buy, says the Scotsman.

Mears, the social housing repairs and services contractor to local authorities, appears to be doing rather well in these austere times. Yesterday, the group, which is also a provider to registered social landlords, said it had secured GBP120m of new contracts since it unveiled its full-year results on 15 March. It now trades on a forward earnings multiple of 7.2 on the estimates for 2012, a discount to both its support services and its contracting peers. Based on this lowly valuation and in light of the recent strong momentum, we think that Mears is worth a punt, says the Independent.