Member Info for mulledwine

Very nice update indeed.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT for the quarter ended 1st April 2011(*1) The Weir Group PLC will today advise shareholders that the strong performance during the first quarter has increased its confidence in achieving further good progress in 2011. First quarter performance was strong with the Group benefiting from a record opening orderbook, a positive contribution from the 2010 acquisitions and significant input growth, including record quarterly orders for the Minerals and Oil & Gas divisions. Based on this performance, the Board now anticipate full year profit before tax and intangibles amortisation will be around £20m ahead of our previous expectations after taking account of year to date adverse foreign currency translation effects. Order input(*2) was up 39% against the prior year period on a reported basis and up 30% on a like for like(*3) basis. Original equipment orders were up 49% (up 39% like for like) and aftermarket orders up 31% (up 22% like for like). Strong revenue growth was achieved in the quarter driven by both organic growth and an encouraging first contribution from the acquisitions made in 2010. Operating profits are up on the prior year period and operating margins are in line with our expectations.

http://www.halifaxmarketwatch.co.uk/rns.cgi?username=&ac=&action=news&rns=1&view=full&story_id=4209192

SP now below the original placement price after a high of 180ish - however this agreement is good news - it adds to their present involvement in the Indian market which has the potential to be very good for HAL.

Shekhar Bajaj, Chairman and Managing Director of Bajaj Electricals Ltd, stated: "We are excited to launch the Bajaj XTP 21 products, the latest HaloPure® powered solutions in our product portfolio. Access to high quality drinking water is a huge challenge for the Indian population which, as well as serving an important social mission, offers us a significant market opportunity." John Kaestle, Chief Executive of HaloSource, commented: "We are very pleased to be extending our partnership with Bajaj Electricals, a major player in the Indian market and a trusted consumer brand. The launch of these devices marks HaloSource's move into the finished devices arena and reinforces Bajaj's commitment to providing its customers with outstanding solutions. Affordable, highly effective drinking water purifiers that combine outstanding design and user-friendly features with reliability are hard to find. Together with Bajaj, we will deliver affordable clean water to Indian consumers with this new product line." The HaloPure® powered Bajaj XTP 21 and ultra high performance XTP 21DX water purifiers were designed after extensive research into the needs of Indian households and offer a streamlined, futuristic design that is easy to maintain and simple to operate. The Touch-Lock™ technology in the purification cartridge makes it easy to replace and the patented HaloPure® powered, multi-stage disinfection cartridge includes a convenient end-of-life monitor with auto shutoff to ensure the freshest, safest water is available on tap.

HaloSource Signs its first HALOPURE® DEVICE supply agreement with bajaj Seattle, U.S.A. - HaloSource, Inc. ("HaloSource" or "the Company") (HAL.LN, HALO.LN) the clean water and antimicrobial technology company, today announces that it has signed an exclusive supply agreement with Bajaj Electricals Ltd, India's largest home appliance products company, for the supply and distribution in India of an OEM gravity water purifier powered by HaloPure® disinfection technology. This is HaloSource's first agreement for a finished device, marking the company's move up the value chain, and is the second supply agreement it has signed with Bajaj since announcement of the relationship last year. The agreement covers the supply of HaloSource's HaloPure® Waterbird gravity water purifier which will be branded the Bajaj XTP 21 and XTP 21 DX and also covers the supply of replacement cartridges for these devices. Bajaj plans to launch the products later this month and move immediately into distribution and retail in select areas, followed by additional market rollouts throughout India where the company has more than 300,000 retail outlets. First year sales of the product are expected to exceed 200,000 units with replacement cartridges typically being required every six months. HaloSource also continues to supply Bajaj with HaloPure® disinfection cartridges for their XTP-11 water purifier.

http://www.halifaxmarketwatch.co.uk/rns.cgi?username=&ac=&action=news&rns=1&view=full&story_id=4209171

Possible Offer Announcement The Board of IFG Group plc ("IFG" or the "Company"), the leading provider of bespoke SIPPs (self invested personal pensions) in the UK and a leading provider of international corporate trustee services, confirms that it has received an approach which may or may not lead to an offer to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of the Company. Shareholders should note however, that the approach is preliminary in nature and is subject to a number of conditions. Accordingly, no assurances can be given that a formal offer will be forthcoming or that any transaction will occur. Further announcements will be made as appropriate.

http://www.halifaxmarketwatch.co.uk/rns.cgi?username=&ac=&action=news&rns=1&view=full&story_id=4209167

Not too much to moan about with these results

Highlights: · Increased profit before tax and minority interests of $11.2 million, compared with $7.2m in 2009. · Increased profits from operations of $13.1m compared with $5.5m in 2009. · 389,496 tonnes of ore processed compared to 276,880 tonnes in 2009, a 40.6% increase. · 22,044 tonnes of zinc in concentrate produced compared to 17,167 tonnes in 2009, a 28% increase. · Record production of 7,067 ounces of gold in concentrate compared to 3,726 ounces in 2009, a 90% increase. · 157,679 ounces of silver in concentrate produced compared to 89,222 ounces in 2009, a 77% increase. · 690 tonnes of lead in concentrate produced compared to 500 tonnes in 2009, a 38% increase.

http://www.halifaxmarketwatch.co.uk/rns.cgi?username=&ac=&action=news&rns=1&view=full&story_id=4209145

That 17p barrier has proved a hard nut to crack - if its broken then we may see some decent progress but it has held strong for quite a while now

Good news as business seems to be picking up a little. A blue day?

CRH plc, the international building materials group, is issuing this Interim Management Statement, which is in accordance with the reporting requirements of the EU Transparency Directive, in advance of its Annual General Meeting which is being held today at 11.00 am in Dublin. Year-to-date Trading As we indicated with our preliminary 2010 results in early March, Group revenues for the first two months of 2011 showed a good improvement on last year's level, benefiting from a much more favourable weather backdrop than in 2010. This cumulative early sales trend has, as expected, moderated through March and April; nevertheless like-for-like sales for the four months to end-April were 6% ahead of 2010. We currently expect like-for-like sales for the first half of 2011 to be ahead of 2010, with EBITDA for the period also expected to exceed last year's level (first-half 2010: €0.52 billion).

http://www.halifaxmarketwatch.co.uk/rns.cgi?username=&ac=&action=news&rns=1&view=full&story_id=4209195

Laurie Hunter, Chief Executive Officer, said: "We are committed to negotiating a resolution with the Government of Madagascar and remain optimistic this can be achieved. Today's announcement is simply a mechanism for us to protect our shareholders' interests in the event that we are unsuccessful in a negotiated settlement. This first step in the process of arbitration proceedings does not in any way preclude the possibility of an early resolution between the parties, which we firmly believe is within the best interests of all involved, not least because of the impact the alternative may have on potential future foreign investment into the country."

Commencement of Arbitration Proceedings Madagascar Oil announces that, further to the declaration of force majeure announced on 21 March 2011, arbitration proceedings were commenced on 29 April 2011, in accordance with the terms of the Production Sharing Contracts ("PSCs") for Blocks 3104, 3105, 3106 and 3107 (the "Blocks") that it operates in Madagascar. The arbitration filings claim breach of contract by the Government of Madagascar and OMNIS, the regulatory agency of the government that manages the country's oil and gas resources. The arbitration claims were formally submitted to the International Chamber of Commerce ("ICC") in accordance with the requirements of the PSCs. The Company's filing seeks declaration that the PSCs are valid and that OMNIS be instructed to proceed with the approval process of the Company's work programmes and related extensions as contemplated under the PSCs. Simultaneously, the Company has also submitted a notice of dispute to the Government of Madagascar under the rules of the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes ("ICSID") with regard to its threatened expropriation of the Company's assets. While the arbitration process under the ICC rules begins immediately, the notice sent by the Company under ICSID triggers a nine-month cooling off period designed to stimulate negotiations between the parties. The Company will continue to aggressively pursue a meeting with the Government in order to satisfactorily rectify the current situation. In the event of a mutually satisfactory settlement, all arbitration proceedings can be set aside. Trading in the Company's shares continues to remain suspended pending clarification of the Government's intentions regarding the Blocks. The Company will provide further updates in due course.

http://www.halifaxmarketwatch.co.uk/rns.cgi?username=&ac=&action=news&rns=1&view=full&story_id=4209216

Termination of Preliminary Discussions with Lucara Gem Diamonds confirms that, further to the announcement on 21 March 2011, no agreement has been reached in its preliminary discussions with Lucara Diamond Corp and these discussions are no longer on going. As stated in the Company's full year results announcement on 15 March 2011, Gem Diamonds continues to monitor potential value enhancing opportunities outside of its current asset portfolio.