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Retailer Halfords has, if you will forgive the pun, got itself into a vicious cycle of underperformance of late, and Shore Capital is not expecting Thursday’s trading update to break the chain. It thinks the retail division, which accounts for 90% of revenues, “will continue to be under pressure” while it struggles to see any catalysts to boost revenues at either its car enhancement or leisure businesses, both of which put in lacklustre performances in the company’s third quarter.

Prezzo (PRZ) In many ways the share price chart of Prezzo with its one year rising trend channel does not do justice to the bull argument even though we have a theoretical 77p target on a 1-2 month timeframe. This is particularly the case given the latest break of the October resistance at 62p. While there is no weekly close below this level we can regard 77p as the minimum upside for the restaurant's shares. Observations of Zak Mir , Chartist!

Shire Pharma (SHP) The overall picture for Shire shares over the past year on the daily chart has been a very constructive one with a December breakout following a near 12 month consolidation. However, the rather pedestrian progress of the stock in recent weeks is at odds with the constructive pattern. The best explanation is that the stock wishes to "tire" out the bulls before an acceleration to the upside. The logical scenario is that while above the blue 50 day moving average at 1,743p progress towards a 1,900p plus November price channel target will be seen over the next 6 – 8 weeks or less. Observations of Zak Mir , Chartist!

Howdy Scuby-do - I have been in and out of MKS several times - its looked on as an iconic indicator of how UK is performing! Certainly she came on strong today, more so than I myself thought so I didnt get in on this rise! May be a little profit taking tomorrow ---hmmmmmmmm will see. .... could do with some nut grabbing news for SOLG!

M&S (MKS) As will be seen in the Hit List this afternoon, there was a bear trap in the retail sector even before the better than expected trading update from Marks & Spencer. What can be seen from the daily chart of the group is the way that there was bullish divergence in the RSI window at the turn of the month. The implication of the gap higher today is that while there is no end of day close back below the gap floor at 335p the upside for the shares over the next 2 -4 weeks could be as great as post November resistance at 380p plus. Observations of Zak Mir , Chartist!

This share can sit for weeks without moving - intraday movement seldom occurs but since 2009 (20p) its overall performance is very impressive.

Motivcom (MCM) posted widened annual pre-tax profits, driven by many of its largest clients increasing their spending, but warned that the "ongoing challenging economic climate" may impact client expenditure levels going forward. For the 12-months ended 31st December 2010, the UK business services group reported a 43% rise in pre-tax profits to 4.4 million pounds on revenue up 13% at 115 million pounds. A total dividend of 3.2 pence is to be paid, up 28% on last year. Shares in Motivcom climbed 9.5p to 137.5p.

Missed that 330 ish entry point recently as was waiting for a greedy 325 - should know better by now !

New Orders Improved client relationships and key account management have helped us win a number of projects, notably: · Titenbar to Ewingsdale highway; Australia · Step Tunnel; Abu Dhabi · Muharaq Sewage Treatment Works; Bahrain · Ashgal infrastructure call off framework; Qatar · Southern Water AMP5 framework; UK · Stuttgart 21, Rail supervision; Germany Financial position Net cash balances are expected to be in line with the Board's expectations, although, as previously announced, collection of debt on certain Middle East accounts remains protracted. Acquisition In March we acquired Ingenieur Consult, a mechanical and electrical consultancy in Germany, for a maximum cash consideration of €1.3m.

Pre-close trading statement for the year ended 31 March 2011 Hyder Consulting PLC, the multi-national advisory and design consultancy, provides the following trading update in advance of results for the financial year ended 31 March 2011 which are scheduled to be announced on 8 June 2011. Trading performance The Group has performed in line with the Board's expectations. Over 70% of our revenues and approximately 80% of operating profits come from overseas, and this broad geographic spread strengthens our resilience. In Australia our performance is well ahead of the prior year and in line with plan. Some opportunities there are being deferred following the Queensland flooding, although we do not anticipate that this will have a material effect. In the Middle East we operate in the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and have won valuable work in each of these countries. Our offices in Bahrain (which account for less than 2.5% of Hyder's total headcount) are now trading normally after the recent unrest. As a result of operational improvements, our UK performance strengthened in the second half.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104060700053530E

Northland Capital Partners issued a "outperform" rating for Hyder Consulting (HYC) with a 480p target price. Following the release of a trading update ahead of full-year results, the broker notes that overall trading at the group was in line with the board's expectations, despite the flooding in Australia and political tensions in the Middle East, with its performance in Australian well ahead of the prior year. With that said, the broker believes that, post recent weakness, the shares are trading "cheaply". Hyder shares gained 17.5p to 382.5p.

Ahead of third quarter results next week, Singer Capital Markets reiterated its "buy" rating for investment manager Ashmore Group (ASHM) with a 430p target price. Despite Middle East issues and inflationary concerns, the broker believes that institutional demand for emerging market debt remains intact. That said, with market expectations for both flows and performance low, Singer thinks the update could provide a positive catalyst to the firm's 'under-performing' shares. Shares in Ashmore moved up 4.6p to 350.4p.

Panmure Gordon maintained its "buy" recommendation on Prudential (PRU), the financial services group, with an increased target price of 924p, up from 907p. While noting that 2010 results were "very good", the broker said they only represent only part of the investment case with "optionality" over the Asian operation expected by 2013. In the meantime, Panmure said it expected that shareholders will be rewarded with a "significant" return of capital. Prudential shares increased 9p to 738.5p.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104061407414249E

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104061131244095E

Majority of RAB Special Situations investors bale Date: Wednesday 06 Apr 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Fund manager RAB Capital said it expects that 79% of the RAB Special Situations (Master) Fund will be repaid to investors when the Fund reopens for subscription and redemptions on 1 October 2011. The company, which had invited investors to submit redemption notices by 4 April, said the level of redemptions was in line with expectations and that it has adequate liquid resources to pay out shareholders in full. "We are pleased to be in a position to fulfil our pledge to pay out those investors who wish to redeem from the fund," said Philip Richards, co-founder of RAB Capital, and manager of the Special Situations fund. Henceforth, the fund will concentrate on natural resources and on more liquid investments than in the past. “We look forward to deploying the skills of our natural resources investment team in new and more liquid strategies, where we have demonstrated outperformance in the past, including a revised mandate for the Special Situations Fund and the UCITS strategies that will launch next week," Charles Kirwan-Taylor. --- jh

Lord Bell said 'Sports Marketing has been a great success for Chime and the acquisition of Icon will greatly enhance the range of our activities in this area. Icon is an attractive business at an attractive price. The acquisition of the two minority interests is in line with our strategy of buying out over time minority interests in businesses which Chime has set up with founding management. We continue to look at other acquisitions which will increase the scope of our business and the additional cash raised in the placing will ensure that our balance sheet remains conservatively financed whilst giving us the financial flexibility we need.'

Acquisitions, vendor placing and cash placing Highlights · Acquisition of Icon, an experiential sports marketing business, specialising in bringing brands to life at sporting events around the world, for an initial consideration of £11 million to be satisfied as to 65% by way of a vendor placing and 35% in new ordinary shares plus deferred contingent consideration. Clients of Icon include UEFA, FIFA and the Ryder Cup · Acquisition of minority interests in Bell Pottinger Middle East and Facts International financed primarily from the proceeds of the placing · Placing of £12.25 million at 260 pence per ordinary share by way of a vendor placing of £7.15 million and cash placing of £5.1 million underwritten by Numis Securities Limited ('Numis') · Cash available for other acquisitions

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201104060700073890E