Member Info for mulledwine

Commenting on the results, Peter Hems, Executive Chairman of Billington Holdings, said: "2010 was another challenging year for the construction and structural steelwork industry. Despite this we have remained profitable and ended the year with a net cash balance of £4.9 million. "The disposal of our loss making non-core assets, Dosco and Hollybank last year, allowed us to focus on our main business of structural steel and related building safety systems, which we believe leaves us better placed for recovery." Commenting on the results, Steve Fareham, Chief Executive, added : "I am under no illusion as to the difficulties we face in 2011, but I believe with the support of a strong and focused management team, an excellent workforce and a robust balance sheet, Billington is in good shape to weather this storm and emerge as an even stronger entity."

Highlights · Robust set of results in challenging conditions with an overall profit of £0.8 million · Focused on its core business, following the disposal of non-core, loss making Dosco Overseas Engineering Limited and its subsidiary Hollybank Engineering Company Limited · Well placed to exploit opportunities and grow market share · Increased activity levels and order book visibility to six months · Strong balance sheet providing a degree of security in current difficult market conditions

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201103150700089182C

Standard Life rated Underperform at Jefferies Written by Will Peters Tuesday, 15 March 2011 11:36 Key risks are changes to the pensions legislation as Standard Life's product mix is narrow and over exposed to this area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Standard Life Plc (LON:SL) is rated as 'underperform' at Jefferies who have set a target share price of 212p. Standard Life shares are lower at 211 this morning in line with weak global equity markets. According to analysts, 2010 profit beat consensus due to a one-off reserve release and assumption changes to the staff pension scheme. A high recurring investment spend leaves the view at Jefferies unchanged. A morning analyst note from the investment goes on to say: "Standard Life is expensive on 17x 2011E IFRS earnings. Although this includes development expenses, the underlying P/E remains high at around 13x compared with an average for the UK Life sector of around 9x. "The price to EV appears less challenging at 0.7x but the market remains skeptical over this support. We value SL at £2.12 per share, based on Embedded Value cross checked back to IFRS earnings and cash generation. "Key risks are changes to the pensions legislation as Standard Life's product mix is narrow and over exposed to this area. In addition the risk of adverse persistency remains if a competitor offers a better technology platform."

BG Group (LON:BG) is rated Overweight / Neutral and has a target price of 1600 set. Upside here is about 7%.

My buy at 10:28 is showing as a sell

Didnt take a quote to buy at 2.59 - grrrr - settled for 2.62 - lets see what happens -

Buys outstripping sells

Impressive results. Must be genuine upside from current level.

Clifford Elphick, CEO, commented: "2011 has begun on an extremely positive note. Not only have rough diamond prices continued to increase as a result of perceived supply shortages, but polished prices have too, and volumes of trading are pleasing. Management has been concentrating on delivery of growth and control of costs. Much effort has been expended on these aspects of the Company's activities and it is pleasing to report to shareholders the fruits of these labours. The Company is very well placed with a pipeline of opportunities and a balance sheet to fund them." The Company will be hosting an analyst presentation on its Full Year Results today, which will take place at 9.30am. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on the Company's website: www.gemdiamonds.com.

Corporate Highlights: § Mining licence awarded for the Gope deposit in Botswana, and plans are underway for construction of a mine at Gope. § Growth plan underway for overall value increase at Letšeng. § Letšeng gained control of own sales and marketing, with strategies in place to develop its downstream activities and capabilities. HSSE Highlights: § Lost time injury free over 14 months, in excess of 5 million man hours worked at year end. § Fatality-free for 2 years and 9 months at year end. § Both Letšeng and Ellendale mines retained their 4 star ratings in external HSSE audits, with both recording zero major and/or significant environmental incidents in the year.

Financial Highlights § Revenue US$266.4 million. § EBITDA US$82.0 million, up 47% from 2009. § Profit before tax from continuing operations US$54.5million, up 39% from 2009. § Profit for the year of US$36.2 million, up 43% from 2009 § Attributable profit US$20.2 million (15 US cents per share). § Year end cash on hand of US$129.8 million. Operational Highlights: § Strong recovery in prices for rough diamonds in last quarter 2010. § More than 500 rough diamonds greater than 10.8 carats in size recovered in 2010 at Letšeng. § Three remarkable diamonds (196ct, 184ct and 116ct) recovered at Letšeng in the year. § 25% price increase for Ellendale's fancy yellow diamonds sold to Tiffany & Co.

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201103150700129327C

Gem Diamonds boosted by rising prices Date: Tuesday 15 Mar 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Record average prices for stones from its Letšeng and Ellendale mines towards the end of 2010 helped diamond miner Gem lift profits by nearly 40% last year. Revenues in 2010 rose to $266m from $243m, underlying profits rose by 47% to $82m and pre-tax profits rose 39% to $54.5m. Apart from a recovery in prices for rough diamonds in last quarter, Gem fund more than 500 rough diamonds greater than 10.8 carats in size at Letšeng and three remarkable diamonds (196ct, 184ct and 116ct). Prices for Ellendale's fancy yellow diamonds sold to Tiffany & Co also rose by 25%. "2011 has begun on an extremely positive note. Not only have rough diamond prices continued to increase as a result of perceived supply shortages, but polished prices have too, and volumes of trading are pleasing. Management has been concentrating on delivery of growth and control of costs," chief executive Clifford Elphick said.

Very real potential for a 10% rise here when market turmoil calms

Small caps round-up: Cluff Gold, Date: Tuesday 15 Mar 2011 West Africa focused miner Cluff Gold started fresh exploration at its wholly-owned Baomahun gold project in Sierra Leone. “With five drill rigs due to be operating at Baomahun during Q2 2011, this represents the most ambitious drilling programme undertaken to-date at Baomahun. We look forward to reporting the results from this exploration work in due course," boss Peter Spivey said.

Date: Tuesday 15 Mar 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Diagnostics company Axis-Shield turned over more than £100m for the first time last year and has paid a maiden dividend. Revenue rose 5% to £101.7m in 2010, though underlying profit fell from £8.1m to £7.1m. Profit, including £3.1m of currency and disposal gain in 2009 dropped from £11m to £7.5m. There’s a dividend of 1p per share and trading so far in 2011 has started well and in line with market expectations despite some “currency headwinds”.

This document will be the" war and peace" equivalent of annual reports!

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20110315120014P7AAD

"ahead of our anticipated schedule - an unfamiliar term in this business! - good news