Member Info for mulledwine

Paving stones group Marshalls’ full-year results are tipped to show a 4% increase in group sales to £323m and pre-tax profits of just shy of £10m.

Elektron in line Date: Thursday 10 Mar 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Instrumentation and electronics supplier Elektron says that trading is in line with expectations in the year to January 2011. AIM-quoted Elektron says that it will release its full year figures on 12 May. Geoff Spink, who joined Elektron as finance director, when his previous company Hartest Holdings was aquired, is stepping down from the board later this year after the next set of interim results. House broker FinnCap forecasts an underlying 2010-11 profit of £4.85m. The shares have trebled in the past year but they are trading on less than nine times 2010-11 prospective earnings. Based on a dividend of 0.75p a share, the yield is more than 2%.

Andi Case, Chief Executive, commented: "The dedication, commitment and professionalism of every one of the Clarksons' teams has once again been exceptional, matched only by their performance in terms of results achieved. Clarksons continues to gain from increased trading volumes against a backdrop of volatile freight rates in the first few weeks of 2011. I firmly believe our business is now in excellent shape, supported by a strong balance sheet, to take advantage as market conditions evolve and opportunities arise."

SUMMARY · Excellent performance delivered by the Clarksons team enabled the group to exceed financial expectations over the course of 2010 · Continued growth in market share across all broking divisions, consolidating Clarksons' positions as market leader, despite uncertain shipping markets · Significant new hires in 2010 across global network to further strengthen the group's best in class teams · Strong balance sheet, with all bank borrowings repaid since the year-end

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201103100700116617C

Clarkson wary over oil rise impact Date: Thursday 10 Mar 2011 LONDON (ShareCast) - Shipping services specialist Clarkson delivered on its bullish December update by lifting full year 2010 profits from £22.5m to £32.4m. Revenue was up 14.7% to £202.6m (2009: £176.7m), reflecting a strong broking division contribution as global shipping markets rebounded. "Recent unforeseeable events have shown the world to be uncertain and have led to increased volatility across markets but particularly in commodities. Rates in shipping and offshore markets have started to reflect this but the full effects will only be seen as the future unfolds," chief executive Andi Case said. The dividend for the year rises to 47p from 43p.

Goldman Sachs , a neutral for PZ Cussons, cutting target to 383p from 433p

Goldman Sachs , downgrades Dairy Crest to Conviction Sell from sell, cutting target to 302p from 364p,

Goldman Sachs upgrades Imperial Tobacco to neutral from buy with a GBP25.40 target

Goldman Sachs downgrades AB Foods to a Conviction Sell from sell, cutting target to 878p from GBP10.20,

http://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/Companies/ByEvent/Results/Analysis/article/20110309/2df8a584-4a33-11e0-937f-00144f2af8e8/Prudential-steps-up-a-gear.jsp?utm_campaign=IC%2BDaily%2B-%2BFree&utm_source=emailCampaign&utm_medium=email

Trading at Elektron (EKT) for the year ended 31st January 2011 is expected to be in line with market expectations, the manufacture of engineered components announced ahead of preliminary results. The group, which supplies customers worldwide, also revealed that its finance director, Geoff Spink, will be leaving the company. Elektron shares lost 1.25p to 35.75p.

Full-year results at Managed Support Services (MSS), before exceptional items, will be below market expectations, the business solutions supplier announced after experiencing "very weak" trading in December and January and some contract losses. The group added that full-year turnover for the current year is expected to be approximately 26-27 million pounds. Managed Support Services shares dropped 1.25p to 3.875p.

Ric Traynor, Executive Chairman of Begbies Traynor Group, said: "The core insolvency business has now stabilised in line with national appointment trends. We have taken strong action to realign costs to enhance profitability at current levels of activity, following the disappointing trading performance in the year to date. However, we have maintained our market leading position in insolvency and the Group remains well-placed to take full advantage of any upturn in its markets from its current cost base."

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201103100700076516C

Shares in Begbies Traynor Group (BEG) fell 9.5p to 49p after the professional services consultancy announced a reduction in its expectations for the year due to a lower than expected performance from the company's tax division. "The tax division is performing below management expectations in the second half, resulting from a reduced demand for tax planning services," the group commented.

In a move to enhance its commercial proposition and competitive position, Playtech (PTEC), the software developer to the online, mobile and land-based gaming industry, has entered into an agreement to acquire PT Turnkey Services for an initial cash consideration of 140 million euros. Commenting on this, chief executive Mor Weizer said: "The increasing opportunities for Playtech to provide its services in regulated markets have significantly increased the strategic and commercial rationale for these affiliate businesses to be part of Playtech." The acquisition is due to complete on 30 June 2011. The shares slipped 14.5p to 353.5p.

Trading in 2011 at Densitron Technologies (DSN) has commenced in a positive manner, the manufacturer of information display systems announced in a trading update, with orders, sales and margin significantly ahead of the same period a year earlier. The group also revealed a strong recovery during 2010 with profit from operations - excluding the exceptional loss made on the disposal of Evervision - "materially" ahead of 2009 and in line with market expectations. Densitron shares gained 0.625p to 14.375p.

British funeral parlour and crematoria firm Dignity (DTY) posted an 8% jump in underlying pre-tax profit for the year ended 31st December 2010, driven by a "strong" trading performance from all areas of the business, and said it was confident of its 2011 prospects. The UK's only listed funeral services provide reported an underlying pre-tax profit of 40.4 million pounds on revenue 8% greater at 199.1 million pounds. Commenting on this, chief executive Mike McCollum said: "2011 has started well and the board remains confident in the group's prospects." Dignity shares moved up 23.25p to 740.25p.

Despite the challenging UK consumer environment, pub operator Punch Taverns (PUB) announced further progress in all areas of the business with a 8.6% growth in sales over the second quarter ended 5th March 2011. Looking ahead, the group said it remained confident of further improvements being delivered in the second half of the financial year and was on track to meet its full year expectations. Punch shares rose 4.675p to 75.675p.