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In the Telegraph, Questor flirts with utility company SSE (formerly Scottish and Southern Energy). It said last week it was committed to dividend increases 2% above RPI, since then it has announced several big projects including the financial close on its Yorkshire waste contract worth £750m and a further £300m at its Ferrybridge power station (also in Yorkshire). Combined with a contract to develop a huge wind farm off the coast of the Shetland Islands and Questor admits the company is doing well. However, trading on a price to earnings multiple of 12.1 for 2012 and 11.1 the year after, the recommendation is still hold.

Fracking doubts take toll on Weir Group Tim Sharp City Editor MORE than £178.4 million was wiped off the value of Glasgow-based engineering giant Weir Group yesterday, after a cut in Royal Bank of Canada's price target led the stock to continue on its five-week fall. RBC analyst Andrew Carter reduced his target for the stock from 2500p to 2400p, amid concerns among investors about demand from the fracking industry for Weir equipment. His target is still well ahead of Weir Group's current share price of 1705p, after an 84p or 4.7% decline yesterday. This values the company at a total of £3.6 billion. It has fallen from 2236p since the end of February. Analysts are divided over whether investment in the nascent fracking industry, in which liquid is injected into rocks at high pressure to release the oil or gas they contain, will fall due to the recent gas price decline. But Mr Carter remains among the more bullish in the sector. He said: "The outlook for Weir's upstream original equipment pumps business has been of significant investor interest in recent weeks. "It is important it is kept in perspective however – we estimate it only represented 9% of group sales in 2011." He predicts a 15% fall in fracking equipment sales this year, offset by 30% growth in the after-market. He has cut his earnings estimates for the group by between 5% and 6%.

FURTHER CAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENT (JSE) In compliance with JSE Limited ("JSE") Listings Requirement 3.9 and with reference to the cautionary announcement published on 2 September 2011 and the further cautionary announcements published on 13 October 2011, 24 November 2011, 10 January 2012 and 21 February 2012 on the Stock Exchange News Service of the JSE and on the Regulatory News Service of the London Stock Exchange, SacOil shareholders ("Shareholders") are advised that the Company is still in the process of considering various proposals and potential transactions, which if successfully concluded, may have a material effect on the price of SacOil ordinary shares ("Shares"). Accordingly, Shareholders are advised to continue to exercise caution when dealing in their Shares until a further announcement is made in this regard. http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=201204040836497950A&fe=1

Shanks (SKS) reported that it has won a 25 year, 750 million pound contract for the treatment of black bag waste in the Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham councils, in a joint venture with power company SSE (SSE). The waste management firm will build a recycling plant by 2015 which is expected to treat up to 265,000 tonnes of waste per year until 2040. Shanks shares inched up by 0.2p to 98.95p, while SSE shares rose 26p to 1,355p. SSE to build multifuel power plant in West Yorkshire LONDON (SHARECAST) - SSE, the power company formerly known as Scottish and Southern Energy, has entered into a 50:50 joint venture to develop a new 300m-pound multifuel power plant at its Ferrybridge site in West Yorkshire. The joint venture - Multifuel Energy Ltd - expects to begin construction of a 68MW facility in late 2012 and complete the project by early 2015. SSE claims hundreds of jobs will be created during the construction phase, while 50 new full time jobs will be required once the plant is fully operational. The joint venture has entered into a long-term fuel procurement contract with 3SE, another joint-venture, this time with waste management outfit Shanks. This contract will provide waste-derived fuels using waste taken from nearby Barnsley, Rotherham and Doncaster councils. SSE makes clear the new multifuel pant is not intended to replace the existing 1,000MW of coal capacity which is closing in 2015. SSE says it has not yet made a decision on the future of Ferrybridge power station. SSE's Managing Director of Generation, Paul Smith said: "Multifuel technology is a tried and tested way of generating clean, base-load power. This new multifuel plant will provide additional diversity to SSE's generation portfolio and make a useful contribution to ensuring we have reliable energy supplies for the future.”

SSE Sees 80P FY12 Dividend, Adjusted Profit Similar To Past 3 Years Date: 7:19 am, 30 Mar 2012 / DJ LONDON (Dow Jones)--Utility firm SSE PLC (SSE.LN) said Friday it continues to expect to deliver a full-year dividend increase of at least 2% more than RPI inflation, and of around 80 pence per share, and deliver an increase in adjusted profit before tax for fiscal 2012 at a level similar to that achieved in each of the last three years. MAIN FACTS: -Financial statements for fiscal 2012 are likely to include a non-cash exceptional impairment in the book value of Keadby and Medway power stations. -SSE's capital and investment expenditure for fiscal 2012 is forecast to be around GBP1.7 billion; it is designed to support future dividend growth and SSE continues to prioritize the successful completion of key large capital projects. -Shares closed Thursday at 1322 pence valuing the company at GBP12.49 billion.

British Land Co PLC HUT JV Signs ?150 million Refinancing RNS Number : 4065A British Land Co PLC 30 March 2012  Hercules Unit Trust Joint Venture Signs £150 million Refinancing The Gibraltar Limited Partnership, a joint venture which is 50% owned by Hercules Unit Trust ("Hercules"), the specialist retail warehouse fund managed by Schroder Property and advised by British Land*, has agreed a new £150 million five year loan facility with Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG and Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale, London Branch. The loan will be used, together with existing cash held by the Partnership, to repay in full the existing debt finance, which would have matured in July 2012. The all-in rate on the loan, including margin and arrangement fee, is significantly less than the interest rate under the existing finance. Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG and Helaba Landesbank Hessen-Thüringen Girozentrale, London Branch have acted as Arrangers of the new facility and have provided the interest rate swap. Deutsche Pfandbriefbank AG will act as Facility Agent and Security Agent. When combined with the £350 million of financing signed in September 2011, Hercules and its joint venture partners have now successfully agreed £500 million of new finance within the last nine months. * British Land has a 41% interest in Hercules Unit Trust

http://citywire.co.uk/money/diary-of-a-top-stocker-pouncing-on-battered-weir/a578061?ref=citywire-money-shooting-gallery-list

· Block III asset update · Issue of shares for cash to YA Global Masters SPV Ltd · Appointment of auditors and joint broker 1. Block III asset update On 12 March 2012, Total E&P RDC ("Total") acquired a further 6.66% effective interest in Block III from DIG Oil Proprietary Limited ("DIG"), a shareholder in Semliki Energy SPRL ("Semliki"). Pursuant to the acquisition, Total's holding in Block III increased to 66.66%, whereas SacOil's effective interest remains unchanged at 12.5%, DIG's holding reduces to 5.84% and the Democratic Republic of Congo ("DRC") Government retains 15.0%. As a result of this transaction, Semliki, a company incorporated in the DRC and through which SacOil and DIG own their interests in Block III, is now owned 68% by SacOil and 32% by DIG. SacOil's effective interest of 12.5%, its entitlement to contingent cash bonuses of USD$54m and a free carry on all exploration expenses up to final investment decision (when a development plan is approved) remains unchanged. DIG and SacOil are pursuing additional assets in the DRC. 2. Issue of shares for cash to YA Global Masters SPV Ltd ("YA") SacOil shareholders ("Shareholders") are advised that 29 328 257 new SacOil ordinary shares ("SEDA Shares") will be issued to YA at a price of R0.43 per SEDA Share pursuant to the terms of the Standby Equity Distribution Agreement dated 12 October 2011 and approved by Shareholders in a general meeting on 17 November 2011. Application has been made to the JSE Limited ("JSE") to grant a listing of the SEDA Shares and to the London Stock Exchange for the admission of the SEDA Shares to trading on the AIM Market ("AIM"). The listing of the SEDA Shares on the JSE and the admission of the SEDA Shares to trading on AIM are expected to take place on Wednesday, 4 April 2012. The proceeds of the issue of the SEDA Shares will be utilised towards funding of corporate costs in relation to potential transactions and proposals. 3. Appointment of auditors and joint broker The Company is pleased to announce the following appointments effective 26 March 2012: · Ernst & Young Inc. (South Africa) as independent external auditors; and · First Energy Capital as joint broker (United Kingdom). FirstEnergy is a leading international energy-focused bank, providing full-service energy investment banking operations. FirstEnergy's UK activities include corporate broking, equity research, sales and trading, corporate mergers and acquisitions and oil and gas property acquisitions and divestiture advisory. http://www.investegate.co.uk/article.aspx?id=201203290700112955A&fe=1

holdings......hello pablo2..I hold weir but only post any news...ATB http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=20120323155620H6870

22 March 2012 - Horizonte Minerals Plc, (AIM: HZM, TSX: HZM) ('Horizonte' or 'the Company') the exploration and development company focused in Brazil, held its Annual General Meeting yesterday and all resolutions were duly passed. At the meeting, CEO Jeremy Martin made the following statement: "This has been an excellent year of progress for Horizonte, which has seen the Company advance its flagship 100% owned Araguaia nickel project, located south of the Carajás Mineral district in northern Brazil, into one of the leading nickel development projects in the country. In January, we delivered an updated 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate of 39.3 million tonnes ('Mt') grading 1.39% nickel ('Ni') in the Indicated category and 60.9Mt averaging 1.22% Ni in the Inferred category. Within this resource there is a high grade core comprising, 24.2Mt grading 1.6% Ni at a 1.2% Ni cut off grade which is vital for early mine life economics. "We have delivered on our key milestones at Araguaia, within budget and on schedule, as we take the project through to feasibility stage. The recent initial metallurgical testing was a major step in de-risking the project. The highly encouraging results, which demonstrated two process routes that with additional testing are potentially suitable for commercial production, will feed into the Preliminary Economic Assessment, due to be delivered in Q2 2012. "With a strong cash position of £5.8 million we are well placed to meet our commitments in 2012 as we work towards completing our prefeasibility study at Araguaia in the first half of 2013. We are also looking to further consolidate our land position around Araguaia with the aim of increasing our resource potential and maximising our exposure in a country with significant nickel production, as demonstrated by Vale and Anglo American's new nickel mines in the region. "Whilst our main focus is on the 100% owned Araguaia Nickel Project, the fully funded Brazilian gold JV on the Falcao Project, provides value uplift to the Company. With a second year of funding secured from AngloGold Ashanti, I look forward to updating shareholders on progress in due course. "As I intimated, this has been a good year for Horizonte, which has seen us secure a secondary listing on the Toronto Stock Exchange and hit our key milestones in progressing our portfolio of Brazilian assets as they are moved up the development curve. Going forward, all the foundations are in place from which to deliver significant growth as we develop what we believe is the next major nickel project in Brazil." The above information has been reviewed and verified by Mr. David J. Hall, EuroGeol for the purposes of the Guidance Note for Mining, Oil and Gas Companies issued by the London Stock Exchange in June 2009 and Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101.

Costain Engineer Wins ICE Medal 12 March 2012 Costain’s Eamonn Slevin is the winner of this year’s James Rennie Medal Award, following the annual event at the Institution of Civil Engineers’ (ICE) London HQ on March 1. The award brings both the prestige of the James Rennie Medal as well as a £1,000 prize. It is named after the man who in 1930 became the ICE’s youngest member and spent 70 years in the profession. To give some idea of the scale of Eamonn’s achievement, the event is open to all engineers who gain Chartered status over the preceding year. In 2011, some 1,100 achieved this and the ICE initially picked a shortlist of 12 before narrowing that down to just three finalists. Eamonn’s rivals were Nikolaos Socratous, a Structural Engineer with Arup Associates and Tom Wilcock, a Senior Engineer with Arup. Eamonn, who is Construction Manager on the M53 Bidston Moss Viaduct Strengthening Scheme, presented and defended his Chartered Professional Review project report on the viaduct to a four-strong judging panel and audience. “It was an overview of the project and some of the challenges I encountered,” said Eamonn, who admitted to some trepidation at presenting his project report. “Even though I carry out monthly briefings to large numbers of staff and personnel I found it a little nerve-racking.” The Bidston Moss project involved strengthening the viaduct on The Wirral that carries the M53 motorway over a railway and roundabout. The 730m-long, 37-span steel box-girder structure dates back to 1969. Like many bridges of that construction method and vintage, structural updating was required to remove the BD79 weight restrictions and monitoring regime. Without the refurbishment works the viaduct faced closure, a move that would have had considerable economic repercussions for the Liverpool area. The BD79 restrictions were removed three months early and the scheme is due to handover ahead of programme before the end of the month. The necessary strengthening saw 600 tonnes of steel installed inside 3.7km of box girders. The project was also notable for using 2,800 tonnes of scaffolding and containment – the largest scaffolding installation in the UK at the time. Among the challenges faced by Eamonn, who was also Temporary Works Coordinator, were the risks of working at height given the huge amounts of scaffolding involved and the logistic challenge associated with large numbers of people working inside the confined surroundings of the box girders. Costain was one of the four sponsors of this year’s award. "Costain was delighted to sponsor the 2012 James Rennie Medal Award because its aims resonate so well with our target of developing our people,” said Darren James, Managing Director, Infrastructure. Darren is himself a previous holder of the James Rennie Medal, winning the inaugural competition in 1996. Simon Ellison, Project

MIDAS EXTRA UPDATE: Selling British marine expertise keeps James Fisher buoyant James Fisher started out as a shipbuilder in Barrow-in-Furness 165 years ago. Still based in Cumbria, the company is now a world leader in specialised marine services, ranging from ship-to-ship oil transfer many miles out to sea to submarine rescue and maintenance. Customers include BP and the Royal Navy, but a growing proportion of profits come from overseas, particularly Asia but also Latin America and Africa. Buoyant: James Fisher's customers include BP and the Royal Navy Encouragingly, too, most of James Fisher’s employees are British-based engineers who export their skills and experience to other parts of the world. Last week, the company delivered full-year figures for 2011 showing a 15 per cent sales rise to £308million and an 11 per cent increase in pre-tax profits to £30million. Indicating his confidence in the future, chairman Tim Harris raised the dividend by 21 per cent to 48p. The company’s offshore oil division is doing particularly well and recently won a substantial contract from BP in Angola, but improvements were seen in all the group’s businesses last year and 2012 is expected to deliver more of the same. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/money/investing/article-2113192/MIDAS-EXTRA-UPDATE-Selling-British-marine-expertise-keeps-James-Fisher-buoyant.html#ixzz1ooIPbxye

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203081257259771Y

http://www.investegate.co.uk/Article.aspx?id=201203070700318497Y

6 March 2012 James Fisher and Sons plc Full Year Results 2011 James Fisher and Sons plc ("James Fisher"), the leading marine service provider, announces its results for the twelve months to 31 December 2011. 2011 2010 change Group revenue £307.6m £268.3m + 15% Underlying operating profit * £36.1m £32.5m + 11% Underlying profit before tax * £30.0m £27.1m + 11% Underlying diluted earnings per share * 48.4p 41.9p + 16% Proposed final dividend 10.74p 9.68p + 11% Statutory profit before tax £29.8m £25.9m + 15% Statutory diluted earnings per share 48.0p 39.7p + 21% * underlying profit excludes cost incurred making acquisitions and the amortisation of acquired intangibles Highlights: · An excellent year with Group revenue up 15%, underlying operating profit up 11% and underlying earnings per share up 16% · Specialist Technical, Defence and Offshore Oil divisions all enjoyed strong organic growth · Divisional management increasingly working together to win multi-skilled contracts, such as the BP Angola contract won post period-end · Strong results in Offshore Oil helped by the continued growth in the world's new oil provinces and a continuing recovery in North Sea markets · Defence revenue grew by over 30%, with James Fisher winning an £11m modernisation project for the Swedish Navy's rescue submarine · Marine Oil, despite tough markets, remained profitable and cash generative · Cash conversion of 105% and net gearing reduced to 75% at 31 December 2011 Commenting on the results, Chairman, Tim Harris, said: "James Fisher made excellent progress in 2011, with double-digit growth rates in both revenue and profit. Our largest divisions, Specialist Technical and Offshore, have strong growth records and will continue to be the prime focus for future investment in new equipment and bolt-on acquisitions. The prospects for James Fisher Everard, our tankship business, remain unchanged and dependent, to a large degree, on the state of the UK and European economies. It will improve when the current tonnage overcapacity unwinds but overall this division is of decreasing importance to the Group performance. Trading for 2012 to date has been to management expectations and we continue to be well placed to provide further growth and value for our shareholders."

PharaohM 595 NetleyLucas 550 Kayte 550 BPPensioner 548 peakoil 545 stockready 543 Baringup 535 memem 528.5 Bonz1957 525 Jamesmaggs 525 Thistle 523 buller 521.50 Lionofzion 519 lennymac 515 Chand 512 Philski 510 MARK4660 509 Inscrut 507.4 tommy123 505 Betelgeuse 503.89 geordierobbo 492 Albert.trotter 484 indefatigable 431 Hammi 395 urhavinalaugh 300

inscrut 507.4 lionofzion 519

Weir's profits rise 30% to £396m Glasgow engineering firm Weir Group has beaten its own profit targets three years early. The company planned to double its 2009 profits by 2014 but reached that milestone last year. In 2011, the group increased pre-tax profits by more than a third, making £396m. Weir said it had been able to "execute effectively our growth plans in positive conditions in our principal end markets". Keith Cochrane, Weir's chief executive, added: "We also progressed our strategic agenda with new product introductions, two acquisitions which further increase our exposure to fast growing markets and revenue growth from organic initiatives. "The group enters 2012 with a strong order book and with our clear strategy and flexible business model we expect a year of further good progress consistent with current consensus expectations." Weir has benefited from an increase in investment in conventional mining among its customers. It has also boosted its presence in the booming shale oil and gas industry in the US, with the acquisition last year of America's Seaboard Holdings. Texas-based Seaboard's expertise lies in "fracking", or fracturing, of shale formations to develop "unconventional" reserves of oil and gas. Weir is currently in a takeover battle for the Australian mining company Ludowici. The Scottish group is looking for a review of a decision by Australia's Takeover panel which ruled in favour of a rival bid for Ludowici earlier this week.

PharaohM 595 NetleyLucas 550 Kayte 550 peakoil 545 stockready 543 Baringup 535 Inscrut 535.89 ....feb comp thought it was in the bag...what happened..must have been that big chunk I sold....lol memem 528.5 Bonz1957 525 Jamesmaggs 525 Thistle 523 buller 521.50 lennymac 515 Chand 512 Philski 510 MARK4660 509 tommy123 505 Betelgeuse 503.89 geordierobbo 492 Albert.trotter 484 indefatigable 431 Hammi 395 urhavinalaugh 300

guess the closing sp for end of March Open to all....bit of fun...Please post your entries on the board by feb 29th....thanks PharaohM 595 NetleyLucas 550 Kayte 550 peakoil 545 stockready 543 Baringup 535 Inscrut 535.89 to be precise :o) memem 528.5 Bonz1957 525 Jamesmaggs 525 Thistle 523 buller 521.50 Chand 512 Philski 510 MARK4660 509 tommy123 505 Betelgeuse 503.89 geordierobbo 492 Albert.trotter 484 indefatigable 431 Hammi 395