Shares digital

While Tesco (TSCO) has complained about the Competition Commission’s findings into food retailing in the UK, Nick Bubb of brokers Pali International believes the report is ‘remarkably benign’ and that Sir Terry Leahy’s company must be inwardly very satisfied with... READ MORE >>

Despite announcing a 10% hike in its dividend alongside numbers for the year, Barclays (BARC) was down around 1% as yet another unpleasant surprise emerged from the credit crisis. Credit Suisse, which until now had been relatively unscathed by the turmoil, announced a £1.5 billion... READ MORE >>

Precious metals producer Oxus Gold (OXS:AIM) has concluded nearly four years of legal battles. It has settled out of court with Eurogold (EUG:AIM) over an aborted Ukrainian asset transaction. It has paid A$7.95 million in cash and shares to end a spat over pulling out of buying gold projects... READ MORE >>

Even the hedge funds have struggled to keep track of the recent bout of volatility in global financial markets. Index compiler Hedge Fund Research (HFR) recorded across-the-board losses from the industry during January. But Man Group (EMG) and Ashmore (ASHM) bucked the trend. The key Man... READ MORE >>

Television shopping specialist Ideal Shopping (IDS:AIM) has admitted to talks, believed to be with a private equity house, over a possible takeover. Ideal is strongly cash-generative and one of only four companies to have a shopping channel on Freeview. Talks are at an early stage but... READ MORE >>

Natural resources group Carnegie Minerals (CME:AIM) has fiercely denied allegations it has been illegally mining uranium in Gambia. The company’s mineral sands operations have been shut down after the government ordered an investigation of its activities, resulting in its mining... READ MORE >>

The recapitalisation under new ownership of Eclipse Aviation is good news for aerospace and precision engineering group Hampson Industries (HAMP). Hampson hit unexpected turbulence last year when it had to sue for £3 million in unpaid bills for work on the Eclipse jet commuter plane.... READ MORE >>

January’s profit warning has hammered shares in e-learning software expert NetDimensions (NETD:AIM) and left them languishing at 18.5p, miles below May 2007’s 62p flotation price. Yet a contract win from Endsleigh Insurance last week suggests the sell off could be over done,... READ MORE >>

Shareholders in recruiter Imprint (IMP:AIM) will next Friday (29 February) cast a final vote on the firm’s takeover. The board has recommended Hydrogen’s (HYDG:AIM) offer, backed by private equity group 3i QPE and rejected OPD (OPD). Hydrogen needs at least 75% of votes to... READ MORE >>

January’s quarterly trading update from the London Stock Exchange (LSE) offered some tantalising hints but Tuesday’s publication of January’s market report revealed the true scale of the UK equity market’s recent... READ MORE >>

Shares in Plant Health Care (PHC:AIM) ticked up to 247.5p after it revealed that its ‘N-Hibit Partnership’ programme with The American Soybean Association (ASA) had been enhanced with a ‘Satisfaction Guarantee’ for the 2008 growing season. The new programme provides... READ MORE >>

A Q1 trading statement from Southern Cross Healthcare (SCHE) saw revenue up 29.6% to £262.6 million, and boosted the shares 11% to 407p. Occupancy averaged 89.8%, reflecting lower rates over winter, but demand for UK care home services remains strong. The group also secured an additional... READ MORE >>

With the need for greener travel continuing to edge higher on the government’s agenda, one company to potentially reap the benefits is Oxonica (OXN:AIM), whose shares soared 120% to 49.5p following an important further validation of its Envirox fuel borne... READ MORE >>

Even though it has built up a 24.2% stake, Dana Petroleum (DNX) has so far refused to comment on whether it intends to launch a formal bid for Faroe Petroleum (FPM:AIM). Dana’s stake building has driven Faroe’s shares from 138p to 171.5p in the last month. Faroe has also been... READ MORE >>

The shares of Sepura (SEPU) last week slid to 126.5p, their lowest level since last August’s flotation at 145p, after management admitted the third quarter had seen two key UK contracts suffer delays. Cambridge-based Sepura, which specialises in TETRA (Terrestrial Trunked Radio)... READ MORE >>

Aim-listed oil service firm Lamprell (LAM:AIM) should become a FTSE 250 constituent before the end of the year. The Dubai-based company, which builds new oil rigs and services old ones for multinational drilling companies, also announced a new $51 million contract with the National... READ MORE >>

Gourmet sausage manufacturer Cranswick (CWK) has been delisted as a supplier by Prince Charles’ Duchy Originals. This could make it hard to bounce back from this month’s profit warning, which was blamed upon difficulties in recouping higher meat prices, a situation likely to... READ MORE >>