Sunday share tips: Barratt, Monitise, AstraZeneca

29th Dec 2013 16:48

Buy Barratt Developments, the Sunday Telegraph's business editor Kamal Ahmed advised in correspondents' share tips for 2014. The Treasury's Help to Buy programme is underwriting 40% of house sales and the housebuilders are well positioned to take advantage of renewed growth and consumer confidence. Barratt's caution when it comes to buying land positions it to be the best performer in its sector.The Telegraph correspondents' other tips were:Louise Armitstead: Monitise shares have risen strongly but they are worth buying to tap into the growing use of mobile phones for banking.John Ficenec: AstraZeneca shares are cheap compared with its peers and the pharma giant is converting its pipeline of drugs in final stage of clinical trials.Emily Gosden: There is further to go for Drax shares. Drax has no retail business and is protected from the political turmoil surrounding other energy companies and conversion of its power station to biomass gains from renewable subsidies.Ben Martin: Prospects for defence equipment maker Chemring are looking up under new boss Mark Papworth. The economy in the US, its biggest market, is recovering and Chemring could attract bid interest.Graham Ruddick: Argos owner Home Retail looks a good bet to benefit from the UK's economic recovery and is sensibly switching Argos's focus towards online sales.James Quinn: If Chairman Martin Scicluna can recapitalise RSA Insurance then the group is a risky but potentially profitable buy for investors.Nathalie Thomas: The presence of US activist firm Sandell on FirstGroup's share register could accelerate management's turnaround plans after a rough 2013.Christopher Williams: Imagination Technologies' fortunes are tied to the rise of smartphones and tablets. That trend has further to go and courageous investors should pick up the cheap shares.Harry Wilson: Barclays is out of favour at the moment but its spending on technology and strong investment bank set it apart from rivals. After the events of the last 18 months most of any bad news is in the share price.Hold on to shares in Segro, Avacta and Fastnet Oil & Gas, the Mail on Sunday's Midas column said in a review of tips made a year ago. Segro, the business park owner, has performed well and is efficiently run and shareholders should expect further gains. Biotech business Avacta had a lacklustre year but is determined to improve so stick with the stock. After a year in which its shares fell from 22.25p to 12.25p Fastnet investors might feel like getting out but the oil explorer's bosses own 25% of the shares so it is probably best to hold on to hope they do better in 2014.Midas's recommendations concerning high-performing shares recommended during the year were:Online labour exchange Blur Group is tipped to keep growing but after the shares did well last year now is a good time to take some profit and sell half the stake.Avation shares are a good hold. They are unlikely to almost double as they did last year but the aircraft leaser is still expanding.Northbridge Industrial Services has an experience board and brokers expect more growth. Existing shareholders should hold and others should consider buying on weakness.Travis Perkins and Howden Joinery should continue to benefit from the recovering housing market in the next few months.Of two high-profile flotations, Merlin Entertainments is a definite hold while Royal Mail is a good long-term bet but investors could make good returns by selling the postal service's shares in the coming weeks.Cut losses and sell shares of Condor, the gold explorer, because the gold market is difficult to call. Technology company Carclo is a hold for those with patience but a sell for those of a nervous disposition.SFPlease note: Digital Look provides a round-up of news, tips and information that is impacting share prices and the market. Digital Look cannot take any responsibility for information provided by third parties. This is for your general information only as not intended to be relied upon by users in making an investment decision or any other decision. Please obtain a copy of the relevant publication and carry out your own research before considering acting on any of this information.