Broker snap: Smooth Finnish deal for Playtech
20th May 2010 12:46
KBC Peel Hunt has reiterated its 'buy' recommendation for Playtech after the online games developer announced another deal with a state operator, in this case Finnish state gaming operator RAY. "RAY was established over 70 years ago and we understand that the tender process was extremely rigorous.
Read moreMolins directors buy first shares
6th May 2010 16:41
Three of the five directors of Molins, including the capital equipment supplier's chief executive, have acquired 20,000 shares each. Chief executive Dick Hunter and non-executive directors John Allkins and Andrew Cripps have each paid 67.5p a share, which makes their individual investments £13,500
Read moreAcquisitions help Playtech to grow
5th May 2010 17:13
Online games developer Playtech reported further growth in the first quarter of 2010. Gross income was 29% ahead of one year earlier at €43.4m. The main growth is coming from casinos. Acquisitions have helped to boost growth. The share of profit from William Hill Online was €7.4m, a 49% increase o
Read moreThursday tips round-up: Hikma, IG Group, Derwent
18th Mar 2010 06:12
Hikma's forecast of "low teens" growth in branded drugs in 2010 was lower than some stockbrokers ? such as Panmure Gordon ? had been expecting. The corollary is that Hikma expects US generic drugs and injectable medicines, its two other businesses, to grow more strongly than before. But at 580p, d
Read moreLondon close: Gains pared at the close
17th Mar 2010 16:48
London's gains were trimmed just before the close as traders took a few profits before heading off to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Nevertheless, it was the highest close for the Footsie since the middle of 2008. Mining stocks led the advance, despite conflicting views in the broking community on th
Read moreLondon afternoon: Brokers in miners disagreement
17th Mar 2010 14:29
A firm opening by Wall Street gave UK shares an additional fillip over the lunchtime trading session. Miners are leading the advance, despite conflicting views in the broking community on their merits. Societe Generale is in the bearish camp, cutting sector giants BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto from 'b
Read moreLondon open: Footsie pushes on
17th Mar 2010 08:47
London has pushed on again this morning following strength on Wall Street late yesterday as US interest rates remained on hold. Miners have picked up as the dollar weakened after the decision by the Federal Reserve. Best performers so far include silver miner Fresnillo, Xstrata and ENRC. Aquarius P
Read morePlaytech lifted by WHO
17th Mar 2010 07:35
Gaming software specialist Playtech's underlying profits rose by a quarter last year as it got a boost from its joint venture with bookmaker William Hill. Gross income rose by 23% to €137.3m reflecting first time income from William Hill Online, where it owns a 29% stake. Underlying earnings rose 2
Read moreSportech to buy SGR for up to $83m
27th Jan 2010 08:31
Football pools company Sportech has agreed to buy SGR, a provider of pari-mutuel wagering services and systems, for up to $83m. The consideration will comprise an initial consideration of $65m payable at completion, deferred consideration of $10m payable on 30 September 2013 and further deferred co
Read moreWednesday tips round-up: Severn Trent, De La Rue, Gulfsands
27th Jan 2010 06:56
Severn Trent's chief executive, Tony Wray, has now confirmed the water utility has no plans for a rights issue, although it is cutting the dividend by 10%. The Independent generally is bearish about the water sector, but Severn Trent, which trades at about 1.5 times next year's earnings and yield mo
Read morePlaytech Q4 gross income up 21%
26th Jan 2010 07:29
Online gambling software firm Playtech said fourth quarter gross income surged 21% after good performances from casino, Italian poker and as it took a share of profit in William Hill Online. In the four months ended 31 December 2009 gross income rose to €38.5m compared with €31.9m in the previous
Read moreTuesday preview: Sage, PZ Cussons, UK GDP
25th Jan 2010 13:36
The share price of Newcastle-based accountancy software firm Sage is floating around its 52-week high ahead of tomorrow’s first quarter interim management statement. The company saw market conditions stabilise in the second half of its previous financial year and broker Panmure Gordon, a long time
Read moreWilliam Hill ends year strongly
20th Jan 2010 07:09
Charles Scott, chairman of William Hill since 2004, is to stand down as the bookmaker reported healthy trading in the final three months of 2009. Scott, who will stay on until a successor is found, added that he is leaving the business in "excellent shape". In a trading statement today, Hill add
Read moreSmall caps round-up: MobilityOne, Delta, Playtech...
8th Dec 2009 08:52
Shares in MobilityOne jumped after the electronic payments group said it had raised £365,000 through a placing 'for general capital purposes.' Shares in Baltic Oil Terminals, which has port operations for the shipment of oil in the Russian territory of Kaliningrad, jumped after it said had agreed t
Read moreSmall cap round-up: Entertainment One, Plethora, Goldstone...
23rd Nov 2009 13:17
Film distributor Entertainment One reports record takings for the UK and Canadian opening of The Twilight Saga: New Moon, the sequel to the 2008 box office hit Twilight. New Moon, a film about vampires, has already generated an estimated weekend box office of more than £11m in the UK and $11m in C
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