| The Markets There was good news for savers in the UK as the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation fell to 2.5% in August according to figures from the Office of National Statistics, down from from 2.6% in July. Lower rises in furniture and gas prices helped to offset higher petrol and rail travel costs. Meanwhile, problems in Spain continue to mount, with the level of bad debt held by banks in the country rising to nearly 170 billion euros (136.7 billion pounds) in July. This equates to 9.9% of the total value of loans, 50 basis point higher than in June. At the London close the Dow Jones was up by 4.87 points at 13,557.97 and the Nasdaq was down by 0.01 points at 2,856.43. In London the FTSE 100 fell by 25.36 points to 5,868.16; the FTSE 250 finished 147.18 points behind at 11,933.70; the FTSE All-Share lost 9.91 points to 3,067.85; and the FTSE AIM Index climbed by 0.21 points to 712.97. 
Broker Notes Panmure Gordon reiterated its "buy" recommendation for CVS Group (CVSG) with a 160p target price. The vet owner will release full year results on 25th September and the broker forecasts revenues of 107.4 million pounds and adjusted pre-tax profits of 11.1 million pounds. Panmure added that the company's online business, Animed Direct, performed well, with growth of 75% to 3.5 million pounds. The broker also noted that the firm managed to reduce its net debt position from 34 to 31 million pounds, despite acquiring six new practices. CVS shares jumped by 6p to 140p.  Cenkos Securities initiated coverage of ImmuPharma (IMM) with a "buy" recommendation and 232p target price. The broker noted that the biotechnology company's Lupus treatment Lupzor is set to begin Phase III trials, with approval granted by the Food and Drug Administration in the US as well as by authorities in Europe and Japan. Cenkos added that the firm's cancer treatment candidate IPP-204106 is about to begin Phase II trials. The shares slipped by 0.875p to 54p Shore Capital and Canaccord Genuity are at odds over Standard Chartered (STAN) with the former calling it a "buy" and the latter a "sell", with a 1,325p target price. Shore was encouraged to hear of the bank's goal to nearly double operating profits from its wholesale bank division to 10 billion dollars (6.2 billion pounds) by 2016. Meanwhile, Canaccord raised concerns over the group's growing dependence on unsecured lending to bolster profits at is consumer bank. Share in Standard Chartered dropped by 32.5p to 1,481.5p. Blue-Chips In order to further its expansion in Brazil, G4S (GFS) has agreed to buy security provider Vanguarda Seguranca e Vigilancia. The target has gross assets of 29 million pounds and provides security personnel and monitoring systems to a number of sectors, including banking, transportation and health. The move follows on from the security company's recent acquisition of Interactiva Service and the two businesses are expected to generate combined revenues of 165 million pounds. The shares inched up by 0.1p to 267p. 
Mid-Caps JD Sports Fashion (JD.) reported revenues of 556 million pounds for the 26 weeks ended 28th July, up 26.4% on 2011's comparable period, but pre-tax profits tumbled by 85.7% to 2.9 million pounds as it incurred a loss of 10 million pounds from its acquisition of Blacks. The sporting goods company said that the outdoor clothing chain, which it acquired out of administration, suffered from a lack of stock and a high cost base, but added that it has now fully restocked and is in the process of reorganising the business. Shares in JD Sports sank by 13p to 718.5p. 
Department store chain Debenhams (DEB) said that it enjoyed like-for-like sales growth of 2.3% for the year ended 1st September, with market share gains in the key womenswear market. The group added that online sales rose by 40% and that it expects pre-tax profits to be in-line with market forecasts. The company also noted that it had reduced its net debt by 15 million pounds to 370 million pounds and announced plans for a new share buyback programme. The shares were unchanged at 99.45p. Galliford Try (GFRD) achieved pre-tax profit growth of 80% to 63.1 million pounds, on revenue growth of 17% to 1.5 million pounds for the year ended 30th June. As a result of the strong performance, the housebuilder also ramped up its dividend payment, by 88% to 30p per share. The group completed 3,039 houses during the period, up from 2,170 in 2011, with a 10.1% higher selling price of 250,000 pounds. The firm also noted that it has secured 100% of the land it will require for projects in 2013 and 90% of the land required for 2014. Shares in Galliford gained 18p to 690p. Small Caps, AIM and PLUS Shares in imaginatively named Work Group (WORK) plunged 2p to 8.5p after it warned that full year results will be below current market expectations. The recruitment agency saw net fee income fall by 4% in the half year ended 30th June, to 6.2 million pounds, but reduced pre-tax losses of 75,000 pounds from 21,000 pounds. The group added that it had limited revenue visibility, with clients cutting back on new hiring. Window film installer Pentagon Protection (PPR) has secured a number of new contracts worth a combined 1 million pounds. The deals include a 612,000 pound contract to install films on three high rise building in Abuja, Nigeria, which will protect them from flying glass in case of attacks or natural disasters. The firm also won a contract to replace solar control films on the overhead glazing of a UK government agency, which will be delivered in 16 weeks and is worth 120,000 pounds. The shares surged by 1.5p to 5p. Investors were disappointed to hear that K3 Business Technologies (KBT) has failed to find a suitable buyer and has therefore terminated its formal sale period, sending the shares tumbling by 29.5p to 147.5p. The news overshadowed a positive performance for the year ended 30th June, with revenues climbing by 28.7% to 67.96 million pounds, benefiting from a number of acquisitions, and pre-tax profits climbing 23% to 6.04 million pounds. 
Oxus Gold (OXS) has submitted a detailed claim for compensation against the Uzbekistani government, which confiscated its assets at the Amantaytau Goldfields and Khyandiza deposit in August 2011. However, the group said that the size of the claim must remain confidential for the time being. Oxus shares leapt by 0.5p to 2.675p. Oil explorer Petrel Resources (PET) said that it will make a fresh start in Iraq, having appointed a new team of Baghdad and Amman based citizens to review potential opportunities in Iraq. The group added that it has completed discussions with the country's regulatory authorities relating to the position of its existing interests and it will now look to find new projects in which it can be involved. The shares gained 1p to 5.375p. PLUS-quoted Asia Wealth Group Holdings (AWLP) reported revenues of 1.4 million dollars (0.9 million pounds) for the six months ended 31st August 2012, down 26% on 2011's comparable period. The company incurred a pre-tax loss of 30,000 dollars (18,477.5 pounds), down from a profit of 55,366 dollars (34,060.9 pounds), which it attributed to costs of listing as well as increased development costs at its Meyer BVI subsidiary. The shares were unchanged at 60p. | 
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