| The Markets The Monetary Policy Committee left interest rates at the record low of 0.5% and decided not to introduce another round of quantitative easing. However, many analysts believe that a stimulus package could be introduced as early as next month, adding to the current cumulative total of 375 billion pounds. Meanwhile, the European Central Bank also kept rates at a record low of 0.75%. ECB President Mario Draghi also reiterated the central bank's commitment to buy bonds from debt stricken countries such as Spain and Italy if they requested a bailout and adhered to the terms. Over in the US, Initial Jobless figures for September came in broadly on target at 367,000, around 4,000 more than in August. At the London close the Dow Jones was up by 63.24 points at 13,557.85 and the Nasdaq was up by 0.36 points at 2,819.20. In London the FTSE 100 rose by 1.97 points to 5,827.78; the FTSE 250 finished 81.69 points ahead at 11,954.42; the FTSE All-Share gained 3.63 points to 3,044.74; and the FTSE AIM Index declined by 2.67 points to 705.29. 
Broker Notes Impressed by the advertising company's move to higher margin products, Allenby Capital reiterated its "buy" recommendation for Resource Holding Management (RHM), noting that gross margins for the half year ended 30th June rose from 31.3% to 43.7%. The broker said that cash flows will likely remain strained due to payments of deferred considerations for acquisition, but believes that these will cease in 2013. On Allenby's forecasts, the shares trade on a prospective earnings multiple of just 2.7 times for 2012, falling to 2.51 times in 2013. The shares were unchanged at 13p.  Panmure Gordon maintained its "buy" rating for easyJet (EZJ) with an increased target price of 750p from 650p. The broker said that the budget airline has continued to achieve growth despite difficult market conditions and high fuel prices. Additionally, Panmure noted that the firm will roll out allocated seating across its network which it believes will help attract customers. The broker expects the group's revenues to be driven by capacity growth and and a greater proportion of business passengers. easyJet shares inched up by 2p to 617p. Seymour Pierce upgraded its stance on Sports Direct International (SPD) from "hold" to "buy" with an increased target price of 420p, from 285p. The broker said that the firm is benefiting from lower levels of competition thanks to the demise of JJB Sports and Blacks Leisure. Additionally Seymour Pierce sees considerable scope for growth for the sporting goods retailer's online business, noting that the offering can easily be improved. The shares jumped by 22.8p to 382.8p. Blue-Chips Standard Life (SL.) announced that it has signed a five year deal with the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) to provide an investment platform which will be accessible to RBS, NatWest and Ulster Bank from December 2012. The products include ISAs, SIPPs and bonds and will be provided to customers through in-branch advisors. A non-advisory service will also be launched during the 2013 calendar year. Standard Life shares crept up by 1.4p to 280.4p. 
Mid-Caps Halfords (HFD) reported sales growth of 6.2% in its second quarter ended 28th September, driven by accelerated growth at its autocentres business of 19.9%. The group also finally saw a recovery for its retail business, which achieved growth of 4.3%, up from a decline of 7.8% in the first quarter. The group attributed the performance to increased demand for bicycles following the UK's success at the Tour de France and Olympics. Separately, the firm announced that it has appointed the former boss of Pets At Home, Matt Davies as its new chief executive, effective immediately. Halfords shares leapt by 37.5p to 303.5p. 
Clothing retailer Ted Baker (TED) achieved revenues of 118.6 million pounds during the 28 weeks ended 11th August, up 15.4% on 2011's comparable period, with adjusted pre-tax profits rising 10.4% to 9.4 million ponds. The firm saw strong growth abroad, with US sales surging 53.3% to 25.6 million dollars (15.9 million pounds), while it also opened its first store in Toyko as well as its first concessions in South Korea and the Netherlands. The group added that it will increase the interim dividend by 10.5% to 7.9p. The shares gained 7.5p to 921p. Victrex (VCT) announced that it sold 1,527 tonnes of polymers in the half year ended 30th September, 101 tonnes more than in 2011's comparable period, bringing total production for the year to 2,904 tonnes. The specialty plastics manufacturer has begun the construction of its third PEEK plant which is expected to increase its annual capacity from 4,100 tonnes to 7,000 tones. The new site is expected to be completed and commissioned by early 2015. Victrex shares climbed by 49p to 1,380p. Small Caps, AIM and PLUS Shares in Ceres Power Holdings (CWR) collapsed by 6.35p to 2.35p after it warned that it has been unable to secure sufficient funding to allow it to continue as a going concern. The alternative energy company said it is now hunting for a prospective buyer to save the business. However, if one cannot be found it is most likely that the firm will be wound down. Tissue Regenix Group (TRX) announced that it has made good progress in the development of its range of dCELL tissue replacement technologies. The group said that tests at Yale University indicated that its dCELL matrix in vascular patches was more effective than its competitors, while also noting that it completed the preclinical study of its dCELL Meniscus product, results pending. The firm hopes to commercialise a number of its products in 2013, adding that it is well funded, with net cash of 26 million pounds as at 31st July, following a 25 million pound equity placing. The shares swelled by 1.375p to 12.625p. Financial support services firm Lombard Risk Management (LRM) reported that it has secured a large contract to supply its Dodd-Frank and EMIR technology to a major European bank. The company added that it has enjoyed rising interest in its product range and that it is in discussions with a number of large financial institutions both in the UK and abroad. Meanwhile, the group confirmed that trading for the six months ended 30th September was slightly ahead of expectations. Shares in Lombard surged by 1.5p to 10.875p. 
Premier Gold Resources (PGR) reported that further tests conducted at its Cholokkaindy licence suggested that four previously identified prospects could be part of a single large deposit, covering an area of five square kilometres. The central Asia focused explorer noted large areas containing over 10 parts per billion of gold, with the highest soil sample containing 900ppb. The shares soared by 0.1p to 0.47p. Security software developer Intercede (IGP) said that it was trading in-line with targets, expecting to report revenues of around 3.5 million pounds for the first half of the financial year, and cash reserves of 7.2 million pounds at the end of September. The firm noted that a number of its existing clients are expanding the size of their orders and that it has secured several new contracts in Europe and the US. Additionally, the group said that it is developing a number of new products, which it expects to launch towards the end of the current financial year. Intercede shares rose by 1.5p to 68p. Inland Homes (INL) reported pre-tax profits of 1.6 million pounds for the year ended 30th June down from 3.5 million pounds in 2011 as rental income tumbled 71.5% to 6.1 million pounds. The property developer noted that a planned land sale, which would have added 2 million pounds to profits, was not completed during the financial year, but that it hopes to resolve this shortly. Despite the weaker performance, the group proposed a maiden dividend of 0.067p per share. The shares edge up by 0.125p to 18.625p. | 
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