| From UK-Analyst.com: Thursday 15th August 2013 IMPORTANT: Are your UK-Analyst emails being delayed? Add UK-Analyst@news.t1ps.com to your safe senders/contact list to help resolve the problem The Markets UK retail sales grew at their quickest rate in over two years in July, boosted by heatwave-induced purchases of barbecue food and garden furniture. According the Office for National Statistics, retail sales volumes were up by 1.1% over the month, in a rise which was well above analyst expectations. The data will fuel hopes that the overall UK GDP performance for the third quarter of the year has got off to a promising start, building on the 0.6% growth which was delivered over the April-June quarter. Rob Wood, UK economist at Berenberg Bank was upbeat on the figures and said, "Wow again. It's hard to remember the last time a UK data release wasn't stunningly positive. Low interest rates, a sunnier outlook and rising house prices are getting consumers out consuming." Across the pond, claims for US jobless benefits last week unexpectedly dropped to their lowest level since 2007 according to figures released by the US Labor Department. The number of American's claiming benefits fell by 15,000 to 320,000, boosted by a slowdown in firings rather than an exceptional pick-up in hiring. It is thought that the positive data could tempt the US Federal Reserve closer to trimming its massive monetary stimulus programme next month - a move which global markets have been waiting with baited breath for during the last few months. Charles Comiskey, Head of Treasuries Trading at Bank of Nova Scotia in New York commented, "The data continues to improve and impress the marketplace and I think the data will continue in this direction. Then the question becomes not whether they are tapering in September, but how much," ADVERTISEMENT Get free trading guides from Evil Knievil (How to successfully short stocks), Zak Mir (Top AIM market picks for 2013) and other top financial commentators by CLICKING HERE 
 At the London close the Dow Jones was down by 174.79 points at 15,162.87 and the Nasdaq contracted by 42.27 points to 3,087.18. In London the FTSE 100 was down by 104.09 points at 6,483.34 and the FTSE 250 was down by 393.34 points at 14,693.00. The FTSE All-Share was down by 60.28 points at 3,508.50 while the FTSE AIM Index slipped by 0.8 points to to 748.45.  Broker Notes Beaufort Securities stuck with its "buy" recommendation on support services group Interserve (IRV), encouraged by the firm's interim results which we reported on yesterday. Given the positive tone of the results, combined with "crucial acquisitions" undertaken during the first half of the year, Beaufort is confident that the company is in a position to convert its new business opportunities to propel growth and therefore remains buyers of the stock. The shares inched up by 1.5p to 557.5p. N+1 Singer retained its "buy" recommendation on business support firm The Innovation Group (TIG) with a target price of 34p. The broker feels that the company could "over-deliver" given the structural drivers in the market and the group's strong product offering. In particular, N+1 is impressed with how its Insurer software product suite is now gaining traction in its markets - a trend which the broker feels will long continue. The shares were unchanged at 29.5p. Shore Capital stuck with its "buy" recommendation on mechanical fastener specialist Trifast (TRI), following a strong trading update. The update revealed that the group is trading strongly across all regions in which it operates but particularly within the automotive and electronics sectors. The broker feels that the update offers much to encourage investors and, although it is leaving numbers unchanged for now, Shore Capital believes that it may have to increase its forecasts in the not too distant future should current levels of progress be maintained. The shares edged upwards by 1.25p to 56.5p. 
Blue-Chips Tobacco producer Imperial Tobacco (IMT) admitted that cigarette volumes over the 9 month period ended 30th June were down by 7% as rising unemployment and illicit trade in Europe continued to take their toll. The JPS brand-owner explained that this drop in volumes fed through to a 3% fall in revenues over the period - a fall which would have been larger if it had not been for the resilient performance of its products in the Asia-Pacific, Africa and Middle East. The shares increased by 55p to 2,209p. British Airlines and Iberia owner International Airlines Group (IAG) announced orders and options for up to 220 Airbus A320 aircraft as it looks to modernise its fleet. IAG said up to 120 of the planes were for its Spanish airline Vueling, with 62 firm orders and 58 options in place. Although the financial details of the deal were not disclosed, IAG did confirm that it had agreed a "substantial discount" on the 3.5 billion pounds list price. The update comes a day after Nomura and Deutsche Bank both retained their "buy" recommendations on the group. The shares slipped by 7.9p to 308.1p. Mid Caps Gas exploration group Ophir Energy (OPHR) posted a 52% fall in losses to $19.4 million (12.46 million pounds) for the first half of this year, unable to get itself out of the red as significant exploration and corporate costs fed through to its overall results. However, Ophir's exploration endeavours have paid off during the first half of the year as the company confirmed strong flow rates on the Jodari and Mzia discoveries in Tanzania. This, coupled with the recent procurement of a rig under long-term contract for its East Africa drilling campaign, gives management confidence in the short-medium term prospects of the company. The shares dived by 58p to 332p. Chemicals producer AZ Electronic Materials (AZEM) conceded that it now expects "a softer pickup in demand" for its products during the second half of the year. The firm blames a scaling back of operations from its major customers as the uncertainty in the global economy makes its customers reluctant to go for a push in sales at the current time. AZ Electronic Materials' blamed these uncertainties for the 12% fall in EBITDA over the period to 110.7 million pounds. The shares grew by 13.8p to 303.5p. Distributor of building materials SIG (SHI) revealed that underlying pre-tax profits were down from 35.5 million pounds to 30.2 million pounds over the first 6 months of the year. The firm blamed a weak construction market in Europe for the shortfall although the UK construction market began to show signs of improvement. Deutsche Bank has been sitting on the fence with SIG since back in March, with its latest "hold" recommendation coming earlier this month. The shares were down by 10p at 178p. Small Caps Digital health group Fitbug Holdings (FITB) confirmed that its digital health technology will be offered to customers in Singapore following the launch of AIA Vitality, a joint venture between the largest pan-Asian life insurer, AIA Group Limited, and Discovery Holdings Limited. Asia is a new market for Fitbug and the expansion into this territory is in line with its strategy of increasing its presence in the global virtual health market. The shares were down by 10p at 178p. Investment firm Alpha Returns Group (ARGP) intends to raise 0.79 million pounds by placing new shares at a price of 0.15p - an 85% discount to yesterday's closing price. Management argues that the proceeds of the fundraise will enable the firm to embark on its first investment while also providing working capital for the next year. Alpha's investment strategy is centred on companies which operate in the Asia-Pacific territory as it looks to capitalise on some of the growing economies in the region. The shares plummeted by 0.375p to 0.625p. Mood Media (MM.), providers of digital signs and adverts in large retail stores, declared that it has received expressions of interest from third parties with respect to a potential sale of the company. Discussions over a potential sale are ongoing but Mood Media insisted that there is no guarantee that any transaction would be completed. The interest in Mood Media is consistent with the seemingly ever-increasing levels of digital adverts on the high street, with shops such as Primark and Hollister being particular flag-bearer's for the relatively new trend. The shares surged by 17.825p to 70.325p. 
Manufacturer of fuel cell technology Enova Systems (ENV) posted losses of $734,000 (471,600 pounds) over the 3 months ended 30th June, down from the $3.9 million (2.5 million pounds) pounds which it posted in the first half of the year. The firm attributed this improvement to a drastic reduction in selling, general and administrative expenses as 80% of the company's workforce apparently resigned over the period. Despite the pickup in performance, Enova is mindful of the uncertainty over battery performance and non-recoverable engineering costs associated with the battery development market in which it operates. The shares rocketed by 0.8p to 2p. Software firm dotDigital (DOTD) today claimed that it is now on track to exceed market expectations in terms of EBITDA, adamant that it will beat the originally projected 3.8 million pounds mark. The firm attribute this performance to the high margins and long-term recurring revenues generated by its core email marketing product, dotMailer. The group went on to say that it feels it is an ideal position to grow as it looks to harness the increasing demand for digital marketing and growing confidence in the wider economic outlook in the UK. The shares were up by 1.75p at 17.75p. Media and Marketing specialist Ebiquity (EBQ) confirmed that it has appointed Ingenious Corporate Finance Ltd to assist with "its strategic options, which may include a sale of the company" in a strong indication that a sale is nearing. Ebiquity says there can be no certainty that an offer will be made for the Company or to the terms of any such offer, should one be forthcoming. Numis retained its "buy" recommendation on the firm at the back end of last month. The shares swelled by 12p to 118.5p. | 
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