| From UK-Analyst.com: Tuesday 1st October The Markets In London the FTSE 100 closed down by 2.21 points at 6,460.01 and the FTSE 250 rose by 58.22 points to 14,966.40. The FTSE All-Share was up by 1.23 points at 3,445.08 while the FTSE AIM Index finished down by 5.65 points at 787.61. Blue Chips ID checking specialist Experian (EXPN) has agreed to buy US fraud detection group The 41st Parameter for $324 million, in a deal that will be funded from existing cash resources. 41st Parameter products use device identification to prevent fraud and enable consumers to complete transactions on the web quickly and securely, reducing fraud losses while simultaneously authenticating consumers with minimal intrusion. Experian said the deal extends its presence in the fraud prevention market, complementing its existing activities in fraud detection and online authentication. Management believes there is considerable opportunity to drive adoption rates of 41st Parameter's products through cross-selling to Experian's existing client base. Experian shares climbed by 10p to 1,187p on the news.
Plumbers' merchant Wolseley (WOS) has announced plans to return 300 million pounds to shareholders after a strong performance in the US and improvements in the UK helped it to post an 11% rise in full-year profit to 725 million pounds. The company, which operates the Plumb Center and Ferguson chains in Britain and the United States, saw revenues rise by 4.1% to 12.9 billion pounds in the year to 31st July. Noting that housing transactions are up 5% and a recovery in housing starts in the last part of last year, CEO Ian Meakins said that it was too soon to say what the impact would be from the government's Help to Buy mortgage scheme. He added that he saw signs of a general improvement in consumer confidence, and that some of the eco expenditure has had an effect which has probably delivered about an extra 2% or 3% growth. The shares grew by 99p to 3,296p ADVERTISEMENT Films can provide a unique and potentially lucrative investment opportunity. Earn Royalties for 25 years Opportunity to appear in a major film production as an extra or spend the day on set watching the filming A listed cast of Hollywood stars Request our free no obligation film investment brochure CLICK HERE Mid Caps Shares in events management firm ITE Group (ITE) jumped by 17.2p to 289p after it said it expects an 11% rise in full-year revenue on the back of a strong third quarter which boosted its second-half performance. The company, which organises around 200 trade exhibitions and conferences each year in 14 countries, said it had already booked revenue of 75 million pounds for 2014. The company saw a 25% rise in third-quarter revenue in July, helped by contributions from the biennial Moscow International Oil & Gas exhibition and revenue from the acquisition of an event organiser in Malaysia. This was followed by 4% like-for-like revenue growth in the fourth quarter ended 30th September. It estimates revenue in the full year to be roughly 191 million pounds.
Land developer St Mowden Properties (SMP) said it has continued to perform strongly since its half year announcement in July, in a trading update that covered the period since 1st June. The group, which is the proprietor of the 150 million pound Project Jennifer scheme in North Liverpool, said this was against the backdrop of an ongoing strengthening of the housing market and a greater sense of optimism in the regional commercial property sector. While recovery in some areas of the market remains slower, it said that improving consumer sentiment, supportive government schemes and an increasingly stable economy are contributing to a notably more positive market outlook than has been seen for some time. This, combined with the success of its ongoing asset management activities, points to profits and cashflows remaining consistent with management expectations for the 2013 financial year. St Mowden shares climbed 4.2p to 308.2p.
Engineering firm Kentz (KENZ) has been appointed to support a major SAGD (steam-assisted gravity drainage) operation south-east of Fort McMurray with electrical checkout including motors and electrical testing activities, all the test equipment necessary, as well as supporting the instrument loop shooting programme including all calibration equipment necessary. According to the company, the win positions Kentz as a premier industrial commissioning contractor in Western Canada and recognises Kentz's reputation for world class completions and commissioning services. The financial details of the contract - the firm's first with Bantrel - were undisclosed. Kentz shares finished 2.2p higher at 480p.
The unveiling of a new "sunny heart" logo and the simple message "Let's Go" at travel operator Thomas Cook (TCG) failed to set investors' imaginations alight. It even left some observers confused after the firm ditched its acclaimed slogan, "Don't just book it, Thomas Cook it", along with the group's longstanding globe logo. It is the first time in Thomas Cook's 172-year history that all its companies will have a unifying identity. CEO Harriet Green claims the new message and logo had "real resonance" across different countries and languages. However, Jim Prior, chief executive of WPP branding agency The Partners, was unconvinced: "They have married a very warm, emotional concept, with the heart and the sunshine, with a very bland piece of typography. Rationally, I understand what they're doing. Emotionally, I'm not sure it achieves the objective." Investors seemed to concur, with Thomas Cook shares down by 1.8p at 151.6p. Small Caps Oil asset developer Northern Petroleum (NOP) has concluded the agreed sale of its Netherlands assets, just over six months after initially flagging a potential deal. Under the deal, Northern has agreed to sell its Dutch subsidiary Northern Petroleum Nederland to a subsidiary of Vermilion Energy. Consideration is cash of CAN$27.5 million (19.7 million euros) payable on completion, along with two profit interest deals. The sold portfolio includes five producing gas fields onshore, one gas field offshore and two further potentially commercial discoveries awaiting appraisal and development. In 2012 the assets contributed 12.4 million euros to revenues and 2.5 million euros to profits. Completion is expected before mid-October. The markets were not too impressed with the deal, the shares falling by 0.75p to 34.625p. Ultrasis (ULT), the provider of cognitive behavioral therapy for stress and mild to moderate depression, announced that its US joint venture, U2 Interactive has secured a new contract with Philadelphia Veterans Association to provide it's Beating the Blues program. Beating the Blues helps to treat mild and moderate depression and anxiety conditions. The value of the deal was not disclosed but Ultrasis said it was on commercial terms. The shares were flat at 1.25p. In a trading update at its AGM the business recovery practice Begbies Traynor (BEG) said that market conditions have continued to be subdued as business insolvencies fall. In addition, pressure on fee rates and the value of cases has led to a reduction in year-on-year revenue to date. However, year-on-year cost reductions of 2 million pounds, which were announced in July, have been realised. In addition, net debt is broadly in line with expectations, as are expectations for the year as a whole. The shares fell by 3p to 36p. 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 
Critical components manufacturer to the aerospace, energy and medical sectors Avingtrans (AVG) has signed a deal with Rolls-Royce to be sole supplier of self-locking nuts to the company and its supply chain. The contract was won by the firm's Sigma Precision Components UK business and is expected to be worth 55 million pounds over its duration. This is the second long-term agreement to be signed with Rolls-Royce within the last 12 months. The shares finished up by 3.5p at 139p. Also rising on news of a contract win was storage facilities provider Pan European Terminals (PAN). with the shares closing up by 0.5p at 20.25p. The firm has entered into a contract with a major European energy producer for the storage of Heavy Fuel Oil product in its Dan Balt Aabenraa terminal. The new customer will have the exclusive use of tanks 27 and 28 for a minimum of six months, extendable at the option of both parties, with the first delivery expected in mid-October. Shares in hosted desktop cloud service provider Nasstar (NASA) closed up by 0.625p at 11.625p on the back of a trading update. The firm commented that Live Hosted Desktop subscribers have risen by 33% since October 2012 to over 2,400. Turnover for the full year is expected to be in the region of 2 million pounds, in line with expectations. Nasstar has also identified additional services to provide around the core Hosted Desktop product in order to increase the average revenue per user. | 
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