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12:46GMT 29Oct2009-Hightex leaps after Olympic contract
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Shares in membrane roofing specialist Hightex leap 29 percent to 8.75 pence after the company signs its largest contract to date -- an 18.9 million euro deal to supply the roofing and cable system for the Olympic stadium in Kiev, Ukraine.
A trader at Winterfloods points out that the deal is worth more than the company's previous market capitalisation.
"The share price now represents what the announcement says ... I think it's run its course for the moment," he says.
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12:19GMT 29Oct2009-Henderson falls after update
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Shares in Henderson fall more than 5 percent after the Anglo-Australian fund manager issues a trading update, which prompts Evolution Securities to repeat its "reduce" rating on the stock.
Evolution, in a note, says the headline increase in funds under management of 9 percent to 57.7 billion pounds reflects the benefit of rising markets and favourable currency moves rather than real operational momentum.
"We see better momentum in other asset managers, both conventional (Schroders) and alternative (Man and Ashmore)," the broker says.
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11:52GMT 29Oct2009 -UK small caps fall 0.4 percent midday
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The FTSE Small Cap index falls 0.4 percent in midday trade, while the blue chips slip 0.3 percent, but the midcaps put on 0.5 percent.
Blacks Leisure drops 7.7 percent. The outdoor goods retailer has submitted a restructuring plan to its bank in a bid to secure its future, after reporting losses more than doubled in the first half of its financial year.
Brulines, which helps pub owners monitor their draught beer systems, gain 5.5 percent after the firm wins an order to supply Greene King with the group's i-draught beer quality and dispense monitoring system.
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10:58GMT 29Oct2009-Kentz rises on contract win
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Shares in Irish engineering group Kentz gain 3.1 percent after the firm wins an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract in Qatar, with Evolution Securities lifting its target price for the company.
The size of the contract -- for a project for Laffan Refinery Co in Ras Laffan Industrial City -- is not given, but Evolution estimates that the scope of work could be around $80 to $90 million.
"This would add around 6-8 percent to the current backlog ($1.1 billion at end-June) and as the bulk of the work is to be carried out in 2010/11, will increase cover for 2010 revenue by between 5-10 percent," Evolution says in a note.
The broker says this therefore increases confidence in its forecast for around 15 percent revenue growth and 12 percent EPS growth for 2010.
Evolution's target price for Kentz moves to 240 pence from 225.
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10:19GMT 29Oct2009-Standard Life falls after in-line results
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Shares in Standard Life drop 1.3 percent after the British insurer posts an as expected 15 percent fall in sales in the first nine months of the year as analysts reckon its peers could offer better value to investors.
Analysts at Panmure Gordon say the insurer's results were solid and that its shares are trading at a 17 percent discount to the broker's embedded value. However, it believes peers Prudential and Aviva are better positioned.
"Unless investors are looking for a relative defensive company in the life sector we believe... Prudential and Aviva, with their exposure to the rapidly growing areas of Asia and the U.S., offer better opportunities," the broker says.
Prudential is up 4.3 percent, while Aviva climbs 1.2 percent, and the DJ Stoxx Insurance Index is 2.2 percent higher.
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10;17GMT 29Oct2009-Brulines up on order win
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Shares in Brulines, which helps pub owners monitor their draught beer systems, gain nearly 4 percent after the firm wins an order to supply Greene King with the group's i-draught beer quality and dispense monitoring system.
Charles Stanley hikes its target price for Brulines to 160 pence from 145, and repeats its "buy" rating on the stock.
"We take this deal as a very encouraging sign for converting/upgrading other pub groups to the i-draught system," the broker says in a note.
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