SHARES STRONGLY UP/DOWN this week 12/12/05 (Master RSI)

SATURDAY PRESS COMMENT

FT
THE LEX COLUMN comments on defence white paper (with over a fifth of sales
still from UK defence, BAE SYSTEMS looks set to benefit), German economy (for
the moment, the conditions are falling into place for Germany to build a
sustainable recovery), AOL/Google (deal looks sensible; but it is unlikely to be
groundbreaking enough to persuade Dick Parsons's critics to pack up and go
home), Oil and Natural Gas Corp (New Delhi's decision to veto the acquisition of
more than 1 bln usd of assets in Nigeria by the state-run Oil and Natural Gas
Corp looks wise; minority investors will be relieved as taxpayers to be let off
the hook) - Weekend share watch: ENODIS (attractive), UNIQ (the shares have the
potential to rise sharply but only the brave would take a recovery on trust
after many years of disappointment), MAIDEN (dividend yield of 7.5 pct may
attract brave investors, but it is hard to see much upside potential) - ANALYST
WATCH: SAGE (software success in the shadow of Microsoft; sales are buoyed by
strong support contracts (MONEY p.9)


Telegraph
Diary of a Private Investor: James Bartholomew buys more shares in JACQUES
VERT; he lightens his holding in TELECOM PLUS, but if the important gas price
falls back any time soon, he may well become a buyer again) - QUESTOR COLUMN:
BRAMBLES (take profits); SMALL CAP VALUES: RICHMOND FOODS (worth buying), DAWSON
INTERNATIONAL (a risky buy), INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL DEVICES (a very risky buy)


Express
MARKET REPORT: TOPPS TILES (president offloads 1.325 mln shares, reducing his
holding to 9.6 pct), BRAEMAR SEASCOPE (dealers speculate that consolidation in
the ports sector could lead to further deals; Braemar has been seen as a
potential target for a Japanese predator)


Mail
MARKET REPORT: AMVESCAP (still rumoured to be on Janus Capital's shopping
list), MOWLEM (rumours suggest that BALFOUR BEATTY will dig in with a counter
cash bid worth 240 pence per share) - INVESTMENT EXTRA: Brian O'Connor comments
on VIROTEC (if you bought on our early tips, cover your costs by taking profits
on one third of your shares), PLANT HEALTH CARE (risks are high; but so are the
potential rewards)


Times
Directors' dealing: GKN outgoing managing director sells his entire holding of
stock for 367,562 stg) - Rumour of the day: BOVIS HOMES, BELLWAY, REDROW (seen
as likely prey for a number of bigger names in the private equity industry) -
STOCK MARKETS - LARGE CAPS: J SAINSBURY (Judith Portrait, a trustee of the
Sainsbury family interest, trims her stake to 18 pct from 19 pct); SMALL CAPS:
KENSINGTON GROUP (persistent bid rumours), VICTORIA OIL & GAS (word that its 12
mln stg fundraising has been completed at 78 pence, rather than 75 pence as had
been rumoured) - TEMPUS: AMVESCAP (looks a short-term buy; longer term, however,
new chief executive Marty Flanagan has to start winning new business and the
jury is still out on that one), LONDON CLUBS INTERNATIONAL (hold), MAIDEN GROUP
(a high-risk buy, but only for the bravest punter)


Independent
MARKET REPORT: CARPHONE WAREHOUSE (fears of greater competitive pressure),
CENES PHARMACEUTICALS (chairman buys 500,000 shares at 8 pence), FALKLAND GOLD &
MINERALS (Cambridge Mineral Resources sells its 5.7 mln shares at 10 pence
apiece)