Naresh Kumar

IMI Plc says it is well placed for the future with a clearly defined strategy which should deliver further sustainable margin improvement and long-term growth, notably through the acceleration of its new product agenda and increased exposure to the faster growing emerging markets.

Department store group posts solid earnings, but says Olympics, Jubilee celebrations will hit second-half trading

Global brewer sees Latin America, Africa sales offset European slowdown

Recently Fitch Ratings revised its long-term outlook for Ladbrokes Plc, Britain's second-biggest bookmaker, to Stable from Negative with long-term IDR (Issuer Default Rating) at 'BB+' and short-term IDR at 'B'. The betting and gaming group is scheduled to release its first-quarter trading update on Thursday.

SABMiller Plc plans to revamp breweries with $2.5 billion investment in Africa as the group sees strong prospects for increasing its volumes, revenues and profitability.

ASML Holdings NV reported a drop in its first-quarter earnings by 24 percent, as its backlog orders from top clients such as Intel and Samsung shrinked. Shares of the group fell as much as 3.5 percent at 0928 AM CEST on Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

Tesco posted a rise in its underlying pre-tax profits of 1.6 percent to £3.9 billion and announced it will spend over £1 billion to make the UK shopping trip better for customers.

Hunting Plc started its FY 2012 on a solid footing, as the energy demand remains firm. With a wide product and service offerings for its customers, the group has a global manufacturing presence in key energy regions around the world.

Shares of GKN, a global engineering group, rose 4.7 percent last week as Credit Suisse raised its rating to "Outperform" from "Neutral" and sets price target at 240 pence though during last month the group's shares underperformed the sector by shedding 9.9 percent, compared to 8.2 percent decline for the sector.

Marks and Spencer has reported a drop in its UK like-for-like sales by 0.7 percent for the 13 weeks ended in March, but reported a growth in food sales by 1 percent. Analysts forecasted a rise of 0.4 - 1.6 percent.

Raincoat maker sees 18 percent pop in second half sales; investors book profits

Burberry Group says it remains focused on implementing its proven core strategies to attain long-term growth while continuing in the demanding macro environment. The group is scheduled to release its trading update for the six months ended March 31, 2012 on Tuesday.

March's warm weather might have helped Marks and Spencer as shoppers were encouraged to buy into spring clothing collections. While the older and wealthier customers are becoming more confident about their finances.

AMEC has said its trading year-to-date is in line with expectations with good order book of £3.7 billion at the end of December 2011 and forward visibility.

The total retail search volumes rose 11 percent in the first quarter of 2012 compared with the same quarter a year ago, providing more evidence of the growing importance of mobile, according to the lastest BRC-Google Online Retail Monitor.

Average asking price for UK homes hits all-time high, according to Rightmove.

APR Energy is scheduled to release its preliminary earnings for the fourteen month period ended December 31, 2011 on Monday as it delayed reporting a month due to complexities which resulted a share price fall of more than 25 percent. However, the group reported a summary of preliminary results on March 20, 2012.

AMEC Plc is expected to recommend a final dividend of 20.3 pence per share as it anticipates double-digit underlying revenue growth for the FY 2012, but JP Morgan Cazenove cuts its recommendation on the firm to "Neutral" from "Overweight" in a review of the European oil services sector and raises price target to 1,344p from 1,252p.

The U.K. producer price index for home sales of manufactured products rose 3.6 percent in the year to March 2012, compared to a growth of 4.1 percent in February, according to the latest data released from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Punch Taverns reported a fall of 20 percent in its profit before tax for the six months ending in March at £33 million compared to £41 million a year ago. But expects expects to reap benefits during the second half of the current year from the Queen's Diamond Jubilee, the UEFA European football championship and the Olympic Games.

Britain's trade gap widens more than expected in three months to February as cars and heavy machinery exports to US, Russia and China decline.

Rolls-Royce has secured an another contract from the U.S. Navy to supply power and propulsion systems for further two latest vessels in the U.S. Navy's Littoral Combat Ship (LCS) programme.

Hays Plc has posted a rise of 10 percent in its net fee for the third quarter and growth of 18 percent in international business, which accounts for 70 percent of total net fees.

Aggreko has reported a very strong first quarter growth in both International Power Projects and the Local businesses delivering an underlying revenue over 20 percent.

Driven mainly by an increase of 18 percent in international retail sales, Mothercare has reported a rise of 4.5 percent in its worldwide network sales for the fourth quarter. Shares of the group rose as much as 3.10 percent at 0835 AM BST on LSE. But total group sales decreased by 4.2 percent with total UK sales down by 9.5 percent.

Ashmore Group says that it continues to innovate with an ever deepening range of up-coming market products and its infrastructure and distribution platforms are progressing to plan. The investment management services firm is scheduled to release its interim management statement on Thursday.

Mothercare, as a part of its British property restructuring activity, is planning to close 111 loss making stores in town by 2013. Out of total 111 stores 76 closures will take place as leases expire and disposal of 35 loss-making stores, which will result in cash cost of £16.6 million.

Michael Page International has delivered a strong performance in the first quarter but shares plunged as much as 6.05 percent at 0811 AM BST as its UK business continues to be impacted by the weak banking sector.

U.K. retail sales increased in March as warm weather boosted the sales of non-food goods, at the same time the permanent job placements increased for a third straight month giving an indication that the British economy is recovering slowly.