LONDON (ShareCast) - There is no doubt that the diamond market is recovering. Full-year results from Petra Diamonds underscored that the recovery in its markets was real.

The shares are trading on June 2011 earnings multiple of 17.3, falling to 10.5 next year. There are only 20 or so large diamond mines in the world and they are all past their peak, something that should support prices over the medium term. Also, rising interest in diamonds coupled with rising wealth in Asia is positive for future demand growth, buy says the Telegraph.

With hindsight, the 50p on offer from Nathan Kirsch for property group Minerva last November was plainly inadequate and the board is to be congratulated on resisting it. His vehicle, KiFin, cannot return until January, and the signs are it will not. The shares, at 96¼p, are on a 25%-plus discount to net asset value, which is high for the sector. But the market is going to want some sign of movement at the landmark City developments before this gap shows much sign of narrowing says the Times.

KiFin retains its nearly 30% stake in Minerva and there will be uncertainty about what will happen to this in the future, while the 173% gains in the past 12 months have slowed significantly in recent months. The shares might trade at a 25% discount but "it will probably take news of a letting at one of the City office schemes before this gap is materially closed", as brokers points out. Add to that renewed concerns about the strength of the recovery in the property sector, and we would urge caution on Minerva. Hold says the Independent.

The settlement announced by online bookie Sportingbet with authorities in the United States had the analysts falling over themselves to issue “buy” notes. The current rating of 12½ times’ the current year’s forecast profits would seem to fail to take account of the upside potential and the price a potential buyer would have to pay. Buy says the Times.

Hamper group Park has about £130m cash in the bank, although nearly all of this, inevitably, belongs to customers. The problem is that low interest rates limit the return on this. The shares are usually bought for the reliable yield. They have taken a hike this summer and the yield is back to about 5%. Buy on weakness says the Times.

Funeral services group Dignity intends to return £63.9m, or £1 per share, to investors. Brokers suggest that the stable, cash generative nature of Dignity's business means that "a return of cash of this magnitude to shareholders could be made at least every three years". Buy says the Independent.

Trifast makes and distributes "industrial fastenings to the assembly industries", which seems to include anything from the nuts and bolts in computers and mobile phones to bits for aeroplanes and cars. House broker Arden has the stock on a price of 13.4 times estimated 2011 earnings and after a recent dip, it seems like a good time to pick up a few. Buy says the Independent.


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