LONDON (ShareCast) - One ray of light for Woolworths' beleaguered shareholders is the possibility of a break-up bid. Malcolm Walker, the Iceland founder and himself a former Woolworths employee, wants to buy the company's retail division.

However, his initial terms were laden with conditions that the chairman Richard North was unwilling to accept. Even if the bid went ahead, Woolworths would still own the EUK and 2Entertain publishing and wholesale divisions. Yesterday Mr North said that this summer's sale of DVD publisher 2Entertain to the BBC - the joint owner of the division - was halted as 2Entertain does not own the digital rights to the BBC programmes. Woolworths makes us itchy. Sell, says the Telegraph.

The Independent adds that whichever way you look at it and however hard you try to find something nice to say, Woolworths is in a shocking state. Most shareholders got out of Woolworths a while ago. Those who are left could be asked to kindly turn off the lights when they leave if things do not improve soon. Sell.

Meanwhile, the FT says that the ratio of almost three times enterprise value to 2009 earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation is nowhere near a sufficient discount to the sector, given the risks.

Bank of Ireland is short of cash. Although it is not in such dire straits as HBOS and Bradford & Bingley, it desperately needs a huge injection of capital to fund an increasingly unhealthy loan book. Bank of Ireland could be worth a play if you think the global crisis has been overplayed and house prices could swing back?.?.?. so it is probably a no. Sell, says the Telegraph.

The Times adds that despite a 60 per cent slide this year to €3.94, or less than seven times next year’s earnings, it is not too late to sell.

As the recruitment group Morson was publishing its interim results yesterday morning, the Office for National Statistics was at the same time telling us all that 32,500 people were made redundant in August, the biggest monthly rise since 1992. Punters could be forgiven for assuming that this is bad news for a group like Morson, which largely places technical staff. However, Paul Gilmour, its finance director, says that the company arranged work for 9,250 people in the past year, up 7.6 per cent on the year before.

The group has seen its value drop 54.5 per cent in the last year, and some investors will decide that the group's stock will fall regardless of what the company does. However, there are also compelling reasons to buy. Aside from the good numbers, and the fact that Morson has a good record of not losing contracts, watchers at Brewin Dolphin reckon the shares are cheap. Buy, says the Independent.

Good news for Regenersis, the group that repairs your laptop when it breaks down under warranty. Gary Stokes, the chief executive, reckons that, trading on a price-earnings ratio of about five times, the shares are cheap, a point supported by analysts at KBC who said: "We believe the stock is good value and a cash-generative play in a sector likely to consolidate." If the group's projections of continued strong growth are accurate, Regenersis is a stock to back. Buy, says the Independent.

Shareholders in commercial property group Minerva must be pinning a lot of hope on the takeover talks with Limitless - the possibility of a 160p-a-share offer from the Dubai property group has put a floor under the share price over the last two months. The Telegraph last tipped Minerva this time last year when the shares were trading at 270p. At the time we advised investors to sell. A lot has changed since then, most of it for the worse. Avoid.

The Times says that Minerva’s failure to sell itself in the past – coupled with the spectre of financial services insolvencies that will add to the inventory of unlet City space – counsels caution. Avoid.

Meanwhile, the FT says that, in spite of rumours to the contrary, the takeover of Minerva is progressing. The last hurdle is Minerva's banks, which are said to want reassurances on a number of issues. The market is betting against the deal and its shares dipped to less than half the offer price this week. The company is trading at a discount of more than 50 per cent and worries will remain until the deal is done, considering concerns over exposure to the City market, high debt and negative recurring cash flow.

With its shares one third below their issue price, Equest Investment Balkans looks similar to dozens of other overseas funds that have listed on AIM over the past few years. A 69 per cent rise in operating profits on sales up 17 per cent give no sign of a retail slowdown. The problem is that Equest is fully invested and needs to realise cash – from disposals or the planned IPO of Technomarket – to maintain its rate of growth or buy back shares. Its waste management venture also requires restructuring. Until there is progress on those fronts, the shares are unlikely to break through yesterday’s 812p. Pass, says the Times.

Please note: Digital Look provides a round-up of news, tips and information that is impacting share prices and the market. Digital Look cannot take any responsibility for information provided by third parties. This is for your general information only as not intended to be relied upon by users in making an investment decision or any other decision. Please obtain a copy of the relevant publication and carry out your own research before considering acting on any of this information.

• News Channel