LONDON (ShareCast) - If it's retailers you are after, Moss Bros is at least as good as the others, especially as it has decent cash levels and because its franchise business operates at the always less-affected luxury end of the market. The truth is, however, if you do not need retail stocks, do not touch them. Sell says the Independent.

Sub-prime lender S&U yesterday posted pre-tax profits up by 7.5% to £5m sending its share price up by nearly 10%. But revenues at S&U were flat compared to the same period last year and, with the economy undoubtedly heading south, investors may want to avoid the credit industry altogether. Cautious hold says the Independent.

Pantheon Leisure aims to modernise the football in the park experience for today's children by providing modern five-a-side leagues for kids and adults, as well as organising other activities, such as summer camps and school sports. The problem is, however, that during a downturn people cut back their spending on leisure activities companies depending on concessionary spending tend to suffer most in a downturn. Cautious hold says the Independent.

3i is now focused on a narrow band of larger companies which should benefit from more professional management All the same, even at 812p, or a hefty 25% discount to forecast net asset value, it is hard to see 3i escaping the downward pull of the wider asset management sector. No more than a hold says the Times.

Ad agency M&C Saatchi shares down by a third on the year. On less than seven times 2009 earnings, the economic gloom might appear to have been fully priced in. However, M&C’s dimunitive stock market value and fears of further downgrades are likely to work against it for now. Avoid says the Times.

The beauty of Group NBT is that, in registering and renewing domain names and hosting related web services, it is providing a critical service to its clients at a price that is negligible relative to the potential cost of reclaiming a name that has been lost. On 14 times current-year forecasts, NBT is reasonably priced, given the prospect of double-digit earnings growth and its long-term attraction to a marketing services predator. Buy on weakness says the Times.

By concentrating on financial property in and around Canary Wharf, Songbird was one of the most successful property businesses in the market through 2004 to early 2007. However, its share price has been hit hard by the dual collapse of the property and financial sectors. Time to cut losses and sell says the Telegraph.

Luminar is well positioned to cope with the downturn. The country’s strongest nightclub operator, Luminar has managed to keep its head above rising waters that have already claimed many of its smaller rivals. Its share price will remain under pressure, nonetheless, and now is a good time to take profits. Sell says the Telegraph.

United Utilities shares trade on an 8% premium to the company’s regulated asset base. There is the prospective dividend yield of 5.8%, which is well covered by the company’s highly visible earnings. Defensive, safe, boring. Buy says the Telegraph.




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