Centrica (CNA) a BUY at 320p

Now that International Power shareholders have finally succumbed to the approaches of the French utility GDF-Suez, it leaves one less choice in the portfolio of UK-listed domestic utilities. Centrica is an interesting option for a switch. It is a diversified operator, pays out a decent dividend and has been on the receiving end of takeover speculation. Businesses include oil and gas exploration and production, known as upstream, and downstream; covering gas and electricity retail. In the words of the company's own website, it "sources, generates, processes, stores, trades, supplies and services energy." Read the full story here: http://www.shareworld.co.uk/index.php/share-spotlight/june-14-2012/

Randgold Resources (RRS) - Buy at 5215p

Randgold Resources is a FTSE 100, and Nasdaq 100 stock, currently valued at around £4.8bn. Its operations are mainly in West Africa. The main production comes from three projects in Mali, which consists of their Morila, Loulo and Gounkoto mines. These mines account for around 70 per cent of annual production. Rangold also has a mine at Tongon in the northern Ivory Coast, and a further mine is in development in the Democratic Republic of Congo in conjunction with South Africa's Anglogold Ashanti. The company also has various exploration programmes in the above mentioned countries, in addition to Senegal and Burkina Faso. Read the full report in Redmayne Bentleys Share Spotlight, on ShareWorld.

Weir Group - Strong Revenue Report

Weir Group reported on 9th May that revenue has been strong for the first-quarter. The company manufactures and supplies industrial valves and pumps for the mining, oil and gas, power and general industry. It also has an after service sector which provides spares, maintenance, overhaul and asset management in various markets. Read the full story in the latest edition of the Share Spotlight by Redmayne Bentley - featured on ShareWorld.

AstraZeneca (AZN) - Buy at 2725p

AstraZeneca (AZN) Investor activism is on the rise and one of the latest victims is the chief executive officer of AstraZeneca, David Brennan, who has decided to call it a day following disquiet over the company's performance, and investors calling for a management shake-up. The gap will be filled by the chief financial officer, Simon Lowth, who will be acting interim chief executive until a replacement is installed. The UK's second largest drug-maker by costs has been aggressively cutting costs, by reducing operations and cutting thousands of jobs, while maintaining cash flow to shareholders. Read the full story in the latest edition of Redmayne Bentley's Sharespotlight newsletter on Shareworld.

Capital Gains Tax (UK)

Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a tax on profits. That is the profit, or gain, on the disposal of an asset. The gain is calculated from the disposal consideration less incidental costs of disposal and allowable costs and less the net proceeds. Incidental costs are valuation fees, estate agency and legal fees and advertising costs. Allowable costs include the original acquisition cost, incidental costs of acquiring the asset and capital expenditure incurred in enhancing the asset. -Read the full Guide on Shareworld here.

Telecom Plus (TEP) - Share Spotlight

Telecom Plus (TEP) Now that France's GDF Suez has put in an increased offer for the 30 per cent of International Power that it doesn't already own, there is one less UK-listed utility company. For customers looking for an alternative defensive stock this FTSE 250, £486m company could fit the bill. You might not have heard of Telecom Plus ~ it has no presence on the high-street, and it doesn't advertise itself. Although not strictly a utility company, it offers utility services through a network-marketing business model. Read the full story here.

Croda rated as a BUY

Latest recommendation from Redmayne Bentley (Share Spotlight) just published. Croda, manufacturer of speciality & industrial chemicals rated by the broker as a BUY:

Croda manufactures speciality and industrial chemicals used in many every day items. Its products can be found in cosmetic creams and lotions, dietry supplements, various foods, plastic bags and motor vehicles. Croda has appeared in these pages on numerous occasions over the last three years. When it appeared as a recovery stock in May 2009, the price was just 537p. The intervening period has seen the shares rise four-fold and the latest figures suggest there may be further to go...

Read the full write-up here:
http://www.shareworld.co.uk/index.php/share-spotlight/february-23-2012/