WH Ireland this morning retained a “buy” recommendation for Goals Soccer Centres (LON:GOAL) on news that first half sales were up on last year. Nevertheless, the broker was forced to once again reduce its full year earning forecasts for the group, which hasn’t really got over the closure of centres during heavy snow earlier in the year. However, it insisted that Goals remained an attractive roll-out story.

Astaire Securities cheered news from Churchill Mining (LON:CHL) that the mining group and its 25% partner Ridlatama Group, plan to increase coal production from the East Kutai Coal Project by between 10-35m tons per annum. The company is set to incorporate the additional production into a feasibility study that is due for release in the third quarter. Astaire said the increase in potential production “further demonstrates the financial viability of this potentially world class thermal coal asset”. Elsewhere, Astaire responded to news that Ascent Resources (LON:AST) had increased its stake in the Dolina shallow oil field at Petisovci in Slovenia by acquiring an additional interest from one of its partners. The transaction consolidates Ascent’s position at Petisovci where it now has 75% with the exception of deeper tight gas reservoirs in the original project area. Astaire said Petisovci was a critical project for Ascent and reiterated its 21p/share Risked NAV estimate.

Leed Petroleum Plc (LON:LDP) was downgraded from a “hold” to “sell” by Westhouse Securities, which said that problems were mounting for the oil and gas group as it faces considerable challenges with its Gulf of Mexico production assets. Leed this morning announced that net attributable production averaged 1,391 barrels per day in the last quarter, up 45% over the previous quarter. The company has also renegotiated its banking facilities to avoid breaching its covenants at June 30 and has agreed to a 2% interest rate rise on its outstanding loans. Elsewhere, Westhouse retained a “hold” advisory on oilfield services group John Wood Group (LON:WG.) , which reported that first half trading had been in line with expectations. Engineering, Production Facilities and Well Support are all performing strongly, but Power Support continues to experience maintenance deferrals by customers. Westhouse said that although the company’s business was sound, it considered that there was more value elsewhere in the sector.

Evolution Securities retained a “buy” recommendation at…

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