Fidessa Group Plc (LON:FDSA) , the company that supplies multi-asset trading systems, reported strong progress since the start of January as financial markets continued to stabilise. However, it warned that consolidation among its customers was adding “significant pressure” in some areas and that its growth would continue but at a lower rate than in 2009. Its shares were up by 1.3% at 1341p.

Recruitment group Hays (LON:HAS) reiterated comments earlier this month that progress was being made in most of its markets, with particularly promising trends in Australia, Asia and Brazil. In Europe, Germany is showing early signs of recovery while most other countries remain stable with the exception of Spain and the UAE. In the UK, sequential growth in the private sector is being offset by reductions in the public sector. The company's shares rose by 0.8% to 111.2p.

Private label household and personal care products group Mcbride (LON:MCB) said that trading since the start of January had been in line with expectations, with group revenues up 2% on last year. Growth continued to be strong in personal care and in the Polish household market. Elsewhere, it said that UK sales, whilst ahead of the previous year, had continued to experience strong branded promotional activity. The shares were up 0.2% at 201.5p.

Elsewhere, Galiform Plc (LON:GFRM) , the group that owns Howden Joinery, said its business had performed well after a slow start to the year that arose from prolonged cold weather. UK revenues were up 1% in the first 16 weeks although total sales improved by 4.9% in the last two months. Separately, Galiform said it has managed to agree further 'legacy' property agreements that had reduced its future liabilities by more than £18m. Its shares were up 4.5% to 81p.

Cobham (LON:COB) , the aerospace group, said it would upgrade and support key air traffic control systems and operations for the UK Ministry of Defence through to at least 2015, after being awarded three contracts totalling £12m. The deals include the Watchman Radar Viewing Unit and Airfield Radar Integration projects, where Cobham will continue to support existing installed equipment and the Radar Remoting & Combining project. The company's shares rose 0.6% to 265.8p.

Finally, Go-Ahead Group (LON:GOG) , the public transport company, said it…

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