Shares portfolio: G4S in line for government work

The Standard's City team rates which stocks to buy and sell, with analysis on the top traders' deals and what to expect from the markets.

BUY: G4S

Buy shares in security group and outsourcer G4S, says Panmure Gordon. The firm yesterday gave cautious margin projections; a number of government-related contracts will be decided in the next year. But analysts added: "We remain positive and see G4S as an inexpensive way to play the government outsourcing trend."

SELL: SPEEDY HIRE

Dump shares in engineering equipment business Speedy Hire, says KBC Peel Hunt. "Speedy has performed well over the last couple of months and is nearing our price target," analysts say of the 30p goal. "Ahead of the interim results on 17 November, we believe the shares could be vulnerable to profit-taking."

HOLD: MONEYSUPERMARKET.COM

Hang on to shares in comparison site moneysupermarket.com, says Altium Securities. Ahead of a trading statement next week, analysts says attention will focus on the extent to which first-half revenue growth (of 4% year-on-year) was "sustained or accelerated".

TOMORROW'S AGENDA

Supermarkets chain Sainsbury's will follow Morrisons and Marks & Spencer with first-half figures. Chief executive Justin King will be telling investors his views of the impact of price rises on the consumer. Investor expectations are high, since Sainsbury's first-half like-for-like sales growth was 2%.

Supergroup, which owns the Superdry fashion brand, will put out a trading statement, with investors hoping for more evidence that the Cheltenham-based retailer (which started life as a market stall in the town) could be more than just another High Street flash in the pan.

BAA, owner of Heathrow and Stansted airports, will unveil October passenger numbers. The group had a stellar September but analysts said that could have been partly explained by rebookings of flights cancelled by the Icelandic volcano. Any evidence of continued recovery in the aviation market will be
seized upon.

TRADER TALK

Micro-cap trader and tipster Tom Winnifrith has taken a large stake in investment holding company Directex Realisations, which shot up 69% last week after Barclays exercised a share warrant.

Winnifrith took 5.13 million shares or 10.16%, worth about £154,000. The shares are held in his SF t1ps Smaller Companies Growth fund, one of the most successful funds in the sector over the three years since launch. Winnifrith is a former journalist and tipster who currently edits t1ps.com. Directex Realisation was the holding company of internet marketing business Interactive Prospect Targeting.

After the sale of the company, it continued to run down liabilities and recoup assets. The current directors have been closely involved with venture capital specialist Dawnay Day Lander.

Dave Campbell, Citywire.co.uk