RAMSEY CROOKALL & CO 27th September 2012

Evening Report

The FTSE 100 closed 0.2% higher at 5779.42, with news from Spain filtering through just as the market closed. The government in Madrid anticipates a "soft" recession next year, while announcing it will create a regulatory body to monitor regional budget targets. In London, miners gain following China's liquidity move.

Economic output in the U.S.  was weaker than previously thought, as slower consumer spending and the Midwest drought held back growth. GDP growth is revised to just 1.3% in the second quarter from the 1.7% previously estimated. The U.K. economy contracted by less than initially thought in the second quarter, official data showed, suggesting the potential for a strong rebound in the third quarter.

European Aeronautics Defence & Space Co doesn't plan to extend the deadline on a planned merger with BAE Systems PLC, EADS Chief Executive Tom Enders said Thursday, speaking to The Wall Street Journal Deutschland.

Vodafone Group the world's biggest mobile operator by revenue,  has said that it expects to incur integration costs from its recent acquisition of embattled telecom operator Cable & Wireless Worldwide of GBP500 million by March 2016.

Compass Group , a contract food service and support services company, announced that it is restructuring its operations in southern Europe due to challenging trading conditions in the region, even as it said it recorded a strong fourth quarter on higher revenue and operating profit.

Ingredients firm Tate & Lyle  said Thursday that for the six months ending Sept. 30, it expects to report adjusted operating profit in line with expectations and the prior year period, which benefited from an exceptionally strong performance from co-products.

Mining giant BHP Billiton has asked South Australia state for a 46-month extension to the approval of its Olympic Dam project expansion, which was shelved last month on cost concerns.

THE FTSE 100             Closed                   Up      11         @      5779 THE DOW JONES            @   17:00                Up     44         @     13458 THE NASDAQ               @   17:00                Up      17         @      3111

Exchange Rates GBP – USD        @       17:00              1.6215 GBP - EURO      @       17:00              1.2595