RAMSEY CROOKALL & CO

EVENING REPORT

30 SEPTEMBER 2010

Leading equities stormed higher after US second quarter gross domestic product (GDP) was revised upwards to show a 1.7% quarterly increase. This is a slow-down from the 3.7% gain in the first quarter. Economists had not been expecting any improvement on the previous estimated gain, and investors were happy to buy on the back of the slight improvement.

Compass Group has headed south even after the contract caterer upped its sales growth guidance again after a strong fourth quarter. Having said in late July that organic sales growth this year would be around 2.5% the company now thinks it will be closer to 3%, including the impact of acquisitions.

In other stocks news sugar and sweetener firm Tate & Lyle said it expects its encouraging start this year to continue in spite of higher corn costs. In its speciality food ingredients division, growth in speciality sweeteners and starches has remained steady, while sucralose volumes have been robust, though at lower selling prices, the company said.

Finally, Rolls-Royce chief executive Sir John Rose will retire from the company at the end of March 2011. He will be succeeded by John Rishton, currently chief executive of the Dutch retail group Royal Ahold. John Rishton has been a non-executive director of Rolls-Royce since 2007 and chairs the Audit Committee. The shares have fallen.

THE FTSE 100 CLOSED DOWN 20 @ 5548

THE DOW JONES AT 4.30 IS DOWN 51 @ 10,783

THE NASDAQ COMP AT 4.30 IS UP 10 @ 2387

Exchange Rates

GBP – USD 1. 571 GBP – EUR 1. 1545