RAMSEY CROOKALL & CO

EVENING REPORT

9 AUGUST 2010

The FTSE 100 index closed 78 points higher with the index breaking through 5400 for the first time since May.

International Power was one of the best performers on widespread reports it will reveal a merger with French utility GDF Suez. The shares closed 14p higher at 380p.

BP’s “static kill” and the cementing procedures at the broken MC252 well have been “successful” stopping oil leaking into the Gulf of Mexico, the oil giant confirmed today. At the end of the day the price was 7½p higher at 433p.

Drug giant Astrazeneca agreed to pay a total of $198million in compensation to approximately 17,500 claimants in the US in relation to its bipolar disorder treatment Seroquel. The payments will not be reflected in 2010 earnings and guidance for profits in the year remains unchanged at $6.35 to $6.65.

Pub and restaurant group Mitchells & Butlers announced it is set to sell the operations and leaseholds of its Hollywood Bowl business for £327 million in cash to AMF Bowling.

Oil and gas services group Petrofac has won a $430 million contract with Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) to develop a water pumping system that will help increase oil recovery.



THE FTSE CLOSED UP 78 @ 5410

THE DOW JONES AT 4.30 IS UP 41 @ 10,694

THE NASDAQ COMP AT 4.30 IS UP 10 @ 2298

Exchange Rates

GBP – USD 1. 5944

GBP – EUR 1. 204