RAMSEY CROOKALL & CO

EVENING REPORT

5 AUGUST 2010

The FTSE 100 slipped back from morning highs after a weak start on Wall Street.

Insurer Aviva rose 27p to £3.95 after it reported a better than expected 21% rise in its half year profit.

Cobham was down 16p at £2.24 after the defence and aerospace products group saw pre tax profits fall in the half year to June 30 as it suffered from weakness in some of its commercial operations and delays in defence contracts.

Shares in Barclays fell 14p at £3.25 despite reporting a 44% rise in first half pre tax profits to £3.95 billion. Profits at the lender’s investment banking arm, Barclays Capital, more than trebled, though

that was partially offset by an increase in impairments in Barclays Corporate in Spain.

RSA Insurance Group reported revenue growth in all geographic regions and a rise of 9% in net written premiums in the first six months of 2010 to £3.8 billion.

Fresh from its apparent success plugging the leaking Maconda well in the Gulf of Mexico with mud, oil giant BP has been given clearance to start the cementing part of its ‘static kill’ process.



THE FTSE CLOSED DOWN 20 @ 5365

THE DOW JONES AT 4.30 IS DOWN 34 @ 10,646

THE NASDAQ COMP AT 4.30 IS DOWN 16 @ 2287



Exchange Rates

GBP – USD 1. 5844

GBP – EUR 1. 205