The third quarter saw a winning start to the season by Chelsea and Manchester United and the low incidence of draws â€" the bookies' favourite result Poor margins in horse racing and the weak economic environment also affected the company's profitability, while Ladbrokes turned to investors to raise £275m to reduce its debt position Investec analyst Matthew Gerard said a run of favourable sporting results â€" particularly football â€" that have boosted its rivals in recent trading will also help Ladbrokes 
Share:  The third quarter saw a winning start to the season by Chelsea and Manchester United and the low incidence of draws â€" the bookies' favourite result Poor margins in horse racing and the weak economic environment also affected the company's profitability, while <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span> turned to investors to raise £275m to reduce its debt position<span class="sent"> Investec analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said a run of favourable sporting results â€" particularly football â€" that have boosted its rivals in recent trading will also help <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span></span>...Poor margins in horse racing and the weak economic environment also affected the company's profitability, while <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span> turned to investors to raise £275m to reduce its debt position<span class="sent"> Investec analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said a run of favourable sporting results â€" particularly football â€" that have boosted its rivals in recent trading will also help <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span></span>...<span class="sent">Investec analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said a run of favourable sporting results â€" particularly football â€" that have boosted its rivals in recent trading will also help <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span></span> "Clearly the industry benefited from something of a reversal in the fourth quarter, and <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span> shares enjoyed a recovery as William Hill delivered i Tweet this 

The third quarter saw a winning start to the season by Chelsea and Manchester United and the low incidence of draws , the bookies' favourite result Poor margins in horse racing and the weak economic environment also affected the company's profitability, while Ladbrokes turned to investors to raise £275m in a bid to reduce its debt position Investec analyst Matthew Gerard said a run of favourable sporting results , particularly football , that have boosted its rivals in recent trading will also help Ladbrokes 
Share:  The third quarter saw a winning start to the season by Chelsea and Manchester United and the low incidence of draws , the bookies' favourite result Poor margins in horse racing and the weak economic environment also affected the company's profitability, while <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span> turned to investors to raise £275m in a bid to reduce its debt position<span class="sent"> Investec analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said a run of favourable sporting results , particularly football , that have boosted its rivals in recent trading will also help <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span></span>...<span class="sent">Investec analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said a run of favourable sporting results , particularly football , that have boosted its rivals in recent trading will also help <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span></span> 'Clearly the industry benefited from something of a reversal in the fourth quarter, and <span class="company">Ladbrokes</span> shares enjoyed a recovery as delivered its upbeat pre close update in January,' he said 'However, on balance, we believe finals are more likely to be tinged with disappointment' He said recent trading is likely to have been hurt by the impact of racing fixture cancellations and adverse weather at the beginning of January Tough trading conditions have led the company , which has more than 2,000 betting shops in the UK , to step up cost saving efforts, including through a salary freeze until and the withdrawal of its ful Tweet this 

PartyGaming has unveiled an upbeat trading statement, but said little about what investors are really keen on , its thoughts on consolidation in the online gaming sector.The company was recently said to be in talks with Austria's Bwin about a merger, although Bwin subsequently played this down. Today PartyGaming annouced it had set up a new £35m loan which would be used for "general corporate purposes including mergers and aquisitions" But that is not enough cash to cover the sort of deals investors had in mind, ie the Bwins of this worldOn the business front the company said current trading was solid, and earnings for the year were expected to be slightly ahead of expectations Its shares have edged down 03p to 2583p but Investec analyst Matthew Gerard issued a buy note and said:Albeit brief, this is an encouraging update 
Share:  <span class="company">PartyGaming</span> has unveiled an upbeat trading statement, but said little about what investors are really keen on , its thoughts on consolidation in the online gaming sector.The company was recently said to be in talks with Austria's Bwin about a merger, although Bwin subsequently played this down. Today <span class="company">PartyGaming</span> annouced it had set up a new £35m loan which would be used for "general corporate purposes including mergers and aquisitions" But that is not enough cash to cover the sort of deals investors had in mind, ie the Bwins of this worldOn the business front the company said current trading was solid, and earnings for the year were expected to be slightly ahead of expectations<span class="sent"> Its shares have edged down 03p to 2583p but Investec analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> issued a buy note and said:Albeit brief, this is an encouraging update</span> Tweet this 

We retain our hold recommendation and 295p price target. Investec's Matthew Gerard also kept a hold recommendation, although he said he preferred JD Wetherspoon , up 3.3p at 465.6p. Gerard said: . Finals are around 3% ahead of our estimates and current trading has improved further as customers digest price increases and underlying volumes improve. For the employed, value food and drink is not being sacrificed and price increases should protect operators' margins post the VAT increase early next year. 
Share:  We retain our hold recommendation and 295p price target. <span class="sent"> Investec's <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> also kept a hold recommendation, although he said he preferred <span class="company">JD Wetherspoon</span> , up 3.3p at 465.6p. </span> Gerard said: . Finals are around 3% ahead of our estimates and current trading has improved further as customers digest price increases and underlying volumes improve. For the employed, value food and drink is not being sacrificed and price increases should protect operators' margins post the VAT increase early next year. Tweet this 

Matthew Gerard at Investec issued a buy note on the business, saying:This is another sold performance against more difficult like for like comparatives. The planned VAT increase remains the biggest negative risk for Wetherspoon (and other pub operators) but is unlikely to prevent future upgrades, in our view. Wetherspoon is a compelling growth and value offer, at an attractive valuation. . Nigel Parson at Evolution Securities said:Wetherspoon has made an encouraging start to the new year. Like for like sales have slipped slightly reflecting lower marketing activity this quarter but margins are fractionally ahead. 
Share:  <span class="sent"><span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> at Investec issued a buy note on the business, saying:This is another sold performance against more difficult like for like comparatives. </span> The planned VAT increase remains the biggest negative risk for <span class="company">Wetherspoon</span> (and other pub operators) but is unlikely to prevent future upgrades, in our view. <span class="company">Wetherspoon</span> is a compelling growth and value offer, at an attractive valuation. . Nigel Parson at Evolution Securities said:<span class="company">Wetherspoon</span> has made an encouraging start to the new year. Like for like sales have slipped slightly reflecting lower marketing activity this quarter but margins are fractionally ahead. Tweet this 

Shares in JD Wetherspoon on Wednesday received a fillip after the pub operator said it expected to complete a refinancing of its debts by March and hinted that it might reinstate dividend payments next year. Tim Martin, founder and chairman, said the 
Share:  <span class="sent">Shares in JD Wetherspoon on Wednesday received a fillip after the pub operator said it expected to complete a refinancing of its debts by March and hinted that it might reinstate dividend payments next year. </span>Tim Martin, founder and chairman, said the Tweet this 

It said in a trading update: "The consumer recovery is fragile and there are numerous risks to current levels of consumer spending, particularly for the second half of our financial year, including rising unemployment and taxes." Greene King, which has more than 2,000 pubs, said it was stronger now than it was before the downturn and in a position to continue outperforming the market. It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as Greene King's shares rose 4 per cent. Investec Securities analyst Matthew Gerard said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop.  
Share:  It said in a trading update: "The consumer recovery is fragile and there are numerous risks to current levels of consumer spending, particularly for the second half of our financial year, including rising unemployment and taxes." <span class="company">Greene King</span>, which has more than 2,000 pubs, said it was stronger now than it was before the downturn and in a position to continue outperforming the market. It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as <span class="company">Greene King</span>'s shares rose 4 per cent. <span class="sent"> Investec Securities analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop. </span>...It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as <span class="company">Greene King</span>'s shares rose 4 per cent. <span class="sent"> Investec Securities analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the p Tweet this 

It said in a trading update: "The consumer recovery is fragile and there are numerous risks to current levels of consumer spending, particularly for the second half of our financial year, including rising unemployment and taxes." Greene King, which has more than 2,000 pubs, said it was stronger now than it was before the downturn and in a position to continue outperforming the market. It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as Greene King's shares rose 4 per cent. Investec Securities analyst Matthew Gerard said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop.  
Share:  It said in a trading update: "The consumer recovery is fragile and there are numerous risks to current levels of consumer spending, particularly for the second half of our financial year, including rising unemployment and taxes." <span class="company">Greene King</span>, which has more than 2,000 pubs, said it was stronger now than it was before the downturn and in a position to continue outperforming the market. It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as <span class="company">Greene King</span>'s shares rose 4 per cent. <span class="sent"> Investec Securities analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop. </span>...It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as <span class="company">Greene King</span>'s shares rose 4 per cent. <span class="sent"> Investec Securities analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from r Tweet this 

Investec Securities analyst Matthew Gerard said figures for Greene King's managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop.  
Share:  <span class="sent">Investec Securities analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said figures for <span class="company">Greene King</span>'s managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop. </span> Tweet this 

It said in a trading update: "The consumer recovery is fragile and there are numerous risks to current levels of consumer spending, particularly for the second half of our financial year, including rising unemployment and taxes." Greene King, which has more than 2,000 pubs, said it was stronger now than it was before the downturn and in a position to continue outperforming the market. It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as Greene King's shares rose 4%. Investec Securities analyst Matthew Gerard said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop. However, he added: "We agree with management's view that prospects for the sector going into 2010 are highly uncertain." 
Share:  It said in a trading update: "The consumer recovery is fragile and there are numerous risks to current levels of consumer spending, particularly for the second half of our financial year, including rising unemployment and taxes." <span class="company">Greene King</span>, which has more than 2,000 pubs, said it was stronger now than it was before the downturn and in a position to continue outperforming the market. It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. <span class="sent"> Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as <span class="company">Greene King</span>'s shares rose 4%. Investec Securities analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop. </span> However, he added: "We agree with management's view that prospects for the sector going into 2010 are highly uncertain." ...It raised £207 million from a rights issue earlier this year and has so far used £47 million of the proceeds on pub acquisitions and debt repurchase. <span class="sent"> Analysts shared the upbeat view on trading as <span class="company">Greene King</span>'s shares rose 4%. Investec Securities analyst <span class="analyst">Matthew Gerard</span> said figures for the managed pub estate were better than expected, given the pressure from recent poor weather conditions and the consumer backdrop. </span Tweet this