2013 Annual Report (Pdf)

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

2013 Annual Report (Pdf) Costain Group PLC Engineering Visit www.costain.com Tomorrow... today Annual Report 2013 Report Annual Costain Group PLC Costain Group PLC Costain House Annual Report 2013 Vanwall Business Park Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 4UB United Kingdom This report has been printed on Cocoon recycled papers. By using this material rather than non-recycled papers, we have reduced the environmental impact by: 2,525 kg of landfill 53,981 litres of water 4,966 kWh of electricity 309 kg CO2 and greenhouse gases 4,104 kg of wood Source: Carbon footprint data evaluated by Labelia Conseil in accordance with the Bilan Carbone® methodology. Calculations are based on a comparison between the recycled paper used versus a virgin fibre paper according to the latest European BREF data (virgin fibre paper) available. Results are obtained according to technical information and are subject to modification. Contents Strategic report Governance Financial statements 01 The spirit of innovation... 47 Chairman’s statement on corporate 86 Consolidated income statement 02 The history of Costain spans governance 87 Consolidated statement of a period of nearly 150 years 48 Board of Directors comprehensive income and expense 04 2013 highlights 50 Corporate Governance statement 88 Consolidated statement 06 Chairman’s statement 55 Audit Committee report of fi nancial position 08 Chief Executive’s review 58 Nomination Committee report 89 Company statement of fi nancial position 11 Business model 59 Directors’ remuneration report 90 Consolidated statement of changes 12 Business model – The Costain difference 77 Directors’ report in equity 24 Principal risks and uncertainties 81 Directors’ responsibilities statement 90 Company statement of changes in equity 26 Performing responsibly 82 Independent Auditor’s report to the 91 Consolidated cash fl ow statement 26 Divisional performance members of Costain Group PLC 92 Company cash fl ow statement 28 Engineering Tomorrow... ‘in action’ 93 Notes to the fi nancial statements 34 Corporate Responsibility 132 Five-year fi nancial summary 34 Costain Cares 35 Relationships Other information 39 Our Environment 134 Financial calendar and other shareholder 41 The Future information 43 Finance Director’s review 136 Contact us Designed and produced by Instinctif Partners www.instinctif.com Costain photographers: Ian Routledge pages 6, 8, 43, 47, 48, 49 (Costain Board Directors); Ed Tyler pages 49, 136 (Jane Lodge, Graham Read); and Mike Doherty pages 49, 136 (Tracey Wood, Catherine Warbrick). Additional photography: Courtesy of Thinkstock (front cover images and page 30); artist impression courtesy of Network Rail, page 2 (London Bridge Station); courtesy of Highways Agency, page 31 (Smart Motorways case study); courtesy of Network Rail, page 33 (BIM case study); and courtesy of Port Studio, page 40 (Harbour Way case study). KPI Brunel illustration: Gilly Lovegrove This icon has been used throughout the report and This report has been printed on Cocoon 50% Gloss and Cocoon references our key performance indicators (‘KPIs’). 100% Offset – both are recycled papers. They contain 50% recycled waste and 100% recycled waste respectively, are FSC-certifi ed and produced at a mill with ISO 14001 certifi cation. Recycled fi bres used Throughout the Annual Report, are process chlorine free. we have used the following icons to direct you to further information PAS2020 either in the report or elsewhere. ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE Links to further information CERTIFIED Find us online CERTIFYING BODY Our Annual Report 2013 is available in both in this report. printed form and within the ‘Investors’ section If you have fi nished reading the Annual Report and no longer wish of the Costain website at www.costain.com/ to retain it, please pass it on to other interested readers, return it investors. Effective communication with our to Costain Group PLC or dispose of it in your recycled paper waste. shareholders is vital to our continued success Links to further information and we would welcome feedback on either or within our website. Thank you. both versions of this Annual Report – email us at [email protected] This Annual Report is available at: www.costain.com Strategic report 01-45 report Strategic The spirit of innovation... 46 Governance Isambard Kingdom Brunel was the celebrated engineer of his era. -84 His vision and pursuit of innovative engineering ideas revolutionised infrastructure in the nineteenth century. In the twenty-fi rst century, Costain is driven by a similar passion to build a better world. We seek new ways to meet the complex challenges of today’s infrastructure programmes; engineering solutions that will benefi t the UK for generations to come. 85-132 statements Financial Brunel had a fundamental impact on the world in which he lived and on the world in which we live today. At Costain, we share the Brunel spirit by Engineering Tomorrow. How we create value Focusing on six strategic priorities Our strategy for Our Engineering Tomorrow strategy sustainable growth can is designed to meet national needs by Operate safely, effi ciently upgrading and maintaining the UK’s and responsibly be found on pages 11-23. infrastructure and aiding economic recovery 133-136 information Other and growth. Value is created by our drive Our vision... Continue to enhance is to be one of the UK’s top engineering solutions providers. for innovation and we are committed to customer insight We must be the best for technical, innovative and sustainable solutions. a constant quest for improvement. We are confi dent that our robust business model Behaviour... and our strategic focus will continue to Grow by broadening and we are committed to operating our business both sustainably and responsibly. We are focused on one simple but powerful message – integrating our services ‘Costain Cares’. This is not a slogan: it is an attitude of mind. It is integral deliver shareholder value in the years ahead. to everything we do and a touchstone against which we can evaluate and measure our performance. Costain Cares about relationships, our environment and the future. Additional information concerning our Engineering Tomorrow strategy can Develop best-in-class team be found at key locations in this report, Operations... specifi cally on pages 6, 8-9, 12-23, 28-33, we focus on intelligent solutions to meet national needs. As a Tier One 35, 40 and 42. engineering solutions provider, we provide front-end engineering consultancy, construction and ongoing care and maintenance services across market Create and deliver innovative sectors. We have two core operating and reporting divisions within our sustainable solutions business, Infrastructure and Natural Resources. Costain Cares and Our Values Infrastructure Natural Resources Rail Water We care about all our stakeholders. Highways Nuclear Process Power Waste Our set of values drives our behaviour and Working in collaboration Airports Oil & Gas provides the basis for all our decisions. Everyone at Costain is committed to being: Services Advisory and concept development • Customer focused Specialist design Programme management Complex project delivery • Open and honest Technology integration Asset optimisation and support • Safe and environmentally aware More detailed information about our strategic priorities can be found • Team players on pages 13-19 of this report. Delivering value to all our stakeholders Delivering a sustainable business through the development • Accountable of a strong and profi table forward order book. • Innovative – improving continuously and therefore the... • Natural choice Costain Group PLC Annual Report 2013 01 Strategic report The history of Costain spans a period of nearly 150 years Costain continues to be one of the UK’s leading engineering solutions providers, working to improve people’s lives by focusing on the issues you care about. The Group was Mulberry Harbours founded in Liverpool Wartime work included in 1865 by Richard 26 aerodromes, part of the Mulberry Harbours Costain, aged 26, and munitions factories. a jobbing builder from the Isle of Man. Festival of Britain Costain was the fi rst UK contractor to win the Queen’s Award for Export Achievement, in 1971. Costain built the London Bridge Station Skylon and Dome A list of 101 interesting facts about Costain can of Discovery for the be found on its website: www.costain.com/ 1951 Festival of news Britain. 02 Costain Group PLC Annual Report 2013 01-45 report Strategic o r t Costain regularly announces key stakeholder information on the ‘News’ section of its website: Costain voted www.costain.com/ news Top 100 company The Thames Barrier 4 December 2013 One of the UK’s leading engineering solutions providers, Costain, was placed 55th (joint place with Virgin Trains) in Britain’s ‘Most Admired’ league table, climbing up from last year’s 61st position. The table, comprising 247 top names including Rolls-Royce, Unilever, Marks & Spencer, Royal Dutch Shell, J Sainsbury and Coca-Cola Enterprises, was organised by Management Today magazine and sponsored by BSI. Costain was a founder member The league table was compiled by asking Britain’s largest of the Channel public companies in 26 sectors to evaluate their peers. Tunnel joint venture. Contract fi nalised with EDF CostainC awarded M6 – Heysham The 1,377 metre Tsing for Hinkley Point Nuclear LinkL Road contract. Ma suspension bridge Power Station. built in consortium in Hong Kong is the world’ss longest combined road CostainCostain awardedaward fi ve-year framework and rail bridge. contract for Network Rail. Costain
Recommended publications
  • View Annual Report
    Costain Group PLC PLC Costain Group Costain House Nicholsons Walk Being Number One Maidenhead Costain Group PLC Berkshire SL6 1LN Annual Report 2005 Telephone 01628 842444 www.costain.com Annual Report 2005 Costain is an international Financial calendar engineering and construction Half year results – Announced 31 August 2005 Full year results – Announced 15 March 2006 company, seen as an Report & Accounts – Sent to shareholders 28 March 2006 Annual General Meeting – To be held 27 April 2006 Half year results 2005 – To be announced 30 August 2006 automatic choice for projects Analysis of Shareholders Shares requiring innovation, initiative, Accounts (millions) % Institutions, companies, individuals and nominees: Shareholdings 100,000 and over 156 321.92 90.39 teamwork and high levels of Shareholdings 50,000 – 99,999 93 6.37 1.69 Shareholdings 25,000 – 49,999 186 6.01 1.79 Shareholdings 5,000 – 24,999 1,390 13.78 3.87 technical and managerial skills. Shareholdings 1 – 4,999 12,848 8.06 2.26 14,673 356.14 100.00 Secretary and Registered Office Secretary Registrar and Transfer Office Clive L Franks Lloyds TSB Registrars The Causeway Registered Office Worthing Costain Group PLC West Sussex Costain House BN99 6DA Nicholsons Walk Telephone 0870 600 3984 Maidenhead Berkshire SL6 1LN Telephone 01628 842444 www.costain.com [email protected] Company Number 1393773 Shareholder information The Company’s Registrar is Lloyds TSB Registrars, The Causeway, Worthing, West Sussex BN99 6DA. For enquiries regarding your shareholding, please telephone 0870 600 3984. You can also view up-to-date information abourt your holdings by visiting the shareholder web site at www.shareview.co.uk.
    [Show full text]
  • Costain Group PLC Scrip Dividend Scheme
    THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt as to any aspect of the proposals referred to in this document or as to the action you should take, you should seek your own advice from a stockbroker, solicitor, accountant, or other independent financial adviser authorised under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your shares in Costain Group PLC (the ‘Company’), please pass this document together with the accompanying documents to the purchaser or transferee, or to the person who arranged the sale or transfer so they can pass these documents to the person who now holds the shares. Costain Group PLC (incorporated and registered in England and Wales under number 01393773) Notice of Annual General Meeting and Explanatory Notes to Shareholders Your attention is drawn to the letter from the Chairman of the Company which is set out on page 3 of this document and which recommends you to vote in favour of the resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. Notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held in The More Suite, 2nd Floor, Dexter House, No 2 Royal Mint Court, Tower Hill, London, EC3N 4QN on Wednesday 8 May 2013 at 11.00am is set out on pages 4 to 8 of this document. If you are unable to attend the Annual General Meeting, please complete and submit the form of proxy enclosed with this document in accordance with the instructions printed on the proxy form.
    [Show full text]
  • Highways Agency Supplier Recognition Scheme 2011
    Highways Agency Supplier Recognition Scheme 2014 Best Practice Report Introduction This report looks to highlight the key aspects of the winning and highly commended entries in each category. Background 2014 was the fourth year of the Highways Agency Supplier Recognition Scheme. The annual recognition scheme highlights the vital contribution made by the Agency’s suppliers who help it operate, maintain and improve England’s network of motorways and A roads. This year entries for the awards increased significantly – as 118 bid for the honour to receive public recognition from the Agency across seven categories. These included joint ventures, the extended supply chain and small and medium enterprises. 2014 Winners and Highly Commended The Highways Agency received 118 entries from 50 entrants which included single suppliers and joint ventures. The following winners and highly commended were chosen: Winners Highly Commended Building and Sustaining Capability Costain Carillion Civil Engineering Customer Experience Carillion Civil Engineering Mouchel (Designer) & Carillion (Delivery Costain Ltd Partner) Delivering Sustainable Value & Solutions Costain Group plc Interserve Construction Limited Sir Robert McAlpine & AW Jenkinson Managing Down Cost/Improving Value Carnell Group Carillion Civil Engineering WSP Skanska Balfour Beatty/Atkins Delivery Simulation Systems Limited Team Promoting Diversity & Inclusion EM Highway Service Limited & BAM/Morgan Sindall JV Recycling Lives Safety, Health & Wellbeing Carnell Group A-One+ Integrated
    [Show full text]
  • A New Reality – CITB Report
    CITB RESEARCH A NEW REALITY: Immersive Learning in Construction Full Report The second in a series of CITB Research Reports on Productivity and Future Skills September 2017 CONTENTS CONTENTS 4 Foreword 6 Executive summary 16 Background and methodology 19 Immersive learning 20 What and why? 24 Training a future workforce 25 The role for immersive learning 27 Improving current training delivery 45 Challenges and considerations 50 Conclusions and recommendations 3 FOREWORD FOREWORD One of the biggest challenges facing the construction sector is modernisation. The title of 2016’s Farmer Review – Modernise or Die – highlighted this challenge in no uncertain terms. For the sector to truly modernise, we need to embrace innovative and digital forms of training - most prominently, Immersive learning, the theme of this report. As Co-Chair of the Construction Leadership Council (CLC) I work with industry and government to support UK construction in building greater efficiency, skills and growth. I am very pleased to present this report as it lays down the gauntlet for employers, trainers and the Government to tackle these key issues through innovation. As this report says, immersive learning can revolutionise training delivery, help produce ‘work-ready’ employees and transform the perception of the sector to investors and young people. This latter point is crucial because if the construction sector is to thrive we need to attract as much talent as soon as possible. I was interested to read that for some young people consulted during the research for this report, construction was still seen as a dirty, low-paid, manual occupation that lacks opportunities to learn through state-of-the-art technology.
    [Show full text]
  • Consultees for the Implementation of the Sustainable Drainage
    Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs December 2011 Consultees list for the consultation on national build standards and automatic adoption arrangements for gravity foul sewers and lateral drains Contents About this document ................................................................................................................. 1 Our consultees ......................................................................................................................... 1 About this document The consultation describes how Government proposes to implement the Flood and Water Management Act 2010 (the Act) for the construction standards and automatic adoption of new- build sewers England. It should be noted that this list of consultees is not exhaustive. We welcome views from anyone expressing an interest in the consultation. Although not specified on the list, some individuals and all the local authorities in England have been contacted. These authorities include borough, district, city and county councils. It should be noted that the Welsh Government is consulting separately on this subject. Our consultees 2B Landscape Consultancy 365 Environmental Services 3e Consulting Engineers Ltd A.L.H. Environmental Services Aberyswyth University ACO Technologies plc Alde and Ore Association Allen Pyke Association Albion Water Allianz Insurance All Internal Drainage Boards All Local Authorities All Parliamentary Group on sewers and sewerage All Parliamentary Group on Water Amey Anglian (Central) Regional Flood Defence Committee Anglian
    [Show full text]
  • Construction Leadership Group Meeting Wednesday 21St June 2017
    Construction Leadership Group meeting Wednesday 21st June 2017 Date: Wednesday 21st June 2017 – Carillion Site Offices, King’s Cross, London – 10.30am – 12.30pm Attendees: Ian Heptonstall – Chair (Supply Chain School), Jesse Putzel (BAM), Andy Hazlehurst (Carillion), Aysegul Sabanci (ISG), Craig Murphy (John Sisk), Eddy Taylor (Laing O’Rourke), Nick Lovell (Tobermore), Steve Watson (Willmott Dixon), EJ Allen (Supply Chain School), Becky Bryant (Supply Chain School) Apologies: Gerard Cantwell (Aggregate Industries), Patrick Guest (Arnold Laver), Simon Poulter (Balfour Beatty), Anne Smales (Bouygues UK), Richard Deaville (Interserve), Iain Casson (Kier), Tom Brenchley (Lundy Projects), Steve Attfield (Marshalls), Graham Edgell (Morgan Sindall), Nick Baker (Skanska), Danny Bavington (Sir Robert McAlpine), Adrian Shah-Cundy (VolkerWessels UK), Cara Palmer (Wates) Please note these meeting notes are to be read in conjunction with the final set of slides as circulated to all with these minutes. Meeting notes 1. Welcome and introductions ✓ The Group were advised that Nick Baker, Sustainability Operations Director, Skanska, will become the new Chair of the Construction Leadership Group from September’s meeting onwards, in line with discussions at previous meetings ✓ Aysegul Sabanci, Head of Procurement and Supply Chain, was introduced to the Group as the new representative from ISG ✓ Nick Lovell, Commercial and Specification Sales Executive was introduced to the Group as the representative from Tobermore, the latest Partner to join the School ✓ The guest speaker from Bryden Wood who was due to present at the meeting was not able to attend at late notice – the agenda was changed to include an update and exercise around the Supply Chain Mapping SIG.
    [Show full text]
  • No More Lost Generations One Million Neets Aged 16-24 182,000
    One million NEETs aged 16-24 182,000 construction jobs to be filled by 2018 Yet just 7,280 completed a construction apprenticeship last year We have to do better No more lost generations Creating construction jobs for young people HOUSE OF COMMONS A cross-party parliamentarians’ inquiry LONDON SW1A 0AA February 2014 2 3 Section 1 Contents04 Foreword 20 Section 3: By Rt Hon Nick Raynsford MP and Lord Richard How to get more young people into training Best OBE, joint chairs of the inquiry and employment 20 3.1 Analysis of the problems and solutions 06 Executive summary 22 3.2 Strengthening leadership in construction 05 Members of the commission 24 3.3 Using public-sector contracts to Section 2 boost employment for young people 07 About the inquiry 27 3.4 Attracting the best talent 31 3.5 Improving apprenticeship experience 08 Section 1: 32 3.6 Matching skills and training with The emerging skills gap changing industry need 33 3.7 Making it easier to employ and train 08 Section 2: young people Section 3 Structural barriers to training and employment of young people 34 Section 4: 12 2.1 Structure and culture of the industry How organisations are getting young people 13 2.2 Routes into construction as a career into training and work 15 2.3 Training and funding for training 16 2.4 How funding structures might 39 Section 5: change – the Richard Review reforms Recommendations Section 4 18 2.5 Traineeships 42 Acknowledgments We would like to thank all of those who contributed and helped inform this inquiry, including the many witnesses who gave oral evidence and the List of those who provided submissions, gave organisations and individuals that provided written submissions.
    [Show full text]
  • Marketplace Sponsorship Opportunities Information Pack 2017
    MarketPlace Sponsorship Opportunities Information Pack 2017 www.airmic.com/marketplace £ Sponsorship 950 plus VAT Annual Conference Website * 1 complimentary delegate pass for Monday www.airmic.com/marketplace only (worth £695)* A designated web page on the MarketPlace Advanced notification of the exhibition floor plan section of the website which will include your logo, contact details and opportunity to upload 20% discount off delegate places any PDF service information documents Advanced notification to book on-site meeting rooms Airmic Dinner Logo on conference banner Advanced notification to buy tickets for the Annual Dinner, 12th December 2017 Logo in conference brochure Access to pre-dinner hospitality tables Opportunity to receive venue branding opportunities Additional Opportunities * This discount is only valid for someone who have never attended an Airmic Conference Airmic can post updates/events for you on before Linked in/Twitter ERM Forum Opportunity to submit articles on technical subjects in Airmic News (subject to editor’s discretion) Opportunity to purchase a table stand at the ERM Forum Opportunity to promote MP content online via @ Airmic Twitter or the Airmic Linked In Group About Airmic Membership Airmic has a membership of about 1200 from about 480 companies. It represents the Insurance buyers for about 70% of the FTSE 100, as well as a very substantial representation in the mid-250 and other smaller companies. Membership continues to grow, and retention remains at 90%. Airmic members’ controls about £5 billion of annual insurance premium spend. A further £2 billion of premium spend is allocated to captive insurance companies within member organisations. Additionally, members are responsible for the payment of insurance claims from their business finances to the value of at least £2 billion per year.
    [Show full text]
  • Skills Needs Analysis for the Construction Industry
    Skills Needs Analysis for the Construction Industry ConstructionSkills has been chosen to be one of the four Pathfinder Sector Skills Councils charged with developing Sector Skills Agreement (SSA) for their sector. The development of the SSA is a five-stage process that starts with a Skills Needs Analysis (SNA). The purpose of the analysis is to provide the evidence base to demonstrate what the industry skills needs are and whether or not current education and training provision, learning and qualification frameworks and funding models across the UK are satisfactorily meeting them. The Skills Needs Analysis (SNA) for Construction is built on a well-respected research programme and work with the industry over a long period. It has involved a major exercise to bring together all relevant sector intelligence and forecasting to provide a rationale for adopting agreed priorities for action and a basis for bringing about change in the way the industry goes about developing its workforce. The current draft of the document [attached] represents the main body of the SNA that underpins the development of the proposed SSA. Alongside providing partners with the evidence base we would also welcome comments on the usefulness of the document. Clearly a version will need to be published as a companion to the SSA but we see this as a living document that we will keep reviewed and updated, as further and better intelligence becomes available. The exercise to bring together all of this research has revealed a number of areas of work that are either lacking or in need of further work.
    [Show full text]
  • Construction and the Modern Slavery Act Tackling Exploitation in the UK
    Construction and the Modern Slavery Act Tackling Exploitation in the UK TACKLING EXPLOITATION IN THE UK MAY1 2018 Construction and the Modern Slavery Act Tackling Exploitation in the UK Researched and written by Emma Crates, freelance writer and journalist. Follow Emma on Twitter @CratesEm Designed by Demographik: www.demographik.co.uk Published by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) Twitter: @theCIOB and @CIOBPolicy Facebook: www.facebook.com/theCIOB LinkedIn: search ‘CIOB’ YouTube: CIOBTV CIOB, 1 Arlington Square, Downshire Way, Bracknell, RG12 1WA, UK Registered Charity No. (England and Wales) 280795 and (Scotland) SC041725 www.CIOB.org policy.CIOB.org Tel: +44 (0) 1344 630 700 Email: [email protected] The views expressed by the author are not necessarily those of the CIOB nor anyone connected with the CIOB. Neither the author nor CIOB accept any liability arising from the use of this publication. Any data or analysis from this report must be reported accurately and not used in a misleading context. If using any information from the report, then its source and date of publication must be acknowledged. Copyright CIOB 2018 2 Construction and the Modern Slavery Act Tackling Exploitation in the UK Some definitions Forced labour Most situations of slavery or human trafficking are covered by International Labour Organization’s (ILO) definition of forced labour: “...all work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered himself or herself voluntarily.”1 Exploitation There is no clear legal definition of exploitation but United Nations and European Conventions say that exploitation includes forced labour, servitude and slavery.
    [Show full text]
  • Engineering Tomorrow Engineering Tomorrow
    COSTAIN GROUP PLC | ANNUAL REPORT 2016 ENGINEERING TOMORROW ENGINEERING TOMORROW Costain helps to improve people’s lives by deploying technology-based engineering solutions to meet urgent national needs across the UK’s energy, water and transportation infrastructures. We have been shaping the world in which we live for the past 150 years. Our people are committed to delivery, performance and reliability. UNIQUE BUSINESS MODEL STRONG MARKET FOCUS CLEAR SET OF PRIORITIES PROVEN TRACK RECORD We offer a broad range Our focus is on meeting urgent Our ‘Engineering Tomorrow’ We have a proven history of of innovative services across national needs in three major strategy outlines the core areas delivering results for all our the whole life-cycle of our areas to improve the quality that we are focusing on in order stakeholders – and continue to customers’ assets, through the of key assets and bring benefits to create a sustainable business. create value for customers, society, delivery of integrated consultancy, to end users. our people and shareholders. asset optimisation, technology Our three business areas: and complex delivery services. 1 Order book 2 Our services: 7 Water Consultancy (advisory, design, programme management) 3 £3.9bn Energy 6 Complex delivery 2016 £3.9bn 4 Technology 5 Transportation 2015 £3.9bn Asset optimisation Our customer-centric approach We are focused on the UK 1. Unique customer focus 2014 £3.5bn enables us to become a trusted market which offers a significant 2. Skills and experience 2013 £3.0bn partner to our customers. opportunity for Costain. of the team Central to this is our people and the expertise and professionalism Our ‘Engineering Tomorrow’ 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Better Best Ideas Extra Information About the Popularity of Stocks Although It Does Improve the Chances
    TIPS IDEAS FARM As with all the data on these pages, the guarantee of securing good share price gains – Better best ideas extra information about the popularity of stocks although it does improve the chances. But such should not be regarded as providing any defini- is the nature of investing and the job of trying to ALGY HALL tive pointers. It is easy for normal market move- make decisions under conditions of uncertainty. ne of the plans when we launched the Ideas ments over the course of a couple of months to A number of the other shares in this week’s OFarm was to keep improving these pages. cause a stock to slip in and out of a fund’s top tips section have also recently appeared on our Readers who have found it useful to know the few positions. This means we can expect a lot of best ideas lists: US drug firmMerck (US:MRK) top positions of the best-performing funds in the changes to simply represent noise. However, (page 32) and defence group QinetiQ (QQ.) given sectors may notice one such improvement hopefully it is of interest to have a clear signpost (page 31). With coronavirus still very much a this week. As well as listing how many of the as to when a new name has appeared on the list. live issue – as we’ve been reminded by recent funds we monitor have a large position in each One such case this week is XPS Pensions infection spikes in parts of the US and UK – both company on the list, there is now also detail of (XPS), which appears as a UK smaller compa- stocks offer some welcome defensive attributes.
    [Show full text]