LONDON Results Round up 4.11.2009

Results Round Up High street giant Marks & Spencer is to end its policy of only selling its own branded food products and will start introduce 400 top household brands in its food halls. The initial programme will feature brands such as Kellogg's and Coca-Cola, Baileys, Marmite, Nurofen, which will be sold alongside M&S' own products in a wide range of lines. Group sales to end September grew 2.8% to Ł4.3bn. Adjusted profit before tax was slightly ahead of last year at Ł298.3m, while M&S generated net cash of Ł69.7m. Most analysts had expected profits of about Ł290m compared with Ł297.8m last year. Fashion chain Next has upped its guidance for second half sales up to Christmas Eve after reporting better than expected sales in the third quarter. Retail like-for-like sales dropped 1.3% in the three month ended 31 October, while directory sales were up 5.1%, with both Next Retail and Next Directory performing ahead of the second half guidance the group gave in September. Results Name Type Reporting Date Turnover (m) Pre-tax Profit (m) EPS Adjusted Dividend Alterian Interim 30-Sep-09 Ł14.43 +40% Ł(0.24) n/a (0.50)p n/a n/a n/a Conroy Diamonds Final 31-May-09 n/a n/a € (0.30) n/a (0.25)¢ n/a n/a n/a Egdon Resources Final 31-Jul-09 Ł0.88 -22% Ł(0.08) n/a (0.12)p n/a n/a n/a Energy XXI (Bermuda) (Reg S) Q4 30-Jun-09 $101.10 -43% $7.71 -38% (12.00)¢ n/a n/a n/a FirstGroup Interim 30-Sep-09 Ł2,902.60 +5% Ł30.30 -44% 9.30p -40% 6.65p +10% Marks & Spencer Group Interim 26-Sep-09 Ł4,335.80 +3% Ł306.70 -0% 13.70p n/a 5.50p -34% Ultrasis Final 31-Jul-09 Ł4.17 +59% Ł0.70 n/a 0.07p +367% n/a n/a Umeco Interim 30-Sep-09 Ł199.60 +1% Ł6.10 -47% 13.20p -27% 6.50p n