Nordic markets backpedalled as 'fringe markets' are showing some signs of insecurity. US Philly Fed index showed a very positive number. US inflation showed a slight pick up and leading indicators remained just positive. Rare earth exports crackdown intensifies in China. Restrictions on apartment purchases keep getting tighter as well.
FLSmidth released its annual report for 2010. The stock gained somewhat in a down day as guidance of the firm that tends to be conservative nearly matched expectations. Also long-term growth and earnings prospects are seen in positive light. The firm felt that 2010 financial performance was satisfactory due to solid order backlog and solid operations. Revenue was down some 13% and EBITDA by almost as much as well.
For 2011 the key focus areas for FLSmidth are expansion in Minerals and Customer Services, local presence in China and India and continuation of ongoing measures to strenghten the group's business platform. FLSmidth expects new contracted cement kiln capacity (excluding China) of around 65 million tonnes, of which India is forecasted to take a sizeable chunk, which should increase FLSmidth's order intake in major cement project. The company expects rising investments in minerals industry and also rising order intake in that sector as well. Revenue is presumed to grow 5-10% compared to 2011 and EBIT ratio to be at the same level or slightly lower than the 9.9% in 2010. Investments should grow by a nearly a third to around 900 million Danish kroner.
Aker Solutions reached an operating revenue of 15 billion NOK on Q4 and a little over 50 billion for the entire 2010. Fourth quarter earnings per share reached 2,09 NOK and the dividend proposal for the full-year is 2.75 NOK. Aker Solutions gained 6,30% to close at 114,80 NOK. ABB's slightly weaker margins pressed construction and engineering stocks in Stockholm exchange. Other than that the result was quite alright.
Geographic information firm Blom had crept up to around 2,25 NOK per share after touching 1.5 NOK to end 2010. The bad news that came to light then were highlighted and even magnified in the quarterly report and the stock plummeted 37% to 1,36 kroner. The massive loss of over 400 million NOK mostly as a result of write-downs but also with weak operating results has eaten away much of the equity. The legal dispute between Blom and Pictometry International Corp. plays a major role there as prior to the halt on Blom's license to provide oblique imagery technology in Europe by Pictometry such sales were creating over 50 million NOK per quarter of revenue to Blom . The market is now basically pricing the stock for bankrupcy. Blom states in outlook that it has satisfactory order backlog and strengthened financial position.
Petrolium Geo-Services missed expectations where as Norwegian insurance company Gjensidige did much better than expected to close 2010. Food processing company Atria is still losing an awful lot of money in Russia and posted another disappointing quarter. Elektrobit's automotive sector is performing fine but the wireless segment, pressed by the TerreStar situation, dragged the company deep into negative territory. Now the parent company of TerreStar Networks TerreStar Corporationalso filed for chapter 11 reorganization. AF Gruppen scored a major order.
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