News

A cataclysmic recession would ruin an investment in G4S, but so it would also ruin punts elsewhere. In these tough economic times, it is much better to play safe and back a winner. Buy, says the Independent.

Communisis has been stripping out costs, so that even its declining businesses are building profits, and rebuilding the balance sheet, with debt reduced by two thirds over the first half of the year. So far, it's a story that the market has yet to fully appreciate. Buy, says the Telegraph.

Perhaps Hargreaves Lansdown would be a great candidate for investment once the economy is showing green shoots of revival - but not now. Yesterday, Mr Hargreaves suggested that the current Government's time in office would go down as the longest period of economic mismanagement in history. Buying shares in his company now would do the same for an individual's portfolio. Sell, recommends the Independent.

Costain's battle-hardened investors have recently started to receive dividends for the first time in 15 years. The company may be about to repay their loyalty. New investors should tread cautiously until the future becomes more clear, says the Times.

Independent News & Media has long defied the problems in the newspaper sector because of its exposure to fast-growing economies such as Ireland, South Africa and Australia. With no obvious catalyst, a high valuation and weakening underlying economies, there is little reason to buy. Avoid, recommends the Times.

Last time the Telegraph's Questor looked at James Fisher, it tipped them as a buy at 448p. With most brokers now holding price targets of at least 700p, it is a recommendation the column is happy to repeat.

Asos is in a prime position to benefit from the changing market dynamics and, as it heads into Christmas with a range of more than 10,000 products, overseas expansion is likely. Hold, says the Times.

At current levels, Petrofac shares trade on a forward multiple of around 15 times this year's earnings, which is similar to Wood Group. Questor would argue that that is about right and recommends holding at this price, says the Telegraph.

The Independent says Antofagasta is a hold.