Thomas Cook books top spot among TD customers

Stuart Welch, CEO, TD Direct Investing comments: "Thomas Cook Group (TCG) flew to the summit of TD's top ten buys and sells tables this week, accounting for nearly a fifth (19.4%) of top ten trading overall as rumours circulated that it could attract a takeover bid. Interestingly, the buy:sell ratio for Thomas Cook shares was 1:1 with only one trade difference between them. Meanwhile, we had four new entrants landing in the tables whilst weekly favourites occupied the remaining spots. The buy:sell ratio finished the week ending Monday, 5 March at almost exactly 1:1 as the FTSE 100 dipped back below 5,900, finishing the period at 5,874.82.

"This week Kazakhmys (KAZ) entered the top ten buys table in fifth place, finishing highest of all the new entrants this week after it announced flat profits for 2011 last Thursday (1 March). Although the company has benefited from stronger metal prices, an 18% rise in production costs appears to have offset any gains and its trading update saw the share price lose nearly 17% from 1108p at close last Wednesday (29 February) to 948p at close on Monday (5 March).

"Red Emperor Resources (RMP) announced on 27 February that it intends to raise £6.9 million to fund exploration programmes in Somalia and Georgia by issuing two tranches of new ordinary shares - a first wave of 16.2 million shares followed by an anticipated second of 22.3 million. Following the announcement of the placement, the company's share price had gained 30% in the week ending Monday, 5 March."