TD customers in summer selling mood

Angus Rigby, Chief Executive Officer, TD Waterhouse comments: "Overall top ten trading has increased by 33% this week compared to last week's figures as heavy selling dominated the tables. Sells were 42% higher than buys as customers seemed determined to take profits in a summer selling spree.

"Lloyds was the most popular sell, accounting for 26% of the top ten sells following the bank's recent share price hike. Shares in the 43% state-owned bank reached more than 74p on Tuesday on the back of news that under a Conservative government it could be forced, along with RBS, to sell part of its business. Customers traded heavily in the banking giant, which claimed a quarter (25%) of overall trades as the European Commission threatens to step up its sanctions against bailed-out banks.

"Meanwhile, our customers have been looking further afield for buying opportunities as several newcomers creep into the buys table this week. Central African Mining & Exploration Company (CAMEC) slipped into seventh place of the top ten buys after announcing it has received a possible buyout offer. The news caused shares in the African-focused mining firm to jump 39.58% at 16.5 pence last Thursday, giving the company a value of around £465 million. Earlier in the month, the minerals group, which is chaired by former England cricketer Phillipe Edmonds, revealed it had made a substantial discovery of platinum at the Zimbabwean-based prospect, Bokai.

"Customers looking for a bargain this summer turned their sights on Autonomy Corporation, which was a new entry to our top ten this week after announcing record pre-tax profits of $89.6m for the second quarter of 2009, up from lasts years' figure of $50.8m. Autonomy Corporation only re-joined the FTSE 100 index last month following a seven year absence, but the tech firm has caught the eye of our savvy customers, placing it in sixth place of the buys table."