Updates

Ottakar's - Upbeat trading statement

August 2003

Investing in shares may lose you all or some of your money. Past performance is no indication of future performance. Some of the shares recommended here may be small company shares, which can be relatively illiquid and hard to trade and this makes such shares more risky than other investments.

Ottakar's is another of our New Year Naps to go into orbit since ourlast issue, with the shares at a new all time high. The group hasjust released a trading update covering the 23 weeks to 12 July, which showed that like-for-like sales accelerated to 7.9%, thanks partly to the successful launch of the fifth Harry Potter novel. But even without this book same store sales were still up 5.2%, which reflects Ottakar's success in tempting Potter customers to make other in-store purchases. Meanwhile, the recently acquired 24 Hammicks storeshave made a cracking start with same store sales up 6.6% during the first 11 weeks of ownership. Interim results will beannounced on 25 September, but as usual the key period will ...

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International Greetings - Becoming cash cow

Quarto - Bid approach

Ottakar's - Take profits (March 2004)

Ottakar's - Book retailer still in fine fettle (November 2003)

Ottakar's - Canny acquisition kick-starts shares (May 2003)

Ottakar's - Harry Potter release to boost sentiment (March 2003)

Ottakar's - Earnings to grow 72% over 2 years (February 2003)

With small companies there is an above average degree of risk compared to buying blue chips. Please be aware that we have not assessed the suitability of any of these investments for you. The newsletter simply states a personal view and diarises the editor’s investment decisions. Please speak to your stockbroker or other qualified individual to ascertain whether any of these companies mentioned would form useful additions to your own portfolios. Past performance is no indication of future success.

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