GOALS Soccer Centres has had a hard time of late. Once the shining star of Scotland's Aim-listed companies, the five-a-side football pitch operator has come under fire over fears – seemingly unfounded – that the consumer slowdown will hammer its bus
iness, and company specific issues, with some analysts claiming the firm's outlook statements are inappropriate.
But yesterday, Goals received a morale boost as analysts at Evolution initiated the company with a "buy" rating and a 350p target price, claiming few leisure sector businesses had the potential of Goals. The shares, though, were unchanged at 207.5p.
Venture Production, the Aberdeen-based oil company, dipped 5.5p to 629.5p despite production starting at its long-awaited Chestnut field east of Aberdeen. Dana Petroleum, meanwhile, rose 28p to 1,321p and Cairn Energy gained 82p to 2,450p as oil climbed towards $110 a barrel.
The rise in the crude price dragged down transport companies, though, with Stagecoach off 9.25p to 303.25p while logistics and distribution company John Menzies slipped 10.5p to 300p.
Irn-Bru maker AG Barr recovered most of Friday's fall yesterday, ahead of this week's interim results. Its shares rose 5.5 per cent or 57p to 1,097p.
The full article contains 221 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
