Old UK Stocks Shares Investment Tips complied by Money sorter at 11 5 2007

UK Stocks and Shares and Investment tips

Top of the Tips: Share Recommendations to week ending 11 5 2207

Ones To Buy

Babcock International

Babcock has just acquired Devonport, the dockyard facility at which all of the Royal Navy's nuclear submarines are refuelled and refitted. The only facility of its kind in the UK, it should provide Babcock with a guaranteed stream of work and economies of scale with its other submarine facilities.

Although Babcock's shares rose on the news, there is still plenty of value left. Buy, says The Times.

Lloyds TSB

Lloyds TSB has been focusing ruthlessly on cost management over the last few years, and although growth has been modest, dividends continue to be generous. Future growth prospects look safe if relatively modest, and a 6 per cent yield adds to the attraction. Buy, suggests The Telegraph.

Vanco

The ambitious virtual telecoms service provider has just signed a major new contract with T Systems – the business arm of German behemoth Deutsche Telekom. Its prospects look good, and despite a somewhat volatile past, Vanco shares should be a worthwhile buy, according to The Independent.

WSP

International consultancy group WSP has its fingers in several pies, working with governments and companies in property, transport and environment sectors. Its shares have had a good run in recent months but WSP has a strong management team in place and seems to be doing all the right things. Plenty of potential left – buy, says the Mail on Sunday.

N Brown

This catalogue clothing company specialises in clothing for larger women – or plus-size clothing, in the jargon of the trade. They have just announced an increase in annual pre-tax profits of 21 per cent and are benefiting from strong growth of their internet sales – up 51 per cent last year. With little serious competition and a growing market sector, N Brown is a good bet, reckon The Independent, The Times and The Telegraph.

Synairgen

This Southampton University-based Pharma research company is focusing all its efforts on developing drugs to address the underlying causes of asthma – an affliction that causes more than 1,400 deaths a year and costs the NHS £900m annually.

If successful, they would become extremely hot property – buy now to keep, suggests The Telegraph.

Ones To Let Go

Investec

The bank has formerly been tipped as a buy, but following the rise of its shares in the last six months, now might be a good time to take profits – sell at least half your holding, says the Mail on Sunday.

HMV

HMV looks very much like a business that has had its day, according to The Independent. It is hard to see any reason to invest – whether online or on the high street, HMV is failing to shine or gain market share. Sell.