A number of companies have bounced back quickly from the impact of last year's hard lockdown on their operations. Balwin Properties, Jasco Electronics and York Timber are just the latest to report improved performances for the six months to the end of December. In Balwin's case, it overcame a tough first half, when it lost three months of construction time, thanks to ongoing strong demand for its residential units.

Gemfields has had a tougher time, with restrictions affecting the auctions it holds for its rubies and emeralds. Still, it believes the action it took last year position it well for the period ahead.

Telemasters is also optimistic despite reporting a first-half loss as business customers cut back on its services - and some went out of business altogether.

More on those stories to follow in today's newsletter, along with the culmination of Mr Price's acquisition of Power Fashion after it received all the required approvals.

Due to the shorter work week, watch out for DealMakers in tomorrow's newsletter with all the latest mergers and acquisitions news.

I hope you have a good day.

Stephen Gunnion

Managing Editor, InceConnect

The latest from Ingham Analytics

If it's not GameStop it's ViacomCBS. There are similarities - overvaluation and overleverage. Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley were quick to exit exposure to Archegos Capital Management, Credit Suisse and Nomura weren't. What have we learned? History repeats itself. Top trader Andrew Kinsey tells it like it is in "Isn't Tom Cruise the star of Mission Impossible?" Other recent notes that are popular are "Is GameStop a bathtub drain?", "Is this true insanity?", "Are more treasuries gonna get shaken loose?", "South African bond yields - COVID-19 infected?", "A fifteen-year gulf" and "Rate accelerator".