In a pick of the tips from the weekend press the Daily Mail tips Asian Plantations as a 'buy' although it notes that this is a young company with risks attached and subject to commodity price fluctuations. The paper points out that the firm is well run and is involved in the production of crops in demand by the emerging economies. The Daily Mail thinks that over three years they could prove a rewarding investment.

The Telegraph likes Eurasian Natural Resource pointing out that investors could have done worse than to adopt a strategy to buy particular miners on dips in the share price. They suggest that this senario applies to Eurasian Natural Resource, which mainly produces feedstock in ferrochrome heavily used in power industries. with the shares trading on a December 2010 earnings multiple of 10.4 but expected to fall to 8.3 in 2011. Buy, says the Telegraph.

Cranswick is a speciality sausage producer and Sunday Times revealed that the City would not be suprised to see double-digit sales growth announced in a company trading update expected this week. The Sunday Times reports that the outlook remains positive for Cranswick with supermarkets likely to continue to source more British meat. The shares are on 12 times prospective earnings and are worth buying say Sunday Times.

In the latest of a number of electric car pilot projects within the industry, Eco City Vehicles have launched an electric taxi as a prototype. Provisionally named the 'eVito' and based on the standard Mercedes Vito black taxi, the vehicle is powered by a Zytek 70kW electric motor and gearbox which should be capable of a total range of 120 miles on a single charge whilst offering zero emissions. Company commented that the eVito represented a major step towards companies goal in becoming a leading supplier of eco-friendly vehicles.

BSkyB has sold 10.4% of its stake in ITV at 48.50p each but retained the remaining 7.5%. Company had bought the shares at 135p per share originally to block an anticipated takeover approach for ITV by NTL which later became Virgin Media. The Competition Commission, however, instructed BSkyB to reduce its holding on the grounds that its influence, via the holding, could operate against the public interest. BSkyB lost its latest appeal over the forced sale of most of its stake last month.

Online gaming group 888 has reported an improvement in final quarter 2009 estimates with revenue of $67.9m for the three months ended 31 December with companies Core Casino business B2C accounting for much of the improvement. Company also indicated that the first quarter of 2010 has started well with daily total operating income during the first five weeks of 2010 7% higher on average than the fourth quarter during of last year. Analysts at Daniel Stewart remain bullish on 888 and maintained a 145p price target for the shares. Final 2009 results will be issued on 23 March.

These are the latest Director Dealings since 28th Jan 2010 including buys at BP, Vantis, Connaught PLC, Works Media Group, Marston's, Europa Oil & Gas, Datatec Ltd, Murgitroyd Group and Workplace Systems International.

The list does not include Transfer In's - shares allotted to directors at nil consideration (e.g. bonus, performance) or Transfer Out's - decreasing a holding by gifting some or all shares to a trust, charity or other person.

A Magson Group Finance Dir & Co Sec 04/02/2010 Purchase £14,300 Alumasc Group PLC
C R Evans Finance Dir 04/02/2010 Purchase £40,000 Petro Matad Ltd
G P Hooper Chief Exec 04/02/2010 Purchase £19,200 Alumasc Group PLC
J Rachmantio 04/02/2010 Sale £10,900 Sound Oil PLC
R C C Saville (non-exec) 04/02/2010 Purchase £9,700 Alumasc Group PLC
A D Bonamour (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Purchase £12,500 Blackstar Investors PLC
C N C Holmes Chief Exec Officer 03/02/2010 Purchase £15,800 Carr's Milling Industries PLC
C S Seabrooke (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Purchase £197,000 Datatec Ltd
C Svanberg Chairman (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Purchase £4,310,000 BP PLC
Dr C G Greig (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Purchase £13,100 Murgitroyd Group PLC
Dr K G Chrystie (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Purchase £13,100 Murgitroyd Group PLC
J A Herring (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Purchase £18,000 Workplace Systems International PLC
P A Barrett Managing Dir 03/02/2010 Purchase £48,800 Europa Oil & Gas (Holdings) PLC
P M Alexander (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Sale £2,550 Sound Oil PLC
S P Wilderspin (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Purchase £10,500 3i Infrastructure Ltd
S P Wilderspin (non-exec) 03/02/2010 Purchase £10,500 3i Infrastructure Ltd
A P Hichens (non-exec) 02/02/2010 Sale £66,500 JP Morgan Income & Capital Trust PLC
B M Olliff Chief Exec Officer 02/02/2010 Sale £77,500 City of London Investment Group PLC
C S Seabrooke (non-exec) 02/02/2010 Purchase £23,200 Datatec Ltd
D A Sinclair Chief Fin Off & Co Sec 02/02/2010 Purchase £9,940 Sunkar Resources PLC
D Andrew MBE 02/02/2010 Purchase £53,100 Marston's PLC
D McKeith (non-exec) 02/02/2010 Purchase £21,100 NCC Group PLC
D W Memory Group Finance Dir & Co Sec 02/02/2010 Purchase £7,000 Maxima Holdings PLC
G Kingsmill Chief Exec Officer 02/02/2010 Purchase £10,000 Maxima Holdings PLC
M N Kemp-Gee (non-exec) 02/02/2010 Purchase £7,950 Murgitroyd Group PLC
P A Hurst Finance Dir 02/02/2010 Sale £10,100 Charles Stanley Group PLC
P A Hurst Finance Dir 02/02/2010 Purchase £10,100 Charles Stanley Group PLC
P F Jackson Chief Exec 02/02/2010 Purchase £5,440 Vantis PLC
P M Alexander (non-exec) 02/02/2010 Sale £6,630 Sound Oil PLC
P M Alexander (non-exec) 02/02/2010 Sale £6,750 Sound Oil PLC
T R McCutcheon Chief Exec Officer 02/02/2010 Purchase £38,000 Ovoca Gold PLC
D Procacci (non-exec) 01/02/2010 Purchase £100,000 Works Media Group (The) PLC
Dr G Cooley Chief Exec Officer 01/02/2010 Purchase £20,500 ITM Power PLC
H E Staunton (non-exec) 01/02/2010 Purchase £4,080 Legal & General Group PLC
M W Tincknell Chief Exec Officer 01/02/2010 Purchase £320,000 Connaught PLC
R C Q Ambler Managing Dir 01/02/2010 Purchase £5,000 Blavod Wines and Spirits PLC
S R Hill Group Finance Dir 01/02/2010 Purchase £159,000 Connaught PLC
Sir Rob Margetts CBE Chairman (non-exec) 01/02/2010 Purchase £15,600 Legal & General
Sir David Walker Vice Chairman (non-exec) 01/02/2010 Purchase £3,540 Legal & General