Broker Numis said there were grounds for optimism after the travel operator revealed its interims today. The company said that due to the challenging economic environment it remained "cautious", but that overall, trading continued to be in line with the board's expectations.

Probability expects 2012 to be a big year for the business, as all key performance indicators in the fourth quarter are showing very strong growth and the mobile gambling specialist does not see the trend slowing any time soon. Daniel Stewart & Co and Numis Securities reiterated their 'buy' stance.

This is the first easyHotel the Africa-focused conglomerate is opening under its exclusive franchise agreement with Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou's easyGroup. By 2016 there should be 50 across the continent.

For nearly a decade, Lo-Q shares struggled, but now they stand at an all-time high and recently were reclassified in the high-flying software sector.

Lo-Q shrugged off fewer people visting theme parks last year as more people at the parks chose to use its virtual queuing technology.

Mobile gaming specialist Probability saw strong trading in all areas of its business in the last three months with a 55% increase in the share of deposits coming from iPhone, Android and other Touch device users.

All the hard work is starting to pay off for mobile gambling specialist Probability, which is at the “inflection point”, according to chief executive Charles Cohen. The latest results show that sales are starting to take off, while the business came close to break even despite significant increases in marketing spend, particularly on TV.

Shares in Lo-Q were up over 5 per cent in mid-morning trade after the provider of virtual queuing systems for theme parks unveiled a collaboration agreement with MasterCard. As at 11.15am, the shares were trading 9.5 pence higher at 196 pence.

The response of City analysts to the news that Thomas Cook is in talks with lenders has, as could be surmised, been generally negative. The tour operator’s shares fell more by as much as 80 per cent in opening trade following the revelation that trading had deteriorated further meaning it required short-term funding to cover the Christmas period.

News of a joint venture deal in the US for bwin.party and a strong third quarter from 888 Holdings focused attention on the online gaming sector this morning. However, brokers appear extremely cautious regarding bwin.party’s prospects while they have mixed feelings regarding 888

The broker is keen on the sector due to strong balance sheets, growing earnings and the move towards a regulated and taxed framework. It highlights 888 Holdings, Betfair, NetPlay TV, Sportech and Sportingbet as ‘buys’

JD Wetherspoon is the pick of the quoted managed pubs groups, according to Royal Bank of Scotland, which has buy recommendations on four of the five stocks in the sector. The only one which failed to move the needle was Greene King, which rated is ‘hold’ with a 480 pence price target.

With Punch Taverns and the demerged Spirit Pub Company now trading as separate entities as of yesterday, Citi has been casting an eye over prospects for the two companies. The broker concludes that both are a ‘buy’ but it rates Punch, focused on tenanted pubs, the more “speculative” punt.

Today’s deal to expand its budget hotel business, under the easyHotel umbrella, is the latest in a series of new developments that are expected to push the African conglomerate through an exciting period of growth. Here we speak to chief executive Geoffrey White about the group's ambitious plans.

This morning Lonrho unveiled an agreement to supply African hake fillets to Wal-Mart from October onwards. Panmure Gordon’s Damian NcNeela reckons the significant deal could spark a series of contracts between the African conglomerate and the world’s largest retailer.

Shareholders in The Capital Pub Company might be raising their glasses to the recent 235 pence per share offer for their business from Greene King, but not everyone in the City thinks that the pubs group should be paying the premium it is

This morning’s deal is the acquisitive conglomerate’s latest add-on within its agriculture business, following on from last month’s acquisition of South African fish processing and cold store business, fish-on-line. Panmure Gordon analyst Damian McNeela reckons this latest addition is an excellent fit with Lonrho's existing Rollex distribution business.

UK government plans to revise regulations governing the online gambling sector could have far reaching implications for the industry, not least in terms of taxation. Analysts reckon the likes of 888 and Betfair could be hurt by the changes, with the more land-based players like William Hill and Ladbrokes potentially less affected. 

Vince Power took Mean Fiddler from nothing to a major force in UK live music before it was eventually taken off AIM in 2004 after being bought by Clear Channel. Now he wants to do it all over again with his latest venture

Within the last year, the share price has risen 35 percent amid increasing revenues and profits. The company, which develops and sells queuing systems for theme parks, has also benefited from positive sentiment after the appointment in October 2010 of Tom Burnet as its new CEO. Here we take a look at what's in store for Lo-Q going forward.

Lo-Q, the maker of virtual queuing systems for theme parks and attractions, said today it is gearing up for an expansion drive. Chief executive Tom Burnet believes targeted acquisitions in the theme, amusement and water park sectors provide “great potential” to grow the company’s global footprint. 

The diversified African business is set for further growth after it agreed a deal to buy secure accommodation firm AFEX Group for US$8 million. Panmure Gordon analyst Damian McNeela reckons the new unit will complement Lonrho’s Kwikbuild business and the infrastructure division will be more competitive when tendering for larger contracts in Sub Saharan Africa.

The United Nations believes that Africa’s growing agricultural capacity will have a big role to play as the world’s food supply struggles to keep pace with burgeoning population growth. Analysts at City broker Panmure Gordon reckon Lonrho, with its huge agribusiness, could be a major beneficiary of the continent’s emergence as a major force in farming.

David Lenigas is a serial entrepreneur and director of no fewer than six AIM-listed companies. Proactive Investors got the Australian entrepreneur’s thoughts on a busy 2010 and his predictions for next  year. 

The demand for holidays has proved to be surprisingly resilient during the economic downturn and Thomas Cook announced that it has seen improvements in almost all of its markets recently.

The company's handheld units that park visitors can use to join a virtual queue cut the time that they spend standing about doing nothing in their precious time.

Recent strength has pushed them back up towards resistance at 243p, which has proved a real hurdle over the past six months. The oscillators are also moving into overbought territory, with the RSI and stochastic nearing the top of their relevant ranges.

The company, which designs, installs and operates systems that allow theme park visitors to make ride and show reservations, said revenues jumped 27.9% to £17.3 million

The pan-African investor said it is set to meet its ambitiout targets for the full year as its operations continue to make progress across the continent.