I know it's not the sexiest of sectors, but do any of the technical chartists here think this represents a testing of a significant resistance?
The MDAs seem to offer support. It looks to me like if it could break that line, then a potential line of resistance at about 336 there will be serious upside to follow.
Can this go places?

Red:25 DMA
Green:50 DMA

St Ives confident despite headwinds
Tue 27 Nov 2012

SIV - St Ives

Latest Prices
Name Price %
St Ives 105.75p +2.67%

FTSE All-Share 3,037 +0.48%
FTSE Small Cap 3,247 +0.05%
Support Services 5,159 +0.26%

LONDON (SHARECAST) - Marketing services and print group St Ives said it made a good start to the current financial year with revenue for the fourteen weeks to November broadly flat compared to the year before.

Margins improved and underlying operating profit rose compared to last year.

The group, which bought three new marketing services earlier this year as part of its move away from print, said growth across its marketing services businesses from end of July to date was offset by the revenue impact of its decision to exit print markets.

St Ives said trading conditions in print remain challenging but despite the anticipated fall in revenue, it has improved margins and maintained underlying operating profit.

In marketing services revenue and underlying operating profit were significantly ahead of the equivalent period for last year and all of its acquisitions have integrated well.

"The actions we have taken to reposition the group have enabled us to make progress in spite of headwinds in the UK economy," the group said in a statement.

"The new financial year has started well, the balance sheet remains strong and we remain confident that further progress will be made as we continue to execute our strategy."

Ex-dividend Wednesday 28 Nov 4.0p

Sold my holding, starting to slip. Made a good profit here

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Looking positive again.,.

It certainly is. Next leg up underway. Still plenty left in the tank.

Nice find chaps.

The 4½ year weekly chart looks interesting - I know absolutely nothing about the company btw.

Skinny - is that a bowl or a very flat cup and handle? Whatever, it looks like we now have a four year high and a breakout. Even at this exalted level, the shares are still very lowly rated. 160 next stop.

Whatever it is, it looks promising.

Up another 3.6% yesterday - I'm not in these as yet!!!

Your chance could be coming. Looks like the current rise is running out of steam. A pull back should establish a new trading range until the next company update and then I reckon they will move ahead again.

Half Yearly Report

Group Financial Highlights

· Underlying* Group revenue of £161.7m (2012: £166.4m)

· Marketing Services revenue up 36.4% to £31.1m (2012: £22.8m)

· Underlying* profit before tax up 10.1% to £12.2m (2012: £11.1m)

· Basic underlying* earnings per share up 8.8% to 7.67p (2012: 7.05p)

· Interim dividend raised by 14.3% to 2.0p per share (2012: 1.75p per share)

· Strong balance sheet with net debt at 1 February 2013 of £7.0m

(27 July 2012: £13.4 m)



All figures for revenue, profit and earnings per share are based on continuing operations.
* Before non-underlying items which comprise restructuring costs, operating results of non-continuing sites, acquisition costs, contingent consideration required to be treated as remuneration, net profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment, amortisation of acquired intangibles and other one-off items.

Operational Highlights

· Continued success in implementing the strategic repositioning of the Group
· Marketing Services segment generated 31% of underlying Group operating profit
· Proposed acquisition of Amaze will further enhance Marketing Services offering
· Print segment major restructuring now complete, overall level of profitability maintained
· Our market leading Books business benefited from investment in new digital printing equipment
· New contracts won across the Group during the period, including Innocent Drinks, Johnston Press, JD Williams and Pizza Hut
· Over fifty clients now trade with more than one business within the Group

Looking to break out again, but today's doom and gloom market has knocked it back temporarily. If we can hold on to this level, the next decent day in the market will see it through 140.

sp 153p on the rise again.

Revenues down a bit. Might be in if it goes any lower.

Disappointing response from the market. Anyone would think that today's announcement was a profit warning. Buying opportunity?

My view too.

LISTEN: St. Ives (SIV) - Preliminary results for the 53 weeks ended 2 August 2013

Click here

Two substantial Director buys on Wednesday which I missed. Shows confidence. There's only one reason for buying shares. Looks as though I will have to hold on to mine for a while longer.

IMS today - ex dividend tomorrow 4.50p

Numis Buy 202.63 197.50 252.00 252.00 Retains

Half Yearly Report

Group Financial Highlights

· Underlying* Group revenue of £164.8m (2013: £161.7m)
· Marketing Services revenue up 50.0% to £46.7m (2013: £31.1m)
· Underlying* profit before tax up 13.1% to £12.9m (2013**: £11.4m)
· Profit before tax of £6.2m (2013**: £1.2m)
· Basic underlying* earnings per share up 13.0% to 8.10p (2013**: 7.17p)
· Interim dividend raised by 7.5% to 2.15p per share (2013: 2.0p per share)
· Strong balance sheet with net debt at 31 January 2014 of £12.4m (2 August 2013: £15.2m)
* Non-underlying items comprise: restructuring costs; provision releases; operating results of non-continuing sites; net profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment; profit on disposal of subsidiary; acquisition costs; consideration required to be treated as remuneration; amortisation of acquired intangibles; and other one-off items.
** IAS 19 (revised) 'Employee benefits' has been adopted for 2014 and the 2013 comparatives have been restated accordingly.
Operational Highlights

· Continued success in implementing the strategic repositioning of the Group
· Marketing Services segment generated 35% of underlying Group operating profit - on target to contribute over half of Group underlying operating profit by 2016
· Acquisition of Realise further strengthens the digital strand of our marketing services offering
· 2013 acquisitions of Amaze and Branded3 integrated well and on plan
· Print Services segment major restructuring now complete and overall level of profitability maintained
· Our market-leading Books business benefited from investment in new digital printing equipment

Commenting on the results, Patrick Martell, Chief Executive of St Ives, said:

"We are very pleased to report another strong set of results, with further progress in our strategy of building a broadly-based marketing services offering whilst moving away from the commoditised print markets. Having successfully completed the restructuring within our Print Services segment, we are continuing to build and strengthen our digital and data offering in Marketing Services, highlighted by the acquisition of Realise earlier this month.

With the UK economy showing further signs of recovery and consumer confidence improving, we remain confident that the Group is well positioned to make further progress in the full year."

We have a seller then. I hope that the RNS means that they have finished selling for now. If they are really intent in selling their stake, they still have over 8% of the company to play with. That could hold us back a while.