Would anyone know why there has been such a large number of shares sold and no buying? Is there something we are not aware of?

not for 400 it doesn't!

500 perhaps ?.....

Oh..well...it hasn't taken off this morning...back to ramping school RF....

This is not going according to plan.....damn....good divi news with a fund raising at a low price = sp dive........grrrrrr....

Borrow money from the shareholders...so that they can pay the shareholders a bigger divi...with the shareholders own money. I wouldn't fall for that one! Luckily I sold out at around 300p. not going back in even after this drop.

To me it's a great little company...but the fundraising is at far too low a price.....and why ?....for a takeover of some kind possibly.....I'll be staying put and might do the open offer......here lies the danger of spreads and cfds (don't have any).....43p drop....and yet : yesterday you'd be sitting pretty.....I'll be patient and stay with my shares...

50p plus drop.....far too low this fundraising...I had some sort of feeling with this stock...something was going to happen....

RF - genuinely sorry to hear of your pain old chap, though i do confess to a wry smile, for obvious reasons

btw, CFDs are really no different from "real" shares, for there are no time constraints, unlike s/b, though if your rash with your gearing, it can be very painful if things go wrong - i'm the expert at that :-)

cynic - there are no time constraints with S/B - I have some that have been open since last April.

really? .... thanks for that info; i always though they were akin to old-fashioned traded options with the possibility to extend the expiry date

Just in shares...small percentage of my isa 6%....no cfds ...still the same....did not expect the drop...in fact I might pick up more when this settles...

Skinny means rollover....

rollover surely = time constraint which you have then extended at a premium

You can roll over a DFB (daily funded bet) ad infinitum as far as I'm aware - there is a charge, but its fairly minimal.

I haven't traded CFDs since 2000 (I don't have tax liabilities any more) - and can't remember - is there either a front loaded or rolling charge with them?

Varies.

Shares Bets are for me more flexible.

Steady on Fred1new....what no commie rhetoric ?....strange...

Better than a right winged tirade.

How is the Barmy army doing?

8-)

Interim Management Statement

Update

The Group has made a strong start to the current year and is performing in line with the Board's expectations.

As a result of the implementation of its 'Engineering Tomorrow' strategy, Costain is continuing to secure new work from major blue-chip customers who are investing billions of pounds in capital, operations and maintenance contracts and who require increasingly innovative solutions to solve their complex requirements.

Costain's major customers continue to consolidate their supply chains as they seek to work in a more strategic and collaborative manner with a reduced number of tier one engineering solutions providers. This is reflected in the following contracts secured since the start of the year:

- Appointed to the Network Rail £2 billion National Electrification Programme, with the contract worth an initial £900 million over seven years to the Group's joint venture.

- As part of the multi-billion pound Crossrail programme, a contract from Network Rail, worth an initial £150 million to Costain, to deliver the infrastructure and stations between Stratford and Shenfield.

- Appointed by National Grid to three frameworks as part of their overall investment, to 2021, of approximately £2.5 billion on new electricity transmission lines and cables and £6.9 billion on upgrading gas transmission infrastructure.

Order book

As a result of new contract awards and extensions the Group's high-quality forward order book has further increased to a new record level of £3.2 billion (31 December 2013: £3.0 billion), of which over 90% is from repeat orders.

In addition, the Group maintained its preferred bidder position at over £400 million (31 December 2013: over £400m).

To date, over £900 million of revenue has been secured for 2014 (31 December 2013: over £750 million).

The overall level of tendering activity across the Group's targeted markets is high.

Financial position

On 18 March 2014 the Group completed the £70.3 million (net of expenses) capital raise enabling Costain to take greater advantage of the opportunities in its chosen markets and accelerate the Group's medium and long term prospects.

The Group continues to benefit from a robust financial position with a strong net cash position in line with expectations.

Outlook

Costain is well positioned in a developing market of a limited number of providers who can deliver the innovative integrated consulting, project delivery and operations and maintenance services increasingly demanded by major customers.

With increased financial resources, a record order book and a strong pipeline of opportunities, the Board remains confident of meeting its expectations in 2014.

Half Yearly Report

Highlights

· Underlying operating profit2 up 5% to £11.2 million (2013: £10.7 million)

· Increase of 8% in adjusted profit before tax3 to £9.1 million (2013: £8.4 million)

· Record forward order book up 10% to £3.2 billion (2013: £2.9 billion) with over £700 million of new contracts and extensions secured in the first half. Over £950 million of revenue secured for FY 2014 by 30 June (2013: over £850 million secured for FY 2013)

· New contracts in the period include:

o Appointment to Network Rail's £2bn National Electrification Programme
o Further Barrow Gas Terminals commission with Centrica
o Crossrail North East Spur appointment by Network Rail
o Appointment by National Grid to three transmission frameworks

· Nature of new contract awards reflect Costain's position as the engineering solutions provider with an established reputation for innovation

· Over 90% of high quality order book comprises repeat orders and over 90% lower risk, target cost, cost reimbursable forms of contract

· Successful capital raise of£70.3 million (net of expenses) to take advantage of the growing number of opportunities available to accelerate the Group's development

· Net cash balance of £133.8 million (2013: £64.3 million)

· Interim dividend of 3.25 pence per share on enlarged capital base (2013: 3.75 pence)

StockMarketWire.com
Costain, the engineering solutions provider, has been appointed by Southern Water to help deliver its 2015-2020 (AMP6) investment programme. The work, which is being undertaken in a joint venture with MWH, is initially worth around £200m over the five year period. There will also be the option to extend the framework beyond 2020 into AMP7 (2020-2025). Costain says the appointment reinforces its long-term collaboration with Southern Water, which provides 4.5 million people across the South East of England with water and wastewater services.

Chief executive Andrew Wyllie said: "We are delighted to have been re-appointed to Southern Water's AMP framework and look forward to working with the Company and its other partners. We have a track record of working innovatively to provide solutions to complex and challenging customer requirements and we look forward to bringing this expertise to bear for the benefit of Southern Water and the communities it serves.

"This is the third major contract Costain has secured in the AMP6 cycle, and provides further demonstration of our expertise in the water sector, as well as our ability to win contract extensions by entering into long term partnerships with blue chip customers."