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?

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."

Interim Management Statement
Costain, the engineering solutions provider, today issues its Interim Management Statement covering the period from 1 July 2014 to the current date.

The Group is today hosting a visit for investors and analysts to Paddington and Reading and later to its Maidenhead office. No new material information will be disclosed.

Update
Following a strong performance in the first half of the year, Costain continues to perform well and in line with the Board's expectations.

The Group is benefiting from its unique and well-positioned strategy, focusing on major customers who are investing billions of pounds meeting national needs in energy, water and transportation, and who require solutions to their complex business challenges.

Costain's reputation for developing and implementing innovative engineering led solutions through a range of integrated services and the benefits of the successful capital raise of £70.3 million (net of expenses) in March are enabling the Group to continue to take advantage of the opportunities created by its strategy and to continue to win significant contracts and extensions.

Additional work won during the period under review, demonstrating the range of skills and capabilities of the Group, include:

· Southern Water's 2015 - 2020 (AMP6) investment programme;
· Two Smart Motorway Scheme contracts on the M1 for the Highways Agency;
· Upgrade of the Dimlington gas terminal for Perenco; and
· Appointment by BAE Systems, as announced separately today, as one of its framework contractors on the redevelopment of its submarine site, in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

Order book
The Group's forward order book has increased further since thehalf-year, and currently stands at a new record level of £3.3 billion.

As well as including over £900 million of revenues secured for 2015 (2013: over £700 million secured for 2014), the order book also provides good long-term visibility with over £2.2 billion of revenues secured for 2016 and beyond.

In addition to the record order book, the Group has a strong preferred bidder position of over £400 million, and the level of tendering activity across all its target markets remains high.

The increasingly strategic nature of our long-term customer relationships has ensured that over 90% of the order book comprises repeat business and is in target cost, cost reimbursable, collaborative forms of contract providing increased visibility over long-term margins at lower risk.

Financial position
The Group has a robust financial position with a strong net cash position in line with expectations.

Outlook
The Group is on track to deliver a result for the current year in line with the Board's expectations and, with a record order book, strong cash position and high level of tendering activity, is well positioned to deliver growth over the medium term.

Costain awarded framework contract by BAE Systems for submarine site redevelopment programme

Costain, the engineering solutions provider, has been appointed by BAE Systems as one of its framework contractors on the eight-year, £300m-plus programme to redevelop its submarine site, in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria.

The Programme involves the redevelopment of the Barrow site in preparation for the building of a replacement for the Vanguard class submarines, as part of the renewal of the UK's nuclear deterrent. Costain will provide nuclear project delivery on operational sites and will deliver the integration of works into existing submarine build programmes.

Work will commence in early 2015.

StockMarketWire.com
Engineering solutions provider Costain reports another strong performance in the year to the end of December with increases in revenue and underlying operating profit and a record order book.

Revenue, including the group's share of joint ventures and associates, for the year increased to £1,122.5 million (2013: £960.0 million), circa 30% of which was derived from support service related activities.

Group underlying operating profit increased to £28.7 million (2013: £27.4 million).

Adjusted profit before tax was £28.5 million (2013: £31.0 million); the reduction is due to the significant profit generated in 2013 on the sale of the Group's minority shareholdings in three joint ventures.

Adjusted basic earnings per share was 27.8 pence (2013: 41.0 pence), the lower level also reflecting the enlarged capital base following the capital raise completed in March 2014.

Costain said its Infrastructure division had an excellent year with increases in revenue, operating profit and order book. The Natural Resources division delivered an operating profit excluding the impact of a provision associated with the legacy Greater Manchester Waste PFI contract awarded in 2007.

The group's net cash position at 31 December 2014 was £148.5 million (2013: £57.7 million). The increase in the net cash position reflects the successful £70.3 million (net of expenses) capital raise in March, and benefitted from the timing of positive contract cash flows at the period end.

The group's order book has further increased, finishing the year at a new record level of £3.5bn (31 December 2013: £3.0bn).

Chairman David Allvey said: "We have delivered another strong performance, with increases in revenue and underlying operating profit and an enhanced net cash position. "Costain has an established reputation for innovative multi-disciplined services that enables the Group to win large, long-term contracts addressing the UK's national needs in energy, water and transportation. "This strong market position and the additional capital secured during the year is enabling the Group to accelerate its growth, as demonstrated by a record order book of £3.5 billion."

StockMarketWire.com
Costain, the engineering solutions provider, has completed the acquisition of Rhead Group, a professional services consultancy with a focus on programme and commercial management.

Rhead Group, established in 1985 and operating with over 550 people, provides a range of solutions for the lifecycle of infrastructure, construction and asset management programmes, primarily in the UK, for a number of blue-chip customers including National Grid, Wales & West Utilities and BAE Systems. Rhead Group's senior management team, including Nigel Curry, Rhead Group CEO, will remain with the business. Costain's strategy is to focus on major customers spending billions of pounds addressing national needs in energy, water and transportation. Those customers are consolidating their supply chains and are seeking an increasingly integrated service offering from their Tier 1 service providers through larger, longer-term collaborative contracts. Rhead Group will further enhance Costain's programme management and advisory capability across all the Group's operations as part of that integrated service offering.

Rhead Group has been acquired for a total cash consideration of £36 million on a debt free / cash free and normalised working capital basis and the consideration has been funded from Costain's existing cash and debt facilities.

In the year ended 31 July 2014, Rhead Group generated revenues of £63.5 million and EBITDA of £5.2 million (before exceptional administrative expenses of £0.7 million).

StockMarketWire.com
Engineering solutions provider Costain reports another strong performance with increases in revenue and underlying operating profit, a record order book and a 15% increase in the interim dividend for the first six months of 2015.

Revenue increased to £621.1 million (2014: £529.1 million) with underlying operating profit up 17% to £13.1 million (2014: £11.2 million). The group had a net cash balance of £126.8 million (2014: £133.8 million).

Adjusted pre-tax profits rose to £11.4m from £9.1m while reported pre-tax profits jumped to £10.0m from £5.8m.

The group also reports a record forward order book up 16% to £3.7 billion (2014: £3.2 billion). Over 90% of order book comprises repeat orders and over 90% lower risk target cost, cost reimbursable forms of contract.

Chief executive Andrew Wyllie said: "We have delivered another strong performance in the first half of the year. In addition to growth in revenue and profit, our order book now stands at a record £3.7 billion.

"Costain has an established reputation for delivering innovative integrated services that enables the Group to win large, long-term contracts addressing the UK's National needs in energy, water and transportation.

"Costain is accelerating its growth and following the 17% increase in underlying operating profit in the first half of the year is on course to deliver a result for the year at the upper-end of the Board's expectations. Our confidence for the future is reflected in the 15% increase in dividend."

Liberum Capital reiterates buy on Costain Group, target raised from 367p to 420p.

Peel Hunt today initiates coverage of Costain Group PLC (LON:COST) with a buy investment rating and price target of 450p.