Syncona Share News (SYNC)

Cadbury shares might rise further in what could be a long, drawn-out takeover battle but the risks appear to be increasingly on the downside, the Telegraph suggests.Irene Rosenfeld, Kraft chief executive, is out to play a slow game and would expect a higher offer to emerge. The million-dollar question is whether it will be a knock-out punch. With the outcome of this takeover battle increasingly uncertain, now is the time for shareholders to cash in, the paper adds.Fashionistas may turn their noses up at the brand, but Next had a storming Christmas, with like-for-like sales in its stores rising by 1.6% over the 22 weeks to December 24, compared with analysts' forecasts of sales being flat to -3%. The company is well-positioned to ride out the rest of the downturn and emerge on the other side in good shape. Profit forecasts were edged up on Tuesday to £490m-£500m for the year to January 31, up from previous guidance of £472m. Hold says the Telegraph.A deal yesterday for Premier Oil to take a 50% stake in Serica Energy's Oates prospect caught the investors' attention and sent Premier's shares up 50p to £12.09. The deal is the latest step in Premier's plan to build a leading player in the central North Sea. Premier trades at a significant discount to its sector, at only 0.75 times risked net asset value, compared with the industry average of 0.93, making the shares a buy, the Times suggests.As the country braces itself for freezing weather, May Gurney, the services company which looks after 37,000 km of the nation's main roads for six county councils, is out with its gritters. Besides councils, May Gurney numbers water companies, Network Rail and the Environment Agency among clients from whom it earns long-term revenues. With £25m of cash on the balance sheet, the hunt is on for bolt-on acquisitions but most of the growth is likely to be organic. Shares have had a good run since the summer, but the quality of earnings suggest there is further to go. Buy says the Times.There is scope for Irish building materials giant CRH to surprise on the upside, particularly if the US performs better than expected. But the shares have enjoyed a good run and are not especially cheap at 12.5 times this year's earnings. Sell says the Independent.The issue for Synchronica, which offers low-cost mobile e-mail services, is one of timing. Synchronica expects the revenue from the contracts it won recently to be recognised in 2009's results but is awaiting the final documentation to update the market further. There could be better times to buy because of nervousness before its impending trading statement and its punchy weighting. Hold for now says the Times.Peat bogs are not an obvious investment choice, but punters with money in the commercial horticulture group William Sinclair, which is also one of the country's biggest peat suppliers, have seen plenty of growth in recent months. But the lack of potential growth would prevent us from being a buyer. If the shares soften, investors should be interested, but sit tight for now. Hold says the Independent.Please note: Digital Look provides a round-up of news, tips and information that is impacting share prices and the market. Digital Look cannot take any responsibility for information provided by third parties. This is for your general information only as not intended to be relied upon by users in making an investment decision or any other decision. Please obtain a copy of the relevant publication and carry out your own research before considering acting on any of this information.