(adds reaction, amends spelling of CEO James Nicol's name) LONDON, Feb. 21, 2008 (Thomson Financial delivered by Newstex) -- Engineering group Tomkins reported a 7.3 pct rise in pretax profits of 262.6 mln stg for the year to Dec 29, after new products and a focus on emerging markets helped offset economic weakness in US car and construction markets. Sales from continuing operations were 2.94 bln stg, down from 3.13 bln in 2006, it said, and the adjusted operating margin was 9.0 pct against 9.4 pct the year before. Adjusted operating profits, which exclude disposals, fell 11 pct to 264.7 mln. Net debt was 296.8 mln stg, against 403.0 mln in 2006, and the company said it is considering a share buyback of 5-10 pct. CEO James Nicol said the group, which makes components for cars and air conditioning systems and building products such as baths and windows, delivered a good performance after taking a number of 'self-help' measures to counter headwinds in its US automotive and construction end-markets.

Stocks to buy: Blue Star, Ruchi Soya, Simplex Infra, Kalyani Steels

Kotak Securities has a ‘buy' rating on the central air-conditioning systems major Blue Star, as it feels it will report handsome earnings growth over the next two years (CAGR of 78% between FY07 and FY09). The company being in a position to offer the best requirement for central as well as commercial refrigeration equipment enabling it to maintain a leading market position in this segment, remains one of the key reasons for its bullishness.

The brokerage also feels that the stock is a play on structural themes like IT/ITeS and retail. However, the brokerage warns that appreciation in the rupee and slowdown in IT/ITeS services remain key concerns. Kotak calculates that at the current price, BSL is trading at 25.1x and 19.3 times FY08 and FY09 earnings, respectively, and on a forward EV/EBITDA basis, the stock is trading 12.6 times.

Why Is Bush Ignoring the History of Slavery? What You Said About His ...

It is never too late to tell the truth. We all know that the Bush family is not the only family that were slave owners … slaves made them very rich men and that has been passed on to future generations. I feel that it is about time that the truth be told. I think when that truth is told and made a part of our history books, Black and white people can begin to discuss the sad part of our history in an open and honest way that might bring us together as American people.

The Outlook and Strategy of Marketer-in-Chief in Korea¡¯s Top 3 Home ...

Marketers-in-chief in Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics and Daewoo Electronics are confused. Although their strategies for stronger marketing activities that they began in 2006 made fruitful results in last year, they cannot make clear prediction over the market situation for this year.

In the electronic goods market, the competition is getting fierce. Display and IT products are becoming so cheaper that they cannot guarantee higher profit. In addition, the external factors like the instability in the financial market, due to the sub-prime mortgage crisis and the weak dollar phenomenon, and the increase in oil prices as well as commodity prices are likely to affect the domestic consumption.

Marketers-in-chief in the three companies plan to enhance the R&D activities as well as the marketing activities.

AUSTRALIA: Telstra's powerful result

And expected full-year growth in earnings before interest and tax has been upgraded from between 5% and 7% to between 6% and 8%.

Retail services sales growth -- sales to external consumers, business and government customers -- was an impressive 7.6 per cent in the half, and Telstra's overall domestic revenue growth of 5.9% was world-class, beating groups including Spain's Telefonica (4.3 %) China Telecom (2.8%), AT&T (2.6%) and France Telecom (1.9%).