PLUS news

In response to private investor demand, PLUS Markets is launching trade reporting for fixed income securities. Giving retail investors a cost-effective way to access fixed income securities (gilts and corporate bonds), the service extends PLUS’s existing offer of trade reporting for shares and adds to the array of products that retail investors can access through the exchange.

Commenting on the launch, warmly welcomed by Winterflood Securities, PLUS’s business development director Rachel Maguire said, ‘PLUS’s trading volume doubled in the second half of 2009, largely due to individual clients trading shares. In 2010, we aim to further increase this retail flow by the addition of fixed income trade reporting to our product portfolio.’

Among March highlights from PLUS-quoted constituents, China-focused advisory and investment play Geo Genesis reported good progress during a tough year to September, with new investments made and losses converted to net profits of more than US$1 million (£670,000).

Frontier IP Group, focused on commercialising university intellectual property, was another to report good progress during its first half-year to December. Chaired by the cerebral Neil Crabb, Frontier has already launched two dedicated venture funds for investment in spin-out opportunities from Robert Gordon University and the University of Dundee. Though losses of £97,000 pre-tax were announced on £85,000 revenue, Frontier has ample cash balances of £469,000 and says prospects are positive.