Tuesday tips round-up: Catlin, Bovis, Barratt...

13th Mar 2012 06:59

Insurance firm Catlin has had a pretty tough year according to Questor in the Telegraph. Its "combined ratio"of 102.6% is not good news as the metric is a measure of profitability for insurers, with anything above 100% implying losses from the core underwriting business. But Questor thinks if Catlin can avoid the catastrophe events of 2011, like the floods in Thailand, then the firm should do well. Yielding 7.3% Questor says hold.Monday's announcement of the NewBuy scheme designed to help first time buyers also attracts the eye of Questor, because it will also haid elp the house builders. The column says Bovis and Barratt are both buys.In the Independent Sharewatch writes in "defence of the family". No, this is not a Daily Mail parody, it's the column's thoughts on home furnishings firm Dunelm Mill. The Adderley family had significant shareholdings in the group but cashed in recently, causing a bit of a stir. Sharewatch says now is the time to buy as Dunelm is a decent business with a reputation for tight pricing.BSPlease 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.