Newspaper Tips & Round-Up

LONDON (ShareCast) - Miner Rio Tinto (LSE: RIO.L - news) 's rights issue means the company has substantially cut the debt associated with a deal it did with Alcan (AL.TO - news) . This is good news.

However, there are two main issues that will have to be dealt with by the company as a result of its actions over the last few months - an angered China and a competition examination of the iron-ore deal it has struck with BHP Billiton (LSE: BLT.L - news) in Pilbara, western Australia. But the long-term future of the mining industry is very bright indeed, so shareholders in Rio Tinto should take up their rights suggests the Telegraph.

Workspace Group provides premises for small and medium-sized companies, but over the past year it has increasingly come to resemble one. At 15p, up ¼p, the shares sit at a steep 45% discount to net asset value and yield 5%. A buy for the brave.

Great Eastern Energy, a producer of coal bed methane, may have been the first Indian company to list on AIM, but it also remains the most successful. At a multiple of 14 times forecast 2011 earnings, GEE is expensive on conventional measures. Even so, with its investment case intact and production set to double on the year, hold on suggests the Times (1832.HK - news) .

AG Barr, maker of Irn Bru and other soft drinks said that trading between February and the end of May had been strong, with total revenues up 22.5% and like-for-like sales increasing by 7.9%. For the true bears, and those looking to add some stability to an already racy looking portfolio, the Independent heartily recommends AG Barr. Otherwise, hold for now.

JD Sports Fashion (LSE: JD.L - news) is not a sportswear chain. The company is keen that we are all aware of that, lest it is confused with the likes of JJB (LSE: JJB.L - news) or Sports Direct (LSE: SPD.L - news) . Underlying sales in the 17 weeks to the end of May were up 1.7%, with sales at fashion fascia stores up a very creditable 4.6%. Buy says the Independent.

Safety harness sytems specialist Latchways (LSE: LTC.L - news) has long said it is a defensive bet because many of its products and sales are regulation-driven, but it concedes that sales in the UK and US have slowed since the onset of the downturn. Even so, the Independent thinks there is probably still some juice left in them. Buy.

Civil engineer Hyder has negligible debt, a tighter focus from a new chief executive and, at five times earnings, a modest rating. Hold suggests the Times.

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