STOCKS NEWS UK SMALL-Segro down, Arbuthnot cuts forecast

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08:30GMT 27Apr2009-Segro down, Arbuthnot cuts forecasts

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Shares in Segro (SGRO.L) fall as much as 6 percent as broker Arbuthnot cuts its 2009 profit forecast for the property company, saying the value of the group's portfolio will likely fall further and that it will struggle to build out its pipeline of developments.

The company, which also had its rating cut to "neutral" from "buy" by UBS on Wednesday, saw its pretax profit forecast slashed by 30 percent to 96.6 million pounds by Arbuthnot.

"We expect the performance of industrials to lag that of the other sectors on the grounds that, for example, retailers will reduce the number of units they wish to occupy," says analyst Nan Rogers.

"Another is that industrial properties are particularly affected by the change in the rules to 'empty rates' which came into effect last year."

Reuters messaging rm://rhysl.jones.reuters.com@reuters.net

08:23GMT 27Apr2009-Eckoh up after update, contrcat wins

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Shares in hosted speech recognition services company Eckoh (ECK.L) gains 9.3 percent after an upbeat update highlighting a three-year contract with Capita (CPI.L) and Intelecom UK, alongside two contract renewals in the utility sector.