PRESS DIGEST - Financial Times - April 19 =6

HALLIBURTON AIMS TO GATECRASH CANDOVER-EXPRO DEAL

The Houston-based oil services group Halliburton (HAL.N: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) said on Friday it was conducting due diligence on Expro International EXR.L.

The company added it was holding talks with the Expro board with a view to a potential all-cash counter-bid to the agreed 1435 pence a share offer from a consortium led by private equity firm Candover Partners (CDI.L: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz).

Referring to Expro's coveted technology that improves the flow from oil and gas wells, ABN Amro analyst Phil Lindsay said: "At a time of high field depletion rates this technology is crucial to prolonging the life of the field and to maximising production."

MY-WARDROBE.COM CUTS ITS COAT ACCORDING TO ITS CLOTH

The fledgling online upmarket fashion site My-wordrobe.com has more than doubled its turnover in the third quarter to March, to 442,000 pounds net of returns and VAT, as the company takes advantage of the appetite for designer clothes.