Did you back any of these?

Below is a list of the top 10 performing shares with their percentage increase from the FTSE all share index for this year so far. Who would have thought that the top two spots would be taken by a company that needed rescuing and another struggling to make a profit but it's internet profile attracted interest from a bigger rival because it lacked that web presence.

Considering we are only 6 months into the year these are impressive returns, but can it last? Ocado, long a favorite of short sellers has seen an impressive return of over 200% so far. Anyone going short for any length of time would need deep pockets to keep those trades open.

Thomas Cook Group PLC 211.46
Ocado Group PLC 204.10
Xaar PLC 128.07
UK Mail Group PLC 75.88
Bank of Georgia Holdings PLC 71.84
easyJet PLC 66.88
CSR PLC 66.18
St Ives PLC 62.55
Lamprell PLC 62.23
Man Group PLC 61.88

http://www.investmentweek.co.uk/investment-week/news/2271257/top-of-the-stocks-the-ten-best-uk-shares-of-2013-so-far

Morrison and Ocado to get together?

WM Morrison will report to the market tomorrow and the numbers are not expected to look good. Morrison has lagged behind its competitors for a while, losing market share, the market will probably be more interested to hear what it plans to do to put things right as much as the numbers delivered. One area where the company has lagged behind has been in having no web presence while its competitors are well established and looking to move ahead.

One possibility that has been muted before is a possible takeover of FTSE250 Ocado, although there is a case to be made that the numbers don't add up, that Morrisons might have to pay too much for a company that is struggling to make any profit. However, it does look like they have been talking about a "partnership" and it will be interesting to see what comes of it, although Morrisons are keen to emphasize that they have an alternative strategy that doesn't include Ocado.

Wm Morrison, Britain's fourth-biggest supermarket chain, is in talks over a partnership with Ocado that would involve utilising the online retailer's warehouse capacity and technological expertise as it plays catch-up with its larger rivals.

I have learned that Morrison's, which will on Thursday announce its intention to launch a fully-fledged online grocery business, is in detailed talks with Ocado's management team about the joint venture.

The details have not yet been finalised and the negotiations will not be completed in time for an announcement to be made tomorrow, according to insiders.

One person close to the talks said that while they had been taking place for some time, the talks might not lead to an agreement, and added that Morrison's online strategy was not reliant on striking a deal with an external partner such as Ocado.

http://news.sky.com/story/1064266/morrisons-in-talks-over-ocado-venture

If the figures are bad tomorrow, Morrisons will have to impress with their future plans for expansion online. Failure to give the market something positive in that direction could see a big, negative reaction. They may not need Ocado, but they do need to go online.

Morrison makes a convenient deal

It looks like the food retailer Morrison is finally doing something in the areas that it lags behind FTESE100 rivals Tesco and Sainsbury. Morrison is a long way behind the competition when it comes to convenience stores and buying on the web. In response it is to buy a number of Blockbuster video stores and turn them into Morrison convenience stores.

Convenient deal

The 49 stores being purchased for an undisclosed payment are of strategic value to Morrisons which has lagged other supermarkets in creating a convenience-store format, as well as a home delivery service.

It also wants to increase its presence in the lucrative South East of England.

Nationally, Morrisons has about 11% market share among supermarkets, but in the South it is just 6%.

The firm has previously declared its intention to open 70 convenience stores by the end of this year, primarily in the Greater London area.

To this end, it has already bought up seven stores from the failed camera retailer Jessops, and announced the rebranding of the 12 "M Local" stores that it already owns.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-21490465

Can't see any reason why the city shouldn't like this move as it shows the company is finally doing something to address its weaknesses against the competition. Now they need to sort out their lack of web presence, although hopes that some have that they might buy FTSE250 web retailer Ocado is probably wide of the mark. Ocado's market cap valuation looks a bit too hot at its current price to interest any bid or takeover.