Sharewatch: Johnson Press Ahead After Trading Statement

Local newspaper and internet publisher Johnson Press saw a jump in share price, gaining 1.51% to close at 538p yesterday. This comes after a positive pre close trading statement was released by the company earlier this week saying that profits for the year to 31 December 2004 would be above current market expectations.

Radio owners The Wireless Group also saw a increase in share price, going up 64% to close at 78˝p. Yesterday Ofcom announced that the company had been awarded the last remaining FM radio licence in Edinburgh, enabling the broadcaster to provide the region with a 24-hour speech radio station dubbed Dunedin FM (see Wireless Group Scoops Edinburgh Radio Licence).

Elsewhere, satellite giant BSkyB continued its downward trend losing 1.24% to close at 556p, while ITV rose by 0.95% to 106p as the company announced plans to increase revenues from its interactive advertising sales division (see ITV To Boost Interactive Advertising Quota).

The FTSE 100 continued to do well yesterday, adding 7 points to close at 4,735.2, while the FTSE 250 climbed by 35.7 points to 6,793.6.

The closing prices of media company shares on Thursday were: